Page 58 of Owning Emma

Chapter 27

EMMA

By the timeI made it to the kitchen, I could hardly walk. The men used my body so thoroughly, I knew without a shadow of doubt that I could never turn away from them. They ruined me, and I loved every second of their corruption.

The hardest part was pretending that it never happened. That I didn’t let my boss’ best friend crush his lips to mine and carry me up the stairs while I practically dry humped him. That I didn’t let my lips touch my boss’ skin in the most intimate of ways or that I didn’t take him inside my body while his girth made me moan with so much pleasure I swore I nearly blacked out when I came.

I was mortified at my weakness. Never in my life had I done something so reckless, and now that it was over, and I walked out of Roman’s room, I was afraid what the consequences would be. If he fired me, my father would have to find another way to pay him back, and he was already paying more than he could manage on his other loan.

I was kneading the dough for cinnamon rolls when Dot walked into the room. Without a word, she went straight to the coffee pot, filled her cup with coffee, and then leaned against the counter as she watched. I felt my face burn with the fire of her stare until finally I couldn’t take it much longer. “You’re up early.”

She snorted. “Yeah, well, my guest bedroom when I stay over shares a wall with Roman’s shower.”

Oh, Jesus. Save me. I scratched at my cheek leaving flour behind while I tried to think of something, anything to say. “He’s an early riser.”

Oh, god. I knew my skin betrayed me, turning a bright shade of red. I couldn’t help but think about how much he definitely rises in the morning. All eight inches of perfection had no problem rising to this morning’s occasion. She pretended like there was no innuendo at all, “That kid never slept in as a boy, either. Always a restless sleeper.”

He had no problem sleeping last night. “Yeah, I bet he was a handful.”

She took a sip of her coffee. “He still is. He wants what he wants, and he won’t accept any less. It’s a good strength to have, but can also be a weakness.”

I bit my lip. “I know what you mean.”

Her hand came down hard on the counter next to me. “Good, then you should know that if you’re going to meddle with me boys, you need to be their strength and not their weakness.”

“I . . .I” I didn’t know what to say to that.

“Close your mouth, Emma. You think I wouldn’t figure out who was in there with them this morning, or that I missed all the lust those boys aim in your direction? It was only a matter of time before it happened. But I’m warning you, those boys don’t have time for games.”

“I never wanted to play games.” I felt a bit defensive at her words.

“Good. Shaw’s had too much heartbreak in his life to be dealing with games of love. Be good to them, be good for them. That’s all I’m asking.” She handed me the bowl of cinnamon sugar like we were having a normal conversation.

I stood there staring at it as I took her offering. “I don’t even think they want me. I’m going to have to find a new job to pay for my father’s loan.”

The confession of my fears made me suddenly fight back tears. Sure, I never wanted to be here in this position, working for someone as notorious as Roman, but I didn’t want to leave either. He was a good boss, good to his men, and fairer than I would have ever thought possible. Now, I completely ruined that without even a thought to what my actions would mean.

She snorted overdramatically at my confession. “You think those boys don’t want you? I think they’ve never wanted anything more.”

I wanted to say more, to tell her she was wrong and she didn’t understand the whole situation. How could she? She had never fallen for two guys at once, two best friends, that should be anything but good. I opened my mouth, about to tell her just that when Roman’s large body filled the doorframe.

He was freshly showered, the water still clinging slightly to his short hair. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a solid black tee, his presence owned the room as he walked in. His eyes found mine, and I struggled with whether I should look away or hold his gaze, challenging him to say something.

“Coffee?” Dot asked, breaking the spell between us as he forced his head to the side, looking at his mother who had a steaming cup of coffee held out for him.

He reached for it. “Yes, please, and thank you.”

“Long day planned?” I sprinkled the cinnamon over the dough as she talked, making sure to get it in every place the butter covered.

“Nothing too intense. Breakfast. Finishing off some time with Royal. Lunch. Seeing Royal and Bianca off, then I think the rest of the day might be free.” His eyes found mine at that admission, their intensity burning.

“Take it easy while you can, you had a long night last night.” Dot smirked at that, as she strolled out of the room. To Roman, he had to assume that she meant the party then the explosion. But, judging by the conversation we had just a few minutes earlier, I knew that she meant a whole lot more than that.

He came up beside me, his hip resting against the counter as he watched me roll the dough into a log, then cut perfectly even slices. I took out some pans, placing the cinnamon rolls into them with enough room to allow for them to rise. He didn’t take his eyes off me, not when I put them aside and went to the fridge for the cream cheese and milk. Or when I searched around the cabinets for the hand mixer and giant bowl that I would need to make the most delicious icing for the cinnamon roll.

I placed it all on the counter, finally unable to take the weight of his stare much longer. “What?”

He grinned, the expression taking over his face and making the room feel lighter. “You’re uncomfortable with me now.”

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