22. Emma
22
EMMA
As we arrive at the party, butterflies swarm inside me. I’m walking side by side with Liam, our arms brushing occasionally. The warmth of his presence does little to quell my nerves at the thought of him meeting my friends as my man. I can't help but wonder if I’m crazy for letting him bring me here. But as we step inside, the festive decorations of the club and the buzz of laughter and conversation begin to put me at ease.
Liam gives my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I smile up at him. His calm demeanor is contagious, and I take a deep breath, trying to let my own excitement overshadow my nerves.
“Ready?” he asks, his voice gentle.
“Yeah,” I reply, nodding.
We walk in, and almost immediately, I’m greeted by familiar faces. Friends I haven’t seen in years come up to say hello, and it’s heartwarming to reconnect. The club is decorated beautifully, with twinkling lights and elegant decorations that give the place a festive feel. I suddenly feel good for coming here.
We make our way through the crowd until we find June and Damon. They’re surrounded by a group of friends, and the moment they spot us, they wave us over enthusiastically. June’s face is a beacon of sunshine amidst the crowd. A broad smile splits my face as I make my way toward her, Liam trailing close behind.
“Emma! Liam!” June calls out, a wide smile on her face.
Damon claps Liam on the back as we join them. “Glad you could make it, man.”
“Emma!” June exclaims, pulling me into a hug. “Look at you, all dressed up!” Her enthusiastic gaze then shifts to Liam. “Thank you for bringing her, Dr. Miller.”
June reintroduces me to a few friends I haven’t seen since high school. One of the familiar faces I recall quickly through the crowd is Sarah, a girl from my art class.
“Emma!” she shrieks, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug. The scent of her vanilla perfume brings a wave of nostalgia crashing down on me. “Is that really you? And who is this handsome stranger with you?”
Liam flashes his winning smile. “Hi there, I'm Liam. Liam Miller.”
“Emma's, uh?” She looks from me to him as she takes his hand.
As I fumble for the right word, Liam nods and says, “partner.”
Sarah's eyes widen as I feel my heart slam in my chest. “Partner? Wow!” Sarah’s eyes widen slightly. “Wait, are you Dr. Miller’s son?”
Liam nods, smiling. “That’s me.”
Recognition dawns on the faces surrounding us. “Dr. Miller's son?” someone gasps.
“I always knew you'd find yourself a catch,” Sarah murmurs into my ear, her face beaming with smiles.
I smile, feeling a rush of pride. Having Liam by my side feels good—better than I expected. Liam handles the sudden attention with grace, regaling them with stories about working at the hospital with his dad. As the conversation flows, I can't help but feel a warm flutter in my chest. Having him here, by my side, feels… right.
The rest of the night unfolds in a flurry of greetings and laughter. Faces from my high school days materialize from the throng, pulling me into reminiscing about forgotten art projects and hallway gossip. As I look around the festively decorated space, a sense of relief washes over me. It isn't so bad after all. Being here, surrounded by old friends, feels like a long-forgotten part of myself is finally waking up.
We share stories and laughs, reminiscing about the old days. It’s surreal to be here, surrounded by so many memories, and I find myself genuinely enjoying the night.
At one point, Liam takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor. The music slows, and he pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me. I rest my head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Suddenly, a mischievous glint appears in Liam's eyes. “You look beautiful tonight,” he murmurs into my ear.
My breath catches in my throat. Public dancing isn't exactly my forte, but the look in his eyes is irresistible. “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.” I mumble, a nervous smile playing on my lips.
He leads me across the dance floor, the thumping music pulsing through the air. We sway to the rhythm, his hand resting possessively on my lower back. His touch sends shivers down my spine, igniting a fire within me. I feel eyes on us, but instead of making me nervous, it makes me feel beautiful and powerful. I hold onto Liam a little tighter, reveling in the moment.
