Cruel Vendetta, page 13
I gestured toward Gray, who shook his head. “Nothing for me, thanks.”
She blinked rapidly and swallowed hard. “O-of course. I'll get that right in for you.”
I couldn't resist one last remark. “Looks like you’ve had an exhausting morning, Em. Maybe you should take a break and put your feet up.”
Preferably around my shoulders, but I wasn’t too picky. I battled down the urge to grin when she flushed profusely, her gaze dropping to her toes. “I should, um... I have to...”
She took an abrupt step backward and bumped into the chair behind her. It screeched along the tile floor, causing her to jump. She whirled and fled toward the kitchen as fast as her feet could carry her.
Grayson lifted his chocolate milk, took a sip, then peered over the rim of his glass at me. “So. Emery, huh?”
I pressed my lips together. “No idea what you're talking about.”
He rolled his eyes and set down the glass. “Right. I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear about your early morning sexcapades.”
“We haven't had sex. Yet,” I added at his lifted brow. “And it’s nothing official.”
He leveled me with his best older brother look. “Nothing official?”
I should have been offended that he even had to ask if I was truly interested in her, but it’d been a long time since I’d dated anyone, let alone had a serious girlfriend.
“Not like that.” I wanted so much more from Emery than a couple quick fucks. “She's got... shit going on, so we’re just taking it one step at a time.”
His expression said he wasn’t entirely sure he believed me. “You’re my brother, and I love you, but I care about Emery, too, and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
His words stung. “I’m not going to use her.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He held up a hand in my direction. “But you’ve been so focused on your job over the last couple of years that you haven’t really invested any time into a relationship. I just don’t want her to be disappointed if she can’t measure up.”
A retort automatically jumped to my tongue, but the look he shot me stopped me cold. He was right; I knew he was. No woman had ever rivaled the adrenaline rush I got from my job. Each relationship had fizzled out due to lack of interest on my part. But with Emery… I couldn’t explain it. She intrigued me in a way no one else ever had. “I don’t know how it happened.”
“Please.” He snorted. “I saw it coming a mile away. That's why I told you not to bring other women home. Seeing you with someone else would have killed her.”
“How'd you know?”
“You mean the way she looks at you like you hung the moon and every single star?”
She did? I’d never noticed. How was it that both Clay and my brother had seen this, but I hadn’t?
“She's had a crush on you for as long as I can remember.” He glanced over my shoulder, looking lost in thought. “I remember her following you around, watching your every move. I can't believe you didn't know she was in love with you.”
My pulse kicked up at his words. “I… I had no idea.”
“What about you?” He pitched his voice low. “Do you feel the same? Because if not…”
It wasn’t a threat so much as a warning. But Emery was different. She made me feel… something. She made me crazy with my constant need to protect her, to sweep her off her feet. I wanted to shield her from everything bad in the world, wanted to rip to shreds anyone who hurt her. The memory of Alan’s hands on her last night still had the power to make my blood boil. I should have hauled him into jail right then and there, but I wasn’t on duty. Not to mention the fact that Emery hadn’t officially said she wanted to press charges. I hadn’t pushed her yet, but if it came down to it, I might have to override her wishes and have him brought in anyway.
“Judging from the look on your face, I’ll take that as a yes.” Grayson’s voice floated toward me, breaking me from my introspection.
I nodded. “I can’t explain it. It’s like… As soon as she steps into the room, everything changes. There’s this huge weight off my shoulders, and it’s just…”
I trailed off, and he tipped his chin. “Yeah. That's love.”
Was it? I’d never felt this way before. This was a completely different type of feeling than the love I felt for my family. I’d been attracted to other women, even cared for a few of them. But this was new. None had made such a deep impression on me as Emery had. I couldn’t categorize it, and I wasn’t ready to classify it as being in love. Both of us needed time to process it and work through things.
What I did know was that I wanted to see how far this thing between us would go. I did care for her, far more deeply than I had for any other woman I’d ever been with. I couldn’t imagine not having her by my side in a month or two, or even a year. The more time I spent with her, the more of her I wanted. Her time, her attention and affection… I wanted it all. Although I wasn’t ready to accept it or say it aloud, I had a feeling my brother was right.
Though I was tempted to tell Grayson about the ordeal with Alan, I needed Emery to initiate it. I would bear witness, but she needed to be the one to press charges. Despite the fact that I was keeping the ordeal from the other night close to my chest until Emery followed through with the charges, that didn’t mean I couldn’t do some digging of my own.
After breakfast, Gray went home and I headed into the station and settled at my desk. It took less than fifteen minutes to run a background check on Alan, and my jaw clenched as the computer populated the results. The asshole had two prior assault charges. Figured.
I hit print, then gathered the papers and waved to Aiden as I left the station. Once I got to my car, I dug my phone from my back pocket and dialed up Izzy.
She answered cautiously on the fourth ring. “Hey.”
“Hey, Iz.” I cranked the engine and pulled out of the lot, my mind spinning with plans. “I’m working on something right now, and I need a favor…”
Twenty-Eight
EMERY
My feet ached from being on them all day, and I grimaced as I made my way up the sidewalk to the house. The door swung inward before I made it to the porch, and Drew peered out, a concerned expression on his face. “Are you okay?”
