by Bryce Evans
A gasp could be heard from another table, and the woman sitting there glared at her father. Emerson covered her mouth with her hand. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Staring at her father, she demanded, “What did you say about my mother?”
“I’ll talk to you when we are alone if you want to know the truth. Then maybe you’ll see things the same way as I do.” Kingston Prescott got up and marched out of the dining room.
She just sat there in a stupid daze, playing his words over and over in her head. “Emerson, Emerson.” Nash’s voice was low but she could hear the concern in it. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
Finally she lifted her eyes. “My father…” Emerson’s voice sounded broken. “He said that once we are alone he will tell me why I’m just like my mother, with no respect for family or loyalty.” Emerson leaned back hard in her chair. She felt defeated. In one simple moment the man could crush her. “My mother was the sweetest mom. She was always helping others and part of committees that did incredible charity work. Why…why would he say that about my mother?”
Nash placed his hand on top of hers. “I think he is losing control of you. Your mother died and left you two alone. Maybe he blames her for dying, and now you’re leaving him and he wants to blame you too. Some people don’t know how to be alone and he’s holding on as tightly as he can.”
“Maybe,” Emerson said. She was so deep in thought that she didn’t hear the waitress ask to take their order.
“Emerson, what do you want to eat?” Nash asked, concerned.
“I’m not very hungry right now. I think I need to lie back down.” The chair screeched across the floor as Emerson stood up. “I need to be alone right now.”
“Okay, I’ll walk you to your room.”
“No, I can find my way. You stay here and eat. I’m fine, just tired. They always say the third day is the hardest.” Emerson laughed but didn’t know what was so funny. Her life was falling apart right in front of her eyes and it was her father leading her straight into hell. Why? Why would he do this to her? Did he really hate her so much?
She knew Nash was following slowly behind her. He didn’t invade her space or enter the elevator; just stood and watched as the doors closed. He was giving her what she wanted. She needed answers and the only man who could give them to her was her father.
Emerson got off on the second floor, found his door and knocked. There were no words spoken as father and daughter stood at the door staring at each other. Stepping back, her father opened the door wider, and she walked inside.
She didn’t go far before she wheeled around. “Tell me what you meant about my mother.” She had no smiles for the man who was once her hero. She needed to hear the truth.
“Your mother was a shifter-lover too. Here I thought we were a happy family, and then I found out that your mother was seen leaving the council hall…with a shifter. A friend saw her leaving and got suspicious, and followed them to a motel. A piece-of-crap motel where she had sex with that animal, and then came home and told me she’d met her mate and she was taking you and leaving,” Kingston said bitterly as he walked to the table and picked up his drink.
Emerson’s voice was hoarse. “Nash was right. You would do anything to make me go back with you, even make up a lie about Mom. The woman you said you loved.”
“Don’t you ever compare me to him, or say that…that animal knows me at all.”
“He said you blamed my mother for dying and now you want me mad at her too. It’s not enough that she died to young, but now you want to punish me too. I’m leaving, Father, one way or another, and you’ll never have control over me again. Nobody will ever control me like that. I wanted to keep a relationship with you, but you’re a cruel man who will do anything to get what he wants. Well, it stops here. You’re no longer going to treat me like this again and lie about my mother to get your way. You’re a despicable man, and I hope I never see you again.” Emerson rushed from the room as her father yelled after her, trying to stop her. Once she was out the door she ran straight into Nash’s arms. She didn’t know why the man always seemed to calm her, but he did. He was the only person she trusted.
Her legs felt like jello when Nash swept her off her feet and pushed the button to the elevator. Her father could be heard yelling from the door. He had turned his own daughter against him.
She couldn’t stand the lies anymore. Snuggling up against Nash, Emerson wanted this day to just end. Her shoulders shook as she cried. “It’s going to be okay, baby. I promise I’ll make sure.” The elevator doors opened and Nash walked back to his room. Max held the door open for him as they entered.
“Is she okay?” Max asked. The concern in a complete stranger’s voice was refreshing. There wasn’t one person besides her dad who even asked about her, and even she wasn’t convinced that he really cared about her. Max was a vampire, who didn’t even know her, but showed her compassion when she desperately needed it.
“Yes.” Nash didn’t explain; he just kicked the door closed and carried her into the bedroom. “Lay down for a while and rest.” When he started to get up she took a chance and grabbed his hand.
“Lay down with me.” She gave a small tug of his hand. “Please.”
Nash hesitated, but lay down beside her as she snuggled up next to him. “Sleep now,” he said, pressing his lips to her forehead as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
Emerson could tell that Nash was asleep from his breathing. If they could stay like this forever she would. His scent was musky and activated every sexual nerve she had. Her body was on fire right now for this man. Not only was he kind, he was hot.
Watching him sleep, she got to check him out without him knowing this time, and she didn’t have to care that she was blushing. His arms held her closely as she stared at his striking face. He was so damn handsome. “You’re staring at me.”
Emerson giggled. “Because you’re beautiful.” She watched as Nash smiled. “Why do you think I was chosen to be your mate?”
“What?” Nash said in a strained voice.
