AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I thought it would be nice to go for a drive tonight if you feel up for it.”
I blink. “A drive? Did you drive all the way down just for this?”
Elias hesitates for a moment too long. “It’s not so far.”
“That’s a three-hour drive when you could have just been here in a few moments,” I point out. “Unless you can drive through the abyss.”
He chuckles at the notion. “No,” he says, then pauses to take another sip of his coffee. “Do you not think you’re worth the time?”
Not really, honestly.“It’s more a matter of efficiency…”
“If I didn’t come by car, I wouldn’t be able to take you on a scenic drive to sit at the clifftops and gaze at the stars. So, it was obviously a necessity,” Elias says smoothly. And he’s so captivating when he puts on his charm that I almost forget what I was protesting about in the first place. He laughs at my flustered expression. “Don’t worry yourself, dear. I enjoy the occasional long journey to clear my head.”
I stare down at my drink, swirling it slightly in my hands. Something about the whole thing still doesn’t quite sit right. Elias is such a workaholic and always values efficiency. Perhaps I’m overthinking. Maybe that’s exactly why he needs the excuse for time to himself to think.Still.
“You know. You’re always so worried about interfering with my life and dragging me away from human shit…”
“I have to be. If I had my way, I’d keep you all to myself forever.”
My head jerks up to stare at him. He says it so nonchalantly, yet the statement makes my stomach flip. I’m not sure if it’s with concern, joy, or both.
He gives me a small smile. “I am…” he says, voice tight, “…tryingto be better for you.”
Because yeah, I’ve seen how intense Elias can get when letting his possessiveness show. I’ve only seen it slip in any significant way in bed, but that doesn’t mean those feelings ever go away just because we’re not being intimate at any given moment.
His. Forever.I turn the idea over in my mind. “I’m not entirely opposed to that option.”
“Darling. Don’t tempt me.” He closes his eyes, expression strained. There’s a low growl in his voice. “I want toowneverything about you and your existence. And yet, the more I come to care for you, the more I desire what is in your best interests. Your happiness, your success, for you to live a normal life to the fullest. Do you understand my conflict?”
“I…” I let my words trail off, not sure what I want to say. A part of me very much wants to disagree that the two are mutually exclusive. Being with Elias and Caelan and forgetting all else sounds like the best life imaginable, but I know that’s just my lovesick desperation speaking. Elias is trying so hard to be reasonable, to create a healthy balance for me, and who am I to make that more complicated for him?
The turn the conversation has taken makes my heart ache.
“I was just going to say,” I amend. “You worry about interfering with my life, but am I not interfering with yours?”
Elias looks surprised for a moment, then chuckles. “Hardly, dear.”
“No, but seriously. You’ve done so much for me. Driving all this way, visiting all the time. You’ve been staying in LA instead of traveling recently, haven’t you? And all the things for the band that need doing…” I glance down at the safe neutrality of my drink. “What IfI’mthe one getting inyourway?”
“As much as I hate to admit Caelan is right about anything, perhaps, in this case, he has a point. He has often told me I ought to work less and enjoy existence more.”
“I think the way he usually phrases it is that you need to ‘take the stick out of your ass.’”
He huffs a short laugh. “Yes. That too.” Elias finishes his coffee in silent contemplation before continuing. “I admit… I prefer to allow my work to consume me and find joy elsewhere. It’s easier to adamantly forge forward rather than dwelling on the past.”
Their past.That’s still a thorny subject and one I still know so little about, despite how much we’ve talked about so much else. It’s unusual for Elias to mention anything about it at all.
“Because that’s not something worth thinking or talking about, right?”
Elias smiles, but it’s tight, sad. “Not where we may be overheard, certainly. The matter is complicated. But I’m certain you must have questions.” He stands and offers me his hand. “Come. We’ll drive. If there are things you would like to know…” he tilts his head, staring at me with eyes that feel like they can pierce right through my soul, “… perhaps tonight I can attempt to explain.”
I stare at him in genuine surprise. It’s so much more than before. It wasn’t long ago he would immediately shut down or redirect any efforts I made to learn about his life.
Allowing him to help me up, I murmur, “Thank you.” Not so much for the assistance but the trust he’s offering by being willing to let me at least ask. I don’t know if he knows what I mean, but the matter isn’t worth clarifying.
Elias doesn’t let go, taking my arm like a gentleman, and the sweet, old-fashioned gesture makes me smile. He keeps my arm in his for the entire way back to the apartment complex, where he’d parked in one of the visitor spaces, and opens the door for me with a nod.
I slide into the passenger seat, glancing over at Elias.
