by Mj Fields
���We can teach you, right Mom?���
���Well, not everyone wants to learn how to cook London,��� Emma smiled.
���Do you cook London?��� Brody asked.
���I can cook some things. Pasta, eggs, toast, oatmeal, and I help make cookies. Mom���s chocolate chip cookies are the best,��� London exclaimed.
���Well maybe you could cook us dinner, breakfast for dinner sounds good, right?��� Brody asked.
���I���m in New York City, I want to go out,��� London audaciously said.
They all laughed, ���Where to London?��� Emma asked.
���Tavern on the Green, I saw it in a movie,��� London smiled.
���Let���s see what we can do,��� Emma said and looked up the number. ���Do you both want to come?���
���Of course,��� London said looking at Brody and then Lila, both accepted with a smile.
���Okay then,��� Emma smiled.
* * *
They ate dinner at Tavern on the Green. Brody decided he didn���t have to dress up. It was a place he knew he could go to and not be bothered. When they left, they took a horse and carriage ride through Central Park. When they returned to Lila���s apartment, London was fast asleep. Emma tucked her in and kissed her. She waited for her little sleepy shake that she had done since infancy that let Emma know she was in a deep enough sleep to leave the room without her waking up.
Lila and Brody were sitting on the couch talking when Emma walked out.
���Is she asleep?��� Lila asked.
���Yes, she is. Thanks for going with us tonight and for dinner, although I���m annoyed by that just so you know, Brody,��� Emma said sternly.
���Then you���re going to be truly annoyed with Lila, she got four tickets for Wicked tomorrow,��� Brody laughed.
���I���m perfectly capable of taking care of myself and my daughter,��� Emma said and her face turned red.
���Emma, I wanted to. We wanted to. It���s not charity, so stop acting like that and sit with us,��� Lila said as she patted the couch next to her.
���I have to check my e- mail,��� Emma said and started to walk away.
Brody grabbed her hand and handed her his iPad, ���Here, use mine.���
Emma thanked him, sat, and opened her inbox. She smiled and read.
���What are you smiling about?��� Lila said.
���I have an offer,��� Emma said, ���And if I���m ready it would be a fabulous offer, look at this.���
Lila read and then spoke, ���Emma, you need to think about this. Sleep on it; this could be huge for you and London.���
���I would have to move London…again; I would be away from her for a lot of hours. I want to be able to work from home, to work when she is busy. She doesn���t have someone she can count on to fill my void,��� Emma said. ���I can���t do that to her. It would change everything, again.���
���Emma don���t think like that, don���t do it to her. Do it for her,��� Lila said softly.
Emma felt her eyes burning, excusing herself going to the bathroom where she could cry. She was overwhelmed, completely overwhelmed. Emma knew what living paycheck to paycheck meant. She���s never had to live not knowing when she would get any support or not knowing there was money coming in from somewhere. Now she was waiting to be called in to work when someone was sick, just to get paid. Emma stood up and washed her face and walked back out.
���Everything alright Emma?��� Brody stood and gazed down at her, she smiled. ���Hmm, that���s a fake smile,��� he said softly, ���It���s alright to be upset.���
���Welcome back, deep Brody,��� she smiled.
���Anytime Emma,��� he said and kissed the top of her head.
���Emma I���m not trying to interrupt your moment, but you should look at this,��� Lila said and handed her the iPad.
Emma read the e- mail. Write House had offered her a job; it was a flat salary plus commissions. Emma would be required to come in three days a week for six hours a day with the possibility of less office time dependent upon performance. Emma���s starting salary would be eighty five thousand a year. Tears started rolling down Emma���s face, and she smiled. Emma looked at Lila.
���It���s almost perfect,��� she smiled softly.
���Emma, do it for both of you.���
���Lila it���s going change her whole life,��� Emma said quietly looking down.
���Emma, is that such a bad thing?���
���Probably not,��� Emma hugged her knees.
Brody looked at Lila; he was trying not to react. His eyes wide and jaw set. Lila smiled at him.
���Do what you have to do,��� she laughed, ���both of you, goodnight.���
���Goodnight,��� Emma said softly and cleared her voice. She sat up and grabbed his iPad and read the rest of her emails as he sat at the edge of the couch knee bouncing and foot tapping. ���You are very noisy ��� occupational hazard?���
���God Emma, are you alright?��� he said, finally exhaling.
���I am, are you?��� Emma laughed quietly when she saw that his face mirrored what she was feeling inside.
���No, not really,��� Brody threw himself back into the couch.
Emma set down the iPad and turned towards Brody. ���What���s wrong?���
He laughed, ���Emma you were crying, which means you���re not alright������
���I���ll be alright, it���s just something I have to figure out,��� Emma laughed trying to make light of the situation.
