She froze. Her heart stumbled. If she had been standing or walking, she was sure she would have fallen flat on her face. Slowly, having to dare herself to do it, Sarah turned with parted lips, wide eyes, and stared at Eli. “What did you say?”
“How do you not like your own song? You should be proud it’s a number one hit. Like seriously, Sarah, that’s not something everyone can do or will do or has done, and you’ve done it several times at this point.”
She was speechless. Sarah had no words. Wetting her lips, she tried again, but no words could form. She tried again. “Pull over.”
“What?”
“Pull the fucking truck over.”
Eli didn’t wait as she stepped on the brake and pulled off into the grass, the truck leaning as they were halfway down the ditch. Sarah’s chest rose and fell as she drew in short rapid breaths. When Eli turned the engine off, Sarah asked the only thing she could think of.
“How long?”
“How long what? Have I been listening to your music? Since well before just today if that’s what you mean.”
Sarah shook her head. “How long has it been since you figured out who I was?”
The grin on Eli’s lips was not comforting, the twinkle in her eye set Sarah’s nerve endings on fire, but every muscle in her body was still taut with fear. Eli unbuckled her seat belt and twisted to face Sarah more fully, lifting her chin with the crook of her finger.
“Sarah, I have known who you were since the moment I turned around and saw you sitting in Mrs. Hargrave’s kitchen. You’re not exactly someone who blends in.”
Heat seared through her chest as their eyes locked. If Eli had known the entire time who she was, that changed everything. There hadn’t been any hiding. Eli had treated her just like everyone else, taught her things, took her to do things, made fun of her when she messed up, complimented her. The humor in Eli’s face turned to worry when Sarah said nothing in immediate response. Her feelings were all over the place, and she was struggling to keep up with them.
“I don’t hate my own song,” she whispered.
“Then why have me turn it off?”
Their faces were so close. It was so hard to think with Eli right there, in her space, right next to her, wanting to know everything. Her tongue dashed against her lower lip again, and her toes curled in her boots.
“Look, Sarah, I like your music. I have for a couple years now. You coming here was a surprise for me as much as this seems to be for you, but I’m not stupid. I know you’re more than just your music. I know you’re more than just Sadie Bade.”
That was it. That was Sarah’s breaking point. Reaching up, she curled her hand against Eli’s neck, cupping her jaw. She moved her thumb against her skin, then against her lips. Eli’s breath hitched. Sarah’s gaze moved from Eli’s lips to her eyes. This was their moment. It was now or never.
“I want to kiss you,” Sarah whispered.
Eli swallowed, her lips parting. The heat of her breath against Sarah’s thumb moved straight down her body, pooling between her legs.
“Eli.”
Eli’s tongue moved to Sarah’s thumb, wetting it.
“Eli, do you want me to kiss you?”
Eli’s gaze shot straight to Sarah’s face, and Sarah was struck by how handsome and beautiful she was in one tightly compact body.God, she wanted to touch, everything, everywhere.She wanted to explore, to learn every spot that would make Eli sigh, scream, cry out in pleasure. When she reined in her fantasies, she realized Eli still hadn’t answered her.
Bringing her hand down to Eli’s neck, she leaned forward so they were nearly touching nose to nose. “Eli, do you want me to kiss you?”
“Y-yes.”
Sarah grinned. Every last pull of anxiety in her body flung out the window as she shifted in closer. Their lips barely touched, just a brush, but Eli’s gasp of breath encouraged her as did the heat continuing to build between her legs.
Eli reached down and pushed the button on the seatbelt, freeing Sarah from the confines in an instant. Sarah didn’t wait again. Once she was close enough, she pressed their mouths together, sliding her hand against the back of Eli’s head to hold her close, to try and plaster their bodies against each other.
With her free hand, she grasped hold of Eli’s back and tugged her impossibly closer. She couldn’t breathe. Everything she had in that moment, her whole world, nothing else mattered. The feel of Eli against her was everything she had hoped and dreamed of.
Pulling back, Sarah grinned. Her cheeks were hot, her body sparking with so much energy she wasn’t sure she’d ever get it to stop. Her thumb was on Eli’s lips again, but she knew she was smiling. No way could Sarah deny how happy she was.
“That was nice,” Eli whispered.