Page 4 of Breaking Him

Garrett had returned to his truck, calling my name. I wanted to go after Eli, but I knew if I didn’t go and talk to Garrett he’d freak out.

The barn door creaked open before I could head out. “Here you are, girl.” His bushy brows raised high, relief covering his face. “I was out in my yard and saw Kyle tear past looking madder than hell.” He pulled off his cap. “Came to check you’re okay.”

I’d told Cassie, his wife, about the date tonight. They both worried over me, more so since Dad passed. “I’m fine.” I led him to the house, reassuring him as we went, but once he finally left I had barely any recollection of what I’d said to him—not when all I’d been able to think about was Eli’s hands on me.

…

The next morning, nerves dive-bombed my belly as I headed outdoors. Every third Friday of the month, Eli drove into town with me to pick up supplies. It was already hot as hell; not a breath of wind so much as ruffled my blond hair, which I’d left loose for a change. I’d gotten my light hair and petite frame from my mother. My wide green eyes and delicate facial features—my dad used to call me pixie—came from my father’s side of the family. And I was glad of it. Glad I didn’t have to see her every time I looked in the mirror.

I always made an effort on our shopping trips—a little makeup, one of my dresses. If I didn’t wear them when the opportunity arose, I’d never get the chance. Well, that’s the reason I’d always told myself. This morning, though, I’d taken extra care, pulling on my favorite yellow sundress and brown boots that were worn in just right, with one thought on my mind—getting Eli to react to me the way he had last night.

My belly fluttered, pulse quickening. What would he do when he saw me? Had I scared him off? I didn’t know what had come over me, or why I wasn’t just trying to forget it, pretend it never happened. For all I knew, with the way he’d run off last night, he’d either try to avoid me forever or leave the ranch.

But I didn’t really think so, not after the way he’d reacted.

I blew out a breath. God, I had no damn idea what he’d do, how he was feeling, and it was making me crazy.

I’d tossed and turned all night, aching and hot, unable to think about anything but the way he’d stared at me when I’d asked him if he’d ever touched another woman the way he’d touched me. That glint of excitement in his eyes. All of it had swirled through my mind till the early hours of the morning, until it drove me out of bed, desperate to see him again.

Because I wanted him. I wanted Elijah Hays in a way I didn’t understand, a way that had me behaving as recklessly as I had last night. In a way that kind of scared me. I wanted to be the one to show him how good it could be. To be the one to make that big, muscular body quake, to make him moan until his voice was grittier and rougher than it already was.

I rounded the barn, my steps faltering when I finally saw him. He was leaning against the side of the truck. Soft, worn Levi’s hugged those long legs, straining over his solid thighs. He wore a dark blue T-shirt that clung to his wide shoulders, stretching around his massive biceps. I couldn’t see his face with his head dipped, the brim of his ball cap concealing all but his square, scruff-covered jaw. But he’d stilled, in that unnatural way he did when I was around him, like he was holding his breath…or tracking me like a predator about to pounce.

As I approached, he lifted his chin, the peak of his hat coming up, but not enough for me to see his eyes.

“Ready to head out?” I asked, trying to inject some lightness in my voice but failing miserably. I didn’t feel light, I felt weighted down, restless. He wouldn’t want me to bring up what happened, but he also hadn’t run, so I was counting that as a win.

He dipped his chin again and, shoulders tight, rounded the truck like he always did, opening the door for me. After I got in, he climbed behind the wheel, fired up the engine, and we headed out. The drive was a quiet one, which wasn’t any different from the other trips we took to town, but this time the space between us seemed charged. Eli’s unique scent, a heady mix of dark spice and outdoors, combined with the truck’s leather seats, surrounded me, had my heart racing, made it impossible to think of anything but him.

And the way he white-knuckled the wheel, forearms bulging and corded, jaw locked tight, I knew he felt it, too, the tension, the undercurrent of something magnetic firing between us.

Once we hit town, we made our usual rounds, picked up the supplies we needed, and three hours later the truck was loaded up and we were ready to head back.

He’d barely said two words to me the whole time. That wasn’t unusual, either, but after last night it frustrated me. I wanted more from him. “I’m kinda hungry. You wanna get lunch?”

“Coopers?” His response was immediate, almost eager, but said with a gentleness that drew my belly tight.

Eli liked watching me eat. I knew this because the times when we went to Coopers, he did just that, after he’d made short work of his own lunch. I’d keep my head down, focus on my food, pretending I wasn’t aware of his hot gaze on me, the satisfaction in the tilt of his lips when I finished everything on my plate. I didn’t really understand it, but I liked the way it made me feel.

The smell of fresh coffee and fried bacon hit us as soon as we walked into the cozy diner, making my mouth water. We took our usual seats, the far corner in front of the window. Elijah’s back to the wall, mine to the door.

He rested his hands on the red Formica table, and I couldn’t help but admire them. I really did love his hands—wide palms, fingers thick and long. It always amazed me how he could toss a bale of hay like it weighed nothing, swing an ax like nobody’s business, and hit that bag of sand in the barn like he wanted to tear it apart—but how gentle he always was when he tended the horses.

And now I knew how they felt on me…

Our breakfast arrived, and in his usual style he tucked in, demolishing it like it was his last meal. Then he pushed his plate away and sat back. His fingers curled around his coffee mug as he took a sip, his eyes sliding from the view out the window to me. A bolt of lightning shot through me. My nipples hardened instantly, and I locked my knees together. I’d been trying to ignore the persistent throb between my legs since I’d laid eyes on him this morning, but squeezing my thighs together put delicious pressure on my swelling clit and a moan slipped out before I could bite it back.

I ducked my head and shoved a forkful of bacon and scrambled eggs in my mouth to cover it, but he’d heard. He was doing that still-as-a-statue thing he always did. He liked it when I took pleasure in my food, as much as he liked to watch, but he had no way of knowing the real reason I was moaning, why every inch of my skin was oversensitive, too damn tight for my body. I was turned the hell on, so much so that my appetite vanished completely. I pushed my plate away as well. “We should get going.”

I went to stand, butt in the air, when those long fingers curled around my wrist, setting off sparks of pleasure all the way up my arm. I looked up at him, and he shook his head. “Finish.” Heat climbed his cheeks, but his eyes stayed locked on mine.

“I’m not really…”

“Please,” he added gruffly. “You’ve barely eaten.”

I blinked at him, a million questions firing through my head at once. I lowered to my seat and dragged my plate back to me, desperately trying to conceal my shock at the pleased look that crossed his face, gently curving his lips. For some reason this was important to him. Why? I wasn’t comfortable asking, but I’d choke down a whole damn pig’s worth of bacon to see that look on his face again. To experience this unexplained tingle of pleasure I got from pleasing him, just one more time.

I didn’t pretend I didn’t know he was watching when I took my next bite. I kept my eyes on him. Under the brim of his cap, I could see the glitter of his gaze, unwavering, locked on my mouth as I ate everything on my plate. When I licked my lips, his parted slightly. A small tell, but one just the same. Knowing he was getting off on watching me made me squirm in my seat.