Текст книги "Screwed"

Автор книги: Kendall Ryan

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 11 страниц)

Chapter Twenty

Emery

 

Surrounded by teetering stacks of class notes and thick textbooks splayed open on their spines, I sit cross-legged on the living room floor. I started studying on the dining table, then moved to the bed when I ran out of territory to spread out in. Then I shoved the coffee table outside on the balcony, tossed down a couch cushion, and turned the entire floor into my desk.

Now I’m curled up at the center of a paper-and-pillow nest. My back is killing me, my eyes feel gritty, my tongue tastes sour from too much coffee, and . . . my ass is vibrating?

I thought I left my phone on its charger, but when I dig in my shorts pocket, there it is. And I have a text from Hayden.

Hayden : You still up? Wanna make a taco run?

I pat my hollow stomach, trying to remember the last time I ate. Probably my dinner break at work. And it’s midnight now, which means . . . how many hours ago? My brain has no room left for basic math anymore. I’ve crammed it too full of legal definitions and case histories.

My groggy attempt at thought is interrupted by a second text.

Hayden : Or would you rather I taste your taco? ;)

Oh, for fuck’s sake. I snort in half amusement, half exasperation and text him back.

 

Emery : Seriously? Are you twelve years old?

Hayden : I hope not, or you might get arrested.

Emery : No taco eating allowed . . . the food kind or the other kind. I have to memorize all this shit and get at least four hours sleep.

I tried going to work on two hours yesterday. It didn’t end well.

Speaking of stuff I don’t have time for, I should stop texting Hayden. I stand up and barely catch myself before I stumble. Whoa . . . head rush. I must have gotten up too fast. I blink the blurriness out of my vision and stretch my stiff muscles. Then I pick my way through the minefield of paper and put my phone back on my nightstand where it belongs.

Just as I get settled again, someone knocks at the door. I groan and drag myself across the condo to look through the peephole. It’s Hayden, holding a brown paper box labeled Taco Farm: One Dozen Fresh under his arm.

Wow, that was quick. I glance at the clock. Wait, no . . . it’s been half an hour. I’ve just lost all ability to keep track of time. Terrific.

I open the door and sigh. “I said no tacos. That includes coming over, not just going out.”

“You have to eat sometime. I won’t hang around too long, I promise.” He looks over my shoulder into the condo. “Holy shit, what happened here? Did a library explode?”

“No, just my brain.”

He makes a sympathetic noise. “So are you going to let me in or what?”

I give up and stand aside. Maybe some food will help me find my second wind . . . and even though things are still a little uncertain between us, I miss Hayden. I haven’t had much time to spend with him over the past few days. Not after that day I skipped work and we had mind-blowing sex all afternoon.

As he gets out plates and arranges our midnight snack on the dining table, he asks, “Anything I can help with?”

“Not unless you’re secretly an expert in dignitary tort law. But thanks for the offer . . . and the food.” My stomach is already perking up at the smell of spicy tempeh and grilled vegetables.

“I have no idea what the fuck that is. Something about serious cakes?” He returns my tired smile. “And you’re welcome.”

We sit down to inhale our second dinner. Before I know it, I’ve polished off all six of the delicious little bastards. I lie back in my chair, feeling fat and happy. My blood sugar is singing my praises. This little break definitely helped. But Hayden looks more pensive than satisfied, and he’s left two of his steak tacos uneaten.

“Penny for your thoughts,” I say.

He blinks. “Huh? Why do you ask?”

I point at his half-full plate. “I know you. When you don’t finish your dead cow, it’s gotta be serious.”

“Okay, fine. I did want to ask you something.” He chews his lip for a second. “Are you still going to move out?”

Now it’s my turn to blink at him. The possibility hadn’t even occurred to me. I only wanted to move out in the first place because I thought that Hayden had returned to his old asshole ways. When I found out why he left me in Omaha and why Roxy was in his condo so late, I realized that Hayden has always been my friend. He just panicked and acted like an idiot. Not like I’ve never done that before.

