"Don't Call Me Sir"

.M. –

ds, casting golden slashes across

rled around a freshly brewed cup of Earl Grey te

't come bac

ce flying to Chicago. No texts, no calls, not

have felt

as nothing. That the kiss, the words, his whispers-her raci

couldn

heat of that night all over again. His desperate

idea who you'

nd like a curse, et

rying to snap herself back to realit

the urge to message him,

ion to prep, countless reasons n

brain woul

o – Th

his hotel suite, holding a bone china teacup-th

why he'd asked som

ince Emma moved in, control had started slipping. Not his body-his mind. He'd begun imagin

eeting is ab

n the doorway, face e

ly and set the cup

gger things waiting for him. Emma Carter had

the elevator, her voi

top kis

elding. In that moment, he had see

sn't f

And he... had walked wi

s Later –

ly returned

m light in the living room and a small figure curled up

m

ze, mi

the coffee table beside her were scattered

a few seconds, he walked over and knelt beside her, g

tirred. Her lashes fluttere

gazes

Her voice was t

worked. "Sorry.

ubbing her eyes. "Did

omething behind his gaze had change

aid, sitting up and clutching the blanket

. Then he said quietly, "Y

want to know... if that night meant somet

ween them t

is jaw, his knuck

," she whispered. "But you ca

t her for a

ng my distance, keeping control. Hell, I even considered making you

t pounde

he ice creeping back into his tone. "I can't

eople," she cut in, voice firm. "But y

m squarely. Her voic

I know what I'm doing. From the moment I mov

s eyes

stayed

. "Because

aled s

houldn't be near me. I saw everything you did. I felt it. I'm n

and turned to walk

l grabbed her wrist and pulle

ding, as his voice ras

idea how much

eath c

u know how long I've held back? Since the day you moved in, every night I told

up at him. "

en laugh. "Yeah. Because

n he ki

ike a man finally sna

old back. She kissed him

resistance. No more escape. J

.M. –

f breathing rema

, brushing her flushed

time to regret t

sed, a faint smile on he

ips twitching. "Don'

spered, "But I love the way

ower lip gently. "You'll p

es gleaming. "I