I opened my mouth before closing it, at a loss for words. Instead of saying anything, I pressed down on the accelerator when the light turned green.

I didn't know what to say or to think.

I knew that he could have just said it to make me feel better, but then the look on his face...

The silence as we drove was different from all the other times. I could almost feel his anxiousness, and it mingled with my confusion. I pulled into the diner parking lot a few minutes later, finding a spot, and shut the engine off. I scanned his face when I turned toward him before looking t my hands.

"I-"

"Wait, let me just explain everything first." Elijah held his hand up, and I closed my mouth, letting him talk. "The only reason I said we were just friends back at the apartment is because I didn't want to pressure you. We hadn't talked about the extent of our relationship yet, so I didn't want to assume things. I realize I messed up big time, though."

"Oh." I held my breath, soaking in his words as my heart sped up. " I thought..."

I closed my mouth, shaking my head. The river of hurt and anger slowly shrank back, leaving a shallow warmth in its wake. He extended his hand, pushing a curl from my face. I sucked in a breath when his fingers grazed my skin and lingered.

"I know, sweetheart. You shouldn't feel stupid. It was completely my fault for not making my intentions clear."

"Maybe you aren't all to blame. I didn't express how I felt either," I breathed, still distracted by the whisper of his hands on my skin.

He smiled softly and all my previous apprehension melted. "I am going to go ahead and lay my cards out on the table right now, Rowan." I exhaled when his thumbs grazed my lips, again and I felt the touch all the way to the tips of my toes. "I don't want to be just friends with you. You are right, you aren't just a hookup for me."

He looked at me with complete sincerity, and my heart pounded.

"I want more than rushed nights and hasty exits in the morning. Heck, the idea never even crossed my mind. You deserve more than that, and I want to be the one who gives it to you." His fingers lifted my chin, and the pace of my breathing quickened. "I can't promise that everything will be perfect one hundred of the time, but I am darn willing to try."

He let out a breath with a smile when he finished.

Any shroud of doubt had long vanished, as I took a deep breath. That even though we hadn't known each other for long, I wasn't the only one that felt the connection. A connection that made me feel as if anything, as long as it was with him, would work out.

"It's what I want too." My voice was barely over a whisper, but I knew he had heard it when I saw a smile overtake the serious expression that had been on his face.

"What is it that you want? I want to make sure we are exactly on the same page."

"I-I want to be more than friends." My heart pounded as I spoke. "I know we haven't known each other as long as some people have, yet I feel like I have known you forever. I know it won't be easy all the time, especially with my issue, but I am willing to try if you are. I want you."

He exhaled heavily, pulling me to him, and wrapping me in a hug.

There was something that was calming and intimate about the embrace. It was a different surreal feeling that had me hoping it would never end. It was a different peace than what it felt like to kiss someone, but in hugging him I felt the same effect. Warm. Wanted. Accepted.

"Love, if you will have me, I am yours. I should have made that clear to you that night after the party, but I was afraid it was all moving too soon."

I nodded as an understanding laugh fell from my mouth. "I had thought so too. But I don't think it matters now. For once I'm trying to walk on the wild side," I said, my mind flitting back to the conversation we had days ago. "It feels right. I was scared at first with what I felt for you because my amnesia tends to get in the way. But you have this way of putting me at ease." I smiled. "I am not so scared anymore."

It was like a weight lifted off of my shoulders, as I got the words off my chest. I hadn't realized it until now, but Elijah made me feel free from all the burdens of living with a disorder like mine. No one had ever made me feel that way before.

"It feels right to me too." He whispered, leaning back. The distance between us, however, grew smaller and smaller as the seconds passed. We were like magnets as we leaned in, so close, yet still so far. " When I am with you, the weight of my burdens isn't as hard to bear."

A shaky breath escaped me as his breath fanned across my lips, and I tilted my head in anticipation. I wasn't sure if what I was feeling would last forever, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to live in the moment. I wet my lips, and I watched as his eyes flitted to them, darkening before he looked back into mine.

"I don't want to push away the way I feel for you, anymore."

