His Stripper

Chapter 12

Elijah POV 

"And I know deep down that you love me as well. You've not had an easy life. I know you're afraid to let anyone in." I stared into her eyes, refusing to hide my feelings for her. "You love me, Dime , even if you don't want to admit it today, you will soon, when you allow yourself the chance to believe. I want to marry you," I said, shocking her even more. The look in her eye made him smile. "Yes, I want to marry you. Put my ring on your finger and my child inside you. I don't want to use condoms. I want to feel your bare pussy wrapped around my dick as I take you. To watch my cum spill from your cunt knowing that one day, you'll have my child."

"This is all really sudden."

"Think about it." He pressed a kiss to her lips. "While you do—" He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a ring. "Wear this."

"Are you doing this to get back at people like Sandra?"

I  shook my  head. "I left them behind a long time ago. After I realized what I'd done by throwing away people's lives, I went back. During conversations I'd start to ask questions about the businesses they'd lost. The people they hurt. No one gave a fuck. Lives didn't matter to them, and once I thought I didn't care either, but it wasn't real. I never saw them until I was finally asked to open my eyes, and then—I saw them. I witnessed the pain and the sadness, and the fear. They stopped being names on sheets of paper, and they became real to me." He slammed his lips down on hers. "Like you're real to me, Dime . Make no mistake about that. It won't be a picnic being married to me. Women like Sandra will always try to tear you down, ruin you. Don't let them get under your skin, and don't let them change you."

Tears were shining in her eyes, and i hated that i'd made her cry no matter the kind of tears. I  didn't want to upset her, not ever.

"I think our dinner is ready," she said.

There was a beep in the distance, and I chuckled, pressing my head against hers. "Saved by food." Pulling away, i  took her hand. "Please, think about it."

Leading her toward the kitchen, i watched as Sandra  grabbed their food from the oven. Chicken enchiladas were served. I knew they were one of Dime's favorites so i always got my  cook to make them for her.

Watching her serve the food, i  imagined Dime  heavily pregnant, and it wouldn't be long before ii  got her that way either. I  didn't like waiting long, and I  knew without a doubt that Dime  loved him.

I  just needed for her to realize it first.

****

Dime POV 

I  did love , but Elijah  I just  didn't trust my feelings. I didn't know what to do or what to say. Hearing him tell me  how he felt had only driven my  crazy with longing. No man had ever stood up for me , or made sure that i  was part of his life. What if he got bored with me ? Could i bring myself to be vulnerable for  him?

In the weeks that followed i  never heard from Sandra  again. When we went to social functions, no one sneered my  way. If anything, they gave me  a wide berth, for which i was thankful.

My  and Elijah's relationship was always filled with speculation, but I  didn't pay it much mind.

It didn't take long for me  to realize that i'd been with him for several months, and still i'd not told him i loved him. But all he'd done was show me  with actions and words that he completely loved me . The ring he'd placed on my finger felt heavy to me , and that was why i  was standing on a Friday evening in an elevator at his office, waiting to go up to his room, when all of a sudden it just stopped.

Frowning, i  began to press the button but nothing. There was no power and the lights went out, and then a safety light came on. Pressing the buttons again, i  began to panic.

"No. No. No. No." She didn't like confined spaces, and now the stairs didn't seem so bad.

My  cell phone began to ring, and i  reached for it. Elijah's name flashed across the screen.

"Hello," she said.

"It's me, Dime . The elevator has broken down."

"I know, it's me. I'm inside it."

"I can see you."

Tears filled my  eyes, and i  rubbed at them, trying to clear her mind. "I was coming to see you, and I didn't feel like taking the stairs." I  closed her eyes, really not needing to see the confined space right now. I 'd watched a lot of movies where the woman dies in the elevator, and of course I  didn't like to be trapped inside one.

"I've already got men working on it. They think it's just an electrical fault that is easily fixed."

"Erm, Elijah , er, I have a problem."

"What is it?"

I sobbed. "I don't like elevators, and I don't like being trapped."

"You'll be fine. I'm not going to go anywhere. I'll talk to you throughout. Look at me on the camera, Dime ." I  turned my  head left then right, turning in the direction he asked me  to. "I know you can't see me, but you keep looking at that camera, okay?"

I nodded.

"What were you coming to tell me?" he asked.

"I don't want to tell you over the phone."

"Look at me."

Could i wait another moment to tell him? Did i  want to tell him?

Yes, i  really did.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking and I know you've been patient with me, and I wanted to tell you in person but seeing as I can't do that right now, and this spoiled it, I'll tell you now." I took a deep breath. "I love you." The moment I  said the words, I  couldn't help but laugh. "I've been so scared to tell you, and now that I have, it feels so amazing. I love you, Elijah Mahfood . I should have told you ages ago, and I'm so sorry I waited this long."

I  heard him chuckle. "Is it too soon to ask you to marry me?"

"It's not too soon at all."

"Is that a yes?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll marry you. I love you, and I'll do whatever you need me to do. Sign a pre-nup, or whatever it is rich folks do."

He burst out laughing. "I know you're not after my money, babe."

"I'll never be after your money. I only want you."

Suddenly the elevator jerked, and i  gasped.

"It's fine, Dime . They're starting it up. The guys are nearly done."

Closing my  eyes, i listened to Elijah  as he kept on talking, and i  needed that.  i  needed to hear his voice so that i  could focus on not being in the elevator.

The  elevator began to move, and i  let out a little gasp and chuckle. It wasn't long before the elevator doors were opening and Elijah dropped his cell phone, pulling me  into his arms as he slammed his lips down on mines. 

He sank his fingers into my hair, and i  melted against him, knowing there was no way i could ever not love this man. He may have started out life being an asshole, but that wasn't who he was now, and the man i  was with now, i  loved more than anything.

"Tell me," he said.

"I love you, Elijah , and I will marry you."

"Fuck, baby, I love you so much. I'm not going to wait around forever either. We're getting married straight away."

I  burst out laughing, wrapping her arms around his neck and knowing I 'd never be alone again.