Chapter 21
DREW
“First to arrive, last to leave,” I said to Harrison as we did a back-slapping hug on the front step. “Might be a new record.”
“Hey, we had a lot going on tonight. You guys basically saved the party. Thank you.”
“Hardly,” Emilia laughed. “But I’m glad it worked out.”
We’d said our goodbyes to Gwen earlier since she was exhausted after the excitement of the night and had gone to lie down.
“Want me to drive?” Emilia wiggled her eyebrows at me.
“Nope. Never again,” I joked. “Besides, it’s not like you know where we’re going.” It was too long of a drive to do both ways in one day, so we were staying the night in my condo here in LA.
Harrison peered past us. “Damn, nice car. He let you drive it, Emilia? I’m in shock.”
“Under duress,” she said. “And honestly, it was nerve wracking. That thing is a space ship inside.”
I noticed that we all seemed reluctant to part ways. Despite the drama of the Candace scenario we’d all managed to have a great night. But I had to wonder if this new woman in my dad’s life was going to undermine our efforts to find our way back to each other as a family.
Practically as soon as we were settled in the car, I was asking Emilia’s opinion. Even if we didn’t always agree, I knew she’d have an interesting take.
“I like her,” Emilia stated bluntly. “She’s a phenomenal woman. Retired surgical oncologist who’s now a medical consultant, so she’s brilliant and driven. Oh yeah, and beautiful.”
It was exactly what I didn’t want to hear, even if I knew she was right. It would be so much easier to talk my father out of getting involved if the woman in question was an obvious gold digger, or just some ditz.
“But what’s her end game?” I asked.
Emilia laughed, and despite the fact that she seemed to be laughing at me, I liked the sound of it.
“Who said she needs an end game? They’re two grown adults who are enjoying getting to know each other. It’s as simple as that.”
“But I have to wonder, is she angling to get married? Like, move in and take over his life?”
“Angling?” Emilia turned so she could better see my face. “What are you trying to say here?”
“I don’t trust her,” I spat out.
“And why not?” Emilia asked.
I started to answer then paused, so I could make sense of my racing thoughts.
“I can’t put my finger on it. It’s just a feeling. She’s too … perfect. Like she molded herself to be just right for my dad.”
Emilia laughed at me again. “Oh, okay. What you’re trying to say is that they’re well-matched. They have stuff in common. They’re both high achievers easing into their golden years, and they’re looking good while doing it. Yup, that’s super suspicious.”
“Oh come on,” I scolded. “You know how men can get. Good sex can erase common sense.”
“Wow, and that’s really what you think of your father?”
I shrugged. “Better men than him have been led around by their dicks before. And look, I’m not saying I’m against the idea of him having a good time.” I mean, I kind of was… but that was mostly to do with the fact that thinking of my father having an active sex life was objectively gross.
“I just don’t want him to get so caught up in this new relationship that he lets everything else go.
Because that seems like a recipe for him ending up with nothing in the end.
Things will fall apart with Candace, and then he’ll find himself retired and alone.
His life will be even emptier than before he met her. ”
“Or they could stay together. It’s a possibility, you know.”
I snorted. “No, it’s not.” Love never lasted. Expecting it to meant that you were setting yourself up for hurt. I’d seen it more times than I could count—love stories that started out perfect and shiny and then shattered like glass the second they were put under pressure.
“So cynical,” she tsked.
“What, and you’re not?” I said as I eased the car into my driveway. I parked and turned to look at her. “You literally told me that fifty percent of your joyful couples end up divorced. You’re just as much of a cynic about love as I am.”
“I’m a cynic about marriage. Not love as a whole,” she insisted. “Because I think a lot of those couples that rush to the altar aren’t actually in love but the idea of marriage. It takes effort to keep a relationship healthy. You can’t just coast on chemistry forever.”
“But coasting on chemistry is so much fun,” I pointed out with a grin. “Don’t you think?”
She rolled her eyes. I unfastened my seatbelt, leaning in to plant a soft string of kisses along her neck. “I think our chemistry is very fun,” I added.
