Always Him

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

We pull down a beautiful road lined with houses that have huge, lush yards. Kids play in the front yards, their laughter carrying on the breeze. A man mows his lawn, sweat glistening on his brow, while another is elbow-deep under the hood of a truck. Having lived in New York City for the past four years, this tranquil suburban scene feels like a world apart. Kat pulls the jeep into the driveway of an amazingly charming house. It has a private fence in the backyard, and in the front yard, a big tree with a tire swing hangs lazily. Lining the sidewalk up to the front door are rose bushes, and lilies are sprinkled throughout the garden, adding splashes of color.

On the porch swing sits a man with a ball cap on, no shirt, showcasing his six-pack abs and thick, muscular arms. He looks like he’s just finished watering the flowers. Beside him lies an adorable Bernese Mountain Dog, lazily sprawled on the floor.

Elijah stands and moves off the porch, heading to Kat’s side of the jeep. His smile could bewitch even a nun at church, and he opens the door to let his sister out, hugging her as the massive dog watches from the porch. I open my door and step out of the jeep, suddenly very self-conscious about the bruises on my face, my black eyes, and my disheveled state with my left arm in a cast and sling. Eli turns to face me, his jaw clenching as he takes in my appearance, trying to mask his anger.

"Thanks for letting me stay here till I find my own place. I promise not to get in the way," I say, my voice shaky.

He walks around the jeep and stands in front of me. He raises his hand, and I flinch involuntarily. His eyes soften with sadness at my reaction.

"Let's get you inside," he says gently. "If you're hungry, I bought some pizza to share." He looks over at Kathreen and asks, "Do you have time to come in for a bite, or are you just gonna head to Mom’s?"

"I hate to ditch and run, but rain check. I'm tired and need to shower this day off me." She turns to me, her eyes filled with concern. I walk over to her with tears in my eyes and give her a one-sided hug. She is careful not to touch my ribs as she hugs me back.

"Thank you so much. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you," I tell her.

"Girl, you probably wouldn't have ever left Huntertown if I didn't want to explore. You've always been a small-town girl," she replies with a smile. She then pulls back, gets in the jeep, and waves to Eli. She rolls the window down and hands me my pain pills. "Keep her safe, Eli," she says firmly.

Elijah nods, his expression serious. "Always."

As Kat drives away, Elijah turns to me, his gaze softening again. "Let's get you inside. You look like you need to rest." He gently guides me towards the house, the dog trailing behind us.

The interior of the house is warm and inviting, with cozy furniture and family photos on the walls. Elijah leads me to the living room and motions for me to sit on the couch.

"Make yourself at home," he says. "Do you want water, or anything else to drink?"

"Water would be great, thanks," I reply, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Elijah heads to the kitchen and returns with a glass of water. He sits down beside me, his presence comforting yet powerful.

"I'm really sorry for how things turned out," he says quietly. "But I'm glad you're here now."

"Me too," I whisper, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty.

As we sit in silence, the dog rests its head on my lap, offering its own form of comfort. Elijah watches us, a small, hopeful smile playing on his lips.

"You'll be safe here," he assures me. "We'll figure everything out together."

"I know, to be honest, I feel much better no longer being in New York," I confess, my voice heavy with the weight of past struggles. "The only real friend I had there was Kat. I got along with all my co-workers, but once Max started, I pulled away from society. I haven't seen my mom except through FaceTime in 18 months, and my dad... even longer." I shake my head, grimacing at the self-inflicted pain.

Eli's concern is palpable as he leans in closer, his eyes searching mine. "Do you need anything for the pain?" he asks, his voice dripping with concern.

"Um, to be honest, I really need a shower. I want to wash every trace of that man away from me. But I don't think I can manage to wash my hair with this broken arm, and my ribs limit my range with my good arm," I reply, my voice steady despite the vulnerability I feel. My eyes drift to the massive head and soft fur of the dog beside me. "Who's a good pup?" I coo, causing the dog's tail to wag enthusiastically.

Eli's presence is grounding. "I'm here. I could help. It might be easier if I wash your hair, and we can keep your cast dry. What if you just take a bath? That way, you can relax without getting too wet," he suggests, his voice deep and reassuring. He stands and gestures towards the stairs, not waiting for my response. "Come."

I rise cautiously, wincing as the pup bumps into me, causing me to stumble. Eli catches me effortlessly, his strong arms encircling me. "Diva, enough!" he commands gently but firmly, chuckling as he steadies me.

