Karen smiled at that. She opened her mouth to say something else, but then there was a familiar knock. Her eyes shifted to the door. "That's her, huh?" I nodded. She let out a sigh. "Well, I guess you better let her in."
Chapter Nineteen
Emilia
My breath caught as the door opened to reveal Stephen's beautiful face. He looked sexy as hell in underwear and t-shirt. I was about ready to throw myself at him until I noticed his expression. His soft eyes more intense than usual. His lips a thin line. Was he upset? Did I do something wrong?
My sight drifted past him and into the room where my questions were answered. His sister stood with her arms crossed. I couldn't read her. My cheeks reddened as I tried quickly to think of an explanation for why I stopped by. "Oh, uh, sorry to bother you. I wanted to say thanks for stopping by our party."
Stephen's beautiful lips turned up as Karen scoffed. "It's okay, sweetie, I already know. You can come in."
"Oh," was my brilliant response as I stepped into the apartment. My fingers pulled at the hem of my shirt. Stephen closed the door behind me then rubbed my back affectionately. Karen's arms were still crossed, but she was careful with her assessment of me. My voice was hoarse and strained. "What do you already know, exactly?"
She forced a tight smile. "Just that my brother's crazy about you."
I blinked. Crazy about me? I didn't know about that. He liked having sex with me, sure. We also had nice conversations. What we had was nice, but was he actually that serious? "Oh," was all I could say again.
Stephen stared at me with an endearing expression. I felt breathless. He was serious? The pounding in my heart was strange. Turning back to Karen, I tried masking my surprise. First thing’s first. "Could you not tell Amy, please? I'm not ready for my parents to know."
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you ashamed of Stephen or something?"
I froze. My neck felt hot under both of their stares. "What? No! My parents just aren't understanding when it comes to the people I date. I don't want trouble."
"And you think my brother is trouble?"
"What? No!"
Stephen sighed. "Mia, she's messing around." I blinked at him as he turned his attention to Karen. He was annoyed. Their sibling dynamic radiated more now than I’d seen all night. "You can go now. I'll call you tomorrow."
She was slow as she moved her intense gaze away from me and over to her big brother. "Alright, see ya." A whisper of her shoulder against mine as she passed. "Have fun, I guess."
Once the front door closed, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Oh, my god, that was so scary." My cheeks had to be bright red as I turned to Stephen, finding him staring at me with a smile. "Was she really messing with me?"
He nodded, his eyes still intense as stepped closer. "Yeah, she was testing you. I think you did alright."
I stepped back, but he continued closing in on me until I was up against the door. He placed his forearm above my head, hovering over me in a way I liked. I loved looking up into those soft blue eyes. I loved the newfound freckles on his nose. I loved his thick eyebrows and those full lips. "Why'd you decide to tell her?" I managed to croak.
He shook his head as his eyes moved to my lips. They went dry as I licked them. "I didn't." His hand cupped my cheek. Thumb brushing against my skin. "She guessed," he almost whispered.
My teeth bit into my bottom lip as my body grew hot. He was giving me those signals that he wanted what I had originally come down here for. What he promised me on the phone earlier this afternoon. "I get the feeling you don't want to talk."
He shook his head again, chuckling as he looked down at me in a way that made me warmer between my legs. "Not really. I would like an apology, though."
My eyes widened. "What? Why would I apologize?"
Looking serious, he brushed a piece of hair behind my ear. "You called me old, Emilia. That hurt my feelings.”
I blinked, "Oh, I'm sorry, Stephen. You don't like being called an old man? Do you want me to treat you like a baby?"
His head tilted at my stupid attempt of teasing. Uncertainty crossed his eyes. "I'd prefer it. At least then I'd be closer to your age."
My arms were up and around his neck before I could hesitate. His forehead rested against mine. "I don't care how close in age we are. I like that you're an old man, Mr. Jacobs. I like everything about you."
His sigh of relief hit my lips as I laid a soft kiss on his. He returned it, wrapping his arm around the small of my back to pin my body against his. Stepping back, my back hit the door, pulling him with me. He crushed me up against it as he devoured my mouth with his tongue, his lips rough and rushed.
