Kiro's Emily Read online

  Didn’t know or fucking care. “It’s paid. Doesn’t matter.”

  Her frown was adorable. “Kiro.”

  “Emily,” I replied, just as seriously.

  Then she laughed and laid her head on my chest. God that felt amazing. I wrapped my arms around her and held her there, not wanting to let go. Fucking ever. “Just tell me yes. I can do this all night,” I told her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

  “My mother will flip out,” she said, lifting her head to look up at me again. “She will have a fit. A bad one.”

  “You’re twenty years old,” I reminded her. I would deal with her momma, too, if I had to.

  She sighed and nodded. “I know. But she’s not going to like this. She knows I talk to you. I told her. But she won’t be OK with me living in L.A. with . . . a rock band.”

  Probably one of the reasons my Emily was so damn sweet and innocent. I couldn’t dislike her momma. She’d raised my angel. “If I need to, I’ll talk to her. I swear, you’ll be safe. A hell of a lot safer than you are in this place. No one will touch you. I swear. I’d kill ’em, and they know it.”

  “If I point out that I have a lease on this apartment and that my things are here and I have nowhere to take them, you’re going to have an answer for that, aren’t you?” she asked, looking like she was ready to cave in.

  “I’ll pay off the lease, and we will put your furniture in storage.”

  She studied me a moment, and then a smile slowly spread across her lips. “I can’t believe I am saying this . . . but yes. I accept.”

  Fuck, yes!

  One week later

  Emily

  Life with Slacker Demon was like a movie. I hadn’t thought about what it would look or feel like, since I had been so busy taking care of things in the last week. I had let Will know I was resigning, which hadn’t gone well. Then my mother had begged me not to go. In the end, she had given in and told me that home would always be there when I needed it.

  Packing my things for storage and shipping what I needed to Los Angeles had consumed every moment after. Not once had I stopped to think about what I had said yes to. Now, standing in a mansion with every luxury known to man, I realized my life had just taken a massive turn.

  I worked for Slacker Demon. It was my job to make sure this house was taken care of and everyone had all they needed. Talk about a huge addition to my résumé. Wow.

  Dean walked into the room, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and wearing nothing but a pair of pajama pants with skulls all over them. “Well, lookie who finally arrived,” he drawled.

  “Did Emily’s stuff get here?” Kiro asked, carrying the one duffel bag that I had brought with me on the plane.

  Dean’s gaze went from Kiro to the piece of luggage in his hand. Then his eyebrows shot up as his gaze swung back to his friend. He was surprised about something, clearly.

  “Emily’s stuff. Did it fucking get here?” Kiro asked in a clipped tone.

  Dean muttered something, then nodded his head to the left. “Yeah. I had it all sent to the room Viv used.”

  “That’s not where I fucking wanted it,” Kiro snarled.

  “Can’t read your damn mind,” Dean replied, rolling his eyes. He sauntered over to the nearest sofa and sank down onto it.

  “Follow me,” Kiro said, his tone much different now. He was softer with me. “I’ll show you your room, and then I’ll have your things moved in there.”

  “OK,” I said, wondering if I should just go where Dean wanted me to be. He lived here, too, and I didn’t want to make him angry.

  “Which room you giving her?” Dean asked.

  “The white one,” Kiro replied.

  Dean let out a sigh. “Shit,” he muttered.

  “If Dean wants to leave that room available, I can use the room he had my things sent to.”

  Kiro stopped walking and looked back at me. “Dean lives in the left wing of this house. The right wing is mine. He doesn’t get to decide who lives in any of my rooms.”

  Oh. Then why did he seem upset about it?

  Dean hadn’t asked me to work for him. Just Kiro. But I would be working for Dean, too. In his house. What if he didn’t want me here? Why hadn’t I thought of that?

  Kiro led me up a grand staircase, the kind I’d only seen in movies. “The place is big, but I’ll give you a tour. If you get lost, just take a bunch of right turns, and you’ll end up back here.” He glanced back at me with a sexy little smirk on his face.

