Page 123 of There's No Us Without You
That’s it. I’m putting an end to this bullshit right now.
“Get up.” I push myself to stand and hold a hand out to Eden.
A frown pulls her eyebrows in as she cranes her neck to glance up at me. “What?”
“Stand up... please.” I wiggle my fingers, practically bouncing on the spot in anticipation.
“Okay.” She draws out the word before placing a cold hand in mine, allowing me to haul her to her feet.
Before she can protest, I tug her by the hand and lead her up the stairs to my bedroom. I kick a few items of clothing out of the way and when she’s standing in the middle of my room, I circle around, coming up behind her to place my hands on her shoulders.
With a glance back, Eden frowns. “What are you doing?”
Pressing a kiss to her temple, I push her forward until she’s standing in front of the floor-length mirror. I nod at it. “Look at yourself.”
She sighs and turns her attention to her own reflection. “I am.”
“No. You’re not.” I point to the mirror. “Really look. Please.”
“This is silly,” she says, while attempting to step away from me.
If she thinks she’s getting out of this, she’s sorely mistaken. Until she sees what I do, I’m not letting her leave this room.
I grab her waist and pin her in place, pressing my chest against her back. “Just look. Or I’ll strip your clothes off you and make you look at yourself naked.” I point to the mirror again, a small smirk on my face.
Eden’s eyes widen, and she swallows hard. Although, she does stop fighting me and turns back to look at herself. “Fine,” she says, blowing air out her nose like a sulking teenager.
With one hand, I move her silky hair from her neck and trail my fingers down to her collarbone. “Look at how beautiful you are,” I say, placing a soft kiss to the spot just below her ear.
Her body trembles under my touch and she lets out a small gasp, lips parted.
Next, I kiss her shoulder, keeping my eyes locked on hers in the mirror. “Each freckle.” Another kiss. “Each tiny dimple”—another press of my lips—“is exactly where it should be.” Kissing the hollow between her neck and shoulder, I run my hands down her waist and over her hips. “Look at the way your body curves under my hands, Eden. So fucking perfect.”
A shiver convulses through her, and she sucks in a shaky breath, her eyes filling with tears again. “Emerson,” she whispers, a tear falling down her cheek.
“You’re beautiful,” I say, lifting her shirt to run my hands over the soft pale skin on her stomach. “Your body is like nothing I’ve ever known, and the silky heat of it under my fingertips is driving me fucking crazy.”
I’m so damn turned on, my ability to control myself losing the war with my hormones. Having her this close, touching her soft skin, is sending me stupid.
But I don’t care. She deserves to get her dad’s restaurant back, and I’d love nothing more than to see Cooper fucking Hale’s face when she demands he give her the money he owes.
Gripping her waist, I spin Eden around so we’re face-to-face.
Her bloodshot eyes dart between mine. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you get your dad’s restaurant back,” I say, before crushing my lips to hers.
THIRTY-FIVE
Eden
This is really happening.Emerson is kissing me like he’s been starved for a lifetime, deepening our kiss with a gentle stroke of his tongue. Our lips fit together as though they were made for each other.
My breathing grows faster and heavier, my need to show him how sorry I am igniting a fire inside me I never knew existed.
Kent never once made me feel anything close to this. I’m ready to explode and he’s barely even touched me. I want nothing more than for Emerson to shove his fingers inside me, claim me as his own.
With one hand gripping the back of my neck, he hauls me to his chest, a strong arm wrapping around my waist to keep me captured. The hint of mint and whatever sports drink he had at training has me wanting more.
