Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 53

EVA.

"Come here, " I whisper as he moves between my thighs and he climbs over my body, draping a hand around me with his head mashed to my chest as he falls to the side.

"Want to go out tomorrow?" He suddenly asks and I tip my head to meet his lifted gaze. I drop my hand to his hair and bury my fingers in the soft curls. "Where are we going this time?"

"We could go to a bookstore, " he mutters softly as he shifts his hand from my side to my stomach, trailing his finger across the skin before he caresses my belly piercing and adds, "Pick up some books. "

"That sounds tempting, " I tell him and a smile covers his face. "I know. Do you want to come with me?"

"The break is near its end, " I say and he nods, moving his touch to the middle of my chest. "The more for us to go. "

"You've convinced me. " I agree and he lifts his head from my chest to press his lips to the skin, igniting a flame with his touch before he falls back to it, and the sound of our breathing plus my quiet moans as Emerson teases me with his touch becomes the only sound in the room.

"When did you figure it out?" I ask him, breaking the silence and Emerson lifts a brow before I continue, "That you were falling for me. "

"Why? You find it hard to believe?" He questions and I shake my head, "Not exactly, but I'm curious. "

"Back at the garden. " He says and moves his hand from my stomach to my breasts, palming the flesh in his hand as he proceeds, "I didn't admit it to myself back then, but I knew I was falling. You had the brightest smile I've ever seen on your face; like the prettiest flower amidst hundreds and I knew that I never want you to lose that smile. The pure feeling of excitement and happiness that surrounded you that day– I never want you to lose that. " The perfect words. Words that tug at my heart and words that are enough to make me admit that I'm completely down for Emerson Ford, if I never did before.

"When did you?" He returns the question as he drops his hand from my chest, and I look away from him; stopping the movement of my hand on his hair as my cheeks redden with blush.

"Don't be shy now, Carson, " Emerson teases as he grips my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes and I scoff, "I'm not shy. "

"Do I always have to remind you of what a bad liar you are, Eva?" He lifts a mocking brow and I throw him a glare before I swat his hand from my face, earning a laugh from him.

"Come on, I told you mine; it's only fair that you tell me yours. " He persists as he lifts his body from mine, letting my hand fall from his hair while he presses an elbow into the bed, leaning his face against his shoulder as he keeps his eyes on me.

"That night. " I say and he hums for me to go on. "The night when you said you never wanted to stop. I knew there was no stopping the feelings. " I explain and he leans close, "So you gave in?"

"So I gave in. " I agree, looking down to his lips before I meet his eyes again, and I notice the unusual glint in the brown orbs before Emerson says, "And you're never going back now. "

I smile before snuggling closer to him, making him fall on the bed with me.

"Want me to stay for a while more?" He whispers as he brushes my hair and I rub my head against his chest, knowing I want to but we can't.

"No, you need to start leaving. " When I lift my head from his chest to his face, his lips are pushed forward and I sway nearer to press my lips to his jaw before I drop back to his chest and say, "We're leaving for the bookstore tomorrow. "

"I know, " he breathes, lowering his hand to my back. "But I want to stay like this for a bit longer. "

"Five minutes?" I offer and he closes his arms around me, "It's more than enough. " He responds and I shut my eyes, listening to the soft beats of his heart for the next five minutes and taking enough of his warmth before he leaves.

The time comes for him to leave and Emerson climbs off my bed. I slide against the headboard with the duvet pulled to my chest as I watch him get dressed.

"Why are you taking that?" I voice out when Emerson grabs the drawing he made of me.

"Do you want to keep it?" He asks the obvious and when I give a nod, he leaves it and makes his way to my window.

"Careful. " The word slips through my parted lips before I could stop it when Emerson throws a leg over my window and he chortles, "I'm way past being careful with you, Eva. " He gives a salute with two fingers before his frame disappears out of sight.

My chest falls in a sigh as I stare at my room with the absence of Emerson Ford, before the details of the day come rushing back to me and I'm no longer able to hold my squirm as I throw the duvet over my head.

~

EMERSON.

I walk through the door and the smile on my face instantly drops at the sight of my father across the room with Hanna standing behind him.

"Where were you?" He queries when he notices my presence and I take a breath before I move forward, "Out. "

"Does this out not have a name?" He turns away from Hanna to keep his harsh gaze on me and I stave off my gaze to Eliza standing at the other corner of the room.

"I believe I asked you a question, Emerson. " Dad says, bringing my attention back to him and I say, "I was out. Don't I have the right to be somewhere else along with your other specifications?"

He doesn't speak for a while, and when he finally opens his mouth; his words don't sting any less than they usually do. "You could have made yourself useful and come to me. You should have stayed back at that school when you knew you would be useless. "

"Mason—" Eliza, my stepmom speaks from the side to caution my dad, but she's quick to quiet down when he throws her a look.

"I didn't come here for you, and you shouldn't be disappointed because I've never shown any interest in your business. "

"Your brother is—" he starts, but I cut him off, knowing the words that'll follow. "My brother is not me, and you should never think differently. " A muscle ticks in his jaw and anger masks his face but I don't let him speak another word before I twist my body in the direction that leads me away from him.

There are whispers behind but I don't make a stop until I'm inside my room with my door closed behind me. Letting out a puff of my breath, I take a second to calm down the emotions raging from me from the minor encounter with my father before I stalk towards my bed.

I fall back on it and toss around a few times before I get out of bed, and stroll towards my window. I place my hands on the edge and look to the only place that's capable of bringing me serenity. My lips stretch into a smile as I watch the figure of Eva move across her room, before I turn back at the creak of my door.

"What are you doing?" I say to Hanna as she stands feet away with her back to my door and she pushes her body from the frame. "Making sure you're alright after what just happened. "

"Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be?" I move away from the window and Hanna glances at it before she meets my eyes and says, "Were you looking at her again?"

"What are you talking about?" I feign oblivion and she chuckles, "You don't have to pretend, Emery. I know you were looking at Eva. "

"And if I was?" I fold my arms against my chest and she walks closer to me. "I'm guessing you like her. "

"Hanna—"

"I saw her pictures. " She interrupts me and I scowl at her. "I told you to stop sneaking into my room without my permission!"

"I wasn't. " She's quick to defend herself. "I wanted one of your books and I saw the camera. That is beyond the point though; you like her, Emerson. "

"I'm aware of that. " I mumble dryly as I move back to my bed and slide on it.

"So don't you think you should—"

"What did I say about giving me relationship advice and poking your nose into my business?" I raise my body slightly from the mattress to look at her and she does that annoying thing where she murmurs some words under her breath before she passes me a sweet smile, "Of course, brother. I'll be on my way since I know you're fine. "