“I just want the best for you,” he said, his voice just above a whisper. “You know that, right?”

Through red-rimmed eyes, she glanced up at him. “I know,” she replied, her voice as quiet as his. “I know you do.”

They stared into one another's eyes, their gaze not breaking, their eyes not glancing away.

Emily could feel the emotion between them like a palpable tension that hung in the air, a pregnant feeling that filled the room. She wanted to tell him how much she cared for him and how she didn't want to see him hurt, but she couldn't put her thoughts and emotions into words.

He broke their moment first, pulling her into his arms again, his strong, controlling, gentle, brutal arms wrapping themselves around her and pulling her close. He pressed her head to his chest. “I . . . I love you, Emily West,” he whispered.

“I'll never testify against you,” she replied, as she encircled him in her arms, clinging desperately to him. “Never. They can threaten me with whatever they want, but I'll never do it.”

Dane laughed quietly, the sound a knowing one that had more depth than Emily could understand. “Oh, Emily,” he said. “They have more on me, I'm sure, than what you could give them. And I know it. But it's okay. As long as I know you're safe, I'll be fine.”

Emily, though, didn't have that luxury. How could she ever be happy, knowing he was the one taking the fall for her?

Chapter Twenty-Four

Emily

Dane was the one to break the embrace, letting her go reluctantly. “We need to start preparing this.”

“You said Edward had four hours,” she replied, as she put her arms around his neck and forced him to look down at her. “It's not that far to the office.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him lightly, softly, warmly.

He returned her kiss, his lips insistent, but gentle.

“We have time,” Emily whispered, as she broke the kiss, her voice low and brimming with desire.

He nodded, a faint smile coming to his lips. They began to slowly strip each of their clothes, their lips passionately finding each other’s whenever they could.

Soon, they were on the bed together, a tangle of limbs and searching hands. Emily explored Dane's body, her hands running over his hard muscles and soft skin.

His hands caressed her breasts, her flat tummy, her hips, and her ass as she moved against him, writhing under his touch.

She pushed him back onto the bed and kissed his neck and chest, her hands finding his lengthened manhood. She wrapped her fingers around him, stroking him as she kissed his nipples and his abs.

“Oh, Emily,” he whispered, his hand entangling in her hair, but not pulling. This was a gentle love-making, with none of the roughness and darkness of before. Here there were just wet kisses, determined hands, and warmth.

She lowered herself to his rod, ran her tongue around his crown, and bathed him all over. Eyes closed, Emily pressed her lips to the underside of him, massaging him up and down as she gently squeezed his sack. With her sad eyes on him, she took him into her mouth, wetting him.

He stroked her hair as he watched her pleasure him, his eyes half-closed from the sensations. He brushed the bangs from her face and stroked the back of his finger down her cheek.

Smiling wistfully, she took him from her mouth and crawled up his body. She threw a naked thigh over his waist, straddling him. She reached between them, her fingers encircling his tool, and guided him in. They groaned together as she settled down onto him, the fingers of her petite hands splayed on his chest.

“Oh Dane,” she moaned, her eyes rolling back as he filled her.

# # #

Dane

He cupped her breasts, his thumbs gently teasing her nipples as she rode him in long, languid movements. She would rise almost all the way off of him, till just his head was inside, then slide slowly back down.

She was a perfect fit for him, as he was for her, and she was like a silken glove stroking him.

He let his head roll back and allowed the pleasure to overtake his world. He didn't think he'd ever felt this way about another human, as she became the center of his world.

She leaned forward, kissed him, and purred into his mouth as he lightly scraped his nails up and down her back. She arched under his touch, pressing her breasts into his chest as she continued this final ride.

“I'm cumming,” she groaned, as she settled down on his cock, her body shaking.