But all that pleasure was gone now and the old fear was back. And even if it hadn’t been written all over Eli’s face, the way Baby was pressed up against Eli’s legs, his big tongue licking over Eli’s lax fingers, was evidence enough.
We both held there for several long seconds and then Eli finally stepped forward and took the picture from me. He didn’t look at it as he returned it to its spot on the bookcase. But instead of turning it over, he left the picture upright.
“Why couldn’t you just leave it alone?” Eli whispered.
“Look Eli, I get it,” I said as I reached out to put my hand on his shoulder. “He’s your father…”
“Stepfather,” Eli cut in and then he was stepping away from me. “And you don’t get anything.”
“Then explain it to me,” I said. “If he’s done this before-”
“No,” Eli bit out. “I told you it was a misunderstanding. It was a one-time thing. He was upset.”
“About what?”
But Eli shook his head and then wrapped his arms around his body. “I want you to leave,” he said softly, though he refused to look me in the eye when he said it. I ignored him and closed the distance between us, but the second I touched him he yanked himself away from me and shouted, “Get out!”
“Eli-”
The young man was clearly in a rage because he shoved at me hard with both hands and bit out, “I don’t want you here!” I managed to grab Eli’s arms before he could lash out at me again, but when he whispered, “I don’t want you,” something inside of me cracked and I released him. The pain in my chest began radiating out in waves and I actually had to bend over and force in several deep breaths before I could get control of myself.
“Mav…”
I ignored the mix of shock and worry I heard in Eli’s voice and began hurrying towards the door.
“Mav, wait, please!”
Eli went around the other side of the loveseat and placed himself in my path, but I was in such a fury that I easily pushed past him. Even as the wound inside of me began to bleed, I managed to stay calm.
Until Eli grabbed me.
“Mav-”
I turned on him without warning and grabbed him by the upper arms. Fear flashed in his eyes as I forced him back several steps until his back hit the wall near the hallway leading to his bedroom. But he didn’t fight me or try to escape and I could feel his fingers biting into my arms where he was holding on to me.
“I’m sorry,” Eli whispered as he shook his head.
Anger flooded my entire system, but more so because of the pity I saw in his eyes. He knew what his words had done to me.
“Fuck you, Eli,” I spat and I quickly released him and tried to step back.
But Eli held on to me and dragged me as close as his limited strength would allow. “Mav, please, I’m sorry,” he murmured and it wasn’t until I felt his hand close around the back of my neck that I realized at some point he’d let go of my arm and I hadn’t even noticed. The pads of Eli’s fingers began massaging the base of my neck, and it wasn’t until my lips were hovering near his that I realized I hadn’t fought his effort to pull my head down.
“I didn’t mean that,” Eli said softly and then his lips skimmed mine. “I swear I didn’t mean it.”
He kissed me again, but as much as I wanted to take what he was offering, his dismissive words still rang in my ears.
I don’t want you.
When Eli went to kiss me again, I turned my head to the side so his mouth couldn’t make contact with mine. I could tell my actions were distressing him because as I pulled back, his eyes filled with tears.
“Mav,” he whispered pleadingly.
I shook my head. It was too late.
It was too fucking late.
“Eli?”
Eli and I both turned at the sound of the man’s voice as the front door swung open. While I’d never seen the man who filled the doorway in person, I knew immediately who he was and as his gaze shifted from me to Eli’s tear-stained and still bruised face, I knew exactly what he was thinking.
“What the fuck is going on here?” the man snarled as he stormed into the apartment. I didn’t bother resisting as he grabbed me by the shirt and shoved me backwards against the wall. “What the fuck did you do to him?”
“Dom!” Eli shouted and then he was trying to put his body between mine and the other man’s. Part of me wanted to tell Eli to back off because I was actually itching for a fight and Dom Barretti was clearly the kind of man who could give me what I wanted, but I remained quiet as Eli got the other man’s attention.