Why are my eyes on fire?Even through my closed lids, I could see the cursed sunlight, turning the insides of my eyelids bright pink. My throat was scratchy and dry, and my head was pounding again. I blamed the wine—it forced me to drink it. I groaned, then immediately regretted the unnecessary noise.
Elias's body had molded around mine while we slept, and his hand was thrown over my hip. I peeked under the blanket to see how close his fingers were from brushing against the place my renegade body desperately wanted them to brush. He was so close, and yet not close enough. My emotions were a ping pong ball, bouncing here and there. I wanted to roll over on top of Elias and I also wanted to run screaming for the door.
I opted for the less painful route and tried to slip out from under his hand so I could close the curtains. Whatever my body wanted to do with Elias, my eyes were burning like a vampire at dawn.
Eli had other plans. His hand gripped my hip, keeping me in place. He groaned in his sleep and pressed his pelvis harder against my ass. I sucked in a tremulous breath and enjoyed the sensation of having a mouthwatering man wrapped around me. Then I slapped his hand on my hip as hard as I could.
”What the hell?” Eli sat straight up, surprised by my wake-up call.
I rolled over, prepared to defend my action, but his face softened as he took in my shocked expression.
"Good morning to you too," I said with venom.
Elias raised one eyebrow and drifted his eyes down, lingering on my lips. He inched his gaze down my chin, then neck, to rest on my chest.Please let my boobs be covered up. I opened an eye and saw the edge of one nipple peeking out.Crap. I jerked the sheet up.
"What’s going on between us?" he asked. My mouth flew open, and my jaw unhinged.
"I can't, Elias. I can't. My body is screaming at me that I can, but Ican't."
His head dropped to the pillow. "I understand. But you know it would be completely acceptable for you to let go, right? You can move on. It’s been five years. You’re allowed to live."
I rolled out of bed and held my chin high, fighting my shame, as I stalked naked out of the bedroom. Leaning against the wall in the hallway, I inspected the spot the glass cut me the night before. There was a small dump truck bandage on it. I shook my head at the thought of my dorky best friend.Best friend? What the heck? I guess he is. I’d spent so much time training with him that I’d grown to know and love his big, goofy self.
The bathroom sparkled again and smelled like lemons. The broken wine glass was gone, and my overnight bag sat on the toilet. I brushed my teeth and downed two glasses of water out of the tap to rehydrate. After a quick shower, I dressed in my workout clothes and made my way downstairs.
Eli stood at the stove, shirtless, frying bacon. "I could smell that from the shower,” I said. “You're going to spoil me, and I won't want to go home. I love bacon! But, Eli, dear, didn’t anyone tell you bacon grease burns when you cook bare-chested?" I grinned awkwardly, trying to cut the tension between us. I supposed it was sexual tension, but I didn't know what to do about it, except ignore it. "Can I help with breakfast?"
"No."
I gave him an exaggerated sigh. "Well, then I'll get us some orange juice." I filled two glasses and sat on an island stool to wait for my breakfast to be ready. Racking my brain did no good. I couldn’t think of anything to say to make us feel natural around each other again.
The doorbell rang, and I jumped up in relief, hoping I’d get the chance to shoot someone."I'll get it!"
Elias jumped in front of me, slinging bacon grease from the spatula across the kitchen. "NO! You watch the bacon. I, uh, don't want you walking on that foot."
Bemused, I gawked at his retreating body, before grabbing some disinfectant wipes and wiping the grease off the kitchen wall. I paused when I heard voices.
"This has gone on long enough, Elias. It's time to end this farce." A familiar, masculine voice floated into the kitchen. I turned the bacon off as I realized what was going on; who that voice belonged to.
"You'll ruin everything if you barge in there." That was definitely Elias's voice.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I peered down the hallway Elias had disappeared into. I met the green frothy depths of Anthony's eyes, and ice filled my veins. I twirled around and bolted through the kitchen and up the stairs, desperately trying to get to my guns.
My panic helped me move faster. I couldn't even feel the sting of the cut on my foot as I pounded up the soft, carpeted stairs. I skidded into the bathroom and realized that only the bag with my clothes was there. I ducked out, beginning to panic in earnest, and my back hit a wall of muscular chest. Hands wrapped around my biceps. I shook as fight-or-flight filled every muscle in my body. My instinct was flight.
Slowly, my frozen body was turned to face my betrayer. I shoved my best friend to no avail. I knew I wasn’t strong enough on my best day to budge the beast of a man, but I shoved him again and again and again. The blatant sorrow written on his face was the only reason he let me continue.
"You said I was safe!" Sobby screams ripped out of my mouth. Being a girl was incredibly unfair sometimes, especially when extreme anger meant tears and sobbing. There wasn’t a single thing I could do to stop it. "You held me! You made me feelthings.Things I haven't felt in so long, things I shouldn’t be feeling!" I pounded on his chest with useless fists. I was too upset to even attempt to make my hits effective. "I have to get away from you." I turned and grabbed my bag. "Where are my guns?" I asked in a low, severe voice.
"I put them in my safe,” Elias replied.
My breath left me in a rush. I couldn’t get to a gun. I was defenseless again. Without a weapon, I was useless against Elias and Anthony, who could be anywhere in the house. I’d sworn when I began training that I’d never be vulnerable again.I still know how to defend myself.
"Riley, you are safe," Anthony called from downstairs. His voice grated on my nerves, and my head pounded again.
"Go away, Anthony!" I screamed. Elias, still blocking my exit from the bathroom, flinched. "And you... You can just let me go rightnow!"
Elias closed his eyes for a second, my words cutting him. I ducked under his outstretched arms and ran down the hall, heading for the front stairs. I hoped that Anthony was still in the kitchen, and I’d be able to slip outside before he could catch me. Twisting my bag around me, I carried it crossbody, so I’d be able to run.
