Page 36 of Fated to Her

I turn, wrapping my arms around his neck and standing on my tippy toes to kiss him. He pulls me to him then places me on the kitchen counter and moves between my legs.

“You are all the family we need,” he whispers, kissing my jaw.

“And Emery.”

He chuckles. “Yes, and Emery and your family. That is enough.”

His hands trail up my sides gently. I pull him closer, enjoying being close to him, his scent wrapping around me and soothing the anxiety I constantly feel being stuck in this apartment.

Chapter 9

• Adeline •

For the next week, I remain inside the apartment. Cyrus has been busy dealing with work and the rebuild, while Eli has been tense and barely says much, just always on edge like he’s waiting for something terrible to happen. His strange mood is making mine worse. Getting up from my place on the couch, I go to make a cup of tea when I hear the elevator. Stepping out of the kitchen, I peer down the hall to see Emery step out. Eli comes rushing out with a towel wrapped around his waist, stopping when he notices it is just his sister.

“Could have called first,” Eli tells her.

“Not here to see you. I’ve come for Addie. Go get dressed. You are leaving this penthouse and coming shopping with me.”

I shake my head, not wanting to leave my bubble. But Emery leans on the counter.

“I will take you how you are. Either get dressed, or we leave with you in your pajamas,” she says. I look down at the silk dress I’m wearing.

“You’re not taking her without me,” Eli says.

“You hush. She is safe with me. Now go on, Addie, get dressed. I’m not leaving without you,” she says. I roll my eyes before placing the kettle back down and heading to the bedroom. Eli follows me, throwing on some pants before digging out a floral dress from the walk-in.

“Take my phone with you, and don’t leave her side. You call me every half an hour,” Eli says.

“Can’t you tell her no? I don’t want to leave.”

He sighs. “No, she’s right. You can’t stay cooped up in here, Addie. Just go for a few hours. I need to help Cyrus, anyway,” he says, pulling on a shirt.

I put the dress on and step into my flats. As I come out, Emery is texting on her phone. She stands when she sees me, pocketing it.

“Calum going with you?” Eli asks her.

“Of course. She will be safe with me, Eli.”

“And the other issue?”

“He knows to stay away,” Emery says before looking at me.

I know who he means and know he is talking about his father. The one he still hasn’t said a word about, and I don’t have the guts to bring the topic up to him.

“Here, take this,” Eli says, handing me a wad of cash.

“What could I possibly need all this for?” I ask him, trying to hand some of it back to him.

“Keep it. If you don’t spend it, I will spend it for you,” Emery says, giving me a wink, and I chuckle, shaking my head at her.

Eli refuses to take it back, instead kissing my head then puts on his shoes and strides to the elevator. Emery drags me with her to it, and my heart rate rises at the knowledge I’m leaving the apartment. Eli wraps his arms around my shoulders, his lips below my ear.

“You will be fine. Emery will keep you safe, and Calum will be with her,” he tells me as the doors shut.

“How long will you be?”

“Ring me when you are on your way home, and I’ll come back,” he says.