CHAPTER 3

“Look, Star, I haven’t slept in a few days, Star. I’d appreciate one night in my own bed. I’m not here much… As you can see, the empty fridge and pantry can confirm that. I’ll stay out of your hair, I promise.”

          Elijah did look tired. His blue eyes were bloodshot and there were bags under his eyes.

“I don’t even snore.”

“Elijah…”

“I can move into your room,” he offered.

          He was sleeping in her parents’ room. Which was good… she wasn’t ready to go there. Any and all memories of her mom could wait behind that closed door for a few more days.

“No!” she said. “I wouldn’t… couldn’t sleep in there.”

“I’m sorry about your mom,” Elijah said, grabbing her attention.

          Starlight nodded. She hadn’t visited Smithville since her mother’s death, three years before.

“It’s strange to be here and have it so quiet.”

          She shrugged, not wanting to share with him. But Elijah had known better than most about her mother and her… fits of temper. When she’d been on a real tear, her mother could be heard all up and down the street.

          Her mother’s anger and bitterness had been one of the reasons she’d gone to live with her father her senior year of high school. Elijah had been the other.

“You look good, Star.”

          His voice pitched low, all gravel. She was acutely aware of the way his eyes leisurely swept her from head to toe. When his attention returned to her face, his jaw was locked.

          Was that disapproval on his face? Or was something else that made her heart thump? She didn’t know how to read the tension that rolled off of him. But it was unnerving as hell.

          His gaze narrowed, piercing hers. What was he trying to figure out?

“Star?”

          That was her name… the name he gave her… And his voice… She felt a shudder run down her back.

“No, I don’t.”

          Her words spilled from her lips. She looked like hell and she knew it.

“You look different,” she admitted.

          Different was an understatement… Even if her response to him was the same: hyperaware. When he was close, she’d felt it. Right now, she was feeling all sorts of things that made her nervous and excited, and tense.

          Dammit!

          He cocked a questioning eyebrow her way. She shrugged.

“There’s... more of… you.”

          Including abs and tattoos and the lovely dark happy trail disappearing beneath his waistband. She needed to stop talking and thinking immediately. Instead, Starlight stared at his chest, encased in a skintight black shirt and leather jacket.

          But what was absolutely terrifying was how badly her fingers itched to explore Elijah. No! No exploring! Evicting! Immediate evicting!

“‘More of me’?” he asked and started laughing.

          His laughter rolled over her, leaving her tingling in all the right places. Dammit! It was cruel that he’d turned out even more beautiful than she remembered. And completely unfair.

          He’d broken her heart, made her doubt her judgment, and left her unbelieving she was worthy of love. How dare he stand there, teasing her, acting like he wasn’t the bad guy.

          She knew better. It wasn’t like he was just some dangerously good-looking man making her house all festive while waking up every one of her lady part nerves. If only that were the case...

“Star?” Elijah whispered, coming to stand in front of her. “Are you okay?”

          Starlight nodded. Her attention wandered to his mouth, leaving her breathless. Would his touch feel the same? His lips had branded her skin, magic against her lips... No, she wasn’t okay.

          If she was, she wouldn’t be dragging up memories better left buried. Besides, he didn’t deserve to touch her. To kiss her. And she needed to stop thinking of that. Of him… naked. Of what she wanted to do to him… naked.

          This was Elijah Thomas!

          And the two of them would not be getting naked together. Even if he is way more exciting than Great Scott. The thought sent another shudder through her.

“You cold?”

          His voice was gruff and rumbling, shaking her to the core.

“No,” she managed, her tongue thick and her throat tight.

          She wasn’t cold. For the first time in a long time, she was feeling delectably hot. The only problem with this scenario was the man she hated the most was the one making her feel this way.

          Starlight stepped around him, hoping to quiet the desire surging through her veins. Her overstimulated reaction to him made no sense. She hated him. Maybe this is what happens when you go for more than a year without sex?

“But I need something to drink and you need to... to go to bed,” Starlight said, glancing at him. “One night, Elijah,” she added, knowing she was a coward.

          But it was after midnight, cold, and she wasn’t heartless.

“Okay. One night. I’ll crash here tonight and look into staying somewhere else while you’re in town.”

          He was staring at her again.

“Are you sure Daniel won’t mind?”

          She nodded. Daniel so won’t mind at all. She headed into the kitchen, deliberately avoiding his gaze. She could sleep under the same roof… she could be an adult. But she wasn’t going to talk about her marriage or her divorce with him.

          He followed her.

“Why is it so cold in here? Pilot light got out again?” Elijah asked, rubbing his hands together. “Daniel couldn’t get it to work?”