With that issue out of the way, though, I’m left with my original problem: how to handle my own feelings for him. On that day when Hayden bared all his scars to me, so open and brave, I let my pussy call the shots. Once again, I fell into his bed without knowing or caring what it meant in the long run. But I have to make our relationship crystal clear—to both of us—before we end up tripping and falling on top of each other again. Does he still think of me as a friend with benefits? And would I be happy in that arrangement?

I shake my head. “No, I’m staying here,” I reply. “I already went to the building manager and told him to forget about my termination request. But I do want to know . . . where we stand.”

He takes a deep, slow breath through his nose. “You mean, are we dating?”

“Yes. And are we exclusive?” I study his face for any trace of expression, any hint about what’s going through his mind right now.

After a minute, Hayden nods thoughtfully. “I can do that,” he says in the same tone he agreed to trying yoga, when we first met in June. Barely two months ago—and yet it feels like we’ve known each other for years.

I raise my eyebrows in an urgent stare. “Are you sure? Don’t say yes just to avoid hurting my feelings. I need to know what you really want, not just what you think I want to hear.”

He reaches over the table to take my hands in his. My heart flutters at what I glimpse in his sea-blue eyes. The honesty, the vulnerability, the pure need . . . the love.

“What I want is you,” he replies, before pulling me into a hot, tender kiss.

Chapter Twenty-One

Emery

Leaning into the mirror, I dab on my last swipes of eye shadow, careful not to let any powder fall onto my red satin cocktail dress. I love that I can dress for a five-star restaurant without freezing to death; my first autumn in Los Angeles feels like a Michigan summer. I guess that’s a fair trade for the hellish weather I endured when I first arrived.

Just as I finish my makeup, there’s a knock at the door. I put down my brush and hurry out of the bathroom to answer.

It’s Hayden, right on time and looking absolutely mouthwatering in a tailored gray suit. He gives me a slow, burning glance from head to toe that tells me he likes what he sees. “On second thought, we don’t have to go out tonight. Want to just stay home?”

“You mean stay in bed,” I retort, matching his crooked grin.

“What? I didn’t say that.” He puts on a faux innocent look, but he can’t stop the corners of his mouth from twitching. “You have a dirty mind, Miss Winters.”

I swat his arm gently. “You forgetting something? I’ve passed the bar and been sworn in. Now I’m Miss Emery Winters, Esquire. And nothing can stop me from going out to celebrate.”

“All right, all right . . . your wish is my command. I’ll wait.” He leans in to kiss me on the neck, knowing to avoid my fresh makeup without being told. It’s barely a brush of lips, so soft, almost chaste, but it still gives me a little shiver. His husky murmur catches me off guard. “But I’ll be counting the seconds until I can peel you out of that dress.”

Patience suddenly doesn’t seem like much of a virtue. But I know from experience that anticipation makes things so much sweeter. “Don’t get too excited, horn-dog,” I say, trying to sound stern instead of turned on. “We wouldn’t want to get thrown out of the restaurant.”

“If I’m a dog, then isn’t it my master’s fault if I don’t behave?” Hayden offers his elbow before I can come up with a snappy retort. “Come on, let’s go. Our reservation is in forty-five minutes, and rush hour isn’t over yet.”

“Are you serious?” I glance at the clock. “It’s after eight.”

“It’s also Friday night in downtown LA.” He escorts me downstairs like I’m a princess and opens the door of his BMW for me.

We make good time and arrive ten minutes early. The restaurant is gorgeous with dark wood paneling, crystal chandeliers, white-draped tables with lilies almost as bright as the candles they’re arranged under. After the hostess seats us at a small table for two, I twist around to admire the view until I notice Hayden smiling at me.

“What?” I ask defensively. “It’s a nice place.”

I expect him to tease me—to say something like I thought your head was going to fall off or Were you looking for the tofu? But he simply replies, “You’re beautiful.”

My cheeks heat up with sudden shyness. Love shines from his eyes, so naked and tender that I swallow hard, fighting back happy tears. Before I can figure out how to reply, the waiter chooses that moment to deliver the menus. Hayden orders his customary Scotch, I order an appletini, and the waiter flits away to let us decide on our entrees.

