If I’d known the Bradford had residents like Emilia, I would have taken my friend Andy’s advice a long time ago and moved here sooner.
I barely even register her friend leaving, though I’m fucking glad to be alone with her now.
I’ve only lived here a week, and I’ve been busy getting unpacked—when I’m not working, which is pretty much always—so it’s the first time I’ve made it up to the lounge.
I thought I’d do a little pre-gaming before heading out on the town, but let’s be real: I’m perfectly fine with staying in tonight if it means I need to do my neighborly duty and get more intimately acquainted with my fellow residents.
Or just the one.
“Leaving so soon, Emilia?” I say, her slight fingers still gripped firmly in mine. “What are you drinking?”
Not ‘Can I buy you a drink, Emilia?’, because fuck that.
Why pretend like she isn’t about to sit that tight little ass right back down and let me buy her whatever I want?
She blinks, her bright blue eyes dilated with desire that I know I fucking put there. Yep, got this one in the bag.
Then Emilia does something that shocks me to my core.
“Nice to meet you, Evan.” She pulls her hand from mine. “But I already have plans.”
She gives me a sassy, little smile—and fuck me, she even has a cute, little dimple—then spins on her Louboutins and starts to strut away.
And yeah, I know the name of her designer shoes. What can I say? I’m a fan of the finer things in life. Plus I’ve had more than one pair of them wrapped around me in my day.
Before I even realize what I’m doing, I reach out and wrap my fingers tightly around her wrist. She’s stalking off with such momentum that the sudden opposing force has her rebounding right back toward me—slamming right into my chest.
The air rushes out of her in an audible gasp. And fucking hell, do I want to find out what other kinds of sounds she might make as our bodies collide.
The impact nearly knocks us off balance, and I instinctively wrap my arms around her waist to keep her from falling.
She glances up at me, pressed against my chest, a flash of uncertainty in her eyes before she shuts that shit down, replacing it with a haughty glare.
“Excuse me, Evan. But I have somewhere to be.” Her voice is like ice.
And I fucking love it.
I don’t let go of her, even when she pulls back, trying to put some distance between us.
“Are you sure about that?” I murmur, unable to resist dipping my head down to whisper in her ear, loving the way a little tremor shakes her whole body as my breath grazes her neck.
A pause.
Anticipation.
I smile, knowing where this is headed.
Emilia trails her fingers up my arms, and it feels like fucking sparks of electricity are shooting through my veins. Her hands come to rest on my chest, and she gives me a saucy little grin.
Yep. Hook, line, and sinker.
Then she pushes. Really fucking hard.
Damn, this woman has some fucking strength hidden underneath that tight, little body.
My eyebrows fly up to my hairline. This is a new one. I can honestly say I don’t remember a woman ever pushing me away—literally—so forcefully.
“Is it something I said?” I tea