Saving Forever - Part 3 Read online

  Her phone buzzed. She smiled when she checked it. Elijah’s ears must be burning. It was from him.

  Weather sucks. Just finishing my shift. What are you up to? BTW sandwiches were awesome again.

  She texted him back: I’m just chillin’ at the hotel. Come by if you want. It’s closer to sleep here than drive to your place (safer too). A pleasant tingling circled deep in her groin at the thought of what they would do before falling asleep.

  Hell yeah. On my way now.

  His blatant statement made her laugh. She replied and told him to drive safely and then jumped out of the bed to check her hair in the bathroom. It had gone curly. She wouldn’t have time to straighten it so she pinned the sides away from her face. Digging through her makeup bag, she found strawberry-daiquiri lip gloss Julie had bought for her and applied it. Staring at the mirror, she decided to find something else to wear. She planned on keeping Elijah’s T-shirt, but it and a pair of panties might look more comfortable than sexy.

  She dug through her clothes. Arrrgghh! Why hadn’t she packed anything sexy? Workout clothes, business stuff, and the dress she had bought yesterday. Loaded with everything but the good stuff – not even a matching pair of underwear and bra! She pulled the shirt off and put on her pink leopard-pattern bra. Slipping on the hospital scrub pants, she went through her case one more time.

  A rap on the door put her in a panic. Clothes lay sprawled all over the bed and on the floor. She grabbed what she could and stuffed it into the suitcase. She dropped down on the ground trying to find it all. Another knock sounded, a little louder. “Coming,” she called out and hurried to the door. She peered through the peek hole and opened it. “Hiya.” She forced her breath to sound normal even though her heart pumped faster, wanting more oxygen.

  Melting snowflakes clung to Elijah’s hair and shoulders. His tired face broke into an appreciative smile as his eyes ran from her face down and slowly back up again.

  “Oh shoot!” She jumped behind the door. She’d forgotten to put a top on and had opened the door wearing just her bra and Elijah’s hospital pants.

  Elijah followed her in and shook his head so water from the snow fell on her. She squealed from the cold and held her hands up to deflect it. “I recall the last time I came to your hotel room you were scantily clad then too. I could definitely get used to it.” He stripped his jacket off and hung it on a hook. He leaned in and pressed his body against hers.

  His cool lips crushed hungrily into her. His hand moved to her face and began stroking her, his thumb running along her chin. “I thought about you all day. I can’t get you out of my head.” His hands trailed down the straps of her bra and lightly traced the skin trying to burst above it.

  Her eyes closed from the pleasure his touch created. She wanted to lie on the bed and watch him come apart above her, knowing she had done it to him. He could do the same to her again and again. And again.

  His mouth left hers as a pair of fingers gently tugged her bra straps down over her shoulders.

  “I can take this off,” she whispered as she started to reach behind her back.

  “Keep it on… for now.” He kissed her shoulder and brought his mouth down to the curve of her breast. “It’s very sexy. I like the pink against your skin.”

  She sucked her breath in from the tremors his touch sent rippling inside of her.

  He pulled a part of her bra down to expose her and when he sucked a nipple into his mouth, wetness warmed between her legs.

  Incredible.

  His mouth left her nipple and came to hers. Little by little, as if moving together in a slow dance, they made their way toward the bed. Arms and lips entwined, Elijah turned them around.

  Charity felt the back of her knees press against the mattress. She did not resist when he pushed her toward the sheets. She pulled his shirt over his head and reached for his pants. She giggled as she struggled to pull them down without undoing them properly.

  “Bit of a rush?” He stepped back and pulled them down. A wicked gleam filled his eyes as he grinned and reached for her ankles. He grabbed hold of the hem of her hospital pants. “I believe these are mine!” He tugged and pulled them off in one go. His smile disappeared and the gleam in his eyes turned to smoldering as they travelled from her feet up her body.

  His gaze lingered on her hips and his tongue ran across his lips.

