Page 97 of Merciless

Elijah pauses and tilts his head. He holds my stare for what feels like forever, and the whole time I’m unable to breathe. His gaze flicks back and forth over my face. Then he breaks the stare as he sets his glasses back on the bridge of his nose and pushes them up with his middle finger.

“Take them off,” he says calmly.

My jaw drops. “I didn’t lie.”

Elijah scowls. “Yes, you did.”

“I didn’t look away or swallow hard.”

He slowly blinks, and the corners of his lips curl into a cruel smile. “You think I was telling you the truth about your telltale signs?” He tsks. “No, no, no. I’m not stupid to give that information to you. Now, strip.”

That lying son of a bitch.

I jump up from the bed. Like the last time, I don’t put on a show for him as I strip out of the last of my clothes. After shoving my panties down my legs, I kick them away and stand in front of him.

“Well?” I say, embarrassed that I’m naked and he’s fully clothed.

Elijah’s gaze dips down my body in a slow once-over. He has the same frustrating blank expression.

“Am I really that⁠—”

“You’re beautiful, Eden.” Elijah’s focus settles on my face, and he shoves his glasses in place with a middle finger. “You have no idea how difficult it is to hold back from bending you over and fucking you until you know only my name. So don’t ever fucking doubt yourself again.”

“What’s stopping you?” I can’t believe that just came out of my mouth.

His shoulders stiffen, and his gaze flicks back to my face, as if he hadn’t been expecting me to ask him that. “Is that what you want? For me to fuck you?”

My stomach flips, and I awkwardly shift my weight onto one leg. “I-I don’t know.”

“You better be fucking sure, Eden. This isn’t the time to joke around.” Elijah stands and towers over me. He takes one step toward me, then another as I inch backward.

“I’m not joking,” I say.

Elijah’s gaze flicks back and forth as he searches for the lie in my face. When he sees that I’m telling the truth, he says, “We’re not done playing. Lie down and spread your legs.”

My lips part, then slam shut. “A-are you serious?”

Elijah turns and motions toward the bed. “You keep asking me that. When have I ever joked about anything with you?”

I swallow my pride and crawl onto the bed, then lie on my back.

“Open,” he orders.

Taking a shaky breath, I ease my legs open and let them drop as far as they can go. Elijah crawls onto the bed and settles into a crouch between my spread thighs. He cranes his head as he stares at my pussy.

“Change of rules.” He glances up at my face. “You tell me a lie and instead of kissing you on the lips up here”—he points to my mouth—“I’ll kiss you on these lips right here.” He gestures to my pussy.

I drop my head on the pillow and let out a shaky breath.

Here’s to finally letting go.

“Truth or kiss?” I say.

“Kiss.”

He doesn’t wait for me to say anything before he settles on his stomach and dives forward. His mouth latches onto my mound, his tongue swirling over my swollen clit.

I squeeze my eyes shut and grip the sheets. Elijah winds his arms around my thighs and hikes my legs higher to give himself more room as he continues tonguing my cunt. Soft moans escape me until he catches the bundle of nerves between his lips with a groan. I cry out and tangle my fingers in his hair.