Unrequited Love, Requited

“Do you want to know a secret?” Macy whispered in Emma’s ear.

Emma rolled her eyes and turned away. “Not really.”

“Leo’s back.”

Emma’s heart thudded in her chest, though she pretended otherwise, opening the next box and continuing to stack the shelves as though she hadn’t just heard the most earth-shattering news.

“Hello.” Macy waved a hand in front of Emma’s face. “Did you hear me? Leo’s back.”

Emma frowned. “And? As if that means anything to me.”

“Hey, ladies.” A deep voice pulled Emma’s attention from her work, and her cheeks burned as she took in the man who’d once been the love of her life, if only in her dreams. He looked every bit as good as he had the day he left, broad shoulders, strong jaw, deep blue eyes she could just fall into.

She blinked, and turned back to her job. He never knew she existed, she wasn’t going to make a fool of herself now.

“Just looking for something… a… whatsit? A torch.” Emma felt his gaze burn into the back of her neck, but she dismissed it. Wishful thinking. That’s all it was.

She thought she’d managed to move past that particular fantasy. He’d moved away, she’d stayed. She’d never been brave enough to talk to him, so how could she possibly be attracted to him, yet the feelings were still there, bubbling to the surface now she was in his presence.

“I think we’re out.” Macy stood, started walking down the aisle. “I’ll check out back though.”

Shit. I should’ve gone to check.

Now Emma didn’t know what to do. Should she stand and try to make small talk? Or should she just keep working?

“Good to see you, Emma.”

Emma’s heart rate quickened, and she glanced up at him. “You know my name?” She closed her eyes. What a stupid thing to say. Of course he knew her name. She stood up, wiping sweaty hands on her black work trousers.

“You’re just as beautiful as ever.” His gaze travelled down her body, before returning to meet her own.

“Um. Thank you.” She frowned. What the hell was going on here?

“Sorry. Did I offend you. I didn’t mean to. I’m sure you’re also just as intelligent as ever, but that’s not necessarily something you can see.” He bit his lip, and Emma’s heart melted. Could he be feeling just as awkward as she was? Surely not.

“Yeah, well, working in the supermarket at thirty wasn’t exactly my dream career,” she admitted. “But Dad had an accident and lost use of his legs, and Mum got sick, and….” What else was there to say? Plenty more, but here wasn’t the place.

“I heard. I’m sorry.”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

Silence. Where was Macy? Emma glanced around, but her work-mate was nowhere to be seen.

Leo cleared his throat. “Look, I don’t want to seem to forward, but I was wondering if you’d like to come out to dinner with me?”

Emma’s head whipped around to face him again, her eyes wide. “Tonight?”

“Um, yeah. If that works. Or another night if you prefer?”

“Tonight is good. Great. Um. Yeah.”

“Great.” He smiled, joy lighting up his face. “Excellent. Pick you up from your parents at seven?”

Emma had never been so nervous. She’d changed her outfit three times, stuffed-up her make-up several times over before deciding natural was best — with no reason to wear make-up in years she was out of practise — and wavered between heels and flats before deciding flats were less likely to result in her falling over and making a fool out of herself.

If Leo couldn’t accept her for who she was then she was better off without him.

When she answered the door his gaze roamed over her body, and he whistled. “You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice hoarse.

He took her to an expensive restaurant, gave her a rose, bought champagne.

“Why?” She asked as he filled her glass.

“I love you.” His gaze burned into hers. “I always have. But I knew I wasn’t good enough. You were so brainy, I knew you’d go far — ”

She snorted. “Yeah, stuck in the same job I had when you left.”

He shook his head. “You can’t always control the circumstances life puts you in, you can only do your best.” He covered her hand with his, a spark shooting up her arm. “I wanted to show you I was worthy, too.”

“And what if I’d met someone else while you were away?”

He shrugged, his gaze dropping to the table. “Then that would be my sign we weren’t meant to be together.” He cleared his throat, met her gaze. “Macy told me you’d always wanted me. Is she telling the truth?”

Her face burned, but she couldn’t let this opportunity slip through her fingers.

“Yes.”

They went back to his place, and he carried her across the threshold, carefully removing her clothing, kissing every freshly exposed area of skin.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” he said, holding her like she were glass.

“So have I.” She lowered her head to press her lips against his, pulling at his shirt so she could slide a hand over his chest, her thumb playing with his nipple.

He moaned, parting his lips to press his tongue against hers, his hands holding her waist as he pulled her in close. She shifted on the bed, slid to the floor so she knelt between his legs, unzipped his fly to release his cock.

Her mouth watered at the sight of, pulsing with desire. She licked the tip, circled the head, trailed her tongue up one side and down the other as she cupped his sack, rolling his balls between her fingers.

“Damn.” His voice was breathy and she glanced up to see his head thrown back, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

She opened her mouth and took him again, bobbing up and down to take his deeper each time. His fists clenched at his sides, and she grabbed a hand, and placed it on her head.

He glanced at her, his eyes wide. She nodded as she sucked, and he ran his fingers through her hair, holding her in place as he began to rock his hips. Finally he pulled away with a groan.

“Your turn,” he said, scooping her up and dropping her onto the bed. His fingers slid over her panties, already drenched from the evening’s activities.

“You’re gorgeous, Emma.” He pressed his lips against the inside of one thigh, and then the other. “And you smell so, damn, hot.” Finally he pulled her knickers down, burying his face between her legs. His tongue brushed her clit, sending jolts of pleasure zapping up her spine, and she ran her fingers through his hair, guiding him as he’d guided her.

It didn’t take long for an orgasm to tear through her, his tongue circling her clit as his fingers stroked her insides.

“Fuck me, please.” She held his gaze, warmth spreading through her chest as his whole face lit up.

He slid up her body, rolling on a condom before rubbing the tip of his cock over her clit.

She spread her legs wider, tilting her hips, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to pull him closer.

“Please,” she whispered.

With a few gentle thrusts he was inside, stretching her, the sensation delicious simply because of who he was. He moved slowly, gently, massaging her insides, his deliberate movement bringing her to orgasm in a way she’d never expected.

She wrapped her legs around him, spurring him on. His thrusts increased, and she thrust with him as pleasure built again, another orgasm crashing through her body as he came, gripping her shoulders as though he could move deeper inside.

He collapsed onto her and she held him tight, her lips finding his and kissing him again and again and again.

“Will you stay with me, Emma?”

Her heart soared. “For as long as you’ll have me,” she whispered.

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