“Eww. Bet that was a surprise.”
Emmett flashed a smile and told me all about ordering what he thought was a regular burger only to find a coiled up piece of meat on his bun. It was a funny story and the perfect distraction that allowed us to get back on track and enjoy a nice meal.
“It wasn’t half bad actually,” he said, laughing, “but I wouldn’t order it again.”
He told me a few more stories about his time in service, but unlike Lance’s stories, these were all tales of men being men, fooling around, and giving each other a hard time about the small stuff. He enjoyed his buddies, it seemed, more than the action. Another stark contrast to Lance. And that thought made me feel guilty. I couldn’t compare the two men; they were different people with different personalities. The only similarity was that they had both served.
“I think I’m gonna head out.” Emmett’s words broke through my endless loop of thoughts, and he wore an apologetic look on his face.
“You don’t have to—” I insisted but he shook his head.
“I think I should.” He stood and reached for the last wonton, chewing with a satisfied smile.
“Thanks for dinner. It was the best homecooked meal I’ve had in a long time. Just don’t tell Sadie,” he said with a playful wink.
I relaxed a little, relieved he didn’t seem to be angry about the abbreviated evening. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“I never had a doubt. Nessa.” His lips pulled into a grin as he stacked our plates and helped me clear the table. “It suits you, the name.”
“You think? It’s my alter ego. Makes me more badass. A woman more confident and fun than I normally am.” I turned to him and scrunched up my face. “How humiliating is that to admit?
“Not humiliating at all. I think she’s as incredible as Vanessa.”
“Emmett.” His name came out on a sigh, and I took a hesitant step forward, knowing I should put more distance between us, but I couldn’t.
“Vanessa.” My name was playful on his lips but the heat in his eyes wasn’t playful at all; it was gravely serious. And when Emmett took a step forward, I knew he wouldn’t back away. And when he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close, I gasped a moment before his mouth crashed over mine. The kiss was long and slow, so damn sexy I actually felt my body vibrating with need. He deepened the kiss as his hands slid from my hair, down my back until his hands gripped my ass and squeezed with a growl.
My heart raced in my chest and my clit hummed with want as I kissed Emmett back, blocking everything but the need for pleasure from my mind, determined to enjoy the moment. To savor it as much as I could.
Too soon, Emmett pulled back.
“Dessert was my favorite,” he said and took a step back so I was finally able to suck in a breath. “Thanks for an interesting evening, Vanessa.”
“You’re welcome. Next time I’ll see if I can rustle us up some snake sandwiches.”
His loud bark of laughter was the perfect way to end the evening.
* * *
The morning after my dinner with Emmett, I awoke with a start. My chest heaved deeply and my breaths came out in short, sharp pants. A fine coating of sweat covered my skin, and I looked around the empty room, wide-eyed and terrified.
What had woken me up? I scanned the room and noticed that nothing was out of place. My silk robe was still draped over the armoire and last night’s clothes sat in a heap at the foot of the bed. The window was closed tight, the curtains still. No sign of an intruder. I closed my eyes and listened for any signs of movement inside the house. Nothing.
But with my eyes closed it became perfectly clear why I woke so abruptly. Thick chestnut brown hair that had grown out just a little, deep blue eyes and a smiling jaw covered with stubble that had grown a few hours past five o’clock shadow status. Thick pink lips moistened by an even pinker tongue.
“Emmett.” It was his smiling face that had woken me up for the first time in months, not the familiar blond waves and emerald-green eyes that belonged to Lance. The dream came back to me instantly. Emmett and me in the kitchen surrounded by dirty dishes from dinner. He stripped me down and laid me across the table and feasted on me like I was the main course.
And once again I’d woken up before I reached my climax. All the thunder but not an ounce of fucking rain.
Annoyed and frustrated, I jumped out of bed and stripped it down, determined to push my whacked out sexual frustrations out of my mind. After a quick round of yoga and a hot shower, I opened the refrigerator and packed up the leftover food from the night before along with other items women and children needed when they were poised to start a new life and took them over to the local women’s shelter.