Page 35 of Effing Eli

He squeezed me and pressed his lips to my temple. “I’m sorry about that, baby. We’ll do whatever you want.”

I gazed into his blue depths. I didn’t want to be apart from him, but I needed to be careful. It would be too easy falling into bed with him again. “Okay. Let’s go to the pier. We can walk there from here.”

He tipped my chin and rubbed his nose to mine. “Do you believe I was only talking business with Cindy?” He searched my eyes as if worried.

Eli might appear cocky and refined in his custom-made suits and manicured nails, but underneath he was insecure like me. During moments like this, I sensed his fear, smelled it even. He’d always said I was his most valuable treasure… a rare jewel. That he was afraid of losing me. If that was true, how could he let me go?

Well, I didn’t want to ask him now. So instead, I put his mind at ease. “I believe you. As I said, I’m a jumbled mess. And I might have gotten a bit jealous.”

He shook his head. “I thought you might have. You didn’t need to be.”

“Really? But what about after—”

He pressed his lips to mine. “I just needed time, baby. I wasn’t going to ignore you forever.”

“It felt like forever.”

“We’ll talk about it after work. Are you sure you’re okay? We’re okay?”

I nodded. “All okay.”

“Why don’t we cut out early? We’ll walk on the beach, grab some food, and watch the sunset.”

“Dressed in our work clothes.”

His hands roamed over my breasts and around my back, down to my ass. “You could take all this off. Your bra and panties look like a bikini.” He wiggled his brows with an adorable smirk.

“Or we could hit Bloomingdales and buy some clothes.”

“Or that.”

“Just like that?”

“Yup. It’s my treat.”

“Mr. Big Bucks, are you?”

“Well, my wife, the shopaholic, hasn’t been around. My savings account is about ready to burst; it’s so full.”

I poked him in his rock-solid abs. “Stop. I spent my own money.”

“And mine.”

“Not always.”

“Most of the time.” The amusement in his voice reminded me of when we were dating back in college. Eli was incredibly playful when it was just the two of us. Through the years, he’d matured and lost some of his playfulness.

I turned to jelly as he ran his thumb over my bottom lip as I smiled.

“It never bothered me.”

“I know.” I hooked my arms around his neck. “I’d be happy to let you buy me clothes at Bloomingdales.”

“Nothing would make me happier than you letting me spoil you.” He captured my lips and I went soaring into the clouds with him.

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Eli