Layers Crossed (29 page)

I slammed the
phone down without saying another word, grabbed a duffel bag and
stuffed it with fresh clothes and toiletries, and within thirty
minutes I was in the air, showering and shaving on a damn plane,
getting ready to rip apart the bastard who had his hands on
Emma.

That’s how I
ended up in New York.

And now I was
sitting on a chair in the corner of her room, watching her sleep,
splayed out on her bed with her mouth wide open. She looked so
peaceful, it took every ounce of strength I had not to scoop her
into my arms, cuddle her against my body, and take away that
massive headache I was sure she’d have.

I wondered
whether she even remembered falling into my arms at the club. And
thank God she had, otherwise my fists would have had no choice but
to connect with the asshole who was touching her bottom, beautiful
curves, and face. One look from me was all it took for him to walk
away. When I tried to carry her out of the club, the bouncer
stopped me, ready to tear me apart. Thank God Julian had stayed at
the club and came over when I needed him. Either way, I wouldn’t
have let Emma go.

“He’s good. He
can take Emma home,” he confirmed, “But fucking update me on her
condition when she wakes up without telling her.”

“Look, I’m
done with the secrets. You may do your business that way, but I
can’t do life that way. Emma’s gonna get the full truth from now
on, because knowing her the way I do, I’m sure she’d prefer
that.”

Julian’s jaw
tightened. “Fine. But only because Hunter says you’re good.”

Poor Emma.
Hurt by her brothers, betrayed by the first man she’d been with
since her boyfriend passed, deceived by so many people who loved
her when all she’d wanted was a little freedom, trust, and
love.

Her breaths
were deep. If I stared at her any longer I’d end up right beside
her, right in that warm bed, sinking into her. When she finally
moved at ten in the morning, my heart jumped. The sound of pain
that came out of her mouth drove through me like shrapnel, breaking
right in my chest.

“Emma, are you
all right?”

“Eric? Please
help me.” She was still half asleep, and I wondered whether she
even realized what had happened last night. Still, that didn’t stop
me from running to her bedside, wiping away the beads of sweat, and
pulling back the hair that was falling into her eyes. Her eyes –
they were so beautiful, even with all that smeared mascara
underneath. Those dark circles under them would definitely remind
her how much tequila she’d had for a few days, though.

“I’m here,
baby. What do you need?”

At the sound
of my voice, her eyes flew wide open. She froze, staring at me as
if I were part of a dream that had manifested into reality. Her
mouth opened a fraction, then closed again. She looked adorable,
like a newly hatched fish taking its first breath of air.

“I’m gonna
puke.”

She shot off
her bed and ran to the bathroom. I followed her as she knelt over
the toilet and, scrunching her shoulders up, heaved into it,
emptying her stomach. Dino joined us in the bathroom, and I gently
removed him, shutting the door.

“Go away.” She
waved her hand without turning toward me.

Instead I got
down on my knees and helped her hold her hair back as she went at
it again. Tears rolled down her cheeks from the exertion, and I
passed her a towel to wipe her mouth. Once I knew she was all
right, I stood up and turned on the shower. Steaming water
sprinkled from the above rain faucet, and I adjusted the knob.

“What are you
doing?”

“You need a
shower.”

“I know what I
need. You have no clue what I need.” She pushed at me.

I grasped her
wrist. “Emma, we can hash us out later. You need my help now.”

“I could have
you down on your shoulders in three seconds, Cowboy.”

Her voice was
weak, and as strong as her words were, I could tell that her entire
body was spent. Emma was in worse shape than I’d thought.

“As much as
I’d like that, let’s wait until you’re showered, baby, and then you
can show me.” I lifted her t-shirt by the hem and pulled it over
her head, baring her. My cock twitched the moment I saw her perky
breasts. I twisted my hips to the side, checking the water
temperature.

“You’re
unbelievable.”

“Come on, Em,
shower first, compliments later.”

“My head
hurts.” She pressed her fingers to her temples, squeezing her eyes
shut.

