“Thanks for coming,” he says after ending the kiss and placing his forehead against mine.
“Hey, Janine, you think you could give this guy a break? He’s falling asleep on the job,” Don’s voice bellows from behind Emanuel.
“Fuck off, Don,” Emanuel growls, causing Don and Sean to crack up laughing.
I smile as Don and Sean walk past us, smirking. I’m happy to see Emanuel and Don getting along so well. He’d mentioned before that Don was the one holding out at the station when he first arrived.
“I missed you today,” I say.
“Yeah, how much?”
“This much.” Pulling his head down, I kiss him again.
Emanuel takes over the kiss, possessing my entire body. I only move back when a loud round of laughter behind us forces me to remember we’re in a public place.
Emanuel’s head rises to look over my head. “Your mother’s here.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t remind me. She was actually waiting for me in front of my job when I got off. She must’ve overheard me yesterday when I told you I’d meet you here after work. She insisted on coming. Let’s pretend she’s not here.”
His eyes lower to meet mine. “Suits me.”
I take him by the hand and lead him to the bar, ordering two beers. “They’re on me,” I insist, smacking his hand away when he tries to pay.
“I’ll pay you back later,” he growls in my ear.
“How was your day?” I question as he moves around one of the circle tables, to sit across from me.
“Long. We had more calls than I can count over the last twenty-four hours.”
Reaching across the table, I take his free hand into mine. “Did you get any sleep? Do you want to head home?” I try not to baby my big, strong firefighter, but he works his ass off and a part of me feels guilty for keeping him out after a long shift.
“Not on your life. Because first you’re going to dance for me in this bar, and then we’re going home so you can dance for me again, before you tuck me into bed.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
Tossing my head back, I laugh.
“You think I’m joking. Let’s go.” He stands, grasps my hand, and pulls me up.
I can already see the movement of his hips. “Emanuel,” I whisper loudly, looking around.
“Nope. Don’t even try to play shy with me anymore. Especially not in those fucking heels.” He tilts his head downward toward the leopard-print shoes I’ve paired with black skinny jeans and a light pink sweater, since it was casual Friday at work.
Emanuel moves closer, lowering to my ear. “I can’t wait to have those fucking heels over my shoulders again as I thrust my cock into you. But first, you’re going to dance for me.”
I’m not given time for my embarrassment to rise before he’s whipping me around into a spin.
“Oh, sorry.”
I turn to acknowledge the familiar voice that just apologized for nearly knocking me over. Of course, it’s none other than my mother.
“Janine, you know you’ve always had two left feet. Why don’t you let me show Emanuel how a real—”
“She moves just fine, Janet.”
I look over my shoulder at Emanuel whose face is set in stone as he glares at my mother.
“Excuse us,” he says, leaving no room for argument.
I turn back to him.
