Page 5 of Cruel Steps

“Huh?” I blinked, glancing at the building to see if that was the name.

“My name. It’s Emerson.”

“Emerson,” I repeated, liking how it felt in my mouth. She melted into me at the sound of her name, her eyes slightly dazed. I loved that her name wasn’t typical like mine. She was extraordinary, so she needed a name to match.

The door opened behind us, hitting her in the back of the legs and breaking our bubble. I growled and gave the guy who’d hit her the same look I stared down defensemen with, and he hurried away quicker than most of my receivers. I grabbed the top of the door before it closed, pushing Emerson in.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. It’s nothing,” she said, her cheeks reddening again. We were quiet as we walked up the stairs, and I prayed she wasn’t changing her mind. Despite my cock being the hardest it had ever been, I’d walk away if she wanted. But I wasn’t ready to leave her. Each little nugget of information had me wanting more.

Emerson pulled her phone out and scanned it over a black box on the wall. The door from the stairwell to her floor beeped, turning green, and she pulled it open. That should’ve clued me in on how nice this place was. Regardless, I wasn’t prepared for what awaited me on the other side.

Gray hardwood floors decorated with thick rugs in cream and teal came into view. Actual art hung on the wall and there were vases full of fresh flowers. Chilled water and fruit sat atop a glass table next to an expensive coffee maker. The hallway to this place was already nicer than my dad’s house. I swallowed, insecurity returning. My gaze bounced around, noticing how spread apart the apartment doors were. If I was a gambling man, I’d wager they were larger on the inside than the house I grew up in.

“You live here?” My voice came out more skeptical than I intended.

“Um, temporarily. Just for the school year.” She eyed me warily before stopping at a door. She scanned her phone over the keypad, then placed her thumb over a circle when it beeped. It turned green, and she pushed it open, stepping back to let me through.

“That’s some security.”

“Mmhmm. Makes it easier to go out. I can just take my phone.” She wiggled to emphasize her point, biting her lip.

Shit. I needed to quit making her feel bad about living in a nice place. She hadn’t acted like a stuck-up princess. My issues were not hers. I needed to leave them at the door and enjoy the night.

With a smirk, I crowded her against the wall in the entryway, breathing in her delicious smell of fiery pomegranates and something sweet. “Thank fuck for that. Not seeing you in these shorts would’ve been a tragedy.”

Just like that, the mood returned, and her cheeks pinked. Trailing my hand down the pretty shade of pink, I brushed her blonde hair over her shoulder. I loved how her skin pebbled beneath my touch.

“Anyone else home?”

“No.” She swallowed. “Why?” Her heartbeat picked up, her pulse fluttering beneath my hand.

“Good.”

I didn’t respond with words. Instead, I slanted my mouth over hers and pushed her shirt up, relishing the way her skin felt beneath my fingers. I roamed her body with my hands, loving how she came alive with each graze. Her head fell back against the wall, her tongue twisting with mine in a kiss that put all other kisses to shame. Gripping her hips, I broke the kiss and teased my fingers beneath the waistband of her shorts before yanking them.

“What?” she stuttered, her eyes opening to take me in.

I dropped to my knees, grinning at her surprise, as I peeled the tight material off her body. I undid her shoes and placed everything to the side before I took in my conquest.

Emerson’s hands were flat against the wall, and her chest heaved as she watched me. She was naked from the waist down, and fuck was it a sight. Peering at her from this angle undid me. She looked like a goddess, her voluptuous body on display for me.

Trailing my finger slowly up her leg, I loved how she shivered at my touch; except I didn’t know who I tortured more—her or me. Stopping at her thigh, I stared uninhibitedly at her glistening pussy. I licked my lips at the beautiful sight, eagerness overcoming my desire to take my time. At the sight of her wet heat, I couldn’t hold back any longer. Lifting her leg over my shoulder, I dove in and speared my tongue deep. Her body convulsed, and her hands flew to my hair.

“Oh…” she moaned. “You… don’t… ah!” Her fingers threaded through my hair and pulled, something I doubted she was conscious of doing. It thrilled me to make her lose control, to see her come undone.

Flicking her clit, I licked up her center with the flat side of my tongue before sucking on her bundle of nerves. Gibberish flew out of her mouth, accompanied by sounds of pleasure as she writhed against the wall and my face. Leaning back on my haunches, I got lost watching her as I plunged my finger into her center. Her pussy gripped me tight, causing my eyes to roll back as I imagined how tight she’d be around my dick.

“It’s Holden, Wildcat,” I teased, licking my lips and tasting her.

“Yes, yes, yes! Holden!” she shouted, her head thrashing back and forth against the wall and making her hair stick out in every direction. Even so, I’d never seen a woman look so beautiful as she came.

Her fingers tugged at my strands while her pussy convulsed around my finger as she came. Her cum coated my fingers; the smell of her arousal made my dick leak more, and I was seconds away from coming in my boxers, untouched.

Licking my finger, I held her eyes as I placed her leg on the ground and stood. If she wasn’t leaning against the wall, I expected she’d be a puddle on the floor about now. Cupping her jaw, I kissed her like I had all the time in the world and ignored the imaginary clock ticking down to my future—something she wasn’t part of.

Why did that make me feel sad?

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