Blasphemous (Torn #3)(58)
He showed us where to sit. As always, Emma sat in between us. She was so close that when I got a whiff of her smell, I salivated so badly that my hands started shaking.
I released a long, drawn out breath when I saw the countdown to go live was about to hit the zero mark. Let me think of anything… anything other than Emma.
My wish was partially granted when Max directed a lot of his questions towards me and Dimitris.
That didn’t last long, though.
“Emma, let me tell you, most of the questions are from your male fans. That GQ spread was on fire. They want to know if you’re single or seeing someone? If not, what’s your type?”
She gave a husky laugh, not even blushing at the kind of compliment Max just said to her. “I’m single, going on dates here and there and I’m loving it so far. My type? Hmm… let see. I like athletic men; tall, charming, funny… something along those lines.”
“Why athletes in particular?”
“I love the thighs. It’s my weakness.”
Well, that explained why she kept Carter. I bet she was imagining him when I was with her. I couldn’t explain it, but I was getting angry. The urge to wipe that easy, flirty smile off her face and drag her out of here was suddenly more appealing to me than sitting here, boiling to a combustible point.
One thing I noticed with her, though, Emma definitely had changed. She was really flirty now. The way she laughed, played with her hair, the provocative way she walked, even the way she bit into her bottom lip—which was cute and innocent before—but now it seemed quite suggestive.
Emma wasn’t demure before, but she had that air of naiveté and being sexy at the same time.
Eight months later, this new Emma was pure sin. Gone were the innocent, shy smiles. She radiated with sex appeal. Confident with everything she did like she was in her element.
I was in awe and, at the same time, terrified of her because whether it was the old or the new Emma, she still smelled like home to me.
After eight, long months of staying away, I knew I wanted to go home.
The question was… when?
Chapter 24
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.’ I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”
- Rose Kennedy
Emma
“T and T is the bomb-diggity!” I kissed Trista and gave the birthday boy, Taylor, a big, crushing hug. “Happy Birthday Tay Tay!”
“Gee, Em. It’s only seven-thirty in the evening and you’re almost drunk.” Taylor kissed my cheek before turning towards Carter, doing that whole handshake, chest-to-chest thing. “Keep an eye on her, man.”
I only had a glass or two to calm my nerves is all. What was the big deal? Seeing Bass again today did a good number on my sanity. Not only had he looked so good, but he made me want to die and float at the same time. Not to mention, that call he had with his girlfriend earlier almost made me lose my shit on the spot.
Nik.
He called her Nik. My anger skyrocketed then. It took all the will in me not to yank that phone away from his ear and kill him with it. Yeah, my thoughts were becoming deadly. Bass made me crazy, literally; physically and mentally deranged.
Hence Carter’s presence tonight as my plus one. I needed someone close to tell me to breathe and get it together before I embarrassed myself.
“I will, I don’t plan on doing anything else.” Carter pulled me close to him just as Trista started talking about how Lindsey was acting weird. Knowing our girl talk was not going to end any second, Carter excused himself to get us drinks and Trista pulled me towards the bedrooms, opening a door to let us in.
“See! I think she’s losing it.” Trista pointed at Lindsey, who was all dressed to the nines, sitting crossed-legged on the bay window, smoking what looked like weed.
“Lindsey!” I screeched, walking towards her. “I need some of that! You need to learn how to share.”
Lindsey barely glanced at me before handing the rolled-up joint over. Since I was an amateur with these things, I ended up coughing it out since the burn behind the back of my throat made me choke.
“What the hell is going on? Why?” Trista went to sit on the bed, clearly upset. “We’ve all been living together for months now, I don’t get why the sudden slippery slope?”
Lindsey ignored Trista as she explained to me how to do it properly. Per her instructions, the second hit was much better. Then I went on my third just to make sure I got it properly. Much, much better, I thought; pleased at myself.
“See, it’s easy, doll.” Lindsey smiled at me, but her eyes were sad.
“You two have lost your minds! Amber is going to be here soon. She can’t be around drugs. What the hell, guys! Why aren’t any of you listening to me?”
“Relax will you, Tris?” Lindsey looked at me, then at Trista, then back at me again. “Is he out there?” she whispered.
Trista was folding her arms across her chest, incredulous. “Who? Brody? Or Dimitris? Yes and yes, both are out there.”
That explained things. Lindsey was nervous to see Dimitris after months of not seeing him. Not to mention, Brody was in the same vicinity, the man she’s been yo-yoing for the past year.