She sighed, tilting her head to give me more room to work with, and I moved in closer, nibbling on the hinge of her jaw before nipping her earlobe.
“Though I think we’d probably have more fun inside,” I suggested.
“There’s a lot I want to do to you, and most of it takes more maneuverability than I can manage in this car. ”
“Oh yeah?” she purred. “Tell me more.”
“I’d rather show you,” I said, pulling back to get out of the car. She was quick to follow, and we practically raced inside. The moment the door closed we were pressed together in a feverish kiss.
“I’ve been waiting for this all night,” Emilia murmured.
I deepened the kiss, clutching her tighter to me. “You too?”
Instead of answering me she fumbled with my belt. She shoved her hand down my pants the moment it unclasped.
I let out a strangled sigh as she wrapped her hand around my cock and began working it.
“This won’t do at all,” she whispered.
Emilia tugged at the zipper then pulled my pants and boxers down.
“Here? In the foyer?” I asked. “You know, there’s a bed here, right?”
“I can’t wait,” she said as she lowered herself to her knees in front of me.
She planted a tiny kiss on the tip of my dick and even that was enough to make me melt. A second later she drew me deep into her mouth.
“Fuck,” I said in a strangled voice.
She took me in even deeper, then pulled away. “Look at me.”
I opened my eyes and glanced down at her. Seeing Emilia on her knees, inches away from my cock and staring up at me with hungry eyes was almost too much for me to bear.
“Now keep watching,” she commanded.
She didn’t even blink as she took my full length in her mouth, and the combination of her intense stare and the way her lips looked wrapped around my dick left me weak. Watching her make my cock disappear was the sexist magic trick I’d ever seen.
“I can’t …” I choked out in a strangled whisper.
But I could hold on. I had to, because I didn’t want the sensations to end, but I also couldn’t wait for what was going to happen next.
Somehow I clung to my sanity and didn’t allow myself to let go while she worked me. But then she reached up to cup my balls and I went concave.
“Hold on,” I said, pulling her to her feet even though it was incredibly painful to stop her. “I refuse to come before you.”
“What a gentleman,” she purred.
I haphazardly grabbed my pants with one hand and led her down the hallway to my room, which felt like it was miles away from the front door.
Emilia turned to me and pulled her dress over her head.
My jaw dropped when I discovered what she’d been hiding from me.
“What the—?”
“You like?” She bit her finger like a coquette and did a half turn so I could fully take in the lacy black garter belt and demi bra set.
“Keep the stilettos on,” I growled as I stormed closer to her.
She squealed when I swept her into my arms. I placed her on the bed and stared down at her, unable to resist taking a moment to admire her, despite the fact that my cock was about to rip through my pants.
“What?”
“I’m in awe of you,” I said softly. “And I just want to drink you in.”
I leaned over to trace my finger down her stomach, coming to rest at the warmth between her legs. Even that was enough to make her squirm.
“Drew …” she sighed as she arched closer. “Please don’t torture me.”
I stripped off my clothing quickly, grabbed a condom from the nightstand and straddled her on top of the bed.
“Let me,” she said as she sat up on her elbows.
Emilia gently took the condom from my hands, ripped open the package and slid it on me. Even that was enough to inch me closer to coming.
What was it about her? How had she invaded my thoughts so completely? I’d never felt this overwhelmed before, not with any other woman I’d known.
She fell onto her back and looked up at me with a devilish glint in her eyes.
“I have another surprise,” she whispered. “I’m shocked you didn’t discover it.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Why don’t you explore a little?” She glanced down her body.
It took me about two seconds to take her up on it, and when I slipped my hand between her legs again I discovered that her heels weren’t going to be the only thing she’d be leaving on while we fucked.
“Crotchless?”
She giggled. “Not exactly. But yes, there’s a slit for access.”
“You little minx,” I said as I dropped my body down on top of hers.
She wrapped her silky legs around my hips, and when I plunged inside her I knew that we wouldn’t be getting much sleep that night.