Chapter twenty #2
Upon arriving at the hospital, it was like reliving my previous visit when Emma was here after being attacked the first time.
Harrison met me at the door and took Annie from me while a TV crew interviewed a patient on the other side.
“This is becoming a habit,” he said. “She’s okay, McKinney, but you look like you’ve died a thousand deaths.”
“I almost did,” I responded. “If anything happened to her because of me…”
“This isn’t about you, it’s about her past. Everything is a mess of interconnected shit, but Moreno’s issues are with Emma and you separately. You’re not responsible for this.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe nothing,” he said firmly. “But if this is how you reacted to the possibility of losing her, it’s about time you told her how you feel. She’s in room 327. Go get your new beginning.” With a final look at my friend, I walked off to find Emma.
Now, I’ve been sent to wait outside her room like a good boy, and I didn’t even consider not meeting her request.
My anger hadn’t truly surfaced until I saw her lying in the hospital bed with the man who had been hired to protect her sitting at her side.
If she hadn’t been there to talk me down, it’s likely I would have torn him limb from limb.
The hospital room door opens and Emma walks out into the waiting area dressed in her running gear.
Her long hair sits in tangles where she’s roughly piled it on top of her head with a band.
The black running tights stick to her skin, highlighting her wide hips and curves.
The waistband sits just below her belly button, mirroring the crop top above and exposing pale skin.
She shivers slightly, and I go to her wrapping my arm around her shoulders.
“Are you cold?” I whisper, dropping a kiss onto her forehead.
“A little.” I shrug out of the hooded top I’m wearing and slide it over her head. It drowns her frame, but her the fabric to strain across her chest. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” I tell her, once again wrapping my arm around her and leading her from the hospital.
My car is still parked at the front entrance where I abandoned it, a bright yellow parking ticket stuck to the windshield. Ignoring the document, unlock the car and settle Emma into the passenger seat. “I assume you’re not allowed to park here,” she says with a smirk.
“Desperate times. Being able to see you thirty seconds sooner was worth the fine.”
“You won’t be saying that when you have to pay it,” she replies. “Those things cost a pretty penny.”
“Emma, you are worth every fucking penny.” I kiss her gently before closing the door, grabbing the ticket from the windshield, and climbing into the driver’s seat. As I assess my surroundings, I realize I’ll need to reverse back down the small path I abandoned my car on.
Turning and placing my arm across the back of her chair, I start to back up down the path.
My eyes move between the front and rear of the vehicle as we move, but I can’t help but notice her breasts rising and falling with deep, nervous breaths.
My fingers drop down slightly and graze her shoulder—she sucks in air in response.
The car is filled with sexual tension and unsaid words.
So much has happened today, and in the past. The result of it all is this.
Once out on the road, we head toward home. “I need to stop at the store,” I advise, and she glimpses at me from under long lashes. The most perfect pink glow coats her cheeks, and she smiles shyly.
“What for?” she asks.
“Supplies.”
“What kind of supplies? I went to the supermarket yesterday.”
“Intimate supplies. The kind I plan to use with you tonight.” She doesn’t say anything, but her cheeks develop a reddened glow instead of the soft pink of before. She glances out of the window and twists her fingers in her lap.
The parking area is quiet; only a few cars sit outside the small store.
She went silent when I mentioned my plans, and we drove the final five minutes here not speaking.
Uncertainty bubbles in my chest as I wonder if I’ve assumed too much.
When I stop the car in the space closest to the door, she turns to me and smiles.
“I’ll wait here,” she says.
“Like hell you will, you’re coming in with me.”
“Why?”
“Well for one thing, someone tried to kidnap you today. Have you forgotten that small incident?” She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Don’t be a pain in the ass. Second, I want you to tell me what you like.”
“What I like?” she repeats back.
“Yes, you know—which condoms, lube maybe? I want you to enjoy what’s going to happen as much as I do, if not more.”
“Oh…” She trails off, shy.
I climb out of the car and walk around to her door, opening it and offering her my hand. She takes it then rises to stand beside me. “I want this, Emma,” I say honestly. “Tell me you do as well. If not, we can forget this happened and return to pretending what’s between us doesn’t exist.”
“It exists,” she whispers. “I know it does.”
“Well come on then, show me what you want. Don’t be shy,” I say, dropping my lips to her ear.
“The way you bust my balls is a fucking turn-on, and I can’t wait to stuff them between those lips to shut you up.”
She giggles. “Have you been driving me insane deliberately? Or are you naturally a cock-teasing little brat?”
“One hundred percent natural,” she replies sexily.
“I’ve had enough of the teasing, fuck the preview. I want the full, extended performance tonight.” I place my hand on the small of her back and apply light pressure. She steps forward on my command, and I walk beside her. “Let’s go inside and pick out some lube.”
The condoms are located where they always seem to be: between the feminine hygiene products and men’s razors. We come to a stop and look at the array of items on display. “Do you have a vibrator?” I ask her, and her eyes fly around the aisle.
“Damon,” she hisses.
“What? It’s a perfectly sane question.”
“Yes, I do.”
“What kind is it?” Her eyes widen further.
“Does it matter? It vibrates. Can we get back to this?” She waves her hand at the lubricants. I lean forward and pick one off the shelf, turning it over and reading the back information. After putting it back I pick up the next one, then pull my phone from my pocket. “What are you doing?”
“Research,” I tell her. “Looking for reviews on these. Any preference—flavored? Warming? Tingling?” She’s now turned the color of a plum tomato.
“Tingling, take the tingling one,” she stutters.
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I laugh out loud, and she scowls at me. “Can we go now?”
“I need some condoms,” I say, picking up the tingling lube then turning my attention to the boxes of protection. “This one,” I say to myself as I read the packet. “It’s been a long time since I wore one of these.”
Emma has moved away from me, clearly affronted by the open nature of our discussion. As I look at her, it strikes me how young she looks today in comparison to when she is self-assured and ordering me around. I take her hand while holding our purchases in the other and head for the register.
“Do you need a bag?” the attendant asks as she scans the items.
“No, thank you,” I answer automatically.
“Yes, yes we do,” Emma challenges, and I glance at her. “We need to walk outside.”
“So?”
“People might see what we bought.”
“And…”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“The thought of us fucking is embarrassing?” She all but melts as the attendant giggles at the exchange.
“I’ll meet you outside,” Emma snarls, storming off in the direction of the doors.
I drop a note to pay for my purchase and follow after her.
That pert ass I have watched and lusted after for months looks completely fuckable infuriated, bouncing merrily on long legs.
I can’t wait to explore what’s beneath those leggings.
Upon arriving back at my car, Emma is swaying from foot to foot beside the passenger door. I walk around to her, and she turns to face me and lays her back against the metal.
“You are an absolute pain in the ass,” she murmurs. I place a hand either side of her and lean down to drop a kiss onto her lips. “So fucking embarrassing.”
“Sorry. I’ll make it up to you later, and I’ll make you one promise,” I whisper. “Tomorrow, you’ll feel me every time you take a step.”