Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,80
from a distance.
Noticing my rapid change of position, Elias immediately stops laughing. “What?” he asks with a tilt of his head that I can only describe as adorable. Our eyes click together and hold. The color in his eyes reflect the cloudless sky making them appear more of a cobalt blue. A light breeze picks up, bringing to me the scent of freshly cut grass and Elias. It’s a smell I’m beginning to associate with comfort.
“Nothing.” I pause, biting my lower lip shyly. “I just—I like your laugh.”
He smiles, causing a shadow to darken the dimple in his cheek. His hand caresses my face; the rough callouses scratching deliciously against my skin. “That’s good, baby,” he whispers gruffly.
If I had to guess, I’d say there’s emotion hovering just beneath the surface. Why he feels the need to hold it back, I’m not sure.
“We should eat. I have to get back to work soon.”
The meal continues in silence, nothing but each other’s presence and the beautiful afternoon sun to keep us company. All too soon, it’s time for us to leave. We’re in the truck driving back when I decide to press my luck.
“What are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?”
He glances at me from the corner of his eyes before turning them back to the highway. “Just some work with Sin. Why do you ask?”
Turning my gaze out the passenger window, I shrug. “No reason. We haven’t talked much about what it is you do. I guess I’m still curious.”
“Marlena,” he sighs. One hand leaves the steering wheel to brush through his long, blonde hair.
Rushing to placate him, I say, “I know. I know you won’t—or can’t—tell me what it is you do, but I wish I had some idea. Something so I don’t have to pretend my boyfriend isn’t keeping secrets from me.” From the corner of my eye, I see his grip tighten on the wheel. His knuckles turn white against his tanned skin.
“You have to understand, people could get hurt.”
“I know,” I reply softly. “I just don’t want one of them to be me.”
At that precise moment, we arrive at the firm, zip into the lot, and park. Elias whips off his seatbelt and holds his arms open to me.
“C’mere.”
Without hesitating, I climb into his lap. His arms cocoon around my body, surrounding me with his scent and warmth. My heartbeat begins to slow from its frantic pace, matching the steady drum of his.
Dipping his chin, he looks me in the eyes, a fire burning behind his thick lashes. “The last thing I’d ever intentionally do is hurt you. You believe me, right?”
“Of course. But secrets—ˮ
He shushes me with a finger to my lips. “Sin and I, as well as some other men, work together in an underground operation.”
Confusion replaces the doubt in my head. “What are you saying?”
His arms band tighter around my body, almost like they’re convulsing. The feeling is more a twitch than an act of reassurance. “I’m saying all that I can say. And even that is more than I should. What I’ve told you is that our work is private, and if the wrong person were to hear about it, more than my life would be at stake. I need you to trust me on this.”
Snuggling deeper against his chest, I murmur, “Okay. If that’s what you need, I can let it go. Can I ask you a question, though?”
His fingers glide through my hair. “Of course you can. Always, but I can’t promise to give you an answer if it pertains to my work.”
“Are you safe? Should I be worried you aren’t going to come home one day or—ˮ
“You have nothing to worry about, Marlee. I’ve got a good team of men at my back.”
Drifting back and forth between his pale gaze, my eyes search for anything left unsaid but come up empty.
He smiles that megawatt smile of his that causes me to melt. His hands slide up my arms to cup the back of my neck, and he drops his forehead to my own.
“I don’t want to let you go, but you’ve got to get back to work.”
“I know,” I reply.
“Are you feeling better?” he asks concern evident in his features. My thumb swipes a wrinkle at the corner of his eye before skating across the chiseled crest of his cheek.
“Yes, thank you.”
Our lips brush tenderly in a soft kiss. His fingertips are as gentle as trickling water as he caresses my arms. The heat picks up as