Chapter Three
Eli located the correct bank branch on his second stop. The first had told him they were happy to handle any transactions he might want to make, but that his safe deposit box was physically located at the main branch, not the one closest to his apartment.
A few pieces of identification, a signature compared to nothing, proof he had a key to the correct box, and Eli was in. The bank employee inserted the master key and Eli inserted his customer key. The locks turned. The employee removed the interior box and escorted Eli to a cubicle to examine the contents in privacy.
When he was finally alone, Eli held his breath and opened the box.
****
The next few weeks passed similarly. Eli slept in the guest bedroom and Paige slept in the master. She never lost the nagging suspicion he planned to leave her again, but so far, he seemed content to settle into a routine.
Still, she wouldn’t be caught off guard a second time. She scheduled appointments with her counselor to practice with Daisy and to learn other coping techniques, including Braille. Heart pounding the whole way, she took her solo venture out with Daisy to the grocery store to pick up some needed items.
Paige realized minutes after she’d safely returned home that in her angst to accomplish the trip itself, she’d forgotten to buy milk. All her mental stamina was too tapped for a second trip. Feeling wimpy nonetheless, she dialed the grocery store number programmed into her phone.
Over the past year, she and one of the customer service managers, Marvella, had become good friends over the phone when she called in her delivery orders. Today, during the hour Paige had spent memorizing the layout of the store and collecting almost all the items she needed, they had finally connected in person.
A familiar voice answered on the second ring with a cheery, “Wade’s IGA, your customer service rep Dana speaking. How may I help you on this wonderful day?”
The woman could stand in for the sun on even the most dreary days. “Hi, Dana, it’s Paige Dancey. Is Marvella available, by chance?”
“Paige! She’s with another customer at the moment, but we were just talking about you. I gotta tell you, that friend of yours was the sweetest thing. Always kept nearby, but out of your way.”
What was she talking about? “Friend? You mean Daisy? My dog?”
“No, silly. The man who came with you. He tried to keep it on the DL, but you know, I make it my business to watch out for my customers.” She laughed. “I confronted him and made him tell me why he was following you. That man was so proud of you, Paige.”
That man? “You mean Eli? He was there? At the store?”
“Eli? The one you told Marvella had died? That was him? But Marvella said… Never mind. That’s wonderful news!” She paused and added, “Isn’t it?”
“Yes. It is. I thought he died in an accident, but they never found his body. For months he’d been a John Doe in an out-of-town hospital. He had reconstructive surgery on his face and is thinner—so he looks different. Also, he’s had some memory loss because of his head wounds.”
“Wow. Are you serious? That’s a miracle. So, the man who was in the store today was actually Eli? Your Eli?”
“Yes. Eli.”
“I guess his brush with death gave him a new perspective. You know we think the world of you, Paige, but the man who used to call in orders from your address was kind of an asshole. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but it’s the truth. Marvella was going on and on about how you’d found yourself a new man after the other one died, a much better man, and we were all so happy for you.” Dana tutted under her breath. “But that was the same guy? Wow!”
“Brushes with death can change people inside, too.” Paige wrapped a lock of hair round and round her finger. An awkward silence fell before she wrestled her thoughts away from what Dana had shared. “Oh, I called for milk. I forgot to buy some while I was there. That’s the only thing I forgot, but I really need it today and don’t have time to return.”
“Milk. You bet. Let me just grab my order form. Afternoon delivery okay?”
“Sure.”
“What else, hun?”
“That’s it.”
“You’ll be home around two o’clock?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m not—”
“Oh, hold on a sec. You may not need to order anything because I see him.”
Paige stood up and put a hand on the sofa back to steady herself. “See who?”
“Him. Your Eli. He’s here in the store. And you’ll never believe what he’s buying.”
“What?”
“Milk.” Dana’s peals of laughter rang loudly through the phone. “And something else, but I best not say another word about that since it’s none of my business.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind. Pretend we never had this conversation, honey.” Her voice dropped into the furtive range.
A giggle slipped out before she could stop it. “Thanks, Dana. Tell Marvella ‘hi’ for me.” But as soon as she hung up, she wondered what prompted Eli to return to the store to pick up the missing item.
****
Eli knocked softly on the door. Arms full, he didn’t want to have to set anything down to unlock it himself.
“Who is it?” Paige called through the door. She sounded confident and strong, bordering but not crossing the line that separated assertiveness from rudeness.
“It’s me. Eli.”
“You don’t have your key?”
“I do, but…”
The lock clicked and the door opened. She stepped aside to let him in.
“Sorry.” He extended his arm and handed her a colorful bouquet of flowers in oranges, reds and purples. “For you.” The fragrance in her arms was a blend of lilies, roses, and carnations. Paige took a step back, as if recoiling from a shock.
