rifle through the first rack of shirts I find and pull out a plum tank top that looks about my size.
As I hunt around for some shorts to match, I look up to ask Eli if we should grab jackets, too.
I never get the words out.
Eli has his head bent low, unbuttoning his shirt on the other side of the store. There’s something intimate about watching him undress, and I can’t stop staring.
His discarded overshirt hits the floor. He pulls his black T-shirt over his head, and the sight of his broad muscled back makes me forget what I was going to ask.
A loud zipping sound breaks the silence, and Eli’s upper body disappears behind the clothing rack. That’s enough to make me come to my senses.
I rip my gaze away from the spot where he was just standing and turn around. But in my haste, I stagger into another rack of clothes and almost impale myself on a rogue hanger.
Eli shoots back up at the rattling noise and lets out a low chuckle.
I jerk my head over my shoulder. “W-what?” But my red face gives me away.
Slowly, deliberately, Eli navigates around the rack and makes his way up the aisle between the men’s and women’s clothing. His low-slung khaki shorts are half unbuttoned, and he takes his sweet time sidling over to where I’m standing.
He’s still shirtless, and the low light filtering in from the dusty windows throws shadows over his magnificent chest and biceps.
When he’s barely two feet away, he jerks his head up and cracks a wicked grin. My breath catches a little, and I silently berate myself for being so enamored with him.
“Did you enjoy the show?” he whispers.
I feel myself blushing more, but I shake my head and return to browsing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“ O - kay .”
I feel him edge closer, and I fight the urge to step back into his arms.
“You’re wearing this?” he asks, spotting the tank top hanging sideways on the rack.
“Mm-hmm.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him reach out and finger the thin strap. He lets out a low sigh, and my heart beats a little faster.
Then, without warning, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back against his bare chest. The shock of it knocks the wind out of me, and he rubs his palms low against my stomach.
“I feel like you have an unfair advantage now,” he murmurs, his breath disturbing my hair.
“Oh, yeah?” I choke. “What’s that?”
“You’ve seen me half-naked.”
My entire body feels as though it’s on fire, but I attempt a nonchalant shrug. “It’s nothing I hadn’t seen before,” I say, thinking of him in the ring.
He chuckles and squeezes me tighter. “Still counts.”
I can feel his heart hammering against my back, which is comforting and a little disorienting. His breathing is shallow and hungry in my ear, and his hands seem to be traveling lower with every pass.
At least I’m not the only one losing my shit.
I’m not used to this version of Eli — the guy who flirts and says what’s on his mind — but now is so not the time to test the boundaries of our weird relationship.
I clear my throat loudly and try to squirm out of his grip, but he doesn’t let go.
“I need to get changed.”
“I know.” I can hear a laugh on his lips, and he situates himself so his rough, bristly cheek rests against mine. “I think we need to even the score.”
Any semblance of composure I just gained evaporates instantly. I know I must be beet red from the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes, but I don’t fight him when he pulls away and pivots me around.
When I meet his gaze, my nervousness dissipates slightly. It’s the same old Eli — same probing blue eyes. But they’re filled with a desire that makes me nervous and excited at the same time.
My hand has a mind of its own when it reaches out to touch his chest. He drags in a labored breath, and his eyes follow my hand as it trails down to his tight stomach.
I stop for a minute to brush my thumb over the
As I hunt around for some shorts to match, I look up to ask Eli if we should grab jackets, too.
I never get the words out.
Eli has his head bent low, unbuttoning his shirt on the other side of the store. There’s something intimate about watching him undress, and I can’t stop staring.
His discarded overshirt hits the floor. He pulls his black T-shirt over his head, and the sight of his broad muscled back makes me forget what I was going to ask.
A loud zipping sound breaks the silence, and Eli’s upper body disappears behind the clothing rack. That’s enough to make me come to my senses.
I rip my gaze away from the spot where he was just standing and turn around. But in my haste, I stagger into another rack of clothes and almost impale myself on a rogue hanger.
Eli shoots back up at the rattling noise and lets out a low chuckle.
I jerk my head over my shoulder. “W-what?” But my red face gives me away.
Slowly, deliberately, Eli navigates around the rack and makes his way up the aisle between the men’s and women’s clothing. His low-slung khaki shorts are half unbuttoned, and he takes his sweet time sidling over to where I’m standing.
He’s still shirtless, and the low light filtering in from the dusty windows throws shadows over his magnificent chest and biceps.
When he’s barely two feet away, he jerks his head up and cracks a wicked grin. My breath catches a little, and I silently berate myself for being so enamored with him.
“Did you enjoy the show?” he whispers.
I feel myself blushing more, but I shake my head and return to browsing. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“ O - kay .”
I feel him edge closer, and I fight the urge to step back into his arms.
“You’re wearing this?” he asks, spotting the tank top hanging sideways on the rack.
“Mm-hmm.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him reach out and finger the thin strap. He lets out a low sigh, and my heart beats a little faster.
Then, without warning, he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back against his bare chest. The shock of it knocks the wind out of me, and he rubs his palms low against my stomach.
“I feel like you have an unfair advantage now,” he murmurs, his breath disturbing my hair.
“Oh, yeah?” I choke. “What’s that?”
“You’ve seen me half-naked.”
My entire body feels as though it’s on fire, but I attempt a nonchalant shrug. “It’s nothing I hadn’t seen before,” I say, thinking of him in the ring.
He chuckles and squeezes me tighter. “Still counts.”
I can feel his heart hammering against my back, which is comforting and a little disorienting. His breathing is shallow and hungry in my ear, and his hands seem to be traveling lower with every pass.
At least I’m not the only one losing my shit.
I’m not used to this version of Eli — the guy who flirts and says what’s on his mind — but now is so not the time to test the boundaries of our weird relationship.
I clear my throat loudly and try to squirm out of his grip, but he doesn’t let go.
“I need to get changed.”
“I know.” I can hear a laugh on his lips, and he situates himself so his rough, bristly cheek rests against mine. “I think we need to even the score.”
Any semblance of composure I just gained evaporates instantly. I know I must be beet red from the roots of my hair to the tips of my toes, but I don’t fight him when he pulls away and pivots me around.
When I meet his gaze, my nervousness dissipates slightly. It’s the same old Eli — same probing blue eyes. But they’re filled with a desire that makes me nervous and excited at the same time.
My hand has a mind of its own when it reaches out to touch his chest. He drags in a labored breath, and his eyes follow my hand as it trails down to his tight stomach.
I stop for a minute to brush my thumb over the
Similar Books