“You know . . . I actually have something else to celebrate,” I say between sips. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you before.”

“More good news? Jeez, leave some for the rest of us.” His grin is bursting with pride. “So? What is it?”

“I’ve been promoted. Well, technically hired, but same diff. Walker, Price, and Pratt made me a junior associate yesterday.”

Hayden blinks at me. Then he stands up, pushes aside the table’s centerpiece, and leans over the table to press a fiery kiss to my mouth, lipstick be damned. My hands flutter at his shoulders, wanting to pull him closer, but too aware of how many people can see us. I finally muster the willpower to push him away when an old couple at a nearby table start clapping.

“Oh my God, sit down.” I bury my burning face in my hands. “They probably think you just proposed or something.”

“Screw them. Let them think whatever they want . . . this is great news, baby.” But he does sit back down when the waiter reappears.

After we’ve given our orders, Hayden picks up where he left off. “So now that you’re a card-carrying lawyer, is that asshole finally going to give you some respect?”

“You mean Mr. Pratt? I doubt it . . . creepers gonna creep,” I say with a shrug. “But I’ve got things under control. Whenever I need to cool his jets, I just casually mention my boyfriend. That works pretty well.”

“Ah, yes. Your overprotective boyfriend who might just punch him so hard, his bad hair plugs fall out.” Hayden rubs his chin. “I wonder if he lives in a building I own . . .”

I giggle despite myself. “Easy there, Rambo. I handled him just fine before we started dating. And if I perform well enough to get a good letter of recommendation, Trina might be able to hook me up at her new job next year. So I don’t need you stirring shit. Okay?”

He holds up his hands in surrender. “Fair enough. Shit will be shaken, not stirred.”

“Ew, gross.” I make a face. “I’m trying to eat here.”

“No, you’re not. You’re drinking that . . . neon-green thing. Christ, just looking at it makes me feel like less of a man.”

Sticking my tongue out at him, I toe off one high heel under the table. He sucks in his breath when I slide my foot up his thigh. “Does this help? I think I feel your masculinity coming back . . .”

“Oh, you are going to get it later,” he growls with a wicked smirk.

Heat boils in my belly as I flash my own faux-sweet smile. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Our veal marsala and eggplant parmesan land in front of us, and we dig in eagerly. I don’t know about Hayden, but I’m starved. I worked through my usual dinner break so I could come home early and primp for our date. For a few minutes, we just enjoy the gourmet Italian cuisine in blissful silence.

“I didn’t tell you the best part yet,” I say after I’ve shut up my stomach. “As a junior associate, my salary will be almost twice as much as I made when I was an intern. And that’ll only go up with seniority. Mom should be able to retire within three years . . . five at the outside.”

“Five freaking years? Isn’t she already sixty-three?” His mouth twists in uncertainty. “You know, I can still start an account for her. Under both your names, so I can’t touch it after I make the initial deposit.”

I shake my head, smiling at him. “Thanks, sweetie, but I’m never going to change my answer. I can do this standing on my own two feet.” No matter how many times he offers money, all I want from Hayden is his love—and he’s made it clear that I have it in spades. “Besides, I still have to convince Mom to retire. She’ll probably say something like”—I lower my voice in imitation of her—“I’ll go stir-crazy doing nothing all day! I won’t sponge off my own daughter just so I can sit on my heinie.”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “That sounds like Val, all right. She’s a real—”

“Stubborn battle-ax?”

“I was going to say ‘a real independent lady.’ But you know, I think she’d take ‘stubborn battle-ax’ as a compliment.”

“She probably would.” I chuckle affectionately.

“So now that you’ve got the perfect degree, the perfect job, and the perfect boyfriend . . .” He bounces his eyebrows until I snort at him. “What’s next on the world-domination agenda?”

“If I have the perfect boyfriend, then you tell me?” I ask. “I still wonder how I could ever compete with Roxy. Being sexy is literally her job.”

