Chapter Twenty-one
Elena
AllI’dgottentherest of the week were some really good make-out sessions. Lachlan had been edging me, and it was driving me bananas. I could’ve taken care of my own business, but I had the memory of his fingers on my clit and how much better the orgasms he gave me were than the ones I gave myself.
I craved it.
If he wasn’t going to give in, I’d drive him out of his mind too.
Saturday morning, I parked my butt on my front porch in a satin pajama set that would surely make Lachlan go caveman if he saw it. The black satin shorts stopped just below the curve of my butt, with sheer, white lace panels on the sides. The racerback top was flowy, with more sheer lace panels between my breasts and down the back. A healthy amount of side boob was on display too.
I’d been a good girl over the past couple weeks, acting out my morning ritual in the privacy of my back deck. I assumed Lachlan was aware I’d acquiesced, just as I assumed he’d figure out sooner than later I hadn’t this morning.
Now, all I could do was wait. I kicked up my feet on the railing and opened my newspaper to the arts section. I wasn’t quite ready for hard-hitting international news yet.
I lost track of time, sinking into my ritual like a warm blanket. The sound of Lachlan’s soothing voice coming from the opposite direction of his house pulled me back to the present.
“I know, baby girl. I’m here. I’m always here. All you have to do is call me. I’ll always answer.”
Oh, shit. Oh, fuck. Really? He’s that guy already?
I popped up from my seat, tossing my newspaper aside. There he was, taking his time meandering down the street, his eyes on his phone, carrying a tray of drinks in his other hand.
“I get it. I hate that I can’t be there with you. I hate that they’re pulling this shit on you while I’m down here. You don’t deserve to be put in the middle. I’ll talk to them.”
He must’ve felt the laser beams shooting from my eyes because he looked up, finding me immediately. He had the audacity to smile at me and quicken his pace like he was coming for me.
“Saoirse, calm, baby girl. I want you to say hi to Elena,” he cooed into the phone.
What the fuckity fuck? I know this man has big balls, but this is beyond the pale. Introducing me to his other woman…or am I the other woman?
Lachlan climbed the porch steps, setting the tray of coffee down on the table beside my chair. He wrapped his arm around my stiff shoulder and pressed his mouth to my ear.
“When I hang up with my sister, we’re going to talk about you sitting out here in these pajamas. I thought we had an understanding.”
Shivers racked my body as his low murmur set in.
“Lock? Where is she? Show me!” A young, excited female voice burst out of the phone.
Lachlan held up the screen so we were both on it. Excellent—video chats with family members while I was practically naked.
The girl on the screen couldn’t have been more surprising if she’d tried. She was the antithesis of Lachlan. I never would have pegged them as siblings. Her hair was honey blonde, her features delicate. From what I could see of her, she was thin, almost waifish.
When she smiled, though, that was when I saw it. Her chocolate eyes lit the same way her brother’s did, and they shared the same perfect, white teeth and wide mouth.
“Hi!” She waved at the camera. “I’m Saoirse.”
“Well, hello.” I tilted my head to glance at Lachlan, finding him already staring down at me, watching somewhat warily. I turned back to the screen. “I’m Elena, Lachlan’s neighbor.”
She giggled. “Oh, I know who you are. He’s told me all about everyone there, but especially you. I accused him of having a crush a few months ago when he mentioned you at least three times in one conversation and—”
“I was complaining about her,” he grumbled.
I snorted, and so did Saoirse. She leaned closer to the camera, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “He’s been saying sweet things about you lately. When I called him out about it a few days ago, he didn’t deny it. So, tell me, what’s my brother like as a boyfriend?”
Lachlan groaned. “Stop. You’re only supposed to be saying hi.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been begging him to let me look at you. Holy crap, are you pretty. And your pajamas are sexy as hell. Does Lock let you sit outside in those? He’d flip out if I tried to wear anything like that at all, let alone in public.”