His fingers slide along my side, grasp the material, and drag it up. Every inch of skin it trails over sparks with electric fire.
Underneath is nothing but a pair of lace panties and a matching lace bra, but Eli still sucks in a breath. His beautiful eyes darken, and he leans in just a little more, letting me feel the warmth radiating from his broad body. His gunmetal and clove scent rises, and I want to bury myself in it. My rose and lilac perfume rises to meet his scent, and it’s perfect. He slides one arm around my waist and pulls me to him. My hands find his warm chest, and I brace myself while he turns us. He walks me back several steps, never breaking eye contact with me, until the backs of my legs hit the edge of the bed and I would fall backwards if Eli’s arm didn’t hold me steady.
Gently, he sits me down on the bed and then kneels. His proximity to my middle makes my breath hitch and slick pool at my center. But he simply wraps a hand around my calf and brings my foot to his knee. He slides off one flat and then the other, then rubs his thumb along the arch of my foot and over my heel. The moan that slips from my throat is unholy in its desperation for his hands on my feet.
He works in harder, alternating from one to the other and then back again. His arousal is evident in the scent of the space between us, and when I look down, I definitely see a hard erection straining against his boxers. He lets go of my feet and then lays me down in his bed. I expect him to press in and lean on the fact that we’re both clearly aroused, but instead he pulls the plush hotel comforter up and over my shoulders, lightly tucking it in around me.
I feel my brow furrow in obvious confusion and question.
He chuckles. “As much as I’d like to get to know each other right here and now, you were asleep on your feet when you came to my door. When I take you, Softness, I want you to be awake and ready for me. Because I intend to ruin you.” His voice drops an octave lower at the end, and a delicious shiver works up my spine.
We watch each other for a moment, and I swear I feel his soul branding into mine.
His broad hand smooths over my hair and, noticing the space buns are still in, gently begins undoing my hair and letting it fall loose. He’s very careful not to allow anything to snag or become painful. His fingers run along my scalp when he’s done, and the feeling is so relaxing that I can already feel sleep trying to pull me.
“Are you going to come to bed too?” I ask, my voice quiet in the space. He smiles a little, and it might be my new favorite expression of all time.
“Yes, Softness. I’ll come to bed with you anytime.” He stands and comes around the bed, pulls up the covers, and slides underneath. I think he might stay on his side, but he slides all the way over, slips an arm under my pillow, and his other arm bands around my waist, pulling me flush to him. I can feel every hot muscle and every ridge of his cock pressing into my ass.
“Ignore that,” he coughs. I cover my mouth, but a little giggle slips out anyway.
“That’s easier said than done,” I say, wiggling my bottom just a little. A growl rips from the bottom of his chest, and his arms band tighter around me in an attempt to keep me still.
“Winnie, I meant what I said about needing you to sleep. Don’t make a liar out of me.”
I am very tempted to tease him again, but decide to let it go. With Eli’s scent and arms and presence all around me, it’s so easy to slip into a deep and happy sleep.
Winnie
I wake up encased in muscled arms, my face smooshed into a hard, bare chest. It’s warm and cozy, and I want to burrow into it forever and never leave. The scent of gunmetal and clove surrounds me. My legs are tangled in his. I wiggle just enough to free my arm from underneath me, and Eli’s arms tighten, pulling me more firmly into his chest.
“Good morning, Softness,” he whispers, and I feel the warmth of his lips brush my brow.
“Mornin’,” I reply, settling back into him. “Is this okay?” I ask.
He gives a soft hum of approval.
“It’s just… I thought you didn’t like a lot of touch,” I say, wanting to make sure he isn’t pushing his own boundaries because of me.
“Unexpected touch,” he clarifies. “Touch when I’m overwhelmed. I’m not overwhelmed right now.”
I relax fully in his arms.
After a few minutes of quiet, I shift again and come stomach to groin with something long and hard. My breath catches, sharp and immediate, and before I can stop myself, my scent curls around us as I perfume.
A low growl starts deep in his chest. “Softness, you can ignore that if you want,” he tells me.
“And what if I don’t want to?” I tease lightly. My heartis pounding now.
His eyes darken, the growl thickening. His head dips, and his lips cover mine. The kiss isn’t slow or tentative. It’s hungry. Possessive. His large hands slide up my sides, cradling my face.
His fingers slip into my hair, and I moan into his mouth.
He stills instantly, muscles locking.
I pull back. “What is it?” I ask, just enough to see his face. He blows out a breath like he’s forcing tension from his body. “Eli, whatever it is, you can tell me. We can work on this kind of stuff together.”
His ice-blue eyes meet mine, hopeful and wary, and my heart tightens. I can only imagine what he’s had to endure because of his differences.
