Page 88 of Take It Offline
Emma’s calm facade cracks so minutely anyone else would have missed it. But I’ve studied her face too closely to not notice the quirk of her lips, the mischievous sparkle in her eye.
She taps her fingers, and I’d bet money she’s imagining raking those nails across my skin. I know I am.
“Probably, but I’d rather you didn’t.”
There’s an entire table between us, which is a crime. If we were dating for real, I’d be much closer. Fuck it. I slide my chair around until I’m next to her and angle in to press a kiss to her cheek, stealing as much of her as she’ll allow.
You know, in case Logan is here.
Emma leans into it, sweet and precious. Under the table, she lays a claiming hand on my thigh, higher than I anticipate, and squeezes, filling my head with a thousand dirty thoughts I can’t act on.
“Tell me about this,” I say, teasing the soft skin around her watch.
“It was my grandmother’s.” She slips it off, passes it to me.
I rub a thumb over it, soaking in the warmth of her that lingers, and turn it over. The engraving saysyou can, you will.
“It was the first thing she bought when she sold the company. She walked by it every day on her way to work, but Nana said the staff always gave her the eye if she went in. She took great joy in standing there while they engraved it.”
It must be nice to have tangible proof of your own history. I’ve never inherited anything other than a blood type. “I’ve already decided that when Reese finally has kids, the car will go to them.”
“Not your own?”
“I wasn’t planning on having any, to be honest.”
There’s a reassuring squeeze of my thigh. “Something else we have in common.”
Another reason I should walk away. No matter how perfect we are on paper, it’ll only end badly. Everything does.
“I’ve been sure for a little while,” she says. “But I’ve been too scared to tell anyone. As modern as the world is, it’s still seen as cruel or selfish for a woman to not want children. As though I’m betraying my own biology by choosing a different life. And it’s hard, because there are so many people in this world who want kids but can’t have them.”
“It’s your life and your body. Biology can jump in a lake.”
“Yes, well, not everyone agrees.”
“Trust me, there are way too many abandoned kids around for a world that claims it gives a shit about protecting them. Reese and I are proof of that, and I’ve met enough bad parents to say I’d rather be a selfish person who doesn’t have kids than one who does.”
Emma slips her hand in mine, a silent show of support.
I have to ask. “Logan doesn’t want a litter of Logan Juniors?”
She shrugs. “I’m not sure. We never got around to talking about the future. He accepted that I worked, but I’m not sure he’d understand my reasons for not wanting children. We were usually too busy talking about our sex life.”
I get close, brushing my lips against her ear, because I need her to hear this. “Do you see it now? You don’t need fixing. You never did. Anyone who thinks otherwise can go fuck themselves, because they definitely haven’t earned the right to fuck you. Sexis about more than coming, and if you’re having it, the least it should fucking be is enjoyable.” Heat is rolling off her in waves, tangled up in her green eyes, and Christ, I wish I could kiss her. “I meant what I said. You’re sexy when you’re turned on, whether you come or not.”
Emma has a habit of closing her eyes when her reactions might give too much away. Like she can only react to them in secret because no one else will understand.
So the fact I’ve been allowed to see her at her most vulnerable is a gift I won’t waste.
“Watching you last night…” she whispers. “It might be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. Better than I imagined when I recorded myself.”
It takes a few slow breaths to collect myself, and luckily, our drinks arrive, because I don’t even know where to start with that. Preferably by getting her back in bed, but that option’s gone now.
I’m inside paying the bill when he arrives.
Even though I knew he’d be here, even though I was the one to suggest coming, my blood still boils when Logan strolls over to where Emma’s sitting alone. I’m stuck standing at the register watching as the asshole takes my seat, kissing her hand and making her smile.
If he touches her again, I’m gonna rip his fingers off one by one and stuff them so far up his ass he won’t be able to sneeze without giving himself a prostate exam.