  It was Charity’s undoing… and his. Her hips rotated and her back arched. Her body made its own decisions.

  Elijah lay on top of her, balancing himself on one arm, his free hand trailing over her skin and tracing down to her tattoo. He bent down and pressed his lips to the ink art. They came back up, wetting her skin as he brought his head back to hers and found her lips.

  Her arms came around his shoulders and she slid her hands down the taut muscles of his back and squeezed his behind. She watched his face when he moved his head back.

  His swollen mouth hung slightly open, his breath coming hard and fast out of it. He brought a hand down and moaned in pleasure when his fingers pressed against her wetness. “I can’t wait.”

  The raw need in his voice made her body reach for him. In a rapid motion he was inside her. Her long legs wrapped around his hips, wanting him further inside her. She watched his face tense, his mouth pressing tight and his eyebrows scrunch together. He held his hips perfectly still.

  He fought to control himself. “Don’t move, please,” he begged when she moved her hips slowly and gently.

  “Why?” She teased and increased her speed. She was trying to tempt him, but she also wanted him pulsing deep inside of her.

  “Damn you!” he muttered and began to thrust hard and fast. The intensity of his hips matched his expression. His face clenched and he cried out as her body tightened around him inside of her. He shuddered and clenched the pillow beside her tight in his fist.

  Spent, he dropped on top of her, avoiding letting his full weight cover her. His thumb traced her shoulder and he nuzzled her neck. They lay entwined, both comfortable in each other’s arms.

  Elijah sighed, long and deep. He rolled off her and settled so he could lie on his side and watch her.

  She smiled up at him. “You look exhausted.” She reached up to touch his cheek, letting the day’s stubble scrape against her fingers. It sent a seductive shiver up her finger and down her arm, tempting her to do it again.

  “This temptress kept me up for most of the night last night.” He winked and faked a long yawn. “Then I had an excruciatingly long day at work with more surgeries than I believe I can remember. I should have finished by seven.” He checked his watch. “It’s well past midnight now and this temptress is keeping me up again.”

  She snuggled close to him and enjoyed the feeling of his hand as it pulled up the strap of her bra and then wrapped around her shoulder. “Nobody forced you to come, silly.”

  “Oh, I think I can argue that.” A chuckle reverberated in his chest.

  She shook her head, trying to hold back a smile.

  He sat up, giving her an innocent look. “I came here, after a long day at work, to make sure you were alright. There is a snowstorm going on out there, you know? And how do you repay me? Opening the door scantily clad…” He tsked. “With this incredibly hot, sexy body. I’m putty in your hands.”

  Charity reached down to touch the skin over his abs and let her hand slide further. She gave him a sly smile and whispered, “Is there anything you’d like me to mould in particular?”

  Elijah never replied. He responded by pressing his hips toward her hand and his mouth hard against hers.

  Chapter 6

  Charity felt herself smile even before she knew she was awake. She lay in that in-between world: half-conscious, half still dreaming. Except she knew something inside felt different. She had no idea what, but it made her feel…happy. As Elijah rolled over, his arm drifted over her shoulder, his hand resting lightly over her breast. At one point last night her bra had come off and now it hung on a corner of the full-l
ength mirror.

  She peered toward the window with the curtains closed. Sunlight shone through the cracks where the material tried to meet in the middle. I’ll take it as a good sign. At least the storm’s over.

  Sleep melted away as she thought about last night. Elijah’s playboy looks definitely didn’t run skin deep. He made her want him in ways that left her panting. He also let her know she had the same effect on him.

  She shifted and rubbed her legs against each other. Hot longing burned deep inside her groin. She wanted him inside her again.

  Elijah buried his face into her back by her shoulder blade. His stubble tickled her skin and she closed her eyes to let her other senses feel him against her. He smelled of a particularly yummy aftershave. He didn’t snore, but his warm breath spread across her skin and made goose bumps rise as if they desired him too. She had a hundred things she should be doing this morning but all she wanted to do was lie beside Elijah here in this bed. Forever.

