“Good to know that you weren’t always perfect.”
“Hey!” I giggle, elbowing him in the side.
He just grins at me as he takes the photograph from me to get a closer look
I flip to the next picture, smiling when I see it’s of Grams and me at age twelve. Grams’ hair has more white in it than the first one and mine is shorter. It was when I was going through my pixie cut phase, which luckily, didn’t last for very long. I thought I had burned all of the pictures from those few months, but I guess she had snuck one into the box.
We’re grinning into the camera, our bright, garish Christmas sweaters standing out like a sore thumb against our beige walls and tan kitchen cabinets.
“That was at one of our Christmas parties. We did an ugly Christmas sweater contest and Grams won.”
“I’m assuming you got second?”
“Ha-ha. No, Mr. Winters next door got second place.”
I spend an hour flipping through the old pictures with Eli. He likes the one of Grams and I at my culinary graduation best. He said that he likes that we both look so proud.
It’s late by the time that I put the box away and snuggle into Eli’s side.
“Are you going home?” I ask him with a yawn.
“Do you want me to?”
Do I want him to?
If I’m being honest, no. I like when Eli is around. He makes me feel safe and more confident in myself.
“I want you to stay,” I whisper.
“Thank god,” Eli whispers as he tugs me closer and kisses me.
My hands tangle in his black hair, holding him to me as our tongues tangle together in a delicious mating dance. Eli’s hand circles my hips and he drags me into his lap.
I moan when I feel his stiff erection press against my hip.
“Eli,” I breathe against his lips and he groans in response.
“Take me to bed,” I order and he grins against my neck.
“Whatever you want, sweets.”
I giggle as I’m lifted up into Eli’s arms.
“I can see everything from up here,” I tease and Eli swats my ass, his blue eyes sparking.
“Smartass,” he says with a laugh as he carries me into my bedroom and spreads me out on the bed.
I don’t have a chance to respond before I lose myself in Eli, letting him make love to me until we both pass out.