Taking Shots (Assassins) (13 page)

“
Come here,” Shea whispered holding out his hand. Elli looked at him, then his hand, before looking back at him. She bit her lip before taking his hand, and he pulled her to him. She looked up at him and he covered her mouth with his, kissing her so deeply that he was convinced he felt it in his soul. His hand went up into her hair as the other one cupped her face. Elli’s hands were at his shoulders as she ate at his mouth. He loved the way she kissed, the way she felt in his hands. Shea moved his hand from her face to her legs, pulling them out from underneath her and laying her back into the couch, where he continued to kiss her lavishly. When he got himself positioned between her legs, feeling her warmth against his hard groin, she pulled back, eyes half lidded as she look at him.

“
I really wanna watch the movie,” she whispered. Shea stopped and looked at her.

“
Watch the movie?” was all he could get out, he was beyond wanting to watch the movie, more like fuck her brains out.

“
Yeah, it’s a really good movie,” she said with a nod as she tried to sit up and move from underneath him. He moved too, letting her up, but she didn’t go far. She cuddled into his side with a cute grin on her face. He moved a little, pulling at the crotch of his pants; she looked down, then back up at him.

“
Sorry, it’s a little tight in there, babe,” he muttered, which made her blush deep scarlet as she intensely looked at the screen. He had to grin to himself as he readjusted and moved his arm around her. His hand met her hip and he had to tell himself not to rub it because then any chance of him paying attention to this movie would be shot. So he paid attention and the movie was actually really good. When the ending credit’s started, Elli sat up grinning down at him.

“
Did you love it!?” she exclaimed, he smiled.

“
It was good.”

“
What was your favorite part?” Shea thought for a moment, the movie was really good.

“
The part when that Darcy guy told her he loved her for the first time. I love Elizabeth’s face, she was like ‘Say what?!’” Elli giggled as she sat with her legs crossed in front of him. “It was a good movie, babe, and thanks for educating me.” Her grin continued to grow, showing all her dimples.

“
My pleasure. I watch that movie every night when I go to sleep.”

“
Really?”

“
Yup,” She nodded as he got up and took the DVD out. “Whatcha wanna watch now?”

“
I have this new action movie I’ve wanted to watch.”

“
Sounds good,” she said as he put the movie in. He smiled to himself, this was nice. He never hung out with a girl. He would hang out with Grace, but he didn’t want to sleep with her. With Elli, he wanted to spend time with her and sleep with her all at the same time. She was intoxicating, so pretty, and sweet.

“
What time do you need to go?” he asked as he looked at the movie box, then the time. He didn’t want to make her late to see her friends.

“
Sixish, everyone will be there at eight.”

Plenty of time.

“
Oh, okay, who is coming over?” he asked as he walked back to the couch, sitting beside her.

“
Harper, my friend Jodi, and her husband Derrick, and my gay best friends, Trice and Walter.”

“
Sounds like a bunch,” he said with a grin. She smiled as she scooted closer to him.

“
I love them all, they are really great friends.”

“
Good,” he simply said as he started the movie. He didn’t let it bother him that she didn’t want him to meet her friends; she hadn’t said anything about it so he wasn’t going to bring it up, but it did remind him of the party for the season opener on Thursday. “I wanted to ask you.”

“
Sure,” she looked up at him, a small smile on her face. She seemed so comfortable, so happy.

“
Welch is having a season opener party for the guys and their dates on Thursday. I was wondering if you would go?” she made a face, and looked down. What the hell did that mean? “It’ll only be my friends, no crazy big wigs that we would need to impress,” he added with a grin when she looked up. “Go with me?”

“
What do I wear?”

“
Something hot,” he said with a teasing grin as he squeezed her side. He loved how soft she was, no bones sticking him in the hand. She just rolled her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder.

“
So you want me to meet your friends in something hot?”

Shea thought that over and smiled as he said “No, I want you to wear something hot for me, then I’ll introduce you to my friends.” She smiled at that, but didn’t look up at him.

“
What time Thursday?”

“
What time can you be available?”

“
Eight. I have a baby shower from four to six, at Yancy’s down the road.” Shea nodded and thought about it for a moment.

“
Well, why don’t you just bring everything you need here and get ready, then we can be there only an hour after it starts.”

Elli sat for a moment, before looking up at him. “Okay,” she said, with a small nervous smile. He smiled back, and then leaned in to kiss her softly. Shea meant to leave it at a small kiss, but Elli slid her hand up his chest to his throat, and he began kissing her with more need. Again he maneuvered her onto her back, with him between her legs, and this time she didn’t stop him as they kissed and teased each other through their clothes.

“
I see how it is, during my movie we can make out, but not during yours,” he whispered against her neck as he nibbled and licked. She let out a breathy little giggle as she ran her hands through his hair.

“
My movie needs all the attention.” He pulled up, lust filling his eyes as he looked down at her.

“
Baby, when you’re in the room, you’re the only thing that has my attention.” She had this little grin along with half lidded eyes going on, and he had to suppress the groan that was building at the base of his throat. He leaned down and kissed her again, hooking her leg around his waist, pressing his hard length onto her. She wanted this; she was just as hot as he was. Yes, this was going to happen. Was it too early? Did he want to involve sex in this?

Elli ran her hands down the back of his arms, cupping his elbows and wiggled a little underneath him.

Yes, yes he did want to involve sex. Right now.

Shea kissed down her neck, moving his hand to go under her shirt when Elli’s hands stopped him. He pulled back and looked down at her. Her eyes were wide and she looked nervous.

Fuck.

“
I’m sorry, I need to go.”

