Pleasure jolts me from the depths of dreamless sleep, a warm, wet sensation coaxing me back to consciousness. I moan, my body responding before my mind can catch up, hips shifting instinctively toward the source of that delicious feeling.
"Mmm?" I mumble, eyelids fluttering open to find Emily's silver head bobbing between my legs, her mouth working magic on my morning wood. When she notices I'm awake, her eyes crinkle at the corners despite her lips being otherwise occupied. There's something wickedly playful in her gaze as she holds my stare, taking me deeper.
She releases me with a soft pop, her lips glistening. "It's four in the afternoon," she purrs, one hand still stroking me with practiced precision. "I figured around now would be a good time to wake you up."
The room is bathed in late afternoon light, golden rays filtering through the curtains and highlighting the silver strands of her hair. I must have slept for hours, my breakdown this morning fading into a hazy memory compared to the vivid reality of Emily's touch.
"Thank you so much," I manage, my voice still rough with sleep. "I slept really well thanks to your help."
Emily's smile widens as she crawls up my body, her skin sliding against mine. When she settles on top of me, straddling my hips, her weight feels right in a way Holly's never could, warm, familiar, safe.
"You were exhausted, baby," she whispers, leaning down to press her lips against my forehead. "I was worried about you."
The tenderness in her voice makes my chest ache. I reach up, threading my fingers through her silky white hair, drawing her down for a proper kiss.
"I'm okay now," I lie, because what else can I say? That your daughter is blackmailing me? That I've been violated and coerced? The words stick in my throat, impossible to voice while Emily looks at me with such pure love.
She studies my face, her blue eyes searching mine. "Are you sure? This morning..." She traces my cheekbone with her thumb. "I've never seen you break down like that before."
"Just exhaustion," I say, attempting a smile that feels brittle on my face. "Nothing some good sleep couldn't fix."
Emily shifts her weight, a mischievous glint in her eye as she raises herself slightly. Without warning, she guides me inside her, sinking down in one fluid motion that makes my breath catch in my throat. I bite my lip to keep from moaning too loudly as she envelops me completely, her warmth like velvet around me.
"God," I whisper, my hands finding her hips instinctively.
She begins a slow, deliberate rhythm, rising and falling with the practiced grace that never fails to mesmerize me. Her eyes remain locked on mine, something contemplative flickering behind the desire.
"Dan, I was..." she starts, her voice unexpectedly serious despite our intimate connection. "Can we have a serious conversation?"
I blink up at her, momentarily confused by the shift in mood. "Right now? While we're...?"
My hands gesture vaguely at our joined bodies, the absurdity of discussing anything important while physically connected not lost on me.
Emily doesn't stop moving, but her pace slows to an almost meditative rise and fall. "Doing it with you makes me feel close," she explains softly. "Safe. Like I can tell you anything and you'll still look at me the way you're looking at me now."
The vulnerability in her voice catches me off guard. I reach up to touch her face, tracing the delicate line of her jaw with my fingertips.
"You can tell me anything," I assure her, my body still responding to her gentle movements despite the unexpected turn. "What is it?"
Emily's eyes soften as her rhythm falters slightly. She tucks a strand of silver hair behind her ear, looking almost nervous.
"Why don't you quit your job at the Quick Mart?" she asks, her voice gentle but direct.
"What?" The question catches me completely off-guard, breaking through my pleasure-hazed mind.
She rocks her hips slowly, maintaining our connection as she elaborates. "It doesn't pay well, right? And you clearly don't enjoy it." Her hands slide up my chest, fingers splaying across my skin. "I wouldn't mind supporting you. Actually, I'd love having you home all the time."
There's something desperate in her tone that I've never heard before. Her movements grow erratic, no longer the controlled, sensual rhythm from moments ago but something needier, almost frantic. Her fingers dig into my shoulders as she grinds against me, her breathing ragged.
"I make more than enough for both of us," she continues, words tumbling out faster now. "You could go back to school, or just rest, or do whatever makes you happy. I just..." She gasps as a particularly deep thrust hits something sensitive inside her. "I just want you here, with me, not staying awake all day, slowly killing yourself."
"I don't want to be some bum, Emily." The words come out more forcefully than I intended, my hands gripping her hips as she continues to ride me. "If anything, I want to be the one taking care of you."
She moans suddenly, her back arching as she finds that perfect angle. Her eyes roll back briefly before she catches herself, refocusing on my face with visible effort.
"That's sweet, but completely unnecessary," she says, her voice breathless as she slows her movements. "What about community college? Have you ever thought about that?"
I turn my face away, shame burning hot beneath my skin. "I didn't finish high school."
Emily cups my chin, gently turning my face back toward hers. There's no judgment in her eyes, only warmth and something that looks dangerously like hope.
"Then get your GED first," she says, leaning down to press her forehead against mine. Her hair falls around us like a silver curtain, creating an intimate cocoon. "After that, community college. I can help with the money, all of it."
The offer hangs between us, tempting and terrifying all at once. I've been taking care of myself for so long that until I met Emily, the idea of accepting help felt like failure.
"I don't know..." I mumble, my hips still moving in rhythm with hers despite the serious turn in conversation.
"Just think about it," she whispers, picking up the pace again. Her fingers dig into my chest as she straightens, taking me deeper. "You deserve more than stocking shelves all night."
Emily shifts her weight, leaning closer to me, her eyes suddenly intense with a desperate kind of hope.
"But imagine not working at all," she whispers, interlacing our fingers together. "We could spend all our time together."
Her voice takes on a dreamy quality as she continues to rock gently on top of me, our bodies still connected in the most intimate way.
"We could cook together," she continues, squeezing my hands. "Watch TV, go for walks. Discover new things about ourselves."
She leans down, pressing her lips against mine in a kiss that feels different from her usual ones, more urgent, more needy. When she pulls back, there's something almost vulnerable in her eyes.
"I'd love to just always be close," she whispers, her voice catching slightly. "Always be... connected."
The raw desire in her expression makes my chest tighten. I've never seen Emily like this before, so openly desperate for my presence, my time. Despite everything going on with Holly, despite the mess my life has become, I find myself wanting to give Emily whatever she needs.
"It sounds like heaven," I admit, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
Her entire face lights up, joy radiating from her like physical warmth. "Then come to heaven with Mommy," she whispers, her lips brushing against my ear as she grinds down harder.
The urgency in her voice ignites something primal inside me. I thrust upward as she grinds down, our bodies finding a perfect, desperate rhythm. Heat builds at the base of my spine, coiling tighter with each movement.
"I'm close," I gasp, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her hips.
Emily's eyes lock with mine, pupils blown wide with desire. "Me too, baby," she pants. "Together, okay? I want us together."
The pressure builds, impossible to resist. My body tenses as the first wave hits me, pleasure exploding outward from where we're connected. Emily feels it too, her back arches dramatically, her inner walls pulsing around me as she finds her release at the same moment.
She collapses forward, capturing my mouth in a kiss that's all hunger and need. Her tongue slides against mine, messy and urgent, as I empty myself inside her. She moans into my mouth, the vibration traveling through my entire body as aftershocks of pleasure ripple between us.
"I love you," she gasps between kisses, her voice breaking. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
Each declaration feels like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man. I cling to her words, to her body, as if she's the only solid thing in my fracturing world.
"I love you too," I whisper back, my voice raw with emotion. "God, Emily, I love you so much."
I surrender completely to her embrace, melting into her as she continues to whisper those three words against my lips, my cheek, my forehead. In this moment, nothing else exists, not Holly, not the blackmail, not my dead-end job. Just Emily and the sanctuary of her arms.