“I’ll get you
something to help.” I lowered her panties to the floor. With my
face so close to her bare flesh, my cock pulsed again at the
inviting sight. “Shower. It will make you feel better.”

“There are
some pills in the drawer.” She pointed. “I wanna go back to
bed.”

I pulled the
drawer open, finding way more than I wanted to. Cosmetics, tampons,
and a dildo. I shook my head sideways, making a note to throw it in
garbage later. There was no way she’d have a need for it with me
around. I passed her two ibuprofens and a bottle of water that was
on the counter. She popped the pills back and remained, standing
naked in one spot. Boy, was she ever in bad shape, but still so
gorgeous.

“Shower, Emma.
Then we need to talk.” But she stood her ground. I grasped both her
hands, stepped over the threshold, and pulled her inside.

“Are you
crazy?” she said, as the water streamed down on us both.

“Yes, about
you.”

“Your clothes
are soaking.”

“I don’t
care.”

I reached for
her toothbrush and paste before sliding the glass door closed and
passed them to her. “I’m sure you can do a better job at this than
I can.”

She took the
toothbrush but remained still, holding it awkwardly. I took the
brush back from her, squeezed some paste onto it and handed it to
her once again.

“Brush your
teeth, Emma, or I’ll be forced to take your mouth the way it is
now.”

She finally
put the toothbrush inside her mouth, but her eyes never left mine.
I watched her breasts shake from side to side as she moved the
foaming paste along her teeth. She was so fucking sexy, I found it
more difficult to concentrate every minute.

Emma tilted
her head and opened her mouth, allowing water to stream inside,
then spat the white foam out and repeated the rinse once more.

When she’d set
the toothbrush aside on the nook shelf, I took one step toward her,
cupped the beautiful face that I missed in my palms, and kissed
her. Her hands flopped down to her sides at first, but then reached
to my arms and held them there. I parted her lips with my tongue,
meandering through her mouth as if I had to get to know her all
over again. She moaned inside of me, accepting my need to taste her
and feel her.

Finally
pulling away from Emma, I reached for a sponge, lathered it, and
began washing her shoulders. She leaned her head to the side, and I
pulled along the crook of her neck. She gasped as I drew the suds
over the top of her cleavage to the other side, and I couldn’t help
but notice that her breasts were lifting and her nipples bunching
up.

I smiled at
the sight that I still had the same effect on her. Feeling myself
harden, I pulled my soaped hand underneath her breast, washing
around it before lowering it down to her belly. She just stood
there, eyes closed, water cascading down her body as if she were
washing off every ounce of worry and doubt she must have felt
during the last week.

“Turn around,”
I whispered.

She swiveled
on her feet. I washed her back in long strokes. Her head lolled
forward as she rested her frame on her hands against the wall, and
I fought with everything I had not to just take her in my arms and
hold her. I wanted to make her pain go away, but I didn’t know how
to do that. Pulling the sponge over her perfectly tight ass, I
remembered each time it tensed as I took her. I was completely hard
by now, and all I could think about was thrusting deep inside her,
burying myself there from tip to root.

Fuck!
My cock strained underneath my soaked pants. When I drew my hand
along her crack and down to between her legs, she let out an
exasperated breath, arching her lower back and tilting her ass
higher, offering herself for me.

I leaned into
her ear, stepping closer, and whispered. “Did you miss me, Emma?”
My voice was ragged.

“You’re not
playing fair.” She objected with her words, but her body told me
something completely different. I reached around her front, going
over her mound with the sponge before I let it drop to the floor.
My fingers parted her folds. Feeling her naked skin press against
my wet clothes was too much. My other hand cupped her breast and I
languorously rolled her nipple between my fingers, all the while
gently washing her swelling pussy.

“I’m not
playing at all. The question is simple. Did you miss me?”

“Yes.” Her
reply was heavy and full of need. Emma circled her hips, her taut
ass grinding against my erection as she pressed herself harder into
my hand.

I slid my
finger inside her wetness, and her warm walls seized my digit,
tightening around it. “I missed you like hell, Emma. I missed your
lips, your tits, and your perfect ass and legs so much.”

