Emerald Eyes (28 page)

We say goodbye and Eric leads me away. I glance back, finding my parents smiling proudly at each other.
 

Definitely need to touch base about that.

When I notice we’re walking towards the street exit, I tug my hand hard. That only makes Eric look at me. My hand is still snugly enclosed by his warm one.

“I’m not going anywhere with you. So if you want to talk, let’s do it here.”
 

Eric opens his mouth to say something, but he’s interrupted by a snarly voice calling out his name.

“Eric!” Eliza stalks to us with a glare.

Eric pulls me closer to his side, slightly behind him.
 

“Where are you going? You just left me there, alone, for fifteen minutes!” she looks only at him, making it obvious that she’s ignoring me on purpose, not that I’m complaining.

“I need to leave. I’m sorry Eliza. I’ll have a car service take you home when you’re ready.”
 

Eliza’s blue eyes widen and her mouth gapes.
 

Damn it. Where is a camera when you need one?

She shakes her head slightly, incredulous. “Eric, please come with me. She’s just like the rest, she doesn’t understand. She’ll hurt you, I know she will.” She whispers pleadingly.

“I’m sorry Eliza, but what we spoke about before hasn’t changed. I wish you the best, I really do. Goodbye.”
 

What did they speak about?

Eric wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me away. I glance back at her, and in a nanosecond, I realize that that was a mistake. Eliza’s palm connects with my cheek and I swear I hear bells. I suck in a sharp breath and cup my flaming cheek with my hand, glaring back at her.
 

Fucking bitch!

“This isn’t over, Eric! You’ll run back to me just like you always do!” she seethes.
 

Eric moves so quickly, I don’t even notice that he left my side. He grabs Eliza by her upper arms and paralyzes her with a murderous look.
 

“If you ever touch her again, I will break the arm you hit her with. Understood?” Eric’s voice is deceivingly low but I feel the violence in each word, and so does she.

Eliza’s eyes are full of hate as she scowls at me. It’s the ugliest expression I’ve ever seen in my life. If a glare could physically hurt someone, I would’ve been dead by now.
 

“We. Are. Done. I don’t want to see your face ever again. Goodbye.”
 

He releases her and returns to my side, showing his back to her.
 

“Are you ok?”
 

He places his hand over mine, his thumb brushes over my stinging skin. I look up at him and see genuine concern in his beautiful eyes. I can’t ignore it any longer. I can’t deny it or escape it.
 

I love him. I am head over fucking heels in love with him.

Never in my life have I felt this deeply towards a man, and never so quickly. I swallow hard, trying not to show my emotions. “I’ll be fine.”
 

I look over at Eliza, who is standing as pale as a ghost. Her eyes finally focus and she focuses them on me. Her eyes are filled with pure malice, causing me to shiver slightly. Abruptly, she turns around and walks back into the ballroom.

Eric warps his arms around my waist and pulls me close to him, molding my soft body to his hard one. And I don’t object. I want to feel safe, and he is my safe haven.

Eric guides me into a black limousine. Once we’re seated, he pulls me over his lap and hugs me tightly. He presses his face to the crook of my neck and I let my head fall against the headrest.
 

He places a soft kiss on the sensitive spot below my ear, sending goose bumps all over my body.
 

“I’m so sorry, kitten.” He murmurs against my skin.
 

His endearment wakes me out of my stupor. The past week, which was filled with my tears and my heartbreak, comes rushing back to me, overwhelming my mind. I try to move away from him but his arms squeeze around me, keeping me secure.

“Katherine please, just let me hold you now. We’ll talk once we get to my place. Please…” he whispers in my ear, his voice hoarse.
 

I say nothing and let him hold me in his arms, even though it’s tearing me to pieces. Our drive is mostly silent. Eric keeps murmuring, ‘I’m sorry’ while hugging me tighter and kissing my neck from time to time. And I keep myself quiet. Holding on to a flimsy thread of self-control, not wanting to break down in front of him inside the limo.

