Page 177 of Cross the Line
“And not all hurt is bad. Sometimes pain is the bringer of joy and pleasure.”
Hitching my thigh on his hip, I snuggle closer. The heat of his body is divine as I close my eyes and let myself melt into him—relishing the quiet murmur of his breath, the comfort of his scent seeping into my pores—until I feel him relax around me, his heartbeat slowing to a sleepy rhythm that lulls me with him.
***
“How did PT go this morning?”Jayden asks Eli when he enters the bedroom.
Jayden’s coming out of the shower, and even though Eli’s just arrived home, he looks ready to go meet Matheo for a low-key fundraiser at the downtown animal shelter. His sister is a volunteer vet assistant there while she’s finishing her degree in veterinary medicine, and in true team spirit, some of the guys are going to support her event and hopefully bring awareness to the nonprofit running it.
“Great.” Eli pauses behind me, watching as I gloss my lips. “Worked out the kinks in my shoulder and hip, and then met with Connie.”
With a soft smile, he drapes his arm across my chest, pulling me into him while I put on the hoops JJ gave me.
They match the blue-and-white daisy-embroidered knit cardigan I’mwearing over my short white tank. It crops at my waist along the high waistband of my loose jeans.
“I saw you talking to Dylan when I was heading to PT. He okay?” Eli continues, holding me while Jayden gives him a brief rundown on his conversation with their goalie.
“All in all, he’s coping. Terrified, but trying to remain positive.” JJ pulls on one of his fitted long-sleeve polos.
Eli’s watching me with a smirk while I ogle our man. “Want a dish to catch the drool?” he whispers into my ear, his voice warbling with a deep chuckle.
Heat blooms across my face when my stare flits to his. “Pot, meet kettle.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really? That flush on your face says otherwise.”
“Flush? What flush? It’s rosacea… probably spent too long in the steam room or sauna…” Nuzzling his face into my messy waves, he presses a hard kiss to my crown.
“Elijah Sylkes, you’ve had perfect skin on that pretty face all your life. You don’t know what rosacea or anything of the sort is.”
“You think I have a pretty face?” He sticks his tongue out at my mock glare.
I turn in his hold, flicking his nose when he levels me with a beaming smile. “Hi, Beautiful.”
“Hi, pretty love.” I hug him as hard as I physically can, scrunching my fingers into his rust-colored cashmere sweater with a long inhale.
JJ has the best T-shirts to lounge in, but Eli’s sweaters are to die for. And his scent on the wool is so warm and homey that I can’t help sinking deeper into him.
I’m literally rubbing myself all over him like a spoiled puppy when he asks, “Want me to leave this one for you, too?”
I nod, fully aware that he’s already worn a handful of other sweaters in the last couple of days and doused himself in his cologne so I’d have a good pile of them, along with JJ’s T-shirts, to wear while they’re away.
JJ’s laughing as he approaches us. With a quick peck to Eli’s temple, he strokes his thumb along my cheek.
“You guys ready?” he asks, grabbing his bracelet and watch from the tall dresser I’ve been using as a vanity.
“Yeah, Auguste and Court are waiting with Samson,” Eli says, begrudgingly releasing me to spray another quick spritz of his cologne on his sweater.
It sounds stupid, but it smells different when he wears it, as opposed to when I spray it on. It’s like his sweat adds to the warmth and musky softness of it.
Whatever it is, it’s perfect, and I can’t get enough of it.
***
“Ohmigod,”Courtney coos at a cute Dalmatian puppy that tumbles out of its bed. “I always wanted one. Ever since I watched the movie… ugh…”
“He’s up for adoption,” Livia croons quickly.