As we dance, I steal glances at Liam. Under the soft glow of the disco ball, his face seems sculpted perfection. His eyes, locked onto mine, hold a depth I haven't seen before. A feeling of sensuality, raw and exhilarating, blooms in my chest. It is as if everyone else in the room has faded away, leaving just us, connected in a silent language of unspoken emotions
Suddenly, a familiar figure materializes beside me. “Hey, lovebirds,” Damon booms, his voice barely audible over the music. “Mind if I steal Liam for a bit? There's a few guys I want him to meet. Wedding stuff and all.”
I giggle, the tension easing from my shoulders. “Of course, Damon. Go have fun.”
Liam leans down, his lips brushing my ear. “Be right back,” he murmurs, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver down my spine. “Don't move.”
He follows Damon into the crowd, leaving me with June in the company of our high school friends. We chat about everything and nothing, their questions about Liam fueling my amusement.
“He seems really great, Em,” Sarah gushes, her eyes sparkling. “You totally landed yourself a prince charming.”
I blush, feeling a warmth spread across my cheeks. “He is pretty amazing,” I admit, a genuine smile playing on my lips.
As the night wears on, I feel a growing sense of confidence. The initial trepidation has melted away, replaced by a sense of belonging. We continue to chat and laugh, and I’m enjoying myself more than I thought I would. It feels like I’m at the center of attention, and for once, it’s a good feeling.
But then, just as we’re laughing over an old high school story, Maria and her group of friends—Avery and Rachel—walk up to us. Maria’s eyes are sharp, her smile a little too sweet.
“Emma, congratulations on finally coming to one of these things, and bringing a man,” Maria says, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
I snicker, refusing to let her get to me. “Better late than never, right?”
Avery steps forward, her gaze scrutinizing. “You must feel good, bagging Dr. Miller’s son.”
June steps in before I can respond. “I heard your mom tried to matchmake you with him several times, Avery. Tough luck.”
I raise my eyebrows, my tone equally sarcastic. “My condolences on missing out on such a perfect man. Maybe patient dogs really do eat the fattest bone.”
Avery’s face flushes with anger, and she steps forward as if to attack me. Maria quickly holds her back, a smug look on her face.
“Patience might not be the best virtue when holding a man like Liam Miller,” Maria says smoothly. “When are you two getting married, anyway? If you’re ever going to do it.”
I feel all eyes turn to me, and I force myself to remain calm. “That’s not your business.”
Rachel smirks. “So, he hasn’t talked about marriage with you, has he? Looks like you’re not getting married anytime soon.”
Maria chimes in, “Age is telling on you, Emma. You might not be able to have your dream—a happy family with kids.”
The room starts to spin, their words hitting me hard. My vision blurs slightly, and I feel a wave of nausea. Just then, I feel strong arms settle on my shoulders from behind. I know immediately who it is.
Liam steps up, his voice cold and firm. “I’m never getting married to anyone if it’s not Emma.”
The room goes silent, and I feel a rush of relief and gratitude. Liam’s presence is a shield against their cruelty.
He continues, his tone sharp. “It’s sad to see how insecure you all are, focusing on tearing someone down instead of being happy for her. Emma is a successful business owner—how many of you can say the same?”
Silence stretches out, thick and heavy. Liam grabs my hand, turning to me with a soft look. “Let’s get out of here. We don’t need to waste any more time in this cesspit.”
I nod, feeling a surge of emotion. As we walk out of the venue, I can’t help but feel a sense of triumph. Liam has always been there for me, and tonight, he’s shown me just how much he cares.
We step into the cool night air, and I take a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. Liam squeezes my hand, and I look up at him, my heart full.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
He smiles, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “Anytime, Emma. I’ve got your back.”
I look up into his eyes. He takes my face in his hands and plants another intense kiss on my lips. Just as my body starts melting into him, he pulls away. I mumble a soft sigh. I wish he’d just keep kissing me.
“Now, how about we get some real food somewhere far away from insecure people and bad dance music?”
