Eli thoroughly enjoyed my tacos which I am happy about. He complimented my cooking multiple times, showing me that he is not an ungrateful person at all. After he helped me clean up he said he had to go do something and left. Kind of sudden if you ask me but by now I don't expect anything less from the quiet giant. I pour myself a generous glass of white wine, grab a random book from my suitcase, and get comfy on the couch. It's me-time! After an hour of reading, my phone chimes, informing me that I received a text message.

Hey, I hope everything's going well at home. Just wanted to let you know I'll be staying at my friend's place a while longer. I already texted Eli and he will be there for you if you need anything! I'll let you guys know when I'll be back.

: Aaawww, is Benny in love? Haha, I'm just kidding. Have a good time!

I didn't get a reply. He must be very busy with his "friend". Chuckling to myself, I pick my book back up and continue my journey into another world. I am so sucked into my story that I fail to hear Eli coming back home. Only after he poked my shoulder from behind the couch and me almost hauling my wine glass across the living room did I notice him being back. After I angrily yelled at him about what went wrong in his head that he felt the need to do that and him just smirking at me he plopped down on the couch next to me. His large thigh touches mine just a little, but it is enough to send goosebumps down my legs.

"Where did you go?" I ask him.

"Nowhere."

"Oh, come on," I complain, unhappy with his bullshit answer.

"I don't want to talk about it." He crosses his arms in front of his chest, demonstrating how much he doesn't want to have this conversation.

"You never wanna talk about anything. It's not healthy, you know. In the long run, if you don't let things out, they will eat you up from the inside."

He looks over to me and actually seems to consider what I just said. Then, he sighs.

"I went to an appointment with my lawyer. Discussing what to do next in with the divorce and everything."

"Did it go well?"

"Not really. My wife wants everything I have which is not even that much, to begin with." He huffs, uncrossing his arms and running his hands down his face. He seems really upset and frustrated. Out of instinct and the wish to comfort him I grab one of his large hands in both of mine and gently squeeze it. To my surprise, he doesn't pull his hand away. Baby steps.

"Sounds like you didn't end on a good note, hm?"

He laughs sarcastically. "No, we didn't."

Seeing as I made the mistake once before, I didn't ask him why they were getting divorced. Instead, I say, "You seem tense. Would you like a glass of wine to help you relax?" In an instant, his body stiffens up and he pulls his hand from mine to scratch the back of his neck.

He clears his throat, "no thank you, I'm alright."

Okay, that was weird. I have no idea what I did this time to get this reaction from him but I let it go and change the topic.

"How about we watch a movie?" I suggest, hoping he won't get closed off again.

"What movie?"

"What kind of movies do you like?"

"Documentaries."

"Documentaries?"

"Documentaries."

"Okay then, a documentary it is." I jump up from the couch to grab the remote from the coffee table and turn on the TV. "Netflix has a lot of them so we'll just browse and you'll let me know when you like one." Eli nods his head slowly, his eyes already a little droopy. "I'm just quickly gonna refill my wine, be right back." I let him know before disappearing into the kitchen with my empty glass.

Halfway through the documentary about doping cyclists in Russia, exciting I know, Eli grabbed the blanket from the armchair and draped it over the both of us. I'm usually not a big cuddler but something about the tall, brooding man next to me wants to make me snuggle up into his arms. Shortly after, I went to go brush my teeth. Eli insisted on pausing the movie while I was gone even though I reassured him that he can just keep watching. Towards the end of the film, I feel myself drifting off. Before I can fall asleep I hear Eli shuffle around on the couch. With tired eyes, I glance at him from under the blanket.

"Everything okay?" I ask him.

"Yeah, sit up for me, please."

I do as he says, too tired to argue. As soon as I sit up, Eli lays down on the couch, rearranging the blanket, taking it from me in the process. I open my mouth to start complaining but Eli speaks first.

"Come here." Is all he says. His arm holding up the blanket for me to crawl under. Due to me being cold and tired, I don't think twice and shuffle towards his outstretched body. He drapes the blanket back around me, trapping me to his frame with his arm. For the first few seconds, I have trouble relaxing since I didn't expect this proximity. However, as soon as his body heat warms me up I get too tired to not be relaxed. The last thing I remember before drifting off to dreamland is the way Eli's strong body molds to mine and him placing a few butterfly kisses on my neck before he whispers in my hair.

"Sweet dreams, Romy."

The first thing I feel while waking up is a sense of disorientation, my eyes all blurry and heavy with sleep. The second thing is a strong arm that keeps me locked to a very warm and broad chest. My eyes begin to focus, I can see clearly now. An empty wine glass and my open book on the coffee table and the TV which is shut off, the documentary long over. Eli must have shut it off last night. Eli. Just then, my mind wanders back to the handsome man lying right behind me. Feeling stiff from sleeping on the couch, I start shuffling and wiggling around a little, trying to stretch my limbs as much as possible. Suddenly, Eli's grip on my waist tightens, letting me know he's awake.

"You really gotta stop doing that." He groans, his deep voice rough from just waking up. Holy shit, that is one hot morning voice.

"I was just stretching," I let him know, confused as to why he seems so tense already.

"Yeah, stop it." I guess he's not a morning person. He begins to turn his body so he's half laying on his back instead of just his side anymore.

