AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Harlow gave a slight nod, like she was silently asking herself a question, it led me to smile making me wonder where her mind had drifted to.
“Elijah, would you make them with me?” she asked, biting down on her lip, toying with it between her teeth. It made me see how hard it had been to utter those words, but I was delighted.
“I loved spending time with your mother, creating those wonders. I would love to continue the tradition with you, but only if we did the same as she did.”
I knew I was putting her on the spot with the requirement to comply, over running away from the situation. It was shitty to use something so meaningful, but how she looked at me was as if she was pleading for the pressure. A way for me to get her to open up and finally admit those full underlying feelings, which she was scared to say. If mama’s cookies could do that, then who was I to stop the process.
Thirty-One
Harlow
A curveball was thrown,and I wasn’t someone to back down from a challenge. I had started it by making mama’s amazing pasta. It was to be expected a trip down memory lane may occur. Just the length of that path, I didn’t realise. Never had I imagined that Elijah had shared the experience of cookie making with Mama. I was privileged to be in the kitchen whilst she worked. I remembered the times in my younger years when I had sat and admired her. When I finally was given the chance to make the recipe and touch the sacred recipe book, I was over the moon. That’s when it became second nature, working side by side. A way for mama to interrogate me, without my realisation that she was doing so. Her words hit me hard in the chest.
In a point in your life, you may have a tricky decision ahead. Remember that the ‘truth’ does also come out.
Agreeing wasn’t an option I wanted to bare all, let all my inhibitions loose in front of him. Our feelings were starting to entwine together, and I saw the effect was mutual. Elijah set to work decluttering and cleaning the workspace I had destroyed whilst preparing lunch. While I prepped the ingredients listed from the recipe book, we glided together as one, our bodies moving alongside one another. With everything ready, now was the time. To see if he could be honest with me, then I would be with him. It was an essential characteristic trait I couldn’t live without. I thought let’s start with something I already knew for certain, see his tell-tale signs and responses.
“Elijah, did Johnny ask you to move in when he was away?”
Weighing the dry ingredients, this was an easy question, as Johnny had told me but his answer came as a surprise. With no hesitation, his“no”dumbfounded me, as I waited with my hand on my hip.
“Johnny wouldn’t have gone on the trip; he would have stayed here and been miserable, blaming us for not going. A missed opportunity. I couldn’t allow it that way. I could at least help.”
Bullshit, that was my initial reaction, but he never faltered, his stare remained pointed as his Adam’s apple bobbed away whilst he spoke. He was speaking the truth. I wasn’t giving him the chance to speak. I rallied my mouth off fast, needing more time. Before feelings started to explode, as I began talking about that first night and the fear of the dark how I was petrified of driving and hurting Johnny. I was letting it all out, the small slithers of my heart that I have locked away but the main truth I was too scared to reveal. Rejection would destroy me.
With all the dry ingredients in the bowl, he began passing me the wet ones and he continued watching me. Just silently taking each detail in, with no judgement. My emotions always became overwrought, as the sinking sensation of failure took over. Johnny had been my only saviour and now Elijah had been let into one of my biggest secrets I had withheld. Sobs wracked me, as my hands couldn’t continue mixing away. Leaving the spoon, my hands immediately jumped to my face, needing to conceal the soon puffy look it would hold.
Hidden away, I still felt his presence as he approached, his normal confidence shining through. His warmth and tenderness radiated through his hands, as he caressed my cheek. Tucking the loose tendrils of hair behind my ear, he slid his finger slowly down, until he lifted my jaw to snap my face level with his.
“Har, sweetheart, look at me.” he commanded, making me pry my fingers apart to look at his beautiful, radiant eyes as they stared back at me. “Thank you for telling me something so hard. Knowing you trust me means the world to me. I have a question to ask you, though. A truth I need to hear. I’ve been honest and now it’s time for you to do the same. Harlow, do you want me?”
I couldn’t have hidden the hitch in my voice and the heat travelling up my cheeks, as his other hand trailed down my hip bone, circulating towards my arse, sending shock waves to my core. The nod and the instinct to bite my lip was too addictive, as I said the words he’d been dying to hear. The ones I had been dying to utter.
“Yes.”
“Right answer,” he replied as his mouth claimed mine in a breath-taking kiss.
A craving of every breath required between one another, as we nipped and nibbled lips, amplifying the movements as the pressure increased. Grabbing each other’s hair and pulling one another closer, ensuring every millimetre of distance was used, our tongues swirled together in unison, fighting the overwhelming sensations, and exploding within one another. As the circuit breaks, we eased apart, the mussed-up look between us both sang wonders. Touching my lips, it felt as if fireworks were dancing along the surface. I was wondering why it had never been this good before. As my eyes connected with his, I noticed his eyes never faltered from my gaze. This connection was intense, one of need. I stepped forward eager to taste his soft lips again, addicted to the guy in front of me.
Forgotten were the cookies, the reason behind them had proved beneficial, this man in front of me had borne his soul to me. He had opened up, divulged his truths and been honest to the core. Elijah allowed me to finally forget all the complications surrounding the situation and returned the kiss. I needed to feel those sparks as they continued their mission travelling further through every nerve ending in my body.
Thirty-Two
Elijah
All the signs were present,all I needed to do was give that slight push in the right direction to see her reaction. Explosions of indescribable feelings flew through my veins. I knew my obsession had started only recently, but the need to try to be hers at that moment felt as if every piece had slotted together as one. Gone were the doubts and panic that I had placed in my mind originally and instead, I’d laid these unknown entities of lust filled desires.
The need to keep her close and not stay away from one another was reflected in her eyes. The question of the uncertainty of what lay ahead, and I couldn’t leave an inch of doubt to my intentions.
“Harlow, shall we go out somewhere?” I asked, as she licked her lips, causing the involuntary groan to travel up my throat.
“Are you asking me on a date?” she questioned, retreating into herself and wrapping her arms around her body tightly.
Shyness had never been a feature I associated with her, but the way she’d been unable to meet my gaze without turning beetroot red looked sexy as hell thinking I had caused it. With my hands on her hips, I gazed down into her eyes.
“Yes, beautiful. I want to take you out. Somewhere we can unwind, talk, and relax together. A chance to determine what’s happening between us.”
Her hand slid into mine, it was a perfect fit, and with no hesitation she grabbed her jacket, slinging it over her arm.
