A lump forms in my throat, and butterflies swarm in my stomach. His reference is about me, and the way I’ve been hot and cold. It’s no wonder he’s confused.
Hell, I was confused by the way I acted just days ago.
“So what could she say or do to help alleviate those fears?” Our eyes lock on each other, and my rapid breathing echoes between us.
“She could be honest,” he states, closing the gap until he’s standing in front of me.
Swallowing hard, I suck in my lower lip and feel the heat from his gaze burn into my skin. He wants a real answer—not based on just the physical aspects but the emotional too—and I’ve never been good at that. I’ve struggled with who to trust and how much of myself to give to keep from getting hurt. Growing up, I had numerous friends who I thought would be my ride or dies, but they’d use me, then toss me out like trash. That emotional wall was built to help protect myself. But if anyone’s capable and worthy of protecting my heart, it’s Eli.
“I want you,” I admit. “Even through the constant arguing and teasing, I’ve wanted you. I convinced myself it’d never happen, so I pushed you away instead, but don’t think for a moment I didn’t care about you or wasn’t attracted to you. I was and still am.”
I inhale sharply as he palms my face and brings his mouth close. Not quite touching, but just enough to feel his hot breath against my lips.
“I never want us to stop arguing or teasing each other because that means the fire is still there. We’re both a little hotheaded but at the same time, down to earth and easygoing. We share a lot of common traits but have a lot of opposite interests. I’m someone who enjoys cooking, and you’re someone who enjoys eating.”
“So, what you mean is we’re a match made in heaven?” I smile.
He plucks the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “Precisely.”
I gulp. “Are you going to kiss me yet?”
“I was thinking about it.” His deep voice rumbles low in his throat, sending vibrations between my legs.
“What are you waiting for?” I challenge, feeling more anxious with each passing second.
“To see if you’re going to change your mind.”
Without hesitation, I fist his sweatshirt and pull him toward me until our mouths collide.
He tilts my head back as he deepens the kiss. My arms wrap around his shoulders, and he quickly slides his hands down until he grabs my ass and lifts me off my feet. My legs go around his waist as he sets me on the island counter and settles between my thighs.
The last time we had a heated moment was on the couch, and the damn doorbell rang, interrupting what I had hoped would turn into more, but knowing he doesn’t have a condom has me wondering how far we’ll go.
“I still don’t—”
“I know,” I say, breathing heavily. “It doesn’t matter. I want you.”
Eli releases a deep moan, moving his mouth lower to my neck. “I agree, but not yet.”
My arms drop to my sides, and I groan in frustration. “We’ve waited long enough,” I argue. “If you add in all the years we pined over each other, it’s overdue at this point.”
He pulls back slightly with a mischievous grin. “When I imagined being inside you for the first time, it’s not like this. Not when I’ve been sweating and chopping wood all morning. I want to wine and dine you first.”
“Seriously? You’re worried about that?”
“It should be romantic,” he states. “And I’ll try my best, considering...”
“Okay, so how much time do you need? I can be shaved and showered in an hour.”
He snickers, shaking his head. “Gimme a few days.”
My eyes widen in horror. “Days?”
“Anything worth having is worth waiting for.”
“Don’t get poetic on me.”
He leans in and softly brushes his lips against mine. “You’re even more adorable when you’re sexually frustrated.”
“Imagine when I’m sexually satisfied,” I counter.
His whole body shakes with laughter. “The longer we wait, the better it’ll be. I promise.”
“I’m willing to prove that theory wrong.”
“Don’t challenge me, Cami. Resisting you is something I’ve perfected over the years. You’re at level one while I’m at level fifty. You really wanna play this game?”
“Sure, let’s gamble,” I say confidently. “You have to resist me while I seduce the shit out of you. If you crack, and we end up in bed together, I win.”
“Technically, if I give in, we both win.”
I bite my lip, grinning. “But I’ll have bragging rights for life.”
Chapter Fourteen
ELIJAH
I’m either a genius or the biggest fucking idiot in the world for telling Cami I wanted to wait a little while longer.
Now, it’s a game to her. She wants me as badly as I want her, and she’s ready to do whatever it takes to make me crack.
As much as I want to give in to what I’ve fantasized about since we were teenagers, I’m determined to resist her.
Cami saunters around the kitchen and prepares her smoothie. I watch carefully as she puts fruit, yogurt, and milk into a blender, and when she looks over her shoulder and winks, I know it’s game on. She’s not gonna make this easy, no matter what I do or say.
I help clean up the counters and wipe everything down while she pours her drink into a glass. Walking into the kitchen to find her cooking for me was a nice surprise, but I actually enjoy making her food. It’s the one thing I can offer that isn’t about money or status.
“You have a lot of schoolwork to do today?” I ask casually with her back to me.
“Nope. Planned to take the day off, but now it looks like I’ll have nothing to do.” She shrugs, then takes a sip of her drink. “Any ideas what I could do?”
Fuck, she’s cute when she wants something. Who knew someday it’d be me?
Walking up behind her,
