Falling With Grace

“Sounds entirely too important for such an early hour.” I dragged the sheet above my chest, covering my naked breasts, and then tucked my palm under my cheek.

Elias snagged his weapon off the dresser he’d somehow put down without me noticing, and dressed in the clothes strewn about the floor.

A heavy weight settled over my soul as he buttoned his pants and pulled his shirt on.

“Get up and take a shower.” He walked over to my side of the bed and placed his hand on my rounded hip. “We’re going out today.”

My cheek pulled from my teeth. “We?” I raised a brow and pointed to my chest. “As in me and you?” My finger bounced between us.

“Yes.” His hand moved over my ass, squeezing the sore flesh. “I’m taking you to lunch.”

“You want to be seen with me in public?” I gave him a side eye, my heart thumping hard. “Don’t you think that’s too soon, considering what happened last night?”

He dipped his gaze down my body, then swiped a hair from my cheek with an exhale. “I have no reason not to be seen with you, do you?”

I sat up, keeping the sheet to my chest. “No, but won’t people talk? You’re kinda like a celebrity among the people in the city.”

“A celebrity?” He snickered. “I haven’t heard that before.”

“Oh, please.” I snorted. “It’s true. People know who you are, Elias.” I inhaled a deep breath, my hand running down his wrinkled shirt. “You don’t want them gossipingabout it. What if it gets back to Nadia? She’ll have even more reason to hate me than she already does.”

His brows furrowed as his jaw clenched. “Let me worry about my sparkling reputation and Nadia. You…” He stood with the sheet in his hand and ripped it from my clutches, tossing it to the floor. “Take a shower and get ready.”

I tucked my hands over my chest, despite him touching every inch of me last night and the time before, as he marched into my closet, flicking on the light.

“What are you doing?”

“I want you to wear this.” He emerged with an outfit on a hanger, then laid it on the bed before me. “This color looks good on you.”

Heat bloomed in my cheeks as I examined the ivy green midi dress, its soft cotton fabric adorned with delicate white and gray flowers cascading down the length. A matching strap wrapped around the front, knotted with a subtle charm.

He disappeared into the closet again as I fingered the material and reappeared with more items in his hand.

I rolled my lips, my belly flipping. “I didn’t take you as a personal dresser.”

“I like what I like.” He shrugged.

He laid the soft, light gray cotton cardigan over the dress, plopped a pair of black flats on top, and coupled it with a necklace too expensive for anyone like me to wear.

“Wow.”

“We leave in four hours, so you have time.” He took two steps toward me, bent over, and kissed the top of my head. “Make sure you’re ready. I hate waiting.”

I nodded, nipping at my inner cheek, a slight metallic zing hitting my tongue. “Okay.”

“It’ll be okay.” He opened the door. “Just follow my instructions.”

Elias gave me a clipped smile, then closed the door behind him.

Follow his instructions?

Where are we going?

Why is he taking me out?

I glanced at the outfit he laid out before me.

Thank God it’s not a black-tie event.