16. Eva

Sixteen

Eva

The lodge is quiet in the early morning. Outside, the snow sparkles under the soft light, and inside, the fire crackles in the hearth. It’s peaceful, but my mind is anything but.

I’m pacing the library, clutching my coffee mug like it’s a lifeline, trying to make sense of the swirl of emotions that won’t leave me alone.

Last night was… everything. Eli’s kiss, the way he touched me like I was the only thing that mattered—it’s been replaying in my head on a loop.

But the doubts are still there, whispering that this is too much, too fast. That someone like Eli—someone who moves through life with that raw, obsessive certainty—can’t be real.

The door creaks, and I glance up, my stomach flipping when I see him. Eli stands in the doorway, his broad frame silhouetted against the morning light. He’s wearing a black hoodie and jeans, the casual look doing nothing to diminish the overwhelming intensity he brings into every room.

“You’re up early,” he says, stepping inside.

“So are you.”

He shrugs, closing the door behind him. “Couldn’t sleep.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Restless?”

“No,” he says, his dark eyes locking onto mine. “Thinking about you.”

I swallow hard, my pulse quickening as he walks closer. He moves like he’s stalking prey, deliberate and unhurried, but his eyes burn with something that makes me feel like I’m already caught.

“You keep running,” he says, his voice low, rough. “And every time, I let you because I figure you’ll stop when you’re ready. But now…” He stops just in front of me, his broad shoulders towering over me. “I need to know what’s going on in that pretty head of yours, darling.”

I look away, my chest tightening. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then explain it to me,” he says, his tone softer now. “Because I don’t think I can stand another second of not knowing where I stand with you.”

His honesty catches me off guard, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him. He looks almost vulnerable, which is ridiculous for a man like him. But it’s there—in the way his jaw tightens, how his hands clench at his sides like he’s barely holding himself together.

“I’m scared,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “You’re so… sure. About everything. About me. And I don’t know how to deal with that.”

His eyes soften, but his intensity doesn’t waver. “Eva, I’ve never been sure about anything in my life until you walked into it.”

I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding. “That’s what scares me. It’s too much.”

“Too much?” He takes a step closer, his voice dropping. “I’ll show you what too much looks like, Eva. I’ll give you everything I have, and then some, because you’re it for me. There’s no halfway with this. With us.”

The conviction in his voice makes my knees weak. I want to believe him, but the doubts are still there, lingering like shadows.

“What if I’m not enough?” I ask, my voice trembling.

His expression hardens, his jaw clenching as he cups my face in his hands. “Don’t you ever say that again,” he growls. “You’re fucking everything.”

Before I can respond, his lips crash on mine, stealing the air from my lungs. The kiss is raw, hungry, all-consuming, like he’s pouring every unspoken word into it.

I gasp against his delicious mouth as his hands slide to my waist, pulling me against his broad chest. He’s all heat and strength, and I can feel the tension in his body, like he’s barely holding himself back.

“If you don’t want this, tell me to stop now,” Eli murmurs against my lips in a rough, breathless voice .

But I don’t. Instead, I pull him closer, my fingers tangling in his thick hair as I kiss him back with everything I have.

It’s a blur of heat and need as he lifts me effortlessly, setting me on the edge of the desk behind me. His hands roam over my curves, worshiping every inch of me, and I lose myself in the way he makes me feel—wanted, cherished, adored.

“Mine,” he growls, his lips trailing down my neck. “Every part of you is mine, Eva.”

“Yes,” I whisper, the word spilling out before I can stop it. “I’m yours.”

The sound he makes is feral, animalistic as he takes a step back to lock the library door with a loud click that breaks through the silence that’s only filled by our heavy breathing. And next thing I know, his hands are slipping under the hem of my shirt, lifting it up and over my head.

His dark gaze is intense, burning with a wild heat as his fingertips trace a slow path along the swell of my breasts. When his hand finally cups one, his thumb brushing over the peaked nipple, I gasp, arching into him.

He smirks, leaning in to press his lips against the side of my neck. His teeth graze the sensitive skin, and when he bites down, a jolt of pleasure shoots through me, making my hips buck.

A low growl rumbles in his chest, then the rest of my clothes are gone, tossed carelessly to the floor.

Now, it’s my turn.

Slowly, deliberately, I strip Eli bare, enjoying the way his eyes darken as each new inch of his gorgeous body is revealed. When he’s standing in front of me, fully naked, all tanned skin and piles of muscles on muscles, his cock throbbing and thick, I reach out, trailing my fingers along the hard ridges of his abs.

