Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 34

EVA.

After hours of messing around with the ocean, my hair is all wet and Emerson Ford stands in front of me with a proud grin on his face.

"It isn't funny. " I scowl at him when I raise my head to meet his gaze and he chuckles before stepping closer to me.

"Move your hands. " He says and when I don't comply with his request, he takes my hands in his grip and swats them away from my wet hair before he grabs a fistful of the hair and squeezes, letting the water drops trail down my face.

"You should have told me to tilt my head. " I tell him as I angle my head to the side while he gives it another compression.

"You should have been smart enough to know what to do. " Emerson responds and I give a slap to the side of his thigh, which earns me a yank on my hair.

"Don't forget I have something more painful in my hold, Carson. " He taunts and I snicker before looking down at his wet boxers, taking a gulp at the fact that his cock is literally in my face.

"There, all done. " Emerson says and moves away from me, and I pull my eyes from his lower body to stare up at him. "You're getting dressed with that?" I jerk my head to his wet boxers and he shakes his head.

"I have new ones in my car. " He informs and I hum before moving to my feet. I watch as Emerson raises his head to the sky and squints his eyes at the soaring sun. He looks back at me and says, "We should leave. "

I nod and give a last glance to the ocean, a smile on my face as we make our way back to where the car is parked. Emerson moves to the truck to leave his board and change into new fits before he climbs into the driver's seat.

"Are we headed somewhere else?" I ask him as he starts the engine and he taps on the screen of his phone, which displays the time before he says, "I should get you back home. "

I grab my phone from my side and open the new texts from Aliya.

ALIYA: She is and she's staying for long this time, so I guess I'll be heading home at the end of the semester.

ALIYA: Where the fuck are you, bitch?

ALIYA: Are you coming soon or do I have to come down there and drag you back with me? I miss your stupid ass here.

ME: I know you can't leave a second of your life without me, bitch. I'll be back soon, though; she's all better.

I click on the send button before I drop the phone and twist my body to Emerson's view. He drums his fingers on the steering to the beat of the music that booms from the radio with his gaze focused on the road before him, while the other hand rests on the window by his side.

"You might want to take a picture to stare at later, Carson. " His mocking voice echoes in the space of the car and I look away from him with reddened cheeks before I say, "There are better things to use for that space, Ford. I'd rather not. "

Emerson laughs and drops his hand to my exposed thigh, squeezing it before he lets it stay there, and I bite down on my tongue to keep down the words that threaten to move from my throat– words that'll lead to him stopping the car to sate the mess between my thighs.

~

"We're here. " Emerson announces and I lift my head from the car window to take my eyes to him. He meets my gaze and says, "You won't get a thank you from me, Carson. "

A chortle falls from my lips as I unfasten my seatbelt and mumble, "I know, Ford. I wasn't expecting one. "

I take my phone from the side and move out of the car with Emerson climbing out through the other door, and I take a look around when he walks around the car to my side.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Emerson follows my eyes before we keep each other's gazes. "Your father is miles away from here, in his office, Carson. You don't have to worry about—" Emerson doesn't get to finish his words before there's a call of his name.

"Emerson?" We both turn our heads to see Hanna Ford approaching us and Emerson grumbles under his breath as he turns away from me and steps forward.

"Why have you not been answering your calls? You got everyone worried. " The pretty girl complains with a frown on her face as she stops in front of us.

"What did I tell you about lying to me?" Is Emerson's response and Hanna opens her mouth to reply, but she pauses and peeks behind him, at me. I don't miss the way her eyes barely widen at the sight of me before she turns her gaze back to her brother and whispers some words I can't make out, but I've got some hints on.

There are a few minutes of them exchanging words in low voices before Hanna suddenly steps away from Emerson to my side, a huge grin on her face as she grabs my arm.

"Hey! I'm Hanna. We've met a few times, right?" She greets me in a cheerful voice and I nod with a small smile. "Yes, we have, Hanna. It's nice to finally interact with you. "

"Wow–" she exclaims, slipping her hand out of mine and I lift my brows at her in confusion. "You sound nice. That's completely different from the perception I had of you. "

A laugh slips through my parted lips at her words before I say, "You shouldn't judge people before you get to meet them; don't you think?"

Hanna's smile widens and she turns to her older brother, with a finger pointed at me as she says, "I like her. "

Emerson looks done with her from where he stands and I drop my gaze to Hanna when she turns back to me and says, "I thought you both hated each other? Why are you together and on—" Emerson steps forward before Hanna gets to finish her words and drags her away from me.

"You need to head back home. " He says sternly and Hanna frowns, "Why? Am I interrupting something?"

"Hanna–" Emerson calls in a warning tone and Hanna sighs before she says, "Fine, I'll leave, and you should probably be more careful. Dad would have your head if he sees this. "

Emerson loosens his grip on her arm and slips his hand into his pants pockets. "I know. I'm not a child. "

"I'll see you at home then, brother. There's a birthday surprise waiting for you–" Hanna stops speaking when Emerson gives her a look and the girl chuckles awkwardly before stepping away.

"It was nice to meet you, Eva. " She says, twisting her body away from her brother's harsh gaze and I smile at her as I say, "You too, Hanna. "

With another glance at the two of us, she walks down the path that leads to the houses and when she's completely out of sight, I turn to Emerson who heaves a sigh.

"I told you she's annoying. " He groans as he trudges closer to me and I shake my head in opposition to his words before I say, "She isn't. She sounds fun. "

Emerson lets out an amused laugh at my words, "Hanna? Fun? She's everything, but that, Carson. "

"That's conceivably because you've got the worst opinions on people. " I point out and Emerson's frustrated look is replaced with a mischievous one. "You think I've got the worst opinion of you?"

"There's no complaint about that since it applies to both sides. " I give a raise of my shoulder and Emerson cackles before the sound dies down and we both fall into silence.

As his gaze starts to turn intense, I clear my throat and say, "She mentioned something about a birthday?"

Emerson looks away from me after those words and I narrow my eyes at him, "Is it your birthday, Ford?"

"No. " His response comes quick and sharp. When he looks back at me, I fold my arms against my chest and furrow my brows at him, and in a fall of his chest, Emerson whispers, "Yes. "