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"And I intend to finish it, don’t worry," she countered. She stepped closer, sliding her knee between Emma’s thighs, applying a steady, agonizing friction through the layers of their denim and wool.
Emma’s lungs emptied all at once. The searing drag of fabric sent an electric tremor pulling tight low in her belly. Her hips bucked forward to chase the heat, a shameless reflex that earned a low hum of approval from the woman pinning her down.
"Look at you," she murmured, her gaze dropping to the rapid rise and fall of Emma’s chest. "So eager."
The arrogance in her tone ignited Emma's competitive streak. The intimidation evaporated, replaced by a reckless need to take the reins. Emma’s hands dropped to her waist. She gripped the leather belt, finding the leverage she needed, and shoved back.
The woman stumbled a step, genuine surprise flashing in her eyes before Emma crowded her again, forcing her back toward the center of the suite. The edge of a massive, king-sized bed hit the back of her knees.
"Sit," Emma ordered. Her voice was unrecognizable, dropping an octave, heavy with intent.
The stranger arched an eyebrow, standing her ground. The challenge hummed in the air. She was a woman who gave orders, who dictated terms, and who never yielded space unless it served her strategy.
Emma stepped closer, her chest brushing the blouse. She reached up, tracing the sharp angle of her jawline with her thumb. She let her touch linger on the frantic pulse beating beneath the skin, proving that beneath the composed exterior, she was unraveling just as fast.
"Sit down," Emma repeated, softer this time, leaning in to press a wet, lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth.
She held Emma's gaze for a heavy second, dark eyes searching Emma’s green ones. Then, slowly, she allowed her knees to bend, sinking onto the edge of the mattress.
Emma stepped between her parted legs. The power dynamic shifted, settling firmly into Emma’s hands. She looked down at the older woman, taking in the flushed skin, the parted lips, and the complete collapse of her defenses.
"Better," Emma whispered.
She reached for the top button of the blouse. She slipped the pearl button through the hole. Then the next. The woman sat perfectly still, watching Emma’s face with an intensity that made Emma’s skin burn.
Emma’s hands paused on the silk lapels of the blouse, her thumbs resting just over a bare collarbone. The reality of where she was flickered through the fog of desire, sharp and sudden.
"Wait," Emma murmured, searching the dark obsidian gaze in front of her. "I don't even know your name."
The woman didn't flinch. Her lips parted in a slow, faintly amused smirk, completely unbothered by the hesitation. She reached up, her cool fingers wrapping around Emma’s wrist, applying just enough pressure to keep Emma's hand pressed flat against her skin.
"Do you need a name to do what you came up here to do?" her voice lowered, sending heat straight down Emma’s spine.
Emma swallowed, her throat dry. "No."
"Good," she whispered, tugging Emma an inch closer until their lips nearly brushed. "Then don't waste time asking questions you don't actually care about."
Emma didn’t waste another second and pushed the silk off her shoulders, letting it pool around her elbows. The lace of a black bralette starkly framed the pale skin of her chest. Emma traced a slow path down her collarbone, feeling her shiver at the contact.
"God… You are so beautiful," Emma murmured. The words escaped unbidden, carrying none of her usual bite.
A sharp breath hitched in the quiet room. The woman reached up, gripping the front of Emma’s flannel shirt, pulling her down into a bruising kiss. The hesitation was gone. Cool hands worked frantically at the buttons of Emma’s shirt, shoving the damp fabric off her shoulders and tossing it onto the floor.
Emma knelt on the mattress, bracketing her thighs. She pushed her backward onto the sheets, following her down. The mattress dipped under their combined weight. Emma braced her forearms on either side of her head, caging her in.
The woman reached up, her hands sliding under Emma’s tank top, her cool fingers tracing the ridges of Emma’s stomach. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through Emma’s nervous system. She ducked her head, pressing her mouth to the exposed skin of her neck. She found the pulse point below her ear and sucked an open-mouthed kiss into the flesh, feeling the frantic flutter of a heartbeat against her tongue.
A rough gasp caught in her throat as her fingers clamped into Emma’s hips, nails digging into flesh. Hearing that small break in the woman’s breath killed the last scrap of Emma’s hesitation. Emma dragged her teeth along the side of her neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses down toward her collarbone until her lips brushed the lace of her bra.
Emma rocked back on her heels, fingers finding the waistband. The clasp opened with a sharp click in the quiet room. The woman lifted her hips without hesitation, letting Emma drag the heavy wool down her thighs and toss it aside onto the boards.
She lay before her, dressed only in black lace, her chest heaving, her eyes dark and heavy with anticipation. The sophisticated exterior was gone. In its place was a woman consumed by desire, waiting for Emma to dictate the next move.
Emma reached out, hooking her fingers under the waistband of the lace underwear. She dragged them down slowly, tossing the fabric aside.
The sight of her made Emma’s mouth go dry. She traced a hand lightly up the inside of a bare thigh, marveling at the softness. Muscles jumped under the touch, her knees falling wider apart in an invitation.
"Tell me what you want," Emma challenged, her voice a rough whisper. She trailed her fingertips agonizingly close to her center, withholding the actual touch, letting the anticipation build in the heavy air.
