Текст книги "What Emma Craves"
Автор книги: Amanda Abbott
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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 13 страниц)
“It sounds like it.” Emma nodded. “That’s very impressive. Doing something you love and being able to experience the world on your own terms is a wonderful thing.”
“I think so, too.” He gave her a broad smile. “The world is a beautiful place to explore. Hey, do you guys want to join us for breakfast? We usually eat something at The Mayfair, since it’s on the other side of the resort near the marina, and then we head out on the boat.”
“They have a marina here?” Emma said. “Damn, I really need to take a look at a map.”
“They do,” he said. “It’s tiny, not more than ten slips. It’s mostly for boats that bring in supplies, but guests can also reserve a space for the time they’re here. A few of the regular guests have boats, but not many that I know of. Come on, have breakfast with us, and then I’ll take you and your husband for a ride. What is his name again?”
“Pete,” she said, standing. “And I really should be getting back. He’s probably up by now. I’ll talk to him and see what he wants to do. What time are you thinking?”
“How about eight thirty?”
“Okay, if you see us, you see us!” Emma said as she began to walk back to her villa.
“I’m sure I’ll see you, even if I don’t see you!” he called. “The island’s not that big.”
13
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Pete and Emma walked into The Mayfair at eight twenty-five. Meeting the guy and girl they’d run into at the airport for breakfast hadn’t been Pete’s first choice this morning, but Emma wanted to do it, so he was game. After their discussion last night, he was happy Emma had been in a good mood after her run and had wanted to interact with others. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know some people here.
“This is so cute,” Emma said as they entered the restaurant.
The place looked like a café on the outside, whitewashed wood like the intake area, with shuttered windows open to the elements, but once inside it had a sports bar vibe. There was a big bar separating the two spaces. To the left were booths and various TVs mounted on the walls. To the right there were small, cozy round tables with lazy ceiling fans oscillating overhead. Big double doors were open to a covered veranda, which continued the café feel.
Most of the patrons were on the deck having breakfast.
“We’re out here!” a voice called.
“They’re on the porch,” Pete said as he placed his hand on the small of Emma’s back and steered her toward the doors. A few couples were seated around tables inside, but the restaurant wasn’t full by any means.
Once they reached the table, Emma pulled out a chair. “Thanks for inviting us,” she said as she sat. “This is lovely. The view is fantastic.”
Pete sat in the other chair. Antonio reached over to shake his hand. “Nice to see you, man,” Antonio said. “Glad you guys could make it.”
“It’s good to see you guys, too,” Pete said as he gazed out over the railing. Docks and a little marina sat about thirty feet from the restaurant. Right next to it was the beach. “This place is ridiculously nice.”
“Right here is the tip of the island, and the resort takes advantage of all the angles,” Antonio told them.
“How was your first night here? Did you guys sleep well?” Charlotte asked.
Emma cleared her throat. “I did. The beds are so comfortable, I almost didn’t get up for my run this morning.”
“We got in late last night,” Antonio said as he leaned back, draping his arm over the back of Charlotte’s chair. “So we’re a little tired. But I’m a natural early riser. No matter what time I go to bed, I always get up close to dawn.”
“He does.” Charlotte nodded. “And I’m just the opposite. I could sleep all day.”
“And sometimes you do,” Antonio kidded.
“How long have you two been together?” Emma asked. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
“We’ve been dating about eight months,” Antonio replied. “Give or take.”
“Yeah, this dude is hard to pin down.” Charlotte gestured at Antonio with her thumb. “He goes through his share of women, let me tell you. I’m hoping to last for a few more months, at least, but we shall see.” She laughed, her voice easy and content. “I’m enjoying the ride while I can. Isn’t that right, Tiger?”
Antonio laughed along with her, both of them seeming at ease with their relationship.
Pete was astounded. He appraised Charlotte. She was beautiful, more so than he’d thought at the airport when he was half-asleep. She had long brown hair with gold accents, eyes rimmed with naturally dark lashes, and an easy smile. She appeared to be athletic, and if he had to guess he’d venture to say she was a volleyball player, having met more than his fair share growing up in Southern California. It was clear she was confident, which he appreciated. But knowing her relationship with Antonio was short-lived had to suck, no matter how confident you were.
