Page 21 of There's No Us Without You
I swear, if he wasn’t my best mate, I’d cut his tongue out and shove it down his throat just so he stops talking.
Speaking of shoving things down his throat . . .
I shake my head to release the thoughts of what it would feel like to have my best friend at my mercy.
Bound.
On his knees.
All for me.
But that’s never going to happen, and with my growing hard-on threatening to give me away, I stalk towards the stairs. Eden falls in behind me, Emerson at the back.
It’s probably a good thing Eden didn’t go first because I’ve noticed the way she fills out those jeans, and the last thing I need right now is her round arse in my face.
Stop thinking, idiot.
Emerson says something I can’t quite make out, making Eden giggle. It’s the first time I’ve heard her laugh, and the sound vibrates through my body, straight to my dick.
I have only two options here. One, ignore the fact her laugh makes me hard, and I’d love nothing more than to see her tied up and begging for my cock. Or two, tell Emerson to shut the hole in his face so I don’t have to hear it again.
I opt for option number one—ignore—considering I’ve already made her feel unwelcome, and I need to get out of her pull of gravity as fast as possible.
When I reach the second bedroom—the one Eden will be using for the foreseeable future—I place her suitcase just inside the doorway and step back, shoving my hands in my pockets.
I need to do something with them before I wrap them around Emerson’s neck and strangle him to within an inch of his life. It’s his fault I’m in this predicament. I’d do anything to see him happy, whether or not he realises it.
Eden walks past me, and I hold my breath until she steps into the room. She smells so damn good, that vanilla scent of hers reminding me of the time Wren taught me to make vanilla cupcakes from scratch.
We were about sixteen and Dad had just taken his fists to me again. I took off, headed straight for Wren’s house. He was in the kitchen with his mum, Deb, when I barged in, looking every bit like a homeless child. Deb took one look at me and sent me to shower, while Wren grabbed me some clean clothes. I didn’t want to talk, so we just baked.
It was the most unsettling and calming experience of my life. To this day, I still remember the exact steps to make the perfect fluffy cupcake.
I’m brought back into the moment when Emerson slaps me on the back. Although, I wish I could just escape because an awkward silence falls between the three of us as Emerson and I hover in the doorway like creeps.
Eden finally glances up, her wide eyes darting between the two of us. “I really appreciate you letting me stay,” she says. “I’m... I’m not sure what I would have done if...” Sniffing, she shakes her head and wipes her nose with the back of her hand.
Fuck, I don’t do tears, and the urge to comfort her has me taking a step backwards, while Emerson steps into the room.
He glances at me over his shoulder. “It’s all good, right Will?” The desperation in his voice is evident.
Damn it. He’s going to be the death of me.
I nod, giving Eden a tight smile. “Glad we can help.”
“You’ll be one of us in no time,” Emerson says.
Not happening.
I don’t want to know anything about her. Not about the person who broke her heart and left her homeless. If I find out, I’ll want to break the sonofabitch, and I don’t need that added pressure.
“Well, we’ll leave you to it.” I slap Emerson’s shoulder, making him jump.
“Oh . . . right.” He rubs the back of his neck. “We’ll see you when you’ve settled in.”
“Thanks.” Eden stands and walks over to grab her suitcase. She places it on the bed and unzips it before flipping the top over. “Before you go,” she says, glancing back, “would you mind if I cooked dinner one night this week? Just to say thank you.”
“Whatever you want,” Emerson says. “I’m getting sick of Will’s cooking, anyway.”
