Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
FORD
“I love you, too—”
My heart sings as I take Emmy’s mouth with mine, owning her with a soul-defining kiss that I know will change me forever.
She presses closer against me, whimpering into my mouth and driving me even higher. Our kiss becomes frenzied, a messy clashing of tongues and teeth—a rough, raw, real claiming of one another.
Emmy reaches between us to unfasten the buttons of my shirt in record time, pushing it back off my shoulders before she flattens her palms on my chest.
I break the kiss and roughly tug her t-shirt over her head, tossing it to one side along with my discarded shirt. Our eyes meet and hold as Emmy tugs her bottom lip between her teeth.
She’s the damn picture of sinful innocence, and the sight is a line directly to my rock-hard cock that strains against my jeans, desperately needing more .
As though she’s heard my thoughts, Emmy unbuttons her jeans and shimmies out of them, kicking them, along with her boots to one side, until she’s standing before me in a simple pastel blue bra and matching panties.
She blinks several times before stepping closer once again and pressing our chests together. Her arms wind around my neck, tugging me down until her lips dust against mine.
“Make love to me, Ford.” Her eyes deepen in intensity as her words send a thrill to my cock. “Make me yours tonight.”
Words I’ve yearned to hear but haven’t dared hope for send a thrill of anticipation clear through me as she brushes her lips off mine, bright blue eyes holding me their willing hostage.
“If you’re ready, Em…”
She pulls back enough to pierce me with the honesty in her gaze.
“I’ve been saving myself for you. Even before we kissed last summer, I always hoped…” Her eyes pierce mine, almost like she can see right down into my soul. “I always wanted it to be you, Ford.”
I can’t help but swallow roughly as I cup her cheeks like she’s made from the most delicate glass. My eyes flicker back and forth between hers until I whisper, “I’ll be your first.”
Then I brush our lips together, running the tip of my tongue across the seam of her mouth, making her gasp as I pull her up into my arms. She wraps her legs around my waist, reaching up to palm the nape of my neck.
My voice has dropped an octave when I murmur a promise. “Your first and your last, Tink. ’Cause make no doubt about it. You and me, we’re end game.”
She dusts her lips across my cheek, drawing back enough for wide blue eyes to pierce mine. “You’ll come back to me, won’t you, Cowboy?”
“I’ll always come back to you, baby. I told you at Christmas and again at Easter, and I’ll tell you again any time you need remindin’.” My brow furrows as I will her to feel the words that come from my heart. “I’m in this. I’m all in, Tink. Something as small as the distance between our bodies will never change the way my heart feels for you.”
Tears form on her bottom lashes, and I press our foreheads together as her arms hold me closer. “Because where I am will never matter…I’ll always belong to you and you alone.”
Then, as her love-filled gaze holds mine, I carry her toward the blanket of cushions and gently set her down before I undo my own jeans. I step out of them when they pool at my feet and drop to my knees before her.
My eyes never leave hers as I run my hands up along both her trembling thighs before gently easing them apart. “Now show me that pretty pussy I’ve dreamed about. Show me how wet you are for me.”
I move my gaze down along her body, inhaling sharply when I see her blatant arousal drenching her blue panties, and I reach out to tug the material to one side with my index finger.
Her gasp of surprise turns to pleasure when I slip my finger through her wet folds, starting to circle her slick clit with my thumb as I press deeper inside.
“You’re gonna feel so good coming all over my cock, won’t you, baby?”
Emmy’s head falls back while her hips pump upward, seeking more, and I add a second digit, stretching her out as I settle on my stomach between her thighs.
I watch, enamored, the sight of Emmy thrashing against the pillows, turning me on more than I’ve ever been in my damn life, until I feel her walls clench more tightly around my fingers.
“Oh, Christ, Ford. You’re gonna make me come…” Emmy’s breathy gasps make my cock leak with the need to bury myself inside of her, but I ignore everything aside from making the woman I love feel good.
And right as she’s on the cusp of an orgasm, I lean forward and suck her clit into the heat of my mouth, watching as she cries out her pleasure to the willow trees surrounding us.
As she descends from the heights I’ve driven her, I press the flat of my palm over her stomach and greedily lap up her climax, moaning as her sweetness explodes on my tongue.
Her hazy, pleasure-filled eyes find mine, and I grin against her slick core.
“Your pussy tastes even fucking sweeter than your mouth, Tink.”
My ringing cell jolts me out of a dream I often relive, and I curse the caller for ending it too soon, but when I see it’s Damon, I shoot upright immediately.