  “Right turns, got it,” I said. I didn’t let my gaze linger on him. I worked hard to be a good friend to him. I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable with my little infatuation.

  Dating Will had helped a little but not much. Now that I was living across the country from Will, that was over. He hadn’t been very happy about it, either. He’d actually raised his voice to me and asked me if I was stupid.

  I didn’t answer him, because maybe I was being stupid. My mother didn’t seem to think it was smart. But if I had said no, I was sure I’d regret it for the rest of my life. Being near Kiro made me happy.

  He stopped and opened a door, and I almost ran into his back. I’d been so lost in my thoughts. “This is your room. I will show you your office, if you’d rather have one not attached to the bedroom. There’s a sitting room through there that can be used as an office, but that’s your call.”

  I stepped inside, unable to form words just yet. Office, sitting rooms, and holy crap, this bedroom was massive. It even had a large marble fireplace. I understood now why it was called the white room. It looked like heaven. Everything was a soft white. Even the bed had a white, flowy canopy that gathered at each corner and hung down until it puddled at the floor. I was going to get lost in that bed. Four people could sleep in it comfortably.

  “What do you think?” Kiro asked. He almost sounded nervous.

  I spun around to look at him, and all I could do was smile. The big, goofy kind of smile that just can’t be helped.

  He took a few steps toward me, and his perfectly sculpted lips tugged up a little at each corner. “You got words to go with that beautiful smile?” he asked in a husky voice that always made me shiver. Problem was, he wasn’t on the other end of a phone. He was in front of me. I would have to control my shivers around him.

  His smile faltered, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply. We stood there a moment, just staring at each other. I was afraid to breathe, and he didn’t move toward me again. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I was afraid he was keeping his distance because of my shiver.

  “It’s . . . it’s amazing,” I finally choked out, trying to get us back on comfortable ground.

  Kiro’s shoulders eased some, and he nodded, then stepped back from me. “Good. I’m glad you like it. I’ll send someone up, uh, in a little bit to show you around. I have some shit to do that I’ve been putting off.” He gave me a forced smile and left the room.

  Well, crap. I’d just made him run off. This might have been the biggest mistake of my life. Being close to him like this all the time wasn’t going to be easy. If he freaked out and ran every time I did something stupid, like shiver, then we were never going to make it. I would have to go back home. But I didn’t want to. Not now.

  I was just going to have to work harder not to think about Kiro’s lips or his sexy voice. I was his employee now. I had a job to do, and it didn’t involve lusting over my boss.

  Kiro

  From the moment Emily told me she was dating that dickhead, I knew I was bringing her here. She wasn’t mine, but dammit, the idea of some other man touching her drove me insane. So I made it happen. I had won. She was here. But fuck me, what the hell was I going to do with her now?

  Six months ago, all I could think about was fucking her. Not much had changed, except now I liked her. I cared about her. I would kill anyone who hurt her. But I still wanted to fuck her. Seeing her shiver when I got close to her was pushing me. I wasn’t a good guy.

  �
��You got the princess in her tower?” Dean asked.

  I shot a glare over to him as he stood at the bar pouring himself a Scotch. “Don’t call her that,” I growled.

  Dean smirked as he took a drink of the amber liquid. “That’s right. You haven’t fucked her. She’s not a princess.” My scowl deepened, and Dean chuckled. “I’m just teasing you. It’s fucking fun to be able to tease your possessive ass.”

  “Her name is Emily. She will be treated as part of the family. I want her respected,” I reminded him.

  He nodded and held up his hands, as if surrendering. “I got it. No problem. I just want to know exactly what she’ll be doing. Rush’s momma is bringing him to me. Said she needs to get some shopping done. Viv used to help me with him. Is Emily gonna do the same?”

