Bedroom, Love, Snap, and Tired

EMMA

“Diablo, we can’t keep avoiding the elephant in the room—‘us.’” I’m sprawled across his chest, still catching my breath after five rounds of mind-blowing sex. Yes, five.

We’re like two magnets, constantly drawn to each other. And the sex? It’s out of this world. I’ve completely forgotten about my meetings, but this is worth it.

“Emma, you know I’m not one for heart-to-hearts. I’m a ‘hit it and quit it’ kind of guy. I don’t stick around for ‘the talk’ or ‘where is this going’ nonsense.

“I know it’s different with you because of our contract and our relationship is a bonus, but I’m not in the mood for this.”

With that, he gets up and heads to the bathroom, dodging the conversation once again. I hear the shower start. I could use a shower too, so I get up to join him.

But when I try to open the door, it’s locked. If he thinks this will stop me from having ‘the talk,’ he’s got another thing coming. He doesn’t know me at all.

This only makes me more determined to have our conversation. I will get some clarity today, or so help me God.

I pick up my clothes from the floor and head to the guest bedroom to shower. I redo my makeup and tie my hair back into a ponytail.

Diablo and I leave our rooms at the same time. The look on his face tells me he was hoping I’d be gone by the time he came out.

I walk over to the bar cart and pour us both a stiff whiskey. I’ve already messaged Levi to cancel my meetings, something I hate doing.

Diablo made sure I’d be late with his distraction technique. Not that I’m complaining. I’m more than satisfied.

As I hand him his drink, I see a flicker of fear in his green eyes. I walk over to the couch and sit down carefully. My ass is still sore from the spanking Diablo gave me earlier.

I saw the marks in the bathroom mirror. They’ll be there for at least a week, but the pain will fade.

“Sit down, Diablo. We need to talk.”

He stands there, one hand in his pocket and the other holding his whiskey.

“Sit down, Diablo. We’re not leaving until we talk. You can try to avoid this conversation all you want, but it’s going to happen.

“You might as well get comfortable and get it over with.”

“Who do you think you are, Emma? Didn’t I punish you enough this morning? I’m not someone you can boss around.

“I don’t work for you. I’m your boss. You do what I say, not the other way around. So, you can fuck off.”

“Diablo, we’re not doing this again. We touched on this earlier today. I won’t tolerate the way you talk to me.

“You might be the boss, but without me, your businesses wouldn’t have grown as much as they have.

“Remember what I accomplished in two weeks. Imagine what I could do if you were my enemy.

“This isn’t a threat, Diablo. It’s a fact. I’m yours, only yours. But without me, you wouldn’t be where you are. It could all be taken away.

“And just to be clear, I went through all that training for you, Diablo. Only you. That should mean something. If it doesn’t, then we can part ways now.

“Just say the word and I’ll be gone. No harm, no foul.”

Diablo strides over to me and kneels down, taking the whiskey from my hand and placing it on the table. He takes both of my hands in his.

Then he does something I never expected. He rests his head on my lap, his arms pulling me closer to him.

This isn’t the Diablo I know. This is a vulnerable Diablo. I can handle him yelling and cursing, but this? This is new, and I don’t know how to react.

I do the first thing that comes to mind. I run my fingers through his hair and lean down to kiss his head. He stays like that for a few minutes before sitting up on the couch.

He takes my hands in his and looks into my eyes. We sit like that for what feels like forever before he breaks the silence.

“Emma, my love. I’ve felt for a long time that you’re going to be the death of me, one way or another. You’re not the same innocent woman I met three months ago.

“You’ve become a strong, stubborn, independent, sexy woman. A force to be reckoned with.

“I never dreamed that you, my sweet love, would have the effect you have on me or have me admit that I’m falling in love with you.

“I’ve never been the loving type. And I never thought it would be you I’d fall in love with. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met.

“You’re extraordinary. You amaze me with everything you do and say. The way you switch from business to caring leaves me spinning, but I’m more and more captivated by everything you’ve become.”

“You’re an incredible woman, and I’m a lucky bastard to call you mine. Will you officially be my girlfriend, not just on paper, but because you want to be?”

Now I’m the one looking like a fish out of water, mouth hanging open. I can’t form a single coherent word or sentence in response.

I never saw this coming. I feel like I’m being played, but the part of me that’s in love with him wants to believe every word he’s just said. My mind is racing.

Just a few weeks ago, he made it clear that I was nothing more than a tool for his business ventures. Now he’s telling me he’s falling for me and wants me to be his official girlfriend.

Someone like Diablo could never fall for someone like me. He’s just keeping me close to make sure I don’t follow through with my threat of becoming his enemy.

He can’t possibly feel the same way about me as I do about him. Can he?

I decide to play along with his game for now—or what feels like a game—to save face.

“Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend because it’s what I truly want—on one condition.”

“What’s that, baby love?”

“You’re mine and I’m yours. No more messing around with Lauren, or any other woman for that matter. If you so much as glance at another woman, I’ll personally cut off your balls and feed them to you, understand?”

He chuckles at this, giving me a genuine smile for the second time. He should smile more; he’s even more attractive when he does.

I want to kiss him so badly right now.

Damn it, Emma, stop thinking about sex and focus. This is serious.

“I’ll be faithful to you, baby. I’ll have all your stuff moved from the penthouse into our apartment, and I want to share my bed with you every night.”

“Well, that’s a given, Diablo, except for when I’m away on business, of course.

“Oh, and by the way, when I’m away, it doesn’t give you a hall pass to mess around. One night of unfaithfulness, Diablo, and you lose me in the bedroom and as your girlfriend, understand?

“This is a threat that I’ll follow through on. I won’t tolerate you messing around again.”

“Never again, baby. I’m yours.” With that, I pull his head down, stopping inches from his lips.

“I love you, D,” slips from my mouth before I press my lips against his.

The kiss is slow and exploratory at first. He trails his tongue over my bottom lip, asking for entrance, which I gladly give him.

Our tongues move over each other as if we were discovering a hidden treasure for the first time. It’s so tender it sends chills down my spine. I break the kiss, leaving both of us panting, wanting more. He looks at me, puzzled.

“I have some business I need to take care of, but I’ll make up for it when I get back later tonight.”

“What business? And did you say you love me?”

“I have to deal with Robert and then Travis, but when I’m done, I’m all yours.” I wink at him and leave the apartment, avoiding his last question about my love for him.

Now to deal with the traitor—Robert.

DIABLO

I watch Emma leave the apartment. What I told her is only partly true. I’m not falling for her; I’ve already fallen so hard for her it makes my heart ache. My heart belongs to her.

Damn, it belonged to her before she even left for her training. I was a coward not to admit it to her then. The only reason I slept with Lauren was to try and forget her and to see if what I feel for Emma is truly love.

The problem is, more than once, I was shouting Emma’s name when I was with Lauren. I can’t stop thinking about her. Like I said, she’s going to be the death of me.

If I lost her, I might as well be dead. My heart wouldn’t survive the loss. I need to make sure that never happens. A part of me still feels that she doesn’t really believe that I love her.

I am, after all, known as a heartless bastard. She avoided my question about her loving me. I wonder if she really does, or if it was just a spur of the moment thing.

I’m somewhat relieved that she’s meeting with Lauren’s father next week. He’s not an enemy I want to have, and I definitely don’t want Lauren back as a fuck buddy.

Now that I have Emma, the woman I love, I have everything I want and need.