Antonio grinned. “Just to be clear, so you two don’t think I’m a heartless asshole, Charlotte knew I wasn’t in for a serious relationship, so she’s painting me a little dark. But I’ll forgive her. We’ve been friends for many, many years. Dating me has a lot of perks, so it’s not too much of a hardship on her.”
“Indeed, it’s not a hardship,” Charlotte replied playfully. “But he’s right. I knew exactly what I was getting into. It was hard to pass this up”—she waved an arm out toward the marina—“especially since I’d been after him for years. He’s fabulous in bed, by the way, and has scads of money he spends generously. The bottom line is he’s a really nice guy. What more could a girl ask for?” There was a wistful tone in her voice. “I wish there was a way to snare him for life, but since there’s not, I’m happy to take what I can get.”
Antonio seemed very comfortable and matter-of-fact with the direction the conversation was going, nodding along to what Charlotte had been saying. “Yes, I’ve found it hard to find women who are open to living the lifestyle, so I date very sporadically. But Charlotte and I have worked the longest, so who knows?” He shrugged. “Maybe this relationship will stand the test of time. I’m up for anything. How about you two? How long have you been together?”
Before either of them could answer, the waitress showed up with menus for Pete and Emma. “Can I bring you coffee, tea, or juice?” she asked.
“I’d love a grapefruit juice,” Emma said.
“I’d like one, too,” Antonio added.
“Coffee for me,” Pete said, “along with an orange juice.”
“A mimosa for me,” Charlotte replied. “We gotta start this party off right.”
“Got it,” the waitress answered. “I’ll be back soon to take your order.”
They picked up their menus. “So what’s good here?” Pete asked conversationally. “The food we had last night was fantastic. I’m assuming breakfast will be just as delicious.”
“Just about everything is superb,” Antonio said. “You really can’t go wrong. They have two very coveted chefs from the States here. They come out to the pool once in a while, so we’ve gotten to chat with them. Any place in New York would kill to have these two. But they get paid extremely well here. Plus, they get free plane rides anywhere they want on their days off. It’s hard to argue with that.”
Pete set his menu down, deciding to go with the special, which was some kind of egg hash concoction. “So Emma tells me you’ve been to the island a few times before,” Pete said, addressing Antonio.
“That’s right.” Antonio nodded. “The first time was about two years ago. A friend recommended it—and me. I’d come back more often, but leaving my company for too long is hard.”
“I can imagine,” Pete commented.
“What do you guys do for a living?” Antonio asked.
“I’m a creative director at an ad agency, and Emma is a dancer.”
Antonio’s eyebrows shot up as his gazed snapped to her. “You dance?”
Emma took a sip of her water, dabbing her napkin against her lips, appearing a little embarrassed. “I only teach dance now, but I will always consider myself a dancer. It was my life for many years. All through high school, college, and a few years after.”
“Ballet?” he asked.
“All kinds, but yes, ballet was my main passion. I danced with a troupe in Chicago up until Pete and I were married.”
“Why did you quit?” Antonio asked, leaning forward.
Pete noticed Antonio’s gaze was extremely focused on his wife.
Emma laughed, her voice clear and high. “Because I was getting older. My joints and muscles weren’t cooperating well either. I kept getting stress fractures. Plus, I’d always wanted to teach. That had always been my end goal.” She glanced over at Pete and smiled, setting her hand on top of his. “And that someday came at exactly the right time, if you ask me.”
“I love ballet. Going to the theater is a passion of mine,” Antonio said. “It’s so majestic and beautiful. I’d love to see you dance someday.” He sat back, assuming his casual pose.
Pete cleared his throat. Antonio was too focused on Emma, so it was time to change the subject. “Emma tells me you have a boat.”
“I do,” he answered. “It’s a Marquis 660 Sport. You can’t see it from this table, but it’s out in the marina. It was a huge splurge, but I adore it. I keep it parked down here most of the time. I’m a novice captain, but I’m learning fast.”
“Is your company headquartered in Madison, then?” Pete asked, hoping like hell it wasn’t. “You flew out of there, so I was just wondering.”
