“I know. I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t know what happens now, Elena. I don’t know if I still have a seat.” His voice was so vulnerable, soft. Not like him.
A tear prickled at the corner of my eye. I could barely fathom what he was going through now. And I was the cause. This was damn complicated.
“I’m so sorry. I put you in this position and I have no way to fix it for you.”
“No,” he said, his voice more firm. He shook his head. “You didn’t cause this. It was Ross. He did this. You exposed the truth, but if it hadn’t been you it probably would have been someone else. These things never stay quiet forever.”
I pressed my lips together, disarmed by his generous attitude. I shuffled closer, needing to feel his warmth. I rose up on my knees and placed my hands on his cheeks.
“Aleks,” I whispered, leaning close enough to kiss him. “I’m right here with you. No matter what.”
He nodded, then looked right into my eyes. The sadness in his was heartbreaking. He moved forwards and captured my lips in a tender kiss. Warm, pliant, brushed with quiet need. When our lips parted again he searched my face. His hands were planted on my hips. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for, permission maybe? If so, I don’t think he found it. I would have gone further with him right then, but he pulled back and slid off the bed.
“I should go.”
“No,” I said, suddenly desperate for him to stay. “Don’t. I need to sleep, but you can stay. I want you to.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Just sleep. I insist.”
“Okay,” I said, a tiny prickle of rejection stirring under my skin. Was our relationship ruined now? Didn’t he want me that way any more?
“Cute night dress by the way,” he said, smirking slightly as he looked me up and down.
“Thanks,” I said with a little smile.
He pulled back the duvet and I crawled in under it. I watched him tug off his Obsidian polo and toss it aside with a sour expression on his face. He unfastened his jeans and slid out of them, then climbed into bed beside me in just his boxers. I could work with that.
He drew me against his body, wrapping his arms around me. I snuggled into the crook of his arm and rested my head on his shoulder. I fully intended to take advantage of this gorgeous, lean man in my bed, but the weight of the day, of the long hours of travel, all hit me at once and within moments, I was asleep. All cares and worries leached from my body now that I was safe in Aleks’s arms.
Chapter Thirty One – London
Elena Archer
Warm light filtered through my eyelids and Aleks’s firm body was pressed against my back. His right arm was tucked under me and reached around, his hand gently cupping my left breast. His other hand ran in lazy circles on my hip, nudging the hem of my night dress up with each circle. His hard length pressed against my thigh. My eyes peeled open and I nuzzled my backside back against him with a soft murmur to signal my consent.
“Hmm, morning.” His voice was slightly husky.
“What time is it?”
“Nearly eight.”
“I never sleep that long, I must have needed it.”
“I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Yes you did,” I grinned and wriggled against him again. “You want me.”
“Always.”
“Even when we fought?”
“Especially then. But that shouldn’t be an invitation to argue more often.” He nuzzled his face against the curve of my neck and kissed my warm skin.
