Chapter Eight
Thursday, June 30, 2022
The following week was uneventful. Elijah wentto work, grateful for the reprieve from traveling. The second half of the year was generally when he was gone the most, so he spent time with his assistant going over his schedule, trying to figure out the best way to consolidate to keep him home more.
At the beginning of his relationship with Sam, Elijah used his job as a means of keeping himself level, taking the days necessary to balance himself when he realized he was falling in love with her. Somewhere along the way, he’d grown to hate leaving her, not getting to see her every day, wake up with her in his arms. In fact, in the past seven years, he’d turned down three job promotions because of it. Promotions that would’ve ultimately tripled his pay and added his name to the list of presidents of the company. For him, Sam was more important than money or any ridiculous job title.
With the last promotion they’d offered him nine months ago, Elijah had kindly informed them he would not be interested unless a role came open that kept him at home one hundred percent of the time. And now, there was a rumor going around that the regional vice president was slated to move up, which would leave his role up for grabs. On Tuesday morning, his boss had called, requesting Elijah to consider taking it. Nine months ago, he would’ve jumped at the opportunity. Shit, even six months ago. But now … now, Elijah wasn’t sure what the right move would be, thanks to the tension that his relationship with Logan was causing.
Because his office was gearing up for the July Fourth holiday, there were a lot of people out, taking advantage of a long weekend and extending it by a couple of days. Elijah had opted to do the same, taking off Friday, although he knew Sam and Logan had to work. He didn’t mind being at home alone, and right now, he actually looked forward to it. His stress had reached astronomical levels due to his interactions—or lack thereof—with Logan. The man had shifted once again, keeping Elijah at arm’s length in a way that was getting more uncomfortable by the minute.
He started his day by sleeping in, rousing when Sam and Logan were getting ready for work, but drifting off again when they left him alone. He woke and had coffee and a bagel around seven, then caught the late morning news. When the talk shows started, he got distracted by his own thoughts, so he headed to their home gym. He spent half an hour on the treadmill, another twenty minutes with weights. Rather than take a shower after, he ventured out to the pool. He exhausted himself by doing laps, then relaxed on one of the lounge chairs in the shade while he checked his messages.
Sam had texted him to let him know she would pick up dinner on the way home because she would be working late. She warned him that Logan was coming home early but didn’t mention a time. Figuring it could be anywhere between three and five before he arrived, Elijah didn’t make much effort to do anything else. Just shy of four, when he was still home alone, he got in the shower, keeping the water cool to see if he could do something about his overheated skin. Oddly enough, it had nothing to do with spending the afternoon outside and everything to do with what was churning in his soul.
Yes. His soul.
He wasn’t sure what the hell was going on with Logan, and he wasn’t sure he even wanted to know anymore. This thing between them had become complicated. One minute he’d get worked up, eager to go toe-to-toe with the man in whatever way possible. The next, he was relegated to sitting silently because Logan’s brooding had darkened his mood.
Elijah washed up, intending to move on to the next thing he wouldn’t be doing that day, but he distracted himself once more with thoughts of Logan. So much so, he didn’t even realize he was stroking his soapy cock until he groaned, and the sound echoed off the tiled wall.
Leaning back against the cool tile, he spread his legs and gave his cock the attention it clearly wanted. His thoughts drifted to the night in the pool.
“This is not how I envisioned our relationship progressing.”
“Then stop.”
“Is this where you thought we’d be headed?”
“No.”
“But you want it?”
“Yes. But I’ll stop if you do.”
“Fuck that.”
Jesus. Why the fuck couldn’t Logan just give in already? They’d both admitted they wanted to, but something kept holding Logan back. Elijah couldn’t fathom what it could possibly be.
“I can’t stop this.”
“Neither can I.”
No matter where Elijah thought it was going, Logan continued to pull back on the reins, stopping them from moving forward. It was making him insane because he didn’t understand the man’s reasons. He couldn’t figure out if it was denial or fear, but there was a wall that was fortifying with each passing day.
Elijah grunted. “Why do you have to make it so damn hard, Logan?” He wasn’t talking about his cock, either.
“Even when she’s not here, she’s taunting us, Eli.”
“How so?”
“She dangled you in front of me. She made mewant.”
“Fuck,” Elijah groaned, dropping his head back as he let the memory of Logan’s hand stroking his cock take over. He could still feel the confidence in his touch, the way Logan stroked him as though he knew exactly what Elijah needed. He’d blown his damn mind in a way he hadn’t experienced before. The need he’d felt that night had been all-consuming, but it wasn’t just sex for him. At least he didn’t think so. Why couldn’t Logan see what was right in front of him?
He imagined Logan asking him what he wanted, what he needed, the way he did with Sam when they were pleasuring her.
“I needyou, Logan,” he said aloud. “That’swhat I need.”
