Worth the Fight (Accidentally on Purpose) (31 page)

“How is Lily?” I asked and sat up again. “Is she okay?”

“Well, he didn’t really hurt her I don’t think, but she was in preterm labor like I suspected. Amazingly, the doctors were able to stop it, but she has to be on complete bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy.”

I genuinely felt a measure of relief for Lily. “I’m glad she’s okay. You’ll have to tell me everything when you get home and you’re not so rushed.”

“I’d rather tell you now and just move on when I get home,” she said. “I’m not ready to hang up with you yet. How are my babies?”

I blew out a relieved sigh and talked about the kids for a little while. Once Emmy was convinced that the kids were okay and I managed to keep them alive, healthy, and happy in her absence, she told me the whole story about Vic and Lily, filling in the big gaps that she had left me with earlier in the day. We discussed the legal ramifications of Vic’s options, and we both agreed the whole day had just been unreal.

“So, did you accomplish what you went there to do?” I asked carefully.

“I did,” she said. “I had to throw a spatula at his head and attack him, but eventually he listened to me.”

I wanted to chuckle, imagining Emmy jumping on Kyle with fury, but then I knew that meant that she had touched him. If he is like any other man, having an attractive woman who you happen to love attack you is very much a turn on. I could imagine Emmy’s eyes flashing with anger before hurling he
rself onto him. Did he just shrug her off? Did he try to hold her arms in an effort to keep her from beating the crap out of him and want to take advantage of her in that pinned position? I would have.

“I don’t want to ask certain questions because in my heart I trust you,” I said, sitting back on the couch with a sigh.

I heard a soft expel of breath on the other end of the line. “What do you want to know?”

Once upon a time I didn’t ask the right questions. Once upon a time, Emmy didn’t offer up any information. Hearts were broken. Lives were altered. I trusted Emmy, but that didn’t mean I had to be a fool.

“Did you cross any lines, Emmy?”

“Depends on what lines you are talking about, Luke,” she answered. “I held his hand while we talked and again in the car. He occasionally touched my hair. I hugged him and I cried with him.”

Thinking about Kyle and his tainted tears touching her made my skin crawl, but I sucked back that comment and instead asked “How do you feel?”

She sighed softly and spoke just above a whisper. “I feel drained.” She sighed again. “And…I feel a little sad. I can’t d
eny that. But I am sure that Kyle and Lily are going to be great, better than great, and that’s why I came here, right? They are each where they belong. Now I’m ready to go home, back to you and the kids, because that’s where I belong. That’s where I’m better than great.”

“Here is where you are perfect,” I said.

“I am only a reflection of my other half,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“Come home.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Emmy lied to me. She said she could not get a flight home before the morning, but as I walked through the house later that night turning off the lights, I heard a car door slam and the hum of an engine. I ignored it, believing it was one of my neighbors, because Emmy had sworn hours ago that she could not get home before ten in the morning. I did not know how I was going to sleep without her in our bed. I was tired, but I didn’t want to go lay in that bed alone. I would see her in less than twelve hours, but that wasn’t close enough. She wasn’t close enough.

I turned off lights in the kitchen and the family room. The darkness was interrupted by soft automatic lighting that fizzed to life only when darkness fell. Emmy hated total dar
kness. She said she’s run into enough pieces of furniture to learn her lesson.

I was walking down the short hallway towards the front door, choosing to take the front stairway to the second floor so I could double check the locks on the door on my way, when I heard a soft click as the deadbolt on the front door released. I stopped where I was, waiting to see who came through the door, knowing damn well that no one should be coming through that door at nearly midnight. My sisters were not in the habit of dropping by after a certain time of night, and they would call first. The only other person with a key besides Emmy and me was Sam and I knew for a fact that she was in Louisiana.

The door opened and Emmy stepped inside. I don’t remember moving. I just remember feeling her weight in my arms as I slammed her against the door in a brutal kiss. She grunted from the force, but wrapped herself around my body, hands on the back of my head and legs locked around my waist. I crushed my body against hers, grinding my sudden erection into her as I devoured her lips and tongue.

I wrapped her pony tail around my hand and yanked her head to one side and tasted her neck with licks and bites as I growled with pleasure.

“You lied,” I rumbled against her smooth skin. “You said you wouldn’t be home until late morning.”

