I choke. He has to pat my back to get me breathing again. “What the fuck, Eli.”
He holds his hands up, wearing an expression of mock innocence. “What? She asked about your stalkers. And as your friend Carina pointed out the other day, I’m one of them.”
I press my head into my hands. “You didn’t have to introduce yourself that way.”
He shrugs and goes back to cooking.
I look up to see Izzy sitting there with her mouth open and Enzo standing behind her, arms crossed, mouth twisted into a frown.
“Are you safe, Emily?” Enzo asks, voice low.
I smile gratefully. “Yes, I am. Thank you.”
He nods.
Then Izzy launches into a tirade of questions, which I answer diligently.
When the hour session ends and Eli places a plate in front of me as I close the laptop, my head is pounding.
We eat together as usual.
It’s only when I’m getting ready for bed that it hits me—Eli hasn’t tried to kiss me all day. Not when he dropped me off, or brought me lunch, or when we got home.
I’m grateful in some ways. I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing with him. But… I guess I thought after we had sex, he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off me. That it would’ve been a signal to him that I’d accepted the inevitable. Yet…
My heart clenches painfully.
Oh god.
Was I terrible in bed?
I don’t have much experience with men, but he seemed to enjoy himself.
Has he finally lost his obsession?
It would make sense. He enjoys the chase. That’s why he never engages. But he did with me. And now he’s gotten what he wanted.
I stare at my bare face in the mirror—my puffy cheeks and dull skin. Why did I ever expect a man like that to stay interested in me?
Arms brace on either side of me, making me jolt.
“What’s wrong, Angel?” Eli’s voice is a low purr, threaded with concern.
I plaster on a fake smile. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
Eli gently turns me to face him, holding my chin so I have no choice but to look into his eyes. “You’re lying.” He presses himself against me, and I feel exactly how attracted he still is. “Do I need to fuck the truth out of you?” he murmurs, his breath brushing my skin.
My mouth goes dry. My thighs clench.
Eli grins. “You like the sound of that, don’t you, Angel?”
I don’t dare breathe.
“I’ve been so good today. I kept my distance. Waiting for you to come to me.” He pouts, pulling back slightly. “But you didn’t.”
My mouth opens and closes. “You were waiting for me tomake the first move?”
He groans, exasperated. “I want you to want me, Angel. I want you tochooseme.”