Page 51 of The Bloodfeather Promise
“Emerson… my sweet Feather. My wild creature. I’ve captured you; don’t you realize that? I won’t let you go now. Can’t even imagine it. You’re mine. Mine now. And I am yours… yours…”
I don’t stop ravaging her throat, the alluring curve of her shoulders, the fragile line of her collarbone. I stake my claim. She does not deny my words. Just allows the heat of them to sink into her, accepting the branding of my soul on hers.
Emerson turns her head, capturing my mouth as I brush kisses along her jawline. She kisses me with all of herself, and I am ready to burst from the gift she has given me. If I don’t stop, right here, right now, I’ll end up taking her against the wall where we stand.
I pull away, giving her bottom lip a teasing bite. Goddamn, I’m already addicted to the little sighs she’s breathing into my mouth. Stopping this delicious torture so we can move to my bedroom is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
“Sweetheart, I don’t intend on making love to you here. I want you across my bed. I want to see every inch of you. Discover all of your secrets. Touch every inch of you, taste all of you until your flavor is imprinted in my mouth and you become all I can taste.”
And as quickly as our moment began, it’s over.
I don’t know what I said, but something shifts between us. It’s indefinable. Dangerous, but compelling. A red light when you’ve been blazing through nothing but green and no intention of slamming on the brakes. It’s instantly apparent Emerson just saw a huge red light.
She pulls away, dislodging my hands by touching them with hers. I oblige the unspoken demand, but keep our fingers entwined so she can’t escape me. I even retreat a couple of steps until a sliver of space yawns between us. My body is screaming in protest.What the fuck! Don’t stop!
Bringing her hand to my mouth, I kiss her fingertips, holding her gaze prisoner so there is no possibility of hiding from me.
“What’s the matter? Are we moving too quickly? I’m selfish enough to admit I don’t care. I want you that much. Talk to me,” I urge softly. There is just enough force in my voice that it has her biting her own lip. She worries that plump piece of flesh between her teeth, and I suspect she has no inkling the gesture drives me to distraction. “If you don’t want this as much as I do, then tell me now. I will try to control how badly I want you. Only, don’t push me away. Because if you do, if you run from me, I will chase after you, Emerson. And I will catch you.”
Emerson’s eyes widen. As much as I can tell she would rather flee, she does not move other than to tighten her grip on my fingers. I can see the pulse beating in the hollow of her neck, like a tiny butterfly caught beneath that layer of creamy skin.
“I just want to be sure… before things go further. I don’t— “Her voice falters; clearing her throat, she squares her shoulders. Everything about her steels itself, tightening up as though in preparation of being harmed. “I don’t think we should rush into anything. The last time I didn’t think things through, the aftermath almost broke me. I don’t want to experience that again.”
Her resolution is crystal clear. I have a sudden, overwhelming desire to punch something really hard. Damn her ex-boyfriend for shattering her fragile heart. I want to find the sorry bastard—kick his no-good, cheating ass from Texas to Florida and back to Texas for the damage he’s done to her.
“Considering what that prick did, I don’t blame you.”
Emerson chokes back a noise, a strangled, bitter laugh. My heart drops. Did she love that douchebag? Does she still love him? This would explain her reluctance in letting me get close. An unexpected wave of jealousy washes over me. I don’t want to face a reality of Emerson in love with Justin Marlett, whether it was long ago or more recently. Thinking of her in love with anyone causes a strange ache somewhere in the vicinity of my heart.
Where the hell that comes from, I haven’t got a clue.
“I’m not likehim.I’m not your shitty ex-boyfriend. I would not ever hurt you like that,” I add when she remains silent. “Emerson, I want to be with you, and if you need more time to trust me, then I’ll wait until you do.”
Do I mean that?CanI wait until she embraces this fire between us? I want to tell her you can’t kiss someone like she just kissed me, with her whole being poured into it, and it not mean something real and true. I want to tell her I’ve never kissed someone like I just kissed her, but the words stick in my throat. I did kiss a girl like that once before… only I didn’t know her name and I never saw her again.
I tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “You’ve been pushing me away for weeks. I only ask that you give me a chance. A chance to show you how good this could be. If you let me, you won’t regret it.”
That same flash of pain crosses her features, then a sad smile plays along the corner of her lush mouth. “I want to be with you, too, Greyson. That’s what makes this so difficult. I wish… well, I wish a lot of things, but it doesn’t matter right now.” She sighs apologetically. “I suppose I should go…”
Panic hits me. What the fuck is happening? Scrambling, I search for something,anything,that will rectify the current situation. “If I swear not to kiss you again tonight, keep my distance no matter how damned difficult it is, will you stay a while longer?”
“I think it would be best if I went home. Before something happens. something that we can’t erase.”
That’s just it. I want something to happen. I want this woman in my arms. I want to see if the pink flush she gets on her cheeks when embarrassed or excited shows up anywhere else on her gorgeous body. I want to wake up with her beside me and watch the sun come up over the gulf.
I’m overwhelmed with want.
So, I do the unthinkable, something I never believed I was capable of doing. I swallow my pride. I beg.
“Having you here tonight is the first time I’ve not felt lonely since moving into this house. Please, Emerson. Please stay.”
Her struggle is obvious. She doesn’t want to go, but she surely shouldn’t stay either.
“We can do whatever you want. Watch a movie. Sit on the terrace and look at the stars. We could just talk. Or take a walk on the beach. I don’t care what we do, just stay.”
Emerson laughs softly at my last statement. “Walk on the beach? It’s dark out there, you know. Not even for you will the sun come out at night, Mister Rockstar.”
“There’s a full moon. I’ve got flashlights.” When she shakes her head at my suggestions, I throw another one out there. “All right, we can go for a swim in the pool.”
