Page 56 of Emi's Hero

“I suppose we should call it a night,” Emi said.

George nodded, his lips still curved at Hawk and Kalea’s playfulness. “I suppose the sooner we sleep, the sooner it will be tomorrow, and we’ll be on our way to Oahu.”

Emi led the way into the house and down the hallway to the guest suite. She opened the door and stepped inside.

George followed, stopping just outside the door.

Emi glanced over her shoulder and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“This is your room,” he said. “I don’t want to assume anything. If you want me to stay, you’ll have to tell me. Same if you want me to go. Either way, you won’t hurt my feelings or make me mad.”

Her frown deepened. “I don’t want to inconvenience you any more than I already have.”

“Sweetheart,” he gave her a crooked smile, “you’re anything but an inconvenience.”

She chewed on her bottom lip. “What doyouwant to do?”

“I told you. It’s your choice. I would never force you to do anything, and I don’t want you to ever feel bad for making a decision that isn’t what I would do. I want you to do what you want to do. You’re free, both physically and mentally.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve had a choice,” she said, her voice fading away.

George gave her time to think about it. He could almost see the gears turning in her brain.

Her chin lifted, and she met his gaze. “I want you to stay with me.”

“Because you want it? Or because you know I want it.”

Her eyes widened. “You want to stay?”

He grinned and nodded. “I do.”

“Then it’s a win-win.” She raised her eyebrows. “What are you waiting for? Get in here and close the door.”

George chuckled. “Bossy now?”

“You said my room, my choice.” She lifted her chin higher. “I choose for you to stay with me.”

He entered, closed the door behind him and twisted the lock. As he turned, he said, “I don’t mind sleeping?—”

Emi wasn’t standing behind him. A green and purple swath of fabric lay on the floor where she’d been.

“—on the couch,” he finished saying beneath his breath. Despite the echo of logic clamoring for him to think with his head, not his dick, he followed a trail of clothing across the sitting room, collecting the items as he went.

First, the dress, then a bra; next, he found a pair of panties just inside the bedroom doorway.

His gaze swept the room for further clues, landing on the bed where auburn hair splayed across the white pillowcase and green eyes stared at him above the comforter pulled all the way up to Emi’s nose.

George’s groin tightened. “Do you always leave your clothes lying around?” He dangled her bra from his fingertip.

“Do you need written instructions?” she asked.

“Do you always answer a question with a question?”

She cocked an eyebrow and lowered the comforter to the base of her neck. “Are you just going to stand there, marine?”

He chuckled. “You must be feeling better. You’re getting sassier.”

“That’s what good food and fresh air will do.” She flipped a strand of her hair back behind her. The movement caused the comforter to slip lower, exposing the top of one rounded breast. Emi didn’t adjust for the slippage. Instead, she met his gaze head-on.

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