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EMMA

I t’s been a week since we returned from Chicago.

We haven’t given my grandmother the antidote yet. She’s being slowly weaned off the pain medication at the hospital, but I visit her every single day.

For once, I feel optimistic about what’s to come.

It feels like there’s sunshine spilling into every corner of my life.

The only thing I’m worried about is Klaus. He’s sweet to me, but I can sense the chaos in his head. He’s worried about something and refusing to speak about it.

“Miss Turner, can we have hot chocolate, please?” Rosalie asks.

“Did you finish your homework?” I ask her.

“I’m all done.” She flips through the papers in her binder, showing me the finished homework.

“Good girl,” I say. “What about you, James?”

He flips through all the pages he has left.

“I’m never going to finish all this,” he exclaims dramatically. “It’s too much.”

“You got this, buddy,” I say, ruffling his hair. “Rosalie, see if your brother needs any help. I’ll go get the chocolate from the pantry.”

“Slow poke,” Rosalie says, moving her stool closer toward her brother.

“Rosalie, be nice,” I say.

“I’m always nice,” the girl says.

I shake my head and head toward the pantry. We had board game night a few days ago for which I made homemadepretzels and hot chocolate. The kids have been requesting the hot chocolate every night since, knowing that I’m going to eventually cave.

I don’t blame them. It’s perfect hot chocolate weather.

I step inside the walk-in pantry. It’s basically a mini grocery store, with wheels of cheese and enough snacks to sustain us in the event of an apocalypse. I reach for the good chocolate bars that Helena keeps hidden on the top shelf. They’re too high up for me, so I have to use the ladder.

I take two large chocolate bars. As I’m about to descend, my foot catches on one of the rungs of the ladder. I try to steady myself, but the momentum takes me down anyway.

Strong arms catch me before I can fall.

His thick arm bands around my waist. His fingers splay over my ribs, holding me possessively.

“Precious cargo,” Klaus whispers against my temple.

He lifts me like I’m a doll and sets me on my feet.

“You’re home early,” I say, turning around to face him.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day,” he says, looking into my eyes. There’s a desperation there, like he’s making sure I’m okay.

“Me too,” I whisper, trying to breathe normally and failing.

He buries his face against my neck and breathes me in.

I arch into him, allowing him to take whatever he needs from me. My fingers are lost in his soft hair as he kisses my neck.

“How was your day, Klaus?” I ask.

“Infinitely better now that I’m with you,” he says.

A laugh tumbles from my lips. He pulls away to look at me.

“What?” I say, trapping my bottom lip between my teeth.

His hands are reverent on my waist, holding me like I’m something he wants to spend the rest of his life worshipping.

I remind myself to stay grounded, but every little moment I spend with this man gives me wings.

“Let me take you out on a date,” he says. “Tomorrow evening. Just the two of us.”

I see stars glinting in his eyes. I see hope, uncertainty, pain. I see everything his mouth refuses to say.

“It’s Friday evening,” I say.

He swallows. “Do you have other plans?”

“Kind of,” I say, nibbling on my bottom lip.

I’m expected at Elysium tomorrow. After we returned from Chicago, things felt different.

Even though we haven’t put any labels on our relationship, my heart has pledged its loyalty to Klaus.

And working in a place like Elysium, where I’m dressed for the enjoyment of other men, doesn’t feel right anymore.

So I’ve decided to meet with Mrs. Hendricks. I wanted to tell her in person that I’m no longer interested in working at the gentlemen’s club.

“How about Saturday night?” I ask.

“That works too,” he says, searching my eyes. He’s trying to understand the sudden shift in my mood. “Is everything okay, Emma?”

I nod and take a deep breath. My lungs fill with the scent of his musky cologne.

“Yes,” I say. “Thank you for asking.”

I don’t know if he can tell I’m keeping something to myself. I want to tell him about Elysium, but I’m going to be resigning tomorrow anyway.

“The kids are waiting for me,” I say. “I should get back to them.”

“They’ve had you to themselves all day,” he says. “They can handle being away from you for a few minutes.”

“They’re alone in the kitchen,” I say.

“Helena’s watching them,” he says. His eyes study me like a hawk, analyzing every emotion that flits across my face. “What’s on your mind?”

I take a deep breath. I know he will try to get the answers out of me one way or another.

“Everything,” I say. “I have everything on my mind.”

And it’s the truth. There are too many things going on at once, and it feels more overwhelming than I can handle.

“Tell me about it,” he says. “Tell me everything.”