I thrust my
hand harder between her legs, making her jump, hooking my finger
slightly, massaging against that sensitive spot inside her before
adding another finger.

“What are you
doing here?” I wasn’t sure how she was able to form a coherent
question, writhing so feverishly against me.

“Isn’t it
obvious? I came to get what’s mine. I came to show you who you
belong to so that no other fucking man ever lays his hand on you
again.”

“I was just
dancing.” She leaned her head back against my shoulder, resting her
body completely on me. My face was right in the nook of her neck as
I kissed her shoulder and watched her respond as I pulled on her
pebbled nipple with my free hand.

“The guy was
ready to flip you on your back.” I lifted my thumb higher, gently
skimming over her clit, teasing her, wanting her to only have me in
her thoughts. “Is that what you want, Emma? Some kid who doesn’t
know what your body needs or someone who can nourish your” – I
thrust my fingers harder into her – “every” – and did it again,
pinching her nipple – “sense?”

“Ahh!”
Pleasure flowed on her lips, yet she still found the strength to
test me. “What if I wanted to be flipped?”

I could feel
her mouth pull up in a smile against my cheek. She was toying with
me, but I wouldn’t back down now. I had to make sure she understood
how I felt about her being the object of affection for any other
man. I had come to reclaim what was mine, and I wouldn’t leave
unless Emma came with me.

I pulled my
hand out from between her thighs and turned her around with force.
Emma’s back hit the glass wall behind her.

She
gasped.

I unbuckled my
belt. Its clang echoed as it hit the glass door.

“What are you
doing?” With her gaze resting on my erection, she licked her lips.
They were so beautiful.

“Getting rid
of my wet clothes.”

I removed my
jeans, my boxers, socks, and shirt, pushing them along the marble
floor to the corner of the shower with my foot. Emma hadn’t moved
from between me and the wall, breathing heavily.

“And I’m going
to show you that we’re meant for each other. That we’re a perfect
fit in every way.”

Her face
sobered and her eyes teared up.

I froze.

“You lied to
me.”

I stepped
forward, lowering my shoulders. “I’m sorry, baby. You have no idea
how much I want to take that back.” I leaned my forehead against
hers.

“You hurt me,”
she whispered.

“And I never
want to do that again.”

“Were you only
nice because Hunter and my brothers asked you to be?”

“Emma, did you
not just hear what I said to you? I. Want. You. Not because of
Hunter or your brothers. I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you
on that stage. Our connection was real. You have to know that. And
believe me, I wanted nothing more than to tell you the truth the
minute you walked into that conference room and I realized that you
were the woman I was hired to take away – but I’d made a promise to
a friend who had saved my life. I couldn’t go back on that promise.
Every moment I spent with you on that farm was a blessing. It was
real. All of it was real. I wanted to tell you the truth so many
times, Emma. But I was afraid to lose you. I was too deeply in love
with you.”

Her mouth fell
open. “You were what?”

“I love you,
Emma. I fucking love you with all that I am and all that I will
ever be. I want you to be mine and only mine.”

I wiped the
stray tear off her cheek, which mixed with the condensed water, and
then leaned my forehead against hers again. “That is if you’ll
still have me. Please, baby. Forgive me.”

She nodded,
whispering, “I love you too, Cowboy.”

I covered her
mouth with mine the moment those words left her lips, letting them
fill my ears and travel right into my heart. Her lips were full and
soft, allowing me in, wanting me to claim her. My body squeezed her
against the glass, and my hands couldn’t find the right spot to
touch because I wanted to feel her everywhere, all at once. She
somehow managed to slide her hand between us and took a hold of me,
stroking me back and forth. “I need you inside me,” she
whispered.

I lifted her
up by her waist, holding her body against the see-through wall. Her
arms were now wrapped around my neck, grasping tightly as she
slowly slid onto me, crying out.

“Are you all
right?”

“Yes. I just
need you.”

“How do you
need me?”

“Hard, please.
I need you hard.”