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I made a ‘hmm’ sound in my throat, still smirking as I thought about it. “I like pretty things.”
“Pretty things?” There was a mocking tone to his voice.
“Don’t laugh at me. I don’t know. I want it to be something pretty, but it has to be important to me. Maybe Lucy and Eli’s name?”
He did another thoughtful nod as he studied his sketchpad. “I agree. Beautiful people need beautiful art on them.”
“I like yours. There are so many. I know I haven’t seen all of them, but I really love your tattoos.” Did I sound a little breathless?
He looked up. “You’ll get around to seeing them all,” he said gruffly before focusing back on his notebook.
What? My heart raced. I could practically hear the blood pumping in my ears.
“How about an infinity sign with Lucy and Eli’s name wrapped into it on each end? I know it’s cliché and overused, but I’d give it my own twist. And later on, if you have more kids, we can add another infinity sign joining them together.” He tapped his pencil rapidly against the paper, not meeting my eyes.
“I never thought about having more than two,” I told him.
He stilled and glanced up. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “But that was when I thought I’d always be with Scott. Now I don’t know. It’s a scary thought. To start over, especially taking a chance with a different man. What if he didn’t stick around or cheated on me like Scott did? I never imagined I’d be a woman that would have kids with different fathers either. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but until Scott cheated, I foolishly thought he would be my one and only.” I smacked my hands against my thighs and sighed. “Ugh. Sorry. I tend to say too much around you. But I think I’d like the infinity sign. Could you draw it so that I could see if I’d like it?”
Shaking his head, Elijah coughed and looked back down. “Yeah. I can draw something.” He started sketching before pausing again. “It really hurts hearing that someone as beautiful and vibrant as you was ever with someone who—"
He stopped, took a deep breath, but just resumed drawing.
What was he going to say?
“I don’t regret anything, you know. That would mean forsaking Lucy and Eli, and they are the best parts of me.”
He slowly smiled. “I think your best parts are all of you.”
“Does that include Lucy and Eli?” I held my breath.
“I said all parts of you, did I not?” He frowned. “I’m offended you’d ask that.”
“Wow,” I said amused. “Look how far we’ve come. Remember what a jerk you were?”
“Hush. I’m concentrating.”
“You stole Lucy’s chips.”
He smiled. “She dropped them.”
“And why did she drop them?”
“I was an asshole. There. Are you satisfied?”
“Yes,” I said smugly.
His expression turned somber as he drew. “I’m glad that happened. The thought of not knowing you guys.” He pointed to his chest slowly before rubbing it. “Hurts right here.”
My mouth parted slightly as I watched him. I stood, needing a second away from him just so I could breathe. Everything he said was always so…beautiful…perfect…right to my ears.
I’d never known that feeling. It made me think he might want more than friendship. Could I trust that happiness like I desperately wanted? Running my fingers through my hair, I thought about it as I walked around and studied all the drawings and paintings on the wall. Every single one of them had a dark and morbid vibe. Demons and naked women… Violent war drawings with dead zombie soldiers… Female vampires feeding on men… I glanced over at Elijah who was hunched over the desk drawing. He really was different. Darker than other men I’d met yet gentle and kind in all the ways that counted. A low and pleasant hum warned my blood, the sensation crawling between my thighs. I clenched my legs together, then unclenched, turning myself on. Trying to decode who Elijah was as a man was burning me to liquid fire. Was he a gentle, caring lover? Was he rough? Was he somewhere in between? Could he give me a bit of both?
“Did you draw all these?” I said in a raspy voice.
“Most. Wendy and Lance did a few.”
