INK: Abstraction (28 page)

He’s taken aback
by my hug and gently hugs me back like I’m made of china. “No
problem darlin’. You get some rest.” He looks over my
head at Eli as though giving him an order. “I’ll be back
in about an hour.”

Carl and Pitch leave
and it’s just Eli and I. Well Quag is in the back room, but he
pretty much keeps to himself. I look Eli up and down and see him
broken and dirty. “You’re a hot mess, babe.”

“I know. I’m
going to go and get in the shower.” He comes over to me and
plants a sweet kiss on the top of my head.

“’kay,”
I say and follow behind him.

We walk into the
bedroom and see the bed completely stripped, and that’s when I
finally register the smell of the cleaning solution. I hadn’t
really noticed it until I remembered what happened this morning with
Bailey.

“Shit,” Eli
complains, looking at the stripped bed.

“It’s okay,
I’ve got this. You go get in the shower,” I insist.

“No, I’ll
take care of it.” Eli stops unbuttoning his shirt.

I walk over to him and
take his hands down. “Shhhh. I’ve got this.” I
unbutton his shirt all the way and slide it off his shoulders. “You
get in the shower. I’ll take care of this and get the sheets.”

He looks at me with
admiration and love. “I love you, you know that?”

“I love you too.
Take your time in there, but leave me some hot water, I need one
too!” I hop on tippy toes and press a kiss on his nose.

“You could—”
He cuts himself off, but I can still hear the words in his head,
join
me. Nice save, Eli.

“Get cleaned up.”
I swat him on the behind with the shirt and turn to leave him to his
shower. I go in the kitchen and notice that Rex isn’t in the
house. The doggie door to the patio has been latched. As soon as I
unlatch the lock, Rex comes barreling through. I scratch behind his
ears briefly. “Sorry buddy, things were crazy as usual.”

“We didn’t
want him to get into any of the cleaning solution.” I hear
Quag’s voice behind me.

“Oh, hey Quag.”
I stand up and turn to face him. “Good thinking. Do you think
it’s okay for him now?”

“Sh-sh-sure,”
he stutters out.

“Cool.” I
get a bottle of water and start for the linen closet in the hallway.
Quag is just standing there watching me. “Can I get you
something?”

“No, I’m
fine.” He stands, still staring.

It’s a little
unnerving and I don’t feel as though I can just ignore him.
“What’s up? Has there been some news?”

“No, I’m
just, well, I’m just amazed by you.” I’m totally
shocked. This kid barely says a word, and the ones he chose are very
bold. I’m also really humbled, because honestly, there’s
nothing amazing about me aside from the mess that I am.

“Wow, well I
think you have it all wrong.” I pull a set of sheets and a
comforter from the closet.

“No, you’re
going to come into your own. It’s all going to be okay you
know,” he says and drops his eyes to the floor on the last few
words.

“If I can get out
of this at all, then you’re right! That would be pretty
amazing.” I offer a smile and go back to the bedroom.

The comforter smells
like Eli and detergent. I inhale his scent deeply, and just that is
enough to lull me into a false sense of normalcy. I finish and sink
into the fluffy comforter to enjoy the spoils of a freshly made bed.
Eli’s reflection in the mirror catches my eye. He’s still
in the shower just letting the water wash the day away.

Something compels me to
go and take a closer look. I lean in the doorway and study his
reflection. He’s lean, but strong. I remember how he was
carrying children off the bus, comforting them, helping them, drying
their tears and calming them.
Jesus, I think I just ovulated
.

I shake the thought out
of my head; there’s no way I can have any kind of normal life
with anyone right now. I still can’t help but imagine what life
with Eli could be like. We used to dream about having children, two
of them. Of course we planned for a boy and a girl, Oliver and
Fallon. I refocus on Eli’s form to divert from the rabbit hole
of thinking I could ever have a normal life.

The water trickles
down, following the lines of his cut body. The form of his arms,
rippled like they were sculpted by God himself. One large trail of
water catches my attention and travels over his shoulders, appearing
in slow motion. It moves down his neck and through the valley of his
chest, over his washboard abs, past his belly button and then,
Oh
dear God, Shay, what are you doing?

