Genius (CENTURIES series: Book #2)

12

Eli took a step back, his eyes flat and dark. "Me?"

Mia released a breath when he let go of her. "Yes. You, Eli."

He frowned, but then abruptly looked away from her, walked up to the couch. He slowly took a seat and ran a hand through his hair. "What is it that you want, Mia? Just tell me and leave me."

Mia didn't hesitate to do the next thing she did; She walked up to him, straddled his lap and slowly pressed her palms to his chest. He eased back against the couch, didn't protest. Mia exhaled and then felt his nipple piercings beneath his shirt and his heart beating a steady, strong rhythm against her hand. "I want to help you, Elijah Greyson."

He watched her sit with a leg on either side of his lap, perhaps too tired to care, but Mia knew this was the only way to approach him right now. If she sat down next to him and made it seem all shrinky, he'd shut down. This was the only way to communicate with him when he was like this; through intimate contact.

His hands came to her thighs, slowly trailed up under her dress, to her waist, where he softly smoothed his fingers over her skin. "People come to me for one thing, Mia; Sex. I'm used to it. Then you show up with your big fucking mouth, try'na teach me shit about life, wanting to help me like I'm some endangered species..."

"Eli..."

"I fucked you to teach you a lesson, Mia. That's the kind of person I am," He breathed, squeezing her ass. "And I'd do it again right now if I wanted to. Do you want me to, princess?"

"Eli, stop," She begged him, grasping his shirt. "Don't do that again. Don't change back," She whispered when he turned his head away from her, avoiding her eyes. "You don't have to. I'm not here because I want to fuck you, I'm here because I genuinely want to help you."

"You really want to help me? Then do as I said and get on all four."

"Eli." She grabbed his chin and forced him to meet her eyes. They were piercing cold, distant. Unattached. He was doing his routine again, the 'fuck-off' spiel. "I'm not falling for your act again. Look me in the eyes," She whispered and leaned closer. "Tell me what you see. Do I look like I want to screw with you? Use you?"

She gave him her most sober, sincere look she possessed, and for a long minute, Eli watched her and she watched him. She could see the hard façade within his eyes, holding his shit together. She could see his resolve tearing. She could see him.

Mia slowly cupped his face and then ran her thumb along the raw stubbles on his jawline. "Please let me help you, Eli. You, Caleb, Elana... you need help. I'm not doing this as charity, you know that, I do it because I care. About you," She added when she saw the deep crease form between his brows. "I think you're misunderstood, Eli."

Something within his eyes flickered and the dead eyes morphed into bright shock. She swore she even saw them expand for a moment before he blinked, composed himself. A new crease formed between his brows though, a concentrated one this time. He studied her for another long moment before his eyes then dropped to her lips. Mia then suddenly felt his hand slowly reach up to cradle her head, tryingly, as if what he was doing was untested waters for him. New.

Mia didn't dare move. Something was happening inside him and it was bringing him closer. He was leaning into her, his eyes still focused on her lips. He paused just before they touched.