“No, I live in California. I was just in town visiting my mother.” Antonio grinned. “My parents divorced when I was eighteen. I grew up in Detroit. My mom moved to Madison about a year ago when she realized she wasn’t getting grandkids anytime soon. It’s a nice town, and we have extended family there. I’m actually thinking of investing in some local businesses. If I’m going to be spending time visiting my family, it makes sense I would mix it with business.”
At that moment, the waitress came to take their order.
Pete sat back, crossing his arms, studying Antonio.
This was going to be a very interesting day.
* * *
The yacht was absolutely stunning. It was like nothing Emma had ever seen before—at least not up close. The girls at home were going to die when she told them where she’d been and what she’d done.
“This is the main deck,” Antonio announced, ushering them through the boat on a tour. “This is where the helm is located, where we entertain. I drive in here if the weather sucks. Above us is the flybridge. That’s where we’ll spend most of the day, and the lower deck houses a small living room and three bedrooms.”
“Three bedrooms?” Emma asked. “Wow.”
“Actually, there are two bedrooms, a master and a guest, and then a small bunk room in the back.”
The main deck was covered in gray, highly polished wood that gleamed in the morning sun. There were three immaculate, white leather couches, a big-screen TV, a built-in bar, and an area where you could lounge next to the captain as he drove.
It was the epitome of luxury.
Pete gave a low whistle. “This is killer. Very nice.”
“Let’s head up top to the flybridge, then we can be on our way.” Antonio led them up an interior staircase by a small galley kitchen, which was decked out with top-of-the-line appliances made to fit the small space. “The roof is partly open, so there will be shade or sunshine, whichever you prefer.”
As they climbed the steps, Emma asked, “Why bother renting a villa? Why don’t you just stay on the boat?”
“Can’t. It’s against the resort rules. People come to socialize with other couples here, and they want to make sure everyone is entitled to the same amenities. But that’s fine. I love the villas. They are done perfectly, and it’s easy to get to meals and head to the beach.”
The flybridge was just as beautiful as the main deck, with the same wood floor. The couches were sleek and stylish. A partial cover on top looked to be a rolling canvas skylight. There were two different tables to sit at, one with chairs and one with a couch.
“This is so amazing,” Emma commented. “Thank you for inviting us to join you. We feel very pampered.”
Before Antonio could answer, there was a loud “Hello!” from below. “Am I too late to catch the wind in my hair?” Mallory’s head popped into view as she ascended the stairs.
Emma was surprised to see her, but it wasn’t unwelcome. Emma had no hard feelings about last night’s interactions with the beautiful model. In fact, Mallory had been likable, down-to-earth, and accommodating. There was nothing not to like.
“Not at all. You’re just in time,” Antonio said jovially, walking over to greet her with a kiss on each cheek. “We weren’t sure if we were going to see you today or not.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. You know I love seeing you and your swanky-ass yacht.” Mallory leaned around his shoulder. “And I see you’ve already found the hottest couple on the island to bring along with you. Man, you’re fast,” Mallory teased. She was dressed in a flowing, gauzy cover-up with nothing much underneath, big sunglasses, several bracelets and adornments, and a big pink floppy hat. She looked like a movie star, or the supermodel she was soon to become.
Antonio grinned. “So you guys have already met, then? I’m not surprised in the least. It seems you work quicker than I do, my dear. Shall we go?” He leaned over the side and called to Charlotte, who had stayed below. “Untie us. We’re all set!” Then he sat in the captain’s chair and turned on the engine.
Within a few moments, they were motoring out into the clear blue waters.
Emma and Pete sat on one of the long couches near the back, Mallory sat across from them at the table, and Charlotte was sprawled on the couch next to Antonio.
Everyone was relaxed.
Emma took in the sights with Pete’s arm slung casually around her shoulders. The greenery around the resort was very lush, but as the yacht made its way along the coastline, the vegetation was sparse, just like she’d seen on the other side. But the white sand and crystal-blue water were out of this world, something out of a fantasy. After a while, Emma stood and walked to the railing, loving the feel of the wind and trying to spot some sea creatures in the rolling waves.
“We’re coming up to what I like to call Private Beach,” Antonio called. “It’s a small, sheltered cove that you can only get to by boat.” He swiveled around to face them as Emma walked back to the couch where Pete was sitting. “Do you guys want to anchor for a while?”
