“Shiiit,” Luc said.
Tag muttered, “They crawl out of the woodwork, don’t they?” as Eli stood and excused himself from the table. Chicago was a huge city, but Crystal being at the bar where they’d first met and had often frequented wasn’t that big a surprise.
He walked to the booth. When Crystal spotted him, she leaned forward to whisper to her friends, who both scooted out and sidled by him.
“Hi, Crystal.” He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Eli.”
“You didn’t have to send them away. I won’t be long.”
“You didn’t have to come over.” Light blue eyes found his. “You didn’t want the shot?”
“If you wanted to talk to me, you could have walked over and said hello.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “That’s true. I guess I was afraid you’d be unkind.”
“Sounds like me,” he admitted.
“Sit for a second?” She gestured to the empty seat her friends had vacated.
He didn’t want to, but he sat.
“How have you been?” Concern etched her face, worry lines deepening her forehead. A typical reaction by anyone who saw him for the first time since he’d been back.
“Recovering,” he said. “Working. The usual.”
She chewed the side of her cheek, her lips sliding to one side. She’d done that when they were dating. Whenever she was debating saying what was on her mind. Sometimes she said it and other times she’d shake her head and say, “Forget it.”
“I was unfair—” she started.
“No.” He held up a hand to stop her from recanting or regretting anything. “You don’t have to say that.”
“I do. If only for me.” She inhaled, then looked at her hands when she said, “I should have been there for you. I was…” She shook her head. “I was—”
“Listen, Crystal. We’d already grown apart before I deployed that last time. When I came back, I underwent surgery, rehabilitation. I can’t blame you for saying I wasn’t what you signed up for.” Even though her words had hurt him, he couldn’t hold it against her. Losing his leg and not being a soldier any longer wasn’t what he’d signed up for either.
“I did say that.” Her mouth froze open. “But…it wasn’t the whole truth.”
Regardless, he wasn’t after a rehash. He’d moved on. He had Isa.
He blinked, the thought thunking into his head like a stray tennis ball. I have Isa. It was nice to have her, to know she was coming here tonight.
“We had a good run,” he said, trying for amicable. “I wasn’t the person for you and you weren’t the one for me. We were delaying the inevitable.”
“That’s true.”
It was true. But it hurt to think about the time they wasted, the pain they could have spared each other. He lifted an abandoned coaster and tapped the edge on the table. “Did you ever buy the house you wanted?”
“One like it.” She leaned back and then he saw her rounded belly. She was pregnant. He blinked several times to test his vision. “And a husband and a dog. A little mutt.”
He swallowed thickly, tried to push out a “congratulations” and failed. She’d moved way on.
“When I said you weren’t what I signed up for, I was only telling you half the truth.” Crystal took a breath and then blew out a confession. “I left you because I’d already met Ryan.”
Eli stared at her, stonily silent. His eyes went to her stomach again.
“My husband,” she needlessly clarified.
Crystal had always wanted the house, husband, dog—and baby—but Eli had been contented to live in the warehouse, to serve his country. She wanted a man to build a home with her and he wouldn’t have been able to give her that.
“I should’ve told you the truth, but I worried it would hurt you more knowing I’d met someone new.”
He studied the table, his world fracturing. What he’d believed—that he was too much of a burden, that there was no going back because of his physical changes—was never the truth. Crystal had found someone else—someone to give her the things she wanted.
“Eli. I’m so sorry.”
He looked up to find Crystal’s expression infused with regret.
“It was wrong of me to lie.” Her eyes left his to focus over his shoulder at the same time Eli felt a prickle of awareness at the back of his neck.
“This looks cozy,” a whiskey-laced, female voice announced. He knew that voice. Knew the timber of it when she cried out in pleasure and the sound of her husky laugh whenever he was fortunate enough to draw it from her.
He looked up to find Isa wearing a tight, red dress riding high on her thighs and cut low in the front. “You’re early.”
Isa shot him a black-lashed wink.
