Page 14 of Yours to Conquer

We walk hand in hand down the walkway and enter the car for the short drive home.

“Are you thinking of changing jobs?” He puts the car into gear and hits the accelerator.

“Yes, I think it would be a good position for me. I love talking to people, and I think I’d make a good ambassador for Ahz. It would also give me more time to see Kat. I rarely see her, and I miss her.” I look to my left and see the grim line of Anthony’s mouth. He doesn’t want to share me with anyone. “You’re going to have to learn how to share,” I tease.

“I’m an only child, Emma. I have never had to share.” The tension in the car is palpable. Who would’ve thought that considering a transfer would cause such a kerfuffle?

“Well, you’re thirty-four, and it’s time you learn that you don’t always get your way.” He’s pissing me off.

“Why are you being so bitchy? I want you to be with me. Is it so hard to be with me? Things have been going well.”

“Yes, things are going well, but I will not give everything up for you. I said I’d move into your house. I gave up my job for you. I’m making a lot of sacrifices.” My voice seems to get away from me. “I can’t put all of my eggs in your basket, Anthony. Everything aboutmy life is about you right now, and that scares the shit out of me. What happens if we have a fight and one of us says that’s it?”

“We’re fighting right now, Emma. You’re sitting here, yelling at me. I’m not ready to throw in the towel, are you? If you are, then you’re not the girl I thought you were.”

As the tears pour from my eyes, we pull into the garage of his house. He throws the car into park and exits in a huff. I sit in the passenger seat and weep.What the hell just happened?We had a lot of fun at his parents’ house, and at the mention of me applying for a transfer, the entire night turned to shit. I sit in the car alone for what seems like an eternity. I pull out my phone and text my friend.

Trouble in paradise. Can you meet for lunch tomorrow?

Yes, let’s meet at the taco shop on Sunset Blvd. at noon. Will that work? Are you okay? Do you need me now?

That will be good. I’m okay and no, stay home. I’m heading to bed soon, anyway.

Hang in there. See you tomorrow. Love you.

Love you too!

As soon as I push send, the lights in the garage turn on, and I see Anthony standing by the door.

“Are you coming in or what?” he growls.

I open the door to the car and step out. Wiping the residual tears from my eyes, I breeze past him and head straight for the bedroom.

“Wait up, Em. Let’s not do this. I’m sorry. I don’t know why we had this fight. I love you, babe. Please don’t be mad at me anymore.”

“I love you, too, but if you squeeze a chick too hard, you’ll crush it to death. You have to understand that I have been on my own since I was twelve. I spent a lot of time with Kat’s family, but I spent more time by myself than anyone else. I’m not used to this. I love you, but I need time to be me as well.”

“I don’t know where all of this came from. You’ve been pullingaway a bit lately, and I’m feeling insecure. I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was suffocating you.”

“I’m having a tough week. I’m sorry, too. I love you, and I’ll try not to be so bitchy.”

“I’m sorry about that, too. It looks like I’ll be trading in some of those brownie points that I’ve collected.” He gives me a timid smile.

“Let’s just go to bed,” I say as I tug him toward our room. All the tension seems to have disappeared, and we are back to ourselves. Our first fight, and we came out relatively unscathed.

“Make love to me, Em. I need to feel you in my arms now more than ever.”

I fall into his embrace. I love the feel of being wrapped in his arms. The first heated kiss sets off a frenzy of activity. All the tension from the day is waiting to be released at this moment. We quickly remove each other’s clothes and climb into bed.

“I was expecting punishment sex, but makeup sex is going to be even better,” I pant as he sinks himself deep inside me.

“Oh, you’re going to get punished, all right. I’m going to take you hard for making me feel old today. Then I’m going to make love to you because I love you so much that it almost hurts me. If you’re still mad at me after that, then we’ll have makeup sex. By tomorrow morning, I want our minor disagreement to be a long-lost memory.”

“For the record, I’m not mad at you, but I’ll pretend to be to get the makeup sex. I hear makeup sex is the best.”

He pulls me into his arms and begins an evening full of punishment and pleasure. It’s hours before we fall asleep.

CHAPTER TEN

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