“Where?”
“My house,” he grins. “Dads on night duty today. I double-checked, so there’ll be no surprises.”
I chuckle slightly. “That sounds like you’re thinking of doing some things that are not for a third party.”
“Oh, yeah,” he nods. “I’m game if you are.”
I grab his arm, and we walk to the car. I feel a warmth spread through me. I know that with Liam by my side, I can face anything. And tonight, I feel stronger than ever.
About an hour later, I’m sitting in the Miller kitchen, sipping wine while watching Liam make us veggie marinara and pasta for dinner. To be honest, what I long for at the moment has to do more with the shirtless man moving around the kitchen than what he’s making.
I can’t wait to fuck him, either right here or back in the bedroom. I lift my glass, gazing at the muscles rippling on his back. “I always dreamt of this.”
He looks back with a smile. “Of what?”
“Having a sexy shirtless man make me dinner.”
He chuckles. “This man is all yours. You can come here anytime you want.”
“I can come here?”
He turns around fully this time, his eyes wide as he gets the double entendre. “Emma Cole!”
“What? You said it yourself!”
He laughs. “I’m trying to hold myself back, Emma, and now you’re testing me.”
I smile softly and grab a glass as I walk up to him. “I never told you to hold back.”
“You’re sure about that?” There’s a fire in his eyes as he takes a step closer. Just the look in his eyes makes my nipples pucker. I feel my insides tightening up in a bunch.
“I don’t think you understand how much I need you.” His hands are now on me, the mittens off. He traces a finger down my cheek and neck and across my breasts.
Oh, God! I’m done for already. “Yes, I do…” I mumble. “And I’m ready to give you everything you need.”
“No, not today.” he shakes his head. “I want you to tell me what you want.”
“What I want?” My voice is thick.
“Right now,” he nods “Be specific.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “I want you inside me, but before that…” I bat my eyelashes seductively. “I want to lay you flat out on this table and suck you…hard.”
His eyes flash. “What else?”
“Then I climb over you and fuck you until you come inside me.”
“Then what?”
I let out a laugh. “Then…we eat dinner naked and go again, again, and again, until your dad comes home in the morning.”
“Emma,” he murmurs softly.
I put a finger on my lips and walk up to him, undoing the bow of the apron at his neckline. The piece of clothing falls away to reveal thick pecs and hard abs. Well, fuck. This is what I want, and I might as well go for it. I drop to my knees and undo the button on his jeans, pulling them down to his feet. His thick, hard cock springs out. The kitchen light is bright enough for me to see some precum on the tip.
I take his smooth head into my mouth and suck on it slowly. My hand holds him at the base, having his ball sack rest in my palms. I look up and smile at him as I circle my tongue around his crown.
“Fuckkkk, Emma!”
I draw his shaft deeper into my mouth, wrapping my tongue around the tip. He growls again, his face squeezing in concentration. I tease the ridge with the tip of my tongue, then I plunge down, taking him deep into my throat and gagging on him.
He throws his head back. “Emma, you’re gonna make me come.”
Good. I draw him in and out, caressing the smooth head with my tongue as I suck his cock over and over. It feels so good to hear that helplessness in his voice, to see the reckless abandon in his face. I want to own him, to lay my own imprint on him in a way that erodes all the women of his past, the way he’s eroded all the men of mine.
I graze my teeth around his shaft, and his hips start to jerk. He fists his hand tight in my hair, growling and moaning. His guttural sounds of pleasure make my inside wet. I can already feel myself dripping between my legs.
“Look at me, Liam.”
He stares down, and I love how his eyes flash with undisguised lust. I keep the pace up, pumping his thickness down my throat as deep as I can go. His cock starts to throat, and his breathing becomes ragged.
I don’t stop, pumping him faster and harder, and suddenly, I feel him burst into my throat. I look up and pull him out slowly, smiling as I lick the rest of his seed off his cock.