“Then why did you?” Emma asks quietly. “Why did you make me leave?”
I cup her chin and tilt her face to meet my own. “Because I was trying to protect you.” I sigh. “My lawyer, Jed, finally filed an appeal for me. And this could have very bad consequences for your father.”
I watch Emma’s face for any trace of sadness, but instead she seems relieved.
“My father has never loved me,” she replies. “Jason’s never wanted what’s best for anyone but himself.”
“Your father did a lot of really evil shit,” I say. “And he might be going away for a long time if Jed can prove it.”
Emma shrugs. “Good,” she says. “It won’t make a difference.” She tosses her brown curls. “All I want is to be with you, Dane. I mean, I worry about my mom … but she’s the one who encouraged me to think for myself and make my own decisions.”
“Wow.” I blink. “I only met your mother once or twice, but she was a nice woman. She seemed too good for your father.”
“Ramona is,” Emma says softly. “She’s living in a prison, but she’ll get out too. I’ll make sure of it one day.”
For a moment, the only sound is the chirping of the morning birds outside. Emma and I cling tightly to each other, and a happiness unlike anything I’ve ever known floods my body. I can’t believe she’s here in my arms.
It feels too good to be real.
“I love you,” I murmur into Emma’s soft hair. “I need you, Emma.”
Emma sighs happily and kisses my neck. “I love you, too,” she says sweetly. “Before I forget, I have something for you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re all I need,” I tell her as I lean in close and kiss her. Emma flushes and purrs. “And I want you right now.”
Emma gives me a coy smile and pulls away. “I think you might change your mind when you see what I brought,” she says. “You’re really going to like it.”
“Okay,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “You’ve got my interest. What is it?”
Emma walks across her room, swinging her wide hips with every step. Now that I know she’s all mine, I can’t wait to destroy her sweet body once again. I’m positive that she’s about to do some adorable amateur striptease for me, but instead she bends over and reaches into a brown paper bag. The sight of her giant ass in the air makes my cock twitch with lust.
“Okay,” Emma says. She straightens up and turns around with a bright red bag in her hands. “You can look now.”
When I see that she’s holding a bag of Doritos, I burst out laughing.
“I told you that I’d come through,” Emma says. She winks at me.
“I’ve never felt as happy as I do right now,” I tell her honestly.
Emma grins. “Good,” she says. “Because I don’t intend to give up snack food.”
I meet her gaze. “That isn’t what I meant.” Crossing the room in two giant strides, I pull Emma close and kiss her deeply. “That’s what I meant,” I growl in a low voice. “You’re making me happy.”
Emma closes her eyes and rests her head against my chest. “Good,” she says softly. “I don’t ever intend to stop.”
As I hold her close, I feel better than I have in years. I don’t know how everything is going to shake out, but as long as I have Emma by my side I know that everything will be just fine.
17
Emma
“Are you sure you’re okay to do this?” Dane asks.
I nod and square my shoulders. “It’s time,” I say. I take a deep breath. “But I have to admit that I am a little nervous.”
Dane hooks an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in close. He kisses the side of my neck and pleasant shivers run down my spine.
“It’s time,” Dane says firmly. He reaches for my hand and squeezes. “And I’ll be right beside you the whole time.”
“And I’ll be right beside you,” I counter.
Dane nods. “Let’s go.”
We emerge from the back of the taxi into the sunlight. Dane shaved his beard and his gorgeous mouth is pressed into a firm line. His hair is neatly slicked back, and he’s wearing a dark pair of trousers and a crisp white Oxford shirt that shows off his deep tan.
I’ve never seen him look more handsome. As we cross the street onto my block, I squeeze Dane’s hand again. When my parents’ mansion comes into view, Dane whistles under his breath.
“Damn,” he mutters. “I always knew Jason had expensive tastes but this is insane.”
I nod. “It is a bit … much,” I say. “I never really thought about it until I left, but it all seems kind of gaudy, doesn’t it?”
Dane nods. We start up the driveway and my heart starts to thud in my chest like a jackhammer. Suddenly, I wonder if this is a bad idea. Dane’s appeal isn’t for a few days, but I wanted to confront my father about his behavior toward me and my mother. Dane even suggested grabbing a few of my things, but there’s nothing in that house that I need.