8. Elrik

8

ELRIK

H ow had I ever thought I could tell myself I wouldn't get involved with someone new?

That was before I met Melly. I never thought I'd meet anyone who would appeal to me as much as my ex. Now I could barely remember what Brittney looked like. All I could see was Melly's inky hair that gleamed almost blue in the lights, her hazel eyes that were brown when she gazed at her grandmother with love and held a hint of green when they turned toward me. What did the green mean, and should I be hoping they'd flash brown one of these days when she looked my way?

"What would you think of a guy who broke a promise he'd made to himself?" I asked as I opened the fridge and looked inside. Completely empty. Closing it, I opened the cupboards, finding nothing except a box of baking soda, half-full salt and pepper shakers, plus packages of paper plates, cups, and plasticware.

"I assume you're speaking of your promise to avoid relationships for the time being. "

"Yes, that."

"It's up to you. When you promised yourself, I'm sure you had a solid reason. You didn't want to set yourself up to be hurt again, and I get it. None of us want something like that. But as for breaking your promise . . ." Turning, she leaned back against the counter. "Only you can decide when it's time to try again."

"I think I'm ready."

"Think?" With a sigh, she spun and stared out the window above the sink. "When you're sure one way or the other, you'll act. You won't stand around thinking about it."

She was right. Was I ready? The pain I'd felt when my brother and Brittney announced to everyone they were not only together but that they were getting married had faded. I could barely remember the dismay and sadness that had wracked through me back then.

I thought I loved her, but the feelings I'd had for her couldn't compare to the warmth and excitement I felt whenever I was with Melly.

Was I ready? Rebound relationships never worked. I'd read that somewhere.

This doesn't have to be a rebound; it can be for forever, my heart insisted.

Maybe it was right.

I went over to look out the window myself, taking in the back lot with no vehicles and the scraggly woods beyond.

"When I was a kid, Grannie brought me here every Sunday afternoon for a church youth group. We spent more time running through the woods and telling each other spooky stories than studying the bible."

"Good memories, though."

She smiled up at me. "The best."

I stepped to the cupboards to the right of the sink and opened them, finding them empty.

Melly opened the doors beneath the sink and dropped to her knees, poking her head into the dark space.

Her ass was cute. Ripe and lush. I wanted to put my hands on it, feel it naked. She wore a sundress today, a sleeveless one that showed off her arms. It was cut low enough in the front to hint at the swell of her breasts, and my stupid cock had started to stir when I focused on that area as I walked up to her in front of Creature Cones. The dress had big sunflowers all over it, and I loved how cheery it was, how carefree and pretty—just like this woman.

I especially adored how the hem rode up on her thighs while she wiggled around beneath the sink.

"Let me do that," I said, stooping down beside her.

She jerked her head back, hitting it on the pipes, and yelped.

I spanned my fingers around her waist, loving how lush she was even here, and tugged her carefully out of the space. Sitting with my back to the cupboards and my legs stretched out in front of me, I placed her on my lap, facing me. This meant she had to straddle my thighs.

My cock liked that almost as much as it did the swell of her breasts. Which were right in front of me .

After watching her swallow go down hard, I dragged my attention to her face.

"Are you alright?" I rubbed the back of her head, finding no bump. "You're not dizzy, are you?"

"What if I was?" she said, her lips twitching upward before smoothing. "Would you perform CPR? That wouldn't qualify as kissing. I doubt anyone would say it broke the promise you made to yourself."

"About that."

"I'm sure it made sense at the time."

When she didn't meet my eye, I gently lifted her chin and stared into her eyes. Green with hints of brown. "It did make sense."

"You were hurt. Cheating with your brother is just about the biggest betrayal out there."

"It is."

"She should've ended things with you before starting something with him. And him! There should be a brother code or something that forbids someone from stealing a sibling's girlfriend."

"He apologized."

"After the fact."

"They tried to tell me. I was away on a rescue mission. It happened while I was gone."

"Things like that don't just happen. They take intent."

"You're right."

"I'm sorry. I'm sure you loved her a lot."

I swore her eyes searched mine. What did she hope to find there?

"We were a couple for six months before she met my brother. I should've seen it developing between them. All the signs were there. They were both so awkward together when she came for Christmas dinner. They kept looking at each other, then jerking their gazes away. We all grew up together, though he's older than us. I don't think he noticed she was around until the holiday. Then, he saw her."

"Did his skin heat for her?"

I shrugged. "If it did, he hasn't shared that with me. They told me when I got back from my mission."

"She stayed there with him while you were gone?"

"I live only a few towns away from my brother's place, but yeah."

"Were you . . ." She pinched her eyes shut, and when she opened them, they searched mine even harder. "Did you two . . ." Her growl ripped out. "Sorry. I shouldn't ask that. It's none of my business."

"We didn't, actually."

Her head tilted. "Why not if you were together for six months?"

"I'm not sure why we didn't. I was away a lot with my job. She was busy too. She's a lawyer and in court a lot."

"I'm sorry it didn't work out for you two."

"I'm not." For the first time in months, I could say that and truly mean it.

"Why not?"

I was taking a chance here. We'd only met a short time ago. But she had the right to know what I'd confirmed this morning.

I met her gaze. "Because my skin has heated for you."