Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“I wasn’t worried about protection because I know that while your heart guides you, logic is not far behind,” he said. I felt his words rumble in his chest and his breath tickled my ear. “I trust you, Callie. And for as long as you’ll allow me to, I will make you orgasm with my penis.”
Grinning like a fool, I turned my head and kissed his muscled arm.
He was right. There was no going back now. I was in too deep. He saw me in a way no one had before. I’d found a man who not only supported my ambitions, but loved me, flaws and all.
* * *
The black town car slowed to a stop outside my building.
I made no move to extract myself from Emmett’s embrace just yet.
A weighty pause stretched between us, thick with the simmering temptation to simply scratch the “going home” part of the evening.
“I should go,” I said reluctantly, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. “Marco will be wondering where I am.”
Something indecipherable passed through Emmett’s eyes at the mention of Marco’s name. But then it was gone, smoothed away by a tender smile.
“I’ll walk you up.”
“No.” It came out too quickly. Emmett blinked. “I just…I need to talk to Marco first.”
“Of course,” he said. “I’ll see you in the morning then, Miss Winters?”
“Bright and early.” I made no effort to conceal my teasing tone. “We have a lot to discuss.”
Emmett’s grin widened at the obvious double meaning behind my words. “That we do.”
I reached for the door handle, but instead of climbing out, I paused and turned back to him.
Cupping his face in my palms, I pulled him in for one last kiss.
His arms instantly banded around my waist, holding me flush against the solid planes of his chest. My movements were almost frantic as I tried to pour all my unspoken feelings into that kiss.
When we broke apart, we were both breathless—eyes dark, lips swollen.
“Just a preview for later, Mr. Price,” I said, taking shameless delight in his low groan. With a final, coy smile, I slipped outside and strolled up the front steps to my apartment. I felt the blazing weight of Emmett’s stare. It sent delicious heat prickling across my skin.
After everything that had just transpired between us, after finally laying bare the depths of my feelings, I should have felt unnerved. Vulnerable.
But I didn’t.
Instead, an odd feeling of peace settled over me. I felt an exhilarating sense of freedom and excitement for the momentous shift in my reality—in our reality. It was like I had been sleepwalking through life until now.
I was still scared shitless, of course. Terrified of all the ways this could blow up in my face and derail everything I’d worked for. Yet, the fact that I was ready—eager even—to confront those fears head-on told me everything.
Emmett Price is worth the risk.
Reaching the top of the steps, I cast a final glance back at the idling car. Emmett leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees and a besotted yet serious expression on his face. I flashed him a reassuring smile, a silent promise that, from this moment on, I was all in.
I rolled my suitcase through the doorway and found Marco standing in the kitchen. His back was to me as he rummaged through the fridge, no doubt searching for a post-work snack.
“Hey stranger,” I said, unable to stop a giddy grin from overtaking my face.
He spun around, mouth curving into a matching smile.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Jet-Setter returning from her wild London adventures.
” He gave an exaggerated once-over. “You don’t look too worse for wear.
Although, I suppose that’s what a seven-hour flight on a private jet will do for a lady.
Or is that a glowy look? Perhaps the result of more illicit activities. ”
I stuck my tongue out. “For your information, I was an absolute professional the entire time.”
“Is that so?”
Crossing the room, I dropped my bag with a heavy thud. Normally I’d have been more careful—a lady doesn’t just toss her luggage around willy-nilly. But at that moment, I was too eager to dish out every amazing detail of my first trip out of the country.
I hugged myself gleefully as I turned towards him. “Nope, not at all.”
“Bad, bad girl! Tell me everything.” Marco dragged me to the couch, practically throwing me down as I giggled uncontrollably.
I perched on the edge of the couch, my body thrumming with excitement as Marco settled in beside me. Tucking one leg beneath me, I swiveled to face him, our knees brushing together.
“Where do I even start?” I raked my fingers through my mussed hair. My mind drifted to memories of Emmett’s hands tangled in those very tresses.
Marco snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Hello? Earth to Callie? You can’t just drop a bombshell like that and then leave me hanging!”
My lips curled in an impish grin. “Sorry, sorry! My mind was...elsewhere for a moment.”
“Uh huh, I’ll bet it was. Spill it, babe. What did our delicious Mr. Price get up to across the pond?”
Worrying my bottom lip between my teeth, I debated how much juicy detail to divulge.
Marco and I told each other everything—no matter how salacious or scandalous.
He was my most trusted confidant. I let out a breathy giggle, unable to contain myself any longer.
“Oh, Marco, you have no idea. This trip was...everything.”
My best friend leaned in, eyes sparkling with rapt attention. “Start from the beginning. Don’t leave out a single detail!”
Settling back against the plush couch cushions, I launched into an enthusiastic recounting of the whirlwind few days in London.
The luxurious hotel suite, the extravagant meals, the VIP treatment everywhere we went.
But those were just the peripheral details.
The real juicy bits were the heated, stolen glances during meetings, the way Emmett’s hand would linger a beat too long on the small of my back as we walked, the casual intimacy of sharing a hotel room.
“And then, on our last night...” I paused, drinking in Marco’s anticipation. “He fucked me into oblivion.”
“Damn, girl! Get it!”
“Down, boy. It was incredible, though. Like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”
“Well, let’s hear it!” Marco pressed, rubbing his hands together maniacally. “I need all the perverted deets.”
Snickering, I relayed the highlights—the wild intensity of last night; the slow, sensual love-making this morning; and joining the Mile High Club on the flight home.
“Shit, he really is a stallion in the sack, isn’t he? I’m kind of jealous. Where do I find an Emmett Price?”
“There’s more,” I said. “Emmett...he told me he loved me.”
Marco’s eyebrows vanished into his hairline. “Woah.”
“I know.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“Honestly? I want to be skeptical because…come on. But his actions suggest he very much means what he says.”
“And what did you say?”
My bottom lip was turning raw from all the gnawing. “I…I didn’t say it back.”
“You don’t love him?”
I huffed out a breath. “I don’t know. I’m still wrapping my head around everything. Last week, I had us both convinced we should maintain professional boundaries, and now look at us!”
I couldn’t bring myself to regret any of it, though.
“We’ve agreed to keep things discreet until my internship ends in a few months.”
Marco pondered this before giving me a solemn nod. “Smart move. Can’t have corporate thinking you’re sleeping your way to the top.”
“Exactly. So, for now, it’ll just be our little secret.”
“Speaking of secrets, I need you to tell me. Who has the bigger cock? Hugh or Emmett?”
“Marco!”
“What?! It’s an obvious question.”
Shaking my head, I brought my pinched fingers to my lips and dragged them across, miming throwing away the key.
Marco gave an anguished groan. “Why are the big-dicked, sexy CEO billionaires never gay? Or at least bi? Such BS if you ask me.”
We dissolved into giggles. I was reminded again of how lucky I was to have an amazing friend who loved and supported me unconditionally. No matter what complicated romantic roads lay ahead, Marco would always be my person.