bodyguard, struggling to nail down what it was about him that escaped her. “I feel as if I’ll figure it out and laugh at myself for not seeing it sooner.”
“Perhaps your reaction won’t be laughter.”
“That’s…intriguing.” She pulled her gaze from him and gave the darker man a careful smile. “I can almost guarantee you don’t need or want a woman like me in your life, Harper.”
“Why?”
“You don’t dislike me but you don’t like me either. I’m more trouble than I’ll be worth to you and it’ll be a long time before I can even be considered as a sexual distraction.”
Harper insisted, “You’d be more than a distraction.”
After a long pause, she nodded. “I guess we’ll see.” He looked victorious so she clarified. “When I’m back on my feet, if you’re still interested, I’ll spend time in your company.”
“Your terms?”
The question caused her to stiffen. “There are no terms on my side, Harper. I’ll guard my heart, help both of you in whatever ways I’m capable, and hopefully see you happy. Then our time will end and you can get back to your usual selection of vapid supermodels.”
Backing up, she made her way to the door. “Thank you again for the whale, Harper. I very much wanted to have it.”
The men rose and walked to stand in front of her.
Elijah lowered to his knees. “There’s no supermodel who could compete with all you offer, Brie.”
“That’s sweet of you, Elijah.”
“That’s the truth .” His hands reached up to cup her skull, his fingers lightly stroking her hair. “It’s like silk.” Staring into her eyes, he traced his thumbs over her brows. “Your eyes are blue . I just realized.”
“You’re a lovely human being, Elijah.” She brushed her fingers along his jaw and she watched the green of his eyes darken. “I’m happy to be your friend without conditions.”
“Will you be my friend as well, Gabriella?”
“You have no desire to be my friend, Harper.” Though it was the truth, it hurt her to say it out loud. He also didn’t deny it.
Elijah gathered her carefully in a hug and planted a kiss on the skin beneath her ear. Meeting Harper’s eyes over his shoulder, she knew he saw the physical reaction it inspired.
Against her hair, he whispered, “I’ll wait for you, Brie.”
Such a simple thing to say that affected her deeply. Inhaling the scent of her hair, he pulled back and pressed a kiss on her lips. Then he stood, picked up the envelope holding the sketch from her foyer table, and left her apartment.
Harper stared at her. “You fascinate me.”
“It’ll pass.”
“You make me hard.”
“I doubt I’m unique in the ability.”
Despite himself, he laughed. “Your mind is very quick. I’m giving you six months.”
“You make it sound like a stay of execution. I’ll still be under medical care and unable…”
“Eight months.” She shook her head. “Ten months and then you’ll agree to an arrangement with Elijah and myself.”
“Harper, why is this so important to you?”
“Do you agree , Gabriella?”
Exhaling slowly, she thought about giving the two men the same privileges to her body as Hudson and Natalia. A single image played across her mind that made her entire body heat in response. This time, she knew she couldn’t hide it.
“ Agree , Gabriella.” His words were low, fierce.
Unable to deny her awakened nature, she nodded and replied softly, “Alright.”
The expression of victory on his face made her smile. He bent, lifted her from the wheelchair, and supported her weight.
Shocked, she stared up into his face. “I…”
Then he kissed her and Brie knew instantly she’d made a horrible mistake. He would leave her wrecked.
Issuing a soft gasp, his tongue stroked inside her mouth and coiled against her own. His lips moved over hers and she felt the