Off Limits (Off 2)

Emily and Fil are arguing about a TV show that I've never heard of before...The Vampire Diaries?

Whatever.

I use the opportunity to examine all of the sensations Emily is causing me to feel right now. With her head tucked into my shoulder, her shampoo smells fruity and clean. Her long hair feels silky on my arm. The heat of her body against mine is comforting. Her feet are bare and delicate. I find them sexy as hell.

Most of all, I've never been in a relationship where I've just sat with someone so closely, yet so naturally. Even in high school, before I went into the military, the two serious relationships I had were always so full of high school angst that I never could just be comfortably silent in someone's presence.

It's nice and I can't believe I've been avoiding attempting this for so long.

But I'm thinking some of this has to do simply do with the fact that it's Emily. I'm not sure I could really have this with anyone else.

"...well I hope to God he doesn't show up. That will just be awkward all the way around, especially after your dad threatened him," Fil says as she stands up to go get another beer.

I tune into the tail end of a conversation and I have a funny feeling I know what they are talking about.

"Hope who doesn't show up?" I ask.

Fil throws over her shoulder as she walks out of living room. "Her ex-douche."

I'm definitely on team Fil. She calls him the same thing I do. And how did they get from Vampire Diaries to the ex-douche in that short of a time? My observation skills are waning.

I turn toward Emily a bit so I can see her face. "Where is she afraid he may show up?"

"My dad asked me to come to a fundraiser Saturday night. Fil is afraid Todd may show up."

Her tone is dismissive and she's not worried, I can tell. But I'm on edge about it. "Is there a chance he'll come?"

"I suppose. They are selling tickets to the event so he could theoretically buy one himself, or his dad could buy one for him."

"You don't sound worried," I point out.

"Not really. What's he going to do in a room full of people?"

She has a very good point. There is no reason why I should be worried about this. Emily will be surrounded by tons of people and no way the guy can hurt her. He might be able to corner her, make her uncomfortable, maybe even cop a feel...

Before I can stop myself, I say, "I'll go with you."

She looks at me in shock. She appraises me then a grin spreads across her face. She lightly punches me in the arm and scoffs, "Yeah, right. You almost had me there, Caldwell."

I bring my hand up and softly grip her jaw so she looks at me. "I'm dead serious. I don't want you going there alone."

But Emily isn't having any of my pushy ways tonight. "I'll be fine. Besides, I didn't invite you."

"Then invite me."

"No. You're being ridiculous. I can take care of myself."

I decide to throw a low blow. "Are you ashamed of me?"

Now, I know Emily well enough to know that she is not ashamed of me. In fact, I'm sure she would love nothing more than to drag me to every social function she has, which I would absolutely hate. It's just not my thing. But I know the mere thought that I, or anyone, would think she would revert to the old "Emily Burnham" will be enough to swing her actions in the opposite direction.

"Of course not," she practically screeches at me. "I'd be the belle of the ball if I had you on my arm there."

"Then what's the problem?" I ask softly. I lean in and kiss her, resting my lips lightly against hers.

She sighs into my mouth, her hand sliding into my hair. "Fine. You can come with me."

I pull her tight to me and our kiss deepens. Gone now is the soft comfort I was feeling before. Now I'm feeling lust, desire, and hunger for Emily. I slide my hand up her thigh, stopping just before I get to my end goal with my thumb resting on the area where her underwear races along the edge of her pelvis. I pull her on top of me to straddle my lap.

She leans over me and kisses me deeply. I harden instantly...almost painfully.

"Get a freakin' room you two. That's just nasty."

I had forgotten about Fil. Hell, Emily makes me forget everything sometimes. For example, in the past five minutes I've forgotten that I don't do relationships, that I don't date, that I don't go to political fundraisers, and I particularly don't worry about what happens when a girl I'm fucking is out of my immediate vicinity.

Apparently I've forgotten a lot. Thanks to Emily.

I watch as Emily blushes and pulls back from my lips. Her eyes are sweet and warm, with a hint of underlying desire coming off the heels of that kiss.

When she looks at me, she sees more of me than most. Hell...I've let her see more of me than most. She definitely has taught me a lot in the few weeks we've known each other and Dr. Antoniak, I know, would be proud I'm going out on a limb.

A thought strikes me. I should have Emily's name added to my scroll this weekend. Nothing big or fancy...just a mention of her name because I will definitely count her as a positive in my life.

CHAPTER 24

Emily

This was a bad, bad idea.

Bringing Nix to this fundraiser.

Except...it had been good up until this point. It had been very, very good.

The day started off oh, so nice. I had stayed at Linc' apartment with Nix Friday night. He grilled out some steaks that we enjoyed with a nice wine. We played cards for most of the night, until I made some sort of sexy noise in my throat --according to Nix --when I was trying to consider the best move for my hand. He simply threw his cards down on the table and grabbed me out of my chair. He never said a word...just fastened his lips to mine and assaulted my mouth while carrying me to his room. He shut the door on Harley when he tried to follow us in, and it was a bit distracting listening to the poor pup whine to get in.

But then Nix's hands and mouth were all over my body and I couldn't think of another thing except of the man who was lying between my legs.

Waking up in Nix's arms was becoming a habit to which I was becoming addicted. Saturday morning found me sprawled across his chest again, and this time he had both of his arms wrapped tightly around me. Harley was on the other side of me, so I was sandwiched in between two impossibly, gorgeous males. I lay their quietly, listening to Nix's calm, breathing and Harley's gentle snores.

It was...domestic. And I loved it, even though it was extremely dangerous to even let my feelings move in that direction. I had to respect the boundaries and expectations that Nix and I put into place. Even though I very much wanted to throw those ridiculou

s boundaries out the window.

Nix and I hung around Linc' apartment all day Saturday. Toward early afternoon, I had received a very interesting phone call from my mother. We had not spoken since that night when she invited Todd to dinner with us although my dad and I had been in constant contact by both phone and email. He clearly was making a great effort to work on our relationship and I was happy to oblige.

I saw my mother's ID on the phone and warily answered. "Hello, Mother."

"Hi, Emily." She was clearly nervous and the iron tone was missing. She was...hesitant...soft.

Neither one of us said anything for a few seconds, both of us swimming in the awkward silence.

And then she said, "I wanted to...no, I need to apologize to you, Emily. I'm so sorry for pushing Todd onto you. I had no idea what had happened and I never, in a million years, would want my daughter to be with someone like that. Please believe me."

The words had poured out of her and they were drenched in pain and guilt. A sob punctuated her last sentence and my heart cracked wide for my mom. "Oh, Mother. Please, don't cry. It's okay. Honestly."

"No, Emily. It's not okay. Your dad has been talking to me and he's made me painfully aware that I've been a terrible mother of late. I think I've just been so caught up in appearances, that I have forgotten what's real...what's important. But I hope you will let me work to make it up to you. You are one of the most important things in the world to me and I never should have put anything above you."

We talked on the phone for almost an hour. A record in our book. Nix sat quietly on the couch, watching college football. But his hand stayed on my thigh, stroking me lightly in support.

My mother shocked the hell out of me when she told me that her and my dad had been talking about possibly giving up their eye on the presidency. She said it was not worth any rift in our family.

I immediately tried to talk her off the ledge. I assured her we could have both if we worked at it. She said it was just something that they were talking about but they wanted to include me, Ryan, and Danny in on the conversation.

And my heart stopped.

Ryan? Danny?

I asked her what that meant. My mother sighed. "It means that you are not the only one I've wronged. I have another phone call to make after this one."