Chapter 224: Gift-Unwrapping Duty
** Eli **
The last night they had spent here flashed in front of Eli’s eyes as he strode across the threshold. It was a scene that kept replaying itself in his mind whenever he failed to fall asleep in this bed by himself ... which happened quite frequently, considering how difficult it was to get under those sheets without remembering all the wicked things she had done to him on top of that very piece of fabric.
Apparently, Harper was thinking the exact same thing, because her eyes lingered on the headboard when he lowered her into the bed. "I have to say I’m just a little disappointed that I didn’t get to use the handcuffs to get those words out of you today." She pouted with an exaggerated sigh. "I lost such a perfect chance to do it."
Eli laughed. "You still can, you know. Chain me to the bed, or the chair, or yourself, any time you want, and I’ll have zero complaints." The last part of that was already done anyway, in a more figurative sort of way. "Or alternatively, you can opt for wearing the lingerie set that came with the cuffs ... which you conveniently forgot to take home with you last time."
A pretty eyebrow arched up. "You must be the first man to ever ask a girl to put clothes on for him in bed, instead of taking them off."
He felt a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips. "Well, must be because I am the first man lucky enough to be with a girl who looks just as ravishing both ways, with or without clothes."
His ravishing girl giggled. The light shake of her shoulders made her curls fall loose, tumbling over the pillow like soft swirls of cinnamon cognac.
For the Nth time today, Eli was struck by a daze as he looked at the sight before him, mesmerized by the rosy glow of her cheeks framed by the soft luster of her hair. She was simply so beautiful, so perfect. A true goddess of everything sensual and holy at the same time ... And this perfect goddess had just told him that she loved him.
Had been loving him. For years.
The thought was too much for his heart. As he knelt at her feet, reverent and beyond grateful for the priceless blessings she had bestowed upon him, he wondered if that little organ inside his chest was going to burst before the end of this night. Or if he’d be too overwhelmed and nervous to get through everything he wanted to do next ... just like their first night together when he had made a complete fool out of himself so many times.
"Um, you didn’t get your head banged on the wall again tonight, did you?" Harper asked when he had stayed silent for a little too long. "Why are you grinning at me like an idiot again?"