When we arrive, Eric reluctantly lets go of me and helps me get out of the limousine. Once we enter his building, he laces his fingers with mine. He doesn’t let go of my hand until we’re standing in his foyer.
 

The moment Eric closes his front door; he hauls me against it and places his palms on each side of my shoulders. I feel the atmosphere in the room shifting. Gone is the awkwardness and heartache, replaced by fury and lust.

“Why were you ignoring me all night? And why were you flirting with Will? Is he the one you want?” his voice like ice against my skin.
 

Not what I was expecting to hear…

Taken by surprise, I stumble to answer.
 

“Why did I…? What…?”

Fury rises in me as the image of Eliza, nearly mauling his face flashes before my eyes and besides… he left me! I frown at him.
 

“What the hell is wrong with you Eric? First you tell me you want me. Then you
have
me, and then you dump me, go back to you long time fuck-buddy and then suddenly have a change of heart?
You
left
me!”
I shout the last three words in frustration. I don’t give him a chance to respond. ”Why did you let Eliza kiss you? Why didn’t you stop her? Why did you – ”

Eric crashes his lips on mine, silencing me. I start to struggle but the moment his tongue sweeps over mine, all my objections die. I’ve missed this too much. Missed his touch, his taste, and his intoxicating smell. It scares me how fast my heart is thundering in my chest at how much I need him. How my desire for him is making me want to get closer and closer to him, to forget everything and just to be one with him.
 

Eric’s right hand moves to cup my cheek while his left one wraps around my waist, pulling me so close to him there is nothing between us but our clothes. The pressure is so strong I feel every hard muscle under his tux.

Eric bites down on my lower lip and growls quietly. He breaks the kiss and presses his forehead to mine, our fast coming breaths mingle together.

“Stop. I had to leave… I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting you, and I did. She means nothing. Nothing.” He whispers in agony then resumes kissing me like a madman, not giving me a chance to reply.

When we come up for air, Eric continues. “You played beautifully tonight. You stole my breath away with your performance, but your song, it destroyed me. Just the thought of you giving up on me, you letting me go, it made me realize the mistake I made when I walked out. I don’t want to lose you… I don’t. I was so miserable without you. I tried burying myself with work but nothing helped. My mind was constantly on you; my heart was constantly on you. I knew at that moment that I’m yours. My soul entirely tethered yours. I had to make you understand that you have me, all of me is yours.” He kisses me again, letting me feel his sincere emotions through his kiss.

This time it’s me who breaks the kiss. “Why did you leave me?” I whisper, my voice breaking and tears threaten to break through.

“I panicked. I physically hurt you, and you were terrified of me. I completely lost control and handled you with force. I didn’t want to hurt you, I’m so sorry, kitten. Please give me another chance. I swear I’ll be better, I won’t break again.” Eric pleads me with a rasping voice.

I hold his face in my hands and pull him away so I could look at him. His face is pleading, his sorrowful eyes meet mine and my hands drop to my sides.

“Eric, what the hell are you talking about?” I frown. “Why would I be scared of you? You didn’t hurt me. I was having the time of my life. Trust me if you would have hurt me, I would have let you know.”

Abruptly, Eliza’s words come back to me. ‘
She’s just like the rest, she doesn’t understand.’

Did Eric experience this before? Did he hurt other women?

“It happened before, didn't it?” my voice low with sympathy.

Eric closes his eyes as though he's witnessing something painful and nods solemnly.
 

He left because he thought he’d hurt me, not because he used me.

“Oh Eric, I'm so sorry.” I place my hand on his cheek and he sighs.

“She was so scared… the look on her face haunts me to this day.” His voice is barely audible.
 

“Well, whoever she is, she's a fool. I promise you Eric, there was nothing and I mean nothing that you were doing to me that made me want you to stop.
Nothing
.”

“No. I hurt you. How couldn’t have I? I just need to be gentler –”
 

“Don’t. I can take it. I don’t want you to hold back on me.”
 

“Why do you want me to hurt you? Why do want me to be a beast?” He shakes his head, disgusted.

