Chapter 172: The Way It Could’ve Been

** Eli **

It took Eli a long while to fully grasp the situation he found himself in, and when he did, his head reeled.

Out of all the reasons that could make someone tell him to stop at this point, what Harper said was the last one he expected. He could feel how wet she was, how tight the tension had already wound up inside her and practically cried for release. All she needed was a few more touches in the right place … But she was telling him to stop and leave her hanging on that edge, because of him. Because she didn't want to race to the final moment without him.

It might sound like a strange sort of logic, but somewhat equally strangely, he understood where she was coming from, and the realization of how she wanted him stirred somewhere deep inside him. It made his blood boil even hotter than it did all night, especially when he drew back to look at her—