“Physically?”
Her eyes filled up with tears and he felt his heart ache for her. Ellie was a gorgeous young woman who should be treated like a goddess. He wanted to know more, everything.
“And mentally, emotionally. God, Seno, you have no idea how hard this has been for me the past year and a half. First, I lost my uncle Brian to a robbery gone badly, and then Paul. Paul came along during my weakest time and went psycho. I was in counseling up until a month ago. It’s been so difficult to trust anyone.”
He swallowed hard and then hugged her against his chest. He caressed her hair and her back.
“Baby, we said we would go slow, that we can be friends first, but you’re going to have to meet us halfway. You can trust us. My brothers and I won’t hurt you.”
She pulled back, with tears in her eyes and an expression of defeat on her face.
“I don’t know if I can, Seno. I don’t know how to let the walls down. It’s safer to stay locked in.”
He held her gaze, looked at her lips.
“I want you, and so do my brothers because we know that you’re right for us. Don’t you feel it? Isn’t the connection, the attraction stronger than this fear of remaining locked inside of yourself?”
A tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t know.”
He softly kissed her lips and then pulled back. Her eyes remained closed and he watched her. She blinked them open. “Do you feel it? Can’t you see and recognize that I’m one of the good guys?”
She stared into his eyes. He felt the palms of her hands slowly move up his chest. It was like being on pins and needles as he held back from kissing her again. She needed to make the next move. She needed to fight against that wall and let him in.
When she stood up on tiptoes and closed the gap between them to kiss him, he squeezed her tightly and allowed her to pour her emotions into the kiss.
* * * *
Ellie let go for the first time in quite a while. The feel of Seno’s embrace, his meaningful words, and the way he pushed for her to fight against being a victim and i
nstead to be the survivor she was, had her taking a huge chance. She kissed him with vigor and excitement, wanting to absorb the sensations of being pressed up against his sexy body while his hands explored her body. She felt his palm move over her ass and squeeze it, so she thrust her hips against him and felt his hard cock against her belly. Seno towered over her, and even that turned her on. When his other hand moved to the hem of her dress and then up her thigh, lifting it against his hip, she moaned into his mouth.
They were on fire, kissing, petting, and exploring.
She felt his fingers move up along the crack of her ass, and she gasped, pulling from his mouth.
“Easy, Ellie,” he whispered, using his hold of her thigh and her ass to pull her tighter against him. She was aroused, hungry for more of his touch, yet the fear reminded that the last time a man touched her he forced himself on her and bruised her everywhere. She wanted Seno and his brothers to touch her.
“I can’t, Seno. Oh God,” she said pulling away, and covering her mouth with her hand to stop herself from losing it.
Strong arms wrapped around her and turned her back to face Seno.
“My God, Ellie. What the hell did he do to you?” She shook her head and he hugged her to him.
“I’m so sorry, Seno. I don’t know if this will ever work.”
Chapter 8
“The guy has a fucking alibi. I was so hoping that he was our killer,” Justice stated.
Vin laughed at Justice as they went over the files from the coroner’s report and the evidence from the multiple homicides.
“That would make this case nice and neat, but it isn’t. Not with these art galleries playing a role somehow. There has to be more to this,” Vin added.
“I’m wracking my brain but nothing is giving,” Justice said as he rubbed his eyes after closing the file.
“Let’s take a break. So how are things going with Ellie? Did you get to talk to her about yesterday?”
“Nope.”