Page 126 of Face Off
“Oh, Maverick,” Emerson whispers, and she climbs into my lap. Her hug is grounding, and when she rocks me in her arms, my nose stings. I blink away tears, and I hide my face in her hair. “You sweet man. You’re the furthest thing from a horrible person. You have a gentle soul that’s been beaten up and broken through no fault of your own. I’m so sorry anyone’s ever made you feel like you weren’t worth keeping for more than a night. You are and you’re wonderful and… and one day, when you want to settle down, you’re going to make someone really happy, and they’re never going to leave. You know why?”
“Why?” I ask, keeping my face hidden.
I’m afraid to look at her. To show her this stripped-down and broken side of myself I’ve never let anyone else see. Not even Hudson or Dallas or Reid have cracked open this part of my shell. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Emerson’s the person to do it; she’s heard so many of my secrets, this is just another we’re adding to the pile.
“Because you love everyone fiercely. You put your whole being into the people you care about, and a woman is going to come along who sees that. Who knows what a gift you are, and it will be an honor for her to fall in love with you. She’ll protect your heart, and it’s going to be okay.”
I’ve never imagined my future, but for a second, I do. I look one year, five years, ten years down the road and try to get a glimpse into who that person might be, but all I see is red hair.
Green eyes.
A wicked smile and a whisperedpretty boyin my ear.
Oh, fucking shit.
My eyes fly open and I pull away so I can look at her. Emerson is staring at me, and I don’t know what to do.
I don’t know what tofucking dobecause this is myfuck buddynot myfucking foreverbuddy. But the idea of fucking her forever doesn’t scare me when it normally would, and I think I might be having a stroke.
“Hey.” She touches my cheek and frowns. “Are you okay?”
No.
Yes.
I don’t fucking know.
Am I staring at the woman whose finger I’m going to put a big fucking ring on someday?
Am I going into a tailspin because I never talk about this shit and she’s the one I’m talking about it with and it’s tricking my brain into thinking we’re going to have a life together?
“I’m fine,” I get out, and I know she doesn’t believe me. “Thank you for listening to me. I know it doesn’t have to be said, but if you could not run off and tell?—”
“My lips are sealed. I promise.”
I’m done talking. I’m done with feelings and confusing emotions.
I want her.
I want to fuck her like I always do and get back to the normal that we do so fucking well.
I take off her shirt and bring my mouth to her chest, sucking on her nipple. I slip my hand between her legs and nudge her thighs open, hissing when I find her wet and tight and ready for me.
“Fuck, I want you, Emmy,” I say into her neck, and I lick a hot swipe of my tongue up her throat. “Can I have you?”
“Please,” she begs, and she tugs on my boxers. Her hand wraps around my cock and she strokes me with determined pumps. “I need you, Maverick.”
“Let me get a condom.” I reach for the bedside table, but her fingers curl around my wrist. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you fuck me without one?” she whispers, and my skin burns. “I want to feel you.”
I take a deep breath and try to shove all the smart and rational thoughts to the front of my brain, but it’s fucking difficult when she takes my other hand and rests it flat on the bed. When she lifts her hips and sinks down, fucking herself on my fingers.
“Goddammit,” I groan. “Are you—what do?—”
“I’m on the pill,” she says. “I take it every day.”
“Are you sure?” I let go of the drawer and wrap my hand around her neck. “You have to be one hundred percent sure, Emmy, because when I sink into you and fuck you raw, that’s it. You’re mine for good. I’m not sharing you with anyone else. It’s my cum that’s going to fill you up. It’s my cock that’s going to take care of your pussy. I’m going to have you wherever the fuck I want, and I’m a needy man, baby. I’m going to need you a lot.”
