Lustly(46)

“It’s okay. I promise it’s okay, Lily.”

Eli invited me inside and got me a drink of water before sitting down next to me. “I don’t know what happened, but I think there’s something I need to tell you. You said no lies, and even if you don’t want to be my friend, I need you to know everything.”

I wiped my tears and gave him my attention. “What is it?”

“Remember when you asked me to look into your husband’s affair?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“I gave you the proof like you asked, but I didn’t explain why it was so easy to get it.”

“Does it matter?”

“Lily, Kate’s one of my mom’s girls. Your husband was on the client list. They happened to be paired up, and started a relationship after that.”

I felt like I was going to throw up. “What do you mean on the list? How long was he paying for escorts?”

“According to my mother’s files, which I had to sneak to look at, five years.”

I ran toward the bathroom, unable to contain how sick it made me feel. When hunched over the toilet vomiting, I felt Eli’s presence. “I’m sorry, Lily. I planned on telling you before the divorce hearing, once I knew you were out of that house. To be honest, I pictured you killing him in his sleep a couple times.”

I spit into the toilet and flushed, almost laughing at his comment. “I’ve thought about that once or twice.”

“As your attorney I’d advise you not to.”

He handed me a wet towel to wipe my mouth. “I told Charlie that I knew everything. My marriage is over and he is fully aware that I’m leaving.”

My coat had opened up and Eli got a good look at what was underneath, or the lack of what was there. “What in the hell are you wearing?”

I tried to smile as if he’d think it was funny. “I was wearing this when I told him. I wanted him to know what he’d never have again.”

A hint of a smile formed on the corner of his lip. “Damn. That’s badass. I actually feel sorry for him.”

I smacked him on the chest. “For someone that’s trying to get on my good side, you’re doing a terrible job.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just a cold blow to a man’s ego, that’s all. Where are you going to go?” He reached into the medicine cabinet and pulled out a toothbrush. It wasn’t a regular one, but one of those dollar ones that fold up for travel. “Here, I got these from a hotel I stayed at a few years ago. I don’t think they expire.”

I took it out of his hand and started brushing my teeth while I spoke. “Maybe I should take the kids and go somewhere that doesn’t have high dollar whores living in the suburbs.”

He stood behind me and started rubbing on my shoulders. “Or you could stay here and forgive me. I mean, I’ve offered a dozen times to help you.”

I spit out the last of the toothpaste and rinsed my mouth before addressing anything. “I didn’t come here for money, Eli. I came here because -.” I looked right at him, at those dark eyes staring back at me. Every feeling that he’d ever given me, every tear I’d shed on that muscular chest, every moment I spent in those strong arms were moments that I never wanted to forget.

“Tell me, Lily.”

“I don’t know. I was upset and the next thing I knew I was out in front of your house.”

“You came here because you know it’s the one place where you’re completely safe from it all.” He broke the short distance between us. “You came here because deep inside you know that everything I did was because I cared about you.”

I hated the way he looked at me, as if he were looking right through my soul. Eli was right about me feeling safe. Even before we became friends there was something about him that screamed protector. For months I’d denied what was happening between us, meanwhile he was doing everything in his power to keep me out of trouble. He didn’t want me getting involved with his mother, or the lifestyle. How could I hate him for going out of his way for me? “It’s true. I want to be mad at you, but I can’t.”

He started to smile, but refrained. “Why is that?”

“Because whether you’re Eli or Frankie there’s something between us that I can’t deny.”

“Why else, Lily?” He put his hands on my arms and pulled me against his chest. I wanted to fall into those lips that eagerly awaited my kiss.

“Because aside from that connection there’s something else.”

“What?”

I gulped and closed my eyes, trying to find reasons to walk away from this beautiful man before it was too late. When I opened them he was still there waiting. “Love.” I never took my eyes away from his. “I came running to you because I love you. As mad as I am at you, I can’t stop it.”

Eli picked me up before planting a long awaited kiss over my lips. I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms behind his neck, allowing him to carry me up to his bedroom. Much like the last time we were together, nothing else mattered.

He wasted no time taking off his clothes and landing back on the bed with me. I’d removed my coat, but still had on the leather hot pants. He ran his hand up the ass on one side. “You’re so f*cking sexy, woman.” Eli moved my long hair away from my face and smiled. “You make me do crazy things.”