She’s so goddamn warm, and soft, and feels like she fits perfectly against me. Like she was meant to be spooned by me all along. I move in so close that I share her pillow and bury my head in her hair.
“Are you comfortable?” I ask her, my palm splaying across her stomach.
“Very,” she whispers. “Thank you, Eli.”
No, thank you, Penny.
“You’re welcome,” I answer as my eyes drift shut and my breathing evens out. I hadn’t realized how much I love being able to hold a woman in an embrace like this. Perhaps it’s simply that I haven’t had this sort of . . . affection for the past sixteen years. Nor been needed.
This bed, these sheets, this woman. She feels so right. And before I know it, I’m drifting off to sleep, my mind a complete haze as I soak in being next to Penny and holding her like I’d have hoped to.
Chapter Twenty-One
PENNY
“Mmm,” I mumble as a hand moves across my breast, fingers toying with my nipple. “Right there,” I whisper.
My entire body is lit up, pulsing, throbbing, as the fingers circle my nipple over and over again until . . . a pinch.
“Ohhh,” I moan and shift my pelvis, bumping right into a very stiff erection behind me. Yes, that’s exactly what I want.
That’s what I need.
Relief.
Desperately, I move against the erection behind me, the crack of my ass gliding up and down his ridge, searching for more.
“Yes, fu-uck.”
I pause.
That wasn’t me. That was a male voice.
A familiar male voice.
And the desperation in that one “fuck” encompasses exactly how I feel.
His hand cups my breast and squeezes, sending me into a tailspin of need. Who cares if the voice is familiar? Whatever he’s doing is working for me on so many levels. I arch my back into his touch and lean into the strong masculine chest behind me.
“More,” I whisper just as my hand grips the top of his and guides it slowly down my stomach.
There is one thing on my mind . . .
I want him between my legs.
I need him between my legs.
“Touch me,” I whisper. “Make me come.”
“Fucking hell,” he says, and I pause his hand one more time.
Why do I know that voice?
I release his hand and reach behind me, connecting with a strong chest, a body built for protection. His hips thrust into my backside, reminding me how hard he is, and that’s when my eyes blink open, and the sun coming in from the window momentarily blinds me.
It takes me a few seconds, but when I finally gain my bearings and feel a hand at my stomach, toying with the hem of my shorts, I turn around to find Eli sleeping.
“Oh God,” I say loudly, causing him to fling his eyes open.
He assesses what’s going on, and when he realizes his hand is almost down my pants, he springs backward, flying right out of bed and onto the floor.
When he stands, he dives his hand through his hair, and together, as if there is a giant neon sign pointing south, we both look at his crotch and take in his massive erection.
And I mean . . . massive.
“Fuck.” He drops his hands in front of him. “Shit, I’m sorry, Penny. I didn’t, fuck, I was dreaming. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I say while I adjust my top to make sure everything is covered. “I, uh, I was dreaming too.”
Only, right now, I kind of wish I didn’t wake up.
His teeth roll over his bottom lip as his eyes glance down at my hardened nipples, and at this moment, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything sexier in my life. Eli Hornsby, hair all a mess, chest muscles rippling as his hands attempt to cover his erection, while his eyes blaze. At me.
Silence falls between us as we both attempt to catch our breaths, our eyes staying connected.
Look at him. What I wouldn’t give for him to lower his hands, walk over here, and finish what he started.
I’d savor the moment, begging and pleading with him to please take away this unbelievable heaviness that rests between my legs.
“Uh, I should probably go . . . take a shower.” He nods toward the bathroom.
Ughhhh, noooooo.
Come over here.
Rip my shirt off.
Run your tongue all over my body.
Let me feel you inside me . . . one more time.
“Yeah, a shower sounds like a good idea. I’ll just, uh, lie here.”
Good one, Penny. He doesn’t need the play-by-play.
“Okay.” Hands kept in front of him, he moves around the bed and into the bathroom, where I hear the shower turn on immediately.