Love in Isolation: Six Book Complete Set

Chapter 11

DAY 6

DAY 6Staring at the vase of roses on the dresser, I wait to feel something. Anything.

AnythingI was tempted to throw them out yesterday, but the flowers are beautiful, and I would have felt bad for tossing them. Not because of who sent them, but because it seemed like a waste of a perfect bouquet. I didn’t want to upset Eli further, so I brought them to my room.

Zane has always showered me with gifts, and I was too blind to see the reason behind them. They’d make me so happy, knowing he thought of me enough to send something so pretty, and I’d forget whatever problems we were having. Then another issue would come up, he’d buy me something else, and the cycle would repeat.

I’m an i***t for not realizing this sooner and allowing this nonsense to happen for as long as it did.

But now, I look at this bouquet and feel nothing. Well, except indifference. I couldn’t care less about him or that he’s trying to win me back.

To my dearest Cameron:

I was stupid for breaking your heart. Please forgive me and let me make things right again.

I love you.

-Zane

If I had to guess, Kendall started a rumor about Eli and me, and it got back to him. She was never his biggest fan, and him breaking up with me pissed her off even more. I’d bet my trust fund she had something to do with his miraculous change of heart.

But honestly, f**k him.

Nothing could make me take him back nor do I want to.

In the past week, I’ve seen a new perspective in life, and it’s nothing like the one I had during the two years we dated. For all I care, Zane can jump off a bridge and forget that I exist. The only man I do care about isn’t talking to me and avoided me last night. I plan to do whatever I can to help push his insecurities away. I nearly melted against him yesterday, after finally giving in to my inhibitions, and he left me high and dry because a bouquet of roses that I don’t even want arrived.

doAs I undress and get into the shower, I think back to our younger years before we fought all the time. We were close until I ruined it by picking my snobby, rich friends over him. I don’t even know why I did it, aside from wanting to be liked by the popular girls. My mother’s constant pressure to fit in didn’t help either. There was no excuse for treating him the way I did, and I will make it up to him. The last thing he deserves is to feel less than due to our past, because right now, I don’t feel good enough for him.

Remembering the way he touched and kissed me has my body temperature rising all over again. The warm water melts across my skin as I slide my hand between my legs. I rub circles over my clit, and my eyes roll into the back of my head. Imagining Eli’s fingers on me along with his bedroom eyes has me moaning until the buildup is too much. I bite down on my lower lip to keep from screaming his name. It was so intense, I stand under the stream until I catch my breath.

I dry off, get dressed, then fix my hair. For the first time in ages, I feel brave enough to finally go after who I truly want. Deciding to take advantage of this newfound courage, I leave my room and go to the second level.

IMy heart hammers in my chest as I knock on his door. Waiting for him to answer has me sweating with the anticipation of what I’m about to do, but he doesn’t answer. I take the stairs and check in the kitchen, but he’s not there either. There are two plates on the table and a covered dish. He made breakfast, but he’s not here.

Where the hell could he have gone?

Where the hell could he have gone?The gym.

Taking the stairs to the basement, I hear the clanking of the weights as he works out. Peering around the corner, I spot him on the bench press in a sleeveless T-shirt and black gym shorts. His hair is pulled up, and sweat’s dripping down his neck.

Weirdly enough, it’s f*****g hot.

I’m in my leggings and NYU shirt, looking like a hot mess, but I don’t care because it’s comfortable as hell.

I walk in, waiting for him to finish his reps so I don’t scare him. He’s wearing earbuds and is breathing hard, so I know he can’t hear me, but it doesn’t stop me from watching. I’m completely mesmerized by his focus and strength.

Eli sits up and finally looks in the mirror across from him. His eyes shoot to mine, and he arches a brow as he reaches for his phone and pauses the music.

“Enjoying the show?”

Leaning against the doorframe, I cross my arms over my chest and grin. “Actually, I was.”

He turns and faces me, then grabs his bottle of water from the floor. Our eyes stay locked as he inhales his drink, and the intensity of our gaze has me second-guessing my plan, but I’m determined to do this.

No more being a coward.

“Did you make breakfast, then bail?” I ask.

He stands and saunters toward me. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you didn’t want me around after yesterday,” I say shyly.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he repeats, closing the gap between us. “For a long f*****g time.”

long I blink, swallowing down the lump in my throat. “It’s only ten,” I counter.

He chuckles softly, the corner of his lips turning up into a panty-dropping smirk. “Years, Cami. I’ve been waiting for you to finally see me, and as soon as you did, reality smacked me in the face, and I remembered you’re not mine. Never have been.” He brushes his arm over his forehead. “You just got out of a relationship, and I shouldn’t have crossed the line, but the temptation was too hard to resist.”

“I wasn’t saying no,” I tell him. “I kissed you first yesterday.”

“I know, but—”

“But nothing,” I interrupt, tilting my head at him. “Stop trying to convince yourself that you’re not good enough for me because that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m not worthy of you.” Licking my lips, I bring a hand to his chest and fist his shirt, yanking his face lower. “If that doorbell hadn’t interrupted us, we would’ve ended up naked on that couch, and my only regret would’ve been that it didn’t happen sooner.”

nothingyouHis intense stare burns through me, and I anxiously await his reaction.

“I don’t want to be your rebound, Cami. Or your quarantine fling. So unless you can say with one hundred percent certainty it’s not, then I can’t. Don’t give me false hope. Please,” he begs.

“I swear it’s not like that at all,” I whisper, panic building inside me. “I want you, Eli. I’ve always wanted you.”