“Crystal Billings.” His ex introduced herself, chin up, smile polite. Her married name, evidently.
Eli didn’t miss his ex’s assessing rake down Isa’s body. He stood and wrapped an arm around Isa’s waist. “Crystal and I used to date.”
“Hmm,” Isa said, her smile holding a secret. She knew that part because he’d told her. He liked her knowing, and that was an epiphany in and of itself.
“We met here about a million years ago,” Eli continued. “Now she’s married with a house and a baby on the way.”
Crystal’s eyes flicked from Eli to Isa. “And a dog.”
“Congratulations to you,” Isa said kindly. She turned to Eli. “I’ll let you two wrap up.” Her dark eyes flashed in a way that he knew she was smiling at him from her soul. “I spotted Tag over there.”
“Be over in a sec.”
“Okay.” Isa’s voice was a whisper and because he couldn’t help himself, he lowered his face and softly brushed her mouth with his. Then she was off and he couldn’t help watching her go. She wore that dress like she was doing it a service.
When he refocused on Crystal, her smile was smaller than before. “She’s beautiful.”
“She’s also smart. Driven. Brave.” Crystal fell short in that last category. She hadn’t been brave enough to tell him the truth. He couldn’t decide whether he owed her thanks for that or not.
“I’m glad you said hello.” Crystal gripped her glass of what he’d originally assumed was a vodka tonic but now considered was probably a Sprite with lime.
“Are you happy, Crystal?” he asked.
She tipped her chin, her eyebrows closing over her nose.
“With the house, the husband”—he gestured at her stomach—“the whole nine yards?”
She moved her hand over her belly and shot him a beaming smile with absolutely no doubt hiding behind it. “I really am.”
“Good.” He meant it. She should have what she wanted. What she deserved.
“Are you happy, Eli?” Her gaze snapped from Isa and then back to him.
“I’m getting there.”
“It’s understandable.”
So lost in the idea of getting back to his date, he had to ask her to clarify. “What is?”
“The way you hold back. The distance you force. You’re cautious about committing.”
Old anger spiked in his chest and he mentally tamped it down. This was an ancient argument. One where Crystal would say he couldn’t commit and he would argue that he signed up to potentially die for his country, so how about that for commitment?
It wasn’t a road he was willing to repave. Not now. Not ever.
“I’m not trying to insult you,” Crystal said, and he could see in her earnest expression that she believed she was being sincere. “I can see the way she looks at you”—his eyes tracked back to Isa, who sat at the table with Tag and Lucas—“and I don’t want your hesitation to go ‘all in’ to ruin your chance at happiness.”
Now? Now she cared about his happiness?
His face warmed as his blood pressure shot up. What he wanted to say was, You accuse me of holding back when you couldn’t admit to moving on with the man you’re now married to? You didn’t think
you owed me an ounce of sympathy and a pint of explanation when you e-mailed me back to tell me you didn’t “sign up” for a man like me?
Instead, he forced a smile that probably came off looking like a grimace, and said, “Good luck to you, Crystal.”
“You too.”
He used the walk away from his ex-girlfriend to calm himself, not feeling much better for running into her. Not that he should be surprised. Whatever issues he and Crystal had when they split were still there—and he’d be foolish to think they could be put to rest after a two-minute conversation in a bar.
He reached the table, where Tag was delivering a glass of wine to Isa, who was wrapped in conversation with Lucas. Eli’s chest tightened at the sight of her, and not in a bad way. In a way that reminded him that as wrong as Crystal was for him, Isa was right.
Right. Had he finally found it?
“Lucas,” Eli interrupted, taking the seat next to Isa. “Stop flirting with Sable.” Isa put her hand on his and he felt instantly better.
“Sable?” Luc asked. “Is that a stage name or something?”
“Are you suggesting I’m a stripper?” Isa said, feigning insult.
Tag leaned back, arms folded, prepared to watch the show. Eli leaned back, too, his focus on Luc, who futilely attempted to scramble out of the hole.
