Emerson leaned over and dragged Dash to stand between his splayed thighs. “Youknowwhat I want.”
Dash scoffed, but there was a hint of interest in his eyes. “Your price is too high.”
“Oh, but you sure as fuck want to pay it,” Emerson said, grinning.
Dash fought a smile.Hard.
“I can reach out to some friends. Ask some questions for you.”
Dash met his stare again.
“Just give me a few days,” Emerson said. “Then you can join me for dinner next weekend—and I’ll share whatever I’ve learned.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“I’ll use whatever I need to in order to see you again,” Emerson said without a shred of shame.
“We’re tempting fate,” Dash said.
“Indeed, we are.”
Dash shook his head.
“You know you want to,” Emerson whispered. “Just say yes.”
Dash scoffed. “Fine. Ask your friends and I’ll have dinner with you.Here.Where no one can see us.”
“I was going to take you somewhere fancy,” Emerson said, grinning.
“You don’t seem like a fancy restaurant kind of guy.”
“I’m not, but my brother Luke is the executive chef at Le Arania.”
Dash’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. I must’ve missed that in my Walker Family research.” He sighed. “As impressive as a table there might be, it would be safer here.”
“Fine,” Emerson murmured. “But I want one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You spend the rest of tonight here.”
Dash’s eyes widened, a hint of fear there.
“Sleep with me in that tiny little bed, cuddled up close all night. We don’t have to do anything more than sleep—you’re likely too sore for more anyway.”
Dash didn’t answer him.
“You’re already here. It’s still raining outside. It’s safe, and it’s warm inside.” He caressed the side of Dash’s face. “Don’t go. Not yet.”
Dash’s eyes closed. He tilted his head, pressing closer into Emerson’s hand. When he reopened his eyes, he looked sad, and Emerson hated that he might’ve caused it.
“I’ll stay. But just for tonight. And when I come for dinner, it’s business only.”
Emerson didn’t like that plan one bit. “Agreed, as long as you realize I’ll put forth my best effort to seduce you into changing your mind.”
Dash scoffed, laughing. “Why would I agree to that?”
“Because you don’twantit to be only business any more than I do.”