I took her mouth again before she could respond. Using the door for leverage, I held her against it and palmed her breast through her blouse. Emmy moaned and her legs tightened around my waist as the friction between our clothed sex organs increased. Using her hair as a handle, I tilted her head up and kissed her delicate throat. When she spoke, her voice vibrated against my lips and I growled some more.

“After I left the hospital…ohhhhh…” Her fingers laced in my hair. “Kyle made quick work of chartering a plane for me.” Groaning, she continued. “He thought I should be home with my husband after the long day I had. I wanted to surprise you.”

I kissed her again, but only momentarily. I pulled away far enough to force her out of her jacket and pull her shirt over her head. I had no patience for her bra and tore it off of her.

“You should probably leave my boobs alone unless you want to get messy and weird kinky,” Emmy said quickly as I palmed her bare breasts.

“I don’t care about messy or kinky, baby,” I groaned as I nipped at her shoulder. “I just want to touch and kiss you all over your perfect body.”

I struggled briefly to release the button on her jeans. I nudged her to put her feet down on the floor and she complied. I dropped to my knees and started pulling her sneakers off.

“Umm,” she said when I got the second shoe off and started yanking down her jeans and panties.

“What,” I said, not really in the mood for talking.

“I’ve been in the same clothes for almost twenty-four hours. I kind of want to shower before you start licking things.”

“Why take a shower now when you will need a shower when I am finished with you?”

Her body trembled slightly from my words, and despite her protests, she compliantly stepped out of her bottoms. When I went to pull one of her legs onto my shoulder, she stopped me.

“Seriously, Luke,” she laughed nervously. “I’m all sweaty and icky.”

“Not yet you’re not,” I promised her.

Before she could say anything else I dragged my tongue from her entrance to her clit. Emmy shuddered and groaned and pressed her sex against my face. She tasted better than I ever remember her tasting. I dipped my tongue inside of her and began to fuck her with it. She moved her hips in rhythm to my motions. Suddenly she was crying out my name and holding my head in place as she came. I groaned deeply as her juices spilled over my tongue.

She started to remove her leg from my shoulder, but I stopped her.

“I’m not finished with my late night snack yet,” I murmured and found her clit with my tongue.

I flicked my tongue repeatedly over the little nub. Emmy’s head was thrown back against the door as she simultan
eously tried to wriggle away and pull harder on my head. Despite her warnings, I reached up with one hand and rolled one of her nipples between my fingers until she was bucking against me and shouting obscenities.

I gave her a few good licks to sip up as much of her ne
ctar as I could before I released her leg and stood up. I kissed her as I tugged on my lounge pants, making my erection spring free and land on her belly. My pants pooled at my feet where I promptly kicked them away.

“I need you,” I said heavily. “Now.”

I kissed her as I lifted her off of the floor. Her legs wrapped around me once again and without any further teasing or testing, I thrust inside of her hard, slamming her against the door again. Emmy’s fingernails dug into my shoulders as she gritted her teeth to keep from screaming. I groaned loudly as I desperately tried to wriggle myself deeper inside of her.

“I am going to make you scream my name,” I promised her.

“Stop talking about it and
do it
,” Emmy growled, tugging my bottom lip between her teeth.

I snarled and thrust into her so hard we both screamed. Never disjoining us, I carried her into the formal living room on our right. I laid her down on the formal couch and spread her thighs wide and looked at my cock buried inside of her. Her wet pussy gripped at my member. It looked obscene, my wide cock stretching her tight walls. I pulled out until I was barely inside of her. I looked into her eyes and then slammed into her so hard her head hit the arm of the couch. I pulled her hips until I was buried deeply inside of her once again. I held onto her tightly and then I stated riding her hard, deep, harder and deeper, ma
king her face twist into agonizing pleasure.

Emmy again tried to wriggle away, but I had a firm hold on her as I plunged into her warm depths. Her body felt so perfect under my own – soft yet firm, curvy, and lively. She r
esponded to every stroke, every kiss, and every touch. She was so wet that my cock was coated thoroughly in her juices. She screamed my name as I knew she would, coming apart under me, thrashing and writhing and sobbing.

I pulled out of her perfect pussy and straddled her chest with my throbbing cock at her lips.

“Suck your come off of my cock, Emmy,” I commanded.

She looked at me with fiery eyes and parted her lips. I licked my own as I slowly pushed into her mouth.

“Oh shit,” I groaned. “That’s it, baby. Take it.”

