Page 43 of There's No Us Without You
Like yesterday when she disappeared, returning a couple hours later with her head down as she headed straight for the stairs—no eye contact, no hello—just darted past Emerson and me in the lounge room. Moments later, a door slammed shut, and that was it. She didn’t even come out of her room to eat.
Emerson watched the stairs like a goddamn hawk and kept asking me if he should check on her. I’m not sure how many times I told him she probably wanted some space. It took almosthalf an hour for me to convince him to leave her alone, then he sulked for the rest of the night.
Maybe I should have retracted my offer for her to stay with us—I’m losing my mind.
My body responds to hers—that’s all it is. She’s beautiful, and the submissiveness seeping from her pores is what’s drawing me to her. At least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.
My dominant side knows what it wants, even if I don’t.
On top of that, everything I feel for Emerson is bubbling to the surface, and it’s taking every ounce of willpower not to act on those feelings. My heart races every time he smiles at me, and I want nothing more than to grab him and crush my mouth to his.
He doesn’t understand that walking around the house in nothing but his jocks after he’s had a shower, his skin still wet, has me walking a damn tightrope.
Not his fault I’m becoming a horny teenager again, though.
Oh fuck.
My breathing becomes ragged, and my grip on the desk tightens. My skin is hot, sweat coating my neck and chest as I keep pace with Corbin’s mouth.
I’m so close . . .
That is until a knock at the door has my dick deflating. “For fuck’s sake,” I mutter under my breath, pushing my chair back slightly so Corbin can release my useless dick.
He glances up at me, his dark-brown eyes searching my face. “Sir?”
“Get dressed.” I give his shirtless chest a soft slap as another knock at the door has me shaking my head.
How hard is it to get five minutes of privacy in this damn place?
“What?” I say as I shove my dick back in my pants and tidy the paperwork sprawled on my desk.
Corbin stands and pulls his shirt back on before fixing his pants around his waist. I forgot how tall he is, which makes me think of Emerson and the way he towers over most people.
I shove a hand through my hair, pushing it back as the door swings inward, and April pops her head around it.
“Your brother is here to see you, said it’s important.” She pouts her cherry-red lips and taps the door with a finger as she waits for my response, switching her focus from me to Corbin.
Fucking Christ.
I really don’t have time for this shit. Why can’t Tyler just leave things as they are? It would make my life a lot easier. And why is he so insistent on talking? I’m not ready for that.
“Tell him I’m busy,” I say, thumbing through a stack of bills.
Insurance. Repair bills for a broken glass shelf.
Which reminds me, I really need to get that toilet fixed.
“But—”
“Just fucking do it, April.” I wave her off and bring my attention back to the pile of papers.
With a huff, she closes the door, but not quick enough—the wordarseholeis on her lips as she leaves.
“I heard that,” I call out, shaking my head.
Her responding laugh seeps through the thin walls of my office, and I can just picture the smirk on her face.
She can call me whatever she wants, though. It’s all true. I am an arsehole, and for good reason.
