Angel had never felt such passion as Eli gently lay her across the bed and covered her body with his, keeping himself slightly elevated. She wanted to feel him pressed against her, so she tugged at his waist, pulling him downward. Again, he groaned in that way that made her feel wild and uninhibited. Kissing him frantically, she entwined her fingers in his hair and moved her lips from his mouth to the stubble on his cheeks.
He sucked on her earlobe and whispered, "I've always wanted you, Angel. I love you."
When he shifted his weight, she glimpsed the intensity sparkling his eyes and reached to pull his head back to hers, but he resisted. "Do you really want me? Because if you don't, I have to leave."
As soon as she breathed, "Yes," his body and mouth were hers again to explore and love.
When dawn pinked the sky, she begged, "Please, now, Eli. I want you now." He moved his lips to her ear. "I'll be right back." She heard him open the bathroom door and when he returned, she guessed he had slipped on protection. He lay back down and gently touched her face. "Angel, I want you to know I've never brought another woman to this cabin." He waited for her response and her eyes misted. Eli had to be the most considerate and endearing man in the world and she was fantastically in love with him. Exactly when that love had happened, she didn't know, but gradually, over the past weeks, she'd found herself longing to be with him. In the process, she now understood that her feelings for Harris were nothing more than a young girl's infatuation carried over into adulthood. He was a wonderful man and the woman who captured his heart would be extremely blessed, but Eli was the man for her.
"Have I ruined things?" he asked quietly.
In response, she reached low and stroked him. "Only if you don't finish what we started."
In an instant they were again making love and kissing passionately, and when Eli entered her body, she released a long sigh against his neck, closed her eyes, and marveled at the exquisite sensations consuming both of them.
Later, in the afterglow, she pressed her body against Eli's side and fell asleep from exhaustion. Unexpectedly, both Eli and Harris stood before her. She glanced from one to the other and then settled her gaze on Harris. He started to walk away, but she had to tell him that she loved Eli. She had to make him understand that he was a figment of the imagination of the girl she had once been, but now, as a woman, she knew Eli was the one. The time for confrontation had come. She called out, "Harris! Harris!"
A sudden movement jerked her awake and she found herself staring into Eli's eyes. "What did you say?" he demanded.
"I don't know," she said groggily, still hazy from sleep.
Eli jumped from the bed, naked, and yelled, "You said my brother's name! We just made love and you said Harris' name!" He gaped angrily at her.
Angel furrowed her brow and tried to make sense of his words. The dream flashed before her eyes. She'd been about to tell Harris she loved Eli. She opened her mouth to explain, but Eli said, "I know you've been in love with Harris for years, but I never thought you'd do something as slutty as sleep with me while wanting my brother. That's sick!"
Angel rarely became so angry that she literally couldn't talk, but this was one of those times. She was furious. And she was just about to blast him with the truth when he stormed from the room, giving her a view of his gorgeous backside. She sputtered and tossed back the covers, wrapping herself in the sheet. Then she went in search of Eli. Through the front window she saw him standing butt naked on the deck. She opened the door and ventured outside. Her anger had quelled and she tentatively said, "Eli?"
When he answered he sounded exhausted. "Don't say anything Angel. I don't want to talk to you or even look at you right now. Just get dressed so we can leave. We've got to get back to our duties." He turned and walked past her into the cabin without even a glance.
Tears pricked Angel's eyes. So that's how it is. He's made up his mind that I'm a slut. She swiped away the tear trickling down her cheek. Since he's made his judgment, he can believe what he wants. I don't need a guy who doesn't trust me.
That afternoon, back at the Triple T Ranch before picking Eli up in Harris' truck for the return trip to Santa Fe, Angel saddled Latte and rode to McElmo creek to rethink her life. Emotions of anger, sadness, frustration, confusion, and brokenness, all vied for preeminence in her heart. Her life was a mess.