Page 47 of The Art of Loving Ellie
I laugh lightly at his teasing and swallow hard, nervous that I may have changed something between us last night. “I—I think I owe you an apology.”
He quirks an eyebrow up at me. “For getting drunk, or for the booty call?” He’s all playful giving me a devilish grin, and moves his hand a little further down my stomach, inching toward the part of me that is currently on fire.
His movements are making it hard for me to speak, so I slam my legs together, not allowing him to go any further. “Um, y—yes. For both of those things. I should not have—” I gasp when he yanks my legs apart, going straight for the tender bundle of nerves at my center as he begins slow torturous circles over the spot with his fingers.
“The only thing you need to apologize for is answering your door in that sexy little purple number.” He gently swats me with his hand, right over where he was rubbing, and the sting in combination with how turned on I’m feeling drags a loud moan from my lips. “You just about killed me.” His mouth finds my neck and he nips at the curve of it while continuing his ministrations.
How did I ever find joy in life before this man? He throws the sheets off of our naked bodies, and the cool air causes goosebumps to break out across my skin. Rolling himself on top of me, I feel how ready he is for me as he comes in contact with the wetness between my legs that he alone has created.
He begins grinding against me without entering, and it’s driving me completely mad as I buck up to meet his thrusts. He narrowly avoids every one of my attempts, looking at me intensely. “Frustrated, are you? Well, two can play your little game, Princess.”
A growl rumbles in his chest, and he bites the sensitive spot under my right ear, none too gently, and my toes curl in response. Tyler lights my entire body on fire in a way no man before him ever has. He knows exactly how I like to be touched without me ever having to give him direction, and I think to myself how he isn’t just like this in the bedroom—but in every aspect of our short life together.
I throw my legs up, hooking them around his waist, and try my hardest to bring his solid form closer to me. I’m desperate for release, but he holds firm where he is with a smirk on his face.
“Are you enjoying torturing me?” I huff at him, giving up and falling back onto the mattress.
Something mischievous glints in his eyes. “Indeed.” He leans back, pulling my knees apart suddenly and exposing my sensitive flesh to his gaze.
I gasp, trying to close my legs, but his eyes are on fire, and he gently keeps pressure on my knees. This act is far out of my realm of comfort, but seeing his body wound up and silently pleading for its own release, I’m overwhelmed with the need to give in.
Ever so slowly I relax my legs open to him and excitement lights his eyes. His mouth goes straight to the center of my body, and he hungrily and completely devours me. My eyes roll back in my head, rendering me utterly speechless. Never in all my years have I felt such a pleasure, and I’m stunned by the sensations.
“Tyler. Tyler, please,” I beg him when I find my voice, and he peeks up at me after several minutes, proud of the work he’s done. He has bedhead, and his warm brown eyes bore into me as he waits for me to tell him what I want.
I search his eyes for answers and clues as to what our next move is in this crazy game we’re playing. This man ismine—and I’m amazed to know that this is what happiness with someone can feel like after finally letting my armor fall. This feeling…this is why they make romantic comedies, or books, or write about weddings in magazines! It’s because these emotions are undeniably intoxicating—and they’re all mine.
His gaze softens as he reads my face, and I give him a reassuring smile. Without saying a word, he brings his body over mine and gently kisses my mouth. His lips are soft and warm and his tongue finds contact with mine slowly and sensually as I spread myself further for him. Our bodies connect, and I feel a peace I’ve never known root itself deep in my soul.
He moves over me, holding my thin form to him with one arm, and supporting himself with the other against the bed. I’m riding every sensation he evokes from my body, and when I finally let go, I’m suddenly and forcefully hit with a realization. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy life before I met Tyler—it’s simply that there was no joy in my life before I met him.
∞∞∞
“We should probably get out of bed,” I laugh when he pulls me closer to his naked body and wraps himself around me like a monkey.
He kisses my forehead and closes his eyes. “Reality can wait.”
I groan, rolling over out of his hold to sit up. I grab the sheets and hold them around my nakedness for warmth. “Speaking of reality, I guess I can consider myself unemployed.” I pick at my fingernails, feeling a dark cloud begin to build inside my mind.
Tyler places a hand on the small of my back and rubs his thumb back and forth, comforting me. “Surely Alex will come to his senses and realize that he can’t lose someone as important as you.”
A small smile touches my lips at his compliment, and I reach back to place my hand over his bicep, squeezing it gently. “Thank you. I just can’t help but feel like I’ve let him down. I mean, I haven’t exactly been myself at work, no thanks to you,” I playfully nudge him, “and of course there’s still the matter of needing to procure an incredible piece for him by Christmas Eve.” I run my hand down my face, feeling the weight of the pressures in my life utterly crushing me.
“Christmas Eve?”
“Yeah.” I wave my hand around, brushing off Alex’s previous words to me in the studio. “He’s holding a fancy gala at his gallery, and he wants me to contribute something by then, ‘or else’.”
“So, he’s giving you an ultimatum?” He sits up to look at me.
“Something like that. I didn’t take it too seriously until he threatened me again yesterday by telling me that if I go to Texas, he’ll fire me. Now that I have time to process our argument, I think he’s going to have to fulfill his promise.”
Tyler takes a moment to think to himself. “It sounds to me like he’s scared of losing you.”
I scoff. “He sure has a funny way of showing it.”
We’re interrupted by the sound of my phone buzzing and I glance at Tyler questioningly, not sure why anyone would be calling me right now.
Glancing at the screen, I see that it’s Aunt Jane. “Hello?”