I forced a smile as I brushed past him. “I’m good. Just tired is all.”
Drew closed up and turned to me. “Are you still working extra shifts?”
“When I can.” I nodded and rolled out my shoulders. “Until I find something better, I’m stuck with it.”
His brows drew slightly together, and his voice pitched lower. “You don’t have to work all those extra shifts if you don’t want to. You know I don’t mind you staying here.”
“I just don't want to... overstay my welcome.”
“Not going to happen.” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I like having you here.”
A smile spread across my lips before I could stop it, and Drew grinned in response. “Come on, I made dinner.”
“You did?” I turned a surprised look on him. It was the first time he'd offered to sit down to dinner with me, let alone cook. Most often we'd eaten separately, and I was excited at the prospect of being able to sit across from him, learning everything about him.
“It's not much,” he warned me as I followed him into the kitchen. “Definitely nothing as good as Irene can make, but I tried.”
“I'm sure it'll be great. It smells delicious,” I assured him. I dropped my purse and keys on the counter, watching as he moved toward the oven. “Do you want any help?”
“Nope.” He used a spoon to point toward the small table in the corner. “You just sit and relax.”
“Don't have to tell me twice.” I dropped into the chair, eyes glued to his backside as he moved efficiently around the kitchen, plating up chicken and vegetables.
“How was work?” he asked as he slid a plate in front of me, then handed me a fork.
“Good. Busy.”
He snagged two cans of soda from the fridge then passed one to me as he settled across from me. “Do you enjoy waitressing?”
“I don't mind it.” I lifted one shoulder. “It pays the bills. Kind of, anyway.”
He nodded a little. “I remember Gray asking you about going to school. Is that still something you want to do?”
The heat of embarrassment swept up the back of my neck and I dropped my eyes to my plate. “I'm not sure. It kind of depends on a lot of things.”
He was silent for a beat. “Well, like I said, you're welcome here as long as you want.”
I offered a tiny smile. “Thanks.”
We dug into our food for a moment and silence fell before he spoke again, his voice quieter and far more intense this time. “Have you thought at all about pressing charges?”
My stomach swooped, and I settled my fork at the edge of my plate. “Not really.”
His mouth parted, probably to ask what the hell I was waiting for, so I continued before he could speak. “I want to. Believe me. I just... I don't know how it will affect things with my mom.”
He absorbed that for a moment, his expression conflicted. “Didn't she kind of make her position clear when you last talked to her?”
Yeah, she had. It didn't get much clearer than that. Still... “I'd just hoped that once she'd had time to cool down and really think about it...” I shrugged.
“I understand.”
I could see that it still bothered him, though, and I appreciated his concern. I hadn't spoken with my mom since the day I moved out, and she'd made no attempt to contact me. “She's all I have left,” I admitted quietly.
“What do you mean?” His head tipped to one side as he studied me, and I fiddled with the fork.
“My dad left when I was just a kid. Took off without a word and never looked back. Mom’s never been real good at being alone, so after a year or so we came here.”
He eyed me. “That’s when you were twelve or so, right?”
My cheeks flushed with pleasure that he knew that. “Yep. Gram and Gramps lived here, so we moved in with them while mom looked for a job.”
“Are you still close with them?”
I shook my head, a wave of sadness washing over me. “They died in a car accident a little over a year after we moved here.”
“That's rough. I’m sorry.” Drew made a face. “I can’t believe I didn’t know that.”
I smiled. “I wouldn’t expect you to. It was a long time ago. Though it doesn’t feel that way sometimes,” I mused. “You know, it’s crazy. Sometimes it feels like it happened just yesterday. I remember what I was wearing, what I was doing…”
I trailed off, my fingers toying with the pendant that hung at the base of my neck. I held it up so Drew could see it. “This was the last thing they gave me.”
I was so excited when my grandmother had picked out the gold necklace for my thirteenth birthday. I’d never felt more grown-up than I did when she’d clasped it around my neck. Years had passed since then, but I had never taken it off. I glanced down at my empty plate before flicking a wry look at Drew. “Sorry, that was some pretty heavy conversation for dinner.”
“You know I don't mind.” He stood and gathered both plates, then carried them to the sink. He turned around and rested one hip on the counter, studying me. “I want to know all about you.”
A flush suffused my cheeks, and a shy smile curved my lips. Would he kiss me again? I slipped from the chair and closed the distance between us. “Thank you for dinner.”
“My pleasure.” His gaze dropped to my mouth, and my pulse kicked up as he lifted one hand and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. His hand curled around the back of my neck, and I swayed toward him. His lips came down on mine, soft and sweet, but the kiss was over before I was ready.
His chest rose and fell as he stared at me for several long seconds. Finally, he let me go, and my heart dropped my toes as he took a step away. “I should let you get ready for bed.”
I forced a smile and nodded. “See you tomorrow. Thanks again for dinner.”
I couldn't quell the disappointment that spread through my body as I trudged upstairs. Inside the bathroom I stripped and climbed into the shower, every thought centered on Drew.
