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“Hey.” I cautiously step out of the bedroom. My eyes scan from my brother to Eli, but that’s where they stop. His eyes light up when he sees me.
In a few long strides, he’s standing before me, hands on my face, leaning in close. “Morning, beautiful,” he whispers before pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
“Come on, man, do you have to do that shit in front of me?” Cam whines.
Eli pulls out of the kiss and wraps both of his arms around me. “Not hiding it, Cameron.” The tone of his voice leaves no room for negotiation.
“What’s going on?” I ask them.
“I got tickets to a boat cruise tonight—four of them. I wanted to see if the two of you wanted to join Carla and me,” my brother tells me.
“You really like this one,” I comment.
“It’s a date, Mar,” he counters. He points to Eli. “This guy refused to wake you up to see if you wanted to go.”
I feel Eli press his lips to the top of my head. I know I’m smiling like a fool at the display of affection. It’s foreign and familiar after last night. Either way, it’s not unwelcome. “What do you think?” I look up at Eli.
“Whatever you want, but I wasn’t waking you up to ask you.”
“There’s going to be more of this.” I motion between Eli and me in our embrace. “You think you can handle that?” I ask my brother. I should probably talk to Eli about that statement, but considering he’s holding me the way he is, I think it’s safe for me to assume. He told me last night that I was his.
“I’m here, aren’t I?” He crosses his arms over his chest.
“That didn’t answer my question,” I counter.
“Fine. Yes, I can handle it. Morrison knows where I stand.” He gives Eli a pointed look. I hate the thought that this, whatever this is going to be between Eli and me, could potentially get in the way of their friendship. They’ve been friends way too long for that to happen. I just need to remember to keep the details of why this ended, if it ends to myself so that my brother can still have his best friend. Sounds easy enough in theory.
“Marley?” Cameron says, annoyed.
“I think it sounds fun. Besides, I’d like to get to know Carla better.” I smile at my brother, and he rolls his eyes.
“Don’t be a brat, Mar,” he tells me. My answer is to stick my tongue out at him. We will forever be kids when we argue. I don’t think we’ll ever grow out of that.
“Morrison?” Cameron asks, exasperated.
“You heard her. She said yes.” He shrugs. “We’ll be there.”
“Just like that?” Cam’s now grinning.
“Yeah, man. Just like that.” Eli pulls me closer, holding me a little tighter, and my heart skips a beat.
“You’re just handing my little sister your balls on a platter?” he asks, the grin still firmly set on his face.
I look up at Eli to gauge his reaction and find him looking down at me. “She can have whatever she wants.” He places his lips next to my ear. “As long as she’s mine,” he says softly, kissing that spot just under my ear that he discovered last night drives me crazy.
My heart flutters, and my body tingles. “What time?” I ask, turning my attention back to my brother.
“We set sail at one.”
“A day ride? I assumed it was later.”
“They have two sessions per day. Ours is a day ride.”
“Meet at your place?” Eli asks him.
“That works. See you in a few hours.” With a wave, Cameron turns and lets himself out.
“I didn’t think he would ever leave,” Eli comments as he bends and lifts me into his arms.
“W-What are you d-doing?” I sputter with laughter.
“Taking you back to bed. I was robbed of being able to wake up with you.”
“We have to get ready. I need to go home to shower and change.”
“Not until we do this.” He tosses me on the bed and quickly climbs over top of me. “Good morning,” he whispers huskily as his lips press against mine. His hands roam over my bare thighs, and I open for him, allowing him space to settle where we both want him to be.
“Good morning,” I repeat when he breaks the kiss.
“We have something to discuss before I let you out of this bed.”
“Oh, yeah? What might that be?”
“Us.”
“What about us?” I know what he’s trying to say, at least I think I do. However, I want to hear him say it. After years of him torturing me, to find out it was to keep himself away from me, I just… I need to hear him say it. One more time so I know that this is real, and I’m not dreaming.
“It’s you and me, Mar. And I know this is going to make me sound like a teenager, but we’re exclusive. I don’t want to date anyone else.” His lips press against mine. “I want you to be all mine.”