“No! Not at all. I’m…See, I’m in the music business. So the idea of a stage name applies to my industry as well.” Lucas leaned forward and put both hands to his chest. “I’m legit.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.” Isa lifted her wineglass and her eyebrows, content to give Lucas a hard time. Eli was content to let her.
Lucas continued digging, and Isa continued pretending to be unimpressed. And when Tag caught Eli’s eye, he grinned and shook his head. He didn’t have to say anything, because Eli could read his younger brother’s mind.
Nicely done, E.
Eli couldn’t argue that he was damn lucky to have Isa in his life.
Nicely done, indeed.
* * *
“No, no, no. Do not even tell that story.” Tag swiped tears from the corners of his lashes, and Isa followed suit. It’d been a long time since she laughed herself to tears, and in unexpected company to boot.
“Senior prom,” Lucas started, hand slicing the air like he was telling a serious account.
Impossible. These two were anything but serious.
Before he could continue, Tag elbowed him. “Come on, another time. Isa has heard enough about the Crane boys’ adventures.” He sent her a golden-lashed wink as Eli’s hand slipped around her waist. The simple act of Eli’s hand at her back, or hearing his low, subtle chuckle turned her on.
She’d only had one glass of wine, so alcohol wasn’t to blame. He inebriated her by being himself. The real him she was starting to uncover. The idea gave her chills.
“Fine. Next time,” Lucas said. Everyone at the table stood to say goodbye and Luc pulled her into a friendly hug. “I owe you a story. It was great to meet you.”
“You too,” she said, meaning it. “Even though you accused me of working the pole.”
“Never will I live that down!” He sought help from above before placing a palm on Isa’s shoulder and leveling her with a serious look. “You’d get along with my wife.”
Whom Luc had brought up repeatedly. What a freaking nice guy. Tag hugged her, a casual, one-armed squeeze. “Later, sis.” Her eyes went wide, but Tag only smirked at Eli. “What? Too soon?”
“Get out,” Eli said, his dry humor doing nothing to weaken Tag’s penetrating smile. When they’d gone, Eli snagged his coat from the back of his chair and held it out for her. “I know, I hate to cover the dress, too,” he said when she started to argue. “But it’s cold out there and we’re walking to the car, so on it goes.”
She slid her arms into his coat, leather and Eli overtaking her senses. She hadn’t felt this way since high school—the innocence of wearing his coat and laughing with friends. She slid closer when they stepped outside and Eli threaded his fingers with hers as they paced down the sidewalk.
“I like your brother’s friend,” she said.
“Luc’s a good guy. No surprise there. So is Tag.”
“So are you.” She nudged his arm with hers and he sent her a sideways glance. Her heart zoomed to her feet so fast, she grew light-headed. Focusing on the lamppost beside them, then a flashy black limo that sped by, bass thumping, didn’t help reroute her brain. There was no denying what that heart zoom had meant. No more arguing with herself.
She slipped her eyes over Eli. Tracked to the facial hair in need of a trim, to the way his hair curled at his collar. The set of his jaw, the firm purse of his lips, the column of his neck leading to the body she’d kissed over and over…
Yep. She loved him.
The thought inflated her heart and defeated her mind.
Love.
Crap.
“What was that for?” he asked, wiggling their linked hands.
“What?”
“The sigh. Sounded like it came from the depths.” One eyebrow hitched in curiosity. “I hope you’re not tired. I was going to take you somewhere else.”
“Where?” she asked, unable to do anything but ask one-syllable questions, apparently.
“Somewhere deserving of that dress.” Blue eyes slid down her body and up again, hunger there.
She stopped walking and faced him, slid a hand into the back of his hair and tugged his mouth to hers. A soft, deep, slow kiss that turned her inside out. A wolf whistle from a passing car caused her to pull back and when she did, Eli promptly tugged her mouth back to his and continued the kiss.
I love you.
