Page 21 of The Storms Between Us
eighteen
I'm standingunder the shower head, letting the scorching hot water run over my body. I don’t care about the pain it's causing. It's nothing compared to the ache in my chest I feel right now. Today started out as an incredible day. Elijah sharing his home with me and everything that happened after that was better than anything I could have imagined. But yet again, Justin has taken something beautiful in my life and twisted it until it's become a living nightmare. He’s been watching me with Eli. How did he even find me in Grovewood? This town is barely on the map. I make a mental note to call Kelsea after this and ask her if she knows anything.
On the plus side, seeing the fiercely protective side of Elijah is something I could get used to. I've never been the ‘damsel in distress’ type. I’ve always been more of a Jo March or Katniss Everdeen, save my own damn self, independent type of woman. Sure, my brother has always been ridiculously overprotective, but we’ve been apart for so many years that I’ve learned to depend more on myself. Honestly, I enjoy being this way. It's wonderful to have a big, strong, sexy man like Elijah willing to protect you at all costs, but it's so much more valuable to be able to do it yourself.
I hear the bathroom door open and close. I can tell Eli is in the room even though he doesn’t make a move to disturb me. “Talk. I'm sure you and my brother have formed some kind of plan for whatyouthink is best formylife,” I say, emphasizing the last part.
“It's not like that, Ember. We just want to protect you,” he says, his voice strained with worry. I hate to hear him so distressed. I know he and Everett have the best of intentions. It just rubs me the wrong way that neither one of them asked my opinion on the matter. Sure, I cried after I read the note Justin left. But I got my shit together pretty quickly. I'm not some simpering little girl who can just be carried around like a rag-doll.
“I understand that, Elijah. Do I get a say at all in any of this? Or am I just supposed to nod my head and smile about whatever you both decide?” I know my voice sounds a little more bitter than I intended, but I can’t help it.
“How about we make a deal, sugar? I’ll tell you the plan we’ve come up with, and once I'm done explaining why we think it's for the best, then you can change any part of it you want as long as you can tell me why,” he bargains with me, still keeping his distance behind the shower curtain.
I lean my back against the shower tile, crossing my arms. “Go ahead. Give me your plan.” I roll my eyes behind the curtain because he can’t see me, anyway.
“I’m gonna call tomorrow morning and see about getting a better alarm system put in here, something that monitors all the doors and windows that we can access remotely,” he says.
“Ok, that sounds reasonable. But I’m paying for half of whatever you decide to put in.” I force strength into my voice and hope he won’t argue. I hear him grumble, but he doesn’t object, at least not out loud. “Go on,” I say, considering his silence a win.
“We have no idea where this asshole is, Ember. He could be all the way back in Durham, or he could be right down the street. I have a buddy who has a knack for tracking people down. I'm gonna reach out to him tonight and see what he can find out. Until we figure out where the hell he is, Everett and I would both feel more at ease if you came to the shop with us when we’re both working. I know it sounds like a big ask, and I know how much you value your independence. But I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to focus on anything at work if I know you’re here alone, babe.” I know he's playing on my emotions by telling me it would make him and Everett more comfortable, but a part of me also knows they’re right. If I’m honest, I’m not sure I want to be alone here, anyway.
“Okay, I think I could do that,” I mumble. The shower curtain slides opens abruptly and I'm staring into Elijah’s piercing blue eyes.
“You’re really not gonna put up a fight here?” He asks, obviously surprised by my quick acceptance.
“I'm not gonna say I like the idea of having babysitters all the time,” I say, placing my hand on my hip, “but I know it's the best choice. Strength in numbers and all that. Besides, I’m not super fond of the idea of being here by myself if both of you have to be at the shop,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders.
Before I know it, Elijah is stepping into the shower, fully clothed. He wraps his arms around me tightly, the tension in his shoulders releasing slightly.
“Honey, you do realize you’re still fully clothed, right?” I ask with a grin.
“Yep,” he says, not lifting his head from the crook of my neck for even a second. He takes a deep breath, seeming to center himself as he holds me tighter.
“And you realize you’re probably gonna ruin your boots, right?” I ask.
“Don’t care,” he replies. I wrap my arms around his waist and rub my hands down his soaking wet shirt. I’m filled with gratitude that this man cares for me so much that he is this relieved to know I won’t fight him about my safety.
“If you wanted to join me, you just had to ask,” I say seductively, trying to ease his tension even more. He hesitates a moment longer before pulling away from me. I almost think he's gonna leave me here, wet and wanting. He steps out of the shower and kicks his boots off by the door. He strips his soaking wet t-shirt over his head, revealing the delicious tattoos of branches and vines that run from the top of his hands, up his forearms, across his collarbone, and finally snake down his torso. They disappear right below his belt, and I always want to follow their path. He is a seriously beautiful man. I’d love nothing more than to run my tongue over every inch of those tattoos. He quickly strips out of his jeans and boxers before stepping into the shower behind me. I wrap my arms around his neck and lay my head against his chest. His arms encircle my waist, squeezing me tightly before placing a kiss on my wet hair.
“I love you, Ember. I promise I’ll protect you. He’s never going to touch you again,” he says with a conviction I have no choice but to believe.
“I know you will, Eli. I love you, too,” I say, reaching up and pulling his lips down to mine.
