Finding Our Forever (Silver Springs #1)(30)

“You mean later? What’s wrong with my place?”

“I mean now,” she told him.

He pulled back to look at her. “Are you serious?”

She could already taste his kiss, had committed every detail about him to memory. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“Absolutely not,” he replied. “Make your way out back. There’s a side patio where smokers go that should be fairly deserted. I’ll be there in a few.”

Since they didn’t want to be caught together, this was a risky endeavor. That she was willing to take such a gamble surprised Cora. It wasn’t like her. But nothing she’d done with Elijah so far had been like her and, in this instance, the need for privacy couldn’t outweigh the urgency to feel him inside her. After battling that desire for a whole week, she was more than ready to surrender.

*

When Eli returned to the table, Darci looked up at him in surprise. “Where’s Cora?”

“She went to the bathroom.”

“Again?”

He shrugged as if he hadn’t asked for details, and, as soon as she was distracted by something Dallas said, he nudged Gavin. “Why don’t you ask Darci to dance?” he murmured.

Gavin seemed startled by this atypical request, but Eli had spoken low and used a tone that suggested he not question it, and Gavin didn’t.

As soon as Gavin and Darci walked away, Eli leaned close to Dallas. “I’m going out back,” he said. “Keep Darci occupied, will ya?”

“Keep her occupied?” Dallas repeated.

“Make sure she doesn’t go looking for Cora.”

Dallas sat up straight. “What are you two going to be doing?”

When Eli didn’t answer, his brother swore under his breath. “No way! I’ve been flirting with her all night, with zero results. You dance with her once, and she goes outside with you?”

“It’s not like that,” he said.

“Then what’s it like?”

Eli lifted his beer. “None of your business. Just take care of Darci, okay?”

“Sure. What are brothers for?” he replied. “But isn’t Cora your new art teacher? Is that okay? Because I’ll step in for you if it isn’t,” he joked.

“Like hell you will,” Eli grumbled and tossed back what was left in his glass before making his way to the door leading to the patio and the parking lot beyond.

Cora was waiting for him near the vine-covered trellis. Two guys were smoking on the far side of the patio, but they were so deep in conversation they weren’t paying any attention. Taking Cora’s hand, he quietly led her to the back of the building, which faced nothing except a wide expanse of farmland.

“On second thought, maybe this is a little reckless,” she said as he pressed her up against the building.

It had taken him long enough to join her that she’d grown nervous. He could tell. “Apparently, you need a little recklessness in your life.”

“Because...”

He kissed his way up her neck. “It’s exciting.”

“Being reckless is a good way to get burned.”

Threading his fingers through hers, he held her hands above her head. “Like I said, we’re in it now.”

“And if someone comes out?”

“They won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“I told my brothers to see to it.”

Her eyes widened. “You did what?”

“I didn’t want you to worry about Darci.”

“But...what must your brothers think?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me!” she said. “I’m embarrassed!”

“I’m sorry. It was either that or risk having Darci come looking for you. I figured that would be more embarrassing, and I knew I could trust my brothers to make sure that didn’t happen.”

He was afraid she was going to leave. He held his breath as she stared up at him, and bit back a curse when she pulled away. But after taking a few steps, she turned back and grabbed him by the shirtfront, pulling him up against her again. “This is crazy. Look at us! We’re behind a bar. And somehow that’s not enough to stop me. What you told your brothers isn’t enough to stop me, either. Because I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you.”

He let his breath go in relief. “Hallelujah. Then I suggest you relax,” he said and slid his hand up her skirt.

*

Cora told herself that she should care more about the fact that Dallas and Gavin knew what was going on—and that Darci could easily figure it out. But the kiss Elijah gave her was so achingly sweet that the last thing she wanted to do was walk away. This was a new side of him, one she hadn’t seen before.

“I love the way you touch me.” She’d anticipated coming together in the same heady rush they’d experienced before. They’d both felt the same chemistry on the dance floor. But tonight Eli was taking his time.

“Then you needed this reminder. Maybe it means you won’t ignore me this week.”

“You could’ve called me,” she said as his mouth found her earlobe.

“I was getting signals that precluded that.”

“I don’t remember sending any signals.”