  Rush was Dean’s two-year-old son. He was a cute kid, but he was still a baby. Viv had helped with all that baby shit. I hadn’t thought about Emily having to do that. I wasn’t sure I wanted her to. Rush’s mother, Georgianna, was fucking insane. I wasn’t sure I wanted Emily going anywhere near her kid. Especially considering I’d fucked the bitch a couple of months ago when she’d shown up at one of our after-parties. Too much vodka that night. Then we had fucked a few more times. She kept coming around, and she was really good with her mouth. But she’d gone crazy bitch, and I’d ended that shit.

  “Much as I like your kid, I don’t like his momma. Emily ain’t getting anywhere near Georgianna.”

  Dean took a long swig of his Scotch. When he set the empty glass down, he sighed. “I figured as much. Might as well warn you, Georgianna is also coming to see you. Can’t believe you fucked her. What the hell were you thinking?”

  “I wasn’t thinking. I was trashed and she sucks like a damn vacuum.”

  “I figured as much. But now you got her wanting to see you. Bitch ain’t easy to shake. Her fiancé ran off with her cousin. He called me pissed that I’d knocked her up, and I told him it wasn’t me. Y’all had been fucking. Not me. Now she’s saying he married her cousin. Can’t say I blame him. Georgie’s cousin was gorgeous and fucking sweet. But now she’s on the rebound, and you walked right into that shit.”

  We were gonna have to hire a nanny. I wasn’t letting Emily near her now. No fucking way. “I don’t want that crazy bitch in the house.”

  Dean frowned. “She’s Rush’s mom. I gotta let her come inside.”

  “Then Emily and I’ll be gone. When do they get here?”

  Dean shook his head. “You taking out the help? Seriously? Why are you even pretending this is about Emily working for us? You wanted her here so you could have her. That’s all this is. Admit that shit, and hire a real house manager.”

  If only it were that fucking easy. “When are they coming?” I repeated, ignoring him.

  “She said she’d call when the plane landed.”

  “Hire a nanny. I’m going to see if Emily is up for dinner tonight.” I turned and headed back toward the stairs.

  “Why can’t Emily find me a nanny? That’s her job,” Dean called out after me.

  “Fuck off!” I yelled in reply, and took the stairs two at a time. I was anxious now. I wanted to rescue Emily before Georgianna walked through that door.

  Having my life choices thrown in her face was making me nervous. I hadn’t considered how our worlds colliding would affect things. Emily was the good part of my life. The pure, clean part. I didn’t let the screwed-up shit touch her. But Georgianna showing up to see me while Emily was here was going to force my two worlds to merge.

  I knocked on her door, then opened it without waiting for her to answer. That was a mistake. The fucking best mistake I’d made in my life.

  Emily was standing in front of the mirror in nothing but a pair of pink satin panties and a matching bra. I was jealous of those fucking panties getting to cup her juicy round ass. Her waist was tiny, but damn, she had some sweet hips. I was so lost in soaking up the view, it wasn’t until I heard her panicked voice that I lifted my eyes to meet hers.

  She had spun around to face me. Her arms were wrapped protectively around her front, only making her cleavage stand out more. Those big eyes of hers were what finally snapped me out of the trance she’d put me in.

  “Kiro, turn around. Please,” she begged me. Her voice was shaky and unsure.

  I didn’t want to fucking turn around. Damn, my imagination hadn’t been doing those tits justice.

  “Kiro,” she pleaded.

  I lifted my gaze to hers. “Not sure I can.”

  Her bottom lip trembled slightly. It was beautiful. Everything about her was beautiful. She didn’t say anything as her eyes slowly trailed down my body. My angel was curious.

  I took a few steps toward her, and she didn’t move. She inhaled sharply but didn’t shift her body away from me. Slowly, as if I were a lion stalking its prey, I moved closer. If she made one small movement, I would stop. I swore to myself I’d keep her safe, pure, and sweet, just like I found her six months ago.

  Problem now was, it wasn’t just my dick that wanted her. It was my heart. She’d managed to claim some of it, and I hadn’t thought that was possible. For anyone.

  I stopped in front of her and waited, giving her a moment to make a decision. Her small, fast breaths made her tits bounce in a teasing way that I knew she had no clue she was doing. Which made it even more fucking desirable.