“I mean, I’m not ugly, but I’m not beautiful like the other mates are. I’m simply a witch. Nothing special, and you are independent, successful, talented, and rich.”
Opening his eyes, Nash’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “Never underestimate yourself, Emerson Prescott. You’re already everything I could ever want or dream of. You’re smart, talented, independent, successful, and from what I hear you’re rich, too. I could ask you the same. How did I get chosen to be your mate? I’m not perfect by any stretch. But we complement each other, and I think we have fun together and like a lot of the same things. We are perfect for each other. I could never think of anyone else but you. I’ll never want anyone else. You’re it for me, woman.” Staring at her, Nash demanded, “Say it!”
Emerson lay down on her back and stared up at the ceiling, thinking about what he said. When she didn’t say anything, Nash rolled over onto her and repeated, “Say it!”
“Say what?” Emerson asked, looking away from his prying eyes.
“Say that you’re mine.” This time Nash straddled her, hovering over her and waiting for her to answer. She didn’t even panic, because he was right. Nash Wilder was her mate.
Swallowing hard, Emerson muttered, “I’m yours.”
“Thank you.” Nash’s lips slammed down on hers, demanding entry, and boy could he kiss. Her body was lifted above him before he set her firmly on top. They still had their clothes on, but she could feel his attraction for her as it pressed firmly against his blue jeans.
She couldn’t get enough or stop herself as she ripped his shirt open. Then shock of what she’d done pulled them apart. “I’m sorry.” Emerson scooted down the bed. “I…I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never done anything like that before.” All these crazy emotions were driving her to do things she would have never done before. But Nash made her think dirty thoughts, and with every thought she wanted to carry them out
. “I’ll buy you another shirt.”
“Baby, I don’t care about the shirt. In fact, what you did turned me on more than you could possibly know.
“Really?”
“Really. Emerson, if you don’t want to answer this I understand, but…”
“You can ask me anything, Nash.”
“Okay. Are you a virgin?” The blush that skirted up her face earlier was nothing compared to now.
She was mortified thinking that her inexperience was going to affect the way he felt toward her now. What did you think Emerson, that he was going to want you when he found out?
“It doesn’t matter if you are, but I would like to know before—”
“Before what? Before you let me down easy?” Emerson scrambled to get off the bed. Pushing her hair back away from her face, she decided to go with the straightforward approach. “It’s okay Nash. You don’t owe me anything. I can tell that you have experience in this. Look, I think I’m going to take a shower. I’ll talk to you later.” All she needed to do was get to the door before she died of complete and total embarrassment. She started for the door but before her hand could grasp the knob, Nash grabbed her up and threw her on the bed.
“Hey!” she screamed.
“Emerson, stop. The fact that you’re a virgin; I can’t describe to you how happy I am about that. I want to be your first and only one. When it happens and it will happen between us, I want it to be perfect for you. I want you to wake up happy. I want—”
“You sure want a lot. What if I’m not willing for you to be my first?” She watched as the color drained from his face.
“Really?”
“Okay, okay. I get it. You want to be my first.” Her lips curved up into a smile. She couldn’t help but feel giddy and happy that he actually wanted her. That’s what he said—he really wanted her and only her. “You really want me like that?”
“Of course I want you. I want you any way I can have you.” Nash took her hand and placed it over his crotch. She could feel the outline of how hard he was. And how big he was. The moan escaped his lips as she took over and ran her fingers over him. “If you continue, I’ll take you right here, Emerson. I don’t know if I can stop myself.”
“Then don’t stop.” Emerson’s eyes wavered as Nash stared at her. His chest was rising and falling as she pushed down harder, continuing to rub the outline of him.
“I don’t think you’re ready for me to mate with you.”
“Then make love to me and don’t bite me. We can do that, right?” Emerson asked cautiously.
“Ahh yeah, but I don’t know if I can stop myself from biting you.”
“I have faith that you can. I’ll help you.” Emerson popped the button on his blue jeans and pushed her hand inside. She’d never felt this part of a man before. He was so soft and big. She didn’t feel threatened or scared being with Nash. She felt safe and pretty. He wasn’t rushing her, and she loved him for that. But if she didn’t continue with this she thought she would actually die.
Nash jerked her hand out. He was breathing so hard she thought she’d done something wrong. “Okay, we have to slow this down, because you’re going to make me come right here and that’s not how I wanted this to go.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No…no, in fact you did it all right, but if I don’t get control of myself I’ll come before we even get started. Your touch does that to me, Emerson. All I know is I want you all the time, and I don’t want you to rush into this. I want it to be special for you.”
“Okay. I just…” She looked away and started buttoning her shirt back up.
He stopped her with a finger lifting her chin. “What is it, Emerson? You just what? I’m your mate, and you can tell me anything.”
“I just thought you wanted it as much as I do. I was ready. I only think of you, and I…” Emerson cleared her throat and looked away, embarrassed. She was mortified she was saying this all wrong and making herself look more like a freak.
