Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
EMILY
“Emily, you can come out now.”
Taking one step forward, I take another and move through the hall, making my way toward him. One step and then another until we close the distance between one another. I don’t know what I’m thinking.
My brain turns off the moment I’m close enough for him to reach me. His hand wraps around my waist before he drags me into the apartment.
The door slams shut before he backs me against the door, my back slamming against the hard surface the moment his mouth touches mine. His tongue fills me, swirling with mine, and then his fingers grip my waist before he picks me up.
My legs wrap around his waist, and then I feel his hard length beneath his jeans press against my center.
I could come right now—his mouth, his dick, his hands on my hips.
I. Could. Come.
When he breaks the kiss, he nibbles on my bottom lip, then lifts his head, his gaze searching mine. I start to ask him what he’s doing here, but I decide not to because he’s here and he’s holding me in his arms.
His head shifts to the side, his mouth touching my neck, and then he speaks against the skin of my throat. Gripping his shoulders, my nails dig into the skin over his shirt. I wish he were naked. I wish I could feel his flesh against mine.
Just one more time.
“I want you, Em.”
“Even after meeting my mother?” I ask.
I wish I could stuff the words back into my mouth. I don’t want to remind him of my mother, but the words just came out, and I can’t put them back. He takes a step backward. My legs unwrap from his waist, my feet touching the floor.
I feel the loss of him, and I want to rush toward him and wrap myself around him again. If I could crawl beneath his skin and become part of him, I would. He lifts his hand, cupping my jaw, his thumb sliding along my bottom lip—making sure I can’t move any closer to him.
“Even after your mother, Emily. I want you. I know that she’s full of shit. She’s a bitch and doesn’t deserve you. What happens when I’m not here to protect you against her, though?”
I hate his question. I want to avoid the whole situation. I want to pretend she doesn’t exist.
“I’ve already told you,” I murmur. “She’ll be back for a while. She’ll eat my food and trash my place until she finds another man, and then she’ll vanish.”
“Tell her no,” he grinds out.
“You’ve met her. It’s easier to say yes,” I whisper.
His thumb slides across my bottom lip again, his gaze tracking the motion. Then his lips curve up to a grin.
“Yeah,” he chuckles. “I fucking met her. And I enjoyed telling her to get lost.”
I smirk at his words. I bet he did enjoy that part. I know I did last night, too—even if it kind of made me stressed and sick afterward, completely ruining my night and the night we could have had together.
“Why are you here?” I demand.
He watches me for a moment, but he doesn’t answer. Instead, his hands fall from my face, and he closes the short distance between us. His gaze searches mine before he dips his chin slightly and then finally speaks.
“I can’t stay away from you, Emily. I just can’t stay away, or won’t. I don’t know which one, and I don’t care.”
Without warning, he slams his mouth against mine. His kiss is hard, but it’s owning. Maybe it’s because he owns me. He does. He is mine. And I am his. I was always his, even before I knew it.
I love him
I love Baylor Cooper.
I knew I was always supposed to be with a Cooper. I was just chasing after the wrong one for years. I wasted so much time. I don’t want to waste another second. Although this might be the last night we have together, that is why I’m going to make it the absolute best night.
The absolute best.
BAYLOR
She tastes amazing, like always, but this time, there is a twinge of sadness on her tongue. I try to ignore it, but I don’t think I can. She doesn’t need to be sad. She just doesn’t know it yet.
Breaking the kiss, I take a step backward, extending my arm toward her, my palm facing upward as I wait for her touch.
She slips her hand in mine, her fingers trembling as she does.
Curling my fingers around her hand, I gently tug her toward me, then turn and make my way to her bedroom with her on my heels.
“Baylor,” she whispers from behind me.
I don’t want to talk, at least not right now. Not yet, not until after. But I have a feeling she’s not going to allow that. She’s going to want to know what the hell is going on.
Stepping into her bedroom, I stop when I’ve reached the side of her bed, and I turn around to face her. My gaze flicks to hers, holding hers, connecting to her. She searches my eyes, and I know she’s looking for some answers. I have a feeling I won’t be able to completely ignore her questions.
“I’m here because it’s where I belong, Em. With you.”
Her breath hitches. Emily opens her mouth to respond, but I don’t let her speak. Lifting one of my arms, I wrap my fingers around the side of her throat, and my other arm, I curl around her waist, pulling her closer to me.
Her top is too low and far too tight, but it looks damn good on her. Lowering my head, I touch my mouth to hers, my tongue sweeping through her mouth again. Her hands slide up between us, her fingers curling around my shoulders as she holds on to me.
Shifting my head back slightly, I attempt to catch my breath as I look down into her eyes. Both of our breaths come out in pants as we watch one another, staring into each other’s eyes.
Releasing my hold of her throat, I reach for the hem of her shirt, then decide that I never want to see this fucking thing again. Call me a misogynist; I don’t really give a fuck, but I want to burn this fucking shirt.
Gripping the fabric of her collar, which barely covers her nipples, I flex my muscles and rip the flimsy, thin bullshit shirt.
“Baylor,” she snaps. She sounds somewhat pissed, partially turned on, and a lot surprised.
“I fucking hate this shirt and never want to see it again,” I grind out.
I lean forward, touching my mouth to hers again, and that sparks something around us. Whatever the spell was, it breaks, and we start to tear at each other, tugging and pulling on one another’s clothes until we’re completely naked.
Fuck me, but I’m in love with this girl.