HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

Both men stared down at her as though they had just remembered her existence.

Daniel was the first to recover. “Tom”. He said. “If you don’t want your pay docked, you will get to work now”

Emma touched Tom’s tense forearm lightly. “I’m okay. Go on, now” she urged softly.

“Fine”. Tom said.

He walked stiffly from the room. After the door slammed behind him, Daniel faced her.

“Now, where were we?” he drawled.

Emma stared at him. She looked like she was going to hit him. He wouldn’t blame her if she did. He thought. He was being a jerk on purpose. He wasn’t really going to dock her pay. But he was mad about the previous night… And also worried.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I apologize, Emma”. He said formally. “I was out of line just now. I should have asked you why you were late.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “This is no place to discuss… Will you meet me after work today?”

Emma flinched away from his touch on her upper arm. She jerked free and stood back. “I’d rather not” she said frostily; inside she was boiling with fury

“You know I can make you” He stated placidly. “In fact, I would love to”

Emma felt her fuse grow even shorter at his demanding tone. The man was playing his chauvinistic role to the hilt this morning. She knew he was capable of doing just what he threatened.

“You know you are such an asshole,” she said. “You don’t get what you want and then you throw a big fucking tantrum”

Daniel walked to his desk, jabbed the intercom, and said into it. “Mrs Darrin, Emma Green and I are in a conference. Hold all my calls”.

He straightened, jammed both fists into his pockets, and walked back to where Emma was standing. He tilted his face down at her. “Are you going to sit, Emma? Or shall I seat you?”

When she made no reply, his jaw tightened. “I meant it, Emma. I will seat you”

“Oh you would like that, wouldn’t you?” Emma replied. “You are a typical male who likes to throw his weight around” she accused.

“Lady, I’m trying,” he warned. “I’m really trying to understand what caused all this animosity” he crossed over to where she stood, his black eyes restless in his impassive face. Emma glared up at him, her mouth clamped shut.

His fingertip stroked the heated smoothness of her cheek, his expression softening. “What is putting the smudges beneath those eyes, honey? What’s put you on edge?” he whispered.

Her head snapped back. Her long braid tangled briefly with his hand, then slithered away to lay a stripe down her shirt. “I keep telling you not to touch me, Daniel,” she said heatedly.

His look made her uneasy. “Tell me why you are so hostile towards me. I want to know”. He murmured. “I want to know everything about you”

Emma stepped behind a chair just as his husky drawl spread over her. He came anyway and she did not resist when he gripped her wrist and eased her gently toward him.

Enfolded in his arms, the top of her head tucked beneath his chin, she let Daniel rock her. He stroked the long sweep of her back tenderly. Against her breast she could feel his racing heart, yet he held her easily. A gentle hand cupped her head. The other trailed lightly down her spine as though checking that each rib and vertebra was in place. She didn’t have time to escape the magic of his touch before it melted her defenses.

“This feeling is as new to me as it must be for you” he murmured. “When you were late this morning, I was worried about you.. Especially after last night. I wanted to hold you when you walked in, reassure myself you were alright. But you looked at me as though you hated me. I couldn’t stand that. It pissed me off so bad. I reacted by jumping on you full force. I don’t blame Tom for defending you. He was right. I know I was way out of line. I’m not used to caring for another person. Forgive me, Emma ”

Emma barely breathed. She wanted to move away but could not. There was safety in his arms. And warmth. She liked being in his arms. And yet he offered even more. She stood very still, holding her hands to her thighs to prevent them from touching him.

“Let me hold you, lady. Just for once without you fighting me. You are shaking” he eased a forefinger beneath her chin. “Don’t deny what is just opening up for us, baby… Let me in…”

Emma struggled against her hunger, the eager response rising within her. “Let me go, Daniel,” she said quietly against his shoulder. “I want to go outside, where it is safe… And work”

“Safe?” His head snapped upright. “You shouldn’t be scared of me, Emma”

Emma bargained for time to regain control as she continued. “I’m not afraid of you… I’m just a lot safer there… Than when I am near you. After all, you just docked my pay, didn’t you? What is this, boss-employee compensation time?”

As he released her, she sensed the tension racing through him like lightning seeming to strike a place. “You are afraid… Of what is growing between us” The palm of his hand chafed his jaw. “I understand, Emma… You might not believe me but I do. But I also intend to fight your resistance all the way. You are stubborn, lady… But as you already know… So am I. Hell, I’m hungry for you, baby. Everything about you fascinates me”

“My pay” Emma reminded him, fighting to keep her voice steady.

“Your pay will be untouched. Emma… Did you really think I would do that? I was pissed, that’s all…” He leaned and whispered in her ear. “But don’t do that again… I might do much…. Much worse”

Emma glared at him. “You are used to having affairs. I’m just another challenge to your ego, Mr Rohan”

“Oh that’s where you are wrong, my lady.” he said. “I wouldn’t spend this much time on another woman… And I gotta say… A part of me is really…. Really enjoying this”