I lean into her, whispering against her ear, “Just sit, sweetheart. You won’t hurt me; I’m a big boy.”
She releases a relieved breath, lowering herself onto my lap and resting her back against my chest. “Thank God, because my legs were killing me.” I chuckle, and her parents ignore us until the introductions are done and my sisters have chatted their heads off.
“Eleanor, how do you feel about a wedding in India?” Deepti asks. My eyes grow wide, and Adhira is already shaking her head, groaning.
“Mummy.” Adhira tsks. “Don’t make him feel weird.”
“If you’re not planning on marriage, then why are you living together?” Shaurya asks, further egging Deepti on.
“That depends—what month, Elijah, love?” Mum says, calling for me. I pop my head into the frame, reaching out to switch on the front camera so Mum and the girls aren’t just staring at the living room. “Is there something you and Adhira need to tell me?”
“Uh, not that I know of,” I answer, scratching the back of my neck.
“He might notnow, but they’re so good together. Eleanor, have you seen it? The way he takes care of her? How gentle she is with him?” she gushes. Mum’s eyes turn glassy. “They could be a love match.”
“Not in person, but I hope to someday soon,” Mum agrees. “They're really so good together,” she says, and my heart turns to mush. If only that were true in the way she meant it. Someday, I hope it will be. I just have to give Adhira time before we broach a new subject. It’s taken months to reach this point, and I’m not doing anything to mess it up.
“That’s enough of that,” I chide, trying to end the conversation, but Ellie snatches the phone from Mum, pressing her nose to the camera and smearing the lens.
“It’s story time, Lijah,” Ellie whines, and I have never been so happy for the interruption.
“Ellie, baby, don’t be rude,” Mum chides.
Shaurya raises his arms overhead, yawning. “I think we should be off to bed. See you in the morning,” he says, standing. We say our goodnights, making sure Adhira’s parents are comfortable before she joins me on the air mattress in my room, helping me tell my sisters a story about a princess stuck in a tower who learns, with the help of a few friends and a charming prince who is absolutely pathetic for her, that she’s never alone, and the truth will set her free.
CHAPTER
SIXTY-ONE
I rollover onto my other side, fighting to get comfortable on Elijah’s extra-firm, concrete slab of a mattress. It takes longer than I’d like, but eventually, my mind wanders enough that my lids grow heavy, and I drift into a dreamless nothing.
I’m dragged back into reality like a playground bully tugging my hair, except it’s just the sweet, devastatingly beautiful blond man tossing and turning on the air mattress below me.
“Elijah.”
“Hmm?” he asks, groggy.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
He pauses, shiftingagain,and the scraping sound of his body and sheets sliding against the plastic beneath him grates on my nerves. “Not particularly,” he says with a light chuckle that eases the annoyance bubbling inside me.
“Is there any particular reason you can’t sleep beside me, inyourbed?” I ask, scooting closer to the window.
I watch with a grin as he scrambles from the air mattress, tossing his hulking frame onto the bed beside me.
“No cuddling, Elijah,” I warn, but my tone holds none of the sternness it once would have. Instead, it sounds more like a playful invitation.
The more I’ve gotten to know him, the more I’ve grown to like—morethan like—him, and my desire to be touched by him has been a shocking development.
He snickers beside me, scooting closer, throwing an arm around my waist, and nuzzling his face into my neck. “I think you like my snuggles more than you let on.” His voice is a husky whisper.
I half-heartedly shove at his arm, but he only tightens his grip. “Are you a puppy, Elijah?”
“A puppy?”
“Mm-hm, cuddly and in need of back rubs and scratches behind the ear.” I reach back, scraping my nails along his skin.
“Puppies bite,” he says, nipping at my neck.
