Page 31 of Trial and Error

My skin pricks as he lowers his head and his lips brush my earlobe, I let out a breathy moan at the sensation and grind into him. By the way his fingers are pressed to my skin, I’m almost certain he’s going to leave his fingerprints embedded in my skin, and that thought alone has me flushing.

What I would do to have his hands roam my body freely, gripping and pinching at my skin as he explores every dip and curve of my body. I imagine his grip would be hard, punishing almost, and I gasp at the thought of his body over mine, overpowering and dominant.

Elias’s right hand stays planted on my hip while his left one travels up my side and splays over my ribs, his thumb and index finger brushing the underside of my breast, and I can feel the warmth of his touch through the lace of my bra. My rib cage expands as I take a deep breath in and I let my head fall back against his shoulder, and I swear I feel his breath hitch as I let my free hand rest against the top of his thigh.

“Bridget,” he breathes out. I hear the tension in his words as it coils around the base of my spine. His words stay in his mouth as I roll against him, firmer this time, and a groan rumbles in his chest.

Before I can move again, he spins me around my chest lands flush against his. His hands are no longer shy as they reach down and cup my ass through my dress. His usual brown eyes are now black, and we both know it’s not because of the crappy lighting in the club. I can’t draw my eyes away from his face, especially when his tongue darts out and swipes across his bottom lip—a move that has my thighs pressing together.

Elias opens then closes his mouth, and I watch as he begins to lower his head, his gaze now locked on my lips, but it’s cut short when someone falls into the back of me. The two of us stagger back, Elias wrapping a protective arm around my waist and looking over my shoulder with a scowl. I follow his line of vision to see two guys who are in the middle of a heated discussion.

Zac places a hand on Elias’s bicep. “Let’s just move, these two look like they’re going to start on each other.”

Just as we begin to move, one of the guys throws a punch at the other and sends the guy barrelling into us. Elias manages to catch himself, but I trip and fall to my knees. I’m not down there long as Elias wastes no time in scooping me up.

“Are you okay?” he shouts over the music, and I nod. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

We follow the others out of the club. Lewis is on the phone to his latest partner and Michael has his arm around Josie, the three of them already looking for rides.

“We’re going to head out,” Michael says as he slips a cigarette between his lips. “It was nice to meet y’all.”

He and Josie wave, then head in the direction of their Uber. Lewis leaves next in his Uber headed straight to his partner’s place.

“We should probably go as well,” Zac says, not looking up from his phone. “Our Uber will be here in two minutes. We can swing by your place on the way,” he says to Elias.

I wrap my arms around my body and rock on the balls of my feet. “It was nice to meet you both.” Avery looks at me in confusion. “I’m going to get the train.”

“Aren’t you coming with us?” she asks.

“I was going to head back to my place,” I say, and her frown deepens.

“You’re not going to stay with Eli?”

Elias clears his throat from behind me, and I turn on my heels to look up at him. He has a tired look on his face as he shrugs. “Just because we’re together doesn’t mean she needs to spend all her time with me. Plus, she’s got shit to do in the morning so it makes sense for her to stay at her place.”

Zac mumbles just as the driver pulls up. “Look”—he turns to look at us—“Elias, just take her wherever the hell she needs to go in the morning, yeah? We’re about to lose this Uber if we don’t get in.”

Knowing it’s not worth the fight, I reach back and grab Elias’s hand and tug him toward the waiting vehicle. “Come on,” I say. “Let’s go home.”

Elias’s apartment is in the middle of Downtown Vancouver and is situated above an accounting firm and as we head through the large doors, I’m already feeling out of place. Elias lets the door close behind me and slides past to walks toward the elevator at the end of the corridor. We stand beside each other in silence as we wait for the doors to open. The elevator dings as the doors slide open, Elias ushering me in and stepping in behind me before he presses the buttom for his floor on the panel.

“If you’d feel more comfortable…” Elias starts as soon as the elevator begins to move. “I’m happy to order you an Uber.”

I blush at his thoughtfulness and gently knock my shoulder into his bicep. “It’s okay.” He looks down at me. “I’m pretty tired. Plus, I’m here now.”

We step out of the elevator and stop in front of the only door. He taps a small black fob against the door and swings it open. Reaching around me, he flicks the light on and it illuminates a short hallway. My eyes zoom in on the mirror at the end of the hall, and I feel my entire body flush when I see Elias looking at me through the reflection.

The light walls and dark furniture are inviting and give the place a warm and welcoming flair. I lean down and take my shoes off and slide them under the console next to a pair of his sneakers. Elias follows suit and places his shoes next to mine.

Undoing the zipper of my coat, I feel my skin prick when his hands gently land on my shoulders and take my coat from me before hanging it on the coat rack. Shyly, he takes my hand and leads me through an archway into a spacious open-plan living space. The kitchenette is in the far left corner that looks well-used and loved.

There is a large flat screen mounted to the wall, and opposite is a dark green sectional that takes up most of the space and looks incredibly comfortable with plush cream pillows. A matching footstool sits off to the side, which I’m sure slots into the gap nicely. And a glass top coffee table sits in front of the sofa and has a few candles and a plant on top.

“Nice place,” I comment as I run my hands over the back of the sofa, and I sigh contently—it’s as soft as it looks. I walk around to the other side and take a sit, enjoying the way it swallows me as I lean back. “Do you have a blanket?”

Elias frowns down at me from where he stands behind the sofa. “You’re not sleeping on my sofa, Bridget,” he says, moving to stand in front of me. “You can take my bed.”

I shake my head as I lean further into the pillows. “Don’t be silly.” I laugh softly. “I’m happy here.”