Page 68 of Flare
“Oh God,” she said aloud, her voice cracking on the words. She pressed her forehead against her knees and tried to breathe through the panic clawing at her throat.
A soft rap on her bedroom door made her jerk upright.
“Emily?” Ward asked.“Is everything okay?”
She swallowed hard, feeling a ridiculous surge of relief.“N-not really.”
There was a brief pause.“Can I come in?”
“Please,” she whispered, knowing his enhanced hearing would pick it up.
The door opened slowly, and Ward stood silhouetted in the doorway, wearing only a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. The dim light from the hallway highlighted the broad planes of his chest and heavily muscled shoulders, and the furring of dark hair across his pectorals.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice gentle.
“Andrew just texted me.” Emily’s voice shook.“He knows where I am, Ward. He told me he won’t stop until I go back to him.” She looked up at him, not trying to hide the fear she felt.“I’m so scared right now.”
Ward crossed the room in a single long stride and sank down onto the edge of her bed.“I won’t let him hurt you.” He patted her shoulder.“And he’s probably lying about knowing where you are. Or he would’ve just come here instead of texting you.”
“Crap, you’re right.” She stared at him, suddenly feeling stupid.“That never even occurred to me.”
“Because he rattled you,” Ward said comfortingly.“Now, try to get some sleep. You’ve had a long day.”
Emily reached for his hand.“Will you… stay with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone.” Oh God, she was pathetic. But she needed him right here beside her.
Ward’s eyes widened slightly, but he nodded.“Of course.”
Emily scooted over to the other side of the bed, making room for him. Ward stretched out beside her, careful to maintain a small space between them. Even that slight distance felt like too much to Emily.
She craved his warmth, his strength, and wanted the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear to drown out the sound of her own frantic pulse.
“If Andrew tries anything,” Ward said, his voice a low rumble in the darkness,“he’ll have to come through me first. And I’ve never lost a fight.”
Emily believed him. There was no bravado in his words, just a simple statement of fact. She rolled onto her side to face him, studying the firm line of his jaw, his straight nose, the gentle curve of his lips.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He turned to look at her, and the desire in his eyes made her breath catch. She couldn’t resist her own needs anymore. She gathered up her courage, leaned over and pressed her lips to his.
Ward froze for a heartbeat, then responded with a hunger that matched her own.
His hand came up to cradle her face, his thumb stroking her cheek as his mouth moved against hers. His lips were soft but insistent, coaxing rather than demanding.
Emily sighed into the kiss, melting against him. His tongue teased the seam of her lips, and she opened eagerly for him, letting him explore her mouth. His hand slid from her face to her hair, tangling in the strands as he deepened the kiss.
The hot throbbing reawakened between her legs. She rolled on top of him, needing to feel the solid warmth of his body against hers.
“Oh, fuck, Emily, you’re so beautiful,” Ward groaned.
His hand left her hair to trail down her back, coming to rest on the curve of her ass, his touch respectful even in this moment of passion.
“Is this okay?” he murmured against her lips.
“Yes,” she breathed.“More than okay.”
His hand traveled lower. When his fingers brushed the bare skin of her thigh below her panties, she gasped at the jolt of electricity that shot through her.
Ward pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers.“Too much?”
