I waved off any care for me and directed their attention to our young charge. With no visible injuries, they had no choice but to take my word for it. The last place I wanted to be was the hospital when there was little they could do for me. When the ambulance took her, Wyatt followed. He and Sam wanted me to go to the hospital as well, but I made my excuses.
“I wasn’t hit. I’ll be fine,” I told them.
Reports would be filled, but not tonight. I headed home.
Fearing that Emma was asleep, I did my best to keep quiet as I entered the house. I was working the straps on my bulletproof vest on the sofa when Emma ran down the stairs calling my name until she spotted me.
In an instant, she was by my side with one knee on the sofa to help her balance as she leaned over to help me unclip the straps.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “I heard you’d been shot.”
I wasn’t sure who she’d heard it from. “I’ll be fine once I get this off,” I wheezed.
The door burst open, and Darcy came into view. “Of course, the Virgin Mary is here,” she announced.
Emma barely glanced her way. “Good thing, someone needed to be here to save him from the devil.”
“Ladies,” I managed to say as I caught my breath. I wasn’t sure if it was the pain or the fact that I couldn’t stop staring at Emma’s lips.
“Maybe some mouth to mouth might help,” Emma said. She winked before closing the last inches of space between us to press her soft lips to mine.
Slow clapping reminded me we weren’t alone. “Mediocre performance if you ask me,” Darcy said.
“No one’s asking you,” Emma retorted.
“You’re trying to mark your territory. But Aiden was between my thighs before you filled out your training bra. I doubt you got him hard with that kiss. Let me show you how it’s done.”
It might have been a teenage fantasy of mine to have these two women at the same time, but that was then. I won’t lie and say it could be fun in the moment. It would also spell disaster for me in the morning. They would both hate each other and me. Emma hating me wasn’t an option.
“Ladies,” I said again. Then I met Darcy’s gaze. “Darcy, thanks for stopping by. But I’m fine. You can go now.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why am I not surprised you’re choosing her,” she sneered.
“Darcy,” I warned. “You know my feelings. I’ve been honest with you from the beginning.”
She didn’t bother with a response and stormed out as quickly as she’d shown up.
Emma finished helping me out of my vest and placed it on the coffee table. She didn’t stop there. She helped me out of my shirt, too, and ran her hand over a bruise that had formed. I winced.
“Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”
“They aren’t going to do anything. I’ve been hit before with gunfire while wearing a vest. But you can help,” I said, slipping a hand to stroke her thigh. “I really like when you’re wearing my shirt.”
“I was wearing less but didn’t want to distract you.”
“You could be covered head to toe and I’d be distracted,” I admitted.
I tugged her down, ignoring the sharp pain in my chest and kissed her hard. She opened for me and I slid my tongue in her mouth. I might have groaned from pain or the sheer pleasure of kissing her.
“Remember when I said I’m a patient man?” I made sure my eyes were steady on hers when she nodded. “I lied.”
My hand found the hem of her shirt and slipped underneath. I took my time skimming up her to the underside of her breast, giving her enough time to put the brakes on things. I sighed when her breast was in my palm, soft yet firm. My mouth watered for more.
She caught my hand and I bit back a curse. It was her right to stop things. She surprised me by her next statement. “Take me to bed, Aiden.”
There wouldn’t be a need to ask me twice. My ribs hurt something fierce. It would be easier to do it right here on the sofa. But my first time with Emma would be something we’d both remember. So I forced myself up, keeping her in my arms. I prayed to heaven above I wouldn’t pass out from pain as I carried her up the stairs and into my bedroom.
When I crossed the threshold, I said, “I believe I’ve waited my entire life for this.”
Chapter 27
Emma
Never in my life had a man carried me to bed. Aiden did it effortlessly even when I could tell he was in pain.
“We don’t have to,” I said. “I know you’re hurt.”
His smile warmed every part of me. “Being with you will make it better.”