Beautifully Hurt (Beautifully Broken)

Some of the excitement I felt before the attack trickles back, and it feels as if I’m waking up after being stuck in a nightmare.

I know tomorrow things might be bad again, but I savor the good moment that’s come my way.

Lying in bed, Eli shifts his body down and props a pillow beneath his head. I take full advantage, and snuggling against his side, I rest my head in the crook of his shoulder.

He moves his arm from between us and wraps it around my shoulders. When his fingers start to brush over my bicep, my skin’s invaded with goosebumps.

I let myself enjoy his touch, inching closer to him until my body is pressed against his side.

He tightens his arm around my shoulders, and I move my head to his chest. Closing my eyes, it feels like home. I take a deep breath, letting Eli’s masculine scent fill my lungs.

I become aware of his breath stirring my hair while his fingers continue to move up and down my arm.

Eli turns us onto our sides, wrapping both his arms around me. Pressing a kiss to the top of my head, he moves one hand down to my lower back.

I’m so focused on him, all the trauma and pain fade away, and for a blessed moment, there’s just us.

Then Eli shifts the hem of my t-shirt out of the way, and he lays his palm over my skin. My stomach flutters, and slowly my breaths begin to speed up.

His hand starts to move up my back, lifting the fabric along with it.

My heartbeat increases until I’m pretty sure he can feel it pounding against his chest.

Lying in the dark with him, I feel braver than I’d normally be. I flatten my hand on his chest and take a deep breath before I trail my fingers down, drinking in the feel of the dips and swells of his muscles beneath my fingertips.

I hold my breath as I push my hand beneath the fabric of his shirt, and then my heart leaps to my throat when I feel his warm skin.

Eli pulls his hand out from under my shirt, and I freeze. But then he frames my face, nudging me up until I’m looking at him.

From the moonlight shining into the room, I can see the intensity in his blue eyes, and it feels as if a whole hive of bees is buzzing around inside of me.

His eyes dance between my mouth and my eyes, and I wish I knew what he was thinking right now.

Nervously, I wet my lips, and it makes his eyes drift to my mouth.

When his head starts to lower, anticipation makes me hold my breath until his lips press against mine. Tingles rush through my body, and my heart hammers behind my ribs.

Just like before, when Eli kissed me for the first time, I’m highly aware of him. His masculine scent fills my lungs. His touch is warm on me, and his body is solid against mine.

His tongue brushes over my bottom lip before he pulls back, his eyes caressing my face. “You okay?”

I nod, and pulling my hand from beneath his shirt, I lift it to his jaw and brush my fingers over the dark bristles. Pushing myself up, I press my mouth to his.

Eli rolls onto his back, tugging my body on top of his. I bring my hands to his face, and cupping his jaw, I tilt my head and let my tongue sweep over his lips.

He opens for me, and the moment my tongue touches his, Eli lets out a groan. Placing a hand behind my head, he takes over, and the kiss quickly grows hotter than anything I’ve shared with him before.

Slowly I burn up with need for Eli, wanting more touching, more skin on skin, more of everything.

The kiss becomes intense and wild, and it feels as if my stomach is soaring, dipping, and making flips in the sky. Eli turns us until I’m on my back, and then my heart explodes as his body covers mine.

It feels overwhelming and perfect… and protected.

He slows the kiss down, then lifts his head. “You okay with this?”

Staring up at him where he’s bracing himself over me, I know I couldn’t be more okay.

When I don’t answer quick enough, he asks, “Quinn, you okay with us being intimate?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. I brush my fingers up Eli’s jaw, taking in the rough feel of the bristles before I find the softness of his hair by his temple.

He leans closer to me, and his eyes are so piercing it sends shivers racing over my skin. “I love you, Quinn.”

My lips part as emotions crash over me.

“You love me?” I whisper in awe.

“I want to spend every second of every day with you. You’re my now and forever.”

“Eli,” I breathe his name, unable to express in words what I’m feeling right now. So I do the next best thing and kiss him.