38. Emery
THIRTY-EIGHT
EMERY
Daylight pushed in through the bay of windows, a soft warmth that brushed at my cheek and nudged me from sleep. From where I lay on my stomach, I moaned a contented sound, and I stretched a bit to chase off the grogginess that still clung to my body and mind.
I felt as if I’d gotten an actual good night’s rest for the first time in months.
My eyes popped open when I realized the reason for that. When I remembered what had happened last night.
When I realized where I was.
In Kane’s bed after he’d again sent me soaring last night.
Twice.
After I’d…
Heat flushed across my flesh as the memories inundated me.
Me on my knees with him towering over me. How ferociously beautiful he was. His bare skin and the bulging power of his body. The feel of him in my mouth.
How I’d felt both vulnerable and free.
Then I’d fallen asleep in the safety of his arms for the second night in a row. After I’d exposed myself in a way I never exposed myself to anyone.
Tentatively, I spread my hand out over the mattress, searching the spot next to me where I remembered he’d been.
My palm glided over the black, silky sheet. It was still warm, the pillow ruffled and dented from his head.
My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip as I was washed in a wave of affection so significant and severe that I felt as if I might float away. Chest stretching tight and belly tingling.
A ridiculous smile fluttered at the edges of my mouth.
I should fight it. The quickening inside me.
But I didn’t want to.
Not right then.
Not when this man made me feel truly seen for the first time since I was seventeen.
This sweet, terrifying, beautiful man.
My sister’s words echoed through my mind.
She deserves to have a father like him.
I understood it now, why she would have believed it, but what I didn’t understand was how she’d known it. How she’d known it when he had been nothing but a vacation hookup.
He barely even remembered her.
How had he made that much of an impact?
I blew out a sigh then pushed myself upright, sitting up on my right hip with both hands planted on the bed as I listened to the muffled sounds echoing from downstairs.
That tugging remerged in my heart, a prodding of my spirit, and I slipped out of bed, pulled on my shorts that were still on the floor, then tiptoed to Kane’s door, all covert-like as I popped my head out into the hall to make sure I was in the clear before I raced on bare feet to my room.
I used the restroom, washed my hands, brushed my teeth, then tied the mess of my hair up into a casual knot on top of my head.
Hair that smelled like him.
Spice and temptation and the most masculine things .
A shiver rocked my spine, and I shoved it off and tried to gather myself as I padded back out the door and into the hall.
Sounds from below rose to meet my ears. The clank of silverware and the tinkling of a giggle and the low, mesmerizing roll of laughter.
My belly shook.
I was in trouble. In so much trouble because I felt myself teetering on a ledge. So close to falling. A fool who was starting to believe this man would be there to catch me when I did.
Steeling myself, I crept downstairs, keeping my footsteps light. I hit the bottom landing and edged along the wide passageway toward the voices that increased in volume the closer I got to the kitchen.
I stopped at the entryway and peered in.
Kane was again at the island, this time cutting fresh fruit.
Wearing a fitted black tee, locks of shiny brown hair a mess, the most magnificent grin on his even more magnificent face.
The man was so handsome the sight of him sent an earthquake rolling beneath my feet.
My foundation rocked.
Maci sat on the island at his side, her back to me, hands animated where she waved them above her head.
“Just like that!” she gushed.
“No way,” he enthused, his love so distinct as he looked at the child.
“Yes, way!” She gave him an earnest nod. “I already told you I got a dragon and he’s blue and all sparkly and he’s got really sharp teef .”
She lifted her fingers like they were claws and snapped her mouth at him as if she was going to bite him. “Rahhhrr!”
“Whoa, that dragon sounds super scary. Are you sure you should be hanging out with him so much?” Kane teased, playing along with her sweet imaginings.
“He gots the sharp teef because it’s his job to protect me.”
An emotion swept through Kane’s features. So distinct my spirit wobbled.
Then he started making all these chomping noises as he leaned over and playfully gnawed at Maci’s arm and shoulder. “Like this? ”
Maci shrieked with laughter, giggling and squirming as she put her hands out to stop him. “No way, Mr. Kane, my dragon is never gonna eat me! He really loves me and keeps me safe!”
Kane slowed, easing back as he gazed down at her, that rough voice tender. “That’s what I’m going to do, Maci. I’ll always protect you and keep you safe.”
Even from behind, I could see the way Maci beamed, her little shoulders hiking to her ears. “Because you love me?”
