Usually, moving is a nightmare. But this is different. More like a party.

Yeah, it's torture keeping my hands off Em. Watching her bend to unpack boxes or suck coffee from her straw or reach for something on a high shelf.

But it's everything having my friends here. Wes and Griffin showing up to help someone they barely know just because I asked.

It's a long day. The guys from Inked Hearts work in shifts—someone has to be at the shop.

Everyone stops by to lend a hand or drop off a housewarming present.

The place swells with love and support.

It warms me everywhere, knowing Emma has that.

I don't even care that we're keeping this a secret. That it could explode at any moment.

Only that she's mine.

A little past ten, I knock on Emma's door.

There's whispering inside. Then giggling. Footsteps.

Emma pulls the door open.

Her dark eyes fix on mine. Fill with love and affection.

She wraps her arms around me, rises to her tiptoes, presses her lips to mine.

My fingers curl into her hips as I kiss her back.

It's been too long.

Way too fucking long.

Her sigh is heavy. Needy. "Come in."

I do.

Kaylee is sitting on the couch, watching TV.

"I interrupt?" I ask.

"No." Kaylee stands. "I was just about to head out."

"You don't have to." Emma shoots her best friend a look.

"No, I do. I have a ton of work to catch up on and the library is open until midnight." She motions to the hallway. "I'll be two minutes."

Emma nods. Turns back to me with wide eyes and a wider smile. "I was promised coffee."

I motion to the gift bag in my left hand.

She claps. "Let me see."

"You're supposed to accept gifts with grace."

"Fuck that." She claps again. "I love presents."

"Your place is packed with them."

She laughs. "Can you even tell which boxes are new?" She motions to a row of half unpacked boxes lining the living room wall. Then to another on the kitchen counter.

No one would accuse the apartment of Martha Stewart perfection.

It's barely unpacked.

And a mess.

And completely Emma.

Of course, the TV, couch, and mugs are all in their proper place.

I set the purple gift bag on the counter.

"Can I?"

I nod.

She pulls out the cream paper with glee. Her brow furrows with concentration as she reaches in. Runs her fingers over the gift.

She looks to me what is it?

I shrug open it and find out.

A laugh falls from her lips as she pulls out the box. "Perfect."

She sets the pour over on the counter.

"There's more," I say.

"I'd hope so." She peers inside the bag. Pulls out the scale. The electric grinder. The bag of single-origin beans. "It's an involved process."

"Some things are worth extra effort."

Her eyes meet mine. They say something, but I'm not sure what it is. Only that I want it.

Fuck, it's weird how much I want every thought in her head.

How much I want to pry her open.

She slides her arm around my waist. Rises to her tiptoes to press her lips to mine. "Thank you, Hunter."

"My pleasure." I rest my palm on her cheek. Rub her temple with my thumb. She's so fucking beautiful. I'm not sure I'll ever get tired of staring at her.

"Is it safe to come out?" Kaylee calls from the hallway.

"No. I'm completely naked," Emma teases.

Kaylee shakes her head as she steps into the main room. She hugs her best friend goodbye. "You're ridiculous."

"You love it," Emma says.

"I do." Kaylee waves a goodbye to me. "Take care of her."

"I will," I say.

Emma and her friend exchange a look.

Then Kaylee leaves.

And I get all of Emma's attention.

"I got you something too," she says.

"Yeah?"

She nods and grabs something from the drawer. Then she sets a box of condoms on the counter.

I can't help but laugh. "That's for me?"

"Yeah."

"Not us?"

"'I got you something' sounds so much better than 'I got us something.'"

I bring my hand to her hip. "Either way, I love it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you shouldn't have."

"Hmm?"

"That one doesn't work here."

"It really doesn't."

My fingers curl into her skin as I kiss her. She tastes so fucking good and I can feel all this need pouring between us.

It's been too long.

I need to touch her.

To make her come.

To make love to her.

All that cheesy that only exists in pop songs.

She sighs as she breaks our kiss. "Give me a minute. I want to change."

"You look gorgeous." Too gorgeous. I'm ready to tear off her jeans.

"Even so." She grabs the box of condoms and takes a step backward. "Pour a… a drink, I guess."

"Water is a drink."

"Okay." She laughs. "Pour a water." She spins on her heels and disappears down the hallway.

It's sweet, her wanting to make this special.

But it's not necessary.

It's Em.

It's already perfect.

A sultry slow jam spills from Emma's room as I fill a glass with water. It gets louder.

Loud enough to set the mood without waking the neighbors.

The mood doesn't need setting.

But I appreciate the effort.

I've never been in a relationship where either one of us makes an effort.

There is something special about trying to make it special.

I really fucking like it.

Her door creeks open. "Come in."

I move down the hallway. Then into her room.

It's as messy as the rest of the apartment, and as Emma. The lyric covered desk, the posters of hot musicians, the crimson bedspread, the mirrored closet door.

And her.

Standing in front of the bed in black lingerie.

Sheer lace stretches over her sides and chest. Black satin skims her stomach and hips.

That thing barely covers her ass.

"You like it?" Her voice is shy.

Blood flees my brain at an alarming rate.

She swallows hard. "Is that a yes?"

"Fuck yes." I push the door closed.

She stares back at me.

Shy. Nervous.

It's flattering as hell.

But it won't do.

I need to set her at ease. "You buy that for me, baby?"