I was addicted to his taste. The steady breaths into my mouth. The way his hand trailed down my back and grabbed my ass, making me moan. He roamed to the outside of my thigh, so I hitched my leg up and onto his hip. His lips curved into a smile against mine as he traced my skin with his fingertips all the way up the skirt of my dress. When he got a hold of my bare ass, he pulled away, "No underwear?"
I shook my head, biting my lip. He didn't say anything else as he stared into my eyes. That fire was more intense than before. His fingers were quick as they moved to my front, found the pedals between my lips, and started to rub.
Whimpering at his touch, his mouth moved to my neck as he began laying wet kisses all along my skin. Soft breaths escaped me as my hips started to circle and buck against his hand.
The hand Stephen had above my head slid down behind my neck. He gripped a wad of my hair tight and pulled, forcing me to look into his eyes as he shoved two fingers inside of me. I couldn't hold back my low throaty groan as he watched.
His gaze was so controlled. His eyes so intense as he fucked me rough with his fingers, banging me against the door with each stroke. His eyes were hungry in a way I hadn't seen before, and that made my legs almost melt away.
This was a Stephen I didn’t know. I liked it. I liked him and everything about him. No one else could possess me in the way he had over the last few weeks. Is that all it’s been? A few weeks? It felt like a lifetime.
"Do you like that?" he asked with a husky tone, making me hotter than ever before. His fingers still assaulted me against the door, his hand tight in my hair. My breath caught as I nodded. His fingers pulled out of me. He was rough as he ran his hand up my stomach, leaving a wet trail behind.
He grabbed at my sides, then up to my breasts where he was harsh as he cupped one then the other. My legs fidgeted against him. I could feel how hard he was between my legs as he thrust himself against me. He had this knowing look as we continued our staring contest. "What about that?" he asked, quieter this time as he pinched one of my nipples hard enough to make me cry out.
I nodded so hard my neck hurt. "More." His hand left my hair as he pulled my dress over my head and tossed it onto the floor. He shoved my body back up against the door again and picked me up by my thighs. My legs hooked around him, and he started dry humping my naked body. Only his underwear separated us. His hands slid up my body again to my breasts, and he covered them with his palms. His eyes were down while he rubbed, pinched, pulled, and sucked on my nipples.
I was almost a puddle by the time he wrapped his arms around my back again and carried me into the bedroom. My arms secured around his neck. I kissed him with as much power as I could, my hips grinding against him. We fell onto the bed where he kissed me until I was breathless. Everything about him today was dominant and possessive. Relaxing against him, his tongue took over my mouth.
His lips left mine after a moment, and my eyes shut as he kissed all along my neck and down to my collar bone. Hands explored every crevice of my body as his mouth caressed my skin. His tongue connected to my clit, and I gasped. His fingers gripped my waist tight, holding my body down as he licked and sucked my bud. I was moaning loud as my heels dug into the bed. Finally opening my eyes to look down, I was close, and he stared right up at me.
His lips left
me as he slid two fingers inside. He thumbed my swollen clit while his fingers rubbed against that special spot inside. He leaned over me, his eyes were powerful and hungry as he placed a firm hand around my throat. There was something scary about it, but also comforting. Letting him control and dominate me. I submitted to it.
He squeezed a little, just enough, and I heard myself hiss as my hips responded to his fingers. My hands clasped around his wrist and forearm. His gaze was so strong and hypnotizing as I squirmed. My breath became ragged as my body broke into a sweat. He didn't stop or slow down.
Then I came, hard, harder than I ever had before. I heard myself cry out while my body spasmed underneath him. I felt his eyes on me as mine pinned shut. "Shit," came from my lips like a desperate plea as I rolled my hips once, twice more before collapsing back onto the bed. My chest rose and fell as I tried catching my breath.