“Sure,” Mallory answered first. “I want to catch some sun on the bow. I only do morning sun. Once it’s past noon, I’m out.” She smiled affably at Emma and Pete. “I get to see the sun, mostly because I get hired for that natural, sporty look, but also because I’m a rebel. Some models are like mole people and never let a ray of sunshine hit them, and if it does they bitch and moan to high heaven. Those are the haute-couture girls. I figure if I get hired for couture at this point, they can just Photoshop the hell out of me and make me as pasty white as they want to.”
Emma chortled at Malloy’s open honesty. “Well, it’s not just couture models. If I laid out in the sun with you, I’d be a lobster in about three minutes. I lathered on a bottle of sunscreen this morning, but it wouldn’t matter. I’m too neon white. A beacon to the burn.”
“At least you have a good reason,” Mallory said. “It’s a digital age, and these women need to shut the hell up. One freckle will not keep them out of work.” Antonio slowed the boat and cut the motor. Mallory got out of her seat. “And, darling, lemme tell you, if I had your coloring, I’d be the Nicole Kidman of the model world. You have something very few have—flawless skin paired with beauty. Most redheads I know have one or the other. Most of them have freckles all over. You have this many.” She formed a circle with her fingers. “Zippo. You have that thing models kill for. If you were a little taller, I guarantee you would’ve been recruited by some hungry shark a long time ago. But be thankful you avoided this life. This job sucks out your soul and spits it out like a big loogie.”
Antonio came up behind them, followed by Charlotte. “I parked close enough to swim to shore if that’s what we want to do. It’s already hot enough to take a plunge. I have snorkel gear, floatation devices, and just about anything you want downstairs. There’s plenty of food on board, so we can have lunch when we’re done. How does that sound?”
“Lovely,” Emma said. “This is really wonderful. Thank you again.”
“I’m heading to the bow now for some sun, if anyone wants to join me.” Mallory winked at the group as she set her hat and glasses on the table. Then she dropped her cover-up to the ground and sauntered down the stairs, totally naked.
14
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As Mallory passed Pete, she curled her index finger in front of her. The universal sign for come with me. Pete glanced at Emma, who was having an animated chat with Charlotte. Antonio had already gone to drop the anchor.
Pete couldn’t believe how ritzy this yacht was. It must’ve set back Antonio by at least two million. Pete waited for a moment to catch Emma’s eye to tell her where he was going, but Emma was still wrapped up in her conversation. After a few moments, he decided Emma could join them when she was done. What else were they going to do?
He headed down the stairs and took a path along the side of the boat to get to the front. He’d spotted the large cushions on the bow during the tour.
When he rounded the corner, Mallory was already spread out, one knee up, her hair fanned out around her. She patted the lounger next to her without even looking up.
She’d known he’d come after her.
This beauty wasn’t used to being denied much, and coming to sit with her fed into that, but as he looked out over the clear water and their surroundings, and her more-than-beautiful body, he found he didn’t care too much. This was a dream vacation, and he was going to enjoy it.
Pete hoped Emma joined them before Mallory got too horny. But it wasn’t like they were going to have sex right here, so he pushed it out of his mind.
“Let’s have sex,” Mallory announced, giving him a lazy grin as she circled one of her areolas.
Pete was so taken aback, he nearly lost his balance, and he was sitting. But there was no place for him to escape now that he was there. “I’m sorry, what?”
She belly-laughed at his reaction.
It sounded like a genuine laugh, unlike what he’d heard from her so far. “Relax, I’m just fucking with you.” She turned on her side to face him, a finger tracing the seam on the cushion. “You know, I can’t figure you and your wife out. I’ve been trying all morning. You seem into each other. There’s love there. I mean, it’s written all over your faces. You checked with your wife twice before agreeing to be with me last night. That’s not typical in my world. Most people, including couples, are selfish motherfuckers. All the time. They’re out for their own pleasure and will tromp on anyone to get it. So what gives?”
“What do you mean, what gives?” Pete relaxed a little, knowing Mallory wasn’t going to jump on his already hard dick.
“The lifestyle. How do you juggle it? It seems like it would rip a loving couple like you two apart. I’m curious, if you fucked me right now, without her permission, would Emma divorce you?”
The question was so personal, Pete didn’t know exactly how to answer it, so he just went with real. “Yes, most likely.”
