"Like I said, being enclosed in a room that dark, I don't like it. So I had to get out. We took a taxi, of course. I'm sure your records will show that. I'm not sure what you want from me. That was a very dangerous situation. What was I supposed to do?"
"You were supposed to trust me."
I backed away at his raised voice and the spittle flying from his mouth. "Well, I no longer work for you. It’s unfortunate, but I wasn't a good fit."
He took another step forward, and Zayne angled his body in front of mine.
Middleton was livid. "What the fuck are you doing? I'm trying to have a bloody conversation."
Zayne put his hand on him. "You can have your conversation from over here."
Francis's gaze lifted to mine. "Call off your dogs, Emma.”
"They don't work for me. They work for Bridge. And they have zero intention of taking any orders from me."
Suddenly, a car screeched to a stop at the curb and out hopped my husband. I staggered back in surprise. "Bridge, what are you doing here?"
He didn't look at me. "It doesn't matter.” He pointed at Middleton. “You, get the fuck away from her."
Middleton stepped up to him. "This is your fault. If you hadn't interfered, everything would be fine."
"You can think what you want. Emma was never going to be with you. Even when you met her, she was already mine. So what I need you to do is back the fuck away from my wife and stay that way."
Middleton didn’t back down. Bridge was taller by several inches, but there was something that was pure evil about Francis Middleton, and I was not comfortable with my husband antagonizing him. We were going to take him down and get rid of him. But not publicly on the street. Not like this.
I tried to step toward Bridge, but Zayne blocked my path. "No, madam. Mr. Edgerton has this well in hand."
I glowered at him. "He does not. He's going to make it worse."
Sam, the other bodyguard who’d stayed by the car, came to back Zayne up and walked over to Francis. "Sir, we'll have to ask you to step back."
Middleton shoved at Sam in his chest, but Sam, a six-foot-four Samoan, didn't even budge. Middleton just scowled. "You're going to regret this, Edgerton."
"If you say so. In the meantime, stay away from my wife. She doesn't work for you anymore. Stop following her. Stop coming for her. If you do not, I will find a way to make you burn."
"Is that a threat, brother?"
Bridge smiled at him, but it wasn't humorous in the least. It was all teeth. "It's not a threat, brother. It’s a promise. Stay away from my wife, and we won't have a problem. Now get going."
Middleton slid a glance toward me, and I lifted my chin as I stared him down. Finally, he turned and walked away.
I made it to Bridge. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
He laughed. "Am I okay? When someone texted that you were being followed from the office, I left my meeting."
My eyes went wide. "The Dubai meeting? Weren't you going over the final plans for the opening?"
"Yes."
"Didn't you need to approve that today?"
He shrugged. "Yeah."
"Bridge, you have to be able to work."
He tilted a finger under my chin. "In terms of what's important to me, you're at the top of that list, okay?"
I nodded and wrapped my arms around his waist as he tugged me in then kissed the top of my head. "Get in my car. I'll have Zayne and Sam follow us. Cancel with the girls."
"What? No."
"After something like that, yes. They can meet us at London Lords. Let's just say it'll give me peace of mind, okay?"
I nodded and he took my hand, turning it over so he could kiss my palm as his gaze slowly slid up my body. "Mr. Edgerton, that is not a protective look."
"Oh, it is. I am one hundred percent thinking about protecting what's mine."
Forty-Three
Bridge
The next morning, Emma rolled over in my arms and I squeezed her tighter. "Are you awake?"
She groaned. "Oh my God, there is no possible way that you can go again."
I laughed. "Obviously, you have not been paying attention."
"Oh my God, I'm begging you. My uterus, my vagina, my ass…"
I winced. "Too rough?"
She giggled and tucked into me. "No, but you are, well… quite endowed."
Of course, I couldn't help the self-satisfied grin. "Well, I can't help that. Honestly, it's a disease."
She slapped at my chest, and I caught her wrist when she went for a second round. "Uh-uh-uh, naughty girls don't get treats."
She lifted her brows. "Oooh, cinnamon buns?"
I laughed, because nine times out of ten, Emma was thinking about her stomach. "No. It's something else you like more."
She bit her bottom lip. “French toast? The one where you put the orange rind in it? You know I like that."
My stomach started to rumble then. Okay, fair enough, we were both hungry. “Actually, I was thinking of something a little bit different.”
I rolled her on her back, kissing her jawline, and then down to that smooth, elegant neck, and then her collarbone.
"Didn't I already tell you that my vagina is on strike?"
I kissed her neck. “Are you sure?”
Emma giggled. "Only a little.”
I lifted my head to determine her level of seriousness. I had been a bit enthusiastic in our lovemaking last night. What she didn't realize was that I was checking her for bruises. I would never, ever want to leave marks on her. But her cinnamon brown skin was smooth and unmarred. There was a little whisker burn at the tops of her breasts, but that was it, really. I hadn't been too rough. "So, what you're asking for is for me to kiss the boo-boo?"
She grinned at me. "Yes. I mean, you know what you need to do."
I laughed so hard and then kissed down to her belly button. When I gently nipped the skin, she wiggled and squealed. "Bridge, that tickles."
"Oh, you're ticklish?" I teased her.
I started to tease her ribs with my fingers and she gasped. "Oh my God, do not."
I could only laugh as I bracketed her hips with my hands, hoisted her up several inches, and shifted my weight down until that beautiful pussy was right in front of me.
"Bridge, if you think that—"
I was listening. Honestly, I was. It's just I'd been thinking about something else entirely for breakfast, and since it was right there, I was just going to go ahead and have a bite. And then I'd feed her.
Like you can stop with just one bite.
Once I planted my mouth on her sex, all giggling stopped. She slid her hand to my hair and tugged. "Fuck, Bridge."
I lapped at her gently and then lifted my head, but she tried to force me back down. "I thought you said you were hungry."
"Well, perhaps I could be convinced to be more patient."
I laughed at that. "Ah, there’s my girl. Always willing to negotiate and change her opinion."
"Uh-huh, now can you get back to your breakfast? I want you well fed."