Her fingers gripped at my ass, pulling me deeper into her mouth. Her eyes were large and she looked like she was struggling to breathe, but she pulled me deeper still. I felt her ga
gging around my cock, but she didn’t stop until – holy shit – she had taken me all the way. If I had the right view, I would probably be able to see her throat stuffed full of my dick.

Groaning and growling, I pulled out and pushed my way back in.

“Oh, Emmy,” I panted as I held my cock deep within her mouth.

When I pulled out again she hurriedly and eagerly said “Fuck my mouth. Fuck it hard and fast.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice.

I rammed my cock into her sweet little mouth until my balls were pressed hard against her chin. As I pulled out, Emmy gagged. I started to pull away altogether, but she grabbed my ass again.

“I said to fuck my mouth!” she commanded.

I shoved my dick back into her mouth and didn’t stop. I fucked her mouth, listening to her grunts and the wet sounds my cock made in her wet mouth. I looked over my shoulder and saw that one of Emmy’s hands was busy rubbing her clit. When she slipped a finger inside of her cunt, I was ready to explode. As gorgeous and perfect as her mouth was, I didn’t want to come in her mouth. I wanted to come inside of her pussy. I pulled out of her mouth with a loud slurping noise and a m
oment later I slammed into her. We both shouted and growled incomprehensible things as I came inside of her and she came on my cock.

Exhausted, I collapsed on top of her and rested my head in the crook of her neck.

“A simple hello would have done just as well,” Emmy teased, her voice hoarse.

“I had to show you how much I missed you,” I said, smi
ling.

“You missed me a whole lot.”

“Yeah, and you better have missed me just as much,” I said and gently nipped at her skin.

“Maybe I missed you more,” she said, trailing her fingers over my back.

“I
am
a fine specimen,” I said haughtily. “I can’t blame you for missing me.”

Emmy pinched me under my arm and I jumped. “Shit that hurts!”

“Good!”

I could have pinched her back, but I gained much more pleasure from kissing her, and I did just that until we were both panting for air again.

Chapter Thirty-Four

The firm was exploding – we would soon need to move into a bigger office to accommodate our growth. Things were beginning to get cramped. It was a complete 360 from what it was a year ago, and though we were all very good at our jobs, we had to give a significant amount of credit to Emmy for ge
tting us rolling in the right direction. Only a couple of days after her return from Pennsylvania I had to ask her to come in and work a few hours. We needed to stay organized and stay on track.

Emmy came in at ten that morning after leaving the kids with Lena. She had stopped at her new favorite bakery and picked up a few dozen gourmet cupcakes. She looked so pretty in her yellow blouse and white skirt and black heels, laughing and smiling with a few of the girls in the office. I had just stepped out to get a file, but I had stopped to look at my beaut
iful, hot wife. She noticed me watching her and winked at me. The girls around her giggled and I took that as a cue to go back to my office.

I was almost afraid to admit how happy I was, and I was disgustingly happy. Every time I seemed to acknowledge my happiness, something happened to challenge that claim. This time would be no different.

Emmy walked in carrying a cupcake and a cup of coffee for me. I hadn’t asked her for the cupcake or the coffee, but being the most perfect wife ever, she had anticipated my wants and needs before I had to voice them.

“Thank you, beautiful,” I said when she put the items down on my desk. She leaned over and gave me a brief kiss.

“You’re very welcome, handsome,” she smiled.

“We have to start looking for a bigger office,” I said di
stractedly as I looked over the papers in front of me.

“You may not have to look too far,” Emmy said casually.

“Mmm,” I murmured, not really thinking about what she said.

My phone buzzed on my desk.

“Yes?” I said to Kacey.

“Vivian Deluca is here,” she said and sounded just as surprised as I felt. Vivian always preferred meeting on mutual grounds – at pubs and restaurants, not in my office, and never in her office. I didn’t even think we had any cases in common at the moment, at least nothing that would warrant her showing up in my office.

“Let her in,” I said.

Emmy was standing beside me, looking at me curiously. “Who’s here?”

“Vivian Deluca,” I said, scratching my head.

Her eyes widened. “
The
Vivian Deluca?”

I nodded. Before we had any further opportunity to po
nder what the devil wanted, she walked into my office as if it was her own. That was Vivian. Her unrelenting confidence gave the impression that she took over whatever room she entered.

She was smiling. A lot. I tried hard not to shift with di
scomfort in my chair. Her big, delighted smile was unnerving.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” I said coolly.

