The car came to a sudden stop in front of the mansion. Elijah turned to the towering mansion and gave a small sigh. It was filled with people, people he wasn't even so sure he cared for half as much as he did the one person in the car with him.
"Sir?"
He looked up, then placed a long finger on his lips and shook his head. He slowly turned to the still sleeping Jennifer, her hair now falling in front of her eyes, her lashes fluttering slowly against the disturbance.
His fingers came up to her face to move the hair away, and he tucked it behind her ear, his fingers leaving small traces on her skin.
She gave a half conscious smile and leaned further into him, causing him to chuckle a little.
Gently, he turned her to lay on the headrest, before he walked out himself and went around to her side of the car.
Gently, he pulled her to him, his hand supporting her back, the other behind her knees. She stirred a little as he adjusted her, her head comfortably on his chest.
With a small sigh, she settled back in, her lips smacking a little as she did. Slowly, he started to walk to the main door. An attendant immediately opened it up, and he walked inside, vaguely aware of the entire family having a pleasant evening in the living room.
"Oh my God! Tell me I am not hallucinating right now!" Stephanie yelled, standing up as if what she could see from her sitting position wasn't quite enough.
Elijah said nothing as Mrs. Morisson stood up to check on Jennifer. "She is so beautiful. Thank you for taking care of her, Elijah."
Elijah nodded, then turned to the rest, catching Mariah's steely gaze. Sparing her only a second of the same steely gaze she was giving him, he turned away, then headed upstairs to his room.
Susan had a sweet smile on her face as she watched his back. "They make such a beautiful couple. I don't think I have ever seen Elijah this soft for anyone."
Mrs. Morrison nodded. "I agree. I never thought I would see my son falling for someone like that. If someone slept in the car next to him, he would have willingly left them in the car."
They cracked up, as Mariah's fingers clenched, remembering the one time he left her sleeping in his study alone, while he went to sleep in his room.
But to be fair, she hadn't quite cared. She had only slept there while trying to ask for access to the family treasury. He never did give it to her, but he had given her an unlimited card. She could sleep in the garage for that.
With a small huff, she stood up, then with a cold murmur, excused herself from the living room.
"Mariah?" Stephanie called, relaxing her back as she looked up to the other woman.
Mariah stopped in her tracks, then turned, plastering one of her trained smiles on. "Yes, Stephanie?"
"Maybe you should stop being so jealous of them. If anything, it will make you happier and get rid of those frown lines on your face. You look twice as old as Elijah now because of them."
Susan held back laughter, but Mrs. Morrison didn't quite care. She burst into laughter, shaking her head.
"Stephanie, you are so funny."
Mariah took in a deep breath, then nodded. "Sure, Stephanie. I will take your advice."
Without another word, she turned away and climbed up to her room.
There was a small brown package waiting on her bed, and on it was a single letter, X. She ripped the package open, then broke into a small smile. "We'll see what you have to say tomorrow, Stephanie."
Elijah gently set Jennifer on the bed, his body hovering above hers as he put the pillow in place to support her head. She gave a small murmur, her hands coming up to his chest, then her fingers folded around the open button of his shirt.
He looked up at her, but she was still very asleep. Slowly, he brought his hand to remove hers, but she wouldn't budge.
"Jennifer..."
She stirred, turning slightly, as her eyes fluttered open. She caught his gaze and stopped, her fingers tightening around his shirt.
His eyes met hers in a swirling gaze, and she swallowed hard, her chest beating wildly. One thing she had noticed always, was just how beautifully put Elijah's features were.
His roman straight nose to his beautiful pale pink lips. His raven black hair. It all fit into this hell of a man hovering above her, his eyes just as wide.
She swallowed, her eyes gliding down to her hand. For some reason, however, she didn't release him, and her eyes drifted back to his eyes.
She swallowed again, then moved a little. "El...Elijah?"
His brows twitched, as his voice had suddenly gone on vacation.
She bit down on the insides of her bottom lip for a second. "Can...Can I kiss you?"
His eyes widened as the words left her mouth. Her cheeks burned with a deep red, but she seemed very determined, her gaze holding his in place.
"What?" He asked, for lack of anything better to say. He found it quite foolish once it left his mouth, but it was much too late already. She swallowed, then suddenly propped herself up on one elbow, the other going to the nape of his neck.
"I'm going to kiss you," she said simply, then moved even further to him, till her lips hovered a mere half inch away from his, his breath caressing his face.
Her eyes immediately closed and he swallowed, his eyes drifting to her lips.
"Don't stop," he whispered, and it was everything she had needed to hear. She propped herself up even further, her lips slowly brushing against his. She leaned away for a brief moment, then leaned back in, taking him by positive surprise.
She kissed him slowly, her lips moving against his in a delicious rhythm, her fingers moving against the nape of his neck. It sent him over the edge, coupled with her beautiful scent.
Before he knew it, his response came fast, and he moved his weight to one hand to cup her neck, then her cheek, his thumb running along her jaw line.
Suddenly, she let go of her position and fell back, pulling him with her. He didn't mind it much as he hovered above her, his eyes closed, her lips filling him up.
It felt almost sacred, that one moment, and when he slowly pulled away, his breaths coming in small bursts, he knew it had been right.
Her eyes stayed closed as she lay on the bed, her face flushed, her lips moist. For a second they stayed like that, before he slowly leaned closer again, placing a small kiss on her forehead.
Her lips parted a little as his kisses went lower around her face, her cheeks, and then slowly, almost tortuously back to her lips again.
Her hands immediately wrapped around his neck, like he was something she had wanted to explore all her life, but never quite had the chance to.
One hand came up to his neck for a moment, then down towards his chest. She could feel his rapid heartbeat, in sync with hers, and it gave her a beautiful feeling of satisfaction.
He pulled away once more, both breathless, her hand still on his neck. His eyes were clouded with a deep haze of emotion as he watched her still closed ones.
With a small smile, he leaned forward to her ear. "I will be in the study."
She nodded almost immediately, the fear of her own want coupled with the fiery tingles and everything before and after that kiss weakening her knees.
He smiled again as he moved away from her, then with reluctance that matched hers, walked away.