“An entire weekend. But only if you get your ass in gear. If not, we’ll miss our flight slot.”
We make it to the Frazer plane. Claudia is waiting to greet us.
“Lovely to see you again, Claudia.”
“You too, Ms Dawson.”
“Pen,” I correct her. I hate formality. Everyone in my office is on a first-name basis. I ask for respect. I don’t demand it. Calling me by my surname does not command respect. It simply makes me feel old.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“Champagne?” Elijah drops in.
I nod.
Why not? We’re going away for the weekend, just the two of us.
“Certainly. I’ll get it now,” Claudia says before leaving us.
Elijah and I take our seats, his hand finding mine, interlocking our fingers.
“I can’t believe you organised this,” I say, my heart racing as if I’m going on my first holiday ever. “What on earth did you say to Xander? Did you tell him about us?”
“No. I simply said I wanted to get away, he was more than happy to oblige,” he says, before turning to stare at me. “I want to spend time with you, just the two of us. Lottie comes back next week.”
He doesn’t say it, but I know things will change.
He has a daughter who lives with him. I know Lottie well. I’m her godmother, after all. I’ve been helping with her homework for years, but what will she think about her dad and I being together. Elijah and I haven’t discussed it yet, but in reality, her parents have only just got divorced, and I’m not sure how she’ll take it if she finds out about us. Teenagers and parental relationships are a bigew,and ours is more complex than most.
I squeeze his fingers, letting him know I understand, and I do. Lottie will always come first.
Elijah and I are friends. We just need to enjoy each other while and when we can. Leave the future to sort itself out.
“Next Saturday?” I ask.
“Yes, her flights have been confirmed.”
“So we have a week. Then we can slow things down,” I say, trying to keep my voice matter of fact.
“It’s not what I want,” he tells me truthfully.
“I know. You like the sex,” I say, shoulder-bumping him, trying to lighten the mood. “We’ll make it work. I’m not ready to give up on all these orgasms yet.”
Elijah frowns, but Claudia reappears with our champagne before he can say whatever he was about to say. She pours us both a glass.
She leaves instantly, and I clink my glass to Elijah’s.
“To a fun and a wonderful sex-filled weekend,” I say, grinning.
“It will definitely be that.”
CHAPTER 45
ELIJAH
Xander’s island is beautiful.
The house, its surroundings, and the fact it’s totally private. It’s patrolled by a full-time security team that ensures all guests are protected and a team of staff who are well-paid and have all signed NDAs.
