The thought of just how much he wanted her took her breath away. She understood. In that moment, she realized she mattered more to him than she ever had to her grandfather in all the years of her life. To anyone. Elijah loved her. Loved her. She’d never had that. Not like he loved her, with that intense, focused, single-minded purpose. It was the reason he was so protective. So determined the life they were both caught in, through no fault of their own, would never touch her.

“Fucking look at me when we’re talking about this, Siena. I thought we put this crap to bed.”

“I am looking at you, Elijah,” she said gently. A whisper. Her hand slipped over his abdomen, tracing the defined muscles there.

“You aren’t looking where I want you to look.”

“Then you shouldn’t be distracting me,” she accused.

He caught her chin and yanked it up, forcing her to look into his eyes again. His gaze burned over her face. Fierce. Possessive. “I love when you go down on me, baby. I dream about it. The thought of it and the way you do it, the way I feel you loving me, giving me that gift, and enjoying giving it to me, distracts me a million times throughout the day. I get hard thinking about the way you love me. And you fucking love me, Siena. I feel it every time your mouth is on my cock.”

His tone was just as ferocious as his expression. As the heat in his eyes. Her heart fluttered. Her stomach went into a slow roll and damp heat bathed her sex. “I do love you, Elijah. It’s fierce and hungry and with me every second. It’s also about taking care of what’s mine. You take care of me in your way and I have to do the same. For me. I want to care for you better than any other woman ever could. Is that what puts that look on your face? The one that says you love me and you hate me at the same time? Do you feel I’ve trapped you in some way?”

His face softened. Instantly. “It would be impossible to hate you, mi amorcito. I’m so grateful for that baby I put inside you. It means you aren’t going anywhere.”

She shook her head. “You aren’t getting it, Elijah. I choose not to go anywhere. I made a mistake earlier, just in my unfortunate choice of words. I have no intentions of leaving you. Ever.” She added a little pressure to his belly. “But seriously, honey. I’m hungry and the food is getting cold and I really need to clean up. I get lost so can you please point me in the direction of the nearest bathroom?”