Page 90 of Miles Apart
Chapter 42
Miles
Emma has ten seconds before I peel her off the barstool and toss her over my shoulder. We wouldn’t make it far with the way my restraint is about to snap after seeing her for the first time in weeks. I fucking missed her. She hasn’t faced me yet, but Madison’s shock is enough for the both of them based on her jaw on the floor. I’ll ask Emma why they’re together later. After I get her home.
She finally spins around on her barstool. I step back at her snarl, not because she frightens me, but to keep my nuts a safe distance from her knees. They’re oiled and ready to go.
“Save it.” Emma dismisses me with a hand and stands, pulling the see-through dress squeezing her hips for dear life back into place. “Are you good?” The question is to Madison, who’s still trying to piece together why I’m here.
She blinks twice before answering. “Yes.” Then she clears her throat, her gaze bouncing between me and Emma. “I have a room here. Did you two—”
“Not your business,” Emma says matter-of-factly. “You and I aren’t there yet, but this was nice.” Her half smile hints at the possibility of mending…I don’t know what.
“It was. See you around. Miles.” Madison’s light eyes sweep over me until she groans at her phone, which is ringing on the bar counter. She sighs and picks it up. “What excuse is there today, Preston? You’ll always make it up to me.”
The billionaire dude from the retreat?
Madison scurries off in a huff, leaving me to rush after Emma, who’s already walking out the door.
Emma speed walks through the tiled hotel foyer, determined to get to the valet and dip like I don’t know where she lives. It’s a home we’ve shared for weeks, one I want to make permanent. If she’ll let me.
I slow my pace to take in the ass she’ll tell me to kiss once her silent treatment eases. If only she knew I dreamt of holding her in my arms for the last twenty-five days.
A pimple-faced valet attendant rushes out of the booth and trips over himself to get to her. I rub my fingers over my lower lip and chuckle at how quickly he folds in her orbit. Emma’s lure is without a doubt addictive. You’d think she was royalty with all the bowing this guy does. He’s yet to get her car, doing everything he can to hold her attention.
I post up inside the glass doors, never once taking my eyes off the woman pacing up and down the sidewalk, ignoring me.
Her Mercedes pulls up, and Em hops in and speeds off. I give my ticket to the kid still watching her taillights and am in my rental car minutes later.
Sizing up the wide door I’ll have to scale to get to Emma’s townhouse is a matter of physics once I arrive at her spot. Iusually go through the garage but decide the front gate is better. To my surprise, the private entry is unlocked. The floodlights I installed months ago announce my presence. I test my luck with the front door. I still know the code but won’t enter if it’s locked. Sure enough, the long handle opens, and I take a cautious step into the foyer.
It never crossed my mind that Emma might shoot my ass, but the unlocked doors and dimmed recessed lights are some don type shit. Would she snipe me and tell the police I broke in, or bury me alive on the beach? The latter requires manual labor, but I wouldn’t put it past her.
I inhale deep, toe off my sneakers, and head past the illuminated path from the kitchen to the living area. Emma stands before floor-to-ceiling glass doors that reflect the dark ocean under the moon.
A month and a twelve-hour flight to Los Angeles gave me time to think about the mess I got myself in. I’m good with numbers and codes but come up short with Emma. I never stayed in one place or spent so much time with one person, but I couldn’t reach her fast enough and never thought twice about going to her. I fucked up, but I want to fix it.
I left on autopilot. I packed up all my shit and bounced, the same way I’ve done countless times. I never had someone at home and had to get my head in a zone. I just hope it didn’t cost me everything.
Emma refuses to look at me through the glass. She deserves more than a bullshit excuse about why I left so abruptly. I had to wait until it was safe.
One step turns into several until I’m inches from her. She stiffens at my touch but remains stoic. “I’m sorry I broke your trust.” I murmur the apology into the air, which is scented with the perfume I’ve missed for too long.
Emma’s lack of reaction is a double-edged sword. She’s not one for affection or displaying it. But her indifference toward me now hints at detachment beyond repair.
“I’m sorry, baby.” I look for signs I didn’t lose her for good. I may not know what this is, but now that she’s in my life, I can’t imagine another day without her.
Emma’s resolve doesn’t falter when I hold her. The front of my jeans grazes the back of her dress. Goosebumps form as my hands glide down her bare arms, and I pull her into my center. My apology is still a chant that’s yet to crack her armor.
A mix of fire and ice whirls in Emma’s glare when she faces me. She’s silent but shoves at my chest over and over, building force with every push.
I let her move us, never taking my eyes off her or repeating the same apology. Emma can push me into next morning if she wants. Shit, my ass deserves worse. Her fire means there’s still a chance.
“I didn’t want to leave, kitten. Please let me explain.”
My brows knit when her hand finds my belt. I step back. “Em, wh—”
“Shh.” Her fingers press to my lips as her other hand makes work of the leather. She yanks the buckle free and palms my dick, pounding at the zipper.Fuck. She’s on her tiptoes to reach my ear. “We’ll fuck until it’s time for you to leave. Once Monday comes, we’ll go back to not speaking to each other.”