  I reached over and ran the tip of my finger across her collarbone so softly I barely touched her skin. Her body trembled under my touch. Fuck. I wanted her. All of her.

  “Tell me to stop.” I was the one pleading now. If I kept touching her, I was going to mess this up.

  She didn’t respond.

  I let the tip of my finger dip into the deep valley between her tits. Her quick inhale was followed by a shiver. God, I fucking loved it when she shivered.

  “Tell me to stop, Emily,” I repeated. Her words would be the only thing to keep me from taking more.

  “I-I can’t,” she whispered.

  “Why?” I knew the answer, and I knew if she told me why, I’d lose my mind. But I wanted to hear her say she wanted me.

  “I . . .” She paused, and I ran my finger over the lace of her bra. “I want this.”

  Fuck me. She’d said it.

  I was done. That was it for me. This changed everything.

  My hands clamped her waist as I jerked her hard against my body so that I could claim her mouth. Those lips I’d been dreaming of and that sweet taste of honey that haunted my dreams.

  Her arms reached up and wrapped around my neck as she clung to me. Nothing had ever been this important. With one kiss, my life had been altered. It would follow a different path now. One where a woman owned my heart.

  Emily

  Everywhere Kiro touched me tingled with anticipation. Under all the desire was my common sense screaming at me to stop. Sleeping with Kiro would mess up everything. Our friendship would end, and I would be sent back to South Carolina. Just like Vivian.

  That realization was what I needed to stop holding on to Kiro’s hair for dear life and place both my hands on his shoulders and push him back. I wasn’t willing to lose him. I wanted him, but not enough to lose him forever.

  “No,” I panted out as my body screamed at me in frustration. I couldn’t meet Kiro’s eyes. Had I let it go too far already? Would he send me home now because things had gotten awkward?

  “Fuck,” he growled, and his hands clenched at his sides in fists. I felt cold without him. He’d made my entire body hum with warmth and electricity. Now it was just left aching.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t, I shouldn’t have, it will mess up everything. I should have said stop.” I sounded ridiculous, but I was having a hard time catching my breath.

  “Don’t.” His voice was raspy and hard. I studied his hands, because I wasn’t ready to look at his face. His hands were safer. He opened them and closed them tightly several times.

  Just when I was almost brave enough to meet his gaze, he turned and l
eft. The hard slam of the door vibrated throughout the room. I didn’t move to get dressed. My heart was breaking for the first time in my life. I had ruined everything.

  I had made it to the bed before I collapsed and curled up into a ball. What had I done?

  Tears wet my face and dampened the pillow under my head. He had been angry at me. I deserved it, but still, the fact hurt. Not as much as the fear of him sending me away and never hearing his voice again, teasing me. Asking me about my day.

  When I opened my eyes again, the tears on my face were dry, and the sun was down. I had fallen asleep. Sitting up, I turned to see the clock beside the bed. I’d slept for two hours. Kiro hadn’t come back to check on me.

  I hadn’t unpacked yet, and my boxes weren’t in this room. Would I be leaving tomorrow? I took several deep breaths and reminded myself that Kiro had never been mine. This world had never been mine. I would be OK. I would miss him terribly, but I would recover. I just had to stop wallowing in my pain and deal with this.

  I grabbed a pair of shorts and a sleeveless blouse from my bag and quickly dressed. My face was a mess, so I just washed it and left it free of makeup. Once I had cleaned up all traces of my crying jag, I pulled my hair into a ponytail and headed for the door. I had to find Kiro and talk to him.

  I was lost, but then I remembered he had told me to take a bunch of right turns, so I did. Sure enough, I was back at the stairs we had come up earlier. They were as elaborate as this house was. It was easy for two men to live in one house this size. Two families could live here and not see each other if they chose not to.

  Voices trailed down the hall as I hit the bottom step. A high-pitched female voice surprised me. I started toward the voices but stopped when Kiro yelled, “Fuck that! You’re a lying bitch. Leave the kid and go.”

  The kid?