Page 37 of Ramsey & Emerson

I snuggled her body closer to mine as I answered, “It’s a little past eight-thirty, baby.”

She let out a deep groan, but she stopped pulling away from me, so I was considering that a win. “What the hell, Ramsey? Why are you breaking into my house and waking me up so early in the morning for?”

“I broke in because I didn’t think you’d willingly let me in, and I hadn’t planned on waking you up,” I answered honestly. “I was hoping to crawl in behind you without waking you.”

Emerson got comfortable, and I wanted to pump my fucking fist in the air. “You’re right. I wouldn’t have let you in. But you’re completely touched in the head if you thought you could climb into my bed without waking me, Ramsey,” she smarted. “Considering how I’ve never slept with a guy in my bed before, I would have noticed you, no matter how ninja-like you thought your moves were.”

My heart warmed at her comment about never having slept with a guy in her bed before. “Are you going to kick me out of your bed?”

I could hear her sigh, and she kept me waiting for a few seconds before she quietly whispered, “No, I’m not.”

Three little words.

Three little words never had such an impact on me before. It gave me hope that she would give me a chance to make everything right with her. With my heart beating erratically inside my chest, I leaned forward, then pressed my lips to the back of her neck before settling myself against her warm, delicate, feminine body. Emerson felt like Heaven in my arms, and I never wanted to leave this spot.

We laid quietly for a while, reveling in the peace and comfort of being the only two people that existed for right now. I could hear her steady breathing, and the calming rhythm put me at ease. This felt real, and it also felt right.

Now that I was done being confused, done feeling threatened by this little sprite in my arms, I could see clearly what all the fuss had been about. It’d taken almost losing her to see what’s been in front of my face for days.

I was in love with this girl.

It had to be love; there was no other explanation.

When I compared this girl-who I’d only known for a matter of two weeks-to Deke and Liam, it was no contest; I’d choose her. So, since I loved Deke and Liam like they were forged from my own flesh and blood, that had to mean that whatever I felt for Emerson was stronger than love. I mean, I could fuckingfeelher, for Christ’s sakes.

There was also the fact that I wanted to undo every selfish, cruel, hateful thing that I’d ever directed at her. I’d never been sorry for anything that I’dever done before, so this was new. In my head, my actions had always been justified. However, when I thought of how Jamie, Roman, and Ricky had their hands on her and had seen what her body looked like, there wasn’t enough soap on the planet to cleanse my soul of that regret.

I loved this girl.

Without a doubt.

Granted, she currently hated my guts, to which I didn’t blame her, but that wasn’t going to deter me. Now that I could identify my feelings with absolute certainty, and I knew what I wanted, Emerson was going to be mine.

No matter what.

“Baby?” I whispered just in case she’d gone back to sleep.

She didn’t seem awake, but she didn’t seem completely asleep, either. “Hmm?”

My heart felt like it was going to beat itself right out of my chest. I was certain that I’d never been in a situation that had caused me so much anxiety before. Emerson’s attack yesterday was probably the closest that I’d ever come to shock and panic.

I’d always been in control because I had always managed to control everything around me. Being able to control people went a long way to being able to control any situation and its outcome. However, I’d never been in control of Emerson; not since the moment that I’d first laid eyes on her. She’d actually been the one with all the power and control in this situation.

I was also about to give her more.

“I love you, Emerson,” I whispered in her ear.

Her entire body froze in my arms, and I knew that this was going to be bad.

Really bad.

Chapter 22

Emerson~

Oh, no, this motherfucker didn’t.

Where did he get off?

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