Page 85 of Unhinged Cravings
“How was she?” I asked, watching a car come down the street.
“Why don’t you ask her yourself? She should be there about now to change before the party.”
The car pulled up to the curb.
“You’re so whipped now. Parties? Since when do you do parties?”
He hung up on me, and I laughed, knowing I’d pissed him off. One of Greyson’s men left the car and looked around, his eyes landing on me. He had known to expect me and gave me a gesture of acknowledgement. He opened the door, and my heart leaped so hard against my chest that I almost lurched forward. Ava gave him a big smile, talking about something as she reached back into the car and grabbed her things. He said something to her and her eyes flitted to me, growing large. Her smile spread to light every part of her face.
The car left. Greyson’s man knew I had her covered. I had my men hidden in enough places to take out anyone who got within ten feet of her.
She strolled toward me, and I took her in. She looked beautiful in a black dress that flattered her curves. The hem came to her mid-thigh, the sleeves short and leaving enough skin to turn me on. Her brown hair darkened her eyes to a rich chocolate and the diamond in her nose sparkled in the sun.
A single text had flashed on my phone that morning.I’m ready to conquer the world, but only if you’re with me.And I had dropped everything to get there. It was the message I’d been waiting for, but one I hadn’t expected for months. Not one month later. Not the morning of her graduation.
“I thought I told you no wearing my diamonds for anyone but me?” I said when she was close enough. She held her gown, cap, and diploma in her hand.
“I didn’t break that rule,” she said. “You’re here, aren’t you?”
“So, I am.”
“Are your ready for me, EmersonTides?”
I reached out and weaved my hand around her neck, then pulled her to me. “I’ve been ready for you my entire life, Avani Shelton.”
She scrunched her nose. “That’s gross, considering I wasn’t even born when you were a teenager.”
I shut her up with a kiss, digging my fingers into her curls and wrapping my other hand around her waist to bring her flush against me. Her things fell and her hands came up over my shoulders and into my hair, pulling my head down closer. If anything in my life had ever felt right, it was this moment. Being away from her had been like having half my soul stripped from me and stretched across endless miles, clinging by a fragile string. Now that string wove through me, repairing the damage and ensuring it would forever be whole as long as she remained with me.
“I love you, Emerson Tides,” she said, our lips parting. Her words resounded through me like a storm, washing over the broken pieces of the man I’d been before her and securing them. “It has nothing to do with how we met and everything to do with you. No amount of time apart will change that, so please don’t leave me again.”
I brushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. “I miss the pink,” I said, kissing her smile. “I didn’t tell you the truth that night.” Her eyes dimmed, smile dropping. “Because I couldn’t even admit it to myself. It wasn’t until you were gone that I realized how real it was. How every woman I saw only reminded me more of what I had set free.”
“Did you…”
“No. Shit, Ava, that’s where your mind went?” My eyes narrowed. “Did you?”
She shook her head. “There’s only you now.”
I took her face in my hands. “And there is only you. I loved you the moment you opened your mouth and looked up defiantly at me, wildcat. But I couldn’t admit it because it was too soon, too convoluted and only when I drove away from you did I realizehow wrong I was in not telling you. I love you Ava and if you really want to conquer the world with me at your side, I’m here and I will never leave.”
She reached her hands around my neck and pulled me into another kiss. This time, I wrapped both arms around her waist and picked her up the last few inches, holding her against me like I never wanted to release her.
“So, do you have all my diamonds in?” I asked, nibbling her lip.
“Yes.” Her response was breathless.
“Then I think it’s time for me to see them, sweetheart.” I scooped her into my arms.
“My things!” she squealed.
“Don’t worry, one of my guys will get them.” I opened the door and took her upstairs, letting her guide me until we were in her apartment and I couldn’t control myself.
I pressed her against the wall, hiking her skirt up and finding every piercing with my mouth. Her cries I put to memory with the tug of my hair in her hands and the feel of her thighs quaking around my shoulders as I held her up. As she tumbled, I caught her, thrusting into her while she rode out the climax around me. I lost myself in her, knowing I would never be apart from her again, that nothing in this world would bring me the pleasure of her warmth, of her body, of her cries. She tugged my mouth to hers, clenching her heels into me and sending me so deep I grunted. My release perched on the precipice, waiting to chase hers and as I sensed hers climbing, I bit her lip and said, “Show me how much you missed me, sweetheart. Come for me again, like a good girl.”
Her head fell back, her body swept up as she broke, taking me over the edge with her. I held her there, pinned against the wall, our bodies one as the rush of my orgasm thundered through me.
“You own me, Emerson,” she breathed. “All of me.”