“
Huh? What?” he asked as she moved herself out from underneath him. She stood up, fixing her shorts, then her shirt as she looked everywhere but him. She was breathing just as hard as he was. The fall and rise of her chest had him becoming harder by the second. “Elli, wait,” he said when he saw her slid her shoes on, then grab her hat.

“
I’m sorry, Shea. I’ll call you.” She looked as if she was going to cry.

He had to stop her.

Elli had to get out of there. Like ten minutes ago. What was she thinking? He almost touched her skin under the clothes that she hid under. There was no way in hell Shea Adler was gonna see or touch her under her clothes. No way. No sweet words, no amazing hot kisses, nope nothing. Elli reached for the handle just as Shea wrapped his arms around her from behind. She could feel the length of him on her ass, and God, how she wanted him.

Bad.

That was the only way she could describe it, but there was no way. Unless they came out with a new way of having sex with your clothes on. But Elli was pretty darn sure Shea wanted her naked when he took her there.

“
Baby, slow down, please,” he whispered against her ear. Her eyes drifted shut and her heart still banged against her chest. Somehow, he ended up in front of her when she opened her eyes. His eyes were searching hers, pleading for her to slow down. The blue was a little darker, not the sky blue they usually were. His hand came from around her to cup her face. Her two plump cheeks in his massive hands. She wanted to sigh at the feeling, hard against soft, but she needed to go.

“
Hey, now, you don’t have to go. We can watch the movie,” he said sweetly.

“
No, I gotta do some cleaning, let my dog out, and get ready for when everyone comes.”

“
I thought they weren’t coming until eight.”

“
Yeah, but Harper usually shows up early and I just need to go.” Elli tried to get away but he wasn’t letting her go. She had to get out of there before she started crying. She was beyond embarrassed. This was Shea Adler, he had females throwing themselves at him left and right and she wouldn’t even let him grope her. He probably thought she was a freak!

“
Elli, please. Look at me.” Of course she wouldn’t do that! But being the persistent little ass that he was, he moved her face up so she had nowhere to look but into his eyes. “Baby, please. Don’t let what happen effect what we have going here, it’s not a big deal. We can watch a movie, just be together.” The tears were welling up, he was so sweet, so amazing. And if she didn’t get out of there, she would embarrass herself even more by crying in front of him. She caught him off guard and kissed his cheek softly, before turning out of his embrace and opening the door.

“
I’ll call you,” she practically whispered as she ran out. She heard him call her name but she kept going. By the time she hit the stairs, she was fully crying. Big crocodile tears fell down her burning red cheeks. Her mother used to always tease her about how foolish she looked when she cried. Elli had always been embarrassed after that, but when she got her first roll on Broadway, it was because of her voice and the fact that when she cried the tears were so big that it made it more dramatic. The director loved her. That was until Elli got fat.

When she reached the truck, she jumped in, locking the doors behind her as she just sat there crying. She had to get it out or she wouldn’t be able to make the drive home. She could always go to Harper’s and calm down, but she didn’t want Harper to see her like this. She was so mad at herself. How long had it been since she had been touched or even touched a man? Forever it seemed. Why couldn’t she do it? Shea was a beautifully made man, he was a buffet, and she could eat him alive! But the thought of him seeing her stretch marks or her pooch made her sick to her stomach with fear.

Elli pulled back and slammed her hands against the steering wheel as she sobbed. She hated this feeling, because no matter how much running or how little she ate she couldn’t get rid of the pooch. Shea would be done with her in no time; he wouldn’t want to wait forever to have sex with her. Who could blame him? Elli could always get it cut off, she thought, get a nice little tummy tuck, but everyone would know and she would never give her family the satisfaction of watching her fail. Not anymore. Plus, she couldn’t get rid of the stretch marks; they would be forever on her.

She leaned her head on the steering wheel and watched as the tears fell onto her legs, puddles of them, sliding down the sides of her thighs, thighs that had little dimples and marks too. But they were so little that only Elli knew about them, or so she hoped, because if Shea ever mentioned them she would never wear shorts around him again. She closed her eyes. She hated feeling like this. She wanted to be strong, confident.

This was probably the only time that she wished she was like Victoria. The confidence Victoria exhibited was so in your face. Men fell at her feet. Why couldn’t Elli be like that? Why couldn’t she throw her clothes off, screw Shea’s brains out right there on his couch? Victoria would have done it in a New York minute, but Elli? Nope, she ran out of there crying.

How was she ever going to face Shea again?

When Elli was fully calmed down, she drove home. After parking her truck at the very top of the driveway so everyone would be able to get in, she headed up the walk way, hearing Adler freaking out. Elli’s phone beeped just as she opened the door. Adler took off running and Elli just shrugged as she left the door open for him to come back in. Shea had texted her about ten times since she left. He was, of course, being sweet, but she just couldn’t do it. Couldn’t talk to him, not yet, she pulled out her phone, reading the last text.

Are you okay? You always answer my text, please just say your okay, I’ll leave you alone until you are ready to talk to me.

She quickly texted back that, yes, she was okay, and that she would call him later. Even though they both knew she wouldn’t. She laid her purse and everything down on the sofa before going back to her bathroom to clean up. She ran the water as she looked for a wash rag. When she looked up into the mirror seeing her eyes bloodshot and tear streaks across her cheek, she felt like she would cry again. She remembered when she used to look at herself and think how pretty she was, how any guy would die to be with her.

That wasn’t the case anymore, after Justin and his abuse and her family’s abuse, now she just felt alone. Felt as if no one would ever love her, or even think she was pretty. Yeah, Shea had said it, but he was probably just trying to get into her pants. She really should watch his sweet and smooth words; he was a famous hockey player, not some regular Joe. What did he want with her? She didn’t have anything a beautiful, amazing, geektastic hockey player would want, and with that thought, Elli decided she would cry.