He clenches his jaw, not saying a word, but he continues to stare. After a moment, he blinks. “Say it again.”

Butterflies invade my stomach at the roughness of his voice, demanding and sultry. “Kiss me. I want you, Elijah Ross.”

youOne second, my feet are on the floor, and the next, they’re wrapped around his waist. My back presses against the wall as our lips collide. My arms grip his shoulders, holding him tightly as he effortlessly supports me with one palm under my ass. Our tongues tangle together, and we’re barely breathing as we desperately taste each other.

I moan against his mouth as he pushes into me, and I feel how hard he is for me. He was turned on yesterday, too, and my mind went wild, imagining how it’d feel to touch him.

“f**k, Cami,” Eli whispers my name with painful exaggeration before moving his lips over my jaw.

My head falls back as he sucks on my neck. It sends heat straight between my legs. I want his tongue and fingers there, but honestly, I want all of him, everywhere. Now.

Now“I need you inside me,” I plead as he presses himself into me again.

“Christ,” he hisses. “I want to, Cami. I really do…”

“But?” I meet his hardened gaze. “What’s the problem?”

“I don’t have any condoms,” he responds.

Furrowing my brows, I ask, “You don’t? Seriously?”

He sucks in his lower lip and shrugs. “I was coming up here to isolate, alone. Didn’t know I’d need them.”

aloneShit. He’s right. I don’t have any either because Zane was bringing his stash.

“Any chance you think sss would deem them essential and overnight them?”

Eli laughs. “Maybe it’s a good thing. It’ll force us to go slow.”

“That sounds like the opposite of fun, though.” I stick out my lower lip and pretend to pout.

“Ohh, Cami. How wrong you are.” He releases me until my feet touch the floor, then he kneels in front of me, grabbing the hem of my leggings and pulling them down to my ankles.

“Did you forget something?” He arches a brow as I step out of them.

“No, I shaved this morning, thank you.”

He tilts his head and licks his lips. “I can see that.”

“Oh, no panties. That’s because I came down here to seduce you,” I tell him matter-of-factly and am almost embarrassed by how quickly I blurted that out.

“Jesus,” he chokes out. “You’re making it hard to say no.”

“Then don’t,” I say. “I’m on the pill and always get my annual screening.” If he doesn’t touch me soon, I won’t be able to stop rambling.

He groans, wrapping his fingers around my thighs. “Spread your legs.”

I part my feet, my heart beating faster with every eager second. Eli moves a hand up and slowly brings a finger to my p***y, then slides it across my slit. “You’re already wet.”

“Mm-hmm,” I hum, my eyes rolling. He’s torturing me. “I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted you.”

“I guess not,” he says, chuckling softly.

If I admired his facial hair before, it’s nothing compared to how it feels when it rubs against my skin. It’s rough and tickles, and I crave more of him. His tongue slides to my clit, and he squeezes it between his lips.

“Oh my God.” My fingers curl in his hair as the sensations ripple through me. “Don’t stop. Please, for the love of all that’s holy, do not stop.”

“Don’t worry, princess.” He emphasizes the nickname he’s called me for years, except this time, it sounds sweet and hungry. “I could please you for f*****g hours.”

princessMy back arches as he pushes two digits inside me. The pressure feels incredible as he f***s me with his fingers and flicks his tongue against my sensitive spot. The buildup comes fast, and soon, I’m falling over the edge as he increases his pace, driving as deep as he can.

I clench my teeth, then moan out his name, breathing rapidly as I come down from the highest high I’ve ever had. Eli doesn’t stop like I expected and continues his sweet torture.

“You thought I was done?” He flashes a cocky grin. “I’m just getting started with you.” He stands and takes my hand, guiding me to one of the equipment benches. “Lie down.”

My brows rise in hesitation. Eli nods his head toward it, encouraging me to oblige. Before I do, I grab the bottom of my shirt and take it off. If being naked doesn’t drive him as insane as he’s making me, then I don’t know what will.

“Jesus f**k,” he grunts. “What are you trying to do to me?” He kneels, with me spread in front of him. Bending my knees, he pulls my ass closer and places his mouth back between my thighs.

Feeling his fingers and mouth on me is so damn intense that everything goes white, and stars invade my vision. I fist my hands in my hair, trying to breathe through the best o****m I’ve ever experienced.

“I need you,” I whimper, begging him to f**k me. “Inside me.”

“Cami,” he growls, wiping his mouth as he stands. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Don’t deny me.”

“I just gave you, like, five orgasms. There was no denying.”

Laughing, I sit up and am eye-level with his crotch. He’s so hard; I can’t stop myself from touching him outside his shorts. Thick and big. He steps back, and my hand drops.

“No.”

“No? You don’t want me to return the favor?” I arch a brow.

“I do. I really, really do, but the moment your mouth is on me, my willpower will snap.”

really, reallyI smirk, knowing he’s struggling as much as I am. “Well, you either let me take care of that or you get to j******f in the shower like I did earlier.”

He swallows hard, groaning. “You didn’t.”

“I swear! The real thing, though? One thousand percent better, so let me.”

“I’m walking away now. Put your clothes on and meet me upstairs for breakfast.” He steps toward the doorway.

My arms drop to my sides, and my jaw nearly hits the floor. “Are you serious?”

“Cami,” he pleads. “Trust me. I’m going to rub my d**k raw later thinking about you, but we can’t just jump into sex.”

Rejected. Again.

Again