“You never share anything with me,” I say, looking up at him.

“What do you mean?” He blinks.

“You haven’t been the same since we returned from Chicago,” I say. “And every time I bring it up, you kiss me until I forget what I’m even worried about.”

“I didn’t know I was that good of a kisser,” he says, smiling down at me.

“I’m being serious, Klaus,” I say, splaying my fingers over his chin and tugging on his beard.

“What do you want to know?” he says. “Ask me anything.”

“Anything?” I say.

“Anything,” he replies.

He takes my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist.

There’s so much chaos in our world, but I know one thing for certain—as long as we’re together, it will all be okay.

“I noticed that you couldn’t sleep well last night,” I say. “Why?”

“Too many thoughts in my head,” he replies.

I want to ask him to be specific, but I don’t know if I’m ready to hear it.

There’s always something that’s going on in the periphery. There’s never been a time in my life when everything was perfect.

But lately, it’s all been too much.

My grandmother. The antidote. My stalker. The strange noises I keep hearing in the middle of the night.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, searching his eyes.

“No,” he replies. “Everything is not okay. But it will be.”

“I guess I should be happy that you’re at least being honest,” I say.

“I’m taking care of some things, and it’s taking longer than I thought it would,” he says.

“But we’re safe?” I ask. “All of us?”

“You’re always safe with me.” He tips my chin up to kiss me. I breathe him in like he’s the only source of oxygen to my lungs. “Always.”

When we’re kissing like this, the rest of the world falls away. We’re the only two people in the world, and all the thoughts that invade my head fall like dominoes.

His hands fall to the curve of my hips. He tugs me closer until our bodies are flush together.

He kisses me possessively.

He kisses me like we’re already at the altar. He holds me like I’m already his wife.

“You don’t even know, Emma,” he says. “You’re the miracle I’ve been waiting for. You’re my saving grace.”

“Klaus,” I say, placing my hands on his broad chest. His heart beats like a drum underneath my fingertips. “You’re getting too good at this.”

“At what?” he asks, stealing another kiss from my lips and leaving me breathless.

You’re making me fall more in love with you.

“At distracting me,” I whisper.

The intensity in his eyes is too much.

I’ve done this before. I romanticized things and got carried away only to be disappointed by reality. What I found with Klaus feels sacred, but sometimes, it also feels too good to be true.

“I should get back to the kids,” I say. “They’re waiting for the hot chocolate.”

“They’re occupied,” Klaus says, digging his thumbs into my hips. The simple pressure is enough to make my heart flutter in my chest. “You’ve been taking care of them all day. Let me take care of you now.”

I gasp when he drops down to his knees.

He lifts my skirt and kisses the inside of my thigh. The sight of him on his knees has a visceral effect on me.

In a swift motion, he grabs the back of my thighs and lifts me up onto his shoulders, carrying my body weight like it’s nothing. My feet dangle several inches from the ground.

I nearly come undone just at the sight of him between my thighs.

He spreads me open even wider for his pleasure and then looks up at me.

“What did I tell you about your dress code, Miss Turner?” he asks.

I can’t form a single thought, let alone speak. He bites the inside of my thighs in punishment.

“You asked me not to wear panties,” I gasp.

“So why do you insist on breaking the rules?” he asks, tracing his index finger over my slit.

Flowers bloom along the length of my spine. I become boneless as he teases me mercilessly.

“Such an innocent face,” he says, slipping his hand inside my panties. “But I see you for what you are. You’re a bad, bad girl, aren’t you? So fucking hungry for your boss’s cock.”

He presses another lazy kiss against my inner thigh. His fingers continue to stroke me, making my feet dig into his muscular back. I bite my lip to stifle my sighs.

A soft cry escapes my lips when he rips my panties in half and latches his open mouth over my sex.

He licks me leisurely, like we have all the time in the world.

He took his time studying my body, so every flick of his tongue is a practiced motion.

He’s a pianist who has played this song hundreds of times before.

“Klaus.” I bite down on my bottom lip. “Oh, my God.”

“I’m the only god you serve now, angel,” he says, wrapping his lips around my clit. He sucks me into his mouth, making my core contract. “Show me those pretty tits. I’ve been thinking about them all fucking day.”

When I don’t obey his command, he bites down on my clit, making me gasp out loud.

I lift my shaky hands to my blouse and undo the first few buttons. He reaches up and pushes aside the fabric of my blouse, enclosing his hands around my softness. He rolls my nipple between his fingers as he laps at my pussy.

It’s an assault to the senses.