“Are you going for it?” I ask, wondering why I give a fuck about this.
I know why. My heart wants to know because it’s screwing me around.
I tap the middle of my chest.
Her hand follows my movement. “Do you have heartburn?”
Is that what you call this ache in my chest?
I shake my head. “It’s something like that.”
“How was dinner with Maya and her sister?” She changes the subject even though I’m far from done talking about her September plans.
“Fine,” I answer simply.
“I made a salad for dinner.” She bounces up to her toes. “It was très magnifique.”
I exhale a deep breath because every word out of her mouth is fucking adorable, including the French words she just said with a roll of her tongue.
“You’re all that and more.” I rake her from head-to-toe.
She tugs on her skirt with her hand, twirling in a circle. “I have to admit that it was delicious.”
I stalk toward her, catching her in my arms mid-twirl. “So are you.”
Her eyes skim my chest before they meet mine. “I bought condoms today.”
Of course she did. She’s practical. She wants to be safe.
“Me too,” I whisper as I skim my lips over hers.
“You can never be too careful,” she quips.
I’ve lived my life by that motto for the past seven years. I’ve been careful with every decision I’ve made. I’ve been mindful of how each of my actions impacts the people around me.
I’ve been so careful that I’ve stopped feeling.
She wraps a hand around the back of my neck to pull my head down until her lips brush against the curve of my ear. “You’re really handsome. Do you know that?”
Dipping her back, I trail my lips over her neck before I take her mouth in a soft kiss. All the air leaves my lungs when she presses a hand to my cheek. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Emma Owens.”
Her gaze travels over my face, stopping on my eyes. “I’m glad I came to New York.”
I straighten her, holding tightly to her waist. “I’m glad you came too.”
Running a fingertip over my jaw, she sighs. “I think tonight will be one of those nights I remember for a very long time.”
I’ll remember it until I take my last breath on this earth.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Emma
I can’t takemy eyes off of Case as he lies next to me. His breathing is stuttered. His gaze is feral. I watch intently as his tongue slides over his bottom lip.
“Case,” I say his name. “You’re driving me crazy.”
He barks out a laugh. “I’m driving you crazy?”
