“What are you laughing about, Sunshine?”
“Nothing, pizza boy. Nothing.”
“Hmmm, I think I may need to tease the truth out of you. But, first, we eat.” Eli rushed from his side of the truck and helped me step down on my side.
The evening flashed by quicker than you could lose twenty dollars in Vegas. Dinner was delicious and as with all of the time I spent with Eli it was full of laughs. Being with him was easy.
Comfortable silence filled his truck as we drove from the restaurant over to a bar in Holiday City. It was attached to one of the many hotels and was full of holiday guests. The hotel had decorated for the season and was throwing an impromptu party in the bar. A table was laden down with appetizers and drinks were half price.
Everyone was dancing and chatting as the night grew later. I was drinking the last of what had to be my third… no, fourth… glass of Holiday rum punch when Eli tugged me to my feet and twirled me around the dance floor. My skin heated under the twinkle lights strung back and forth over the ceiling and I couldn’t help but tilt my head back and laugh with pure joy.
The music dropped into a slow song which had Eli tugging me into his arms. He smiled down at me. His cheeks were flushed from his own cups of punch and the exertion of the fast-paced dance we’d just finished.
“I have a present for you,” he whispered against my lips before he claimed them in a lingering kiss.
Excitement filled me but was soon doused. “I didn’t get you anything.”
“You gave me you.” Eli’s voice deepened as he slid his hands up my sides and along my arms where they wrapped around his neck. “It’s too crowded here.”
Instead of taking me to his truck, Eli stepped up to a lime-green Prius. He leaned forward and waved at the bear of a man inside. The man had a beard a mountain man would be proud of along with a black leather jacket. He appeared to be more suited to a motorcycle than to the tiny hipster car.
“My house, Gage,” Eli instructed as we crawled into the back seat.
I found myself wrapped in Eli’s arms as he nibbled along my neck. I squirmed… not to get away but to get closer. Eli’s gentleman act had caused my blood to remain at an almost constant burn the past seven days. I was ready for us to do more than kiss.
“Gage is an Uber driver,” Eli whispered into my ear. “I didn’t want to chance that the punch was stronger than I thought.”
Knowing what I did about his twin, it didn’t surprise me that Eli was a conscientious drinker. I smiled and pulled his face closer so I could suck his lower lip into my mouth. Dragging my tongue across his mouth, I pressed forward. Urging him to take the next step with my kiss, I reached down and stroked my hand over his erection. His jeans covered it like a second skin as his shaft swelled.
“Fuck,” Eli gasped as he broke our kiss and searched outside the windows in an almost panic. “Oh, thank God.”
Gage pulled to a stop and Eli tossed the man some cash while falling from the Prius. He quickly popped up to his feet and reached in to assist me from the car. My tarnished knight. Always being the gentleman. I sighed as he pulled me into him. We kissed for several long moments until something cold hit my face. My skin quickly warmed it and a drop of moisture rolled down my cheek. Looking up into the sky I gasped. It’s snowing.
“Eli! Snow!” I gasped again and pulled from his arms. A cold wind blew the flurries and swirled them in the air in front of me. A light hanging on a building next to the house we’d been dropped at reflected off of the snow and caused it to sparkle as it came down with increasing speed.
I couldn’t help myself — I stuck my tongue out and tried to catch a flake. Then, I raised my arms and spun around in circles.
Eli’s deep laugh had me stopping to look at him.
“Gorgeous.” The single word held so much meaning. His emotions were written on his face and my chest tightened in fear. “Come, Sunshine, let me warm you.”
“Eli…” my voice faded as he twined his fingers with mine and pulled me toward the door.
As he reached to turn the doorknob, Eli stopped abruptly and turned to face me — “You can stop me… I can take you home if you want me to.”
Reaching up, I placed my cold palms against either side of his face — “I need warmed up, Eli. I’ve been cold for way too long.”
Chapter Six
Silence filled the air as I waited for Eli to reply to my innuendo-filled tease. He searched my gaze as he held both of my hands in his strong, warm ones and then with a nod he opened the door and led me quietly up a set of stairs.
I’d be lying to myself if I tried to downplay the fear which filled my chest. Eli didn’t speak until we entered a room on the second floor of the house and he had the door shut behind us. There was no way for me to know if the house was empty or if it was filled to the gills with his family and friends. The two of us hadn’t discussed living arrangements or anything which would make it sound like we were in a relationship.
It’s my fault, I thought as I stood in the dark. I don’t know him because I’ve blocked his every attempt at getting to know each other.
“Light or no light?” Eli broke the silence and caused me to jerk in surprise.
Inhaling deeply, I worked to center myself while I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake.
