They flew apart like they were on fire, Emma at one end of the sofa, and Branch at the other. He grabbed a throw pillow to cover up his erection. He looked over at Emma, her face was flushed, her eyes were heated, her hair a mess. They weren’t going to fool anyone.
As if she knew that too, she jumped up from the sofa and fled to the bathroom. Branch dropped his head back, looked up at the ceiling and called back. “Bring extra ice.”
That night Branch had a hard time falling asleep and it had nothing to do with the old uncomfortable couch he was sleeping on. No. It had to do with the ache between his legs thinking about Emma. He even thought about taking the dog for a walk, hiding in a bush to get off, but… they didn’t own a dog. Emma’s aunt was a hardcore money saver so a long shower was out of the question. He’d just have to stay in pain until he got home.
The next morning, Branch woke to the smell of bacon. He sat up and immediately felt the ease in the air, Aunt Laura had left for work. Branch went to the bathroom, did his thing, brushed his teeth and went to the kitchen. As soon as he moved into it, his feet stopped because Emma was at the stove, a nightshirt barely brushing the tops of her thighs, the sight of her ass in pink panties, peeking out the bottom. Branch thought about walking the neighbor’s dog.
“Happy birthday,” Branch grumbled, dangling a gold bracelet from his fingers.
Turning to him, she dropped the spatula, and with a soft squeal hurried across the room to him. “Branch, it’s beautiful.” Her bright eyes lifted from the bracelet to him. “I love it.”
He smiled at Emma’s excitement and when he got her brown eyes he whispered. “You’re beautiful.”
Her expression went soft, her voice too when she asked, “Can you help me put it on?”
Branch did as she asked, and when he was done, she held her arm out wiggling the gold charm bracelet around. Branch had not only worked his ass off to pay for his trip but to buy Emma a sweet sixteen bracelet he’d had his eye on for almost a year.
Emma touched the bracelet, holding it to her heart. “I really love it. Thank you.” She nervously worked her lip before asking, “Did you like your gift?”
“A truck magazine every month?” He asked the question but answered it. “Of fucking course.” he chuckled.
Her face lit up. “Oh good. I know how much you want a truck.”
Branch looked to the floor before he lifted his eyes to hers, and told her. “And when I do. I’m gonna pick you up, Emma Blake, take you for a long drive. One so long when we get back we’ll be old enough to stop at Tate’s and have a beer.”
“I’ll be waiting, Branch McKenna.” She leaned into him and added, “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Branch smiled at Emma, she smiled back.
She turned then, gestured behind her. “I made you breakfast.” She didn’t wait and plated him some eggs and bacon. She poured him a cup of coffee and dropped it on the island. Drawing her lower lip between her teeth, she rested up against the island. “You’re leaving tomorrow.”
Branch didn’t answer her, instead, he took the initiative to ease their suffering and moved toward Emma with a grin on his face. No way was he going to waste the alone time they had with small talk. Emma’s eyes went wide, right before she smiled. When Branch reached her, he grabbed her around the waist and crushed his lips to hers.
She laced her fingers into his hair, dragged her mouth from his and huskily said, “You always could read my mind.” Before she kissed him back, getting up on her tiptoes, and pressing against him.
Breakfast was forgotten, as they took up where they left off last night. Hands roamed, as lips, tongues, and teeth explored. Branch moved her back against the counter, his hand sliding down her body to her bare thigh. His fingers trailing over the skin before moving up and around to her ass. Emma moaned and shifted into his touch.
He moved his mouth from hers to kiss her neck, where he groaned. “Em, I don’t think I’m gonna be able to stop.”
“I don’t want you to stop,” she breathed out, her hands moved down his back to his ass.
Branch stepped back from Emma, grabbed her hand and walked her to her bedroom, only stopping to snatch his wallet from his jeans. Reaching her room, his steps faltered seeing the box of condoms on her nightstand. His head snapped to her.
Color rose on her cheeks, but she held his gaze and confessed, “I took them from Aunt Laura’s room.”
Branch grinned, caught Emma by the waist, chuckling and brought them onto the mattress. Their laughing turned to something else when Branch hovered over her, their eyes locked.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered, her fingers running a trail up his arm, over his shoulder, before she moved them slowly down his chest. Her eyes warming as she explored him.
“I missed you more,” he whispered back, feeling the hot trail of Emma’s hands on him. Branch moved a hand by her head off the mattress and started at Emma’s thigh, slowly feeling her bare skin as he went. Under her shirt, over her panties, he kept going, skimming her side with his fingers. “Have you,” Branch paused, somewhat nervous and finished. “Had sex yet?” He knew most things about Emma. Also knew she had gone on
