Taking Shots (Assassins) (44 page)

“
Hey,” she said sleepily, he smiled, dropping the clothes at the end of the bed, before kissing her cheek.

“
Hey, beautiful, sorry for waking you.”

“
Don’t be, its fine,” she said before pulling the blanket up over her breast, “Do you want me to fold all that while you take a shower?”

A slow grin went across his lips before he leaned over, pulling the blanket down, and nuzzling his face in her breasts. She giggled as he crawled on top of her as he became harder with every passing second.

“
I was thinking you should join me,” he said against her skin as he licked and nibbled. She took in a sharp breath when he took her nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue around her growing peek.

“
We would never get out of here, plus I’m still worn out from last night. So go on,” she said pushing him away with a sleepy grin on her face. He kissed her stomach before getting up. He did need to go and she was right, they would never get out of there if he got her in that shower. He shot her a smirk before going towards the bathroom as she sat up, looking for her clothes. He admired her naked body, memorizing every curve, all her beautiful skin, everything and anything to keep him warm at night while he was on the road.

After washing up and shaving, he went back into the bedroom, noticing that his suitcase was packed and ready to go. He smiled, thinking she was a Godsend as he went into the closet getting his suit for the day. He was putting his suit on when Elli crossed the room, going into the bathroom, he stopped for a moment, thinking that maybe he could squeeze in a quickie, but then again, he knew he couldn’t. He always took his time, always wanted to taste every part of her, there was no such thing as quickies with Eleanor Fisher--her body was his play land.

After getting dressed and tying up his chucks, he went into the kitchen seeing that Elli had made a quick breakfast of eggs and bacon while he was in the shower, so he sat down to eat while he waited for her. Adler sat beside him, watching him and waiting for anything Shea would give him, which was half his plate. What could he say? He loved the damn dog.

“
Did your mom take you out yet?” The words had Adler running to the door, jumping higher than a 40lb pug should. After hooking his leash on and putting on his jacket, Shea walked Adler around the condo twice before heading back up, frozen. Elli stood in the kitchen, drinking some coffee and popping her pills when he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her for her warmth. She let out a little scream, smacking him away as he laughed. “It's cold out.”

“
I can tell, jeez,” she laughed as she took a drink of her coffee.

Shea watched her for a moment, wondering if it was a good time to bring up Thanksgiving and her family. Since Shea never beats around the bush, he asked “Are you going to your parents for Thanksgiving?”

She looked over at him, shaking her head. “I’m going to the club with Papa, daddy said he’ll try to meet us for a little bit.”

Shea nodded. He knew Elli hadn’t talked to her mother or siblings since the family dinner he was subjected too. He also knew she hadn’t seen the kids in a while, and she was hurting from it.

“
Maybe you can go over for a little bit, at least to see the kids.”

She shook her head, “I don’t want to see my mother.”

“
I know, baby, but you miss the kids,” he said wrapping his arms around her, kissing behind her ear. “And I know they must miss you, even if it’s only for a few minutes, you know?”

She smiled, leaning her head against his, running her hands along his arms, “Maybe.”

“
That’s my girl,” he said kissing her again before glancing at the clock, “We need to go.”

“
Alright.”

Shea loaded the truck up as Elli got in. They headed over to the airfield, and watched as everyone hugged and kissed their families. He was dreading going since he was going to be lonely for the next six weeks, with Jakob being out for that long. When he was asked if he wanted a new roommate, he said hell no, Jakob was his roommate, he didn’t want no one else, even if it was going to be lonely as hell.

Shea popped the trunk and got out as Elli did the same, getting his bags. One of the crew members came over, getting Shea’s bag, leaving him and Elli to say goodbye. It was so cold outside, winter being in full swing, so he wrapped his arms around Elli, holding her close to him, not only for her heat but because he wasn’t going to see her for another two weeks. He wasn’t even going to be able to spend Thanksgiving with anyone he loved. He had a game that night.

Elli nuzzled her nose into the middle of his chest, moving her face back and forth, that’s when he noticed she was crying.

“
Oh no, no tears Elli, I can’t do it this time around.” She looked up at him with a watery smile.

“
I’m gonna miss you so much, I just hate that you have to leave for so long again,” she cried as she nuzzled her nose back into the stuffing of his jacket.

“
I know baby, but it’s just another two weeks, then I’ll be home.”

“
Yeah, but then you leave for another week.”

“
Yes, but you are coming down that week, we are going to be fine babe,” he said with a grin, putting his fingers under her chin, moving it up so she would look at him with them beautiful green eyes. “I’ll miss you.”

Elli gave him a small smile, sniffing before saying, “I’ll miss you more.”

“
I’ll call every chance I get, are you going to keep my bed warm?”

“
I am,” she said as red dusted her cheeks, he didn’t know if it was because she was cold or if she was embarrassed but he loved the color all the same.

“
Good,” he said as someone called for him to come on, he looked over at the plane and noticed no one was there, everyone had already boarded, and families were making their way back to their cars. He didn’t even notice; something that always happened when he was wrapped up in Elli’s arms.

“
You gotta go,” she said as big tears rolled down her cheeks, “Be safe, come home in one piece, alright?”

“
I will, remember don’t replace me,” he said with a wink before kissing her laughing mouth. He kissed her twice more before pulling away, and backing away from her. He wanted to tell her he loved her, but she already knew, and he didn’t want to put her on the spot, making her feel like she had to say it back.

When she blew him a kiss as the tears rolled down her cheeks, the words fell flew out of his mouth, “I love you, Elli, bye.”

