~Elli~
I feel his breath tickling across the shell of my ear, and it sends shivers straight down my spine.
I’m surrounded by Raiden.
It’s fucking bliss.
We’ve been quiet for a while but it doesn’t feel awkward, it doesn’t feel forced or pregnant with unasked questions. It just feels…content and easy.
I breathe in deep, smelling the ocean air, the smell of wet sand and most of all the smell of him.
He isn’t wearing any cologne but he smells masculine, clean and salty. The kind of smell I want to roll around in and never stop inhaling because it’s so addicting.
This whole time we’ve been sitting here wrapped up in each other, I haven’t thought of Garrett but once.
The one thought that crossed my mind was, how I loved my husband but how this is so much different.
This is so much…more.
Loving Garrett was like learning to ride a bike. Being here with Raid is as easy as if I was made to be in his embrace.
The sun went down a while ago but I don’t feel cold at all.
He gives me a tight squeeze that does things to me, a smile breaking out across my face at the feeling.
“Let’s get you home, huh?”
Almost on cue, I yawn. I scoot forward so he can get up behind me, then I feel strong arms pull me up from sitting.
He crouches down again and pats his back, I narrow my eyes at him and he laughs. “Come on, you’re sleepy.”
I huff out a breath, pretending to not be loving this.
I climb on his back like a little monkey and he loops his arms through my legs, holding me safe and secure, giving me a piggyback ride through the sand. My arms are around his neck, my forearms resting on his broad shoulders, I turn my face so I can lay it against the back of his neck, his hair tickling my forehead. I close my eyes and let him carry me back to my car, already missing our intimate moments in the sand.
All too quickly he’s setting me down and I’m mourning the feeling of being pressed up against his body.
I look up at him, blue eyes shining so brightly in the darkness.
“Where are you staying?”
He rubs the back of his neck looking a little sheepish.
“My mama’s house, it’s not too far from here, I can walk.”
I let out a snort, quickly clamping a hand over my mouth. A surprised look crosses his face and then he’s bending over clutching his stomach he’s laughing so hard at me.
“Hey! No, you will not walk and stop laughing at me!”
I start giggling, sleepy and feeling embarrassed at my outburst. He’s still doubled over laughing so I push his shoulders, acting defensive but not able to be cranky about it.
“You are going to drive us to your mama’s house and then I’ll drive home, end of story, Raiden.”
I try and fail to act stern with him, putting my hands on my hips and everything.
His laugh is infecting me in the best way.
He straightens up still laughing and then stills. His eyes are piercing through mine, right down into my soul.
“I think I like it when you try to boss me.”
He smirks, and I’m a goner. A dreamy smile, one I couldn’t control if I wanted to, takes over my face.
Fifteen minutes later we are pulling up to a simple yet incredible ranch style home. The garden is the true show stopper, what has to be at least one hundred different lilies are planted strategically, making the yard vibrant even in the soft moonlight.
I’m still caught up in the beauty of this landscape when I hear him shuffle in his seat. I feel a gentle touch on my cheek, which breaks me out of my flower daze and I turn my eyes to him. He opens his hand and places it against my cheek. I close my eyes again and nuzzle my cheek further into his warm palm. The pad of his thumb running across the top of my cheekbone. I open my eyes and see his blue eyes staring back at me, with an indescribable expression written across his handsome face.
With his voice so low and husky he says my name.
“Elli…”
I place my hand on the back of his, feeling how very big he is compared to me.
“Raid…”
Then he’s leaning in, his eyes dipping down to my lips.
Oh, yes, yes please kiss me.
Please.
They part on their own accord, feeling my breath come out in little bursts, my heart hammering in my chest so loud I’m surprised he doesn’t hear it too. I lean forward just a little, willing him to kiss me.
His dark bourbon voice so close to me, “Sweet girl, give me your phone.”
That surprises me, forcing me to pop my eyes open and he’s so close, so very achingly close to my lips, right in my face.
Stuck in the magnetic pull of him being so near me I hand him my phone, never moving away from him.
“Close your eyes,” he whispers softly.
So I do.
Then my phone is back in my free hand, my other still holding his big hand to my cheek. I feel a breath against my lips, one that isn’t my own and my body heats up in anticipation. Then I feel it, the softest brush of his lips…against my forehead.
I open my eyes and he’s already leaning back slowly, a soft smile on his lips.
The same lips that just scorched my skin, just not the skin I was expecting.
He opens the door of my car, walking around swiftly to my side and then he’s with me once more, pulling me out of my seat and then I’m where I want to be most…in his arms.
He pulls me in close, holding me tightly against his hard body, his lips brushing ever so softly against the top of my head. The tenderness such a contrast from the feeling of his defined muscles pressed against me. I breathe him in, so masculine, so Raiden.
“I’ll be seein’ you soon, baby.”
His voice crashes over me in the most delicious way.
I lean back and look up at him, showing him the smile I’m wearing because of him.
Only him.
“You have my number now so text me when you get home safe, baby.”
He looks down at me with adoration.
“Yes, bossy Raiden.”
I giggle, feeling lighter than air.
He leans down and presses his lips ever so softly to my forehead once more and then starts walking backward toward the house, a smirk tipping the corners of his lips up and making his eyes sparkle.
He watches me get into my car, struggle with adjusting the seat back to accommodate my much smaller frame and start her up, backing down the driveway. He stays there until I can no longer see him in my mirror. I don’t start feeling sad until I get onto the highway and I’m speeding toward my house.
How can I miss him this much when I’ve only just met him?
When I finally stumble through my front door a little under an hour later, Dahlia is on me in an instant, no doubt angry I’ve been gone all day. I let her out and grab my phone, anxious to let him know I made it home and have contact with him again.
I scroll through my contacts and find “Raiden” which I shorten to Raid before I open a message to him.
“I’m home safe, but wishing I was still safe with you instead…”
I’m too tired to pretend this isn’t exactly how I’m feeling.
I can’t pretend with him, I don’t want to hide.
It’s the most freeing feeling in the world.
I don’t have to hide.
My phone vibrates in my hand almost instantly.
“Good, get some sleep sweet girl.”
I smile, already moving toward my bed, my puppy hot on my heels.
“Okay, I’m in bed now.”
“Dream of me baby, dream of today.”
If he only knew that I do dream of him, that those are my absolute favorite dreams when he’s holding me close and kissing me.
I reach up and touch the spot where his lips pressed every so tenderly against my forehead, wishing I knew what it was like to feel those lips on mine.
And with that, I drift off.
A smile still ghosting my lips and my heart feeling so full.
A feeling I haven’t gotten used to yet, but one I wouldn’t trade for the world.