My tone is joking, but Hayden fixes me with a solemn look. “You don’t have to. Naomi and I had a good run, but it ended years ago. She’s enjoying the single life now . . . and I’ve found what I was looking for all along.” He takes my hand, his expression softening into adoration. “I love you, Emery. So much.”

Emotion knots in my throat. “I . . . I love you too,” I stammer, smiling and blinking back tears for the second time tonight. I’m still so new to those three little words—both hearing and saying them—that they touch my heart every time. But the mood has become way too serious for what’s supposed to be a celebration. So I rub his knuckles with my thumb and purr, “Still, I’m sure she must have taught you a few things. Why don’t we go back to your place and practice?”

Understanding dawns on his face and he grins, suddenly all mischief again. “Excuse me,” Hayden calls out. “Can we get the check?”

The waiter hustles over. “No dessert this evening, sir?”

“We’ll be having dessert at home,” I interrupt smoothly.

The waiter nods and leaves, and Hayden winks at me. I roll my eyes with a chuckle.

• • •

We barely get through Hayden’s door before we’re glued to each other, making out like teenagers. I nip his lower lip, then draw back when he makes a brief, husky noise. “Go sit down,” I order. “There’s something I want to do.”

“Well, well. Someone’s feeling bossy tonight.” Despite his back talk, he’s already walking over to the couch.

I raise one eyebrow. “Will that be a problem?”

He grins. “Not at all, ma’am.”

Letting my hips sway, I stroll to a spot just out of his reach. Under his appreciative eyes, I reach back and undo my zipper, pulling it down slowly. I slide the gown’s straps over my shoulders to reveal first my cleavage, then my lacy black bra. He watches with a wolfish smile and tented pants as I finally let the silky material pool around my feet.

“Damn . . . I didn’t know you’d be wearing a thong,” he purrs.

“If I told you, we never would have made it to the restaurant.” I step out of the gown, now standing in only my lingerie, jewelry, and shoes. “Should I leave my heels on?”

He leans forward to caress me, watching his hands slide down over the curve from waist to hip to thigh. The tip of his tongue flickers over his lips, as if imagining how I taste, and I shiver at the sight as much as his touch.

“Damn, woman, you’re asking me to make a decision right now? There’s no blood left in my brain.”

“I didn’t know you ever had blood in your brain.”

With a playful growl, he lunges forward to squeeze my ass. Startled, I squeak . . . then moan when he seals his mouth around my nipple. His gentle teeth and nimble tongue tease the pebbled nub right through the lace, sparking pleasure straight through me, as if his mouth were on my clit instead.

“Cheater.” I sigh, swaying on my feet. “You were supposed to wait until the end of the strip show.”

“I’ve been waiting all night.” He sucks hard and I almost whimper. “Hell, I’ve been waiting all week. I want to make you come.”

“Not yet, big boy,” I tease. That little declaration takes every ounce of restraint I have. Because Hayden knows how to dole out the O’s like nobody’s business.

I ease down onto my knees in front of him, blinking up at him innocently through my eyelashes as I slowly tug down his zipper and reach inside his boxers to free the heavy weight of his cock. He feels so good in my palm, thick and hot and hard. But I know he’ll feel even better in my mouth. This is something I haven’t gotten the chance to do yet.

Over the last couple of days, we both had the chance to get tested and sort out birth control, so now, tonight will be the first time we make love bare. I can hardly wait, but I want to take him with my mouth first. Holding the base of him steady with both hands, I lower my head to his lap.

“Emery, you don’t have to . . . Fuuuuuuck.” Hayden curses when my tongue makes contact, licking up the length of him like he’s my own personal lollipop.

“Don’t have to what?” I purr, my tongue teasing the top of him.

“Shit. Do that again.”

He pushes my hair back from my face and lightly cups my jaw in his large palms. I feel the love, adoration, and desire rolling off of him in waves. It only makes me want him more.

I open wide and take in as much of him as I can. Hayden’s hips rock up in gentle thrusts as my mouth moves over him. My hand slides over him as I suck. Up and down. Up and down.

“Baby,” he says on a grunt, his hand tightening at the back of my neck. “Come here.”

