Hatred With Benefits novel Chapter 42

EVA.

"What are you reading?" I drop my gaze from my book to look at Emerson who's sitting right where my bent legs end on the couch.

"A novel. " I state the obvious and Emerson throws me an annoyed look. "Obviously I know it's a novel, Carson. "

With a chuckle, I lift the book I have in hand for him to read the title across the cover before dropping it back to my belly.

"You have a bad taste in books, don't you think?" He teases and a smirk climbs on my face as I lift my body from the couch so I'm sitting close to Emerson. "You do realize you have a copy of this?"

"You looked through my shelves, Carson?" He furrows his brows and I bob my head. "I've been in your room several times. What did you expect?"

Emerson looks away from me and says, "It isn't mine though. It was a gift. "

"But you still have it, and you read it. Maybe my taste isn't as bad as you love to say it is. " I chuckle and he snaps his head to me, the corners of his lips curving into a tiny smirk as he says, "No. Your taste is fucking sweet. " He lifts his hand to my shoulder and slides a finger underneath the strap of my top before he shrugs it to the side.

My eyes fall to his lips, and I wet my lips with my tongue at the sight of his. More tempting than they should be.

"I wanted to ask you something. " Emerson speaks, cutting through the tension that's stimulated between us and I shift my gaze to meet his eyes as I say, "Yeah?"

"Will you leave for home for the semester break?" He questions as he plays with the strap of my top and I lift a teasing brow, "Why, Ford? You don't want me to leave here?"

"That doesn't answer my question, Carson. " He frowns and I let out a chuckle before I say, "Yes, I will. They want me home. "

"Are you saying you would have preferred to stay here if they didn't, Eva?" There the sound goes. There's an obsession that comes with Emerson calling my name. Maybe it's the way it rolls off his tongue in a graceful way, or maybe it's because he never uses it often, but when he does– there's a touch to his voice that ignites something in me.

"I answered your question, Ford. " I tell him and his lips tug up in a small smile before he leans forward, and he's about to meet my lips when there's a knock at the door.

Emerson turns to look at the door before he turns back to me and says, "Are you expecting someone?"

"I should be asking you that; I rarely have someone come over. " I say and shrug his hand off my shoulder, letting it fall from the strap of my top before I move to my feet.

"I don't have anyone coming over," Emerson calls behind me as I stride towards the door.

Pulling it open, I'm met with the least expected face standing in front of me and my mouth opens.

"Eva?" Hanna utters in confusion. She takes a step back and looks around her before she moves back before me. "I'm in the right place. How are you here?"

"Um–" I start, struggling to find my words. "Hey, Hanna. What are you doing here?"

"I came for my brother. How come you are—" she pauses and her eyes widen. "Oh, shoot! Don't tell me you live together? You're the roommate?"

"Who's it?" Emerson's voice queries behind me before I could speak, and the man appears in front of us– surprise masking his face at the sight of his little sister.

"Hanna? What the fuck are you doing here?"

Hanna throws him a smile. "Hello brother. Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Emerson looks at me before he looks back at his sister, and when it seems he isn't going to make a move; I take a step back and gesture for Hanna to move inside. "Come in, please. "

She throws me a flying kiss before she strides inside and I shut the door, nudging Emerson by his shoulder before I jerk my head for him to follow after his sister.

"I'll be back. " He says before he paces forward, grabs Hanna by her arm and drags her to the direction of his room.

EMERSON.

"Why are you here?" I ask Hanna as she stands in the middle of my room and she raises a shoulder, "I got bored at home. "