For the first time ever, I was home. I was the one who belonged in Tarek’s arms, under his body, in his bed. But what kind of waste of space did It make me, lusting after another woman’s man?
If only I had acted right—Tarek could have been mine. I could have been the one he called beautiful and wanted to be around. But I had ruined that. I broke his heart and now he had someone else.
I cried harder.
I know I didn’t deserve peace. Still, I allowed myself to accept the little I could get. I would give Maia her man back, once the shaking stopped.
Tarek scooped me into his arms and carried me to the sofa. Once he had the blanket up to my shoulders, he sat on the edge of the couch and pushed a strand of hair from my forehead.
“Ellie.” He exhaled. “How did it get this bad?”
“I’m not sure.” I sighed. My eyes fluttered closed. I knew words left my lips. I felt them seep out and into the universe. When I forced my eyes open, Tarek stared down at me with an unfamiliar expression.
I trembled.
“I-I’m sorry.” I managed.
…Then the sandman came.
He didn’t stay long. My nightmares had been too strong. They burgeon their way into my brain and forced me awake with a start. I was alone and it had gotten darker. Still tired, I pulled the blanket off, stuck my feet out and hurried to the bathroom. I washed my face and tried looking at least a little presentable before I went searching for Tarek.
I found him standing at the desk, palms braced to it while reading from a laptop. What caused my breath to catch in my throat was the fact he was shirtless. Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.
My feet carried me across the space, and I pressed my palm to his back. His body was hard and warm—just as I’d dreamed.
Tarek turned to look at me over one shoulder.
The look in his eyes should have terrified me. It was heated like a wild beast ready to devour his prey. But I wanted to be his prey. I wanted to endure every bit of his ardour I could get. Instead of backing away, I wrapped my arms around his body and dragged my palm down his toned abs to his belt. When he didn’t stop me, I slid one hand down into his pants while pushing to my tiptoes and bit his neck.
Tarek swirled, caught me by the throat and shoved me across the room until my back stopped against the wall. He breathed hard, hot breath bathed my face as he moved his mouth down to the side of my face. Having his large palm at my throat turned me on. My nipples tightened and I whimpered.
“I’ve warned you before, Ellie.” Tarek grounded out. “You need to be prepared to go all in. You have no idea what you’re playing with.”
I dug my nails into his sides, and he growled. He bit my earlobe and I grunted then moaned as he sucked on the spot beneath my ear. Before I could enjoy what he was doing to me, Tarek lifted his head and dropped his mouth on mine. The kiss was raw, wild and I wanted more. My brain screamed with happiness that didn’t have time to explode out my mouth. He shoved his tongue into my mouth, pressed his body into mine and used his free hand to tug at my shorts.
Yes!
Yes!
Please?
There were no doubts left—I wanted Tarek. He was the right kind of monster to give me what I needed, to take away the softness I had always gotten in bed. He was the only man to use my body like I deserved. I needed that—I needed him.
But before I could show him how desperately I wanted him, Tarek released me and backed up, his shoulders rising and falling. The darkness in his eyes called to me. When I reached for him again, Tarek backed away and stormed from the room.
“Tarek!” I called.
The only response I received, was his footsteps thundering up the stairs followed by a slam of a door.
Weak from what he’d done to me, from being on the brink of what would no doubt be one of the most powerful orgasms I’d ever have, I slipped to my knees. It was hard to catch my breath, to get my body to cool down. I struggled to my feet and hurried into the kitchen and opened the fridge and shoved my face in.
Neither of usdiscussed what had happened. Though I knew we probably should, I remained mute on it. I should have felt bad but all I felt was disappointed it hadn’t gone further. While the house fell silent for the night, I spent the entire night trying to plan a way to get him in my arms again. But by the time the sun rose and Kujo stopped by to bring us breakfast and snacks for the road, I had nothing.
While Kujo and Tarek spoke, I cuddled Six. I missed Lilah terribly and Six was the next best thing. I rolled a ball across the floor for the German Sheppard who ran for it, caught it in his mouth and brought it back. I giggled and rubbed his head before doing it again.
When it was time to leave, I hugged Six then climbed into the passenger seat of the Nissan GTR and pulled on my belt. Kujo stopped by my window to tapped me gently on the nose. I smiled at him.
“You’ll be okay,” he said. “Cobra is good people.”