“I want you too, baby. I want you so bad that I want to rip that shirt apart and lick your nipples until you beg me to stop, but I won’t stop, Emerson, not until you come for me. I can scent your arousal right now.” His eyes locked on hers as her tongue wet her lips. His chest was heaving as he watched her every move.
“You really want me, even though I’m a virgin?”
“I want you, Emerson, but if you’re not ready,” Nash said, taking in a deep breath, “Then I’m not going to push you, because I’m in this for the long haul. You are it for me, woman.”
This was going to be her first, and for some odd reason she wasn’t scared. All she wanted to do was jump him right here and experience the heat of his body as he took her. She knew that was an odd way to see this, but all these feelings inside of her were pushing her to mate with him. If she didn’t feel his skin on hers soon she felt like she was going to die. Nash was going to be her drug, and before she could get control of those emotions inside her she did something that she never thought she’d be able to do.
She took the lead and pushed herself up and straddled him. Then she jerked his shirt open, and buttons went everywhere. His skin was so smooth and hard. She already knew he was built, but seeing him like this was unthinkable. His chest rose and fell as she drank him in. Leaning down she couldn’t stop herself from kissing the man’s chest, licking over a nipple and watching him come undone right before her eyes. She was doing this to him, making him feel like she did when he touched her. She was feeling every nook and cranny of his chest, and now she was giving him small kisses down his neck. Her tongue reached out, touching his skin, and he tasted like she thought he would: salty, sweet, and his own smoldering taste. If that was even a way to describe how he tasted. She was a flipping madwoman with the way she was acting. And he just lay there and let her have her way. Letting her be the one in control.
Once she got to his other nipple, she was ripped away from it and found herself flipped over and on her back. “God, woman, you’re killing me. I’m giving you a chance now to tell me you’re not ready. If you want me to stop, just say it, Emmy. Just say stop.” When she didn’t say anything, Nash growled and asked again, this time bringing her out of the lust-filled haze she’d put herself in.
“I’m okay, and don’t stop.” Emerson reached up and touched his cheek.
Nash held nothing back when he leaned down and kissed her. His tongue slipped in her mouth, and hers tangled with it. She wasn’t sure how her body knew what to do, but it did. She only hoped he was enjoying it as much as she was.
Sex was only something she’d dreamed about; she always knew she would stay a virgin until she found the one, and Nash was it for her. The desire that rushed through her made her come alive. Her shirt came off along with her bra, and places ached that never had before. Her skin felt sensitive to his touch, making her shiver.
“Are you cold, baby?” Nash asked moving his fingers across the goose bumps that marked her skin.
“No. I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Tell me how you feel?” She could see the excitement in his eyes as her body responded to his touch. The moment his finger grazed the top of her nipple she shivered again, closing her eyes.
“Ready, and wonderful.”
“Thank you for waiting for me.” Nash’s voice was just a whisper. She opened her eyes and smiled.
“You’re welcome.” Her voice broke as his lips descended on one of her nipples and sucked it into his mouth. Her body trembled as the feeling rushed between her legs, an ache she’d never known before. She wanted him inside her now.
“Nash, I need…”
“I’ll give it to you, baby, I promise, but you’re so tight and you need to be prepared before we mate.”
“Okay, okay, but hurry, please hurry.” Emerson squeezed her legs trying to help the ache between them.
“My baby is in need.”
“Yes, yes, in need, please make it better.” She couldn’t stop the incoherent babbl
ing that was coming out of her mouth. She just needed him, right now.
Nash pulled her blue jeans off along with her panties, and then nudged her legs apart. Once the cold air hit her she stiffened up. When she looked down, Nash was just staring at her. Quickly she put her hands down to cover herself, but he grabbed them and pushed them over her head.
“Please, don’t cover up. You…” Nash tried to talk. “You’re so beautiful that I just need to look at you. I want you so bad.” Nash slid down her body, letting go of her hands. Glancing up at her, he smiled. “Trust me Emerson.”
She nodded. “I do.”
She leaned up on her elbows and watched as his head went down between her legs. She froze the moment his wet tongue slide right over her clit. “Oh my God.”
Nash laughed. “Why thank you.” Then he did it again.
She couldn’t hold herself up now. It was like he was drinking from a water fountain, taking long sips. His tongue slid over her clit over and over, bringing her toward her first orgasm. The pressure was so powerful that she couldn’t stop the scream that escaped her mouth. His name was all she could say as she gasped in short breaths. Her back arched as the explosion inside her ignited every nerve in her body. Nash continued to take long licks as her body quaked through another one. She had to close her eyes. The intensity was so powerful it blew her mind.
Her body finally relaxed sinking down into the covers until he made it come alive again this time she felt him slid one finger inside of her hitting a spot that became greedy. She wanted more as he pulled his finger out and then added another one. She could feel him moving up her body, but she had no words except a moan.
“I could do this all day. You’re magnificent.” Nash said, then brought his mouth down hard, kissing her. His magical fingers continued to stroke her until the orgasm started up her spine. “Come for me, Emerson. I could die today watching you.” As if he were her master and she his puppet, Emerson came undone sinking her nails into his shoulders. “Are you ready, baby?”
