Page 14 of Carved in Ice (Made of Steel 3)

The lines around his eyes faded and it seemed as though he exhaled the pain.

It was the most glorious thing I had ever seen. It was better than some dumb constellation in the sky. It was real and tangible and wonderfully had nothing to do with Miles. “I don’t want to face any of this alone anymore.”

“It’s about time you realized that you don’t have to.”

I smiled. And when I exhaled, it felt like I let go of some of my pain too.

The awkwardness settled around us again.

“I like your glasses,” I said.

At the exact same time, Eli said, “I’m glad you came.”

Our words collided together and we both laughed.

Eli touched the side of his glasses. “I guess I should wear them more often then.”

I nodded. “It’s very Clark Kent of you.”

“Except I’m not the superhero who lives here.”

I sat down on the edge of his bed. “I’ve wished for a lot of things in my life. But I never wished for one of those. I've always preferred a knight in shining armor.”

Eli didn’t move forward, he stayed exactly where he was. “Summer Brooks, you are not some tortured girl that needs to be saved.”

I pressed my lips together. Four months ago when I thought I was going to die, I had told him that I didn’t want him to save me and that I didn’t need saving. Had my words haunted him like so much haunted me?

“I’m not asking you to save me, Eli. I’m asking you to take me as I am.” I realized I was holding my breath. For one second.

His eyes locked with mine.

For two seconds. He stepped forward.

For three seconds. He put his hand on the side of my face.

For four seconds. The silence settled around us.

For five seconds. I leaned into his touch. For the first time, it didn’t feel like he was making my skin burn. Or maybe I had just lost the fire in me.

Chapter 7

Monday

For the first morning in months, I woke up with a smile on my face. I was surrounded by the smell of citrus and sunshine. It was one of my favorite smells in the world. Just from his intoxicating scent, I would have known I was near Eli even if his arms hadn’t been wrapped around me. I slowly opened my eyes and found Eli staring at me.

“God you’re beautiful,” he said.

“Were you watching me sleep?” I tried to block my face from his view.

He pulled my hand away and placed a gentle kiss against my lips.

I laughed and squirmed away from him. “Don’t kiss me, I have morning breath.”

He caught me around the waist and pulled me back against his chest. “Try to stop me.” His lips met mine again and I didn’t resist him at all. I'd asked him to take me as I was. He seemed more than ready to do just that.

“You know what we need?” I asked as I smiled up at him.

“To stay in here all day?”

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