“Damon! Good to hear from you, man. How are you doing?”
“Not gonna lie. I’ve been better.” He snorts darkly. “Afraid to say, I’m out of commission for the foreseeable, Boss Man.”
“You take as long as you need, Damon. As long as you need . The main thing is you’re okay.”
He blows out a labored breath. “I thought my time was up—” A coughing fit overtakes him before he can finish his sentence. I’m frowning as I can hear the cell exchanging hands until Lenny’s voice hits my ears.
“He wanted to let you know his doctors are keeping him here for observation for at least another week. Most likely longer, but they predict a full recovery.”
Relief unfurls within my chest as a weight is lifted off my shoulders.
The cell exchanges hands again, and I can’t help but grin when I hear the smile in Damon’s voice as he proclaims, “And when I get out of here, the first thing I’m gonna do is ask that sexy barista from Gulp out on a date. The man has an ass I could really sink my teeth into.”
“Go for it! Life’s too short to live with regret, Damon.” I’m chuckling as I hang up the call, stopping suddenly when I replay my own words.
Life’s too short to live with regret.
Swinging my legs out of bed, I heave a deep sigh, wishing I could follow my own advice.
Though I have to admit that I’m almost grateful Emmy demanded that I not mention our shared history, knowing the pain my honesty would cause.
Because I’d rather live a million lifetimes with the pain of regret than inflict another ounce of pain on the person whose presence in this world makes life worthwhile.
EMERSON
Yana, my colorist, is telling me how excited she is about the upcoming premiere for Breaking Us , but all I can focus on is what I overheard last night.
Fuck, yes . So fucking beautiful, Tink.
Images of Ford beneath a spray of water, his palm wrapped around his thick cock as he shoots rope after rope of hot cum onto the shower tiles, groaning my name with his head tossed back…
“Is it hot in here?”
My sudden question cuts Yana off mid-sentence, and I can feel my cheeks heat as she hesitantly glances around my living space. “Umm… maybe a little?”
I shake my head, feeling entirely too hot under the collar, and I swallow harshly. “Mr. Holloway?”
Ford twists about to face me, his hands folded behind his back as he silently awaits instruction.
“Would you mind turning up the air conditioning, please?” I tug at the protective garment draped across my shoulders that covers me almost completely. “I’m burning up in here.”
He nods once, and then leaves the room, heading to the hallway where the AC control panel is located.
“This is absolutely the most inappropriate thing I’ve ever done…” Yana trails off, giggling like a schoolgirl before she asks, “Do you know if he’s single, Emerson?”
My eyes almost bulge out of their sockets before I swing them about to face Yana. Her cheeks pinken with excitement as she watches Ford depart, and when she meets my incredulous gaze, her pupils are dilated.
“He’s quite literally the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. How on earth have you managed to keep your hands off him!”
Blessedly, I’m saved from responding when Ford returns on silent feet. There’s a hint of a smile tickling his full lips, letting me know he overheard my mouthy colorist before he gives me his full attention. “Can I get you anything, Miss Hart?”
A new colorist.
I hold my tongue and shake my head. “No, thank you. We have about another forty minutes to go if you’d like to relax before running those lines with me.”
A frown crosses his face as he regards me for a beat. “You skipped lunch in favor of a granola bar because that interview at Everly Events ran late, and it’s over an hour past dinner time now already…”
Then he quirks an eyebrow, watching me with skeptical eyes. “You mean to tell me you were plannin’ on skippin’ dinner too?”
I almost smirk, noting how his Texan twang only makes a reappearance when he’s riled. Instead, I simply shrug.
“There’s some leftover soup?—”
He cuts me off as his eyes grow stormy.
“Zane is outside. Thom and Kyle too. I’ll be back in no more than twenty minutes.”
His voice drops to what can only be described as a low growl that sends a shock of electricity coursing through me. “And you will eat the dinner I provide for you.”
I watch him unblinkingly, my mouth slightly agape as he watches me right back until he suddenly shifts his gaze to a slack-jawed Yana as though he’s only just remembered her presence.
Once he’s cleared his throat, he nods succinctly. “With all due respect, Miss Hart.”
And with that, he strides toward the elevator, leaving me with a gasping Yana.
“Oh my God, I don’t know about you, Emerson, but when a mild-mannered hunk turns all alpha like that, my feminism goes straight out the window, am I right?”
I blow out a heavy sigh, willing this evening to be over even as I acknowledge the truth to myself.
You’re not wrong, Yana.