Her heart stuttered at the implication. She bit down hard on her lip, her mind shying away from the images his teasing provoked. Who knew a man like Elijah would enjoy brushing her hair? He didn’t seem to brush his all that often—not that she minded the way his black hair fell in waves around his face and down his neck. He always looked—hot. Still, it didn’t make sense to her that he would take the brush and smooth the tangles from her hair because they had visitors.

“Elijah? I would prefer not to get up.” She wanted to stay wrapped in her little cocoon, hiding beneath the covers, lying very still, feeling comforted by the soft material of Elijah’s shirt.

“I’m well aware of that, baby.”

He continued to brush her hair. He didn’t seem in a hurry, although she knew Jake Bannaconni and his wife, Emma, waited in the other room for them.

“I don’t want to see anyone,” she persisted.

“I know you don’t.” He spoke gently. Matter-of-factly. He kept brushing her hair as if she hadn’t spoken.

The action of the brush pulling through the thick strands of hair and massaging her scalp soothed her. She liked the feel of his hands in her hair. He took his time, as if they had all the time in the world and this was one of his most favorite things to do.

“I really would prefer to stay in here, Elijah.” She tried to pour strength and resolution into her voice. “I don’t think I’m up to meeting new people.”

“You can’t hide from the world, baby,” he said, the brush continuing to tug at her hair. His voice was low, almost a purr. Mesmerizing. “You’ll like Emma. You haven’t had that many friends in your life.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Siena.” He said her name like a reprimand. “I’ve kept tabs on you ever since you were fifteen years old. All hair and eyes and gorgeous skin. You think I didn’t notice you? Hell. I was a fucking pervert, dreaming about you.”

Her stomach did a little flip at his admission, but she pushed down the warm feeling rising. “You preferred tall, skinny blondes.” She blurted out the truth before she realized just how much it revealed to him—that she’d been watching him as well.

“I had no choice,” Elijah said, leaning close as he swept the thick mass of hair from the nape of her neck. He pressed his mouth against her skin and then feathered kisses along her neck and her shoulder. His teeth scraped there, sending flames dancing through her belly. “I refused to be so much of a pervert that I dated women who were surrogates for you.” He admitted the truth matter-of-factly.