I knew he felt the same sexual tension that I did, he just refused to act on it. He seemed to want to take his time, but I was ready. More than ready. After this morning, I wanted more. The pleasure I’d felt with Drew had completely eclipsed every previous encounter I’d ever had with a man. I’d take care of the issue of Alan and my mom soon enough, but what I needed right now was Drew. And if he wouldn’t come to me, then I would go to him.
I quickly dried off, then pulled my robe around me and tied the sash at my waist. With one last long look in the mirror, I took a deep breath and gathered every last ounce of courage I possessed before striding down the stairs to the living room.
Drew sat on the couch, and I saw lust flare in his eyes before his expression shuttered. “Em? Everything good?”
His voice was strained, and I didn’t miss the way his gaze strayed lower over my breasts. My nipples tightened under his scrutiny, and I watched as he shifted ever so discreetly.
“Actually, no.” Drew’s gaze zeroed in on my hands as they moved to the sash of my robe and slowly pulled one end free. “I realized that this morning was a little… one sided.”
His pupils widened as the silky material slid down my arms and landed with a whisper near my feet. “I’d like to fix that.”
Twenty-Nine
DREW
Holy shit. I felt my tongue tie into knots at the sight of all those gorgeous curves, and my brain fell out of my head as all my blood flooded south.
Emery smirked, then dropped to the floor in front of me and pushed my knees apart. I swallowed hard and finally found my voice when her palms flattened on my thighs, then slid toward my groin. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?”
It looked like every wet dream and dirty fantasy I’d ever had about her was unfolding before my eyes. This couldn’t be real. I blinked just to make sure I wasn’t imagining it, but when I opened my eyes again she was still there, those pretty violet eyes peering up at me, a tiny, teasing smile curving her lips.
“I’m still not entirely sure I’m not dreaming,” I admitted.
My hips jerked as she palmed my cock through my sweats. “Awake now?”
“Fuck yes.” Hooking my thumbs in the waistband of my pants I shifted just enough so I could shove them down.
My dick sprang free of the material, hard and throbbing for her attention, and Emery’s eyes widened slightly at the sight. My chest swelled with vindication at her reaction, a powerful, primal force that caused the blood to pulse more forcefully through my veins.
Emery’s small hand skated upward then curved around the base of my shaft. I sucked in a breath at the contact, every cell of my body screaming for her to keep going. Still, I forced myself to pause for a second, waiting for her to meet my gaze. “You sure?”
She flicked a look up at me and licked her lips. “I’m just returning the favor.”
“It’s not a contest, sweetness.” I framed her face with one hand. “If you don’t want to—”
Her tongue darted out and swiped along the swollen head, and my words trailed off into a gargled groan. I only had so much control, and it was fraying rapidly. If this gorgeous woman wanted to wrap her lips around my cock I sure as hell wasn’t going to question it.
That sweet little tongue swept out again and curled around the tip of my cock, sucking lightly, and I slid my hand deeper into her hair to cup the back of her head. “Again.”
She obliged, and my eyes closed as my head fell back on a groan. Christ, that felt so damn good. Up and down, she kept the movement slow and steady, each pass deeper than the last. The silky waterfall of her hair brushed my thighs as she took me deep into the back of her throat.
“Fuck!” My hips jerked automatically at the sensation, and Emery pulled back, eyes watering. “Sorry, baby, that—”
Before I could finish she was on me again, her perfect little mouth enveloping me and pushing me closer and closer to the edge.
“God, yes…” I closed my eyes again, losing myself in the eroticism of the moment. “Feels so good.”
She squeezed the base of my shaft a little tighter and worked it up and down as she licked and sucked my cock until I was ready to explode. Finally I couldn’t stand another second of the sweet torture.
“Emery.” I choked out her name but she didn't slow.
“Baby, stop.” I tightened my hold on her hair and gently pulled her off. “No more. You keep doing that and I won't be able to stop.”
Her lips turned down in a tiny pout. “So?”
“So...” I growled as I coasted my hands down to her waist then yanked her to her feet. Even though it fucking killed me, I tucked myself back into my sweats. I needed to slow this train down before I lost it completely. I was already so fucking hard that a stiff breeze would push me over the edge. “Get your sexy ass over here.”
Grabbing her hands, I tugged her toward me so she straddled my lap. Banding one arm around her lower back I crushed my lips to hers. I could taste my slightly musky essence on her tongue, and I delved deeper. Her hands slid up my biceps then around my shoulders, her breasts pressing against my chest as she plastered herself to me.
I wandered lower to cup and knead her ass, and she wriggled restlessly, the taut points of her nipples brushing my chest. My dick sprang up between us, hard and insistent, desperate to be inside her. “Hold on, sweetness.”
I shifted to the edge of the couch then pushed to my feet. Emery tightened her hold on me and hooked her ankles together at my lower back. The motion brought her even closer to me, and I gritted my teeth. Curling my fingers into the lush cheeks of her ass, I lifted and lowered her, rhythmically rubbing her core over my dick, teasing us both. I winced as Emery grabbed my hair and jerked my head up, then slammed her mouth over mine. The sudden boldness of the movement caused me to miss a step, and I bumped into the wall.