"Then don't," I breathed out, his face getting closer and closer.

"I really wasn't planning on it," he whispered, stealing my breath with a grin.

Perfect.

That was all I could say to describe the moment that he leaned down, finally closing the distance between us as his lips brushed over mine.

My eyes fluttered shut, and fervency grew within me, as the pressure of his mouth increased. He kissed me with vehemence, despite his movements being tantalizingly slowly.

Elijah bit down on my lower lip lightly, and I parted my lips, granting him access. When his tongue caressed the roof of my mouth lightly, a soft noise escaped me, my body pulsing. My grip on his arm tightened, tracing the definition in his arms before moving to his hair. I tugged on the ends of curled strands lightly, before resting my hand on the back of his neck.

I couldn't explain with words what he did to me. Words weren't enough. They couldn't describe the sensation I felt or the fullness that burrowed in my chest. Elijah tugged me closer, the scent of peppermint wafting over me as his hold tightened.

Bliss. That was what this was. Pure bliss.

It flowed through me as he trailed a hand trailed down my sides, landing on my waist, and turning my blood into rivers of lava. I pulled him closer, and a small growl vibrated through him, bringing a smile to my lips.

"You keep smiling like that and we just might have to skip out on breakfast altogether, Love," he murmured in between kisses, his mouth brushing mine before stilling to a rest. Eyes closed, I listened to my heartbeat, trying to take in everything that had happened, as he placed one last sweet kiss on my mouth.

Forever passed and then returned when he pulled back slowly. My eyes lingered closed before I slowly opened them, taking in the dark intensity that still clouded his eyes. It was like thunder, and just as electric as lightning.

"We should probably go inside before Cole and Amelia start to wonder where we are." His words were low and raspy, and I found my eyes darting to his mouth, wishing that it was back on mine. I leaned back in my seat with a deep breath and an unwavering smile.

You know that line from the princess bride, when the author describes Wesley's and Buttercup's kiss at the finale, as the purest and most passionate to happen in the history of the kiss? Well, I was sure that Elijah and I now had them beat.

I nodded, still slightly breathless, but made no move to exit the car. "Do you think they would get mad if we canceled?" I asked quietly. My stomach growled as the words left my lips, and I closed my eyes, cursing my stomach for interrupting the moment.

Elijah grinned down at me, chuckling to himself, before he unbuckled, opening his car door. "I don't think they would be mad. But what type of boyfriend would I be, if I let my girlfriend wither away from starvation."

"Girlfriend?" I said with a smile.

He glanced at me, a serious expression coating his features. "I meant it when I said that I wanted more than friendship from you. I want you and only you, and I want to be able to claim you as mine, starting today. So yes, girlfriend. If that's okay with you."

A smile bloomed on my face. Girlfriend. I could get used to the sound of that.

"It is. And trust me, I won't be withering away anytime soon." It was true, I had been blessed with a significant amount of padding on my butt and thighs. A deep laugh emitted from him as he got out of the car.

He was waiting for me by the time that I stepped out, shutting the car door as he gazed down at me. He gently cupped the back of my head, planting a kiss on my forehead. I grinned like an idiot as his hand intertwined with mine, as he guided us towards the entrance of the diner. Yes. We were on the same page.

Elijah opened the door, and my mouth watered as the aroma of fried bacon and breakfast pastries surrounded me. I spotted Cole and Amelia sitting at a booth in the back, and we headed in their direction. When we reached the table Cole looked up, and I noted the red twinge to Amelia's cheeks before she cleared her throat and waved. She eyed Elijah and my joined hands, a small smirk forming across her features, and she winked at me.

I guess she had been correct.

Cole sent some sort of nod, that all men seemed to do to Elijah, before looking at me as if to say "It's about time." My cheeks heated, and my grip tightened around Elijah's hand. I looked up to find him watching me, softness, and amusement tangled together.

"As much as I don't mind just standing here and looking at you all day, I believe that we should sit down so we can order," he breathed.

