OUR BROKEN BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Sexual content ahead. This is the only warning moving forward throughout the rest of the story.

My body continued leaning against the counter, and my hands were laced in front of me as his eyes wandered along my body. I forced them to stay in their place because the need to reach for him and feel his skin against them was flowing through every part of my body, erasing much of my sense. The only bit that remained fought against giving up on the game entirely. I had essentially begged him to touch me, and I would probably beg for more. But not without proper motivation. Let us see if he caved.

He prowled toward me with intent. My pulse quickened, and Emerson only needed to put his hand on my neck to feel it. I tried to cover my plea with some of my swagger, "I'd like to see how much you have improved in self-control." Emerson's eyes blazed brighter, and a pleased smile spread on his face. The words delivered exactly how I wanted and hit their mark.

I leaned my head back to maintain eye contact as I usually had to do. His chuckle was deep. "Let's see who breaks first, Mrs. Hale." Then, he placed a hand on the side of my thigh. A tremor went through my entire body. It took all my will not to close my eyes and sigh. Even through my dress, the gentle touch rattled me. Emerson leisurely started to move his hand up, toward the dip of my hip.

I placed my hands on the counter and let him explore. He brought a second hand up and mirrored what the other did. Their movements were smooth and unhurried. My core was molten, and the sensation between my legs would prove to be my ruin. I couldn't help but let my eyes flutter shut as his hands continued to move along the lines of my body. When they reached my neck, my eyes opened and met his. He cupped the nape of my neck, putting his thumb on the bottom of my chin to tilt my head back a bit farther.

"You are magnificent." My lips parted when he placed the thumb originally on my chin, on my bottom lip. It slowly moved across, and I did nothing to stop it. His eyes flicked down to where his thumb ran. "These are magnificent." My knees threatened to buckle, but I fought to keep them straight.

He leaned in closer, his eyes moving between mine and my lips. "Touch me," he breathed.

My hands were eager to feel his body, so they instantly moved. One went for the forearm that had traveled back down to my waist, and the other went to the wrist he held up at my neck. The wisps of hair scattered across his arm tickled my palm, and I knew the feel of his soft skin on mine would become nothing short of an addiction.

My fingers traced the ridges of his corded muscles underneath his thin t-shirt, and I wanted to see his bare skin again—feel it. The desire rippled through me so fiercely that I contemplated tearing his shirt apart.

His thumb continued idly tracing my lip, and when it reached the center, I opened my mouth and took his thumb into it, sucking lightly for a moment before letting it go. His sharp intake of air told me that he enjoyed what I had done just as much as me. Emerson's eyes appeared to be a fusion between green and light brown, the green flaring even brighter.

My core was molten, burning me through and through. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to kiss him. To give in. But I refused. My pride was the only thing saving me from losing. He dropped his hands, my own slipping away as he took a step back.

My name was a tremble as it left his mouth. "Cassandra."

"Emerson." His name escaping my lips was more a breath than anything else.

"You will be the death of me."

I didn't understand the words, but I didn't show any confusion. I could barely think past the heat and roaring in my blood.