Emily didn’t give him an opportunity to apologize. She handed him the plastic bag. “Here. All the items you left at my condo over the past year. In case you need them itemized, we have one toothbrush, one stick of deodorant, a pair of jeans, one t-shirt and two pairs of boxers. That’s it. Our time together fits inside a plastic bag from the grocery store. I guess you were going for the minimalistic approach, in life and in our relationship. Of course, I can see why you might not want to invest in a woman who compels her fiancé tolook elsewhereout of sheer boredom.”
“Em, I…”
“I don’t want to hear it, Trent. Not another word.”
“You’re making a big mistake.”
“This,” she said, head held high, “is the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s long overdue. Get out.”
For a split second, Trent appeared ready to falter. He stepped forward, brow creased. “Please, I just wanted to…”
She crossed her arms, waiting for him to finish.
“Never mind.” Clutching his bag, he turned and left.
Michael couldn’t shut the door quickly enough. He made sure to lock it for her. She seemed smaller in that moment, less the warrior who told her ex to get out of her condo, and more a wounded bird. He pulled her into his arms and enveloped her, breathing her in. Her flowery perfume went right to his head and he buried his face in the crook of her neck. “You were awesome.”
“Thanks. I thought you were getting ready to hit him.”
“I was about two seconds away from hitting him.’
She reached for his hand and stroked it. “If you had, you realize we would have punched the same man.”
“I won’t lie. That wouldn’t have bothered me one bit.”
“Well, I appreciate you being willing to bruise your hand on my account.”
“This gnarly, old thing?”Damn, she’s pretty when she blushes. “It would have survived the impact.”
“Please tell me I wasn’t stupid to stay with him. Those things he said. I never knew he could be so petty, so mean.”
“He probably had a lot of people fooled.”
“I feel like such a moron.”
He kissed the side of her neck, closing his eyes because her pain hurt him so much. “You’re not a moron. You’re a beautiful woman who loves with her whole heart.”
She held still in his arms for a moment but when she relaxed, snaking her arms around his waist, his body reacted in the only way it knew how, with utter abandon. His cock danced, his skin tingled, and he was pretty sure the faint growling noise he heard in the background was the sound of his libido coming to life again.
God, he wanted her, but he didn’t want to screw it up. Not after everything she’d been through.
“Michael,” she squeaked from the vicinity of his chest. “I’m tired of fighting.”
“I know you are. You don’t need to fight this anymore.”
She met his gaze, her cheeks red, her green eyes lit with golden fire. “I want you. I want you so much I can’t get a moment’s rest.”
“Is that so?”
Licking her lips, she nodded.
Those lips, so shiny and moist, called to him. He couldn’t have pulled away from her if he’d wanted to. Michael angled his head and tasted her mouth, flicking his tongue at the corners before sliding his tongue inside. One, two, three kisses and his lips tingled. Her hands crept under his shirt and she explored his skin, digging her short nails into his back when he deepened the kiss.
All of a sudden, it seemed a gross injustice that she could touch his bare skin and he hadn’t yet had the pleasure of touching hers. Michael tugged at her waistband, freeing her top from her jeans. When his fingers met the soft skin at her waist, when he heard her whimpers, he knew there was no going back. Not for him, anyway.
She was his.
Possessed by furious need, Michael scooped her up into his arms.
A quiet gasp of surprise escaped her. “But you were sick earlier…”
“All better now.” Hell, he felt stronger than he’d ever been. If he had any more vitality, they’d have to pry him off the ceiling.
He kissed her again and carried her into the bedroom before she came to her senses.