"Oh right," I said feeling flustered. He chuckled lightly, pulling out a chair and motioning for me to sit down. When he sat next to me, his other arm dipped below the table and he placed a hand on my leg. I tried to ignore the way his touch seemed to travel up my spine, and I shifted in my seat a bit.

"You okay?" He asked, glancing at me with a soft look.

"Yes," I said, trying to look normal. I would not tell him that in a matter of moments he had awakened the innermost feminine parts of me. Especially not in front of other people. A content expression formed on his features as he looked back down on the menu, but not before his hand traveled up a bit, and I clenched my legs. There was no mistaking the grin on his face.

That Fricker knew what he was doing.

I pushed his hand off, the burn at my core deepening, but he placed it back, tightening his grip. Not knowing what else to do, I moved my hand to his thigh, a little higher than I had meant to. Elijah jumped slightly in his chair, causing his hand to jerk off of me.

Gotcha.

"So Rowan, how are you enjoying the break so far?" Amelia asked.

I cleared my throat, looking away from Elijah. From the corner of my eyes, I could see that his burning gaze didn't stray from me, and I wiggled in my seat. I had just begun to think I had won, giving myself an internal smile in triumph when smooth fingers brushed across my leg as his hand fell over my knee. Elijah gave my leg a gentle squeeze before his hold drifted farther up my leg before stopping.

My heart jumped to my throat when he leaned over to me, his breath fanning over my ear.

"Amelia was talking to you, Love."

The grin on his mouth solidified his victory.

Crap.

I turned toward the pretty brunette who was still watching me expectantly, a slight glint in her eye. Something told me that the interaction between Elijah and I hadn't gone completely unnoticed.

"It's been good," I said, trying to make my voice sound the most normal it could be.

"Funny. I would say that it has been more than good." Elijah had spoken low enough so that fortunately only I had heard what he said. Or at least Amelia seemed unphased. Cole unfortunately was sporting a grin that hadn't been there just a second ago.

I just shook my head but taking a few pointers from him, I squeezed his leg.

Don't hate the player...

Sporting my own grin I turned to Amelia as Cole and Elijah started getting into a discussion on soccer. her eyebrows raised as she looked between Elijah and me, making me realize that maybe I hadn't been the only one to hear what he had said.

She winked and my face burst into flames. I was saved from any embarrassment, however, as the waiter decided to choose the time to walk up.

I was sure that between Cole and Elijah; they ordered enough food to feed an entire football team. Since I was starving, I opted out of the omelet that I would usually get at a place like this, instead, ordering a full stack of pancakes, with eggs, and bacon on the side. I was thankful that the diner sold breakfast all day. There was never a wrong time for pancakes.

Luckily it didn't take long for our food to arrive, and everyone had just started to dig in when a shadow loomed over the table. I felt the muscles in Elijah tense before I saw who it was.

And when I finally did it didn't take much for me to attribute it to the surprised but almost angry look in Elijah's eye.

The man was tall but not in an intimidating way, but that was made up by the expression in his eyes. They lingered on Elijah before filling to the arm that he had around my shoulders. He smiled at me and I sent one in return. Now I knew where Elijah had gotten his eyes.

"I am sorry to interrupt but I just saw you guys over here, and thought I would say hello." His eyes fell to Elijah and he rubbed the back of his neck. Even though the way he stood, his back straight and high head high, told me that he was used to running the show and not the other way around, the look on my face told me that he was unsure of himself.

Cole nodded, offering a smile that almost seemed forced. I shook my head lightly when Amelia glanced at me.

I moved my hand until I found Elijah's. He was tense at first but then his long fingers relaxed, smoothing from other mine and flexing so that I could interlock my fingers with his. His hand enclosed around mine, and he pressed my hands into the fabric of his jeans gently. He didn't look at me while he did so, but he didn't need to. I felt the stress that radiated off of him as his shoulders rose and fell heavily but slowly.

"Son?"

I froze, knowing what to expect. It certainly wasn't for Elijah to stay calm. I realized how much effort it was taking him to do so when his hand tightened around mine.

"Dad."