���And you don���t like it, and you���re hurting,��� he said intensely.
���Brody, are you going to be okay?���
He took a deep breath and looked down shaking his head, ���What the hell is it with you?���
���I���m not sure what you mean Brody, but you need to breathe,��� Emma grabbed his hand gently.
He laughed, ���This is not happening, I want to make sure you are alright, not the other way around. I should leave you alone, I���m not making this any easier, for fuck sake you feel like you have to take care of me,��� Emma looked down and scowled. Brody grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap and held her.
She didn���t breathe, he kissed her head and pushed his forehead into hers, ���I need you to be alright, or I���m going to kill that bastard.���
���You wouldn���t fare very well in prison,��� Emma hugged him.
Brody hugged her tighter, ���No?���
Emma laughed, ���No.���
���This is hard for you, I know how damaged I felt after Ariel screwed around. I didn���t have a beautiful little girl to take care of and Emma, I���ve never known a person in my life that put another person���s well- being ahead of their own dreams and desires, until now,��� Brody sighed sweetly, ���But after meeting her, I get it. Your daughter is precious.���
���Thank you. I���m a Mom, and not any different than many people who have kids. We all want what���s best for our children. I���m just highly aware that everything I do affects her, along with the rest of her life, nothing special. So Brody Hines, tell me about your family,��� Emma said looking up at him.
���Not much to tell, you could Google it,��� he smiled.
���I prefer to hear it from you if you want to talk. If not, I can Google it,��� Emma laughed
.
���Do you need to know Emma?��� Brody swallowed hard.
���Not if it���s going to hurt you.���
���Emma, how do you feel about me now?���
���Well, I have to say I���m confused. I know I care about how you feel, but honestly I care about how everyone feels,��� Emma laughed.
���No, how do YOU feel about ME?��� He asked with an intensity that made her stomach flip.
���Well I like you. I like to be around you. I like that you seem to like me. I like how you seem to like my daughter. I like your music, even if you don���t believe me,��� she laughed, ���I like your sense of humor, have I said enough? Have I answered your question?���
���What don���t you like about me?��� Brody asked pulling her hair back away from her face.
���That you���re making me feel uncomfortable right now, by asking a lot of questions,��� she paused hoping he would change the subject and he didn���t, ���I don���t like your age, I feel like Mrs. Robinson and I don���t like that I���m attracted to you. I don���t like that I feel drawn to you. I don���t like that you���re a celebrity.���
Brody smiled and lifted her chin and kissed her gently.
���I like to kiss you,��� Emma kissed him hard taking his hair in her hands and pulling his face into hers.
He tastes so damn good, not like alcohol or like gum trying to mask alcohol. His taste was hot and sweet. And I want more, she thought.
He pulled her up and she sat on his lap straddling him, his lips never leaving hers. His kisses became harder and more possessive and when she pulled back to breathe and he kissed down her neck then back to her ear. He moaned as he pulled at her ear and she became intensely aware of his excitement.
���I think we should stop,��� Emma pulled further back and he put his hands up, and she fell backwards. Emma was leaning backwards holding herself up with her hands on the floor laughing.
���What is this scar from?��� Brody asked as he kissed her stomach.
Oh God, she thought.
���Brody, please,��� she whimpered as he kissed her stomach and licked her belly button. ���Oh,��� she let out and he pulled her up and smiled a hot sexy smile that made her feel like she was going to explode right there.
���Stop smiling at me,��� Emma said raising her eyebrow as she scooted completely off him.
He smirked as he watched her try to get herself together.
���Cut it out,��� she whispered. ���I thought you were curious about my feelings, Brody.���
���I was until I found your belly button,��� he pulled her back down and kissed her.
���Oh no,��� Emma said smiling. No, no, no, she told herself as she stood up.
���Emma, sit back down here,��� he pulled her onto him.
���Brody as much fun as it is sitting here on���you, I need to go to sleep,��� Emma kissed him, sat back and smiled.
���Are you sure Emma?��� Brody said kissing her.
���Brain yes, body no,��� she said breathlessly as she stood up. ���How many people have you slept with?���
���Um, I���m not sure?��� Brody said confused.
���I have had sex with one person,��� Emma sat next to him, Brody laughed uncomfortable. ���And you don���t even have a number.���
���I���m sorry. I can tell you I have had sex with seven people in the seven years I have lived in the U.S.��� Brody said shaking his head.
���And the������ she held her hands up counting, ���Seven years before that?���
���Emma, they were very busy years,��� Brody expressed his amusement uncomfortably.
���Did you use condoms?���
���Really? Are we having the sex talk Emma?��� Brody responded tilting his head slightly to the side.
