Emma watched her brother walk out of the room and then stared at the TV without seeing anything.When the tension got too much, she started pulling away from him.
“I think I should go to bed, too,” she said, trying to stand.
He tightened his grip.“Don’t run from me, baby.”
Emma cleared her throat.“I’m not.I’m just tired.”
He easily lifted her until she lay across his lap.He tucked her head under his chin.“You have no idea how good this feels to me right now.Do you enjoy being close to me?”
She wanted to shout yes, but fear still held her back.“I’m scared.”
He tilted her head up so he could see her face.“Scared of what?”
“Of this.I wanted you for so many years, and when you pushed me away, I decided I’d had enough and would need to move on.”
“So, you’re saying your feelings for me disappeared?”he asked.
She shivered when his thumb caressed her cheek.“No, but I feel like I’ve made a good life for myself.”She almost snorted.She worked from home and was scared to leave her apartment.She’d gone on a few dates, but nothing ever felt right.
“I know we’d have a great life together because I’d do whatever is necessary to make you happy,” he said with conviction.
God, when he said it that way, she believed him.“Can you give me a little time?”
“How much time?”he asked.
“I don’t know.”
He sighed.“I’ll give you some time.But not a lot.We also need to talk about what’s going on in your life.”
She stiffened.“I’d rather not.”
He grunted.“Tough shit.”
She stiffened and narrowed her eyes.“You’re not the boss of me.”She almost snorted at the childish phrase.
He smirked.“We’ll see about that.Go to bed, and I’ll see you in the morning.”“Hold up.One more thing,” he said when Emma went to stand, but he yanked her back and lowered his head.
Her breath stalled in her throat when his mouth filled her with desperation, intensifying the heat and need in her already overloaded body.She groaned when he lifted his head, and she tried to pull him back to her.
Damon smoothed the hair from her face.“Do you see how good we are together?”
Emma swallowed and then nodded.She was afraid to admit it, but she’d never felt like this with anyone, and she knew Damon was her only chance at a fulfilling, happy future.She’d always known it.She just hadn’t thought it would happen.
“I’m going to let you get to bed.If you are free tomorrow, Trent and I are going to check out a house I might want to buy.”
“Really?Where?”
“Trent called it the Benson Place off County Road Fourteen,” he said.
Oh, wow.She’d always loved that old farmhouse.“Where is Mrs.Benson going?”
“Your brother told me she wants to be closer to family, and the place is too big for her to take care of.”
Emma felt the excitement build in her veins.She hadn’t been this excited since learning Damon was alive and headed home.
She nodded.“Yes, I’d like to go.”
“Good.Then we’ll go after breakfast.”He lifted her off his lap.“Now, you’d better get to bed before I pull you back onto my lap.”