Before I can protest, he scoops me up into his arms, carrying me bridal style. "What the hell! Put me down. I can climb the stairs myself!" I yell, but he only smiles, his grip secure and comforting. We reach the top, and he carries me through a door to the left, revealing a spacious master bedroom.

The bed is adorned with a padded headboard, soft blue sheets, and a white comforter, with a plush throw rug at the foot. Two side tables with lamps flank the bed, casting a warm glow. He sets me down gently on the bed. "Sit here. I'll get the water ready," he says, disappearing through one of the three doors leading off the room.

Left alone, I take in the space. A comfy reading chair occupies a large alcove, and built-in bookshelves line the walls. Above the bed hangs a painting I made at his cabin after my high school graduation—a vibrant sunset over the lake, a reminder of happier times when painting was my escape. I'm lost in the memory when Eli returns, his presence a comforting anchor in the sea of my thoughts.

Eli clears his throat and says “When I saw that painting that summer I knew I had to have it. I took that painting everywhere that I went with the Marines. All my duty stations. I hung it in my house. It was like I had you with me.” His voice is thick with emotions and he is looking at the painting like a lover looks at the love of his life.

“I always wonder where it went. I loved how I captured the color just perfectly. I feel like I’m standing right there. You know? A happier time.” I reply with a shy smile. Eli chuckles and nods his head in agreement

“Come on let's get you in the tub,” he says as he heads back into what I assume is the bathroom.

I follow him a little confused because no way am I just going to strip naked in front of the hot hunk of a man in front of me looking like I do right now. “ I hope you know I’m not getting under dressed in front of you,” I tell Eli when he comes to a stop inside the most luxurious bathroom that I have been in. He then leans sexy on the counter of the sink with his hands crossed over his broad bare chest.

“I hate to tell you darling, but I didn’t think you would be the one to take your clothes off. Seeing that you arm is in a cast and my ribs are rapped up. Not to mention you may need help setting you self down into the tub.” He says no nonsense like but his eye darken. I turn around and unhook the strap to the sling on my broken arm. Once I get that off I walk and sit it on the counter next to a smug Eli. I try than to get my broke arm out my scrubs but I can’t do it. I look over at him and attempt to glare.

“Alright I’ll admit defeat but you can’t get weird it. You just acting like a nurse right now and helping me bath.” With that said he laughed got up and walked over to me and grabbed the sleeve of the scrubs of my good arm to let me slip in in and out of the hole. Than he gently bunch it it up over my head only meeting my eyes. He than quickly slipped the rest of my cast of my broken arm. Then he grabs the waist of my bottom of my scrubs and pushes them down. I’m not wearing underwear but Eli either doesn't notice or doesn't say anything.

“Okay, now all we go to do is get you wrap off. Ill be careful but try not to move.” I nodded my head in understanding. He begins unwrapping very carefully. Eli eye never leaving mine and darken with what looks like anger. “Alright, now lets get you in. He wraps his arm around my waist as I step up and into the tub. Our skin touching from are waist up and blush settles on my face. He than let go and grabs my hips so not to fall as I lower my self down into the warm water of the tub. Inside my head I keep repeating for myself to breathe and not say something stupid but the fact that he has now seen me completely naked and at my worst possible state and not said anything is a lot unnerving.

“Will you be fine will I go find you something to wear?” Eli asks me while looking at my eyes.

“Yes, Ill be fine. I’m just going soak this up and than you can help wash my hair.” I reply proud of myself that my voice was even and clear. Eli smooth does an about face and leaves me by myself. A tear falls down my cheek as I think of the girl that made that painting that hung with care over Eli’s bed. Before I had ever thought that I was the one that caused the fights that would lead to Max’s anger and him hitting me. I think about the pregnancy that Max beat in the way of hitting me so hard that a fell down the stairs which resulted in a miscarriage. I tried to leave after that but I was so embarrassed to tell Katherine. She still doesn't know about that event. Max knew though I was twelve weeks along and we had already heard the heart beat at six weeks and after the fall I started bleeding. Working in the NICU comes with rotations in labor and delivery so I knew what was happening and how to take care of it. A week later it was confirmed. I still had to have a D and C though. I just told Katherine that I had the flu that week and I stayed in my room at our apartment. Which of coursed made Max mad. My tears start pouring out of my eyes at the child Ill never met. More tears came out as the anger of everything that Max had taken from me.

