Page 66 of Dare (Fighting Fate)

Eli frowned. He didn’t seem happy with that, but it was something he’d just have to deal with. “Why didn’t you answer your cell, Jess? I’ve been going out of my mind. I had no idea where you were, or if you were in trouble.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, but I wasn’t able to keep the happiness out of my voice. “But I really am okay. I promise.”

“So, uh,” Wyatt, said, cocking his head to the side, “how long has this been going on for?” He was trying to sound stern, but it was more than obvious he was amused.

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Noah said, smirking as he came toward us, a cuffed Zac being hoisted to his feet by a couple of uniformed police officers behind him. “I’d like to say I’m pissed neither one of you mentioned it, but I’m pretty freaking happy Eli’s finally got his head out of his ass.”

Eli rolled his eyes. “Fuck off,” he said, putting an arm around me, but he was smiling. “And it only happened last night. She bullied me into it.”

Wyatt threw his head back and laughed. “The redhead strikes again!”

I smirked at Wyatt’s obvious happiness. “So a new guy, huh?” I asked, amused at this carefree Wyatt.

He shrugged, but he smiled. “What can I say?”

“Okay, spill. Who is it?” I asked, strangely happy about my ex finding happiness.

Wy

att rolled his eyes and laughed. “You don’t know him, petal. But he’s hot, and I might be a little bit in love.”

Giggling, I took Eli’s hand. It may have been a strange sight to anyone who vaguely knew us, but, as the four of us started making our way toward the bookshop, it felt very right. Life was just about perfect.

Chapter 48

Eli

The lights flickered above me a second after the sound of thunder rumbled through the apartment. Rubbing my eyes, I slid my laptop onto the couch beside me and groaned. Damn it. How had it gotten so late?

Sighing, I dropped my head back onto the couch and closed my eyes, only raising it again when I heard rustling coming from the stairs. As Jess appeared around the corner in just a tank and a pair of panties, her bedhead wild and sexy as hell, I smiled. “Hey, baby. What are you doing awake?”

As she shuffled her way toward me, her gaze moved over the couch, her eyes narrowing on my laptop still humming away. “Are you still studying? You know it’s like two in the morning, right?”

She stopped in front of me for a moment before sighing and climbing to straddle my lap. Sliding my hands over her ass, I pulled her against me, instantly hard. I didn’t know how she did it, but I felt as though I was in a constant state of arousal whenever she was near me. The fact that she seemed to want me just as much was an added bonus.

“Yeah,” I said, answering both questions at once. “I’m sorry, baby. I know I said I’d be up earlier. I kind of got caught up reading some transcripts. I didn’t realize how fast the time was moving.”

Her hands moved over my chest as she watched me. “It’s okay. I was just worried about you. I thought maybe you’d fallen asleep. Are you done now?”

“Oh yeah,” I said, closing the laptop to prove it. “Come on, let me take you back to bed so you can get some more sleep.”

She wriggled on my lap, rubbing herself over my cock. “You can take me back to bed, but I’m not going back to sleep until I’ve had you inside me.”

I sighed and let my shoulders drop in an exaggerated move. “If I have to . . . ”

As one side of her mouth curled up with amusement, she slowly crawled her way off me. I shook my head at how she made even that look damn sexy. Or maybe it was just the heated look she had in her eyes as she did it. Either way, it made me crazy fucking hard for her.

Taking my hand, she lightly tugged, commanding me to stand, and, of course, I obeyed. I knew I’d been a complete fucking idiot with her in the past, but I was done with the excuses now. Now, there was no turning back. I’d never do anything to hurt her again.

As she towed me toward the stairs, I thought of the comfortable routine we’d settled into these past few days. It had only been a week since the day she’d put her ultimatum on me, but it had been the easiest—and best—week of my life. I tried not to think about it too much, but it was hard to not feel like kicking myself for not having the balls to do this with her a long time ago. Like I said, complete fucking idiot.

She squeezed my hand as she started up the stairs, flicking the lights off as she moved. When we reached her room, I spun her around, taking her mouth in a searing kiss. When I let her go again, I lightly smacked her on the ass. “Go get naked for me. I’m just going to freshen up.”

Giggling, she sauntered into the room, glancing over her shoulder with that killer smile of hers as she went.

Quickly freshening up, I dried my hands and face, my mind wandering to a conversation I’d had with Noah the day before. I’d forgotten about it with all the things we’d busied ourselves doing the last twenty-four hours, but now it was on my mind, I was going to get some answers from her. Or at least tease the hell out of her trying.

Moving back to her room, I stripped off my clothes and stalked my way over to the bed. Jess lay naked, just as I’d asked, her legs positioned so one was bent seductively. “So,” I said, grinning with intent as I crawled over the bed, “rumors have reached my ears, Jess.” Taking her hands, I pinned them on the bed beside her head, lowering my mouth to hover only millimeters away from her neck.

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