LOGINEMILY “Tell me to stop,” he murmured, his breath warm against my lips as he pulled just inches away from my waiting, aching lips. I said nothing, and that was enough of an answer. When his mouth finally met mine, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. His lips were soft and insistent, moving against mine with a hunger that felt like he’d been holding back for weeks. My fingers curled into the front of his shirt, part instinct, part surrender. He tasted like mint and something darker, something that made my knees weak and my heart slam against my ribs. A low sound escaped him as he deepened the kiss, one arm sliding around my waist to pull me flush against him. I melted into him, every rational thought dissolving into the heat of his mouth, the warmth of his hands, the way he held me like I was something precious and dangerous all at once. Even with his tongue and hands against me, I still didn’t feel close enough to him. Needing to feel him everywhere, I lifted one of m
COLE When Marcel called me earlier today to come down to the office so we could go through some of the new things he found, that was all I was focused and bothered about. Until he left. And I was back to thinking about how close I had been to having Emily. It took everything in me to pull away from her that night because all I could think about when I went back into my room for another cold shower was watching my cock slide in and out of her as she took me like I was a puzzle she’d been missing. When I woke up the next morning, I knew she was gone before my feet even hit the floor, and I must say, that was a good idea on her path because the raging hard-on I woke up with only made me think about walking into the room next to mine and fucking her into our work hours. Thank goodness l’d managed to keep myself away from that thought for days, until now, when l found myself doing exactly what I’d always preached against by calling her while convincing myself that she was o
EMILY ~Drew’s Event~ For the past three days, work has been going smoothly. I barely saw Cole, or maybe it was because I put in so much effort avoiding him. Either way, I couldn’t have been more pleased that the weekend had finally arrived. I spent my evenings at either a café or five-star restaurant with Drew, helping him plan while we caught up on our lives. And each time, I always slipped in the question of what he meant when he said he had “something important” to tell me. But all I got was a smile and his assurance that he was going to tell me after his event and wouldn’t hesitate to tell me. It bugged me for a little while, but now that I stood in the event hall, looking at every painting on display while Drew was off somewhere talking to clients like the true businessman he was, something deep inside me felt like I was seconds away from him dropping a bombshell I wouldn’t be happy about. “Are you here to see a painting or buy one?” A deep masculine voice with a t
EMILY I rushed back to the guest room, my heart beating frantically in my chest. I didn’t know what had changed his mood or why he had pulled away, but whatever had happened was a good thing because I was far from thinking straight. Not after what had happened in his room and the kitchen. Not after the way he’d touched me, pressed into me, and spoken to me like he owned me. He didn’t have to fuck me to prove how far he could ruin me. He already had—with his words, the hungry look in his eyes, and the way his sweats had tented. I climbed onto the bed and pulled the duvet over me, trying to sleep, but I couldn’t. I kept tossing and turning, my mind playing the feeling of Cole’s fingers on my waist, just inches away from where I craved him the most. I needed release. I needed to stop the ache so I could think straight and focus on how I was going to avoid him for the rest of my life. My hand slowly moved from beneath my head, gliding down my chest as I imagined
COLE Was standing so close to Emily, with her face pressed against my palm a good idea? No. Did I care? Abosolutly fucking not. At this point, I was far beyond caring about morals and principles. Not with how badly I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and take her to my room. After I had accompanied her to the guest room earlier, I made my way down here to the kitchen to place a takeout order. But after sitting there for a while with her scent lingering in my living room, I was left with too many memories of the times I had come close to losing control and somehow managed to hold myself back. Now she was here, in my space, just a door away from my room, and I couldn’t stop the images from clouding my mind. The way she’d stood by my door in drenched clothes that revealed the fine outline of her full chest. The way her face had turned pink when I asked her to spend the night, despite a part of me screaming that it wasn’t a good idea. I couldn’t do this
EMILY Every part of me screamed to turn back. But I couldn’t. I wanted to know if this was all an imagination made up in my head. If I was really the one he imagined while he stroked himself to a perfect release. I placed a shaky palm against the door, pushing it slightly to get a full view of what he was doing. And there he was. Cole. Standing under the shower fully naked, his head was thrown back, his eyes tightly closed, his lips were slightly parted, revealing his clenched jaw as though he was holding back a growl. My eyes slowly dropped lower, landing on the hand wrapped tightly around the thick ridge of his painfully hard cock while his other hand held onto the shower head so tightly it almost looked like he was about to crush it into two. His muscles flexed with each slow movement as heavy grunts and whimpers left his clenched teeth. He looked like an untamed beast, wild, raw, and utterly lost in the thought of me. My name was still falling from his
EMILY ~NEW YORK~ ~One month later~ ~Monday~ I looked at myself for what felt like the millionth time in the mirror after ten different hairstyles and seven outfit changes. Finally, I was satisfied. My hair pulled into a tight bun, and my white long-sleeved blouse looked modest enoug
EMILY Four of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen sat confidently, their presence exuding money and power. Each of them was draped in expensive Armani and Prada suits, broad shoulders filling the seats like they owned the place. Is this heaven? I thought. If it is, someone please pinch m
EMILY CARTER~NEW JERSEY~~Terry’s bar~ “Mommy, are you coming back soon?” I smiled, pressing the phone closer to my ear as I sat against the locker in the break room. “Soon, baby. I just have few things to settle, remember?” A small pause. Then, her small voice came through the phone, qui
EMILY ~Flashback to Six Years Ago~ “Hey, four eyes!” Troy, Cole’s best friend, called from behind, and laughter erupted from their group. Even Cole was laughing. “Please, Troy.” I said quietly, keeping my eyes down as I walked faster. “I’ve told you to stop calling me that.” But