“The heat won’t come on.”

          Starlight pointed at the fireplace over her shoulder.

“But at least, I got the fire going, even if I did burn my thumb and singe some hair.”

          She held her thumb up. She hadn’t expected him to cradle her hand in his or hold up her thumb for a thorough inspection. Starlight wanted to yank her hand away and scowl at him... No, she didn’t. Which was worse. His gaze locked with hers.

“Some homecoming, huh?”

          His hold went from reassuring to overwhelming.

“I’m sorry about tonight. Not the way I’d imagined seeing you again.”

          His words shook her. The rhythmic stroke of his thumb along her wrist turned her insides fluid. Not the way I’d imagined seeing you again. She blew out a deep breath.

“It’s... it’s fine.”

          Her words were a raspy whisper but Starlight managed to pull her hand from his. No touching. Touching was bad. And more space was good too. She stepped back, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“I... I can call a repairman in the morning.”

          Elijah glanced at her hand, then back at her, his eyes narrowing.

“I’ll fix it before we go to bed.”

          ‘We go to bed.’

          She swallowed, staring at the floor so her face wouldn’t betray her thoughts.

“Thanks.”

“What’s going on, Star?” he asked softly.

“What do you mean?”

          Starlight knew what he meant. But her life was none of his business. And, dammit, she was having a hard time thinking straight with him standing there staring at her that way.

          She needed to stay cool. And keep him at arm’s length. So, she busied herself in the kitchen, pulling out the milk, a saucepan, and some cocoa packets. He followed her, standing too close.

“You’re here alone… basically in the dark, without heat. Alone.”

          Starlight put the kettle on the burner, her hands and her voice unsteady.

“Did you have to say that twice?” she asked.

“I guess that’s the thing I’m most hung up on,” Elijah confessed.

          He was standing behind her, his warmth rolling over her.

“It is?”

          She glanced back at him, the questions in his gaze enough to turn her back to cocoa making.

“I assure you, Elijah, you don’t need to be hung up on anything that has to do with me, okay?”

          Starlight tried to sound flippant but it didn’t work.

“Well, old habits die hard. I know how to read you. I always have.”

          There was an edge to his voice.

“Maybe… When we were kids,” she agreed.

          But they definitely weren’t kids anymore. And even if he had known what she was thinking, wanting, before she had, didn’t mean he did now. That was a long time ago… in another life.

“Right now, I want some hot cocoa. And some peace and quiet, thank you very much.”

          She spun around to face him, shoving the mug into his hand.

“Good night, Elijah.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asked, glancing at the mug she’d placed in his hands before leveling her with the weight of his gaze once more.

“Man, you are quick… And somehow… I didn’t realize that was unclear.”

          Elijah chuckled. Starlight was very proud that she didn’t smile at him. Because his smile was hard to resist.

          HE was hard to resist.

          Because, honestly, she would happily replace her black love machine with this new manlier version of Elijah.

          She choked on her sip of cocoa.

          ‘Please, God, don’t let him figure out what I’m thinking. And wanting.’

“Daniel’s not here.”

          He paused.

“You’re alone.”

          Elijah swallowed, his gaze searching her face as he leaned forward, placing his mug on the counter, his large hands on either side of her, effectively pinning her against the counter.

“So?”

          She didn’t deny it. She was alone. She was relieved her out-of-control hunger for him had somehow escaped his notice. But now that she was so close, that wouldn’t last for long.

          Her heart was slamming against her ribs and breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. Because breathing drew in his scent, his tantalizing, captivating, enticing scent.

“And there’s… this.”

          He pointed at her, then himself, stepping so close that his breath fanned her hair.

“There’s still a hell of a... connection between the two of us.”

          Elijah practically growled the words. Her body tightened, expectant, at the sound of his undeniable hunger. For her. His attention wandered to her mouth, leaving no doubt what he wanted.

          He felt it too. Oh, God! Of course, he did. She could sway into him, give in... But she should fight it. Even if his lips were so close.

“Yes.”

          It took a lot of effort to form a coherent answer.

“Yes?” Elijah repeated, his nostrils flaring as his gaze locked with hers.

“Yes, Elijah. I am alone.”

          Her voice wavered. He shook his head, the muscle in his jaw hard as a rock.

“That’s all?” he asked. “I won’t touch another man’s wife.”

          Elijah ground out the words.

“But, dammit… I want to kiss you and touch you so badly it hurts.”

          ‘Kiss me? Touch me?’

          Starlight stared at him, gripped by a crushing, desperate ache.

“I’m no man’s wife, Elijah Thomas! And, as sure as hell, I don’t want you to kiss or touch me,” she said slowly. “Got it?”