  She shifted and rolled over to face him. The sunrays made it easy to see his sleeping face. He looked younger as he slept. His long eyelashes curled away from his eyes and she leaned her head toward him. She lightly rubbed his nose with hers.

  “What time is it?” he said, his eyes not parting to check the sun.

  “I don’t know. I left my watch in the bathroom. It’s…” She rolled over to check the alarm clock by her bed. “Oh shit!”

  Elijah popped his head up the minute she swore.

  Charity threw the covers back to jump out of bed. “It’s nearly ten! I’ve got to meet the architect in a couple of minutes.” She began picking clothes off the floor and grabbed clean ones from the suitcase. “I hope the roads are clear.”

  “Call him and tell him you’re running late.” Elijah already had his phone and was busy tapping on screens and texting. “I’m late as well. My shift started at eight.” He set the phone down and casually got out of bed and headed to the bathroom.

  Charity stared at him. I’m freaking out and he’s cool as a cucumber? Not fair! She whipped open the blinds and squinted from the glare of the sun off the snow. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust. The roads were clear enough to travel on. She grabbed her phone and sent a text to Louis, the owner of the old building, and asked if meeting at ten-thirty would be okay. She would still be late, but at least if she rushed, it would be close.

  The shower started and Elijah popped his head and naked torso around the door. “Care to join me?”

  “I have –” Her phone started ringing so she checked the caller ID. “I need to get this.”

  “It’s an open-door invitation. You’re welcome anytime.” He winked at her before disappearing behind the door.

  Charity smiled at the slightly-opened door and then clicked her phone on to answer it. “Hello, Charity Thompson speaking.”

  “Hello Charity! It’s Louis here. I’m lousy at the whole texting thing so I figured I would just call you. I hope you had a nice holiday.”

  “I did, thank you. You, as well?” She barely knew the man but pleasantries were part of the job and being friendly was the easy part of it.

  “Great! Thanks for asking. The hall is coming along nicely. You’ll be happy to see what we’ve all done. I have my wife coming with me this morning and she’s going to go over the colors and whatever else that part of the job entails. We’re already here but I’m going to grab us a coffee. Can I grab you one as well?”

  Shoot. She needed to jet. “Thanks, a decaf regular would be great. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”

  “Take your time. The roads are still a bit rough.”

  She hung up just as Elijah stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. Water dripped from his hair. The image took her breath away. “You need to get dressed.”

  “Pardon?” His eyebrows popped up in surprise.

  “I’m running late and you’re standing there beyond sexy. You need to put some clothes on or I’m going to have to explain to my father that I’m incapable of handling his retirement gala because I’m too busy trying to bone his chief of surgery.”

  Elijah grinned. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  Charity covered her eyes with her hand. “I really need to go! You’re killing me.” She peeked through her fingers at him. He stood, completely amused at her dilemma.

  He pulled his towel off, turned it sideways and up so only his face and feet showed. “I don’t want to be the reason for your demise. I promise to be dressed and proper by the time you finish your shower.”

  She ran by him, stopping to kiss him quickly on the lips. “I owe you one.” She turned the shower back on, stripped down, and stepped in, not checking to see if the water might be freezing. Cold water might help her focus on her work instead of Elijah naked behind that silly towel.

  “I’m holding you to that!”

  “To what?” she called out from under the showerhead.

  “You owing me one.” He popped his head around the bathroom door. “I might need that one day. You owing me a favor.”

  She cupped water in her hand and tossed it over the see-through shower curtain. Elijah’s head disappeared from the door as he ducked.

  In record time she showered, skipping washing her hair. She managed to get dressed and apply a bit of makeup in less than fifteen minutes. Together they headed out of the hotel to their separate cars.

  “Call me before you fly back?” Elijah kissed her and tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear.