She put her hand over her mouth, but didn’t say anything as he turned walking towards the plane. He hated leaving her, he did, but he hated that she didn’t love him more.

When Shea’s plane landed, he had finally finished
Pride and Prejudice
, the book Elli had given him so long ago, and he knew what he wanted to do for her birthday. While waiting for the crew to load the bus up with everyone’s bags, he dialed Grace’s number.

“
Hey, you land already?” she asked when she answered.

“
We did, I figured out what I want to do for Elli’s birthday.”

“
Okay? Why do I feel I’m about to get pissed?”

Shea laughed because she was probably going to get pissed but he didn’t care, it was the profession she chose, and it wasn’t his fault she was his twin. It also wasn’t his fault that she had to do anything he ask, and vice versa. He went on with the theme he wanted, and she didn’t say anything for about a minute after he got done talking.

“
When’s her birthday?” she asked.

“
December 17
^th
.”

“
So you want me to take us back to the 19
^th
century in a little over a month?”

He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him as he said, “Yes.”

“
Are you fucking crazy! How the hell am I gonna pull that off? I would have to send the invites out next week just to see how many people RSVP! Then where am I going to have it at? Places are filling up because of Christmas parties! You’re positively crazy!-” and on she went, complaining about how she wasn’t gonna be able to pull this off as he rode the bus to the hotel.

When he had enough he said, “You can do it, Grace, I know you can. You have access to my account. I don’t care how much it costs, just make it happen. Invite all her friends from Facebook, invite the team, I’ll contact her family, this is gonna be amazing, and when it’s all said and done, I’ll make sure you get all the credit.”

“
Damn right I will and I’m gonna charge you an arm and leg!”

He laughed before saying, “You can have all my limbs as long as this is the best birthday Elli has ever had.”

“
He’s driving me bat shit crazy Elli, I don’t even understand how a grown man can bitch and moan as much as Jakob does!” Harper complained as they sat in Elli’s office, waiting for a walk-in or their next appointment to come in.

It had been a long two weeks, but Shea was coming home the next day and Elli was super excited!

The first week Elli work a lot, it was a good week for her and the Assassins since they had won every game they played. On Thanksgiving, Elli ended up going to Liam and Noah’s house to see the kids before they went to her parents. It was wonderful seeing the kids, they asked her about Shea and when they would see him again, Elli promised to have a day with them and Shea. They loved that and covered her with kisses and hugs. She ate dinner with Bryan, talking hockey, and about Shea. He wanted to make sure Shea was being good to her, which, of course, he was.

Every time Shea and Elli would get off the phone, he would tell her he loved her. She didn’t realize being told that she was loved by someone would fill her so completely, but every time Shea did, it gave her butterflies, but then she would feel like the biggest ass in the world because she would say “Thanks, bye!” What was supposed to say though? She didn’t want to lie to him. Yes, she had deep feelings for Shea, maybe they were love, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say it, not in less she knew for a fact that she did. Which how she was going to know that was beyond her.

The past week was busy with people getting Christmas pictures done in the studio, and businesses hiring Elli for Christmas parties. Birthdays and weddings were in full swing again, and Elli wasn’t getting home until late again. The holidays always brought in a lot of business, which was good, but Elli was crazy tired by the time she got home.

Nashville was also so beautiful during Christmas time. Lights covered trees, Santa filled the windows of businesses, lights shaped into different Christmas figures adorned every light post along the sidewalks and everyone was just nicer during the holidays, it seemed. There was such a beautiful feeling that just filled Elli up during the holidays, even with Harper bitching every minute about Jakob, she couldn’t help but smile.

“
I mean, I love him, I do, but, Jesus, I’m ready for him to go on the road!” Harper complained some more as Elli ordered some toys for the kids on the computer.

“
I mean what did you expect, Harp?”

Harper threw her arms up in the air, “I was expecting him to not bitch and moan!”

Elli shook her head, “Harp, he’s in pain, give him some slack.”

“
He’s a baby,” she said in a huff as she crossed her arms. Elli giggled just as her phone went off. She looked at the display seeing it was Jodi.

“
Jodi!” she gushed, Harper smiled as Jodi gushed, “Hey, Elli!”

“
Tell her I say hi!”

“
Harper says hi!” Jodi laughed, saying to tell her the same.

“
So I’m calling because my water heater busted, my carpets are soaked and there is no way I can have people over this weekend for our dinner, is there any way we can do it at your house?”

“
Oh no! That sucks, um, yeah, I don’t see why not,” Elli said trying to think of the last time she went home. She had gone shopping for clothes because she didn’t want to go back to her house. She had been missing Shea a lot these past two weeks; she had figured it was cause of the holidays. All she knew was she was ready for him to be home, even if it was only for three days.

“
Awesome, thanks so much!”

“
No problem babe! See ya Sunday,” she said before saying bye and hanging up the phone.

“
What happened?” Harper asked as she stretched out on Elli’s couch.

“
Jodi’s water heater busted, she was wondering if we can do it at my house,” she answered before putting in her credit card information in the right spaces for her order.

“
Well, shit, do you think Shea would mind having it at his house? Jakob won’t make it in the car out to your house.”

Elli nodded, “Crap, I forget he can’t ride in the car for long. I don’t know, I can ask, I guess,” she said as she looked at the time. Shea was working out, so she would have to wait to call him.

“
Cool,” Harper said with a nod, then she sat up quickly, “You know what would make me happy and forget that I have a whiny, little brat of a boyfriend at home?”

Elli giggled as she looked over at Harper, “What’s that?”

“
Let's go out later!”