Her nod is heavy. "Made me think of you."

"You look fucking gorgeous."

"Yeah?" The skirt flies up as she spins on the balls of her feet.

She's wearing another scrap of lace under it.

Some tiny thing that shows off her perfect ass.

Fuck, I need my hands on her.

I'm impatient as all hell.

But if she needs slow, I'm giving her slow.

"You're torturing me, baby."

Her cheeks flush. She steps backward. Sits on the bed. Pats the spot next to her. "You think we should leave the lights on?"

"Yeah." I take the seat next to her. "I want to see every inch of you."

Her blush spreads down her chest. "I… I want this." Her eyelids flutter closed.

She digs her hand into my hair.

Presses her lips to mine.

Her kiss is hard. Hungry.

Her lips close around my top lip. Then it's the soft scrape of her teeth. Her tongue slipping into my mouth.

I rest my hand on her thigh.

She groans as I drag my fingertips up her leg.

Soft skin. Slick satin. Rough lace hem.

She pulls back with a sigh. "Hunter."

Fuck, my name sounds good on her lips.

I need more of that.

I need her lost in bliss.

I need her, period.

Her eyes blink open as I push her skirt up her legs. She stares up at me, begging for more.

I want to give her more.

Fuck, I want to give her everything.

But slowly.

We both need to savor it.

And, well—

I need to stay in control. To make sure she's okay every fucking step of the way.

I stare into her dark eyes as I drag my fingertips up her thigh. Over the slick fabric of her thong. Down her other thigh.

She spreads her legs a little wider.

I do it again. Up her thigh, over her panties, down her other thigh.

Her eyelids flutter together.

She arches her back. Tugs at my t-shirt to pull me into a deep, slow kiss.

I wrap one arm around her.

Slip the other between her legs.

She groans against my lips as I rub her over her panties.

I can feel her through the slick fabric.

She's wet.

Blood flees my brain.

I barely manage to hold onto control.

Her fingers dig into my chest, pressing the cotton of my t-shirt into my skin.

She tugs at my t-shirt. "Off."

I toss the thing over my head.

She lifts her hips to push her panties to her knees. "More." She presses her palm to my stomach. "Please."

My balls tighten.

I never thought I got off on women begging me.

But hearing please on Emma's lips—

Fuck.

I dig my fingers through her hair. Cup the back of her head with my palm.

She kisses me softly.

Slowly.

Then harder.

Faster.

Her tongue slides around mine.

She cups me over my jeans. Presses her palm against my cock, rubbing me through the fabric.

It's sweet torture.

I drag my fingertips up her thigh.

Slowly.

Until she's shaking with anticipation.

Until she's tugging at my hair like she's cursing my name.

She sighs as I bring my fingers to her clit. "Fuck."

Pleasure spills over her expression as I rub her.

A sigh falls from her lips.

Her fingers curl into the sheets.

Her lids get heavy.

I can't take my eyes off her.

She's too fucking beautiful.

I bring my fingers to the spot where she needs me. Move harder. Harder. There—

"Hunter," she breathes.

I keep that same speed and pressure.

Touch her just how she needs me.

Her groans get louder.

Lower.

Her breath hitches.

Everything runs together.

It's beautiful fucking music.

A hell of a lot better than the slow jam filling the room.

A hell of a lot better than anything.

A few more flicks of my fingers and she's there.

Her cunt pulses.

My name falls off her lips.

I rub her through her orgasm.

Give her a second to catch her breath.

Then I bring her to the edge again.

Her groans are agony as much as they're ecstasy.

Then they're all ecstasy.

They're beautiful fucking ecstasy.

She comes quickly.

Screams my name like it's a curse.

Then she's fumbling over my zipper. Rubbing me over my boxers. Driving me out of my fucking mind.

She pushes my jeans off my hips.

I shimmy out of them.

She grabs the condom laying on the bedside table. Presses it in my palm.

I rip it open and roll it over my cock.

She lies back. Pulls her skirt to her waist. Spreads her legs.

She stares up at me, her dark eyes filled with need. "Please."

My fingers curl into her thighs.

Slowly, I lower my body onto hers.

I pull her closer.

Closer.

There.

My cock strains against her.

She grunts as I fill her.

Her fingers curl into my back. A fuck, give me more.

Then something else.

She's digging hard enough to draw blood.

But it's not 'cause she's losing herself in ecstasy.

She's still.

I brush her hair behind her ear. Stare into her eyes.

She nods. "Please." The word falls off her lips again and again.

I pull back.

Untangle our bodies.

She shakes her head. "Please, Hunter." She blinks and a tear catches on her lashes. "I need this to be okay. Please."

"Em—"

She shakes her head. "We need to… This needs to… Please."

"You're crying."

"I just…"

"What's wrong, baby?"

"I… I…" She turns away from me. So I can't see her expression.

But I can still feel her fear.

She's terrified.

I think I know why.

But this is not the fucking time to push her.

I offer her my hand.

She ignores it. "If we're not going to… then maybe you should just…"

"No."

"But…"

"You don't have to say anything."

She doesn't.

"But I'm not leaving you like this."

Her eyes flit to me. Her cheeks flame red. A mix of embarrassment and shame.

Fuck, I hate that she's hurting.

I want to take every ounce of that.

But I can't.

I can only do this.

I wrap my arms around her.

Pull her closer.

Hold her as she cries into my chest.