Page 109 of Pretty Obsessed

I smiled, warmth spreading in my chest.

Iris: Don’t hurt him.

Emory: I won’t.

I couldn’t.

I perched on the sofa, eyes on the door, willing it to open. Stupid. I didn’t even know how far they were from the hotel. I picked up my laptop again, but the door handle jiggled.

He slipped into the room, hair a mess, his smile reaching his eyes. Lips parted with lust written all over his expression.

"Did you have a good time?" I pushed off the sofa.

He drank me in, taking his time, eyes roving down my form. “I did."

I checked my watch, not going to him yet. Selfishly I wanted him to come to me. I hadn't expected him for hours. "I figured you'd be out until the sun rose."

He shook his head. "I think one a.m. at twenty-four is plenty late."

I slipped my hands in my pockets, elated that he’d come to me so soon, so early. "Didn't your friends want to ring in your birthday?"

"They had me for a whole hour on my birthday."

"And they were satisfied?"

"To be honest, everyone was getting pretty drunk after a couple of hours in. They brought out my cake at midnight and we did that." He put his hand on his hip, a smile coming to his mouth. "You should have come."

“I nearly did. I was texting Iris.”

His smile grew, turning roguish and almost giddy. “I would have stayed longer if you were there.”

“I’d much rather be here with you.”

“Why?” he asked, fixing me in a stare that nearly brought me to my knees.

“Because here I can do whatever I want to you.”

He groaned, gripping himself through the skinny jeans he wore. “I thought I got anything I wanted?”

“You do. But it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t have to be careful here.” I wet my lips with my tongue, drawn to him like a magnet, finding it nearly impossible to stay on the other side of the room.

“I missed you. How long have you been waiting?” He took a single step towards me and it was like agony.

“I got here at eleven or so." I didn't want to make him feel bad for me being in the hotel for a few hours. This is what we'd agreed to.

"That was enough time…" He trailed off and I could tell he held something back.

"This is what we agreed to…" I wasn't sure how to broach this.

"I know but—" There was a type of vulnerability in his words. But I couldn't figure out why.

He relented and came to me, sliding his hand into mine and bringing the pair to his lips. "But what?"

"This," I said, eyes on our hands. "We can't seem to be anything but this when we are together."

“I happen to like this,” he said, leaning in to rub his nose over mine.

“Me too.” Breathing him in, so much better than the scent in the room. I was captivated by him. “But it doesn’t change my lack of restraint or yours.”

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