“I want to go home with you,” she said instead, lust outlining every word.
His smile was like the sun coming out after a day of rain and clouds. White teeth flashed in the darkness, a wicked promise of what was to come behind his smile.
“Is that okay?” She could see it was more than okay.
“I happen to know the perfect place for that dress,” Eli said, then towed her down the block, in more of a hurry than before.
“Don’t say your bedroom floor.”
“Okay.” His eyes reflected that same playfulness when he glanced down at her. “I won’t say it.”
Chapter 16
He’d never been so impatient to have a woman naked in his life. His hands were shaking when he fumbled with the zipper on Isa’s dress. She backed toward the bedroom, but he wasn’t going in there. He wanted to show her he could take care of her in the way she wanted—in the way she deserved. As good as having her on top on his office chair or in his bed had been, he wanted her a different way.
His way.
He spun her and walked her through the living room instead, stopping at the wall that hid his office. Better a smooth, painted surface than pushing her against the craggy brick wall. Tugging her dress, he put a kiss on one satiny shoulder. Her exhaled sigh filled his ears.
“Sable,” he murmured against the soft flesh of her neck.
Her fingers raked into his hair, sending a shock of heat through him. His hips shifted and he ground his pelvis into hers almost desperately.
She reached between them and cupped his erection, giving him a light squeeze. He slammed his lips over hers and yanked her dress so hard, threads popped.
“Fuck. Now I owe you a dress, too.”
Her laugh was brief, interrupted by his sharp gasp when she continued to stroke him. Her tongue devoured his mouth anew. Eli didn’t want to leave her lips again, but he did for a good reason—to lift the red material over her head. When he tossed the dress to the floor, her breasts were heaving, her hair was everywhere, and her eyes were fiery and honed in on him.
She ripped open the button on his pants and pulled his zipper down, tucking her hand inside at the same time he slipped one hand beneath the lace of her thong. He groaned and not because Isa was massaging his cock with tenderness…well, not only because of that. He groaned becaus
e her folds were smooth and velvety. She was so ready for him, he hated the idea of a layer of latex between them. What he wouldn’t give to skip that part.
“Fuck me,” he swore out of exasperation.
“Is that a request?” A foxy little smile decorated her red mouth.
“Fuck yeah, it is.”
He pushed her hair away from her face and wound it in his fist before laying his lips on hers again. She kissed him, then his beard, then down his neck, all the while her hand working him into a lather.
“Condom in my wallet,” he managed. Barely.
“Do not want,” she whined before she bit his neck, soothing the mark with her tongue.
“Me neither, but—ahh—” His grunt was because she’d given his cock another squeeze that obliterated the decision-making part of his brain. She moved her hand to redirect his wandering fingers and Eli clamped his jaw tight as he ran them through her slickness.
“Oh!” Her gasp was high and tight as he slipped and slid over her clitoris. To her mantra of, “Eli. There. Yes. There,” he continued touching her.
“I have you.” He watched her face, enjoying every pleat and crease, the way her beautiful eyes vanished behind smoky eyelids when she closed her eyes and parted her lips, and finally, came.
“Eli. Eli.” His name evaporated on a weak gasp as she shuddered. His hands left her body long enough to dig the condom from his wallet and roll it on. Then he was back to her, sliding a hand around her ass and lifting one of her legs to hook around his hip.
“Tilt,” he instructed.
“Here?” she panted the word, surprise coloring her face.
“Yeah, honey. Right here.” He liked surprising her. He would make love to her here, him in control. No chair or bed needed. He wanted to please her more than anything.
Obeying, she tilted her hips. He positioned himself at her entrance and slid to the hilt in one smooth, mind-mangling thrust.
Hell.
Yes.
“Sable.” Her name left his lips like a prayer of thanks when his forehead dropped to hers, their breaths knotting in the air between them.
“You feel so good.” Her eyes were open, hooded and filled with leftover lust from her ebbing orgasm.
The Bastard Billionaire Page 21
