The sound of Emily’s alarm pierced through the peaceful morning silence, jolting her awake. She groaned, burying her face deeper into Lucas’ chest.
“Fuck,” she muttered, her voice still thick with sleep. “Fucking hell. Goddamn alarm. Shit.”
Lucas stirred beside her, his arm tightening around her waist. “Everything okay, baby girl?”
Emily lifted her head, glaring at her phone on the nightstand. “No, everything is not fucking okay. I have to go to work, deal with Sophia pulling knowing faces, and I’d rather stay here and fuck you senseless all day.”
She flopped back onto the pillow, throwing an arm over her eyes dramatically. “Why can’t I just win the lottery and never get out of bed again?”
Lucas chuckled, propping himself up on an elbow to look at her. “You love what you do, baby girl. And you’d get bored without office politics.”
Emily peeked at him from under her arm, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t make me laugh. I’m trying to wallow in self-pity here.”
“Sorry, my mistake,” Lucas said, his tone mock-serious. “Please, continue cursing the universe for your terrible fate.”
Emily sat up, the sheet falling away to reveal her naked body. She stretched, enjoying the pleasant ache in her muscles from their activities the night before. “Maybe I should just call in sick,” she mused, already imagining spending the day tangled up with Lucas.
But even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew she couldn’t. As much as she wanted to stay in this bubble with Lucas, real life was calling.
With a heavy sigh, Emily swung her legs over the side of the bed. “No rest for the wicked, I guess,” she said, standing up and heading for the shower.
As she walked away, she heard Lucas call out, “Hey, Em?”
She turned, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “How about I join you in that shower? Might make the morning a little more bearable.”
Emily laughed, feeling some of her earlier frustration melt away. “Well, when you put it like that… Race you there!”
Emily strode into her office, the click of her heels echoing off the polished floors. She tossed her bag onto her desk and sighed with relief. “Made it by 8:30. Bloody miracle.”
As she booted up her computer, a flash of colour in the window caught her eye. Emily leaned closer, squinting at her reflection. “Oh for fuck’s sake,” she muttered, tilting her head to examine two very obvious love bites blooming on her neck.
Her mind raced. The quarterly review meeting was in an hour. How the hell was she going to explain these? A curling iron mishap? Attacked by leeches? She snorted at her own absurdity.
Emily yanked open her desk drawers, rifling through pens and sticky notes. “Come on, come on. There’s got to be a hair tie in here somewhere.”
Papers flew as she upended a file organiser. Her frantic search sent a stapler clattering to the floor. “Bollocks!”
Just as despair set in, her fingers closed around a small elastic. “Yes!” She held it up triumphantly.
With practiced movements, Emily quickly plaited her chestnut hair, draping it artfully over her shoulder to conceal the evidence of last night’s passion. She studied her handiwork in the window, adjusting a few strands.
“Not bad, Carter,” she murmured. “Crisis averted.”
As Emily settled into her chair, a hint of a smile played at her lips. The marks may be hidden, but the memories of Lucas’ touch lingered. Perhaps being naughty had its perks after all.
Emily pulled out her phone, thumbs flying across the screen as she composed a text to Lucas:
Baby Girl: Heads up, Mr. Bite-Happy. Just noticed your handiwork on my neck. Had to get creative with a plait to avoid looking like I’ve been mauled by a vampire. Quarterly meeting today – can’t have the team thinking I’m moonlighting as a chew toy.
She hit send, imagining the smirk that would cross Lucas’ face when he read it. Part of her felt a thrill at the secret they shared, hidden beneath her professional exterior.
Daddy: Sorry, baby girl. Couldn’t help myself. You taste too good.
Emily felt heat rise to her cheeks. She glanced around furtively, half-expecting her coworkers to read the message over her shoulder.
“Bastard,” she muttered, fighting a grin. “Two can play at this game.”
Baby Girl: Keep it up and next time I’ll leave claw marks down your back. See how you explain that at the gym.
Emily set her phone down, trying to focus on the stack of reports on her desk. But her mind kept drifting to Lucas – his touch, his taste, the way he made her feel both cherished and deliciously dirty.
