When they arrived on floor seven, Elijah brushed past her, eager to get to his room and take a very cold shower. But Starlight followed him down the hall until he reached his room. She went around him, to the door next to his.“Well… Looks like we’re neighbors,” she said, smiling his way. He nodded stiffly, trying not to think about the fact that she’d be so close. His hands fumbled with his card key, dropping it. Starlight smiled and disappeared into her room.“Dammit,” he growled, picking up his key and resting his forehead on the hotel room door. She’d gone off to California and hung out with firemen? And did tequila shots? And who knows what else…! And then she came back wearing… what she was wearing. Elijah adjusted himself, his erection pressing against his already fitted pants. He tried his key. It didn’t work.“What the hell…” He tried again. Still nothing. Elijah punched the wall.“Dammit!” he bit out, then stared at her door.
Her phone was ringing. When it had started, Elijah didn’t know. And, at the moment, he didn’t even care. But the ringing sent Starlight into a tailspin, smoothing her tangled hair into place and holding her sweater closed. He frowned, reaching for her, trying to process what he’d heard. She loved him? She loved him, and he was staring at her like an idiot. She answered her phone.“Hey, Megs.” Elijah wasn’t prepared for the anxious look in her eyes. Or the uncertainty on her face.“He’s here,” she replied to his cousin. “His key doesn’t work.” She paused, then nodded. “Okay… I’ll send him down.” Did she seriously doubt how he felt? Because he’d be happy to fix that… now. Elijah waited as she hung up the phone.“You need to go… Your mother needs you now,” she said, brushing past him into her bathroom. “Don’t forget to have your key fixed.”“Star… Darlin’…”“Baby, tonight is about Jeremy and Anna… We can wait…” Starlight murmured.“You
Darwin caught her upper arms, not tightly, gently, letting his thumbs brush over the soft cotton of her robe, feeling her arms tense beneath. He deepened the kiss, opening to her tongue, meeting her with his, tasting the sweetness of her and memorizing it as best he could. They backed together toward his bed, and he shivered. It had been a long time since he’d been able to take his time with her. Tonight, Darwin intended to do just that. He broke the kiss and backed up, looking at Sonya in the dim light of his dying fire. Sonya smiled, just the slightest expression, and Darwin was lost. He was hers, heart and soul. He never wanted to be anyone else’s. But he squashed that thought and instead reached out to untie Sonya’s robe. When he parted the fabric, he gasped. She was naked beneath. Utterly, beautifully and completely naked.“Sonya? Darling…” he groaned. She smiled again. “If I found the courage to knock on your door, I couldn’t
No response. But one arm went higher, revealing more of the tattoo on his side. What was that? A feather? A quill? Covering a long scar along his ribs... Of, for God’s sake… more iron muscles.“Sir? Hello?” Starlight tried again, a little louder. He was on one foot then, reaching for something on the roof. She stepped forward, considering the best way to get his attention. She blew out a deep breath. This was ridiculous! What was the matter with her? She reached out and tugged on one of his jeans' belt loops.“Hold up!” he called out. “I almost... got... it… Yes!” The strand of Christmas lights came on, casting the porch in hues of red, blue, and green. Starlight held her breath as he leaped down, eager to see what the rest of this man looked like. But the clear blue eyes that greeted her were a total surprise. The kind of surprise that left her breathless… and shocked, almost out of her mind… No! It can’t be!“Eli
“Look, Star, I haven’t slept in a few days, Star. I’d appreciate one night in my own bed. I’m not here much… As you can see, the empty fridge and pantry can confirm that. I’ll stay out of your hair, I promise.” Elijah did look tired. His blue eyes were bloodshot and there were bags under his eyes.“I don’t even snore.”“Elijah…”“I can move into your room,” he offered. He was sleeping in her parents’ room. Which was good… she wasn’t ready to go there. Any and all memories of her mom could wait behind that closed door for a few more days.“No!” she said. “I wouldn’t… couldn’t sleep in there.”“I’m sorry about your mom,” Elijah said, grabbing her attention. Starlight nodded. She hadn’t visited Smithville since her mother’s death, three years before.“It’s strange to be here and have it so quiet.” She shrugged, not wanting to share with him. But Elijah had known better than most about her mother and her… fits of temper. When she’d been on a real te
Elijah stared down at her, his nerves strung so tight he worried he’d pop. Starlight was here… And all he could think about was touching her, tasting her. Silk. Warmth. Pure temptation. And even though he had no right to touch her, to think of her tangled up with him, Elijah couldn’t stop himself. His body responded to her without reason, as if they hadn’t been living separate lives for years… Eight years… Her quiver revealed her lie. Starlight wasn’t immune to him… or not as much as she wanted to be.“I don’t believe you, Star,” he argued. She drew in a wavering breath.“I couldn’t care less what you choose to believe or not.” There was an edge to her voice. No, she wasn’t immune to him… but she was going to fight it, like the stubborn goddess she was. Her green eyes clashed with his blue eyes and Elijah smiled at her. God, she was still the most beautiful girl in the world… in the entire Universe.
One second, she was sitting there, facing him, her touch tentative… The next, he was lying back on the pile of pillows, Starlight’s hesitation replaced by desperate curiosity. He watched her expression, aware of every move her hands and fingers made. Starlight bent over him, her long dark hair spilling onto his stomach as her lips and tongue explored the super-sensitized flesh of his nipple. He reached up to thread his fingers in her hair, absorbing every caress and stroke. She took her time, exploring every inch of him with her soft hands and mouth. Her teeth nipped his side, her nails ran the length of his arms, and she kissed and sucked her way down his abdomen. Elijah could barely breathe. Her tongue dipped into his belly button
Bracing his hands against her hips, Elijah forced himself to slow down, and deliver each thrust with deliberate impact and maximum friction. Gritting his teeth, he growled as he filled her to the hilt again. Beneath him, Starlight’s little pants as she tried to catch her breath were driving him out of his mind. As he found her magic spot, the one guaranteed to fast-forward her into orgasm, she writhed. With short digs of his shaft, Elijah worked her, dragging the head, which felt as if it had ballooned ten times its normal size, right where she needed it. Starlight rewarded him quickly, breath catching, flush spreading across her fair skin, thighs latching on, sex tightening.“I… Oh, God! I need…”“I know what you need,” he rasped into her ear.