This was it. Fish or cut bait. She wanted what he was offering more than she wanted her next heartbeat. And she hoped that he could accept the blending of her two personalities—Emma and ML.
Do it, Emma. It’s now or never.
She let out a slow breath. “Okay.”
“But before anything else I want to clear up last Sunday night. Don’t say anything until I finish. Okay?”
Emma nodded, shoving her hands in the pockets of her jeans.
Pacing back and forth in front of her, raking his hands through his hair every so often, he told her everything, going all the way back to the first time he’d met Lacey and how she’d put the moves on him. And his rejection of her.
“I’m no saint,” he said. “I’ve certainly been with other women. But I’ve always stayed away from groupies like Lacey. They just aren’t my style. I’m not sure if she actually wanted to be with me Sunday night or if she just saw a way to get back at me by hurting you.” He came to a stop in front of Emma and looked hard into her eyes. “So. Do you believe me? Please?”
She took her hands from her pockets and wound her arms around his neck. “After listening to that song you wrote, how could I not? No one could write those words and sing them the way you did without meaning them.” She lifted on her toes and brushed her mouth over his. “Besides, Annie pointed out to me exactly how stupid I was being. That if I cared for you and had half a brain, I had to at least listen to your explanation.”
He chuckled softly. “”Maybe I should make that two dozen roses.” His gaze locked with hers. “You’ll come home with me?”
She laughed nervously. “Well, yes. I guess you’re my ride. Besides, this isn’t a very good place to talk.”
“No, but then we’ll have all night.”
At the thought her entire body trembled.
***
The energy in the Jeep was so intense during the drive to Marc’s house, Emma thought she could actually touch it. Emotional energy. Sexual energy. The power of it vibrated in the enclosed space. They didn’t talk, didn’t say a word to each other but every few moments, Marc reached over for her hand and squeezed it. Emma’s body was a volatile cocktail of anxiety and sexual awareness.
I am so far out of my element here.
Then she thought, but I don’t have to be.
When they reached Marc’s home, he took her hand again as they walked up to the porch and he unlocked the door, pushing it open and tugging her through it. He flipped the switch, turning on the table lamp and a warm glow bathed the room. Emma stood there, tense, anxious again, until Marc turned her to face him. He studied her for so long all the doubts began creeping back.
“What?’ she asked, wondering what was going through his mind.
“I thought I’d never see you again.” His voice was thick with emotion. “I just want to look my fill.”
Then he kissed her, slow and sweet, heated with the underlying passion but also packed with enormous emotion.
His arms tightened around her and he pulled her into his body. “I’ve never said this to you before tonight, but I need to say it again now. I don’t even know your name or as much about you as I plan to but I love you, ML. I’ve never said that to anyone else. And I can wait for you to say it to me when you’re ready.”
Wasn’t she ready now? She opened her mouth but somehow the words wouldn’t come. She’d said them to Andrew but so matter-of-factly she wondered now why she’d bothered. This was so much more. This was…everything.
Suddenly she felt lighter than air, as if a burden she’d been lugging around had been lifted and tossed away. With Marc, she could face anyone or anything because he made her whole. His love was the nourishment that fed her.
“Not only do I love you. I adore you. My heart belongs to you, Guitar Man. So does my soul.”
Heat darkened his eyes and he kissed her with intense passion that seared her to the soles of her feet. Every nerve fired, every pulse point throbbed, her sex dampened in anticipation of him and her breasts ached for his touch. She fit so well against his muscular body, the hard ridge of his cock pressing into her mound and the soft flesh of her tummy. Oh, God, she wanted him. Wanted him badly.
When he broke the kiss they were both breathless, dragging air into their lungs. Emma stroked his cheek, faint stubble just now rasping the skin.
“I read about the band on the Internet. I can’t wait to hear all the details about what’s happening. I’m really excited for you.”
“Later. First I want to tell you again how much you mean to me. How special you are and always will be.” He brushed his mouth against her. “Since I’ve been with you my music is stronger, my life is brighter. I look forward to getting up every day because the night might be one where you would come to the club.” His body tensed. “Damn it, ML. I was so afraid it had all gone to hell, I was sick over it.”
“Me, too.” She nipped his jaw. “I don’t think I’ve ever cried that much in my life.” She raised her eyes to his. “I want you to understand I grew up with everything very rigidly defined for me. There were expectations, and I didn’t dare not live up to them. Until….”
“Until?” he prompted.
“Until an old friend came through town and I realized how dull my life really was. I had a dead-end job and a dead-end boyfriend and the only people who were happy were him and my parents. I wanted more.
