Page 148 of New Growth
I waited for him to make a joke, to tease me for blurring the lines between our friendship after I made such a big deal about maintaining it, but he didn’t.
“Do you want to?” he asked.
My heart gave a traitorous kick in my chest.
“I—I…” The words lodged in my throat.
“Because we could,” he said, softer now, coaxing me.
My mouth went dry, and I already wished I had a drink to help with my courage.
“The idea of going further is… attractive,” I said carefully. “But what happens when the excitement fades and reality sets in?”
Elliot’s eyes pierced right through me.
“Why are you acting like I’ve never shown you how much I need you?” His voice was quiet but firm. “You think us sleeping together changes that? My feelings for you aren’t just lust-fueled, Ellie.”
I hovered over him, pressing my hands into the mattress, meeting his gaze head-on.
“Then tell me,” I challenged. “What exactly are your feelings for me?”
His hands slid down to my hips, gripping me with intention. Then, ever so slowly, he adjusted, lowering me until my thighs were parted over his waist, my body flush against the very obvious hardness between us, all while maintaining eye contact.
His voice was steady, each word laced with certainty as he punctuated them with a deep thrust.
“Affection. Infatuation. Protectiveness. Comfort. Desire. Adoration. Trust. Gratitude. Attachment. Respect.” His fingers flexed against my skin. “Do I need to go on?”
I swallowed hard.
“No.”
Then, without another word, I leaned down and kissed him.
Elliot met me halfway, his lips capturing mine with a slow, deliberate hunger.
His hands tightened on my hips, pulling me down against him as he deepened the kiss. The heat between us was instant. My fingers dug into his bare shoulders, desperate for something to hold onto as his mouthmoved over mine, his tongue sweeping past my lips in a way that made my breath hitch.
I shouldn’t be doing this. But God, I wanted to.
His hands slipped beneath the shirt he gave me, palms warm against my skin as he dragged them up my back. My hips rolled against his, chasing the friction that made my head spin.
His grip tightened, a low growl vibrating against my lips.
“Elliot.” His voice wrecked with restraint. “You keep doing that, and I won’t stop this time.”
But I didn’t want him to stop.
I did it again. This time, slower, wanting to feel every inch of him against me, even through the fabric that separated us. He moaned deeply before grabbing my jaw and forcing his lips on mine. My arms tightened around his neck as he wrapped me up, keeping me in place as I worked against him.
The pace picked up quickly, more heated than the lap dance I gave last night. More intimate too. He let me lead, matching my rhythm in both the kiss and the grinding. Heat pooled in my stomach as I worked him. I should’ve stopped. I know I should. But he just felt so good where I needed him to. His mouth was so inviting, greeting my tongue with a welcomed ease. His scent was intoxicating. His touch held electricity. I felt comfortable in his arms. Maybe a little too comfortable because before I knew it, the heat that pool leaked out. My back arched in pleasure, and I cried out slowly against his lips.
Fuck.
He paused, taking in everything that happened. “Ellie.”
“I’m sorry, I got carried away.”
I tried to pull away, but he held me in place. His hands flexed against my skin like he was battling something within himself. Then, in one swift motion, he rolled us over, pressing me into the mattress beneath him with pure hunger in his eyes. Unintentionally, I began to shake like I was freezing even though it was impossible with his warm body covering me. I couldn’t stop it and I didn’t know why. The last thing I felt was fear, but my body trembled anyway.
