Luke opened the door and waited for Emma to enter the restaurant ahead of him. She looked stunning in the emerald green dress he’d bought her. It was an above-the-knee length boat-neck dress with long split sleeves and sequined cuffs. She wore taupe pumps and subtle fishnet thigh-high stockings beneath with—his favorite part—a quarter-cup bra. She’d only looked at him when she’d taken it out of the box, but he’d explained she might be more comfortable given the tender state of her breasts after that morning’s rough treatment. The bra lifted her full breasts and pushed the peaks to the fine material of the dress. It took all Luke had to keep the image of her in the sexy underthings at bay. There’d be time enough to play later. First they needed to talk.
They were seated at their table right away and he ordered a bottle of wine while Emma used the ladies’ room. Luke sipped the cool Pinot Grigio while waiting for her to return. Her words earlier that afternoon kept repeating in his mind. She’d told him she loved him and that scared him. No, not that itself; more his own reaction to those three little words. He swore his heart had beaten an extra round as she’d whispered, “I love you” before she’d drifted off to sleep. She’d been so soft, so completely relaxed after her violent orgasm. Leaving her bound with the vibrator inside her had done its job, but maybe too well. He couldn’t have her falling in love with him; it wasn’t a part of the plan. And he certainly couldn’t fall in love with her.
He stood when she returned to the table, still looking a little shy. She remembered well her words, he’d seen that this afternoon when she’d come downstairs. It would have been easier if she didn’t. Should he bring it up? Clear the elephant from the room? His rational mind assured him that it was just endorphins, the rush of excitement, the energy in their sex play. But his heart told him otherwise.
“Every man in the room has his eye on you tonight, Emma,” he said.
She smiled. “I think it’s the dress; you have impeccable taste, Mr. Roark.”
“I think it’s the woman in the dress.” He sipped his drink. The waiter set their plates in front of them and after ensuring they didn’t need anything else, left them alone.
They made small talk while eating. Luke watched her intently throughout the meal and only when they’d finished, and the waiter cleared their plates, did he begin.
“Emma,” he said, not sure how she was going to react to his news, but knowing full well the words he was about to speak were not what she was expecting. “I spoke with Nate today.”
Her smile disappeared and she put her glass down. He could see her entire body tense.
“He told me what happened.”
She picked her half-full glass back up and drank the liquid down.
“I hope you’ll forgive me for doing it, I was worried.”
She took a moment before responding. “You had no right to go behind my back,” she said.
“I wanted to help you and I’m not sorry I did it. You lied to me, Emma. Nate’s been worried; he hasn’t heard from you in two months.”
“What did he tell you?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest, hurt and anger battling for control. He could see the two were at level ground, for now.
“Everything. I know about the rape, the…consequences of the rape.”
A sudden swell of emotion made her chest heave as she sucked in a desperate breath. He couldn’t even say what it was: a baby. A baby that didn’t survive.
“I think I understand what’s going on with you a little better, Emma.”
“I want to go,” she said, searching through her purse and refusing to meet his eyes once she’d found a tissue. She inhaled another deep, shaky breath, dabbed at the corners of her eyes, and turned to him. “I want to go now.” She was remarkably calm.
“I also know about the drugs,” he continued.
“You don’t know anything.” This time she stood.
His hand closed over her wrist. “I know enough to have an idea what you need. Sit down.”
“No.”
“Now, Emma. Sit down. Do it while I’m asking nicely.”
She considered him and he increased the pressure on her wrist just a little. She sat. “I want to go,” she said again.
“Hear me out first, then you can decide what you want.”
She didn’t say anything, but remained seated so he went on. “Nate wanted to come and get you…”
She cut him off. “No…I’m not going with him.”
“I told him I’d talk to you and that you’d call him yourself tomorrow,” he said and watched her physically relax. “He wants to help you, to take care of you…”