The After of Us (Judge Me Not #4)(35)

Trailing my hand down her side, over the swell of her hip, I playfully ask, “Show you what?”

“How you would’ve gone easier on me.”

My cock stirs. I can’t deny that I like how I’m the only man who’s ever been inside this girl. And I want to be inside her again. In fact, I want her over and over. But this time, this next shot, it’s going to be solely for her.

The second time I have Emma Metzger, I do everything for her. I’m careful and gentle, and when, at the end, she calls out my name, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is now all mine.

Only problem is, I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed, maybe even a little bit trapped. And I can’t help but ask myself, with all my newfound responsibilities regarding Lily, do I really want something serious with Emma?





Emma



Will doesn’t stay the rest of the night. He tells me it’s because he knows I have to work the next day, he says I need to get my sleep.

Yeah, right.

I sense his departure is due to something else entirely, like, say, maybe I scared him off with the whole virgin thing. Sure, he mentioned giving dating a try when he first arrived last night. But that was before we had sex. I’m sure he never expected me to be so inexperienced. Hell, he probably thinks because of that that I’m in love with him now. And though I do like Will quite a lot, I don’t love him.

He was spooked, though, no doubt about that. After the second time we had sex, he got dressed right away. And yes, he kissed me good-bye and said he’d call, but I’m not holding my breath. Just because I was a virgin until yesterday doesn’t mean I’m clueless about men and their shady ways.

Still, though… Do I plan to let Will blow me off without an explanation?

Not a chance.

On Tuesday, when he brings Lily to daycare, I corner him in a hall and ask him if we can go to lunch so we can talk about what happened.

He hems and haws, shifting from one foot to the other.

Finally, he says, “Uh, I don’t think today is going to work. I’m supposed to meet Chase in a few. He wants me to take a look around a job site and decide whether or not I want to work for him. You know, building houses and shit.”

I know Will needs a job now that he’s given up the one in New York, but I can’t imagine glancing around a work site is something that takes all day.

With that in mind, I press. “What time are you supposed to meet Chase? We could go to lunch before or after.”

Will looks at his watch. “I’m supposed to meet him at ten. And it could take a while.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at his persistence in pretending this will turn into an all-day event.

“Okay, fine. What about tonight, then?” I counter, abandoning the lunch idea. “I could make us dinner.”

“Uh…”

Before he outright declines, I hurriedly add, “You could bring Lily, if you want.”

There, that’s about as non-date as one can get.

Will reluctantly accepts, and we finalize the details before he leaves.

After work, I race home to start on dinner. I decide to go with something simple: salad and spaghetti. Plus, kids love spaghetti, right? Crap, I sure hope Lily does.

My worry turns out to be for naught, as Will shows up alone. Alone, and looking sexy as hell, in faded jeans and an ecru button-down, I might add.

Gesturing with a bottle of red wine in his hand, he says, “I brought us some wine for tonight, since I’m flying solo.”

I smile and accept his gift. “Thanks,” I say. And then, stepping back, I beckon for him to follow me to the kitchen.

“So,” I toss out over my shoulder, “why didn’t Lily want to come along? I made spaghetti, hoping she’d like it.”

“Lily loves spaghetti,” Will tells me as I stop at the stove and stir the pasta. “But she wanted to stay at the house and play with Sarah.” He leans his hip against the side of a counter. “They were deeply involved in a tea party for a bunch of stuffed animals. I couldn’t end that, you know?”

I laugh, look over at him. “Well, I guess it’s just you and me, then.”

“Guess so.”

I’m wearing the same clingy purple dress I had on the first day Will ever brought Lily to daycare. I noticed him checking me out that day, and I catch him doing the same thing now. Just as I hoped he would. After all, a girl has to bring her A-game if she expects to win the prize. And, to me, Will is a prize. I want to take a stab at a relationship with him. I think we could be good. He’s either going to give this burgeoning relationship a chance—like he said he wanted to—or at least give me a damn good reason why we shouldn’t try.

Dinner ends up going smoothly. We eat, drink wine, and talk. I tell Will the wine he brought is outstanding. I don’t know if it really is, but it sure does tastes good. And it definitely takes the edge off.

Once the dishes are cleared, I suggest we move to the sofa and have another glass, or two.

“So, Will.” I pour a second glass of wine for myself. “How’d your meeting with Chase go today?” I lean back in the crook of the sofa, curling my legs up under me and exposing lots of thigh in the process.

Let’s show this boy what he’ll be missing if he runs for the hills.

My efforts don’t go unnoticed. Will takes a slow sip of wine, glancing at my legs. When he lowers his glass, he licks his lips. I am instantly aroused as I recall all the sinful things Will did with his tongue the other night.