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“I’ll buy you a new one that’ll be here in the morning. In the meantime, call Ethan from my phone, explain that I tossed yours into the water when you tried to pay for something, and that he can call me if the kids need to reach you. He’ll get it.” He hands me his phone. This whole thing is so strange, but I do what he asked. I call Ethan, who laughs hysterically at Dylan’s tossing my phone into the water, then hang up and hand his phone back to him. “See, it’s settled. Now, let's get back to the hotel, order some food because that dinner was horrible and I know you only ate two bites. I’ll make sure there’s new clothes for you, too.”
“Dylan, this is…I don’t know what this is. I know you have to be doing ok financially, butso am I.I don’t need you to pay for anything.” It’s actually awkward discussing finances with him.
“I know, but I have more money than I know what to do with, and I want the chance to dote on you. I like being the one to take care of you, and it means more to me because I know you can take care of yourself.”
The words slip out. “I love you.” My hands cover my mouth, my eyes wide as soon as I say them. “Sorry, that wasnotthe best time to say that. It’s just…nope”—I hold my ground, straightening my posture—“I’m retracting that apology, but Iwon’ttake back what I said, because it’s true.” My arms stretched wide, as I confess again, “I’m in love with you, Dylan. I’m sorry it’s coming out this way. I loved you all those years ago, but this isdifferent.” I retreat, pulling the jacket around me, feeling vulnerable. “You’re different, we’re different…andnow I am rambling. I’m going to stop talking n—” He cuts me off by grabbing each side of my face, bringing his mouth to mine in a tender but sizzling kiss that I feel all the way to my toes.
“Say it again,” he whispers into my mouth.
“I love you?” He smiles against my lips and kisses me harder.
“Again.” He wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. I didn’t realize how much these three little words meant to him, until now.
I let out a light laugh. “I love you, Dylan.” As much as it pains me to do it, I stop his heated kisses, because I need to explain myself. “I don’t love you because of the material stuff, I hope you know that. Just please don't throw any more of my belongings in the marina.”
He smiles back at me. “How could you, E, you have no idea how much money I even have. I love that you don’t need me to help with anything. You’re going to take over the world, remember? I want to be there for all of it, but I also want to spoil you—especially since I know you hate it. You know I loved you when we were basically kids. But now? I love you as a man who plans on spending the rest of his life showing you just how incredible you are. You”—he tucks a few wind swept strands behind my ear—“you are my everything, Emma. I’m so in love with you, I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” I feel a shiver down my arms from his words. “You’re cold. Come on, let's get back.”No, Dylan, I’m not cold. You’re just perfect.With a quick kiss to my forehead, he releases me and we walk hand in hand back to the hotel.
Chapter twenty-six
Dylan
Shelovesme.I knew with all of my being that she did, but hearing the words from her lips was better than anything in the whole world.She. Loves. Me.I haven’t told her exactly how much money I have now, but I know it doesn’t matter to her. She doesn’t need to work another day in her life—but I know that if I ever suggested it, she would throw my money into the marina to live with her phone.
Keeping my promise, I didn’t cancel the reservation for the two-room suite. It’s the biggest one they have, and while I want to spoil her, I also want to keep her trust—tonight isn’t going to be about sleeping together, no matter how much I want her.
We head to the front desk to get the keys. Before the woman greets us, Emma catches me off guard and addresses her first. “Hi there, this gorgeous man has a reservation under Dylan Alexander.” She turns to me. “Itisunder your name right?” I nod, and she continues, “Great, well he reserved a two-room suite, and we are going to only need the one. Can we change the reservation?” I can’t help but smile at how my woman takes charge outside the bedroom.My woman.Fuck, it feels good to be able to say that again.
“E, it’s fine. Leave it.” I tell her under my breath. I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself unless we have the two rooms. I know I need to tread carefully—I’m not about to let her slip through my fingers again by moving too fast. I check the name tag and address the other woman, “Jessica, that’s not necessary, we’ll keep it as is.”
