The Favor

He blinks. “What did I say?”

“You called me Abby.”

8

Emmett

Fuck. I got too caught up in the feeling of it all. She felt so damn good. So much better than I ever expected her to feel. So much better than anyone I’d ever been with.

I closed my eyes, not wanting the feelings pouring over to stop. And I accidentally said her name.

Fuck.

I stare at her, trying my best to make out her eyes in the dark. “I didn’t say Abby.” I’m trying to play it off, like she’s hearing things. But, she’s not buying it.

She pushes me off her, and I grab the covers and wrap them around me. “You called me Abby. Do you know who I am?”

I run a hand through my hair, blowing out a deep breath. I don’t want to lie to her anymore. I want her to know I know it’s her. “Yes, I know it’s you.”

She stands, wrapping a robe from the hotel around her body, flipping on a light. “I can’t believe this.”

“Abby, I’m so sorry.” I don’t know what to say to make this better, but I have to say something. I can’t let her walk out this door. “Abby, please,” I hold her arm, moving her to sit down on the bed beside me, “I never meant for this to happen. Warren approached me about having sex with some random woman who needed help.” I take a breath. “And I shot it down. Truth is, I haven’t had sex in a long time. I’m not about that one-night stand life.”

“So why did you say yes?” She crosses her arms over her chest, but it’s not because she’s mad, it’s more like she’s guarding her feelings. Guarding her heart.

“I explained to Warren that I was appalled he even asked me, and he blurted out it was for you.”

She covers her mouth with her hand. “Oh my god.”

“Wait, don’t be mad at Warren. He wanted to help you out. I wanted to help you out too, Abby,” I reach out to touch her hand, “I never knew dating was so hard for you. I figured you could have anyone you wanted.”

She smiles, gazing at me from behind her long lashes. “Not anyone.”

“Abby, baby…” I want to kiss her. Now that I've even tasted her I don’t think I’ll ever be able to walk away from her. “I wanted you. That’s why I said yes. Because I wanted you more than anything. And when Warren told me what you wanted I couldn’t possibly ever say no.”

“You wanted me?”

Her eyes are innocent, and I’ve never seen her look so vulnerable in all her life. It makes me want to sweep her up in my arms and tell her yes over and over again. I almost do it, but I smile. “Abby, I’ve wanted you since the first moment I saw you. I know we have a good working relationship, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“I can’t stop thinking about you either.” She leans in and kisses me, and I take my chance to hold her close.

And then I can’t stop kissing her. I tug at the string of her robe and when I release it, I get to see her body up close, and personal with the lights on. And I can’t stop staring at her.

“I feel bad you don’t have your glasses.” She juts out her bottom lip and I suck it real quick.

I tap my temple. “Contacts.” You think I’d go in blind to have sex with the one person I’ve wanted to have sex with in forever? I’m no dummy.

I pull her closer, kissing her laughter away.

“You’re a very bad boy, Mr. Garfield.”

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it.”

“Tell me then.”

“I’ve had so many dirty thoughts about you, Abby. So many dirty things I’ve wanted to do to you.” I move my hand over her naked body, feeling her heated skin, pulling her robe off.

This is it. The moment we’ve all been waiting for...or well, I have been. This is that moment. The one where all the seriousness of what’s about to go down weighs heavily on us both.

“I don’t want things to change between us,” she whispers.

“They won’t.” And I kiss her lips. But, if I’m being honest here, I want things to change between us. I want to be able to do this each and every night. I want to be the one to hold her close every single fucking day.

And if we’re getting technical, I want to be the only mother fucker who gets to touch her. No one else, but me. I want her to be mine.

And I hope she wants that too.

But, I’m not going to ruin my chances here to be with her for this one night only. I mean, if this is all I can get, I’ll take it with a big ol’ smile on my face. I’d be an idiot not to.