Page 79 of Decoding Emma

“Hell, no.”I winced at my loud voice.“Stay with me.”There I said it, the ball was in his court now.

“Of course, sweetheart.Whatever you want.”He reached down and held the covers open for me.I climbed back into bed, and Asher followed, his warm body cradling mine.“Close your eyes and sleep.”

I instantly relaxed into his embrace, and my mind calmed.

I fell asleep before I’d taken two breaths.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Asher

The ringing phone brought me out of my dreams.I reached for the noise and shoved the receiver between my head and the pillow.“Yeah, what?”

“Ms.Palmer, this is your wake-up call.”Too cheerful for automation.

“Thanks.”I dropped the receiver and didn’t bother to raise my arm.I didn’t remember ordering a wake-up call, but it was a good thing.I’d passed out.

“Who was that,” Emma’s sleepy voice penetrated my consciousness.

Oh yeah, we’d spent the night in each other’s arms.In her room.“Wake up call.”

“What time is it?”

I turned my head on the pillow and opened one eye.I couldn’t miss the clock on the nightstand.

Eight o’clock.

“Shit!”I sprang out of bed.“It’s eight.”

How did that happen?I stared down at Emma.Her eyes drowsy and her hair mussed.That’s how it happened.And I wanted to crawl right back into bed with her.

“Well, that sucks.”Emma slid out of bed.“I guess we better get dressed.”

I was reluctant to leave her, but this morning wasn’t the time for bedroom antics.“Yeah.I’ll go back into my room and come get you when I’m ready.”

“Sounds like a plan.”Emma padded over to me and brushed a kiss on my lips.“Thank you for last night.”

It took everything in me not to pull her in my arms and really kiss her, but I wasn’t going to start something I couldn’t finish.I stepped through the connecting doors and shut mine behind me.No sense in tempting myself.

Seven minutes later, showered, dressed, and everything shoved back in the bag.

Was Emma ready?Maybe.Two more minutes and I’d shouldered my bag and was knocking on her door.I never move this fast before coffee.

“Good morning, again.”The rush was worth every second to see that smile.“Who ordered the wakeup call?”

“I did.”I turned to see Ben coming down the hall.“We said nine, but we all needed sleep.I figured eight would be enough time.”Ben’s gaze was assessing.

“Thanks, Ben.”Emma grinned at him.“I’d probably still be asleep.”

“You’re welcome.”

A quick look around.We were the only ones in the hall.“Where are Tim and Will?They stayed here last night, didn’t they?”

“They’re already at the office; they bugged out at seven.”

“Then we should go.”

“I’ll get my bag.”