“Then explain it to me.” She turned on her stomach and went up on her elbows. “Most swingers I meet are selfish and would take the fuck any day, especially with someone like me. So make me understand why you’re different.”
“I don’t know,” Pete said, rubbing the back of his neck. “The first reason is we aren’t real swingers in that sense. We call it swapping, and when we do it, it’s very controlled. We meet a couple ahead of time, everyone is on board, and we know roughly how the night is going to go from beginning to end. Everyone is amped, and we have a good time. When they go home, it’s over.”
“Then what?”
“What do you mean?”
“Then do you and Emma fuck by yourselves, or what? What’s the payoff after a swap for the two of you? From what I saw last night, the payoff was you coming. You came hard and were totally lost in the moment. But what’s the payoff for your beautiful, porcelain wife? She didn’t appear to get off on it as much as you did.”
Pete was stymied for a moment. How could she know that after being with them for a total of twenty minutes? “Well, when we first started doing it, the payoff always came after. The two of us were charged for weeks after we were with another couple, and our sex together was explosive.”
“And now?”
“Now?” he said. “Now, I’m not sure…” He trailed off, his mind whirling.
“In my opinion, it’s time for you to reevaluate that crap. Your wife is hot and completely sexy. You’re a very lucky man. If you want to keep that for yourself, you’re going to have to work a little harder than you have in the past.” She leaned over to whisper, “I can tell you right now, Antonio is going to give you a run for your money on this trip.” She reached over and patted his chest, dragging a single fingernail down to his abs.
A throat cleared from the flybridge.
Pete glanced up to see Emma’s head over the railing. “Um, I’m going to go swimming,” she called. “I just wanted to let you know.”
“Okay!” he answered. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Don’t rush,” she said simply. “Enjoy the sun.”
Then she was gone.
Mallory started to giggle, laughing harder as she rolled over onto her back. “Let the games begin. Strike one for the husband!”
“What do you mean? Do you think she was upset?” Pete asked. “She didn’t sound upset.”
“Oh, I’m certain she wasn’t thrilled we were sitting here together after what happened last night,” Mallory answered. “You are fairly clueless about women, you know that?”
“I’m not clueless,” Pete said, his voice irritated. “We weren’t doing anything wrong. She has no reason to be upset.”
“Keep telling yourself that, man,” Mallory said, still laughing. “My advice to you is to get your ass back there and get in that water, because Antonio is already in there. He’s the shark you have to watch out for.”
* * *
Emma didn’t know whether to be angry or sad when she saw Pete cozied up to Mallory and that he’d chosen to go sit with her rather than wait to see what she’d wanted to do.
What she did know was that she wasn’t going to let it ruin her day.
She walked down the stairs by the stern and onto a platform made up of thin wood planks stained a dark red. There was a partially covered area at the very end of the boat with a large table and another amazing couch to relax on.
She heard a splash and headed around the table to find Antonio already in the water. Charlotte sat on the edge, her feet dangling in the water. She was completely naked and very comfortable with herself.
“Come on in,” Antonio called. He had a snorkel and mask on his head. “I always dive down and check the anchor. There’s no way I’m leaving my boat unless I know it’s secure.”
Emma was pretty sure Antonio was naked as well.
When in Rome.
Emma took off her hat and set it on a bench. Then, in one motion, she lifted her sundress, this one a marigold color, over her head.
“Holy shit,” Antonio sputtered from the water.
“Damn, girl, you have a kickin’ body,” Charlotte said, appraising her. “Is that a six-pack? Do you actually have a freakin’ six-pack?”
Emma blushed. She wasn’t totally naked. She wore the skimpy white bikini bottoms Piper had given her—the ones with the tiny buckles on the sides and a small scrap of fabric in front and almost nothing else. She chose to wear them, not because she was embarrassed about being naked in front of others, but because she knew they accentuated everything she had.
Piper was a genius.
“I got lucky with my body type,” Emma said.
“Bullshit,” Charlotte said. “Turn around. We need to get a good look at the back.”
“I don’t think I need to—”
“Zip it!” Charlotte snapped her hand in front of her mouth. “Everyone here wants to enjoy your body, now give us a little show. I’m certain Antonio is already hard”—she gave him a knowing look—“but let’s not make it easy on him. We want him to ache a little bit before he gets his release.”
