Crave - Teresa Mummert Page 0,66

hazy memory. “No. I could tell she was lying so she took me away, or she made the world change. I- I’m not sure how she did it. It’s like how I can feel what you feel.”

I finished rinsing my hair and stuck my arm out of the shower. Elijah placed a towel in my hand and I quickly wrapped it around my body and shoved open the curtain. I stepped out of the shower, stopping in front of him.

He shook his head, looking at the lingering red that swirled around the edge of the drain.

He nodded in agreement but I could feel his uncertainty. “Tell me what you think happened.”

My words poured out of me in a confusing jumble as I struggled to explain the fight I’d thought I’d had with her. I was known for getting lost in daydreams but this took things to an entirely different level.

***

By the time I’d finished, my hair had all but dried. Elijah seemed more relaxed, although he was still uncertain as to what had happened.

“You must think I’m crazy,” I mumbled, fighting to talk past the lump that had formed in my throat.

Elijah’s fingers slid through my hair and the corner of his mouth turned up in a slight smile.

“Never,” he whispered and I closed my eyes, committing this moment to memory out of fear that might be all it is one day. “Look at me.”

I slowly opened my eyes, struggling to keep my worry from reaching him and letting him know how scared I now was. This feeling of dread was much worse than any I’d felt when face to face with monsters who’d wanted to kill me. Losing him would feel like literally ripping the heart from my chest.

“I promise.” The pad of his thumb glided over my damp cheek and I leaned into his touch.

He pulled my mouth to his, kissing me slowly as if would be the last time. If it was, I wasn’t going to waste a single moment we had left. With shaky fingers, I reached up to the top of the towel where it was tucked into itself, and slowly pulled it free. I let it slide from my hand and puddle at my feet.

Elijah inhaled deeply, his lips pressing harder against mine. I knew he was struggling to keep himself in control and I hoped that he wouldn’t be successful.

“Elijah,” I whispered against his mouth and he groaned, his hands sliding down my back causing me to shiver under his fingertips. I pressed my body against his, scared that he would disappear, another dream that I would be pulled from at any moment.

Elijah broke free from our kiss and took a step back from me. I couldn’t hide the disappointment from my face, causing him to smirk and he grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head. His body crashed back into mine sending us tumbling onto the bed, his body landing on top of me.

I slid my fingers into his hair, not wanting him to ever leave my arms again. His hands moved with an urgency now, exploring the curves of my body. His touch ignited a spark inside of my belly that quickly spread like wildfire throughout my veins. The need for him consumed me like the flames of desire needed oxygen.

I reached between us, fumbling with the button of his jeans and his hand slipped over mine and I thought for certain he was going to put an end to wherever this was leading, but instead, he popped the button free from the fabric and shoving them down along with his boxers.

“You’re not stopping?” I asked as his mouth roamed over my collarbone.

“I can’t,” he whispered against my skin, his breathe fanning out over my flesh, causing my need for him to intensify further.

My back bowed from the bed below as we moved together like it was always meant to be us. He was gentle yet strong. But even with all of the pleasure, I couldn’t help but wonder if the reason he’d finally given in was because he didn’t think we had a chance of walking away from any of this.

“Don’t think, Eva. Just feel,” he whispered.

In that moment I let go. I let go of my fear and my worries of tomorrow. I put my life in the hands of Elijah as we tumbled over the edge of desire together.

I would follow Elijah to the gates of hell if it meant spending eternity with