so protected.
Or the time he’d brought me to some jock’s pool party when we were juniors, and how during spin the bottle, I’d run from the room when the bottle I had spun landed on Ford and I was too overwhelmed to go through with the kiss in front of everyone. I’d cried myself to sleep that night, regretting my cowardice. Convinced it was the only chance I would ever get to kiss Ford Malone. And that I’d totally blown it.
The care packages I’d sent to him every month while we were away at college across the country from each other—me in art school and him studying business. I’d pack those boxes with junk food, homemade cookies, Christmas decorations, coloring books, party favors, puzzles, the cheesy paperback detective novels that he loved. Anything to perk him up and give him a break from all the studying and the very un-fun classes I knew he was hating, which he’d complain about during our hours-long phone calls.
The sex we’d had on our honeymoon, or at the beach on Martha’s Vineyard. The night I’d given my virginity to him.
The times I’d caught him napping on the couch with Munchkin tucked against him, both of them snoring away. Melting my heart like butter on a griddle.
Our breakfasts together. Our lazy Sundays.
And his beautiful proposal in the botanic gardens—the one that turned out to be an ambush, all for show…yet that had seemed so sincere in the moments before all our friends and family jumped out of the bushes yelling, “Surprise!”
All of it—our past, our present, our future—meant nothing now.
Ford stood up, walking closer to me. I looked him in the eye, mouth in a firm line, steeling myself for the worst.
“I came here because…because it’s you,” he said.
“What?” I sputtered, completely lost.
Ford sighed. “It’s you, Em. You’re what I want. You’re why I came.”
Emzee
Chapter 24
“I—I don’t understand,” I said. It was the only thing I could think to say.
Because yes, I’d always longed to hear him say those words—but why now? What did he really want? What did he really mean?
“I think you do,” Ford said.
“Say it again,” I whispered.
He moved closer, locking eyes with me. “I want you. No one else.”
Okay, but…what exactly did he want me for? To recommit to the ruse, renegotiate the terms of our contract? Maybe he wanted more PDA, more publicity—to grant media interviews like Luka and Stefan had with their wives. Pose for pictures with Munchkin, give Ford a chance to up his PR status to boost Malone Real Estate Holdings in the public eye.
Shaking my head, I said, “No more games. Whatever else you’re trying to get out of me, out of this agreement, just say it.”
“Em.” Ford stepped in front of me, so close I could feel the heat from his body. Feel myself responding to his nearness, the way I always had. My heart pounding, my knees gone weak, my cheeks flushing with warmth. “I want to be with you. That’s all.”
“You…want to be with me…” I murmured, trying to comprehend.
He grinned. “And now who’s the one who wants to keep their options open? But we’ve got time. Kiss me better, now.”
Wait. What? My brow furrowed. Was Ford implying…that he was recommitting to us? As a real couple? Did he seriously mean it? God, I hoped so.
“Where does it hurt?” I asked, eyeing the stitches over his eyebrow. I gently took his head in my hands and tilted his face down to kiss his cheekbone, his temple, his forehead above the wound.
“Much further south, I think,” he said, attempting a wink and then wincing at the effort.
I couldn’t help laughing at him, and he chuckled along with me.
“You are an idiot,” I said affectionately.
“I’m your idiot,” he said with a shrug.
The tension and frustration and heaviness between us seemed to lift, and we both relaxed a little. Maybe this was exactly the kind of turning-point conflict we had needed. Something to test our bond, our partnership. If so, maybe all the bullshit had been worth it.
“Much further south, huh?” I asked, glancing down. “I think I can help.” I gave him a sultry look before sinking down onto my knees.
“Emzee,” he groaned.
I unbuttoned his pants, feeling the press of his cock against my fingers as I lowered the zipper. Tugging his briefs down, I released him. As I’d suspected, he was already fully hard. With a smirk, I grazed the tip with my tongue.
“Fuck yes,” Ford murmured, digging his hands into my hair to