Stephen rubbed my neck gently as I relaxed before he pulled away. My eyelids fluttered open to catch him pulling off his shirt. I studied his body as he pulled down his underwear. He was all man, mesmerizing with his hairy chest and strong arms. I liked the idea of being his to hold, protect, and dominate. I bit my lip as he climbed on top of me, wanting more of him, wanting all of him.
I wasn't sure why, but I was giggling. He noticed and grinned before kissing my giggling lips. His weight balanced on his forearms, caging my head between them. My fingers trailed along his bare skin and up his back. His weight balanced to one arm as he held my cheek with the other, caressing with his thumb. Our mouths moved together in unison like they belonged locked together.
My heart beat against his chest. My trust for him was so much, and I cared about him more than I should. I'd spent the entire winter break without any expectations. Now I wanted this to go beyond the holidays. I wanted to be with him for real. Not just because he was lonely. Not just because my parents ignored me. I wanted to be with him the way a woman was with a man who had her heart.
He was acting different tonight, and that scared me. What if this was it? New Year. Winter break would end soon, and he’d go back to his normal life. Karen said he was crazy about me, but how far would that go? How long would he stay crazy about me? Was I just some shiny new object to keep him occupied until he found a real woman? I was still a kid, after all, and he was a man.
As if he felt my insecurities, his lips pulled away from mine. "Are you okay?" His eyes filled with concern. Forcing a smile, I nodded. He seemed halfway convinced. "I didn't scare you away yet, right?" I let out a shaky breath before I shook my head. He could tell something wasn't right as his brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"
I cleared my throat, forcing away the knots held prisoner inside. My voice came out small and uncertain. "I just really like you," was all I could admit. My hands shook as I rubbed the skin on his sides. His soft eyes were staring into mine with so much intent. "I don't want to forget this."
His smile was genuine that time. "You won't forget it. I'll always remind you."
That comment went straight to my heart. Always. How could he always remind me when we had an obvious end? He'd grow tired of my immaturity. He'd find a real woman with experience who could make him happier than I ever could. So many doubts ran through my head as I nodded. "Okay."
He could tell I didn't mean it, but I forced my lips up to his. He stiffened for a second before catching the hint and kissing me back. One arm slid underneath my neck as the other moved down between us, guiding his dick to my opening.
My hands skated across his chest and up around his neck where I held his face to mine. I didn't want him to look into my eyes. I wanted to keep kissing him until morning.
His head poked through a bit, and I moaned into his mouth. His hand moved from between us and wrapped around my back, pushing our hips close together. We held each other as he thrust into me, our mouths never separating.
He was slow and gentle. No more domination. No more desperate want between us. This was something different. He was making love to me, and I felt it. My hips circled against his as he pushed in deep. He rotated against me as I panted and tightened my arms and legs around him more.
His lips moved away from mine, but I held our faces close together. Our breath hit each other's cheeks while he moved. I didn't want him to see as a tear escaped. I didn't want him to know how much he affected me. I wanted things between us to stay light and fun. I didn't want anything to change, so I held him close. "I'm gonna come," he whispered against my skin.
My head was slow as I nodded. "You can come inside," I told him and continued to move my hips along with his.
A desperate groan escaped him. He thrust a few more times before he pushed all the way in and stayed for a second. He shuddered and groaned as his body shook against mine. He milked himself a few more beats before dropping down on top of me.
My hands rubbed up and down his back. The tears against my cheeks dried. Hope told me he wouldn't notice if he looked at me, but he didn't right away. His mouth stayed against my neck for what felt like a long time as he breathed.
He pulled out, wrapping his arms tight around me. His lips nuzzled against my neck. A sigh of relief left my lips as I ran my fingers through his sweaty hair. "Are you sleeping over?" he asked against my skin.
"Um," I wasn't sure where we stood. I'd spent the night that one time, but was that the norm for us now? "If you want me to. I know you have work in the morning."
A pause. "Do you want to stay?"
I thought for a moment. "Yes," I whispered.
His head lifted as he looked at me, grinning. "Good. I want you to." A sweet kiss planted on my lips. He pulled back again and stared into my eyes. One hand wiped my tear trail, but no questions came. He just kept giving me those eyes like I was everything. For a second, I actually believed I was.