“Fuck,” he mutters, his voice hoarse. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asks, his breathing ragged. “You’re fucking perfect, baby. Every inch of you.”

Then he wraps his big arms around me, picking me up and carrying me to the couch by the fire.

The cushions are plush, the leather buttery-soft against my skin. My entire body is buzzing with anticipation as Eli kneels between my thighs, spreading them wide.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs, his hands caressing my curves.

Then, his lips are on mine again, his kiss demanding, consuming, leaving no doubt about how badly he wants me.

As the kiss deepens, his tongue tangling with mine, his hands trail lower, moving over my body until his fingers find the slick heat between my legs.

I moan against his mouth as he strokes me, his touch expert, coaxing every ounce of pleasure from my body.

When his lips finally leave mine, they travel down, his mouth hot and greedy on my breasts, teasing the sensitive peaks of my hardened nipples until I’m panting, begging for more.

“Please,” I whisper, the word coming out half-strangled.

“Anything,” he breathes, his lips traveling lower. “Always.”

I gasp as his tongue finds my pussy, stroking, tasting, savoring every drop of my juices. It’s too much, and not enough.

My hands find his hair, tugging, pulling, urging him deeper.

The sight of him between my thighs, his mouth against me, his eyes locked on mine, is almost enough to push me over the edge. But he pulls back, his breath coming out harsh, and reaches for his pants on the small table next to the sofa.

When he returns, a condom packet between his teeth, I can’t help the smile that curves my lips.

“You were planning this,” I tease, watching as he rolls the latex over his impressive length.

“Yeah,” Eli admits, his eyes dark with hunger. He licks his kiss-swollen lips. “You taste even better than I imagined.”

I bite my lip, heat blooming across my skin.

“Tell me,” he murmurs, his voice dropping even lower as his thick fingers glide through my wet folds. “Tell me how good it feels, baby.”

“It’s incredible,” I breathe, arching into his touch.

He smirks, leaning down to capture my mouth in another searing kiss. As his lips move against mine, his body pressing me into the soft cushions, I can feel the tip of his cock teasing my entrance.

“Please,” I whisper, needing him, all of him, more than I’ve ever needed anything.

With a low growl, Eli gives me what I crave, burying himself to the hilt in one powerful stroke.

We both cry out, our voices mingling as the sensations overwhelm us. It’s too much and not enough, and before long, we’re moving together, lost in a haze of pleasure.

The world disappears, the only sounds the harshness of our breathing, the pounding of my heart, and the sweet, filthy things Eli is murmuring against my skin.

“You’re mine, Eva,” he groans, his fingers digging into my hips. “And I’m not letting you go.”

“Yours,” I manage, the word escaping on a breathless moan.

He responds with a primal growl, his pace increasing, driving us both higher and higher.

Our bodies move in perfect sync, and when his hand slips between us, finding my clit, the pleasure is almost too much.

“Come for me, baby,” he whispers, his voice strained. “Let me feel you cream all over my cock.”

I cry out, the orgasm ripping through me, shattering me completely. Eli follows a moment later, his body tensing, his lips claiming mine in another deep, wet, ravaging kiss.

It’s perfect. He’s perfect.

When it’s over, he pulls me close, holding me against his wide chest, and presses a gentle kiss to the top of my head.

“Don’t run again,” he murmurs, his bulky arms tightening around me.

I sigh, resting my cheek against his broad chest, and allow myself to melt into him. “Not a chance, hockey boy.”

* * *

We’re curled up on the couch, and despite the snow outside, the room is warm and cozy. The fire crackles in the hearth, and a soft blanket is draped over us.

Eli is sitting with his back against the armrest, his long legs stretched out, and I’m nestled between his thighs, leaning against his chest. It’s perfect. Like a dream come true.

* * *

The next day, sunlight streams through the windows, casting golden light over the room as I sit on the bed, wrapped in Eli’s hoodie. My laptop rests on the coffee table, and for the first time in days, the words are flowing.

Eli appears in the doorway, his hair tousled, a coffee mug in hand. He leans against the frame, watching me with a lazy smile that makes my pussy tingle.

“Working?” he asks.

“Trying to,” I reply, glancing up at him. “You’re distracting me, Mister.”

“Good,” he says, stepping closer. “I don’t plan on stopping.”

He leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before sitting next to me. His presence is solid, grounding, and I realize I don’t feel the urge to run.

“I’m not going anywhere, Eva,” he says in a tender voice.

I glance at his handsome face, a smile tugging at my lips. “I’m starting to believe that.”