His thick throat bobbed, and devotion gusted across his strong brow. He set the knife aside and moved to fully stand in front of her. He dipped down to meet her gaze as he took her precious face in his hands. “Yeah, Maci, because I love you.”
I nearly came apart right there.
Broken.
Mended.
Destroyed and reborn.
Maci squealed and kicked her feet. “Are you my dragon, Mr. Kane?”
A jagged chuckle rolled out of Kane. “I guess I am, Angel Face. Your fire-breathing dragon.”
Emotion squeaked out of me. A riot of affection and fear. Hope and destitution.
His head jerked up.
Emerald eyes flashed, a rushing of greed that streamed through our connection. Memories of last night playing on repeat in our minds.
Our frantic kisses and our searching hands and the plea of our bodies.
It was all mashed up with the easiness he always met me with.
That sly, sexy grin that twitched at one corner of his mouth.
“Hey there, sunshine.” It was a gruff scrape of welcome.
I might as well have been with the way heat ate me up. A torrid blast that burst in the air.
“Good morning,” I managed.
Maci whipped around, her adorable face full of that heart-rending smile. “Auntie Em! You finally woke it up, you sleepyhead! I tried to wake you up when the sun was sayin’ hi ’cause I got all the way hungry, but you was sleepin’ in Mr. Kane’s bed wif him, and his eyes popped all the way open.”
She bugged out her eyes and spread her hands out extra wide beside them. “ Dis big. And he said we had to be really extra quiet so you can get your rest.”
Redness streaked through me so hot and fast there was a chance I caught fire.
God, why hadn’t I gone back to my bed last night?
Kane only smirked. “Good thing I was able to derail this little munchkin from waking you up at the crack of dawn.”
“I like the dawn,” Maci said, so matter of fact.
Flustered, I cleared my throat and eased forward, trying to ignore the timidity that barreled through me. Unsure how to traverse whatever this was.
I slipped onto a stool opposite them, wavering with what to say or how to handle this. The last thing I wanted to do was confuse Maci more than she already was.
“Kane was really nice and let me sleep with him since I had a bad dream last night and he wanted to be able to check on me.” I forced the lie out around the landslide of rocks that sat heavy in the base of my throat.
“Well, of course he’s nice if he’s your very best friend,” Maci said.
“Right, of course, he is,” I mumbled quietly, my attention getting caught up in the trap that was Kane Asher.
Kane whose smirk had picked up a speed that had the power to barrel right through the center of me. “Next time, I’ll check on you even closer.” He tipped his head to the side. “Make sure you’re feeling extra good .”
“You really are a good friend, Mr. Kane,” Maci prattled, completely oblivious to the suggestion pouring out of him.
“That’s right, Angel Face, a really, really good friend.” He didn’t look away from me when he said it.
A mini explosion of fireworks went off inside me, and I squirmed on the stool .
Lust curled into his features, no doubt envisioning all the ways he was going to tear right through me.
And I wondered what that would be like—being completely consumed.
Kane chuckled before he ruffled Maci’s hair and swept her down onto her feet.
“All right, go wash your hands. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“On it!” she shouted, bouncing on her toes and scampering around the island and out the door toward the powder room down the hall.
Turning around, Kane grabbed a mug from the cupboard, and he filled it from the carafe, then he was rounding the island, his aura penetrating as he edged closer.
He set the cup onto the counter in front of me, and he dipped down, his mouth so close I thought he was going to run his lips along the angle of my jaw.
I shocked myself that I wanted him to.
Only he hovered right there, his breath teasing at the sensitive skin on my neck.
Spice and sex and man.
“Nothing better than waking up next to you. Hot body tucked up close to me, that morning glory scent invading my senses, my name tumbling off your tongue in your sleep. Were you dreaming about what it’s going to be like when I really send you soaring?
What it’s going to be like when I fully possess this body?
How good I’m going to make you feel when it’s my cock buried deep inside you?
What it’s going to be like when you realize you’re mine? ”
A haggard gasp ripped from my lungs as the flames leaped. Consumed by a greed I’d never felt.
My brain rampaged.
Quantifying the risk.
How painful it would be if I fully gave myself to him up against the pleasure I’d receive. If I opened myself up the way he was clearly asking me to. But the biggest problem would be if I fell.
If I toppled right over that cliff .
Where would I be then? I had no place left inside me to be hurt.
And I was so, so tired of the hurt.