15. Chloe

I stretch,and every muscle in my body aches.

The smile forms on my face until I turn to the side and notice the spot beside me is empty. There’s a rock in my stomach as I come to the conclusion that Elias has left. Of course he did. Why would I expect anything different?

There’s a sound in the other room. I sit straight up in bed, and that’s when the smell of coffee hits me.

I can’t get up fast enough. Surely Elias didn’t make coffee and just leave.

I see my shirt on the chair and pull it over my body as I make my way out to the kitchen. It’s only when I get to the doorway and see him standing there that I stop. I’ve been up for mere minutes and I’ve already been on a roller coaster of emotions. I soak in the sight of him. He has his shirt off, and his jeans are hanging low on his hips. I had figured he’d disappear this morning, but seeing him like this, half-dressed, lets me know that last night just wasn’t a fluke. He had to feel something too.

I try to play it cool and lean against the door watching him as he cooks breakfast. Damn, it should be illegal to look as good as he does.

He turns and doesn’t seem surprised to see me standing here, but he lets his eyes travel down the length of my body before making their way back up to my face. I swear it’s like I can feel his hands on me, and he’s not even close.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I shake my head. “Nothing’s wrong.”

He leans back against the counter, crosses his arms over his chest, and levels me with a look. “Did I hurt you last night?”

I pull at the hem of my shirt. He did a lot of things last night, but hurting me was not one of them. “No. You didn’t hurt me.”

He nods his head, still watching me. “Okay, did I do something wrong?”

I tilt my head to the side. “No.”

He puts his hands on the counter behind him and watches me closely. “So what’s going on then?”

I bring my hands together in front of me and am on the balls of my feet. I could sprint over to him in an instant, and I’m barely holding myself back. I want to be near him, but I’m not sure what the protocol is here. “What do you mean?”

He straightens from his leaning position and takes a few steps toward me and then stops only coming halfway. “Well, if I didn’t hurt you and I didn’t do anything wrong, then why are you all the way over there?”

I clasp my hands together. The truth is I don’t want to be all the way over here, and I’ve been fighting my desire to run to him this whole time. “I was trying to give you space.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “I don’t want space… not from you.”

I walk slowly toward him, and right before I reach him, I stop. It would be so easy to just fall into whatever it is he’s offering, but after last night, I know I need to practice some kind of self-preservation. I’m already in love with him, but he doesn’t need to know that. “I’m not sure what this is, Elias, but I know I won’t survive you leaving me again. I need to guard my heart.” I suck in a breath as I lie through my teeth. “We need to keep this light and just have fun. No promises this time.”

His forehead creases. “Have fun?”

I nod. “Yeah. And no expectations.”

I can’t read the look on his face. Is he relieved? Disappointed? I can’t tell, and the longer we stand here with him staring at me, the more uncomfortable I get.

His jaw tightens. “What exactly does that mean, Chloe? No expectations?”

I cross my arms over my chest and start to ramble. “I told you I forgave you and I do. And I’m not the type to throw things in your face but…”

I let my voice trail off, and he asks, “But what?”

“But… you hurt me, Elias. You chose to push me away instead of letting me be there for you… where I wanted to be. I don’t want to feel that kind of hurt again.”

He blanches and looks ashamed. “I get it.”

We continue to look at one another, and he takes a step toward me. His hand goes to the side of my face, and he brushes a finger down my cheek. I should have taken a look at myself before I came out here. I’m sure my makeup is smudged and my hair is everywhere, but he’s looking at me as if I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. “Like I said, I get it. But I DO have expectations.”

Being this close to him makes my emotions go haywire. “You do?”

He nods as he cups my chin. “Yes.”

I swallow. “What are your expectations?”

His voice is husky. “While we’re doing this—having fun, you called it?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

He continues as he steps toward me, and I can feel the warmth off his body. “Well, while we’re having fun, are you still going to be dating other men?”

I shake my head with my eyes wide. “I’m not dating…” I let my voice trail off when I remember that I was just on a date with Ronnie a couple of weeks ago. I swallow and ask him, “Do you not want me to date anyone?”

His eyes go three shades darker until they’re almost black. “You’re mine… while we’re doing this, Chloe, and I don’t share. No one touches you but me.”

I lift my hands to his chest, and he sucks in a breath. It’s nice to know that I affect him the way I do. He reaches up and presses my hands against his chest, holding them there all while looking into my eyes. “Can I ask you something?”

He gives me one nod. “You can ask me anything.”

Since he’s got his hands on mine, I can’t move them, so I lean into him, smashing my unbound breast into his chest. He lets out an “oompf” when I’m pressed against him and releases my hands to put them around my waist. I loop my arms around his neck and look him in the face. “And you? Are you going to be dating anyone else?”

He rolls his eyes. “I wasn’t interested in dating the last five years. You think now, when I have you right here, literally in my hands, I’m going to date someone else?”

I lift my shoulder. “Date? Hook up? Fuck? Whatever you want to call it.”

He chuckles. “The only one I’m dating, hooking up with, and fucking is you. Got it?”

I smile because how could I not? His hands slide down across my lower back, and he palms my ass, pulling me up so I can feel his hard manhood pressed into my belly. “You know what I want?” he asks.

“What?” I stutter.

“The last time I was here, you asked me to shower with you. Does the offer still stand?”

I lean my head back to look up at him. “You want to shower with me?”

He lets out a gruff breath. “I do. That’s all I’ve thought about since you asked me that night… but if you—”

I cut him off. “Don’t you dare think I’ve changed my mind.” I reach behind me and grab his hand and then start tugging him along with me. “Let’s do it.”

He follows closely behind me, and I don’t stop until we’re in the bathroom. I turn the water on hot and then face him as I remove the one piece of clothing I’m wearing. He’s on me in an instant, and his hands are everywhere. I kiss his chest, then go to my tiptoes so I can reach his mouth. The kiss is electric, and my whole body ignites under his touch.

I pull out of his arms and step into the shower, letting the water rain down over me. He’s stepping out of his jeans when I turn to face him, and when he stands up, his cock is already hard and standing straight up as if it’s pointing at me.

He wraps his hand around his impressive erection and just stares at me. “Fuck me, you’re like a fuckin’ dream, Chloe.”

I let my hand slide between my thighs, and I’m soaked. “You mean, a wet dream?”

He steps into the shower and pushes me against the wall. The kiss is all-consuming, and I let him take control. When his hand slides between my legs, I widen my stance, wanting to give him full access. As his fingers skate over my clit, I go to my tiptoes and lift my hips, pushing into his hand.

“I need you, Elias. I need this.”

He lifts me up, leaning my back against the shower wall. He aligns himself at my core and then slides me down his length. He takes it slow until he feels me completely. “You feel so good. Please don’t stop.”

He thrusts into me, and the whole time he takes me, he repeats the same word over and over. I’m not even sure he realizes he’s saying it, but I know I’ll never forget it.

“Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.”

And he’s right. I am his. I have been for the last five years, and whether he realizes it, wants it or not, I’ll be his forever.