Page 21 of Breaking Him

But it wasn’t just his smile. It was the whole package. The last few nights we’d spent together had been life-altering. He was still a little unsure, not always trusting his instincts. I was doing everything I could to let him know how amazing he was, that nothing he wanted from me was wrong. But he was still holding back, afraid of what he wanted, maybe afraid that I’d reject him if he took what he needed…and I knew he craved more. I sensed it in him so strongly, it was like I could see inside him. I didn’t know how to convince him to let go, other than telling him how much I loved everything he did to me.

I trusted him with my body completely. His size, his quiet nature, his past and fears, none of that could hide his beautiful soul.

He’d never hurt me. Ever.

I leaned on the fence and watched him, unable to look away. I wanted him, now. Constantly. And when he lifted his head and spotted me, and that dark, dirty heat sliced through his brown eyes, I knew he felt the same way. His mouth quirked up on one side, gaze roaming my body, and the hot needy sensations it caused shot through me, rippling over my skin. He adjusted his ass in the saddle, and I grinned. The man was now sporting wood, and we both knew there was nothing he could do about it, not right then.

I was in the mood to be a little naughty, to tease. So I leaned over the railing farther. My tank was low cut, and I pushed my arms together, giving him a nice view of cleavage down the front. His brows shot up and then lowered, eyes narrowing. I threw him a wink, then after I’d flashed him once more, I gave him a little wave, turned and, adding an extra sway to my hips, walked away.

I probably shouldn’t tease, but it was all in fun, and the more worked up Eli got, the more control he let slip. There was a raging inferno inside that man just waiting to be released.

And I wanted him to release it on me.

I headed inside. I didn’t have long to get ready before Cassie came to pick me up. There had been a fair in town today, and they were having a live band tonight. I’d said I’d go before Eli and I had gotten together. I’d mentioned it to him yesterday, but I knew he wouldn’t come. I would’ve backed out, but I’d agreed to meet an old school friend of mine who was in town for a few days and I didn’t want to let him down. We barely saw each other anymore as it was, and I missed him. James had been my best friend since the third grade. When we got older, we’d tried dating. It hadn’t worked out, but we never stopped being friends, and I hoped we always would be.

I grabbed a quick shower and got dressed, leaving my hair loose and putting on my favorite dress. It was still hot, even when the sun went down, so I didn’t bother with a sweater. Eli was just finishing up when I walked out, leading Gus toward me from the field. He’d spun his cap around again, so I couldn’t see his eyes as he neared, but I didn’t miss the way his massive shoulders had stiffened or how the bulge in the front of his jeans had grown.

He stopped in front of me, and I patted Gus’s nose. He nudged my hand, greedy for more pats.

“Cassie should be here soon.”

Eli’s face was still in shadow, and I sucked in a breath when he reached out and touched my waist, hand smoothing over the rose-print fabric.

“Do you like it?”

“You look beautiful.” His hand lifted to my hair, touching the ends, then across to my jaw, the side of my throat. “Beautiful,” he said again in a gruff voice.

The sound of Cassie’s truck coming up the road reached us, and he dropped his hand.

“I won’t be too late.”

He dipped his chin and led Gus to the fence to brush him down.

Cassie pulled up beside us, casting a glance in Eli’s direction. He murmured, “Hello,” and got on with what he was doing. Cassie seemed to relax after that. I don’t know what she thought he’d do, but it annoyed the hell out of me that she was so wary of him in the first place. I tried not to think about it. Tonight I planned on having a good time.

“Is James meeting you there, honey?” Cassie asked. “I saw him in town yesterday. Boy said he planned to wear you out on the dance floor.”

Eli stilled, going full-on statue. Shit. James was just my friend; there was nothing romantic between us—not anymore; there barely had been when we dated—but Eli had lived in this town his whole life as well. He had to know that James and I had gone out. I wanted to explain to him, but Cassie had her eagle eyes on me, and as much as I loved her, I had no intention of sharing my and Eli’s relationship with her, not yet anyway.

I tried to laugh it off. “I’m sure he’ll be too busy sweet-talking the ladies to worry about his old friend.” I couldn’t make it any plainer than that.

Cassie laughed and joked with me as we climbed in her truck, but Eli hadn’t moved. His head was tilted down and to the side, that blasted hat hiding his eyes so I couldn’t even try to read what he was thinking.

Then we were driving down the road, headed for town. We’d barely left and I was already desperate to get home again, to make sure Eli knew he had nothing to worry about.

When we arrived the band was already playing. The stalls and tents from the fair that day were still up but closed for the night. They’d been arranged in a large circle, a makeshift stage for the band at one end, dancing and mingling in the middle. Decorations and lanterns had been strung up as well, and they cast a soft, warm golden glow across everyone. It was beautiful. I wished Eli were there with me.

I spotted James at the same time he did us.

He rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug. “About time you got here, woman.” Then he grabbed my hand and dragged me away from Cassie. “Let’s dance.”

I laughed. “I just got here. I need a beer first.”

“Bullshit.” He snorted. “Abigail Smith doesn’t need Dutch courage to shake her ass on the dance floor.”

Half an hour later we were still there. James was a great dancer, always had been. He spun me around the floor, that wicked glint in his eyes, purposely ignoring the scores of females desperate for his attention. By the time we’d finished another dance or two, he’d have every available woman throwing herself at him—and some that weren’t available.

The song changed to a slow one, and he tugged me in close, wrapping his arms around me.