Page 128 of Tears of Gold
His gaze settles on my face. “There is no rush, Faith. I can wait forever. The pressure is off now Mother is standing up to Gran. Not that there ever should have been any pressure anyway.” He frowns and rubs at his face. Changes in Bowsley are small and slow, but they are changes nonetheless.
“I know, I can wait, too… We don’t need a piece of paper to say what we are.”
“But?”
“I don’t know. I don't want you, me, and the baby to have different names when it’s born. I want us all to be tied together.”
His smile is breathtaking. The dimple I haven’t seen enough of recently flashes. I want to see that dimple all the time. “I’m still sensing a but...”
“But… I don’t want to get married until after Aiden is in jail. I know he’s going; he won’t be let out on bail now.” Reggie has made damn sure he won’t be out on bail. “But I want the past to be behind me.”
Eli squeezes my toes and a little flame of desire ripples through me. We haven’t been together since my attack and I know he’s giving me space. And well, having my hands bandaged and taped together is a little difficult.
“I think that’s a good decision. The baby is not due until the spring, we still have time.”
“The British justice system takes too long.” I groan in my throat.
“I know.” The blues read my face with deep scrutiny.
“I still haven’t told you everything. I promised you the whole truth.”
His lips curve at the corners. “I know, but I’m not rushing. I can sense your heart is open now. I feel the difference in you.”
“Are you Yoda?”
“Who the hell is Yoda?”
My eyes almost pop out of my head. “Okay, this might be the deal breaker. You don’t know who Yoda is? What the fuck, Elijah? Bowsley isn’t the goddamn moon.”
He snorts and throws his head back. “Of course I know who Yoda is. The force is strong with me.”
I laugh so hard. It builds within me until I’m rocking back and forth. Tears spring from my eyes and I wipe them away.
He leans closer, shifting along the sofa and then catches a stray droplet of water with his lips. “No more tears.”
“These are happy tears, I promise.”
“I love you.” His fingers skim around my face, threading into my hair; his thumb presses against my jaw. My tongue tingles with the anticipation of his kiss. When it comes, I catch my breath. His lips brush once, twice, and I can’t breathe. I want him so much. Gently, his tongue slips into my mouth and I tangle mine up against it, pushing and dancing. His groan almost ignites me into flames.
“I want you.” I murmur.
“Faith.” His gaze when he pulls back holds a warning.
“No, Elijah. I want you, all of you. And I want to give you what I have.”
He’s torn. Caught between his desire and his need to care and protect me.
“Unbandage my hands.” I lift them up between us.
Chewing on his bottom lip but not saying a word, he unhooks the fabric, winding it into a ball as he gently pulls it away from my skin. Under the covering my skin is faded purple and yellow, the bruises fading with time, the bones still setting. My fingers are bound together tight but without the bandages I can at least feel him.
“Take me to bed.”
“Angela is coming over.”
“Take me to bed, now.”
He lifts my legs and slips off the sofa, standing and sweeping me into his arms. His lips find mine the whole way up the stairs, his tongue every so often searching for me within the kiss.
