Page 46 of Sizzle

He’s not struggling against me but I’m not yet sure he won’t take a swing at me if I let him go. I shift my grip on his wrists to one hand and bring the other up to touch his cheek.

His entire body is trembling.

“I’m not into guys,” he says, his voice thick.

“I know.”

Sometimes an orgasm is just an orgasm. God knows I had my share of encounters like that. I won’t pressure him one way or another.

Though standing together as close as we are, I can’t help but feel evidence to the contrary brushing up against my hip.

I won’t push. Instead, I let go of his hands.

Elliot doesn’t step away. He looks up at me, all signs of tears gone.

“What about Joelle?”

“What about her?”

“What are your intentions with her?”

At that, I smile so wide I think my cheeks might split.

“Are you defending her honor, Elliot?”

“Yes,” he says. And he’s not laughing. “I’m serious. I want to know what your intentions are with her. She’s too special to be just another diversion while you wait for your perfect guy to come along.”

“I should beat the hell out of you for even suggesting it,” I murmur, no longer amused. “But since I understand where you’re coming from, I’ll let it slide.”

We’re still standing too close. Elliot’s so wound up he’s practically churning the air around us.

“I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want Joelle,” I tell him, meeting his eyes. “My intention is to spend as much time with her as I can.”

“And the perfect guy? What happens when he comes along?”

I can’t tell him that. I can’t. It’s the only thing holding me together right now, sharing air with him like this.

“You think I should tell her, you mean,” I say flatly. “After everything I just told you about Diana, you think I should just come out and say it.”

“Joelle’s made of stronger stuff than that—other woman.” Whatever he was about to say about my ex-fiancée appears to have damn near choked him. “I think you aren’t giving her enough credit if you don’t trust her that much.”

“I do trust her.” And to my surprise, I realize it’s the truth.

“Then you have to tell her,” says Elliot.

He’s right. If I’m going to trust her at all, it has to be completely. And given her reaction to Elliot being there with us that one night, well, maybe the truth won’t scare her off.

“I know.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll have to beat the crap out of you,” he says, stepping back.

Oh, Elliot.

“She wants you, you know,” I say, watching as color creeps across his cheeks.

“It doesn’t matter. She works for me.”

“It does matter. ‘Rules are something that uncreative people hide behind.’” Elliot narrows his eyes at that.