Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 57

EVA.

"Hey, you're back. " Emerson is sitting on my bed when I walk inside and I close the door behind me before I turn to quirk a brow at him. "How did you get in here?"

"It was open. " He responds as he gets off the bed and stalks towards me. He stops only a few steps from me before he opens his mouth again, "I missed you at school. "

"Uh?"

"Campus. I didn't notice you left. " He explains as I kick my shoes off my feet to slip into my slippers. "Why? We don't interact at school. "

"I know that Carson, " he sighs when I lift my head to him, and then he opens his arms. I watch as he waits for me to get into his arms, before I drop my bag and move into his embrace. "Things change. "He whispers as he clamps a hand to my head.

"They do, " I agree as I press the side of my face to his chest, breathing in his smell.

"Are you free? " He asks and I move my head from his chest to meet his eyes. "I want to spend some time with you. " He smiles, and the image of him giving that same smile to Paige flashes through my mind, but I shake it off; deciding I wouldn't be bothered by the silliest of things.

"Depends on what we're doing, and how less annoying you get during it. " I tell him and his smile widens as he leans down to close his lips over mine. The kiss lasts for five seconds before Emerson pulls away, and I open my eyes to meet his gaze. Warm and soft. Addicting and gorgeous.

"I think you will love this. " He promises as he takes a step back, letting my body fall from his. I furrow my brows as I watch Emerson moves across my room to my bed, and the knowledge of what he's about to do dawns on me when he paces to the side of my bed, and grabs my current reading.

"Let's do some reading?" He waves the book in the air from where he stands and a small smile climbs on my face as I give a nod.

"I'll change, then we can start. " I tell him and when his eyes move down my body after my words, I lift a brow. "What?"

Emerson lifts his gaze. "I want you in my shirt. "

"Why?" I fold my arms against my chest, knowing the reason behind his request, but wanting to hear it either way.

"Because you look sexy in it and it's easier for whatever I plan to do. " He answers with a knowing smile and I say, "I have my shirts. "

"Still want mine on you. " He insists and I roll my eyes before I agree to his demand, "Fine. I'll wear yours. "

Emerson grins and moves from his spot, walking out of the room to get one of his shirts. I move further inside my room and strip out of my clothes before Emerson arrives with a white t-shirt.

"Looks pure enough for me to ruin it later. " He winks as he throws me the shirt and I let out a scoff as I catch it in my hold before Emerson walks out of the room.

When he's out of sight, I lift the white shirt before I bring it to my chest and press my nose into it; Emerson's familiar smell of intoxicating perfume fills my nostrils. I unclip my bra and let my breasts free before I put on the shirt, leaving the first few buttons opened with enough space for him to easily slip his hand through. It moves a bit past my ass, leaving my thighs exposed.

I tie my hair into a messy bun before I stride out of the room and walk down the path that leads me into the living room, where Emerson Ford awaits me on the couch with a book in hand and candies on the table before him.

At the clear of my throat, his head snaps to my direction and my skin burns hot at the way he takes in every inch of me, licking his lips with each slide of his gaze down my body.

When he meets my eyes, he carries my favourite look on him and his voice is thick with the familiar yearning as he speaks, "Trying to turn this into your runaway, Eva?"

"That doesn't exactly sound like a bad idea. " I respond as I make a twirl and when I look back at him, Emerson has the look that tells me it's taking everything in him to remain on that spot.

"Have I ever told you how sexy your legs are?" He says in a tone that makes my stomach twists in excitement and I gnaw at my bottom lip, attempting to hold back the embarrassing squeak that's about to fall from my mouth.

"You haven't, but I can tell they're about to become your next obsession. " I speak when I'm sure to not make a humiliating sound and Emerson hums, "They might just be. " Then he gestures for me to move with his forefinger, something about the action making it hot. "Come here. "

"Beg me, " I tease him and Emerson shakes his head. "If I move out of this couch, Carson; it'll be the other way around. " I want to stand still just to make him go along with those words, but craving to have a reading moment with Emerson; I move from my spot and stroll towards him, Emerson's eyes following my every movement.

"Thought you'd want those. " He says, referring to the sweets on the table when my gaze moves to it again, and I snicker, "Did you do that in my interest or in yours to get me sick?"

"You love sweet things. " He answers then he wraps an arm around my middle, pulling me back until I fall against his body. I attempt to adjust in his hold as I slide up his chest, but I do something else when I rub my ass against the front of his pants in the process, causing Emerson to groan behind me.

"Don't do that. " He whispers as he moves my head to the side with the top of my head pressing to his chin and I say, "I didn't mean to. " Emerson lets my leg slip beneath and drops his over mine as he lowers the book to my stomach, bringing it into both of our views.

"Who?" I fail to understand his words as I look at him over my shoulder.

"Paige. I told you we have nothing going on. " He says as he wraps his arms around me, bringing me back to his chest with his face close to mine.

"I didn't ask. " I tell him in a dry tone, taking my eyes off him and Emerson chuckles as he presses his lips to my shoulder, then he lifts his head to say, "I can tell it's bothering you. " Which annoys me a lot more at the fact that Emerson seems to be able to read me like an open book now.

"She's a friend, Eva. " He repeats his words, and I'm no longer able to hide the bitterness in my voice as I speak. "A friend you fucked. "

"We ended things. She knows where she stands. " He assures me and I move his hand from my body to twist it towards him. "I can remember her being here in this very house to fuck you. "

"That was then. I told her we're done. " He tells me and I say, "And what's to stop her from coming onto you? You think she'll stop just because you asked her to?"

"She knows the rules. " He raises a shoulder dismissively, trying to pull me close but I move back from his hold. "We knew the rules and we broke them, to satisfy our wants. Why should she be of any exception?"

"That's different. We broke the rules because we both wanted it, and you know that, Eva. " I do, and it only heightens my thoughts about Paige and him. Thoughts that make me so furious to have. Thoughts that lead to jealousy and fear– none of which I'm fond of.

Caring too much– this is what happens when you allow yourself to feel too much. You easily get affected; things that should barely, or never bother you start to irk you at the slightest point.

"And what's to stop you from fucking her if she wants you to?" I arch a brow and Emerson sighs before he lets out his words. "I've told you numerous times Carson– I don't see myself with any other woman that isn't you. And Paige isn't who you think she is. She might appear threatening, but she isn't. "

"That's cute. You're defending her. " I coo, sarcasm creeping into my voice and I watch Emerson's relaxed gaze turns serious.

"Goddamn it, Carson. You don't expect me to cut off a friend just because we have something going on. " He snaps, the annoyance in his voice quite evident and I move from the couch, not holding back my irritation. "Firstly, fuck you, Emerson. Secondly, I didn't ask you to cut her off; you were the one who brought her up in the first place, and lastly; you've slept with her repeatedly, and you don't expect me to be alright with her moving around you if we've 'something' going on like you said– especially with a girl who stares at you like she's ready to devour you at the spot. "

"She doesn't. You're thinking too much into this, Carson. " He raises from the couch to stand in front of me.

"And I'm done having this conversation with you. " I spite out in anger, his words and his siding with her bringing me closer to the edge of my control and I turn away, walking out of the room before I lose it and say words I'll be sure to regret later.