Maybe it was time to rethink her stance on bras?
If Elias thought matching sets were sexy, she could break down and figure out something.
He slid one finger past the lace, teasing her folds. That was when coherent thought ceased. She whimpered and shifted her hips.
Elias broke the kiss and grabbed her panties. He pulled both those and her jeans down her legs, leaving her in nothing at all.
No man had ever looked at her like Elias did. Like she was desirable, sexy even.
They reached for each other, their mouths meeting in needy kisses. He tugged her forward on the dresser until she was in danger of falling off. But he was there.
She grasped his cock, giving it a stroke before guiding him to her entrance.
He thrust, and she gripped his shoulders, gasping as he filled her. She wrapped her legs around him and dug her fingers into his hair.
This wasn’t at all what she’d come to see him about, but she could neither stop herself from wanting this. Elias was the man she’d always wanted, and now he wanted her, too.
He wrapped his arms around her and thrust, surging into her.
Jo groaned and closed her eyes against the pleasure of it. One touch, a kiss, and she was so close. So damn close.
“Look at me?” Elias’ voice was ragged.
She pried her eyes open and stared back at him, riveted by the emotion she saw looking back at her.
This wasn’t just a crush or scratching an itch. There was real emotion between them, built on trust and years of knowing each other. Her insides quaked and part of her recognized those feelings while the rest of her shied away from them.
“Jo,” he groaned and thrust, changing the angle slightly.
“Oh!” She clutched his shoulders as every nerve in her body felt as though it were singing from pleasure.
“Jo?”
He thrust again, sending her over the edge into bliss. She clutched his shoulders and kissed his cheek, his shoulder. She was vaguely aware of his words as he continued to drive into her, drawing her orgasm out longer.
“You’re so fucking amazing,” he said.
She leaned back, overwhelmed by the sensation.
His motions were jerky now. He thrust again, clinging to her, and groaned his release. She hugged him close, lost in his words. The little girl in her who’d always wanted to matter hung on every one of them out of his mouth.
“You’re beautiful, you know that? You’re so fucking amazing and I’ve missed you. I love you—”
They both tensed as those three words left his mouth.
He loved her?
Fear was quickly eaten up by, hope? She’d always liked Elias. Maybe she’d even called him her first love in her own head. But could she be in love with him? Like, real love?
Elias eased away, only a few inches, but enough to look down at her. “I shouldn’t have said that. I, ah, got carried away.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
Why did she feel sad now? Did she love him? What if he didn’t want to love her?
“Jo?” Elias cupped her face and lifted her chin.
She made herself look at him. She wasn’t a coward to hide from things, though she really wanted to right now.
A sharp knock on the door interrupted stalled him from saying anything.
“Yo, Eli. It’s Zain. You still up?” a man called out.
Zain.
As in Elias’ boss.
“Shit,” he muttered.
“It’s okay, just stall him,” she said.
He made a face, but there was no getting around talking to his boss. She grit her teeth as Elias pulled out. He scooped up the towel and handed it to her.
“Gimme a minute,” he called out.
Jo grabbed her clothes and darted into the bathroom.
She’d just had sex with Elias—again, he’d said he loved her, and his boss was here. She didn’t know how to process one of those let along all three.
“Jo?” He tapped on the door. “I’ll go downstairs, okay?”
“Okay,” she squeaked out.
She listened to Elias move around the bedroom, then the final thunk of the door shutting.
The tension coiled inside of her wasn’t budging.
Jo cleaned up a bit more then got dressed, all while her brain kept repeating that one line.
I love you.
She could barely remember her mother ever telling her that.
Jo had been an accidental pregnancy. An unfaithful moment in a turbulent marriage. Her sister’s father had been hostile her entire life. Honestly, it was a relief when Mom divorced him. Too bad that relief had been short lived. Mom and her sister had aimed their resentment at Jo, because someone had to shoulder the blame when it came to being at fault.
All she’d ever wanted was to belong. The only times she’d felt that were when Elias was still part of their unit, and now.
God, she needed out of here.
Jo tip-toed out into the bedroom and found her phone still on the nightstand with her keycard. Elias was going to come back and want to talk. She didn’t think she could talk and be reasonable. Not tonight. Not after he’d said that.
So, she ran right back to her room. Not that it was far away. Elias knew where she was.
Five minutes of pacing and no better answers later her phone buzzed.
It was Elias.
Biting her lip she sat on the edge of the bed and tapped the message.
Back. Sorry that took so long. Coming with you tomorrow. Sleep tight.
She blew out a breath.
No apology or shrugging off his previous words, and for some reason she felt as though that were a win. Now, what the hell was she going to say to him tomorrow?
9.
Friday. Newark, New Jersey.
Elias stared out the passenger window of the cab at the city.
He hadn’t gotten a single moment alone with Jo since last night. She’d texted him back that morning, claiming she’d fallen asleep the instant her head hit the pillow last night.
Bull and shit.
There was no denying that Jo had run from him. That didn’t sit well with him, but he also knew he couldn’t force his feelings on her either. It wasn’t her fault he’d nursed this crush over the years. He just wished there was some time, a moment, anything, amidst all of this where they could talk.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Elias pulled the device out, only a little disappointed it wasn’t Jo texting him from the back seat.
It was Merida. Her job title was still evolving. Calling her the Office Manager or Zain’s assistant downplayed the pivotal role she played in things. And then there was last year.
He’d been the guy on-site when the disaster that was last Christmas began. Merida and her now fiancé were the only reason they’d all survived. It had forged a close friendship between them. Hell, he was closer to Merida than he was with his own sisters at this point.
Elias tapped the text, already groaning silently.
Why am I only now hearing you have a girlfriend?????
He breathed a deep breath.
Merida was in sister mode. Great. She got under his skin like no other. They butted heads. And at the end of the day, they would always be friends. There was something about surviving impossible odds together that built a bond that could not easily be broken.
Like what he had with Jo. Or hoped he did.
What if it was all one-sided?
No, he couldn’t go there.