5. Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Ben
There's been no question about my attraction for Emory. From the moment I opened my door, I've been captivated. But as I read through her emails, I keep falling harder and harder for her. She’s fearless, revealing so much to a complete stranger. Granted she didn't think of me as a stranger.
There’s no way I’m reading my mother’s replies—way too awkward and strange. However, I want to give this beautiful woman the same gift she tried to give to me—herself. After about four or five emails, I go back to the beginning and give thoughtful consideration to what I reply, making sure to answer her questions honestly, and before long I’m talking about all my wounds, fears, and nightmares. Everything I've kept bottled up for decades. Moments when I find myself holding back, I picture her sweet face and the words pour out of me. Never in my life have I wanted somebody to truly know me.
From the beginning, I’ve always been hesitant with sharing anything of myself, and the military only reinforced this need to be private. Being in special forces means secrets are life.
I finish changing, and when I step out of my room, Emory is engrossed with reading, never taking her eyes from the screen.
It never dawned on me how nerve-wracking this is. It's different if they're reading it somewhere else, but to be in the same room, well, it's a whole new level of torture.
To distract myself from the beauty curled up on my sofa, reading my inner-most thoughts, I make a feast of waffles, eggs, sausage, and fruit. I take my time, but there's no more delay or the food will get cold.
"Emory, breakfast is ready."
She doesn't move. I say her name again, and nothing, so I walk over and rest my hand on her shoulder. She jumps and turns her head to look up at me, tears streaking down her face.
Shit.
"Hey, what's going on? Don't cry."
Emory sniffles, wipes her cheeks, runs around the couch, and wraps me in her arms. Squeezing me hard. It feels so damn good.
"Thank you," she whispers, and I rub my hands down her back, inhaling her fruity shampoo and resting my cheek on the top of her head.
"For what?"
"For sharing yourself with me. I'm so sorry for everything you went through. Thank you for your sacrifice along with your service. To lose your friends right in front of you like that. To witness so many innocent lives lost because of a war. No wonder you escaped back home and into the mountains. It's peaceful and quiet here. It's the perfect place to heal, and then I come barging in here." We remain in our embrace, and I appreciate everything she says, but I need to put a stop to her line of thinking.
"You didn't barge anywhere. My mom started it, but I’m so happy she did because it brought you here, to me." Emory startles and pulls her head back so she can gaze up at me.
I swipe my hand against her cheek and my body hums with desire.
"I haven't been healing, I've been hiding. Fighting the grief and wallowing in my guilt. Then, here you come, this beautiful angel. Reading your emails helped me feel connected to someone again. You're an amazing person, and I hate how alone you've been your whole life. How people have used you. It makes me so angry. I want to go and kick every one of their asses."
The words are true. I want to hurt every person who has ever hurt her. Starting with her mom for abandoning her with her father and grandmother, then to her father for doing the same thing. Then, her grandmother died when she was sixteen, leaving her in foster care where people ignored her, and bullies had a go at her. It seems all her life she could never have even one friend outside of her grandmother, but I’m here now, and I plan on being her best friend, her lover, her protector, her husband, and her partner. Everything she can possibly need. This isn’t up for discussion. She came here looking for a husband and she’s going to get one, in me.
This instant connection is rare and I’m not going to let it slip through my fingers. She’s mine.
She chuckles, then sniffles again. She doesn’t understand how serious I am when I make my threat, but she’s lucky we’re not in Los Angeles because I would be asking her for names and addresses.
"I would love it if you stayed. I haven't made it through all your emails yet, and even so…” I take a big breath and decide here goes nothing. “I want to marry you at the end of this week because I want to keep getting to know you."
Emory gasps and leans back, really looking at me to see if I'm serious, and for once I make sure to drop every shield I possess for her to see me with every insecurity and vulnerability. A sweet smile graces her face, and she nods. But instantly her eyes pop open wide, her face turns beat red, and she groans, dropping her head against my chest, trying to hide. I panic. "What's wrong?"
Her voice muffles against my shirt. "You haven't read everything yet. But your mother did," she groans. “I can never face her again. I'm so embarrassed.”
Relief has me dropping my shoulders and relaxing against her. A big grin crosses my face as realization forces me to bite back a laugh. "Oh yeah, like what?"
Emory stiffens in my hold, and my mind goes to all the dirty places.
"I, um, we… I talked about my fantasies. " She sighs. "Sexual fantasies," she mumbles, but I’m zoning in on her and I hear every word.
My cock swells, and I’m dying to get to those emails. But I try to keep myself reined in.
"Thank God your mom didn't write back too much about it. I just assumed you were more reserved, but I was going through the questionnaire of suggested topics. It says it helps to make sure you find your compatible partner and makes for less surprises.”
I can't hold back anymore and laugh. This is too funny.
Emory swats at my arm as she tries to wiggle out of my hold which is doing all the right things to my bulge. "Stop laughing. This isn't funny. It's embarrassing."
"I'm sorry, but you have to admit it's a little funny."
Emory's nose is all scrunched up, and I can't help thinking how cute it is. I lean down and kiss her nose. She gasps, I stop, and we stare into each other's eyes.
Nothing is going to stop me from having this woman. If she wants me, then I'm going to claim her and make her mine.
Desperation has me dropping my lips to hers and kissing her with every ounce of passion inside of me.
Emory opens her mouth, and I thrust my tongue inside as I own her because there's no denying this sweet angel owns me.