“And a delight?” she asked, cocking one eyebrow as she stood on the other side of my desk with one hand on her hip.

“Let’s not get carried away with lies and misconceptions, Vivian. You must have a huge knife in that purse of yours.”

“Why would you suggest such a thing, Luke?” she feigned shock.

“Because the only time you are this happy is when you’ve drawn blood. I am assuming you are about to spill some of mine. Which vein would you prefer?” I offered up my wrists. When she snickered, I turned my head and offered her my jug
ular.

“Oh, Luke,” she smirked. “Why don’t you introduce me to your wife?” She looked at Emmy for the first time.

“Emmy Kessler, this is Vivian Deluca, aka the beast, or the bitch. Whichever suits her for the day.”

“Don’t forget the heart eating bitch,” Vivian chimed in with a wink.

I sighed impatiently. Vivian reached across the desk to shake Emmy’s hand.

“I am so delighted to finally meet you, Esmeralda Kes
sler,” Viv said.

I turned my head to the side as the pair continued to shake hands. I had never mentioned Emmy’s full name. It hit me just as she passed Emmy an envelope.

“You’ve been served, Mrs. Kessler,” Vivian said cheerfully.

“Uh,” Emmy said, dumbfounded, holding the envelope as if it was a bomb.

“What the hell is this about, Vivian?” I demanded, snatching the envelope from Emmy’s hand. “And since when do
you
personally serve anyone? Don’t you consider yourself above such things? Don’t you have minions to do this for you?”

“Usually,” she chuckled and then sat down in a chair. “But this was just too good to pass up.”

I unfolded the documents that were in the envelope.

“You really are a heart eating bitch, aren’t you?” Emmy asked conversationally.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she laughed. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“What is it?” Emmy asked me, leaning over my shoulder. “I don’t know who would be taking me to court.”

“Iris,” I growled and tossed the papers on the desk.

“Oh shit,” Emmy muttered and rightfully took a couple of steps away from me.

I stood up and faced my wife who had taken an extra few steps away.

“So, why would Iris be taking me to court?” she tried to play dumb.

Vivian laughed. “Luke, you didn’t know? Honestly?”

“Shut up, Vivian,” I said in a low tone as I walked t
owards Emmy who shuffled away.

“Why is Iris taking me to court?” Emmy asked again as she moved away from me. I followed her patiently, unwilling to run around my office like a bunch of third graders with Vivian sitting in the middle instigating.

“Is that a cupcake from Carusos?” Vivian asked seriously. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as she took
my
cupcake off of my desk, along with
my
cup of coffee before settling back on the other side. “I adore a Carusos cupcake.”

Emmy regarded Vivian with her eyebrows pulled down for a moment, but when she realized I was gaining on her she scurried away.

“Apparently, you bought the building that houses her muffin book shop,” I said to Emmy as if she didn’t already know. “Then you made a grand show of going into her shop to tell her that you aren’t renewing her month to month lease. She is claiming that you harassed her and that you are discriminating against her because of her age and because of her mental disease. Since her business was flourishing and she always paid her rent on time, it only makes your actions look less than honorable, and very possibly illegal!”

“I did nothing illegal,” Emmy said stubbornly. And then she looked curious. “What mental disease? And how old is the bitch?”

“This cupcake is delicious,” Vivian said as she chewed. “I tried one of Iris’s muffins today. She makes one hell of a muffin.”

“According to the paperwork, Iris is fifty-three,” I told Emmy.

“Ew!” She cried, scrunching up her nose. “I heard her tell you she was forty-three.”

“I guess she lied,” I said dryly.

“What mental disease?” Emmy asked next.

“Bipolar disease,” Vivian chirped in happily.

“I didn’t know the Muffin Bitch was old,” Emmy argued. “And I had no idea that she was bipolar.”

“She’ll argue that she told you. It will be her words against yours, the person who bought the building just to kick her out,” Vivian said. “Damn, this cupcake is my favorite. Double chocolate?”

“You bought a building,” I said in disbelief, shaking my head as I continued to follow her around the room. “Not just a little building, no. You bought a big ass corner building! Where did you get the money for that, Em? Hmm?”

“I used my own money,” she snapped.

“Before we got married, we agreed that you would not use your money except for maybe traveling back and forth to Louisiana. I don’t remember saying it was okay to buy real estate!”

