Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Emerson
I awoke wrapped in Alex’s arms. The sheets tangled around us from the second round of mind-blowing sex we had. I lay there and listened to the drops of rain softly hitting the balcony railing. I quietly climbed out of bed, slipped on my robe, and went out onto the balcony, staring at the city of Seattle. Being here with Alex was something I hadn’t planned on. Things were intense between us. Feelings and emotions I had never experienced crept in, leaving me dazed and confused. My stomach started to flutter every time he was around. What the fuck was that about? I mentioned on more than one occasion how his scent drove me wild. But it was getting extreme. The moment I would catch a whiff of him, my pheromones took over, and the ache below became more unbearable than the previous time.
“Can’t sleep?” I heard Alex say as he stepped out onto the balcony and wrapped his arms around my waist while laying his chin on my shoulder.
“I can sleep. I just woke up and heard the rain, so I thought I’d come out here for a while. I didn’t mean to wake you.” I placed my hands on his arms.
He felt good. Too good. Dangerously good. No one had ever made me feel this good before.
“You didn’t wake me.” His lips pressed into the side of my head.
“If I didn’t wake you, then why are you up?”
“Because I rolled over and didn’t feel you next to me.”
“So, I did wake you up?”
He laughed. “Fine. You woke me up.”
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Don’t be. You can wake me up anytime you want.”
There was something I didn’t tell him. Something that happened earlier. I got a call from Adam, and his work was almost finished in Tennessee. He’d be home next week, we’d have our talk, and then I’d leave; move on to the next adventure.
“Adam called me this morning.”
“How is he?” Alex asked.
“He’ll be home next week.”
“Really? I thought he had three more weeks there.”
“He wrapped up early.”
“I see.” He let go of me and went back inside the room. I followed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s three in the morning. We really should get some sleep.”
I climbed in on my side, and Alex climbed in on his. He turned on his side, his eyes staring into mine. His lips softly brushed against mine.
“Get some sleep, Emerson.”
“You too, Parker.” I smiled as I ran my finger over his lips.
He turned on his back, and I snuggled tightly against him.
Alex
I lay there, holding Emerson as tight as I could. Her leg was wrapped around me, and her head lay on my chest. Adam would be home next week, and then Emerson would leave before I knew it. The thought of her leaving bothered me more than it should have. We’d grown so close, and I had shared parts of my life with her. I didn’t want her to leave California. It had only been two months since I’d first met her, but in some unexplainable way, she had become a huge part of my life in such a short period of time, and I wasn’t ready to let her go. Fuck. I was going to do everything I could to make her stay.
I had room service delivered for us since we had barely slept. Emerson had just gotten out of the shower when our breakfast arrived.
“Thank God. I’m starving.” She smiled as she walked past me and smacked my ass.
“Really?”
“Really, what?” she asked as she picked up a piece of toast and bit into it.
“You had to smack my ass when you walked by?”
She giggled. “Mhmm, and what a fine ass it is.”
I sighed as I sat down at the table.
“Did you wipe down the table?” she asked.
“Umm. No. Why would I?”
“Have you forgotten that we had sex on this table?”
“Trust me. I haven’t forgotten.” I got up, took my plate, and walked down to the other end of the table. Are you coming?” I raised a brow at her.
She picked up her plate and sat down across from me.
“Your hot ass didn’t touch this area down here, so we’re good.” I smiled.
“Gotcha.” She winked.
“Start thinking about what you want to do after my meeting.”
“I would love to go to the zoo. There’s one only a few miles from here.”
“The zoo? Really?”
“Yes, the zoo. Do you have a problem with the zoo, Parker?”
“No. I haven’t been to the zoo since I was a small child, and my nanny took me.”
“Your nanny? Why am I not surprised?” She laughed.
“I’ll have you know that my nanny was one of the best.”
“I’m sure she was. Can I tell you how honored I am, your Majesty, to be the second person ever to explore the zoo with you?” She took a bow.
I sighed. “Why do you do that?”
The grin on her face widened. “Because I know it pisses you off.”
“Are you trying to raise my blood pressure, Emerson?”
“No,” she spoke with a twisted face. “Don’t forget to take your pill.” She smacked my hand as I reached for the saltshaker.
“A little bit of salt won’t kill me, but a little bit of Emerson just might.” I winked.
“Haha. Very funny, Parker.”
I got up from the table, grabbed my suit coat, and kissed Emerson on the top of her head. “I have to get to my meeting. When I return, we will go to the zoo.”