Just like that water
moving over Eli’s skin, heat spirals through me, igniting a
hunger that I have no desire to suppress. I want him, I want to feel
close to him and have him inside me now. Eli pushes the handle on the
faucet. My teeth are sinking into my bottom lip to suppress a moan
of wanting.

He totally busts me
ogling him, and if my mouth weren’t so dry right now I know I’d
be drooling. His smile lights up the entire room, he knows he just
caught me. “Hey Sweetybird.” He snaps the towel off the
rack and wraps it around his waist. Sad.

“Hey.” I
try to whisper it sultry, but it just comes off like there’s
something caught in my throat.

A laugh rumbles from
his belly, and he stands in front of me. “What are you doing?”

“Nothin’.”
I look down and away otherwise I won’t be able to control
myself and I’ll start running my fingers over his skin just to
feel his warmth.

Eli puts his finger
under my chin and guides me to meet his eyes, looking into me with a
heat that could ignite Antarctica. “Whenever you’re
ready.”

Holy God he’s hot
when he growls out his words with that intensity. I want to lick each
drop of water off his chest. All I can do is nod and take a step
back. Judging by how his gaze is making me feel, I’m ready. “I
made the bed.” Smooth, Shay.

“Thanks.”
He smiles knowingly, never taking his eyes off me. Eli knows that he
could have me here and now. He pulls a t-shirt on over his head and
puts on a pair of jeans. He comes back to where I’m standing
and cups my neck in his hands tenderly. “I’m going to go
and get something ready for dinner, why don’t you take a shower
and get changed into something comfy.”

“Okay.”
Yes, I’ve been reduced to one word answers; it’s probably
better that way.

“Then we can eat
dinner and watch a movie. Good?” He raises his eyebrows.

“What movie?”
I ask.

“
Constantine
?
I know it’s one of your favorites.”

“Um, how about
no, I think that one’s a little too close to real life right
now.” Sadness creeps in at the thought.

“Okay, what do
you want to watch?”

“
Six String
Samurai
?” I counter, raising one brow.

He pulls his lips to
the side. “Nah. How about something with super heroes?”

I ball his shirt in my
hands and pull him down to meet me. “I already have my super
hero.” I press my lips onto his.

He laughs softly into
my mouth. “Get in the shower, silly girl, I’ll figure it
out. I’m sure I have something you’ll like in there.”

“Okay, sounds
good.” I turn to go into the bathroom and he pats my ass.

“See you in a few
minutes.” He blesses me with that wicked smile of his and I
melt, right there, just melt.

Eli

Far
be it for me to question the good times. Shay curled up with me on
the living room couch is like a slice of heaven and she’s the
angel. She gave up trying to get Trish on the phone after eight fuck
you’s, five I hate you texts and one long string of expletives
that I’m sure would make a sailor blush. Hopefully Carl will be
able to talk some sense into her. Quag’s in the back bedroom
monitoring the new security system that McNab insisted be installed.
So it feels like we are alone for the first time in a while.

Whatever happened
between Shay and Carl I’m not sure, but there’s no
question he’s trying to atone for his sins. I don’t want
to bring it up, I really just want to sit here and continue to hold
her and watch this dumbass movie. “Are you liking it?”

“Yeah, what’s
not to like? Evil villain tries to destroy the universe. The hero
saves the day and gets the villain to either retreat into oblivion or
join the forces of good.” She looks up at me with a real smile
on her face, which fades. “If only it really were that simple.”

I’m left at a
loss for words. I know the parallel she’s making between her
and the Specter. She has to realize it’s different. “You
know it’s not your job to save the world.”

“I know, but I
would have liked to have at least saved my neighbors.” She
pulls her lips to the side in sorrow.

“You would have
if you could. Everyone knows that.” I stroke her hair.

“Yeah, I guess.”
She checks her phone again and nuzzles in closer. “Do you think
Carl is okay?”

“Carl does a
pretty good job taking care of himself.” I laugh. “To
hear him tell it the bus narrowly missed killing him but his
‘lightening fast reflexes’ saved the day.”

“Don’t make
fun. What would you have done if you looked up and saw a school bus
about to hit you?” She twists to look up at me.

