Page 18 of Owning Emma

“I said,” he leveled me with eyes as hard as granite, “that you aren’t fucking her. Besides, you never take home a girl without my approval.”

“There always is a first,” I stated, knowing I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t take this girl without him, especially knowing how he wanted her, even if he didn’t realize it. I’d seen his look, felt his agitation, and I knew she was getting to him. Hell, she was getting to me too. No, she was most definitely going to be ours, it was only a matter of time.

“I’m warning you, Shaw, today is not the day to fuck with me.”

I took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent that hung in the air and reminded me of everything Emma. “Calm down, man. She’s fine. You saw it with your own two eyes.”

His voice dropped, almost to a private whisper, “But, what if. . .”

“But, what if what?” A scowling Emma asked, her hands on her hip that was now clad in a pair of leggings.

Roman’s mask clicked back into place, trying not to expose any of his weakness. “You didn’t answer the phone.”

She took a step closer to his space, fire dancing in her eyes. “It’s my day off.”

He stood up, unfairly using his height to demonstrate power. “You didn’t think that it ringing nonstop could signify something important?”

She took a step closer, not one bit intimidated by him. “I didn’t care if it was important or not, your phone, your business, doesn’t concern me . . . especially on my day off.”

Roman grunted his annoyance. “I called your name, multiple times. Shaw did also.” He used his chin to signal the direction I was in but didn’t turn his head.

She pushed her small height into his space, tilting her head to look at him. “I was in the shower. As you know, because you didn’t have the decency to knock.”

“I don’t have to knock, I own this place.”

“But, this is my space.” I wanted to pat her head and give my approval at her attempt to stand up to him, but her height against his was nearly comical. There was no way I could take her seriously, and I knew at this point he was more annoyed than anything.

“That I am providing.” Roman’s voice was flat and unamused.

Emma’s arms flared in frustration. “You saw me naked! That has to be violating things.”

“Do you want to see me naked? Make it even?” I chimed in, earning me a hard look from them both, and yeah, maybe I was joking. Half joking really. But, the moment I said it I couldn’t wish for anything more. The thought of her eyes touching every inch of my body had my blood searing and cock rising.

Roman roughly cleared his throat, a sign that despite his best efforts, the image was in his mind too. “What’s your cell phone number?”

“I don’t have a cell phone. I’ve never needed one.” She tossed her long damp locks over her shoulder in a matter of fact motion.

Roman’s hand came out. “Shaw, your phone.”

I reached into my pocket pulling out my cell, then slapped it into his hand. It wasn’t that important to me. I learned long ago that any person’s number worth using, is worth remembering. It’s less risky that way too. If my cell phone happened to get in the wrong hands with all the numbers I had stored in my head, well, it could be catastrophic.

Roman reached out and grabbed her wrist, bringing it high enough to slap my former cell into her palm. “Now you do. If that phone rings, answer it. I’ll text you my number later.”

He pushed past her, careful not to knock her over, before storming toward the door. Right as he reached the door knob, she finally asked, “What if I don’t want to answer your phone.”

He turned to face her, the distance between them radiating with tension. “If I’m calling you, Emma, it’s for a fucking good reason, not to ask how your fucking day is. If I call you, you’ll answer your damn phone, do you understand me?”

She didn’t answer him verbally, no real confirmation that she would in fact answer, but she nodded and we knew she wouldn’t disobey. No one defied Roman, especially when he’s mad. But, this time he wasn’t mad, no, he was worse, he was scared. Yet, he wouldn’t admit that to her, hell, he wouldn’t admit that to anyone. Anyone, but me.

He slammed the door behind him, leaving her staring at the phone he placed into her palm. I stood up, stopping at her side. “He wouldn’t be so insistent if he didn’t care.”

Her nostrils flared. “He has a funny way of showing it.”

I nodded my agreement because she was right. But, I wouldn’t hold that fault against him. When I left her room, I closed the door softly behind me, listening to make sure I heard to click, before going in search of Roman. I found him in his office, his head bowed as his palms supported the weight of his body against his desk.

“She’s fine, you know,” I offered.

“For now. But for how long? How long could I protect her from him?” His words dripped with his frustration and maybe a little fear.

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