Whatever It Takes (Bold As Love 3)

Cracking a smile, I pull into the parking lot of a new ice cream parlor. Inside, the place has a homey feeling to it. Add in the aroma of ice cream and the variety of nuts and Emily is drooling. Emily wraps her arms around me as we step into line and leans into me.

As involuntarily as breathing, I rest my chin on the crown of her head and snake my arms around her.

“Hey,” I begin in a soft voice. “Why didn't you tell me about the headaches?”

“I didn't think much of them until he asked.”

“Mkay,” I answer as we move forward in line. “Whatcha thinking of getting?” I ask once we come close enough to see the variety of homemade ice cream in two rows.

“I'm in the mood for butter pecan. You?”

“Plain ol' chocolate.”

“The girls are throwing a party for New Year's. I am planning on going. Will you be joining me?” Emily looks up at me and bats her long, black eyelashes.

“Of course. The team is going to throw one too. Looks like we'll be hitting both.”

Emily breaks away from me and orders for us. I slip my hands into her back pockets as we wait and move to the end where I tug Emily against my chest and whisper in her ear to grab my wallet so she can pay. Reaching an arm behind her and around me, she finds my back pocket.

Reluctantly, my hands must leave their place to hold our ice creams. We grab a table for two by the front window and have a seat. It's a small round table so my knees are jammed against Sweetness'.

Sweetness moans and I chuckle. Digging in to my ice cream, I notice Emily eying me. I look up at her and hold a spoonful of ice cream in her direction.

“What?”

Sweetness leans forward and slowly encases the spoon in her mouth. When she pulls away, my spoon is empty and I'm extremely turned on. Desire fiercely burns in her eyes. It doesn't take me long to finish my ice cream. I toss our trash into the container and we head to my car.

Sweetness wastes no time once we get back to our place. My heart skips beats when she smiles and my blood boils a mixture of love and desire at a simple touch. When she looks at me with eyes so full of caring love, I know that I've found what I've been missing. What should have been in my heart all along.

Emily.

19

Emily

What a year it has been! It's all coming to an end tonight. I had a really bad headache earlier. Jake is worried because if I drink, it could make things worse.

He's been following me around the house all day. It's roughly ten so I head to the bathroom for a shower. Remembering that I bought new soap that is still sitting in the kitchen, I turn around and bump into Jake.

“Jake! I'm fine. A little privacy in my bubble would be nice,” I say while motioning a circle around me.

“I'm sorry. Whatcha need?”

“Soap. It's in the bag on the kitchen counter.”

“I'll get it.”

“Thank you,” I turn on my heel and start the shower. I'm naked when Jake returns. His eyes roam my body and it's as if his hands are gliding across my skin.

“C'mon,” I say over my shoulder as I step into the shower.

***

I dress in black skinny jeans and a purple silk shirt that is low cut and flowy. Jake is in blue jeans and a black dress shirt. At Abella's place, I mingle my way to the girls as I realize that I haven't hung out with them in a really long time.

It's catch up time for sure. Abella squeezes me tightly first before I'm ushered to Hannah and then Jess. I exchange an awkward hug with Kyle. Jake sees Eve and leaves me to catch up with my friends.

Kyle leaves to get me a drink.