Ensnared (The Accidental Billionaires #1)(37)

To my surprise, I pulled out the book I’d been reading the day Eli had arrived in the backcountry, and a work of science fiction.

“I’ve been wondering where that went,” I told him as I examined the steamy romance paperback.

“I didn’t take it intentionally,” he said in a remorseful voice. “I know how it is when you’ve started a book and want to read the rest. I picked up both books while I was packing up, but had yours sticking out of the top so I could hand it over to you. I guess I got distracted.”

“Is this one good?” I asked as I put the sci-fi book on the coffee table.

“So far,” he replied. “I haven’t gotten very far into it yet.”

I went to lay my book beside his, but then thought better of it and put it on top of my pile of clothing.

“Toss it there,” he suggested. “Maybe we can get in some time to read.”

Eli had obviously seen my reluctance, and my face started to turn pink.

“It’s dirty,” I told him.

“Looks like a romance,” he said nonchalantly.

“It is. An incredibly steamy one.”

“How’s the story?”

“Really good. She’s one of my favorite authors.”

“Then why did you hesitate to put it down?”

“Because it really is dirty,” I explained.

“It’s a book that you want to read. I read sci-fi to escape. I think most people read to take a break from the real world,” he answered. “Besides, I like it when you’re dirty,” he said in a dangerously sexy voice.

I dropped the book next to his sci-fi title. Eli obviously didn’t give a damn if I read erotic romance. I wasn’t sure why that fact touched me so much, but it did.

“Thanks,” I said.

“For what?”

I could thank Eli for a lot of things.

Thanks for caring about my sexual pleasure.

Thanks for caring about your dog so much.

Thanks for the incredible experiences I’ve had over the last week.

Thanks for noticing the small things, because it makes me feel important.

Thanks for every single day I’ve spent in your company, because you’re so much fun to be with, and so damn considerate and nonjudgmental.

In the end, I settled with “Thanks for being you.”

I walked out of the room and headed toward the bathroom so I could take a shower.





CHAPTER 14

ELI



I spent the next few days trying to figure out what was even remotely good about me being me, but I couldn’t think of one damn thing to justify Jade’s gratitude.

Mostly, I was a workaholic. My break with Jade was the longest I’d ever taken since my dad had passed away.

I didn’t do commitments, so I had no fucking idea how to be good to a girlfriend. But the idea of claiming Jade in some way was starting to look pretty damn appealing.

And maybe Charlie was a little spoiled, but it wasn’t difficult to spend my free time with him, and he deserved an owner who treated him well. He’d spent way too much of his short canine life in misery.

Honestly, I thought Jade deserved better than a guy who was only around so he could satisfy his carnal urges.

I was thoroughly convinced that once we’d gorged ourselves on sex, one of us would eventually get bored and move on.

Problem was, I wasn’t so sure I’d be the one who wanted to break things off quickly once our itch was scratched.

So I’d avoided having sex with Jade, even though it was fucking killing me.

The longer it takes for us to have sex, the longer she’ll be around, right?

I’d made certain we were worn out every single day with planned activities: exploring Yellowstone, bike riding, horseback rides, white-water rafting, and some very long hikes.

By the time our day was over and we’d had a few drinks after dinner, Jade had conked out almost as soon as she hit the bed.

I wasn’t quite so lucky.

There was no way I was going to sleep in another bed. I liked feeling her warmth draped over me, or snuggled up to my side.

But every night was torture.

I couldn’t figure out what in the hell was wrong with me. I’d achieved my goal. Jade was willing, and we were both adults. Why the fuck was I putting off what I knew would be the most satisfying sex of my entire life?

She’s making me crazy.

There was no other explanation.

Our days had been an eye opener for me. Although I’d already known that Jade was gutsy, because of her survival expertise, I’d also discovered just how fearless she was when confronted with any kind of outdoor activity.

She jumped into every experience wholeheartedly and without any hesitation.

I wasn’t quite sure if that fascinated me even more, or if it terrified the hell out of me.

“Do you think we should head back?” Jade asked, jolting me out of my own thoughts.

I looked around, realizing we could either take the trail back to our camp, or we could hike farther away from our lodgings before circling back.

The moment I looked at Jade, my dick was hard. Not that it wasn’t constantly that way because of her, but it was difficult not to want to fuck her up against a nearby tree.

Her skin was still flushed with excitement, even after exploring for two days. And her joyous smile made me feel like somebody had bashed me in the chest.