“We’re not going to sleep tonight.”

I moaned when his teeth raked across my nipple, and gripped his hair in my hands. “Sounds perfect.”

Chapter Twelve

October 4, 2013

Paisley

ELI SMILED WIDELY at me when I walked into O’Malley’s that next Friday. “Come here, beautiful.”

I smiled against his kiss and felt myself relax in his calming embrace. I loved this man. I loved the way he made me feel. I loved how he—

“Your nine o’clock is from a long time ago, and she’s been hinting hard for the last thirty minutes. Mind helping me out tonight?”

What? No, he wasn’t about to do this to me again, this wasn’t happening. My body locked up as hundreds of nights that had begun just like this one flooded my mind.

No, no, no, no, no! This isn’t happening!

Eli sat back down on the bar stool and pulled me between his legs. His lips brushed against my neck as he whispered in my ear, “Christ, I thought you would never show up.”

“Are you kidding me?” I gritted through clenched teeth, and pushed against the arms holding me close.

I felt his body tense and his lips pause against my neck for a few seconds before his eyes were directly in front of my own, but his hold never loosened. “What’s wrong?”

“I have been your wingman for twelve years, Eli Jenkins. You’re not about to keep treating me like one.”

His eyes widened in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“This, what you’re doing right now? It’s what you’ve always done. Use me as a shield from the exes and the crazies so you don’t have to deal with them, and then push me back as soon as they’re gone.

“Pay,” Eli spoke up, the confusion in his eyes turning to amusement, but I kept talking over him.

“The words, the kisses against my neck, the way you’re holding me . . . all of it. I’m not doing—”

My rant was cut off when Eli tipped me back against the bar and pressed his mouth firmly to mine. His large hands squeezed my waist then dropped down toward my hips when his tongue slowly slid against mine; and by the time he was nipping my bottom lip, I had forgotten we were still in the bar.

“Now if you’ll let me speak,” he murmured against my lips, then pressed another gentle kiss to them. “I’m sorry, all of that came out wrong in the beginning, that was my bad. I wanted your help in letting her know that I’m taken, not in just getting rid of her because I didn’t want to have to deal with her again. But you’re right, I shouldn’t have said or done that.” Eli sat back on the bar stool and pulled me close. His tone was low and serious, and his eyes were staring intently into mine. “You already know how sorry I am for everything I ever did to you and how I treated you before. I could apologize for that for the rest of my life, but it wouldn’t help us move on from it. But I am sorry for tonight, I didn’t mean to make you feel like a wingman again. Soon everyone will know that I belong to you. Soon we won’t have to deal with these girls anymore, and I’m sorry that you have to now.”

A shaky breath left me when he leaned forward and pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth, and my body slowly started relaxing again. “I may have overreacted . . . kinda,” I mumbled lamely, earning a low laugh from him.

“Start over?” Eli offered.

My mouth curved into a smile, and I nodded against him. “Please.”

In a move that had my head spinning, Eli turned to the side and pushed me a few feet away, only to pull me back so I slammed into his chest. “God, Pay, I’ve missed you,” he growled against my mouth, and kissed me through my laughs.

“You’re ridiculous,” I murmured, and kissed him lightly once more. “But thank you.”

With a wink, he got settled in his seat again and pulled me close. “So how was your day?” he asked, and reached for his Guinness.

“It was long, I was just ready to get here.”

“A particular guy couldn’t have something to do with that . . . could he?”

I raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “I don’t know, is he a giant?”

Eli grinned. “A beast.”

“Look kinda like Lurch?”

“Only after a night where his girlfriend wore him out.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks and I looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to us.

“Speaking of,” he murmured into my ear. “Are you trying to kill me with that outfit, Paisley? I’m not going to make it through the night if I have to look at you in this.”

I frowned and looked down. I had a reason for wearing this; I just didn’t think he’d like the actual outfit. I was in a loose black cotton skirt, and a dark gray shirt that hung off both shoulders but was extremely form-fitting around my waist and hips. Granted, the skirt was ungodly short, but, then again, so was I. This outfit was not sexy; I’d wear it hanging out with Kristen in a café.

“Uh . . .”

“Do you know how hard it is not to touch you when there’s nothing stopping me?” Eli asked, and my breath came out in a rush. “Do you know how badly I want to take you into my truck right now to show you what I think of you wearing it?” He pulled me forward another inch and I tried to keep my expression neutral when I felt his erection on my stomach. “Do you realize I’m thinking of all the ways to make you moan when I get you back to my apartment tonight? And all the ways you’re going to beg me not to stop once Sunday is here?”

If we even make it to Sunday, I thought to myself. I bit back a smile and pulled away enough so I could look at him. “Glad you’re enjoying it.”

“Tease.”

“You have no idea.”

His eyebrows shot up and his blue eyes took on a heat I was becoming familiar with. “That’s it, we’re leaving.”

“Hey!” Kristen called out. “Sorry we’re late.”

I smiled mischievously at Eli when a defeated look crossed his face.

“Why don’t I trust that face?” he asked.

“Probably because you shouldn’t.”

“What are we talking about?” Kristen asked as she sat down next to Eli.

I looked over at her and grinned widely. “Ways to drive Eli crazy until he gets me alone.”

She had an oh-really expression on her face, and Jason looked like he’d swallowed something horrible. Conversations that had to do with anything remotely related to sex, he didn’t want a part of. “Honeymooners,” they both grumbled.

“Whenever you want to stop being adorable and pawing all over each other, let us know. The real world is ready for you to rejoin the cult of people who have normal lives.”

“That sounds boring.” Eli wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me back since I’d been inching toward Kristen, and rested his chin on top of my head as he reached for his glass.

“You should go two weeks without sex,” I blurted out, and Eli started choking on his beer.

Kristen rolled her eyes. “You mean two weeks without is uncommon?” she asked dryly.

Jason let his hand fall heavily to the bar and sighed. “I need a beer!”

Kristen fought a smile, but her shoulders shook from her silent laughter. I heard enough from her to know they weren’t having problems in that department, but torturing Jason was too good an opportunity to pass.