Meant To Be (The Callahans #4) - Monica Murphy Page 0,34

says with that cocksure confidence he loves to throw around. To make everyone believe he’s the big man on campus. Larger than life. Arrogant as hell.

It’s a lie. A cover. Deep down, in his rawest form, he’s heartbreakingly vulnerable. His heart, his soul, they bleed. His emotions spill all over the place, but he gathers them back up and locks them away. He can pretend all he wants with me right now, but I’ve seen the real Eli. And I want more of that Eli. Not this one.

“We don’t have to talk about us in the past tense.” I reach out and rest my fingers on his exposed forearm, my fingertips sizzling when I make contact. His skin is hot, and the connection between us is instant. Electrifying. As usual. “We can still be the best. Together.”

He drops his arms to his sides, and I immediately miss the connection. My hand hovers there, in between us, and he grabs it, pulling me into him. I have no choice but to go to him, resting my hands on his chest, my fingers curling into the fabric of his sweatshirt. A bone deep yearning fills me at being so close to him again. I wish I could pull his sweatshirt off. Run my hands all over his naked skin. Being with him again makes me feel needy.

Greedy.

“I start kissing you right now, I won’t be able to stop,” he says, his voice serious. Determined.

Yesssss, I want to shout. But I remain outwardly calm. Collected. I stand up a little straighter, thrusting my chest out. His gaze drops there, but only for a second before he lifts those gorgeous hazel eyes to mine. “Then don’t stop,” I say. Basically daring him.

My Eli can’t turn down a dare.

He doesn’t say a word, though I see something flicker in his gaze. His hand goes to my cheek, his thumb softly stroking my skin. I close my eyes, his touch filling me with relief that leaves me weak. I sense him moving closer, his head dipping, his intake of breath. I part my lips. Hold my breath. He tilts my head up with his hand, guiding me, and I follow.

In this very moment, filled with anticipation and so much need, I’d follow him off a cliff if he led me there.

His lips brush mine. Warm. Soft. Feather light. Too light. A sigh escapes me, and I swear I feel him smile as he kisses me again. And again. No tongue. Just damp lips connecting, making me shiver.

“You think your brother’s gonna bust through the door at any second and break us up again?” he asks, his lips moving against mine as he speaks.

I give his chest a little shove and step away, trying to catch my breath, my mood spoiled. “Don’t ruin a good moment.”

“Every moment is good between us, princess. You should know this by now. Angry. Happy. Whatever. We’re good together.” He sneaks his arm around my waist and hauls me back into him. I rest my hands on his chest once more, absorbing his warmth. His strength. He is rock hard. Made of solid muscle.

“Let’s go outside,” I tell him, tilting my head back when he leans in and drops another kiss on my lips. Yes, I’d rather mess around with him on that single bed sitting in the corner of the tiny bedroom we’re in, but then again, that’s kind of gross. And I shouldn’t give in to him so quickly anyway. I need to make him chase me a little bit. Make him work for it.

Work for me.

“You want to go outside?” He kisses me for real this time, stealing my breath, my thoughts, everything I’ve got. His tongue sweeps my mouth, circles around mine, and it’s like I forgot the power his kisses have over me.

Because they do. Have so much power, it’s overwhelming. I’m lost. Lost in the sensation of his tongue caressing mine. The heat of his body seeping into mine. He has so much power over me. So much. He doesn’t even know how desperate I am to hold onto him.

“Yes,” I say, once I break the kiss, breathless and more than a little mussed. Must be from the way Eli dragged his fingers through my pulled back hair. I’m sure I look crazy. “Let’s go listen to Jackson.”

“I can croon a few songs in your ear if you want me to.” He grins. Reaches for the back of my head and tugs the elastic band out