Page 20 of Obsessed with my Guardian

I shrug. A big part of me wants to buy into his words. “It could. It’s not like you’ll be around to see it,” I add, then immediately regret it.

“I may not work there anymore, but I’m not leaving you. You can ask me anything.”

I lift my hand, nervous. “I don’t want to be a nuisance. Sorry. I realize I sound like this privileged, whining heiress right now.”

I shouldn’t keep talking about my insecurities so much. The last thing I want to sound is needy. A warm glow spreads through me. It’s easy to open up to Reed. For so long, I lied and pretended to be okay… It’s incredible to know I can trust him even if I’m not okay.

He flashes me a reassuring smile. “No, you don’t. You want to do right by your father. He believed you could. I believe you can. You have to believe, too.”

13

Reed

I removemy shirt and pants and put them in the closet. I’m down to my boxer briefs. We’ve arrived home from the party, and Eloise is in the ensuite bathroom, taking a shower.

“Are you okay?” I ask, scratching my chin and thinking about our conversation.

She’s scared. She doesn’t believe in her potential. As much as I reassure her, she needs to find out for herself. What can I do? I could hang around for longer, but that would mean delaying the unavoidable. Unless…

I shake my head. No. I can’t stay at Work4Fitness simply to pacify her fears. That wouldn’t serve either of us. If anything, it would bring resentment and split us apart.

“Yeah. I’m good,” Eloise finally says as she exits the bathroom with a fluffy towel wrapped around her body. A cloud of steam swirls behind her.

“I meant what I said at the party, Eloise. You can call me anytime.” A part of me wants to elaborate on it, to dig deeper, but a layer of protection keeps me from going further.

As a child, I used whatever small layer of protection was available to protect my heart against my mother. Against the expectations I made back then that she’d get sober and become like the other moms in the neighborhood.

Eloise… she’ll never be like that. She’s kind and good. She’ll make a wonderful mother one day.

A rueful smile pulls at her lips, and she shortens the gap between us and caresses my jaw. “Anytime?”

I shiver under her touch, my desire quickly awakening. “Yes.”

We haven’t talked about what life will look like for us as a couple. We’ve been a couple within these four walls, but certainly not at the gym. We haven’t even told Mrs. Wilson yet, though I’m sure she suspects something.

“For anything?” She runs her fingertips down the cords of my neck.

“Anything,” I say, my voice thick.

It’s hard to think of a single thing I won’t do for her right now. I want this woman so much, with such fierce need, there’s little I’m not willing to do.

I pull her into my arms, and she gasps, then chuckles.

Swiftly, I sweep her off her feet, hook my hands under her knees, and carry her to the bed. She adjusts, wrapping her legs around me. I catch her lips with mine, and we kiss with the urgency of a couple reunited after a long time apart.

I tumble into the nightstand, and we fall on the mattress, with her on top of me. She slows down the kiss, leaving me wanting more, then straddles me. Soon, she yanks off her towel and sets it aside.

I draw in a long breath.

She is gorgeous.

A coy smile dances on her lips, and a lovely shade of red stains her cheeks and neck, tracing down between her high breasts. My eyes go lower, and I follow her flat tummy to her smooth pussy, which I can’t resist.

Eloise moans and undulates her hips, rocking her sex onto my hand. She’s already soaking wet and warm. Damn her.

I play with her clit, rolling my finger over it and squeezing. She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip with a look of anticipation, and I know she’s already close. Instead of giving her what she wants, what she deserves, I stop touching her and flip her onto her back. She gives a surprised gasp and I take advantage, kissing her and stroking her tongue with mine in an endless, passionate search.

Disengaging my mouth from hers, I glide down her body until I’m between her thighs. Without delay, I flick my tongue over her folds, and she tenses and shudders. Taking my time, I tease her, licking her folds but not going in for the kill yet. Her thighs tremble, and her moans fill the air. My cock throbs as blood rushing through my veins, flooding every cell in its path.

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