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“Stalking?” Kevin barks, the harsh sound makes me jump and pulls me from my thoughts. Eli’s smirk never wavers, nor does he respond to Kevin.
“I know many, many things, Little Flower,” he murmurs. “You done here?”
Swallowing a thick lump in my throat that the nickname conjures, I nod once, and then immediately berate myself for even responding to him at all. Part of me wants to ignore him completely, turn around and leave with Kevin, but I know that’s the piece of me that’s still seeking revenge. The side that wants to see Eli hurt the way he hurt me, wants to see him jealous.
It’s irrational and ridiculous, I’m aware. Truly, I have no right to be this upset, this mad. I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew it from the very beginning, but I can’t help it.
Eli grins at my answer. I melt.
No! Bad girl.
“Can we go somewhere and talk?” he asks, and if it weren’t for the nervous expression that immediately replaces his grin, I would have shaken my head the second the question left his mouth. Instead, I find myself staring at him. The longer I stare, the worse off he looks.
I want to say yes. I want to spend time with him, talk to him, get to know him. I want to ask questions and demand answers. I want to know what his favorite ice cream is and where he was born. Fuck, I want to know where he lives and how old he is. There are so many things I don’t know about Eli.And Renz and Isaac. I want to ask how they are, and where they are, but I can’t do any of those things if I don’t just take the leap and say yes.
I fidget as I go from nervous, to slightly panicky. Would I be safe with him? If what Nova said is true, then that would mean they are involved in criminal activities. Not just simple street-corner drug dealing, either.
The Mafia.
That is some seriously fucked up, nefarious shit, right there.
She could be wrong though, especially since she said they were rumors she’d heard. Rumors are wrong all the time. For all I know, they’re just honest, hardworking, club owners who pay taxes and stress over money like everyone else.
“Please?” he whispers, in what I’m guessing is a rare show of vulnerability. The tiny crack in his voice and his wide, pleading eyes, break my willpower. How could anyone say no to that face?
Ignoring all of the warning bells in my head, I nod again.
“Are you seriously going with him, Violet?” Kevin grunts in irritation. I’d completely forgotten he was even here. I cringe, feeling like an asshole. And to think, I was considering hooking up with Kevin and using him for sex. Fuck, I can’t even remember the guy’s presence for longer than five seconds.
Before I can respond, Eli laughs.He laughs. “Pretty sure she said yes,” he drawls, lazily dragging his gaze from me to Kevin. “You have a problem with that?”
“Yeah, I do. If I recall correctly, she asked if you were stalking her, so no, she’s not going with you,” he growls. My eyes widen and I spin, turning to face Kevin.
What the hell?
Kevin doesn’t even glance at me as he stalks toward Eli, an outraged expression on his usually sweet and calm face. Filled with bewilderment at the entire situation, I intercept, stepping between the two hulking men. I gently place my hands on Kevin, halting his attempt to step around me. I want to shove him, yell at them both, but Kevin is my friend and I understand that he’s just being protective.
“It was a joke!” I shout, even though it was not even close to a joke. I had been dead serious. I have no idea how Eli figured out where I was but that is a conversation he and I can have in private. “A figure of speech! He isn’t stalking me, calm down, Kev.”
Kevin continues to glower icily at Eli behind me. I tilt my neck backward in order to see their faces and the action causes my head to bump Eli’s chest. His arms band around my waist in response and he drags me into his hard body. His taut muscles press into me and my traitorous body shivers in response. Eli chuckles, a dark sound full of cocky masculine pride that both turns me on and pisses me off in equal measure. I almost pull away from his hold but at the last second, decide against it, knowing it will only further Kevin’s opinion of the situation.
And maybe because I love the way he feels against me but we aren’t talking about that.
Eli begins to softly stroke my middle as if he can sense where my thoughts have gone. It effectively calms me, and I allow myself to melt into his body, if only just for this moment. I soak in the feeling, realizing exactly how much I’ve missed the way his body feels next to mine.
“Seriously, Kevin, I appreciate you looking out for me but it’s unnecessary. Eli’s a,” I stumble, searching for the word, “an old friend.” Eli squeezes me at my statement and I’m unsure what the nonverbal meaning of that was, but it doesn’t matter. I reach up and pat Kevin on the chest, soothingly. “Thanks for the class, big guy, and for the chat. I’ll see you next week?”
Finally,finally, he steps back and ends the unnecessary dick measuring contest. His gaze drops down to where Eli is still holding me, and his eyes narrow. I step out of Eli’s grasp and surprisingly, he lets me.
Kevin shakes his head and runs his large, calloused hand over his shorn hair. “Yeah, I’ll see you later. Have a good night.” With that, he turns and walks away. My head spins with questions and confusion over the entire situation. Kevin’s display of indignation and if I’m not mistaken,possessiveness, are completely out of character for him. At least, from what I’ve seen.
“Do you have a bag or something you need to grab?” Eli asks, bringing me back to the present.
I turn to face him, crossing my arms over my chest as I do. I don’t miss the way he tracks the movement and checks out my tits either. Internally, I smile. I know the girls look excellent in my hot pink push-up sports bra. Probably about as great as my ass looks in the matching bottoms.
“Why are you really here, Eli, and how did you know where I was?” I ask with a severe scowl. He opens his mouth, and I can see the lie before he even speaks. “And do not lie to me or I swear, I will rescind my acceptance to talk to you and walk away, right now.”
“Rescind?” he mutters. “Seriously?”
