Unbroken

for me, the sound of his heavy, desperate panting filling the dark room. I tease him for an age until I finally take him in my mouth again, my lips running tight against him, angling deep and slow as I feel his whole body seize above me. His breath catches, and I feel him flinch beneath my tongue, jerking and strung out and totally at my mercy.
    “Jules,” he gasps again, a desperate warning. He tries to move my head away, but I push his hands back and take him deeper instead, sucking long and hard even as I hear him cry out a guttural moan and feel the hot spurt of liquid in my throat. I swallow him down, feeling the rush of pure power as his body unwinds under my hands, hard flesh and muscle and bone turning liquid as he sags back against the shelving and finally slides to the floor.
    I raise my head to look at him, sprawled on the ground in front of me. He’s gasping for breath, his beautiful face looking dazed and wild-eyed and totally undone.
    I did this.

CHAPTER NINE
    Emerson slowly pulls his jeans back up. He looks at me, and then shakes his head, a look of wry amazement on his face.
    “Jesus,” he says, still panting. “Are you trying to kill me?”
    I grin, smug and satisfied. He laughs, and reaches to pulls me against him, into the crook of his arm. I go, relaxing against him, my pounding heartbeat drumming a fierce song against his; his bare chest hot and sweaty against mine.
    Slowly, our breathing stills. I close my eyes, safe in the dark world of his embrace, and let the waves of sensation flood through me. I feel fucking incredible, every nerve and cell shimmering with golden triumph, like I could leap tall buildings in a single stride, like I could dive off the edge of the world and spread my arms wide and fly.
    Emerson tucks a stray strand of sweaty hair behind my ears, and drops a gentle kiss on my temple. “You good?” he checks.
    “Uh huh,” is all I can manage in response.
    He laughs, a low chuckle against my neck. Then I feel a hesitation, his body tensing, just the smallest amount. I twist to look at him.
    “What?”
    He studies me carefully, dark with unspoken questions. “The boyfriend…” he says at last.
    “We’re not together.” I tell him quietly. “Not for now.”
    “Good.” Emerson’s eyes flash. “Because if you think I’m letting him touch you, after this…”
    I giggle.
    His expression darkens. “What’s so funny?”
    “You.” I grin, that amazing calm afterglow still flooding my system. “Think I could… that I would do this, with him, after…” I trail off, looking around. “Shit!” I exclaim, seeing the mess. “What did we do to this place?” The floor is covered with cans and packets of food we must have sent tumbling from the shelves as we slammed up against them.
    Emerson grins. “Yeah, I had more important things on my mind.”
    I laugh, and lean up to kiss him gently on the lips. Emerson captures my mouth, deep and slow, and brings his hand to cup my cheek, the rough pad of his thumb stroking my cheek as I sink into his kiss.
    This, right here. It’s all I ever wanted. It’s everything.
    There’s a noise. I break away and look up in time to see the door swing open. The storage room is flooded with light as someone steps inside. Brit. She’s got her hair pulled back and an apron over a cut-off T and mini-skirt.
    “What the fuck?” She gapes at us, tangled half-naked on the floor.
    I let out a yelp of embarrassment and scramble for my shirt.
    “Get out!” Emerson yells out in anger. He leaps to his feet, grabbing to zip up his fly.
    Brit backs out of the room, looking horrified. “Sorry!” She yelps, and slams the door shut again.
    I tug my bikini and T-shirt back in place, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Oh God, how much did she see?!
    There’s tap on the door, and then Brit’s voice comes again, nervous. “Um, Em? There’s a bunch of guys waiting at the bar, and I’m not old enough to serve them beers…”
    “Just keep them busy, I’ll be right out!” Emerson calls back. He turns to me, looking sheepish. “Uh, sorry about that. I forgot this door doesn’t lock.”
    “You think?!” I exclaim. I make sure everything’s covered, and catch my breath.
    “I better get out there before they start to riot.” He starts towards the door. I prepare to follow him.
    “How do I look?” I ask. My cheeks are still burning when I think about Brit walking in like that. Hell, she’s probably told everyone in the bar by