“Get it together, Carter,” she chided herself. “You’ve got a meeting to crush.”
Emily strode into the conference room, head held high despite the nagging worry about her neck. As she settled into her chair, she caught her parents’ eyes across the table. Their puzzled expressions made her stomach drop.
‘Shit,’ she thought, tugging self-consciously at her plait. ‘So much for my brilliant cover-up.’
Throughout the meeting, she felt their gazes boring into her, curiosity and concern radiating off them in waves. Emily tried to focus on the quarterly numbers, but her mind kept drifting to the inevitable awkward conversation looming on the horizon.
As soon as the meeting adjourned, Emily bolted from her seat, making a beeline for Sophia’s desk.
“Lunch. Now. I need carbs and sympathy,” she declared, grabbing her friend’s arm.
Sophia raised an eyebrow but allowed herself to be dragged along. “Whoa, what’s the emergency?”
“I’ll explain over a giant panini and a lot of coffee.”
Once seated at their favorite cafe, Emily let out a dramatic groan. “Soph, I’m so fucked.”
“Literally or figuratively?” Sophia quipped, earning her a glare.
“Both, actually. I’ve definitely got a fun conversation with the parents coming this afternoon…”
Sophia raised one eyebrow, curiosity piqued.
With a resigned sigh, Emily flicked her plait aside, revealing the constellation of love bites adorning her neck.
“Holy shit, Em!” Sophia exclaimed, eyes widening. “Did you get mauled by a horny vampire?”
Emily snorted with laughter, nearly choking on her coffee. “Yeah, something like that. And I’ve already told Lucas off for it this morning. Didn’t even notice until I got to work, or I would’ve detoured home for a scarf.”
Sophia leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye. “So, details. How was it?”
Emily felt her cheeks flush, memories of the previous night flooding back. “Let’s just say it was… intense. In the best way possible.”
“Damn, girl. Get it,” Sophia grinned, raising her coffee cup in a mock toast.
Emily rolled her eyes, but couldn’t suppress her smile. “Yeah, well, now I’ve got to face the inquisition from Mum and Dad. They definitely noticed during the meeting.”
“What are you gonna tell them?” Sophia asked, munching on her salad.
Emily sighed, pushing her food around her plate. “The truth, I guess. I’m a grown-ass woman, after all. It’s just… awkward, you know?”
“Could always say you fell on a doorknob. Repeatedly,” Sophia suggested with a wink.
“Right, because that’s totally believable,” Emily laughed, shaking her head. “God, I feel like I’m sixteen again, sneaking around.”
As they finished their lunch, Emily’s phone buzzed.
Daddy: Hope the meeting went well. Dinner tonight?
Baby Girl: It did, minus the hickey situation, my parents were in that meeting you know.
Baby Girl: Dinner sounds great. My place? I have access to scarves then if I need to hide love bites.
Daddy: I would apologise, but I’m not going to. You’re too delicious, baby girl.
“You’re incorrigible,” Sophia teased, catching the goofy grin on Emily’s face.
“Shut up,” Emily retorted, but there was no heat in it. Despite the impending awkwardness with her parents, she couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement for what the evening might bring.
Sophia leaned forward, her hazel eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, when are you seeing Lucas again? Judging by that smile, I’m guessing soon?”
Emily tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushing slightly. “He’s coming over for dinner tonight, actually.”
“Ooh, dinner at yours?” Sophia waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Sounds… intimate.”
Emily kicked her friend’s shin lightly under the table. “I was at his last night for dinner, not for the first time, it’s probably my turn to cook.”
Sophia tilted her head, studying Emily’s face. “You know, I haven’t seen you this happy in a while. Do you think this could become a long-term thing?”
Emily paused, considering the question. She thought about Lucas’ piercing blue eyes, the way he made her feel both safe and exhilarated. But she also remembered the pain of her last relationship, the betrayal that had left her wary of commitment.
“I’m not sure,” she finally said, shrugging. “But… it could do. There’s definitely potential there.”