"Why?"

"Romy?"

"Yes?"

"Just do what I said."

"Or what?" The words slip past my lips, followed by instant regret.

"Or I won't be able to control myself and I'm pretty sure you don't want that to happen."

I gasp. "Are you threatening me?!"

"I'm warning you, beautiful."

Beautiful. My heart swarms with a warm feeling and I can't help but smile at his compliment. You are a lost cause, Romy. He just threatened you.

"How did you sleep?" He asks me.

"Good, what about you."

"Like a baby." That earns him a chuckle from me.

"I never really got that reference. Aren't babies always crying and never sleeping?" I inquire.

"Hm, I guess you're right. Never thought about it before."

A thought crosses my mind. Babies. Does Eli have kids with his wife? As always, my curiosity doesn't leave much room for overthinking and I babble ahead.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask while turning around to be able to look at Eli. He loosens his arm from around me and fully turns to lay on his back. Then, he takes his other arm and slides it under my neck to support my head. He doesn't verbally acknowledge my question, just simply nods.

"Do you have kids?"

"Kids? What makes you think I have kids?"

"I don't know. You are married and you are old enough to raise kids. I was just wondering."

"Did you just call me old?" He chuckles and looks at me for the first time this morning. My first thought is: I could get used to waking up next to him. He is just so attractive, I can't handle it.

"Not really but now that I think about it, you are old." I tease him.

"Take that back," he orders.

"Why would I take back the truth?"

"Do you even know how old I am?"

"Not exactly but I'm pretty sure you are around Bennett's age."

"Take a guess," Eli challenges.

"Okay, well you are at least 30 but I don't think you are older than 35." Or at least I hope you're not. "So I would say, 32 or 33."

"Good guess, I'm 32."

"Ha! What do I get as a price?" I ask laughing, propping myself up and laying my arms and head on his chest to get a better look at him.

"What do you want?" Eli asks, angling his head down to look into my eyes. You. Woah, okay subconscious, calm yourself down! Jesus Christ.

"Can I think about it?"

"Sure, you have until tonight."

I nod, showing him that I agree to his terms. "Are you hungry?"

His eyes darken as soon as I ask him that question. Something undecipherable swirling in his eyes.

"You have no idea." Is his answer.

"Okay, I'll make breakfast then. How about pancakes?" He just keeps looking at me, his hand moving up to move a strand of hair, that has fallen in front of my face, behind my ear. "Fine by me," he says, his fingers faintly trace my jaw before he puts it behind his head.

Breakfast went fine, although the overall mood somehow changed. I just couldn't put my finger on what it is.

"Hey," I say, trying to get Eli's attention. He looks at me, showing me that I have it.

"You never answered my question from earlier," I tell him, taking a bite from my pancakes that are drowning in maple syrup; just how I like it.

"No, Romy, I do not have kids."

"How did you know that that was the question I was referring to?" I question, surprised by his quick answer.

"I have something called a brain that allows me to remember things."

"Oh, really? I thought because of your age you might have issues remembering things." I tease him, smirking while chewing my pancakes.

"Watch it."

"Watch it," I mock him in a whisper, feeling brave. Suddenly, Eli gets up from his stool and stalks towards me. His large frame towering over my sitting form. I swallow the last bit of my pancakes slowly, my eyes wandering up his body until they stop at his face. He seems displeased. Very much so. His hand grabs the part where my head and neck connect and he slowly but firmly tilts my head back, his fingers tangling in my hair. His skin is rough on mine but still oddly comforting.

"What did you just say?" He asks, each of his words pronounced slowly and precisely.

"I-I-I j-just.. I was j-just joking." I barely choke out.

"You were just joking, huh?"

"Mhm." I nod, my head subconsciously leaning into his touch my eyes closing on their own accord. His thumb caresses my cheekbone and I never want him to stop. I have never had a male being make me feel this good before. Don't get me wrong I did kiss a few people but it never felt as good as what Eli is doing right now.

"Romy?"

"Yes," I breathe out, biting my lip. His thumb is quick in pulling it from between my teeth.

"Nevermind." He rushes out, detaching his hand from my face. I open my eyes, only to see Eli retreating from the kitchen. What the hell just happened?

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Out." Is his reply before he dashes up the stairs, probably to get dressed properly.

"Out?" I say to myself, slightly confused as to why he's suddenly so distant again.

Not even five minutes later he comes down the stairs, dressed in dark blue jeans, a grey t-shirt and a red and black flannel. I have to admit, it suits him very well. I am cleaning the kitchen from our breakfast and expect Eli to stop and tell me where he's going but I expected too much. He rushed past the kitchen and out the front door. I go after him. He is just about to open his truck door when he sees me.

"Where are you going?" I ask him again.

"Out, I already told you."

"Where is out?"

"None of your business." I roll my eyes at his rude response.

"I see. Can I come?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Romy, just leave it."

"No, I won't just leave it. I've done it the past week and I'm getting sick of it. Every time I get to know you a little better and I feel like we're getting closer, you just pull away again. What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything, not yet."

"What does that mean?! I don't understand you," I'm getting frustrated with this conversation.

"Maybe that's for the better," Eli says before getting in his truck and driving off.