���Do you want to make…fuck me Brody?��� Emma inquired in a straightforward tone looking him in the eyes.
Brody gasped in shock from her curt statement and smiled, ���Yes I do want to have sex with you.���
���Have you been tested for STD���s?��� Emma crossed her arms in front of her.
Brody grabbed her with one arm around her waist and held the back of her head tightly to his face and kissed her, and she melted, he pulled away leaving her panting.
���Do you want me Emma?��� He whispered in her ear and kissed her neck.
���Uh huh, I want you���too, yes.��� Emma breathed out.
He laid her down on the couch and kissed her as she lay there letting him, and her head was spinning, ���Oh please…not now.���
He kissed her mouth and sat up, ���Okay Emma, I had sex with at least twenty women before moving here.���
���That���s a lot,��� Emma whispered and sat up keeping her eyes closed.
���I was tested a year ago, free and clear. I���ll do it again if you need me to,��� Brody said looking at her, ���Emma open your eyes, do you need me to get tested?���
���Uh huh.���
���Have you been tested?��� He laughed.
���Yes, every year since London was born, oh God I hope she didn���t wake up, what time is it?��� Emma reached across him to grab her phone. ���It���s two in the morning?���
���Time flies,��� Brody smiled.
���My daughter gets up every morning at six thirty, you won���t be laughing when I have her wake you up,��� Emma said trying to make him nervous.
���Well then…I���m going to have a shower,��� Brody kissed her gently as he whispered in her ear, ���and jerk off.���
Emma tried to hide her smile, ���Really? Can I watch?���
���Are you serious?��� Brody tried to hide the excitement in his voice.
���No, I think you can handle it,��� Emma tried to stop smiling as she stood up, ���Pun intended,��� she gently kissed his head.
���No one has ever told me no, Emma,��� Brody said quietly, ���It���s going to make me try that much harder.���
���Get tested. Good night, music man,��� Emma said as she walked into the bathroom.
When Emma finished in the bathroom she started to walk out, and he pushed her gently into the bathroom, ���I need to check something out, I���m fairly certain I don���t need to be tested for this,��� he reached under her shirt and squeezed her breast gently as he kissed her.
���Very nice,��� he pulled her in to him for another kiss.
He held her against him, and she felt her bra unsnap. In one swift move, he lifted her shirt and bent down and took her breast in his mouth and the other in his hand. She leaned against the counter, and he lifted her up setting her on it. His mouth was full, and he sucked and tugged gently at her erect nipple while using his fingers to mimic his movements on the other breast. Emma felt her body begin to burn.
���Oh God,��� she moaned and he tugged harder, it was almost painful if not for the pleasure she felt.
���You have to stop,��� she moaned as her hand rubbed his stomach. ���Brody I need you to stop, because I don���t think���oh God���I don���t think I will be able to���please.���
He released her and kissed up her neck to her mouth.
He looked in her eyes, ���You need to leave,��� he laughed deeply through clenched teeth, ���Before I tear the rest of your clothes off and take you in the shower.���
���Sorry.���
He kissed her again, ���Don���t be, get out,��� his laugh dark and jaw clenched.
���Thank you, good night,��� she said as he pulled his shirt off looking into her eyes intensely.
He dropped his pants, and her eyes widened. Brody…commando, she thought and damn he was perfect. Wipe that stupid grin off your face Cheshire cat, Emma thought.
���Emma, five, four, three, two������ he counted down pausing briefly between numbers as she tried to pull her eyes away from the most beautiful naked man she had ever laid eyes on.
���Goodnight,��� Emma said closing the door.
CHAPTER FIVE
���Mom, let���s make breakfast,��� Emma opened her eyes.
���What time is it?���
���Almost seven, I slept in,��� London smiled.
London turned on music and she and Emma danced around the kitchen to Kids Bop, Payphone was playing as they fried eggs and made toast. London was singing and when the chorus started. They both sang and danced.
Here���s my silly smiling girl, Emma thought.
Bieber���s Boyfriend played as London buttered her toast and Emma took her hands and twirled her. Next was Train���s Drive By, London knew it was one of Emma���s favorites, and they danced and sang loudly laughing.
Brody walked up to London and twirled her as he sang. When the song ended London looked at him and curtsied. Brody bowed and kissed her hand. Emma was smiling as she plated the food. London changed the song to Just the Way You Are. Emma smiled.
���Mommy,��� London said, ���You���re not singing it to me.���
���I don���t do well in front of an audience,��� Emma smiled. ���But for you, London������
Emma started singing. Brody joined her and London laughed.
���Mom,��� London said looking at her when the song finished, ���I love you.���
���I love you more,��� Emma said kissing her and twirling her around.
Lila came into the kitchen, ���Its Saturday and seven thirty in the morning.���
