AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fuck easy,” I answer loudly. “Easy is boring.”
He eases across the bed, sprawling out beside me. “You should have easy,” he says softly, caressing my cheek with his thumb before pressing it into my bottom lip firmly, as if it’s a gentle reminder of the beast inside of him.
“I said I don’t want it,” I fire back. “I want you.”
His lips crash across mine as a tear falls down my cheek. I’m terrified, but I mean every word I say. As much as I long for the simple life I once knew, I ended up here in Emmett’s arms instead. Getting here may have been a nightmare, but somehow, we came out on the other side still mad for each other.
“I love you,” he whispers suddenly into my ear, causing my entire body to tense up and swell with a gasp. He pulls back and studies my reaction.
I can’t remember if he has ever said those words to me before, I only know that if he has it was unconvincing. Anything he has said until now felt like a ploy to rope me back in, to keep me where he wanted me. This is the first time it has ever sounded real and sincere, to the point that he might as well have never said it until now.
“What did you say?” I gape in disbelief.
“I love you, Ophelia,” he says again, setting my heart back into an intense pounding.
The sound of those words and my name on his lips has to be one of the most forceful things I have ever heard. I can feel them emanating through my entire body.
“I love you,” I barely manage to say back through my chest, tight with excitement.
I’d always imagined love was something permanent. Something that may change or fade, but could never fully go away. To say you love someone is to bind yourself to that person for life. Even if you are no longer with them, they will always be one of the important people in your heart. Someone you loved. The concept feels heavy to me, and I am scared for a moment to think about being attached to Emmett in that way. But the feeling swells in my heart and I know I have no choice. I do love him, whether I want to or not.
We kiss and talk, buying as much time as we possibly can. Playing songs for each other on our phones. Emmett may not be easy, but for a little while we forget about everything waiting for us outside. We even forget that we’re locked up in a shitty motel room outside of town. I check my phone every so often for the time, until finally I know we can’t stay any longer.
“You better take me home,” I tell him reluctantly. “My mom will start to worry soon, and…”
“I know,” he cuts me off, not needing a reminder of why she is so suspicious of him. “Okay,” he adds with a heavy sigh. “Come on, let’s get going.”
I don’t want this night to end as I slide back into my clothes, and I half-consider telling him to sneak into my bedroom window after we get back. I hate the idea of him driving all the way back out here and sleeping alone, and I need to be close to him right now. But I stop myself. Everything has been so perfect; I don’t want to risk ruining it by pushing our luck.
“Hey, can I pick you up for school tomorrow?” he asks as we gather our things and head for the door. “Early. I was hoping you could come with me to take care of something before school.”
“Sure.” I shrug without giving it another thought. I’m too high on my feelings for him and his lingering scent on my body, which only intensifies as we step out into the crisp night air.
I almost fall asleep on the drive back to my house, but his hand keeps moving across my thighs inching up dangerously far and reawakening my desire for him. It doesn’t seem possible to want more of him, but I do. By the time we reach my house, I am eager to kiss him and toy with how far we can get in my driveway before I have to go inside, but it’s already late and I can see the heaviness in his tired eyes.
“You sure you’ll be okay to drive back?” I ask with concern, curling a strand of his hair around my finger.
“I’ll be fine,” he assures me.
I lean in for one final kiss before giggling into his cheek. “Hey, say it again.”
“Say what again?” I raise my eyebrows and look into his sparkling eyes as he realizes what I’m asking for. “I love you,” he says breathlessly, before biting and kissing across my neck.
I finally pull myself from his arms and force myself from his car. He watches me walk to the door with a big smile, and I can’t wait to see him again in the morning. I practically float up the stairs to my bedroom and crash onto my bed, still wishing he could be lying next to me.
For everything that has been wrong between us, tonight has been perfect. And it was all I needed to know, without a doubt, that Emmett and I are meant for each other.
7
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Emmett picks me up as promised, but reality quickly sinks in with the new day. My euphoric high from the night before has been dissipated by a string of the nightmares that still plague me regularly. As much as I want to throw myself into trusting and loving Emmett fully, the reality is that I have been traumatized during my time at WJ Prep and he’s not entirely without blame for that.
It’s the beating drum of my heart that only Emmett can conjure. He makes me feel fearless and terrified all at once. I wonder if I could just dive head first into this, never fearing or doubting anything, if things could be better. Maybe it’s my own doubt that will destroy us.
I try to swallow down my renewed wariness of him, hoping that the moment I see him again it will all fade away. I notice my mom peering at him through the curtains as I’m heading for the front door.
“You okay?” I ask casually, as I swing my bag across my shoulders and zip up my hoodie.
