The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection

Chapter 38

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Two hours later, Emily heard his truck pull up in front of her house but she couldn’t believe it. He came back.

She stood by the window, unable to move.

Brad must have seen her. He hesitated a moment and then hurried to her door. He didn’t knock. He walked in and shut the door behind him.

There was no hesitation, he headed straight toward her, lifted her in his arms as if she weighed nothing more than a feather and carried her to the sofa, where he put her on his lap.

“What happened?” He appeared so dark and brooding; she sensed there was a whole pile of s**t she didn’t want to know.

“Crystal had you fired.”

“Well, I figured out that much myself. So what does she want with me? Why me? What did I ever do to her?” She raged the words, but she already knew. Brad. It was always about Brad.

“I’ll take care of it, don’t worry. I’ll make sure she doesn’t do this again.”

Emily snapped and tried to break free. But he wouldn’t let her go. “You can’t make me that promise. You can no more control what she does, than control the direction the wind’s blowing.”

He watched her in a way that, she’d swear, she could see the wheels spinning in his head.

“I’ll make sure you’re looked after and protected from any more unprovoked attacks. I’m asking you to trust me on this.” He didn’t let her answer, he pulled her closer and took what, he figured, was his. It was so like him to think the sun, the moon and the stars revolved around him. Emily wanted to hit him, to hurt him; but his deep, possessive kiss melted away the bitter hurt wreaking havoc on her sound reasoning. She sank into his kiss. It was a kiss that whispered silent promises of a future, and the fact that she was his...and then the damn kettle shrilled. She pulled away and jumped off his lap. She needed to stop plugging it in, or maybe she should thank it, as she’d used those few seconds of freedom to regain her sound mind. Maybe he knew that’s what she was doing, because he was right behind her, his heat, his hand covering hers when she yanked the plug from the outlet. Her blood pulsed harder, faster, through her. Her heart pounding harder, like the natives beating their sacred drums. His hand pressed flat against her back, smoothing its way down, over her shapely bottom fitted into her favorite pair of blue jeans, the ones that sat low on her hips. His hand moved over her, gently, and then changed to possessive and thorough touch. She faced the sink; he pressed into her and slid his arm around her waist. She could feel how much he wanted her. She moved her bottom against him just as he grabbed a handful of her thick hair hanging in gentle waves down her back. He lifted it and touched his lips to the back of her neck, her shoulders, edging his way down.

His hand slid under her shirt over her stomach, her chest, outlining her curves, a little rough then tender, but he was thorough. He covered her breast, and held her against him like a man did a simple possession. Emily leaned her head back onto his shoulder, finding it difficult to breathe. She moaned as he unclasped her bra and gave her the attention she deserved. His hands moved faster as he found each tender spot, her pants loosened. She felt outrageously erotic as she pressed against him, and then stepped out of her pants sliding past her knees, pooling around her ankles. Her strength wavered when she felt him spread her thighs with his hand. Emily’s breath hitched when she heard the jingle of his belt buckle, the zipper on his pants. “Brace yourself against the counter.” He slipped into her, tilting her hips and holding her as if they’d mated a hundred times. Her high pitch gasp escaped. It was shockingly indecent, staring out an open window, as her man covered her hand with his, laced his fingers with hers and moved inside of her as she shuddered against him, as he discovered a new spot to please her. Nothing gentle about it; pleasure met pleasure as she tightened around him. Her eyelids fluttered and she rolled her head against him; she moaned but he held on, kept going. Then he buried his face against her neck; he shouted primally, and let himself go.