“You don’t have to—” Antonio stopped mid-sentence when she turned, and shouted, “Fucking A!”
Emma was embarrassed, but pleased she’d made that kind of impact.
Without waiting to hear any more, she jumped feet first off the platform, shrieking as she went. The water was the perfect temperature. It felt wonderful. Her head bobbed up, and she gasped for a breath. The first thing she heard was Antonio’s laugher.
“Char, throw us a foam mattress.”
“On it, Master,” Charlotte chirped, and headed to a bench, lifting up the lid.
Emma cleared the water out of her eyes as Antonio swam closer.
“How do you like the Bahamas now?” he asked. “Pretty spectacular, huh?”
“It is.” Emma began to tread water. “I’ve been to a lot of places, but this is one of the best. I get lost in the color of the water every time I look. But I don’t see any fish.” She glanced down into the water.
Antonio pulled his snorkel and mask off and handed them to her. “Here, take a look using these. There aren’t many fish, since there are no big rocks or coral around, but you’ll see a few and maybe even a sea turtle. I’ll keep you steady.” Emma took the proffered items while Antonio grasped on to her waist. His body was so close, she could feel his warmth. She was incredibly aware she was topless, with very little separating their bodies. She began to slip the mask over her head, as he leaned over and said in her ear, “It’s not going to fit you because it’s adjusted to me, but push it up to your face and press on it with both hands. I’ve got you. Then dunk your head under the water.”
She did what he said, her hands shaking lightly. She was acutely aware of him. As she bent her head into the water, her backside came in contact with his abs. She heard him let out a slow breath. She knew he was hard, but was trying to keep her mind off of it while she glanced under water.
There were several fish, but none close. The sandy bottom wasn’t very far down, about ten feet. She would have loved to dive, but the mask was already leaking seawater.
As she turned, she caught a glimpse of Antonio’s cock.
She had to brace herself so she didn’t gulp in any water. It was huge and very erect. She flushed as she brought her head up and took the mask off. She tried to act like nothing was amiss, but she was incredibly turned on.
“So pretty down there.” She coughed politely, handing the equipment back to him. “I’m going to have to get some snorkeling gear that works. I’d love to explore down there.”
“I have more snorkels on the boat.” He had let go of her once she’d emerged, but was staring intently at her as they both tread water. His gaze was smoldering. Heat filtered through her body. This man wanted her.
Really wanted her.
It felt like forever since a man had been that predatory toward her.
A loud splash jolted her out of her mini-reverie. Emma glanced over to see Pete surface five feet from them. Mallory stood on the platform of the boat, holding a thin foam air mattress. She was laughing and nodding at Charlotte, who had two air mattresses under her arms. Charlotte tossed one out into the water, and then jumped in with the other.
Then Pete was next to her, his arms encircling her waist.
Emma had inadvertently kicked away from Antonio when Pete had entered the water, so they weren’t as close as they’d been before. Guilt began to creep in. She had been totally turned on that another man wanted her, and it had nothing to do with the lifestyle.
“What’re you guys doing?” Pete asked.
“Antonio lent me his mask so I could see the fish. There aren’t many, but it’s gorgeous down there. Do you want to swim to the beach? It’s not too far.”
Antonio grabbed the air mattress Charlotte had thrown. He leaned over the middle and kicked toward them. The other two ladies were already in the water on theirs.
“We’ll paddle after you!” Mallory called. “Don’t worry about us.”
“Come on,” Pete said in her ear. “I’ll race you.”
Emma chuckled. “That’s not going to work. You have the supreme body of an athlete,” she told her husband. “There’s no way I’m beating you.”
“I’ll give you a head start,” he said playfully. “That way I get to watch your ass in the water. It’s a win-win.”
Emma glanced at Antonio for a split second. His eyes were full of mischief. Emma wondered what he had up his sleeve.
She turned back to Pete. “You’re on. I’ll see you there.” She darted under the water and began to swim. But all she could think about as she stroked toward the shoreline were those brief few moments she’d just had with Antonio and that knowing look in his eyes.
She couldn’t stop.
That look was what it meant to be wanted more than anything in the world.
That’s what Emma craved.