Emma frowns up at me. “Just for that, Mr. Alexander, you can have the couch.”Now she’s just playing dirty. Turning back to Jessica, she asks again, “Can we change it? I’ll pay any difference.” She knows damn well what will happen the moment she tries to pay. I’m tempted to grab her wallet from her purse and toss it in the marina to live with her phone, just to prove a point.
I shake my head with a chuckle. “You win, beautiful.” I pull out my card and hand it to her. “Change the room.” She bites her lip with the most playful grin I have ever seen on her, and hands Jessica my card.
Once we have the keys, we get in the elevator, and I press the button for the top floor. About half way up to 56, I resist the urge to hit the emergency stop button and rip that dress off of her right here.This is going to be harder than I thought.She’s tucked into my side with my arm around her. I love having her so close and my handmayhave traveled down to her ass. She doesn’t protest or push away. Once we reach the top, I take her hand and guide her to the room. “Here’s your key.”
She uses it to enter and the room is nothing short of spectacular. It has an incredible view of the marina and looks more like an apartment than a hotel room. “Oh…are we in the right room? This looks like someone’s house.”
“Well, it’soursfor the night, E.” She turns to look at me, and I continue, “Before I forget, we need to get clothes ordered for you.” I pull up the app and hand my phone to her.
She scrolls the options for a moment and tries to hand my phone back to me, but I don’t take it. “Dylan, I am not going to order these, especially since they are incredibly expensive. I’ll just do my walk of shame when I leave here in this dress in the morning.”
I take a step toward her, my hand finding her hip as I slowly guide her backward. “And what would you be feeling ashamed about, beautiful?”
“I, uh…” She’s flustered at first, but collects herself quickly, raising her chin at me. “I, in fact, would have no shame.” I slowly, one tortuous step at a time, continue to lead her to the wall behind her. I want to push her up against it, tear that dress off, and brand every inch of her. She continues, “However, you’re probably right. I don’t think it would be ideal for you to be walking out of this hotel with me in the morning, looking like a lady of the night. You are here for a work event, after all. So,fine”—she looks back down at the phone—“I’ll buy pants and a shirt. But, I’m going to reimburse you for it.”
“Good luck trying to pay me back without a phone,” I tell her, as she swats at me playfully. She goes back to searching for an outfit. I lean in, propping myself up on the wall behind her as she clicks away.I wonder if she even noticed?Her breathing picks up.Oh, she noticed.“I already ordered your phone. Should be delivered to the front desk by 8am.”
Her eyes narrow as she clicks thebuy nowbutton and hands it back to me. “Ordered. They should be here in a few hours. In the meantime, I am going to change into one of those fluffy robes. Can you help me out of this dress?”
She pushes me a foot back and turns. I slowly unzip it, enjoying the feel of her soft skin as the zipper falls lower.Fuck, she isn’t wearing a bra or underwear. I kiss her shoulder, her neck, and finally nip at her earlobe. I love that she always smells like violets, and I take a moment to breathe her in. “Emma,where’s your underwear?”
“What?” Her hands are holding her dress up over her breasts as she walks away from me toward the bathroom to grab a robe.This devil of a woman knows exactly what she’s doing. She turns to look at me over her shoulder. “Like I could wear a bra or panties with this dress.” She continues to saunter off to the bathroom. I feel my erection pressing against my pants.Fuck.
She stops abruptly and drops her dress. It cascades down her body. She steps out of it, turns on her heel, and walks toward me. I shake my head and can’t help but smile.Wicked woman.“What are you doing, beautiful?”
Her response surprises me. “I’m taking what’smine.” She prowls toward me naked, only wearing her heels—this isn’t the Emma I know. I’m left speechless. Once she reaches me, she hooks a hand around my neck, pulling my mouth to hers. We fight for the upper hand, tongues dueling, teeth clashing, there isn’t anything gentle about this kiss. I pull her up and wrap her legs around my waist. She is claiming me as hers, but I am not about to let her take the lead. I want her to give herself to me, surrender our past, and let me take care of her.
“E, you know I’m yours, but are you sure about this?”
