Chapter 4 – Home, Sweet Home

The small two-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow came into view as Emmett turned down the street. It was at the end of a no through road; standing by itself. Unbeknownst to Simone; Emmett recently purchased the house a month prior and had been living there to not appear overly wealthy to her. He didn’t want any neighbours around, which made this house perfect for them.

“Home, sweet home” Emmett exclaims, pulling into the driveway; watching Simone’s every reaction from the corner of his eye.

Lifting her head to look through the front windscreen; “quaint little house” she says with a smile, opening the car door and heading to the trunk to grab her suitcase. ‘It looks very homely’ she adds to herself nervously.

“Let me” Emmett says, grabbing the suitcase before shutting the trunk of the car and turning toward the front door. Before opening the door with his keys, a small playful smirk crosses his face.

“What?” Simone questions, hesitant about what he was thinking.

Placing the suitcase down beside the door, Emmett quickly scoops Simone up in his arms bridal style before unlocking the door and walking over the threshold.  “Put me down” Simone giggles, softly pounding her hands on his chest.  ‘Why is he acting like that?’ Simone asks herself; unsure of what he was thinking.

Releasing Simone back on her feet with a smile; “I made up the spare room for you” he remarks, grabbing her suitcase again and showing her to her room with the adjacent bathroom. He did want her to sleep in the master bedroom with him; however, thought it would be wise to take things slowly with her. ‘My love won’t change. I can wait until you are ready to sleep next to me’ he includes in his mind.

Rolling her suitcase into the bedroom; Simone places it on the end of the queen size bed and sets off to unpack her clothes and put them in the dresser. She feels Emmett’s gaze; standing at the doorway watching her, but ignores him as she continues. ‘Why is he waiting? Does he want to talk to me?’ she continues to question his actions.

“Is there something you want?” Simone finally asks, turning to face Emmett.

“No. I have everything I ever wanted” he replies, leaving the room.

Simone’s eyes linger at the doorway with a quizzical expression. ‘What was that supposed to mean?’ she wonders to herself. ‘He is probably nervous. I know I am’ she continues; shrugging off her thoughts.

After placing all her clothes in the wardrobe and dresser; Simone removes the suitcase from the bed and notices a small shoebox sitting in the centre of it. Turning to look at the doorway, she picks up the box. “Is this why Emmett was waiting in the doorway?” She whispers to herself.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she opens the shoebox. Inside are two Barbie Dolls, 5 Hair Ties and several photos of Emmett and Simone together when they were younger. ‘What the fuck?’ she questions; looking at the closed door. ‘My Barbie dolls and hair ties he took?’

Scrambling off the bed and out the doorway with the two dolls in her hand; “is this where my Barbie dolls got to” Simone chuckles coming into the lounge area. “You kept them all this time?”

“I figured I should give them back to their rightful owner” he answers with a sigh; looking a tad guilty. “When Paul sent me overseas; he threw away everything in my room. I quickly hid them in my suitcase and was going to give them back to the next time I saw you. That happened to be today.”

Simone’s mouth gapes open in shock. Emmett quickly races over to her; closing the gap between them. He gently closes her mouth; causing her to blush. “Sorry it took so long” he adds, brushing the back of his hand across her cheek, causing a tingle to go down her body.

Taking a step back; “Emmett, I know we are married…” Simone begins in a whisper, trailing off. She wanted to tell him; if they were going to be affectionate; could they take it slow because she hasn’t been with anyone before.

“It’s ok” Emmett frowns, not wanting to scare her any more than he already had. “I need to have a shower and do some research for work before heading to bed’ he continues, turning on his heels to head into his room.

Simone places her hand on her cheek. Regardless of the circumstances of their marriage; his touch felt good. “Shit!” she curses at herself, not explaining she would be happy if they were to become more intimate and heads to her room, shutting the door.

Once inside her room, Simone leans up against the door; releasing her breath she was holding. “What am I doing?” She disciplines herself; taking in a few deep breathes to slow down her racing heart.

Placing her hand on her cheek again, Simone slowly moves her fingers to her lips. Remembering the kiss from the wedding ceremony, a small smile growing on her face. ‘Does this mean I really like Emmett?’ she asks herself in her mind.

While Simone was contemplating what she should do next; Emmett was in his room cursing at himself for overstepping the boundaries. ‘Why did I do that?’ he shouts at himself in his mind. ‘I need to take things slowly. I can’t scare her away’ he continues to chastise.

 Turning on his laptop, he opens his emails to read the reports from the head of departments. He asked them to be emailed through since he had decided to take a few weeks off work to spend with Simone. ‘If she wants me to touch her; I need to wait for her to tell me’ he explains to himself; again.

‘No matter the outcome; she will be the only one my heart desires’ he finishes, clicking on the first report and settling himself on his bed to read through them.