It comes out as a growl and Emma rolls her eyes, baffled by my behavior. I don't blame her. I have always been the life of the party, never taking anything too seriously. My greatest joy in life, prior to her divorce, was getting Emma to smile at parties.
But seeing Emma tonight has unlocked something I've attempted to bury for years, and I'm a cranky beast with the thought of not getting what I want. The door to my secret desires has been thrown wide open and I know, from the depths of my soul, that I will never experience happiness again without her.
"Why are you so stubborn!" Emma exclaims, jamming her hands in her coat pockets, but she can walk out the door anytime, and, yet, she hasn't.
I'll show her stubborn.
"Follow me."
I stride down the hallway to our right. Emma's footsteps eventually sound behind me, and I breathe a silent sigh of relief. I open the door to a guest bedroom and she peeks inside, staring at me with wide eyes as she realizes my intent.
"I can'tsleephere, Asher!" Emma whirls around on me incredulously.
"I can think of a dozen other things I'd rather do with you than sleep, if you'd prefer." Any plan that I might have had to ease her into the idea is completely out of the window. Let's face it. I didn't have a plan. This is all lust-fueled instinct.
"Are you hitting on me? What is happening?" Emma stomps her foot, looking all huffy and irritated. It's so damn cute, I do the one thing I shouldn't. I grin.
"Excuse me? Is this funny to you?" Emma asks incredulously, but the corner of her mouth tugs up the longer I stare at her like a grinning fool.
Eventually, our smiles drop and we are left staring at one another in earnest. Emma's throat bobs as she swallows. Her lips part as she eyes me with a sexual hunger reflected in my own gaze. Finally, she clears her throat and drags her eyes away from me. She glances around the spacious room.
"You don't have anything bigger?" Emma quips, and I smirk. I lean against the doorway, enjoying the sight of her in my home. Flustered by my attention, she clears her throat and opens a drawer in the dresser.
"No pajamas, I see. Bad host." She makes a clucking sound with her tongue and takes off her coat.
"Smart host. Guess you'll have to sleep naked."
Emma freezes and I can't help but smirk. I love that I have an effect on her, but why is she trying to run away from me?
Afraid to have her shut down completely, I try a different tact.
"Can I get you something to eat?"
"No. Thank you." Her gaze darts away before landing back on mine. Emma's dark eyes are sparkling and intelligent. As bright as the day we first met, even after everything she's been through.
Donovan has proudly declared on more than one occasion that he made sure she didn't have a penny to her name by theend of the divorce. I asked around through mutual friends and, although he didn't leave her entirely penniless, she is certainly not well-off. Her lawyer should be disbarred.
Remembering my own lawyers' advice to keep things calm with Donovan, I have a moment of self-preservation.
"I'll let you get some sleep," I force myself to say and turn abruptly. I pause at the door.Hell, I may never get another chance like this.
"Why did you stay?" I ask, even though there is not a single answer in this world that will make sense to me.
"You insisted!" Emma huffs, and I turn to look at her, my back to the hall as I stand in the open doorway. She crosses her arms, irritated and glaring in a way that is entirely fuckable.
"Why did you stay so long?" I lock eyes with Emma, who looks at me like I'm crazy until she realizes what I'm asking. She drops her arms in defeat, refusing to meet my gaze. Her finger traces a design on the duvet, circling the pattern over and over as the silence stretches long enough that I'm convinced she is hoping I'll give up. But I have to know. So, I wait her out with the patience of a fucking saint.
"I didn't have a choice," she finally whispers, so softly I barely hear her.
"What?"
"I didn't have a choice," she repeats louder, and her eyes dart to mine. Unshed tears glint at me and I want nothing more than to scoop her into my arms and tell her everything is going to be okay, but I don't move.
"I would have helped you." I take a step into the room, and she looks up, brushing the tears from her cheeks as she nods quickly.
"I know you would have tried." Emma gives me a watery smile, before continuing. "But then he would have ruined my parents."
"How would Donovan have—"