“Oh, my goodness! Why?” She tilted her head to peer around the flowers, truly sounding and looking puzzled.
“Why?” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Because no one else I know in this entire world is more deserving of having their world brightened than you? Because you made your first solo trip out with Daisy?”
She took a few more steps back saying, “You followed me.”
“I did. I was worried.” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have been. You and Daisy did awesome!”
“Thanks.” She smiled, looking more proud than pissed that he’d kept tabs on her, thank God. “And thank you for the flowers. This is a very unexpected surprise. You always used to say flowers were a waste of money.”
Really? Had she never received flowers before? All these rediscoveries were not building a strong balance sheet for the previous Mr. Eli Logan. “I’ve reconsidered my attitude about a lot of things in recent weeks.”
She nodded, a quick tuck of the chin, like she didn’t want to show how relieved that confession made her feel. He saw it though, the way her shoulders loosened up, the tiny twitch at the corner of her mouth. He’d made her happy. He’d made her feel more secure. He shouldn’t have cared as much as he did, but dammit, it couldn’t be helped. A man would have to have a heart of stone not to be awed by the silent strength and grace of Paige Dancey.
He joined her in the kitchen. “The rent and all the other bills are current now, too. That makes you happier than the flowers, doesn’t it?”
“I hope you won’t be offended if I tell you I’m happiest about what Daisy and I accomplished today and over the past week.” She tucked in another smile. “Everything since you returned.”
He moved closer to her, close enough to count the wisps of hair that had escaped from her hair clip, close enough to count eleven freckles on her cheeks. How long had she had those?
She angled her body toward him. “Th-the flowers smell wonderful.”
He’d made her nervous. He needed to change that. He wanted to make up for all the lost time she’d invested in him, waiting for him to be the man she imagined and deserved him to be. It wasn’t too late to start over. He’d been drawn to her, found her intriguing, but alien to life as he’d known it. When he kissed her, however, there was nothing alien or unfamiliar at all. He wanted to do it again. He wanted to do more.
She set the flowers down on the pass-through bar. The barrier between them removed, he slipped his arms around her waist and drew her close, his nose pressed into her hair. Slowly, hesitantly—and dammit, reluctantly—she slid her arms around him. He moved one hand up her back, feeling the sensuous curve of her spine, the dip and flare of her waist to her ribs, up between her shoulder blades to the nape of her neck. She sighed softly when he whispered his fingers through her hair and cupped her skull in his palm.
Brave, lovely Paige. What an idiot old Eli had been to treat her so abominably. Pulling her head back he murmured, “I’ll make you forget, too,” before he took her mouth with his.
The kiss started slowly, with Eli coaxing her to respond. She didn’t need much persuasion. Her lips moved with his. Her tongue touched his tentatively at first, then with more earnestness. Eli intensified his command of her lips, her tongue, her mouth. She trembled in his arms, but Paige, his fierce soldier of hard knocks, didn’t passively submit. No. She countered his every move with one to match. Eli groaned when she slipped a leg between his and pressed her upper thigh against his groin, now throbbing with need.
The usual battle waged in his mind. Part of him knew he was a charlatan to come here and pretend he was worthy of her. But the rest of him was convinced she was his now and always would be.
Dammit, all those days wondering about her. Hearing the stories about her from that pathetic excuse of a human being after the explosion. She was perfect, absolutely perfect, and he would fight to the death to keep her.
Paige moaned and shifted in his arms, but didn’t pull away.
Eli reached down with both hands and cupped her ass, lifting her up and pressing her against his erection. He rocked his hips against hers and she rocked back. Desire spiked and he found himself lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and they were moving, kissing while he walked with her clinging to him.
Out of the kitchen and down the hall until he entered the bedroom. He bumped into the bed and down they went. Paige started to laugh and so did he, but she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him.
Then came the undressing. Frantic and hasty at first until he could slip a hand inside her shirt, inside her bra to find the warm flesh of her breast. His balls tightened and his cock strained against the fly of his pants. If he didn’t bury himself inside her soon, he’d embarrass himself like a hormone-enslaved teenager. As much as he wanted to savor the taste and smell of her, memorize every curve, angle, and plane of her body, this would not be the time for that.
Paige reached up and unfastened her bra, which he was glad to see hooked in front. He’d have been fumbling in the back looking for it had she not taken charge.
Her full breasts spilled out as the cups separated and fell to the sides of her body. She was magnificent. Eli brought a nipple to his mouth and swirled his tongue, bringing it to a taut peak before repeating on the other side. His brain was wigging out so much he could have been having a stroke, but wouldn’t care. Blood pounded in his ears. Heat rushed into his face, his neck. He massaged the sides of her breast as he suckled.
Paige whimpered. He cast a quick glance up to see her head rock back, chest heaving even higher into his face. He blew on the wet flesh before bringing his mouth back around the puckered tips.
