Page 107 of Baby Girl
“Yeah, but—” I start, then quickly swallow my words as Emery comes around the corner in the clothes Darcy laid out for her.
Fuck me.
Her outfit doesn’t make her look like a toy doll at all. She does, however, look naked. Everything is completely covered up, but the fabric of the nude-colored crop top and shorts should be illegal. It doesn’t take much for my mind to superimpose the shadows and contours from memory.
My gaze rakes down her body, noting how her skin doesn’t hug quite so tightly to her bones and how her hips have rounded the slightest amount. There is a rosy hue to her cheeks now, and she doesn’t look like a stiff wind would blow her over anymore.
With the way her head is tilted toward the floor, her hair cascades down her chest, and it’s only when I finally register that she has one arm crossed over her body to grasp the other, and that her legs are crossed, that I realize she is uncomfortable.
I share a glance with Darcy, then turn my back on them, giving him a moment to work with her because I am in no state to be anywhere near her. My heart seems to believe I am running a marathon, and my cock is accepting all the additional blood flow.
Where the fuck is my control when I need it? I can’t spend the next few hours like this. I need to get my shit back under control so Emery doesn’t feel threatened by my presence.
The murmurs behind me stop, and in the reflection of the windows, I watch as Darcy leads our girl over to the chairs and positions her in the seat facing the wall of art supplies.
There are simultaneous message chimes from both Darcy’s phone and mine. With a glance over my shoulder, I see thathe is still busy with Emery, crouched down in front of her, whispering, so I go to my phone and check the message.
Derek:Emery was at the apartment last night.
Frowning, I reread the message several times. Last night? No, she couldn’t have been. The three of us were there last night; there is no way we wouldn’t have seen her.
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Derek:She was there just before 5pm. She ran out crying after she searched the place. Is she with you and Darcy? How is she?
Why the hell would the apartment make her cry? And what was she searching for?
Me:Do you know what she was looking for? And yeah, she’s here.
Me:She came into the studio with a black cloud hanging over her. Barely making eye contact with either of us.
Derek:My assumption is the sketchbooks and graphite.
Ah, that would do it.
Me:When do you plan to give them to her?
Derek:As soon as I can get her to talk to me. I think I am past the point of hoping she’ll talk to me and will actually have to use them as bait. I hate it, but if it’s my only opportunity to get her to meet me in person, then I will use it.
I feel for the guy. I sprung being a model on her just to spend some time in her presence.
Me:You have to do what you have to do. I have a feeling we might be running out of time, though.
Covertly, I make my way farther to the side so that I can get a better angle, then raise my phone with the camera app open and snap a picture of Darcy and Emery. She is looking at the floor to the side of his feet as he holds her hand and some of his rope, letting her feel it against her skin.
I send it through to the chat.
Derek:I agree. I think we might need to call in reinforcements.
Me:Who?
Derek:Madam.
My eyes widen at the suggestion. But, honestly, I’m feeling at a complete and utter loss here. Emery has the door locked on us. Until she turns the key, there isn’t a lot we can do without stomping all over her boundaries more than we already are.
“Hudson, could you come and take your place, please?”
I snap my head up at Darcy’s request. “Of course.”