  “Will do.”

  “I’m working New Year’s, but I’m going to see if I can switch. I’ll let you know.”

  “Sounds good. I start organizing the Valentine’s Dinner Gala so January’s going to be a crazy month. I’m also going to be sending out the invites for my Dad’s gala so I will plan one more trip up here before Valentine’s.”

  “That’s like six or seven weeks away!”

  “These parties don’t just happen overnight.” She kissed him quickly once more. “I’ve got to jet! I’ll call you when I’m done.”

  He helped her into her car and closed the door for her. He stood by it waving as she pulled out. Charity watched him head to his own in the rearview mirror.

  Luckily it took less than fifteen minutes to get to the heritage building where the Diamond Gala would be held. A snow plow must have just cleared the roads and hardly anybody was out driving. Charity parked behind Louis truck and made her way to the entrance.

  The front door had been stripped and re-stained. The original old Tiffany glass shone with a rainbow of colors from the bright snow. She slipped inside and called out, “Scott?”

  “We’re up here,” he shouted back from somewhere upstairs. A second later his face appeared from one of the balconies. “Stairs to your right are all finished. Come up and tell me what you think!”

  The grand entrance had been completely finished. The smell of verathane, cedar and oak filled her nostrils. The walls between all the wood stood stark white, waiting for color or something to cover them. Charity jogged up the steps, admiring the brass light fixtures and wall sconces. Louis had been working hard on making the building look like it would have back in its time. She loved it.

  “It looks amazing!” she told him when he handed her a cup of coffee. “Thanks. I can’t believe what you’ve done with the place!”

  Louis smiled and wiped his hands on his overalls. “This is my wife, Tara. She’s the one who found all the great stuff. She went to an old barn auction and the place was full of old lights. We both have a passion for antiques, so it was a no-brainer making this place look the way it should. Wait til it’s finished! Tara’s best friend is an artist and she’s painting a few period pieces to put downstairs between some of the wood beams.”

  Charity held her hand out to Tara. She guessed Tara to be a few years older than Louis, but in great shape. Charity had the feeling she worked just as hard as Scott. “Have you guys renovated older buildings before?”

  �
��We have.” Tara’s voice was loud and friendly. It suited her perfectly. “But this is the first one we’ve owned. Since you booked your event, we’ve had five more bookings for the hall! Word gets out.”

  “Wait til after the Diamond Gala. I bet you’ll be booked through til next year. It’s my father’s birthday slash retirement party to raise money for the hospital. So lots of doctors, celebrities, high payers and all the usual crazy crowd will be here. This place will be perfect for any celebration. I’d love to have my wedding here.” She looked down at the floor, marveling at the light dancing on the patterned wood.

  Tara smiled. “When’s your wedding? I bet we can make it happen.”

  Charity laughed. “It won’t be for a while. I’m not even engaged.” An image of Elijah in just a towel popped into her head. She quickly pushed the image aside and focused on the hall. “I have a check for you guys and Scott mentioned you guys had a few questions?” She opened her briefcase and handed Tara the envelope with the check inside.

  Tara tossed the envelope on an antique table covered in dust. She pointed to the chandelier. “I’m going to have some material and ribbons made to hang from the chandelier to the walls. Since your event is first, I thought I’d ask you what kind of colors would work. I’ve seen some of the galas you’ve held and they’ve been gorgeous. I want this one to be just as beautiful.”

  “That won’t be a problem. The building alone is breathtaking.”

  “I agree, but the billowing material and ribbons will make it look like you’re almost in the clouds themselves.”

  Charity looked up and imagined what Tara had said. “Maybe white with gold? It would make it feel heavenly in a sense.”

  Tara nodded. “I was thinking gold accents because of all the antique brass. It would go perfect. I like the white. What would you think if we added rhinestones sewn into the cloth? Make it look like diamonds?”

  “That would be fantastic!” Charity loved the idea.