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“Bullshit too soon.”
“I want her to trust me, really trust me, and I have this overpowering need to guard her from the shit going down in the other parts of my life. This stuff with Raven is toxic, and Ember has enough to deal with.”
“So shield her from it.”
“That’s my plan.”
“I’m here to help. Anytime, anything.”
“I know and appreciate that.”
“I’d better go. Want to go to the gym tomorrow afternoon?”
“I’ll let you know. Believe it or not, my leg does ache a little today. Think I overdid it on the run this morning.”
“Let me know.”
I follow him to the door and slap his back lightly. “Thanks, man. I owe you.”
He jerks his head and jogs to his truck. I lock up the house and hear the water turn off. The door to the bathroom is partially open, and steam swirls through the crack. I see shadows of movement and plant my feet in place to stop from barging in. The thought of a naked, wet, and hot Ember has my dick hardening quickly.
“Robbie? Are you in here?”
“Yeah, just walked in.”
“Can you tell me the time?”
I look down at my watch and wonder why the time matters. “Five after midnight.”
“Good, then it’s officially tomorrow.” She walks out and my knees go weak. The sight of her in a black satin camisole and red panties coming toward me sends my pulse racing. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
She stops a foot in front of me, licking her lips nervously, then turns around and goes to her nightstand. I watch spellbound as she unwraps a chocolate flower and takes a small bite then comes back and raises the remaining piece to my mouth. I open slightly, and when she places the chocolate on my tongue, I grab her wrist and lick each of her fingers, slowly. Her blue eyes remain glued to mine as Finn’s words cloud my mind.
‘You’ve got your girl.’
In this moment, there’s no denying she’s it.
“Ember—”
“Robbie, I meant what I said last night, even with alcohol fueling my courage. I’m crazy about you.”
“Ember—”
“Don’t talk. Let me get this out. Never have I felt as safe talking about myself to anyone. You’ve met my crazy family, know my deepest secrets, and still haven’t turned away. I feel you hold me tight when we sleep, and you don’t move, even though I’m a terrible bed partner.
“Thank you for today. Thank you for calling your best friend and getting him involved in the shit that is surfacing. Thank you for holding me when I cried and not hiding the truth from me.”
My entire body hums. It hums with need for this emotionally abused woman that stands before me as a vixen and has no idea how sexy she is. The need to control takes over, and I tug her to me and slam my lips to hers. I kiss her deep, addicted to her taste. She whimpers, but I don’t stop, angling her head and sucking her in. The scent of citrus bath wash and the warmth of her skin surround me. I pick her up and move her to the bed, molding our bodies together. Her lips never leave mine, but her hands find the hem of my shirt, pushing it up my body. The second her soft fingertips touch my abdomen, I hiss.
For the third time today, my blood rushes to my aching cock and I grind into her. “I want to talk now,” my mouth whispers against hers. “I’m crazy about you, too. I’ve thought you were gorgeous from the minute I laid eyes on you. Completely gorgeous. I was an idiot to stay away. The last month with you in my arms, I’ve kicked myself in the ass.”
“Robbie—”
“We all have things in our life we’re not proud of, people that have hurts us, and decisions we’ve made. Even though I don’t know everything about your past, I’m one-thousand percent sure nothing would ever change my feelings. There will never be judgment, only acceptance. Anyone who makes you upset, threatens your happiness, or tries to hurt you again, will come face to face with me. And, babe, that won’t be pretty.”
“Are you real?” she whispers.
I smile down at her and lower my lips to her damp eyelids, kissing them gently. “Real as they come.”