“Eric, you would never hurt me. The first time we slept together, you were so gentle with me, don’t you remember?” I tilt my head to the side, reassuring his haunted eyes.

Eric frowns then looks down, confused. “I was…” his eyes shoot up to mine and I see a spark of hope in their depths.

“I
was
gentle.” He breaths out, smiling.
 

I nod, “Yes, you were. And even when you weren’t, I still loved every second. I want you, all of you not eighty percent of you, but
everything
, one hundred percent.” I smile and kiss him softly.

He smiles a sad smile, “Really? I wasn't too rough?”
 

“No, but even if you were, I learned that I like it that way.” I smile and his solemn expression lightens.
 

“All right, but when you can’t walk for a week don’t start crying to me.” he smirks devilishly.

“I can’t wait for that.” I laugh. “I want you, ups and downs, soft and hard. I accept you for who you are. So please, don’t change yourself for me.”

“Ok.” He breathes out heavily then kisses me tenderly.

I break the kiss again.

“But you can’t do this to me anymore. If there is something bothering you, whatever it is, don’t run. Talk to me about it. You nearly killed me when you left.” my voice breaks on the last sentence.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, kitten. I promise, I won’t ever leave you again… but the same goes to you. If I fuck up and I might, don’t run from me.” he whispers.

 
I nod and he kisses me again, slowly and passionately.
 

A question I haven’t asked yet bothers me. I pull away and look at him.

“Is that… is that why you had Eliza?”
 

Eric frowns then averts his eyes. After a few moments of silence he finally says, “Yes. She was the first one who never had any problem with it, the first one who wasn’t scared of me.”

“And before her? What would you do?” I ask.

“I’ve never had a girlfriend, I was too busy helping my father but women always seem to find their way to me.”
 

I have no problem believing that one. Women seem to move a little bit more sensually when he’s around. They tend to inch closer as though he’s the sun, pulling everything and everyone to him. Well… he is
my
sun.

“I had a pretty stressful experience with sex. I would never know how the woman would react, but after I met Eliza, I didn’t sleep with anyone else but her. She made me feel like I could be myself with her.” his eyes lower to the floor with regret.
 

My heart is breaking, slowly and painfully at the thought of not being the first one to be his solace, but I push that thought aside, he’s done with her.
 

“I understand, Eric. I’m glad she was helpful to you.” I smile softly at him, reassuring him that I’m not upset.
 

Eric takes my hand in his and places my palm over his heart. He looks at me so fiercely, I am unable to look away from his ardent eyes.

“I’ve never loved her, kitten,” he whispers.

I smile back at him, “I know.”

A man who loves a woman would’ve never done what Eric did to her tonight.
 

Eric’s eyes heat up in an instant and he lowers his mouth to mine. Kissing me like he’s starving for me. He pulls me into the living room and leads the way to his bedroom. While we’re walking, his hands won’t stop caressing my bare shoulders, roaming up and down my neck.
 

“I’m crazy about you. There isn’t a moment in the day that I don’t think of you, that I don’t want to be inside you.” He whispers hoarsely between his desperate kisses.
 

I moan into his mouth, my hands clutching the lapels of his jacket, holding him close to me. Once we’re in his bedroom, Eric pulls away; breaking the kiss only to turn me around and slowly lowers my zipper. He traces his tongue up the back of my neck, and I whimper as my sex clenches with hunger.
 

I step of the gown and turn to face him. Eric groans so seductively, my skin heat up and my arousal trickles down my core. I’m wearing a cream lacey corset with garter straps that connect to my sheer nude stockings, and a matching thong.

“Fucking hell. I’m going to come just by looking at you.” Eric’s blazing eyes devour every inch of me, searing me with their intense heat.

I reach with my hand and undo his black silk bowtie. I hold the two ends and pull his mouth to mine. I kiss him with everything I got, pouring all my longing for him, all my desire and need.

My hands glide up, knotting into his perfect hair, while his hands slide down my bodice until they reach my thong. Eric smooths his hands over my butt and squeezes gently.