Page 86 of All Tied Down

“I was hoping but if you said no I’d just drink them myself.” I laugh as I follow her out the back door and into the yard, the tall white painted fence giving us privacy as I step out into something completely unexpected.

Twinkle lights are draped along one part of the fence with a large inflatable bed covered in white pillows and blankets I don’t think I own and one of those outdoor movie screens that I definitely don’t have.

“You did all this?” I ask, honestly shocked as I take in the bowls of candy and other snacks and lit torches to keep the bugs away.

“Theo did, but I made sure to send him to the spa after for all his hard work.”

“This is pretty amazing.” I don’t add that it’s not really dark enough to see the movie because I’m not convinced that’s the point.

Emerson needs comfort and she doesn’t know how to ask for it.

She can ask for sex, definitely, but this is different.

This is a hug in the form of an elaborate movie night.

“Do you want to know what we’re watching?” she asks as she makes her way over to the mattress, fussing with the pillows and patting the spot next to her.

“I think I’d like to be surprised,” I tell her as I slide in next to her, holding my arm up so she can snuggle against me.

And she does.

Her sigh is full of contentment as she rests the side of her face against my chest. “I hate feeling like this.”

“Cozy and relaxed?”

“Needy.” I expect her to pull away but she doesn’t, just burrows closer before throwing a leg over mine.

“Did something happen?”

“No, I just—I…missed you.” The admission sounds pained, and I can’t keep the smile off my face as I tip her chin up to look at me.

“That sounds horrible,” I offer sympathetically, leaning down to brush a kiss against her lips, the contact enough to make her melt into me—pliant and sweet and breathtaking.

“Sexy, distracting rock stars are not part of my plan, Mr. North.”

“Rock star.”

“What?” she asks distractedly as she finds the little black remote and hits play.

“Rock star. You said rock stars.” When she still looks confused, I roll her on top of me with a wolfish smirk as she yelps. “Just one, baby.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Yes, but you like me.”

“I do and that’s the problem.” Instead of continuing the playfulness, she lowers her head to my chest, placing her ear over my heart. And just rests. I’m not sure she’s ever been this open with me, the weight of our arrangement clearly something she’s struggling with.

For the second time tonight, I have to bite my tongue because telling her that I don’t just like her because I’m in love with her is not what she needs to hear.

I hate how much that hurts.

But she commandeered Theo to create this magical little escape, so I’ll be what she needs tonight.

Not what I need.

I’m already too far gone.

“I can feel you thinking,” she whispers, the words almost drowned out by the romantic comedy playing in the background. It’s one I haven’t seen and probably won’t watch much of if Emerson’s mood is any indication.