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“No, you’re not. It’s just really easy to slip into old habits.”
“You’re right.” He lets out a sigh. “I’m trying to pick up where we left off, and that’s not fair to you.”
Moving one of my hands up his chest, I cup his cheek. “Last weekend was…it was amazing. But no, I don’t want to pick up where we left off. I want to get to know you again, maybe start over.” I pause for a moment, moving my hand back to his chest, sure he will kiss me if I don’t provide a barrier. I continue, “Could we maybe work on being friends? Then see where it goes?”
He chuckles, but his eyes darken. “Emma, I could never just be your friend. But you’re right, we should take some time to do this right. What are you doing next weekend?”
“Um, nothing planned. Kids are at their dad’s, and I have a few manuscripts to get through, but that’s it.”
He is up to something and he confirms my suspicion, “Come away with me.” It isn’t a question.
I can’t help but laugh. “Come away with you?What happened to taking things slow? What next, you want me to move in with you?” I say in jest, but with how his eyes are burning into me, he is not taking it as a joke at all.
“Two rooms,” he clarifies. “But I want to get away for a weekend like we used to. It’ll give us a chance to catch up, without distractions.”
I ponder his proposal for a second, knowing that it is probably a terrible idea, but I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. “Ok, deal. If, and only if, I have my own room. I’ll come.” I find myself getting lost in his eyes when he looks at me like this.
Without realizing it, my hands travel down his chest to his waist. I don’t think much of it, until he murmurs under his breath, “Fuck.” He moves his hand from the shelf behind me, a caress of his fingers pass my shoulder to my neck before wrapping his hand around the front of it. I can’t help the moan that escapes me as he squeezes gently, pulling me in for a bruising kiss. It’s demanding and definitely not appropriate for a bookstore. It also isn’t the sweet way he used to kiss me when we were younger. His hand never leaves my neck, instead he pulls me closer to deepen the kiss. I melt into his touch as he teases and tastes with his tongue, exploring my mouth as if he is trying to memorize every part of me. I kiss him back harder, not caring that someone might catch me with this man, my back still pressed up against the bookshelves. When he breaks away, I am completely out of breath. He rests his forehead on mine and moves his hand from my neck down to my heart, my fingers finding my now plump lips.
“Sorry, I’ve been wanting to do that since I left your house Monday." He clears his throat. “Well, let’s go grab this book your friend told you to read, and then we should probably find our kids.” Right, we both came here with kids, but the way he said it was like they wereourstogether. My back is still against the bookcase and this hardly looks innocent. He notices too and reaches down to take my hand, squeezing it three times as he leads me down the aisle. I glance up to question if he meant to do that, and find his beautiful blue eyes already on me. A small smirk tugs at his lips. I know he told me he will take things slow, but if today is any indication, that is definitelynothappening.
I go to grab the book duetWhiskey LiesandLoving Whiskeyby Brittanée Nicole. He eyes it curiously and asks, “This is it?”
Smiling up at him, I shrug. “Yeah, it’s supposed to be good. A few of my friends recommended it.” There is no way in hell I’m telling him that one of them also said it’s the hottest book she’s read in the last year. He snatches one out of my hand. “Hey!”
He raises an eyebrow and opens the book to a random page and begins reading aloud. “There isn’t a moment in time when I don’t want you, when I won’t drop everything I’m doing to pleasure you.”I know my face is a bright crimson and my eyes start darting around to make sure no one is listening in. He closes the book and lowers his voice, “Emma, Emma, Emma…should we read these together next weekend?”
I gasp and steal the book back. “No, absolutely not!”
He chuckles. “I’ll just have to get my own copy then.”
I stop him as he tries to pick up a second set. “Why don’t I just lend you mine when I’m done? I doubt you want your daughters to see you buying these.”
Knowing I have a point, he puts them back. “Sure. But just so you know…I could have written those words myself.” Then he winks at me.Ugh, what am I going to do with him? So much for keeping my wits about me.
We find our kids, who are scattered throughout the store. Thankfully, Aiden is safe with Noah and Harriet.I really shouldn’t have let Dylan distract me like that!He tries to buy all of our books, but I'm faster with my card to buy mine. I know my kids can tell something is up, so I rush us out of the store and to our cars. We drive our separate ways, and on the way home I see a new text from him. Once I am parked, I open my messages, clicking on the text thread with Dylan.
Dylan: I’ll pick you up at 6 on Friday. Pack for 60° weather.
What are you up to, Dylan?
Chapter fourteen
Dylan
AfterseeingEmmaonSaturday, I haven’t stopped thinking about that kiss. The little breath she sucked in when I bit her bottom lip, the way she let me take what I wanted as she melted into me, the blush on her neck and cheeks when I read from her book, how she whimpered in protest when I broke our kiss…
She never kissed me like that when we were together, it was always so safe and wholesome. Emma was always the girl-next-door type, I was always afraid I’d corrupt her. This Emma though, she is strong and stubborn, but she allowed me to claim a piece of her as mine, and had me wondering just how much I can push her, how much she might surrender to me if given the chance. I saw the way she looked at me at the game, how her breath hitched when I called her a good girl. What I wouldn’t give to have her laid out for me, tied up, and begging to come.
The kiss two days ago was easily the best of my life, even if it wasn’t nearly enough. I can’t imagine kissing another woman ever again and it took everything in me to not take things further. At one point, I forgot I was in a bookstore. I know she wants to take things slow, and I really tried! The minute she agreed to go away with me, my mind was taken over with the thoughts of having her all to myself for a few days. I lost it.
I should have been working this morning, but spent the majority of my time researching cabins in the mountains for us to stay at next weekend. There’s one right on the lake but it only has one bedroom. I promised her two, so I called the travel company and reserved a cabin that's a little further from the lake.
When I got home Saturday evening, I ordered violets to be delivered to her office today. I don’t care what Andrew says, I want her to know I’m thinking of her. I also wanted a reason to talk to her.
Emma: *picture of flowers on her desk* This is so incredibly thoughtful, thank you so much!
Dylan: You’re welcome. Are you ready for this weekend?
