Page 100 of Worth the Fall

EMERSON

“What are you doing here?” I ask, a little stunned to see him filling the space of my doorway. After his text the other day and our screwy schedules, we hadn’t planned to see each other until tomorrow.

But I more than welcome the sight of him.

“I needed to take a break.”

“A break from what?” I ask as he waltzes right past me as if I invited him in. I look out the front door and around the parking lot, hoping it will help me understand what the hell he is talking about.

“My brothers. Work. Other shit.”

I turn and lean my back against the door I’ve just shut as he strolls over to the couch, drops whatever is in his hands onto it, plops down, and puts his feet up on my coffee table like he owns the place. He picks up the People Magazine on the couch beside him and starts flipping through it without a second thought.

The protest dies momentarily on my lips as I recover from the shock of seeing him. And it’s a good shock. The kind of shock that almost made me jump into his arms, wrap my legs around his waist, and kiss him senseless. It feels like forever since I’ve seen him when, in reality, it’s only been a week.

It’s just because things were unsettled last time he left here, and I’ve had time to think it over and know I overreacted.

That, and the sight of him in that dark blue uniform has put butterflies in my belly and a bang of lust between my thighs.

“Don’t you have your own house to escape to?” I ask as I push off the wall and cross the distance. He watches me, his stare unrelenting as I sit across from him on the edge of the chair.

“Yeah, but the view here is much nicer.” He quirks an eyebrow, and the sweep of his eyes over my body tells me the view he’s talking about is me.

I did tell him flattery would get him everywhere.

“Well, what if I want a different view?”

“We can go somewhere else if you want. The view I came here to enjoy is mobile.” He flashes a heart-stopping grin.

“Good to hear you want to go somewhere else. Go ahead. I’ll stay here.” I match him smile for smile.

“Suit yourself,” he says, tossing the magazine on the coffee table and shifting to lie back on my couch, feet hanging off one armrest while his head is on the other.

I rise and walk to the couch so I can stare down at him with my arms crossed. And as much as I’m playing the hard ass, every other part of my body is sizing him up and wondering how quick I can peel that uniform off him . . . then again, maybe he should leave it on. It is sexy as hell.

“Without you,” I warn.

“C’mon. You know you like me.” He closes his eyes and settles into the cushions.

“No I don’t. I only like your cock.”

He snorts and opens one eye to stare at me at the same time he reaches a hand out to rest on the back of my knee. “You like my mouth, too.”

His thumb brushes up and down the backside of my knee and sends shockwaves through my body. “It is a pretty damn good mouth.”

“Then there are my hands . . .”

“Mmm.”

And within a second, he has pulled me down on top of him and his lips are on mine in a kiss to rival all kisses. It’s hot and sweet and sexy and all-consuming, and when he pulls back, it leaves me breathless to the point that my chest is heaving and my eyes can’t seem to break away from his.

There’s a brief moment where I see something in his eyes—sadness, regret, I’m not sure—before it clears away. It makes me want to ask him what happened today that brought him to my doorstep.

I’d like to think he’s here because he wants to see me. The kiss he just mesmerized me with says I’m at least part of the reason, but I’m also observant enough to know something is bugging him.

“Officer, is that your baton or are you just happy to see me?” I murmur.

His laugh rumbles through his chest and into me, and there is something about the moment—the ease of it—that makes me feel a bit better about whatever is bugging him.