“Oh, Charlie..” Eli whispers closer to me than I realize and uses the nickname that only he called me when I was younger. He gently strokes my head with his hand as it kneels by the tub. My sobbing slowly subsides. and I look up into his eyes. So much kindness in reflecting back at me. “You’re safe now love. I swear no one will ever hurt you ever again and had I known it was happening I would have taken care of it long ago.” his voice this thick with emotions. His eyes never leaving mine. My eyes travel over his face from his thick dark brown hair to his eyes to his soft lips and back to his eye. I know for sure he saw but he don't say anything just continues with soothing my hair.

“Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me. However we should probably get to washing so I can take something for this pain. At this point in time I cant tell you what hurts more. My arm or every time I breathe.” As I say that he pulls a handheld shower and gets the water just right and slowly start getting my hair wet. He turns the water off and grabs some shampoo. I quickly see that it is the kind that I use. “How do you know that is the shampoo that I use?’ I asked.

“I made sure to know what kind you needed. I also got tampons and pads In case you need them.” Eli says as he says massaging my head.

“Oh. Thank you so much. I wont need those for a while though” I say. I close my eyes as the amazing soothing feeling of his hands in my hair starts to burn through me. An accidental moan escapes my lips and my check automatically redden.”I’m sorry it just feels really...” I let the sentence hang when I look into Eli’s eyes. He smiles and turns the hand held shower back on to wash out the soap. God it feels good to be taken care of I can’t remember the last time someone actually did something this nice for me. I think to myself or at least I thought I did because the Elijah reply amazes me more

“You deserve so one to kiss ever single inch of you perfect body. Lick ever single cute curve of your smile. Bite the skin behind your ear on your neck as his finger trills over that spot. Massage you lushes handful of (I'm in heaven t**s). But you should never have anyone hurt you!” Elijah say his voice husky and I’m all the sudden aware that he still doesn’t have a shirt on and he has taken note of my body even in this broken state. All I can do is stare at him as he grabs the body wash and puts some in his hands and leans forward to start washing my body. He starts at my neck gently touching my skin. Then move to my shoulders. His eyes follow his hands but my eyes stay glued to his. He moves his hands to my back as I lean forward. His hand slides all over my skin gently barely touching me. My breath has be came extremely hard and I can pinpoint if it from the broken ribs or Eli.

His fingers touch the top of my hips and than goes back up my back again. He then gets more body wash and grins at me. I’m stunned just looking at him and wondering what he will do next. He then started at the top of my chest. Almost a father likes touch. If I wasn't watching his hand I wanted to know.

He slides his hand down to one n****e and I moan and jerk my body. I cried out in pain from my ribs. Which I guess breaks the spell.

“You should be clean now. Let's get you out and in bed. Ill then get you something to drink and your medicine.” his tone sounds very no nonsense again.

“I’m sorry, I say as I stand up with his help.” He then helps me step out of the tub and reaches over and unplugs the drain. He turns around and grabs a towel and bends down at my feet. He slowly drags the towel up the left of my left leg and back down. Go to the outside of my right leg he brings the towel up from my foot to my hip. He then reaches around and dries off my butt. I bit my lip and my pain once again forgot because of the feelings this man is doing. Eli still kneeling in front of me and moves the towel to the inside of my ankles. He take that moment to pause and look up at me. His eyes dark again. My hand moves into his hair as he slowly glides the towel up in-between my thighs. Again he stops his movement his eyes glance at my woman hood.

“Damn, your killing me. How long have I wanted to bury my face in between you thighs and when I finally think I can Fate would have it be the time you're physically hurt. Rain check. Next time I will taste what I been wanting for years.” Eli says as he stands up. I look down his chest at which point I hear. “Charlotte, Don’t please I’m to hard and your still naked and hurting and we need to dry you off and get you feeling better.” Elijah says as he guides my chin up so my eyes are no longer taking in the sights. I just grin. Not sure I can say anything at the moment.

He quickly gets the rest of my body dry and then puts a long over-sized black shirt over my cast arm and then heads helping me guide it through my good arm. It slowly drifts down my body just stopping under my ass. He then kiss me on top of the head and says “I am going to go grab you a drink and medicine. How bout you go get in that bed.”

I go over to the sink and find a tooth brush that is still in a package on the counter. It open to which is thoughtful. I take the brush and grab the toothpaste and brush my teeth. I than look up at myself in the mirror. My black eyes are dark purple and blue. I’m not sure how Ill ever been better again but I know one thing I feel better when Elijah is touching me. Just thinking of that I turn and go to the bed. I get in to the bed not thinking anything. The sheets smell like him. Sandalwood and Bay Rum that have always followed him around.