Page 34 of An Impossible Love
Chapter Sixteen
Moxie smiled at them both and then quietly left the lodge.
Orin gazed at her. “God, your poor face.”
“I’m okay.” Emmy’s voice was scratchy, her heart beating way too fast, but then Orin moved swiftly across the room and took her firmly in his arms. His mouth met hers, and Emmy’s senses reeled as they kissed.
“God, Emmy, if anything had happened, if he’d killed you…” Orin groaned, his fingers sliding into her hair. Emmy sank into the embrace, her defenses completely down as her lips moved against his.
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she murmured against his lips.
When they finally broke apart, gasping for breath, Orin’s arms tightened around her.
“I’m crazy about you, Emmy Sati. God help me, I don’t want to risk your career or mine, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Emmy struggled with her own feelings, then her shoulders slumped. “I feel the same way, and that’s not something I can reconcile. I want you, Orin, I do, but you’re my boss.”
Orin stroked the back of his fingers down Emmy’s cheek. “This is madness, I know.”
“If something happened to you while I was supposed to be protecting you…”
His lips were against hers again, and this time she didn’t pull away. The kiss went on and on and Orin drew her in closer and tighter. She could feel his erection, hot and long against her belly and it thrilled her. If he fucked her here, right now, she wouldn’t stop him. Hell, every fiber of her being wanted him to do just that.
“Emmy…” They finally broke away, needing oxygen, and Orin leaned his forehead against hers. “Emmy, Mox told me…”
“There are ways. That’s what she said. There areways.” She felt as if she were jumping off a cliff, but right now, Emmy didn’t care.
Orin nodded. “There are. Are you sure, Emmy?”
Fuck it.“Yes.”
He kissed her again, smiling. “We’ll work it out. I swear I won’t let us interfere with your job. Or mine.”
“Orin, just promise me something. Only when I’m off duty. When I’m on duty, it’s professional all the way. I cannot live with the thought that you’d get hurt because I was distracted by how I feel about you. That’s not me. I’m good at my job.”
“You’regreatat your job, Emmy, although I can’t fathom letting you take a bullet for me.”
“That right there is why I’m hesitant. That’s myjob, Orin. If it happens, youwilllet me do just that. That’s a deal breaker.”
He sighed but nodded. “I’ll just have to make sure no one takes a shot at me.” He smiled at her and she relaxed.
“You will.”
They sat in silence for a moment, Orin’s fingers tangled in hers. “I hate to say this, but I do have a meeting now.” He sighed. “Emmy, have late drinks with me tonight, here at Aspen—and stay. Nothing needs to happen if you don’t want it to."
Their eyes met and held. “I do. I do want it to.”
Orin’s smile was soft, loving. “Me, too.”
Emmy leaned against him, and he kissed her tender forehead. “How on earth is this going to work?”
“Plausible deniability, Emmy.”
She smiled up at him, and he brushed his lips against hers again. God, it felt so right to be close to him. “I should go.”
“Of course. Later, then.”
“Later.”