“It’s
my
money!” she argued. “I should be able to buy the damn white house if I can afford to.”

“Can you afford to?” Vivian asked curiously.

“No,” Emmy shrugged. “But I can afford a hell of a lot. My money is just sitting in an account, growing. I’m not allowed to use it.”

“Oh,” Vivian laughed hard. “Luke, you are so damn ho
norable that it’s stifling”

“Shut up, Vivian,” I growled. “A matter of fact, get out, Vivian.”

“I haven’t finished my coffee yet,” she said. “So, Emmy, this is off the record, but why exactly did you buy the building?”

“Don’t answer that,” I warned, but Emmy gave me a look of disdain.

“Iris almost destroyed my marriage,” she said to Vivian, though she kept her eye on me as we circled my desk and the chairs Vivian was seated in. “She threw herself onto Luke after she made such a big show to befriend me and my kids. I happened to walk in just before she kissed him.”

“You’re kidding me,” Vivian said. “She failed to mention that she had the hots for your husband.”

“Luke and I have been through too much,” Emmy said. I stopped moving and so did she. She eyed me warily. “It has taken us years to find our mutual happiness and Iris was all too willing to blow it up. She admitted to me that she had been lusting after him for
months
. I don’t want that woman anywhere near my husband. Her stupid shop is too close for comfort.”

“So, you bought it just so you could evict her?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said in a tone that said “duh.”

“Oh, this is grand,” Vivian said, getting to her feet. “E
ither way, Iris has a case.”

Grudgingly, I nodded in agreement. Emmy looked irrita
ted. She crossed her arms.

“I’m not backing down from this,” she said to Vivian. “Besides, the building is a perfect location to move the firm i
nto. So either way, that old muffin bitch has to go.”

“Oh, I’m glad you’re not backing down, Emmy,” Vivian grinned. “I like a good fight, and I am guessing Luke is going to fight extra hard this time. Get all catty and show me his claws!” She growled and made a pawing motion in the air. I wanted to slap her, but I don’t hit women.

“Get out,” I told her sharply.

“Oh, I love it when you get bossy,” Viv said, collecting her purse. She turned to Emmy and said “I wish we could have met under better circumstances, Emmy. Honestly, I rather like you so far.”

Emmy nodded as she regarded Vivian with deep thought. I didn’t know what she was thinking. I imagined she was thinking about what a bitch Viv was and how fitting it was that she was representing Iris. Iris knew what she was doing by choosing my arch enemy as her lawyer. Well played.

“Did you sleep with my husband?” Emmy asked Vivian.

My jaw fell to the floor, but Vivian seemed unfazed.

“Yes,” she said with a smile. “But that was a long time ago. Luke and I had a very nice no strings attached agreement, but he realized very early on that he was in love with you and broke it off so that he could do the honorable thing. What gave it away?”

Emmy shrugged. “Woman’s intuition. I feel like I should hate you, Vivian, but I rather like you also.”

“Oh, come on!” I cried out. “You are forbidden to b
efriend her!”

Emmy looked at me dismissively and turned back to Vi
vian. “See you in court, Vivian.”

“Oh, yes you will,” she grinned. “But Emmy don’t think that because I like you that I will go easy on you.”

“I’d expect nothing less from a heart eating bitch,” Emmy said.

Vivian winked at me and walked out of my office. I looked at Emmy and resumed my pursuit of her. She began to move again, also.

“You are in so much trouble,” I told her. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“I was only protecting what belongs to me,” she said with a shrug. “I told Iris I would fight to the death rather than let someone destroy my family.”

“Really.”

“Really,” she responded.

“Why are you running away, Emmy? You know I can catch you whenever I want.”

“I would at least like to have the illusion that I can get away,” she said.

I locked the door and looked at her. “You may as well forget all about that illusion.”

I stalked towards her. She tried to move away again, but I caught her easily right in front of my desk. I pushed her against it. I put my hands flat on the surface on either side of her, tra
pping her. She swallowed audibly.

“You’re in so much trouble,” I told her again, my lips close to hers.

“I’d do it again if I was given the choice,” she said. “That muffin bitch is lucky I didn’t just kick her ass. Making her move out is easy.”

I chuckled and pressed my erection against her. “You did all of that for me,” I said.

“It was a lot of work,” she admitted. “The owners did not want to sell.”

“I’ll bet you dipped deeply into your money,” I mu
rmured as I inhaled the skin on her neck.