don’t.” She tries to step around me, but I step in front of her, blocking her way.
“Yes, we do.”
Her face flushes with angry color. “My flight is boarding—”
“They’ve just started. You have time.”
Apparently realizing that I’m not going to budge, she lets go of her suitcase handle and folds her arms across her chest. “Fine. Talk.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, I almost laugh at the scowl she directs at me. With all those curls puffing up, she really does look ridiculously cute when angry. Adorable, in fact. Of course, she also looks adorable when she smiles, and when she blushes, and when she’s lying in my bed, all warm and sleepy and satisfied—fuck, I better focus.
“I’m sorry, Emma,” I say as sincerely as I can. “I should’ve called you earlier. I was working around the clock, but that’s no excuse. I promise you, it won’t happen again.” I’m about to stop there, but some demon propels me forward, pulling the words out of my mouth. “The truth of the matter is, I felt like we were getting too deep, too fast, and I seized on the emergency at the fund to put a little distance between us. But that was a mistake. I realize that now. I want us to get deeper.” I take a breath. “In fact, I was thinking that when you get back from this trip, I’d like you to move in to my place.”
Her arms drop to her sides as shock wipes away all other expression on her face. “You what?” Her voice is barely above a whisper.
“I want you to move in,” I repeat, clasping her small hands in each of mine. “I want you to live with me—you and all three of your cats. I know it seems fast, but I’ve made a living taking calculated risks, and believe me, this one is worthwhile. If you want to keep your apartment for now, I won’t object, but I want you with me every night.”
Her hands are icy in my grip as she stares up at me. “Why?”
“Because I want you—and you want me too.” Isn’t it obvious to her? “The chemistry we have is rare, kitten. So rare that I’ve never felt it before. I want you all the time, to the point of obsession. I’ve fought against it, tried to resist, but it’s useless. I want you—and I don’t want the bridges and tunnels getting in the way of our time together. Move in with me, Emma. It makes so much sense.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see two men in business suits whispering to one another a dozen feet away, and a woman pointing a phone at me from behind them. They’ve probably recognized me from CNBC or someplace. Normally, I’d get annoyed and step away, but this is too important to get distracted.
“Move in with me,” I say again when Emma remains silent, staring up at me in mute shock. “It will be good, you know it. I’ll take care of all the moving logistics. All you have to do is say yes.” And to remind her of just how good it will be, I curve my palm over her jaw and bend my head to kiss her.
I meant for it to be a light, casual kiss, something befitting the public venue, but the moment our lips touch, a violent hunger takes hold of me. Three days I haven’t tasted her, three nights I’ve stayed away. Forgetting all about the onlookers, I wrap my arm around her waist, hauling her closer, and slide my other hand into her hair, gripping the curls to hold her in place as my tongue sweeps into her mouth. She tastes like bubblegum and luscious heat, like all my dreams wrapped in one sweet little package. My blood is like lava in my veins, and my cock throbs in my jeans, desperate for her slick warmth. I can’t get enough of her, will never get enough of her, and for the first time, that doesn’t scare me.
I’m going to enjoy her, all of her, for as long as this lasts.
A tiny moan escapes her lips, adding to the dark hunger beating at me, and I deepen the kiss, devouring her, sharing her breath. I can feel her small hands gripping my shoulders, can sense her arousal in the way she arches against me, and—
“Last call. Last call for United Flight 1528 to Orlando. All passengers, please proceed to the gate.”
The announcer’s strident voice