Page 66 of Anything for You
“What thing?”
“I booked a room at the Fairmont. For us. I talked to Rachel about watching Maddy, and she’s practically rubbing her hands together with glee at the idea of a sleepover with her best girl.”
Jeremy makes air-quotes aroundbest girl. It sounds exactly like what Rachel would say, and I laugh, despite the nerves and anticipation swirling in my stomach.
“I love spending time with both of you, and I love being with you after Maddy goes to bed and running with you in the mornings after she goes to school. But I also want my hands on every inch of your body and your hands on mine. I want to remind myself what it feels like to fuck you. What sounds you make when you come while I’m deep inside of you. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up with you in the morning and take you all over again because I can’t imagine ever not wanting you. Spend the night with me, Ems. The whole night. Tonight.”
I’m touched that he took the time to plan a night for us and make arrangements for Maddy, and at the same time my body is burning up from the inside out at his words. I want the picture he painted for me with a desperation I don’t completely recognize. It’s an intoxicating combination and my answer is wildly simple, even with the knowledge that tonight changes everything. Maybe because of that.
“Yes.”
I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, willing myself to calm down.
Get your shit together Emma.You are a grown woman and he’s just a guy.
“Just the hottest guy on the planet,” I mumble, hands on my flaming cheeks, trying to cool down the inferno in my veins.
Jeremy’s words while we were dancing play on a loop in my head. The combination of dirty and sweet had heat racing up my spine and my clit throbbing with unbridled need. My heart thrashes against my ribs at the memory of his deep, raspy voice in my ear and his arms tight around me while we danced.
The second the song was over, I stepped back from him, needing some space to get myself under control. A room full of our best friends was not the right place to spontaneously combust. Jeremy never took his eyes off of me, one side of his mouth quirking up in a knowing smirk that told me he knew exactly where my thoughts had gone.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to slow my racing heart.
It’s fine. I’m fine. This is so completely fine.
Knowing I can’t hide in here forever without one of my friends bursting in to check on me, and with semblance of control back in place, I push the bathroom door open to go back to the party.
And the thin thread of control I managed to summon immediately snaps. The bathroom door all but hits me in the ass as I freeze in my tracks.
Jeremy leans against the wall opposite the bathroom, mouth turned up in a cheeky grin. His legs are crossed at the ankles, hands tucked into the pockets of his tux pants. He abandoned his jacket an hour ago and unbuttoned his top collar button, bowtie hanging loose around his neck. His rolled-up shirt cuffs expose tanned, corded forearms.
The image is so much like the Jeremy of eight years ago outside the gala asking if I needed a ride home that I almost pinch myself to make sure this is real and not some fever dream memory.
But I’m not twenty-two anymore, and nothing about the way he’s looking at me screamsone night only.
I want to tear this dress off and feel those arms wrapped around me with nothing between us.
I want to lick every single inch of him.
I want to climb him like a tree.
“You okay, Ems?” Jeremy’s voice is low and laced with humor. “You look a little…hot.”
“Totally fine.” I try for casual and miss the mark entirely, my voice breathy and a little too high.
Eyes locked on mine, his filled with an intoxicating mixture of amusement and arousal, Jeremy pushes off the wall and takes a single step forward, bringing us almost chest to chest. With one hand on the doorframe above my head, he leans into my space, trailing a finger down my neck, over the spot where my pulse is fluttering wildly, and then along my collarbone, goosebumps rising in its wake. Dropping his eyes to my mouth, he runs his thumb over my bottom lip, his hand grasping my chin, tilting it up while he dips his head, so his lips just barely graze mine.
“Then we better get back to the party,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to my cheek. Then he stands straight and winks at me, grabbing my hand and leading me back out to the tent. I followon unsteady legs, counting the minutes until we’re behind a locked hotel room door.
Time moves slowly when you’re being tortured, it turns out.
I’m sitting at our table, making what I hope is a good show of listening to whatever Molly and Julie are talking about. In actuality, I haven’t heard a single word. My attention is focused entirely on Jeremy. As soon as we sat back down, he slid his chair closer to me so now one side of his body presses firmly against mine, his spicy scent invading my senses.
He shifts in his chair, and then his hand is on my leg, gathering up the hem of my dress until he’s touching the bare skin of my knee. I turn my head just enough to see him, and he’s already looking at me, eyes full of mischief. He nods to my friends on my other side, and I hear the words as if he spoke them out loud.
Pay attention, Ems.
As if.
