Page 34 of The Gilded Cuff
Emery smiled up at his father. “Promise?”
Dad patted his shoulder lightly. “Promise.”
If only he’d known that was the last night he and Fenn would spend with their father before their world of safety and comfort would be torn asunder.
The memory dissolved like morning mist evaporated by the rising sun, leaving behind a hollow ache, as if someone had punched him in the chest and stolen something vital.
Somewhere in the house Sophie was laughing.
His Sophie.
A tremor of melancholy rippled through him, the epicenter of his sadness growing larger.Hewasn’t making her laugh; someone else was. She was happy with whoever she was with, and it wasn’t him. The thought wounded him, a knife sunk deep in his stomach, wrenching painfully to expose his insides. In that moment Emery hated being hurt, hated that the mere sound of Sophie’s laugh caused him to feel this way. He should have known the price would be too high when he’d kissed her. She’d penetrated his carefully guarded heart, made him feel things he’d sworn never to feel, made him weak when he’d sworn never to be vulnerable again.
There was a shriek of feminine laughter, a booming bark of a man’s laugh, and Cody went zipping by the doorway, a blur.
“Bring back my cell phone! Hey!” Sophie was shouting. The sound of running steps preceded Sophie by mere seconds and she slid into view, halting in the doorway when she saw Emery. Wearing soccer shorts and a loose t-shirt that said “Train through the pain,” she held a tennis racket. Her cheeks were pink, sweat dewed on her brow, and damp spots on her sleeves evidenced she’d been wiping more sweat from her face. She had been working out, just as he’d asked. The faint sound of her panting breath kicked his body into a whole new level of need. He couldn’t help but imagine what she’d sound like as she raced toward a powerful climax with him thrusting into her.
Emery’s heart leapt into a sprint. He wanted to pull her into his arms, smother her with kisses, fuck her senseless, then carry her to the shower, bathe the sweat from her body and take her all over again. He took a step toward her, every intention of doing just that when Brant spoke, reminding him they weren’t alone.
“Emery, you didn’t tell me you had a visitor.” Brant swept past him and held out a hand to Sophie. “Nice to meet you, Ms.…”
“Ryder. Sophie Ryder.” Sophie’s cheeks flamed, the blush adorable.
He smiled. “I’m Brant Lockwood, Emery’s cousin.”
Emery clenched his fists as he recognized the look of hungry intent on Brant’s face.
Sophie smiled at Brant, but the look was forced; not a hint of warmth gleamed in her eyes. Her reaction pleased Emery. He didn’t want Sophie to be interested in his cousin. She belonged to him, not Brant. As if answering his thoughts, her hand moved to her wrists, touching the gold cuffs almost absently.
“Those are lovely bracelets,” Brant said.
“Thank you, I got them from a—” her eyes darted to Emery then to the floor— “friend.”
“Ah, I see. My cousin has spoiled you, then. He doesn’t usually give cuffs to his women unless they’re fully tamed.”
Brant’s comment made Emery’s blood run cold. What did Brant mean? He’d never cuffed a woman before. Sophie was his first. The women he’d been with in the past always had their official club cuffs, and took them off once they left the club. Not Sophie. She worehiscuffs, at his command. Because she washis.
The look of hurt that slashed across her features and the triumphant shine in Brant’s eyes told him everything. He’d said that just to upset Sophie. The bastard.
“I should go.” Sophie backed out of the doorway. “I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting, Mr. Lockwood. I thought you might be interested in the picnic Hans and Cody prepared. But I see you’re busy.” She spun on her heel as though to leave.
Emery lunged, catching her arm and tugging her fully into the room and into his arms. He angled his body and hers so that her back was to Brant. He dropped his head, touching his nose to hers.
“There have been no other women, Sophie. You certainly aren’t tamed. I’d never want you to be. Do you understand?” He cupped her chin. “Do you?” It was an intimate confession, one better suited to his bedroom without his cousin looking on, but he didn’t want her to think for one minute that she was like any other woman he’d met.
Sophie blinked back tears and gave a shaky nod.
“Good. Now what’s this about a picnic?”
“We thought we’d dine out on the patio. What do you think?” Sophie prodded hopefully, reaching out for his hand. He met her halfway, taking her hand in his and curling his fingers around hers.
Now this was more like it. The silver of her eyes was alight and sparkling like the sea at sunrise, emotions rippling through her gaze in bright patterns. He held the key to her happiness in his hands, and the power of knowing he could and would make her happy was exhilarating. Sophie’s happiness meant everything to him. Even though he knew they were wrong for each other and would eventually part ways, he couldn’t help but immerse himself in the here and now and give her what she wanted.
“A picnic?” He pretended to think it over, running a palm across his jaw in contemplation.
“Please Emery. The weather is perfect and I made us some sandwiches.”
“Very well, lead the way.” He linked his arm in Sophie’s, kissing the tip of her nose. She laughed and pushed at his chest. How odd that he couldn’t keep from touching her, kissing her, even in the most tender of ways. All his life he’d kept women at a distance, only with them during planned seductions. But with Sophie, he needed to show her affection, chaste and simple as it was. He just needed to feel her. She was flinching less and less, overcoming what appeared to be an aversion to physical contact. How alike they were in so many ways.
