“What?”
“Tuck! You left him for so long tonight ... because of me.”
I shook my head and chuckled at what I was about to admit. “My building is full service. Had the nighttime guy go up and give him a potty break.”
“Oh.”
“Fuck me. If anyone back home heard me say that out loud, I’d be the joke of the town.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.” Leaning her head on my shoulder, Emerson closed her eyes, and we rode in silence.
When we pulled up in front of my building, I jostled her gently. “We’re here.”
Watching her wipe her eyes with the back of her hand, I swallowed my hunger. I liked this chick—young lady, whatever—in ways I hadn’t believed really existed.
“Come on.” I took her hand and walked her in the front door and to the elevator. Up we went, my lips pressed to hers, until I broke free for a second and mumbled, “My mom’s probably pissed I didn’t come home, but this made it worth it.”
Upstairs, Emerson asked if she could take a shower.
“Sure. Why don’t I take Tuck out while you do that.”
Of course, I would have rather joined her, but there was no sense in pushing. The time would come.
“Okay,” she said quietly, and padded off toward the master bathroom.
Another lump of hunger, not for food, went down my throat. I was doing my best to stay in my lane. There was no rush, no reason to pressure her. But I wanted this woman.
To say I wasn’t prepared for the sight in front of me when I walked back in with the dog would be an absolute understatement.
Right there, on my couch, Emerson sat, her hair hanging in wet strands, her long legs stretched out from beneath the towel that wasn’t doing a good job covering her up. Her tits were loosely covered—it would only take one tug to free them.
“Hey,” she said. “Your couch is like a cloud.”
As soon as he was off his leash, Tuck ran and jumped up next to her.
“See?” she said with a grin. “Tuck agrees.”
“I’m pretty sure he thinks you’re like a cloud.” I sat next to her. “In fact, I agree.”
Sliding a loose wet strand behind her ear, I ran my lips down her cheek from earlobe to chin, her skin like a cool pillowcase on a hot night to my burning lips.
“Em,” I murmured against her lips. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Thanks for rescuing me,” she whispered back.
“You rescued yourself.” My hand wound under her hair, my palm finding the nape of her neck, and I brought her closer. Her left thigh against my right, her front now flush with mine. I was dying to lay her down and be on top of her.
“No one’s ever been there for me like you.”
“We have a connection,” I told her. “I like it ... and I really like you.” We kissed again, our mouths finishing the conversation.
When her fingers slipped under the hem of my T-shirt, goose bumps spread over my skin, and if I was being honest, my patience was disintegrating.
“Take me to bed,” she said, her soft hand drawing figure eights on my back.
“Emerson, we don’t have to rush.”
“I want you to. Come on.”
