Deceived Read Online Free PDF Page B

heart raced and tears seeped from her eyelids. She knew if she chose this life, she’d never be able to go back to the one she had now.
     
    What if you give it all up and Eli drops you like a stone she thought. But her instincts told her that wouldn’t happen. She never believed in love at first sight--lust, sure. However, what she felt for Eli went way beyond infatuation. It was like they were old souls, meeting one another once again. She knew how corny that sounded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling.
     
    Lexi decided to put off her decision. That was the normal Lexi, the one who didn’t look before she leaped. Old habits die hard, but she wasn’t going to be stupid. She would continue with her job and see where the road led with Eli…then she would make her decision.
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    The sun shone bright the next day, and rays of light filtered through the trees at the cemetery. Club members and bar patrons who knew Krank attended his burial service. Big Daddy sat in a chair that someone had brought, as he was too weak to stand. Eli said a few words as well as Blaze. Big Daddy declined to speak, his voice too low for the group to hear anyway.
     
    Lexi stood by Alice and the other old ladies. She hadn’t known Krank, but Eli asked that she come. She didn’t want to intrude on the club’s grief, but she couldn’t say no to him.
     
    When the service ended, Eli asked Lexi if she would accompany him to take his father home and see that he was okay until the nurse arrived. Eli had hired a nurse to come and check on his dad a few times a week, but his health was declining rapidly so he hired 24-hour care for him.
     
    Once home, Big Daddy wanted to go to bed. He hadn’t spoken all the way home and only nodded to Lexi when Eli introduced them. His dad was in bad shape. He knew that Krank’s death was hastening his father’s death as well and it broke his heart.
     
    He helped his father to bed and pulled the covers over him. It didn’t take long for him to drift off to sleep. Eli emerged from the bedroom looking defeated.
     
    “I know this is all so hard for you,” Lexi said. “I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”
     
    Eli walked over to where she stood and took her in his arms. They hugged each other tight. It felt right, as if they had held one another before, their bodies curving into one another like a perfect fit.
     
    A knock at the door drew them apart. The nurse was here. Eli gave her instructions and told her someone from the Tavern would bring dinner by for her and his Dad. They got on the Harley and headed for Lexi’s apartment.
     
     
    ****
     
     
    Lexi’s apartment was modern with light grey walls, marble counter tops in the kitchen, and hardwood flooring throughout the space. Fresh flowers and couch pillows provided punches of color ranging from bright reds to glowing yellows dotting the rooms. This was Lexi, a modern chick whose taste was reflected in her surroundings. A part of her didn’t want to let go of this, but another part wanted to embrace the wildness that she had barely tasted.
     
    Eli didn’t seem taken aback by the eclectic taste. In fact, he made himself at home by lounging on the sofa. He had too much on his mind to be concerned about décor. Lexi was glad. Any of her old suitors would have remarked on her taste, and Eli didn’t give a shit. That’s what she liked/loved about him.
     
    “Come sit with me and get my mind off of things,” Eli said as he patted the sofa cushion next to him.
     
    “You don’t have to ask me twice,” Lexi said as she slid into his waiting arms.
     
    It didn’t take long for the kisses and wandering hands to take up where they left off the night before. Eli had his shirt off within seconds, his washboard abs and broad shoulders causing threads of desire to run through Lexi’s body. When she felt his hot lips suck her now bare nipples, she felt her body drift as though she were weightless. Eli