Chapter Twenty
Stephen
Something between us changed. Emilia changed. She was quiet as we laid in bed together. I asked her what was wrong more times than necessary, and she kept reassuring me that she was fine and just tired. I didn't think she was just tired.
"Can you come over again tomorrow?" I asked, rubbing her back as she propped her chin on my chest.
She shrugged so easily like she wasn't upset. Like I couldn't see it all over her pretty face. "Sure. Mrs. Petterman comes home Wednesday, so I have another night without questioning." A grin broke through. "I figured you'd want to sleep early because of work."
My fingertips trailed along her arm, forming little lines across her soft skin. "Well, usually, I would, but I want to be with you as much as possible. As long as you're okay with it."
Her lips turned up at the corners. Her arms wrapped tighter around me as she hugged me close. "I'm fine with it. I like being around you."
I kissed the top of her head. "What if I took you out on a date? We could do whatever. Go down to Lincoln Road and watch a movie then walk around. Or go out to another nice restaurant. Or just sit out on the beach on a blanket and eat sandwiches."
Her head popped up again as a weird smirk crossed her face. "Alright, Mr. Try Hard. You already got me into bed."
Rolling my eyes, I found myself smiling again. "I want to spend time with a cute girl. What's wrong with that?"
She blinked. "Nothing. I just… don't want to get the wrong idea about us."
"What would be the wrong idea?"
"That there's something more."
"You think there's not?"
Her eyes widened. "I don't know." She avoided direct eye contact before she laid her head flat on my chest again. Her arms tightened around me. My hand was slow as I rubbed her back, not sure what exactly to say that would ease her worries. "It's scary," she finally admitted, still not looking at me.
"What's scary?"
"This feeling."
"How do you feel?" She was quiet. "Emilia, I have feelings too."
"It's probably not the same."
"Why do you assume that?"
"Becaus
e you're you, and I'm me."
"What's wrong with you?"
"I'm eighteen."
"So?" Annoyance was tough to keep out of my tone. "I thought you said earlier that our age gap didn't bother you."
She didn't say anything again. Her fingers started to trace in circles on my stomach. I sighed, not wanting to argue with the beautiful woman in my arms. "My sister's worried about us."
A pause. "Really?"
"Yes. She thinks you'll grow up and get over me."
Her head popped up again, but this time her eyes were glassy. Guilt swept over me in an instant. I chose the wrong words. "I wouldn't get over you. You'd get over me. You'll realize I'm just an immature little girl."
My eyes widened as she shook her head, and a tear ran down her cheek. "I'm just a kid who's playing grown up with you. I don't know anything about anything. You're so manly and adult, and you know everything. I want this to be more, and that's terrifying. I'm not good enough."
My arm around her tightened as I pulled her closer to me. I cupped her cheek and wiped her tear away with my thumb. I didn't know what to say. Nothing felt right, so I kissed her. Her arms flew up and around my neck as she kissed me back, her lips desperate against mine.
She pulled back so suddenly I almost got whiplash as she tucked her face into my neck. The wetness from her tears rolled across my skin. I froze, unsure of what to do. "I'm going to let you down," she sobbed.
I rubbed her back again. "You won't. I have no expectations for you. I like you the way you are. I want you to be you." I grabbed one of her hands and held it. "Please stop crying."
She quieted down. "Sorry," she whispered. "I should go."
"No. I don't want you to go."
"You don't have to be nice to me."
"I'm not just being nice to you." I pulled away enough to look down at her distraught face. "You're incredible." She clicked her teeth as she rolled her eyes in disbelief. "No, really. You're beautiful and sweet and probably the most positive person I've ever met. You make me feel good in more ways than you could ever know. I'm addicted to your smile, and the sound of your voice. You're all I think about, except Layla, of course." She nodded at that. "I want more with you. I'm crazy about you. Please don't sell yourself short, and don't ever say you're not good enough for me again."
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