Page 78 of Return Policy
“Could he be a littlelesshappy? I’m so sore I might never be able to have sex again.”
“Hold your horses, darlin’. That’s crazy talk.” He tugs me closer, resting his head between my shoulder blades while nudging his “friend” against me.
“Elijah,” I beg.
“Fine, I’ll go see if he’llstand down.” He begrudgingly rolls out of bed and heads to the bathroom.
As soon as Elijah shuts the door, I hop off the bed and scoop up his huge shirt, tugging it over my head. His intoxicating musky scent surrounds me as I walk over to his desk, looking for a blank notebook or paper and a pencil. I have an image in my mind, and I have to get it down right now.
I want to freeze this moment forever.
“Whatcha doing over there, Sunflower?” Elijah asks, leaning against the bathroom doorway in tight black boxers with arms folded. I struggle to pull my eyes away from the perfectly toned V pointing towards his glorious—
Sophia! Focus.
“Oh…” I frown. “I was hoping to draw, but I don’t have my sketchbook.”
He twists his mouth to suppress a smile. “I was going to give this to you for your birthday.” He strolls over to his desk, my eyes drinking in every flex of his muscles as he does, and rustles through the top drawer. “But I guess a week early won’t hurt.”
“Ohhh!” I clasp my hands together. “Early presents? Yes, please.”
“Sit on the bed and close your eyes,” he instructs, and I climb on the mattress. “Hold out your hands.”
I extend them, wiggling with excitement as he places something weighted in my palms.
“Okay, you can look.” The mattress dips as he sits next to me, and I blink my eyes open. My lips part, but no words come out.
In my hands rests a notebook. The cover has a crumpled paper background covered in sunflowers and the words “We’re all mad here”embossed in the middle. Tiny lady bugs sit on the petals and leaves, along with a honey bee buzzing near a sunflower.
“Elijah,” I say, blinking back tears, unable to find any other words. This man is truly incredible.
“I just… You always draw the things important to you. I thought you might want an extra sketchbook in case you ever lose yours again.” He reaches out, wiping away a lone tear of happiness that escaped. “I hope you like it.”
“It’s perfect…” I say quietly, staring into his heartbreaking baby blues. “You’reperfect.”
“Happy early birthday, Sunflower.” He runs his fingers through my hair, then pulls me in for a long, soft kiss.
“Thank you,” I mumble against his lips.
“Anything for you.” He jumps on the bed in nothing but his boxers and poses with his arm under his head. “Now draw me like one of your French girls.”
I giggle and nudge him with my foot before grabbing a pencil and doing exactly what I planned to do in the first place: draw this hot as fuck man half-naked.
It’s just after eleven in the morning when I open the door to my room and find Sage leaning against the pillows on my bed with her arms folded. I’m wearing Elijah’s huge T-shirt and sweatpants, so there’s no way of getting around this.
“Well, well, well,” she tsks. “Look who’s doing the walk of shame.”
An unabashed smile spreads across my face. “I’m not ashamed.”
Her eyes grow wide, expression turning amused as she jumps to sit on her heels. “Tell me everything.”
“I don’t kiss and tell.” I smirk, flopping onto the bed, facing her.
“Bullshit. I had to hear about every unsatisfying non-orgasm you had with Seth for months.”
“Okay… then I guess I don’torgasmand tell.”
She places a hand over her heart, sucking in a breath. “Now youhaveto tell me.”
