Page 35 of Wicked Proposal

“I feel like I don’t deserve you,” she tells me, her tone soft, almost a whisper.

“It’s me that doesn’t deserve you,” I brush my thumb across her red painted lip. Her hands soft on my cheeks as she holds my face and connects our lips in a sweet kiss.

“What do you need from me?” I ask, releasing her lips.

“Everything. I want everything with you.”

That statement makes me more than happy and I smile. “How about we sort this showcase first, then we can work on us.” She combs her fingers through my hair before trailing down my face and traces my jawline, through the stubble that’s coating my skin and cradles my face. Her breaths are sharp and ragged. Her mouth opens slightly then closes again. I know she wants to say more but she can’t get the words out. I sigh on the inside. It’s all my fault she’s too scared to let herself feel. The thought hits me straight in the chest, making a big hole in my perfectly constructed heart. I’ve broken down so many walls since Emily’s been back in my life, but until she knows everything, I can’t let them all down just yet. So instead, I bring her forward to kiss her. I let her know it’s okay as I mould my lips to hers. I can tell exactly what she’s feeling. I let her know it’s alright to be scared, kissing her deeply and holding her tight.

She stares into my eyes for a beat as she breaks our kiss, licking across her lips and leans back panting. “So,” I cut the tension and speak first. “Let me know what you need, and I’ll arrange it. As I told you last night, I'll do anything you need me to do.”

Reluctantly, I break our moment, and tap her thigh quietly asking her to get up and reach for my coffee. She smiles at me as I sip on the now cooler liquid, and she rounds her desk and sits back in her seat. “If I have some fancy invites made up, could you invite some of your associates, the more businessmen I get in here, the more successful it’ll be. I mean we both know that all you businessmen have nothing better to spend their money on, other than diamonds, whisky, and paintings, oh and not forgetting about over-expensive fast cars.” She smirks.

“I was waiting for that.” My eyes roll and somewhat amused, I shake my head at her. “Maybe I’ll buy you an over-expensive car and see what you say then.” She scoffs as I make the offer.

“I do not need an over-expensive car. There’re so many other things I could ask for.”She folds her arms on the desk, a smug look on her face.

“Oh yeah, tell me. What can be more important than a sexy little sports car to drive around in.”

“Are you really that shallow, Troy?”her brows pinch revealing a V between her eyes.

I lift my eyes, gazing at the ceiling as ponder on my answer, but there’s only one really, “Yes.”

She laughs loudly, her sweet tones bouncing off the white walls making me grin. “I’ll give you credit where it’s due, most people would have denied it.”

Leaning forward, I focus on her intently. “I'm not most people though.”

She mirrors my stance. “Don’t I know it.” She sits back in her chair laughing. “I guess it’s what makes you appealing, or maybe it’s just that you’re easy on the eye with a fit body. It makes it all worthwhile.” She shrugs without a care. I have no idea how I went ten years without seeing her or speaking to her. Because now I could never be without her. I’ve made her a place back in my life and there’s only me that can deal with the fallout.

“Is that all you want me for?” I ask teasing.

A sight flush enters her cheeks. Getting up from my chair, I go around to her and pull her up, tugging on her hand so she falls against me. Threading her arms around me, her hands fall to my backside, “Do I not have any more appealing tendencies?” I cup her neck in my hands, tracing her jaw with my thumbs and pressing my growing erection against her. Her feistiness gets me going in an instant. It’s like flicking a switch. I’m soft one minute and she opens her sassy mouth and I’m fucking hard again.

“I guess there is,”she replies holding my gaze steady.

“Well, it looks like I may have to work on those later.” Kissing her nose, then her lips I release her, “Don’t work too hard, you’ll need your energy later.” With another parting kiss, I walk towards the door, clutching the handle when she speaks again.

“Bye, baby.” A happy and satisfied sigh leaves my body, just those two simple words comfort me, and I leave her office, walking through the gallery and calling out to Kellie.

“See you soon, Kellie.”

“Bye, Troy.”She calls back as the door closes behind me and press the fob to open my car.

As I slip inside and start the engine, I hit the contacts on the navigation screen as the Bluetooth hooks up to my car and I hit the call button. After three rings, the voice I need answers. “Troy. How can I help you?”

“I’m on my way, I need to speak to you?”

Starting the engine, I point the car in the direction I need and pull away onto the busy road.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

EMILY

The plan was for Kellie to lock up for me and I was going to come home and start some painting. Of course, it never happened. I was swamped with emails. Kellie set the date for the showcase, so we were prepping for that too. By the time we realised, it was time to lock up and go home. Whatever we haven’t got done today we can do tomorrow.

Once I’m home, I see that Troy isn’t back yet so quickly changing into a vest top and some shorts, I start dinner. Rather than having a takeaway, I want to cook something for us. We have pasta and pasta sauce, so I’m thinking of cooking Bolognese. I search for some beef mince in the freezer, of course after looking in every drawer in the freezer, I find there isn’t any, so I put some fusilli pasta into a pan of cold water and place it on the hob. While I’m waiting for the water to boil, I grab a bottle of red wine from the rack in the corner and take two glasses from the cabinet.

It's so strange being back here and cooking in this kitchen. I didn’t cook a lot when I was home. We had Rose back then. Sometimes I wish she was still here. But then I know that was my dad just being lazy. If Dad didn’t have Rose after Mum passed, he wouldn’t have eaten, so he hired her to be cook and housekeeper. I dismiss the idea of ever having one of those. I asked Troy to get rid of the one that was here, I wanted to do it all myself. I love to cook and if I ever manage to achieve my dream of being a full-time artist then I’ll have plenty of time to do everything.

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