“Oh, God!” she cried out. She slammed a palm down on the bed and fisted the comforter.
He had to hurry or he was going to lose control. Eli released her nipple and raised up enough to find the button of his pants. Paige reached down to find the zipper and tug it downward and then push down the sides of his pants.
Condom. He needed a condom. Did he have one? “Shit. I need—”
“In the nightstand,” Paige panted. “Hurry!”
Eli shifted off her and reached for the top drawer of the nightstand to his left.
“No, the other one!” Paige said, but she had already rolled to his right and was flailing an arm behind her trying to find the drawer. He pounced, found the condom, and ripped open the package.
“Give it to me.” She reached down and wrapped her hand around the shaft of his cock.
“Fuck, Paige. You better not or I won’t be able to make this go well for either of us.”
She released him, but scraped her nails against his bare thighs. Shit, he hadn’t even taken his pants all the way off, but he was beyond caring.
Once fully sheathed in a condom that was dangerously snug, he positioned the head of his cock at her entrance and surged forward.
She was slick but tight. The heat of her pussy was like a demon’s fist around him. He luxuriated deep inside her, but only for a split second, because she began to rock her hips and he was gone.
He drew back and thrust forward. Paige vocalized her approval and rolled her head side to side.
He obliged and pumped into her several times. “I dreamed of you, of this.”
She didn’t answer. She moaned instead and wrapped her legs around his waist. He’d lose it soon if he didn’t slow down and get himself back under control.
He pulled out. Paige whimpered, but only for as long as it took to pick her up, flip her over onto all fours, and then thrust deeply into her from behind. The musky scent of her sex perfumed the air. This was what he liked. Her ass in the air, hair disheveled and loose on her shoulders, her back muscles rippling beneath her skin. Eli loved how her hips gave him the leverage he needed to drive himself more deeply inside her, loved how she rocked backward to meet his every thrust.
The urge to come grew unbearable again. Eli gritted his teeth and growled, “Not yet!” He fell over onto his back, momentarily glad for the king-sized bed they were tearing apart. Paige turned and straddled him, rose up and slid down on his cock, taking him to the hilt inside her. “You’re killing me. You feel so goddamned good.” He hissed when she rose up and then slowly slid down his shaft. Her eyes closed, lips pursed. A sex flush colored her chest and neck. She rode him, sighing her pleasure loudly and often. She was a goddess, his goddess.
“Stop,” Eli said. He tightened his grip on her hips to still her movements. “Face the other way.”
She rose up and his cock slid out, rock hard and twitching against his belly. Paige swung a leg over, but instead of resuming their fucking, she scooted her hips up his chest and took him in her mouth. His cock grazed the back of her throat. Oh shit, he was going to come if she kept that up. The view of her pussy at that angle was delightful, but too far from his tongue.
Eli grasped her torso and drew her up in a sweet reverse cowgirl position. As he thrust into her, he found her clit with his fingers. Paige sucked in a breath through her teeth and ground against his hand. Her clit within its hood felt swollen and hard. He knew better than to charge in too aggressively in that sensitive female zone. He slipped his pinky and ring finger lower to find the base of his shaft where it emerged from her wet pussy. Abundant slickness coated his fingers.
“Oh!” she cried out as he applied feather light strokes to her clit while fucking up into her. Soon her body tensed and finally, finally, she spoke two words. Two beautiful, joyous words rasped out in the peak of her passion, “I’m coming!”
Eli thrust faster and harder and danced his fingers over her clit until she seized and shuddered and cried out. Thank God, he’d done it, he’d made her come and come hard. And damn if she didn’t lean forward giving him that excellent view of her ass jiggling as she rode him hard for a few more strokes until she broke him just like he’d broken her. He came and came again—how the fuck was that even possible—eyes squeezed tightly shut, jaw clenched between grunts and gasps of air. This was indeed la petit mort as the French called it. He got it, understood why the euphemism was so appropriate.
After a few blissful seconds of remaining joined but still, both of them catching their breaths, Paige moved up the bed to lie on her side against him.
She ran her fingers through his chest hair. “Huh,” she said.
“What?” Stupid fuck that he was, he was grinning and couldn’t stop. His big brain had not yet retaken command.
“Nothing.” Paige lifted her head and propped her chin lightly on his chest, her back arched. “Only, that’s like the best it’s ever been. Ever.”
“I know.” He pulled her up and gave her a kiss, all the while wondering if it was possible for a heart to burst from happiness.
“Careful. You might make me fall in love with you all over again,” she said.
Eli’s gut twisted for a second. What was he doing? He pressed another kiss on Paige’s temple. Whatever it was, he wouldn’t stop, not ever. He no longer had a choice in the matter because he no longer held any claim to his own heart.