I let him pull me up off the floor to straddle his lap. His erection strains against me, hot and eager. I pull my panties aside—I’ve been soaking wet for hours—and rock my hips, feeling how much he wants me back.

“Emery . . .” He pants, grinding back up into me. “Jesus, you’re so . . .” At a loss for words, he pulls me into a hungry kiss and rocks his cock against my folds.

No more waiting. I need him now. I sink down onto his cock inch by inch, as fast as I can take it. The hot fullness as he pushes inside me—almost pain, but definitely not—takes my breath away. He’s so thick and long, stretching me, rubbing against every sensitive spot. We’ve barely moved and I’m already panting.

Then he snaps his hips up hard, pounding right into the best spot of all, and I damn near scream. “Fuck!”

“That is, in fact, what we’re doing,” he says with a chuckle.

How can the man wisecrack at a time like this? I guess that’s one of the many reasons I love Hayden . . . which all too often overlap with reasons I want to slap him.

“Then stop talking about it and do it,” I gasp.

When he starts thrusting in earnest, another cry tears itself from my throat. I brace myself on his shoulders, slamming my hips up and down, still barely able to keep up. He groans into my mouth and I can feel his adoring smile against my lips. He’s just as swept up as I am, just as overwhelmed by love and lust.

When I first arrived in this new life, I was warned that this silly, cute, cocky, infuriating man was my enemy. I became his friend instead. And now . . . he’s just plain mine.

Epilogue

Hayden

 

Emery and I are seated across the dining room table from Beth and David. Gracie sits beside me. The kids have been put to bed, and the dinner dishes sit undone on the kitchen island.

It was an amazing sight to watch Beth and Emery cook together in the kitchen, preparing two versions of the paella we had tonight—one vegetarian and one regular. Gracie even joined Emery in eating the vegetarian option. A move of solidarity or something. It’s cool both of my sisters are accepting her. But why wouldn’t they? She’s smart, funny, and all around a cool person.

My hand finds Emery’s under the table, and I give it a squeeze. She looks over at me with a healthy glow on her cheeks and love radiating from her eyes. I’ve told both my sisters privately, as well as Hudson, that I was in love with Emery, and after the initial shock, they were thrilled for me. For us.

Gracie leans forward, putting her elbows on the table. “You guys are so cute together.” She’s always been a romantic, my little sister, even though she’s never had a serious boyfriend. “Hayden, when did you first know you were in love with Emery?” she asks.

Emery’s gaze snaps to mine and her smile fades. “Don’t you dare answer that.”

A smile quirks up my lips. “It was in our hotel room in Omaha.”

A sharp jab to my ribs steals my breath. “Seriously, I’m warning you,” she says.

“Emery did this really cute thing in the morning, and I knew right then.” I grin at her.

She rolls her eyes, but her expression is playful. “And then your jackass brother got scared and ran.”

Beth and Gracie both make grunting noises of disgust. But they know this story; they know I groveled my way back into her good graces. I’m done running.

“Are you mad?” I lean over and whisper to Emery.

She leans close to my ear, so only I can hear, and whispers. “You have a nine-inch cock, and you know where the G-spot is. I love the fuck out of you, flaws and all.”

And just like that, my heart soars. Her love feels so good. Like putting on your favorite T-shirt and lying in bed all day watching funny movies good.

“I love you too,” I whisper back, kissing her forehead. I am so in love, and so fucking proud of my sexy, kick-ass girlfriend.

I lean in close again and tease her by making a quiet farting sound into her ear. She punches me in the arm, but we’re both grinning like love-struck fools.

“You’re screwed later,” she teases right back, narrowing her eyes.

“Promise?” I ask, giving her a flirty wink.

A deep, throaty laugh tumbles from her mouth, and Emery slaps a hand over it. I squeeze her knee under the table, unable to keep my greedy hands to myself.

It’s weird how easily she fits into my life. Hudson loves her. She and Roxy are still good friends, and now it’s obvious that my sisters love her too. There’s no way I’m letting her go . . . after all, I’ll never find another girl with cuter farts.