“Probably would
have shit myself to be totally honest.” A laugh rumbles in my
chest. “I think I would have had the good sense to get out of
the way though.”

“You typically
were always the sensible one.” She reaches up and runs her
fingers through my hair and captures me with her pale blue gaze.
There’s something in her stare that tells me she needs me. It
makes me feel strong being able to be here with her. Which is ironic,
because honestly, she saved me. Her words also invoke the shadow of
Aiden, since I know she’s referring to him being the
non-sensible one.

“I’ve taken
risks; I can walk on the wild side.” I fold my arms around her.
“I tamed you, didn’t I?”

She looks up at me wide
eyed, feigning offense. “Elijah Walker, you have done no such
thing.” She twirls around, sitting in my lap, straddling me and
touching her forehead to mine. “Take it back or I’ll give
you a purple nurple.”

The smile on her face
lifts my soul out of the doldrums it was in. She’s feeling
playful, normal. She’s poking my ribs, tickling me. “Okay,
I take it back.”

Both of us are
laughing, it’s been so long since either of us has laughed like
this. She needs this, to feel some relief from the constant chaos.
Our laughter dies down and we’re left just looking at one
another. She stares into my eyes, unblinking, frightened by the
seriousness of the moment.

Shay inhales a deep
breath and leans down and kisses my neck. She starts slow and soft,
kissing and running her tongue over my skin. I close my eyes and lean
my head back on the couch. This feels so amazing having her this
close. I move my hands down around her ass and pull her in closer to
me, squeezing gently, and God she feels good, smells amazing and
she’s so close to me I can feel the heat of her pressing up
against my dick.

Her breath on my neck
dries the moisture she left behind. Her irregular breathing is
heating me up more than her kisses. I know that right now I need to
let her be in charge, she needs to be in the lead and I’m
A-O-fucking-K with that. Jesus, she’s moving her hips on my
lap, grinding my dick into absolute submission standing at attention
just for her. Just to feel her moisture on me. I want to touch her
everywhere all at once. Slowly I put my hand under her shirt and
caress her back. She doesn’t resist, and responds by biting
down on my neck. Her movements become more urgent and she bites a
trail down my neck to my chest.

She sits up and flips
her hair back out of the way. Her pale blue eyes look at me with
uncertainty and wanting. She wants to say something but the words
won’t come. I run my fingers through her hair until my hand
gently guides her to meet my lips. Before my mouth covers hers I
whisper, “I’m yours, this is on your terms.”

Shay quickly closes the
distance between our mouths, dipping and darting her tongue over mine
playfully, becoming more forceful with each passing moment. I have to
be careful, I feel like I just might explode right here before I ever
get my pants off. My dick is throbbing and reacts every time she
brushes her hand over my balls.

It’s not that I’d
forgotten how hot she was, it’s that I didn’t want to
remember what I was missing out on. I continue rubbing her back and
arms, and then venture around to caress her nipples that are free
under the sweatshirt she’s wearing. She doesn’t stop me
and moans when I give a gentle pinch. She stops kissing me and leans
down and flicks her tongue in my ear and whispers hot and breathy,
“Let’s go to the bedroom.”

I lift us both off the
couch and carry her still straddled around me into the bedroom. I lay
her on the bed and lean down over her. I want to rip her fucking
clothes off right now and just take her, but I’m controlling my
deepest urges and keep telling myself she needs to be in charge.

I lay over her, pushing
her shirt up out of the way, and kiss from her belly button up to her
breasts, circling each nipple with my tongue. Shay writhes under me
in pleasure and knowing that she wants me, knowing that she’s
aching to have me inside her as much I want to be, is the best thing
I’ve felt in a long time. It cheers me on, and when I thought
it wasn’t possible, my dick gets harder in response to her
moaning.

She pulls her shirt off
and throws it on the floor, presenting herself to me, covering her
breasts, waiting for me to disapprove. I take in her entire form, her
beauty, her grace. I look at her, full of admiration. “You are
so fucking beautiful.” I trace a line with my finger from her
neck down to and past her waistband. Oh God, she’s so wet and
ready. She blushes as though her dirty little secret has been let out
of the bag. “I want you Shay, I need you.”