Oh my God, he’s bringing up our kiss.
The only thing I can focus on is taking in oxygen because the rest of my body feels paralyzed. But he’s pissed me off now, which means sassy Elodie is ready to showcase her skills.
“So, we’re gonna talk about that finally?” I quip.
“You didn’t bring it up either,” he fires back.
“Well, you’re not the easiest man to talk to. The king of avoidance, some might say.”
His hand moves up my arm and onto my shoulder as he toys with the hem of my tank top. “You’re right. And that’s exactly why I ran away from you that night, Elodie.” He drags his nose up my neck. My eyes close instantly, savoring every second of his touch. God, it feels so good to be touched by someone that Iwantto touch me—not a man who thinks I owe him my body.
“The night I went out with Warren,” he starts, his lips ghosting the shell of my ear. “I saw you singing to Remy and that’s why I left so suddenly. I couldn’t handle how it made me feel, so I ran.”
“Henley,” I say on a gasp. “I thought…”
“I know what you thought.” His teeth nip my earlobe and my bottom lip trembles. “You told me so when you yelled at me the next morning. But here’s the thing, Elodie. My actions have never been about my reluctance to accept my daughter in my life. Truth be told, becoming Remy’s father was something I barely fought.Youare what’s made me want to run, sweetheart.”
His words.
I’m finally getting words from this man and they’re making so many puzzle pieces start to snap into place. So I give him mine in return.
“I was jealous,” I say, looping my arm around his neck, holding him to me as he continues to toy with my ear and moves his lips back to my neck. “I hated the idea of you going out and kissing or touching another woman, especially after you told me that’s how you chase adrenaline now.”
“Jesus, El. Why didn’t you say so?”
“It’s not easy to be open with you, Henley. And then you kissed me breathless, and just…never said another word.”
“Then let me be clear when I say this.” He inhales deeply and then his voice vibrates across my skin as he continues. “You don’t need to be jealous of anyone else…because the only woman I’m interested in—is you.”
“Finally, some honesty from you,” I whisper while digging my nails into his hair and feeling my pulse rise yet again.
I’m standing here in this man’s arms and every nerve on my body is awake. Part of me wonders if I’m dreaming, but then I feel him press his erection into my back and I know without a doubt that this is real.
Dear lord, I want to feel all of him.
His voice is a mix between a groan and a growl. “God it makes me fucking hard when you call me on my shit.”
I turn to face him. “See? It’s a good thing I know how to usemywords.”
He presses his cock into my stomach, smirking as he says, “Oh, you certainly have a way with words, Elodie Olsen, and I’m beginning to think I don’t justwantyour voice in my life, Ineedit.” I’m temporarily awestruck because I think that’s one of the most beautiful things a man has ever said to me in one of the most erotic moments of my life.
“You drive me fucking mad, El. You make me feel shit I’ve never had to put a name to. I told you that you wouldn’t want to know what’s going through my head because all I can think about is kissing youagain, tasting you in other places than your mouth, and what those pretty little lips would look like wrapped around my cock before you gagged on it. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“Who knew that dirty talk was how I would get the truth out of you?”
His laughter vibrates against my skin. “Fuck.” His lips press against my temple. “But you deserve better than a fast and hard fuck. You deserve to be worshipped, and for the first time in my life, I want to take my time.”
Those words douse the lust rushing through me, replacing it with admiration. I wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m not sure what to say to that.”
His forehead touches mine, our noses brushing. I almost make a joke about how far he has to bend down to do that, but I refrain when I can hear the emotional pain lacing his words. “Just tell me that I’m not the only one who wanted that kiss.”
“You’re not,” I whisper immediately.
“Thank fuck.” When he lowers his head again, his lips brush mine in a kiss that is much sweeter than our first one, and Henley stays true to his word—he takes his time.
As he teases me with his mouth, I try to remember the last time I was ever kissed like this, and the answer comes to me quickly—never. I’ve never been kissed the way Henley kisses me, and that makes me terrified that I might never experience it again. “So, what happens now?” I ask breathlessly when we part.
“Now, you tell me the truth about LA.”
