The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Daniel looked up from his laptop, and something in his expression softened. “More than okay. He closed the screen. What do you want to do?”

“Could we…” I hesitated, suddenly feeling shy. “Maybe watch a movie? Together?”

His answer was to stand and cross to the windows, drawing the heavy curtains closed until the room fell into comfortable dimness. He moved to the entertainment center, and soft light from the TV screen illuminated his profile as he scrolled through options.

“Any preferences?” he asked.

“You choose.”

He settled on Beauty and the Beast, the animated Disney version, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Daniel returned to the sofa, and this time I didn’t hesitate. I climbed directly onto his lap, my legs folding on either side of his thighs, my hands coming to rest on his shoulders.

His breath caught-I heard it, felt the way his chest hitched beneath my palms.

“Emma,” he said, and there was a warning in his voice, rough and strained.

But I just settled more comfortably against him, watching the way his ears flushed pink, then red. It fascinated me, this visible evidence of his reaption. I reached up, unable to resist, and touched the heated shell of his ear with gentle fingers.

Daniel’s eyes fluttered closed. His eyelids looked faintly red, and when he opened them again, his pupils were dilated, dark and wanting.

His hands found my waist, grip firm but careful. “What are you doing?” His voice was steady, controlled-but I could feel his heart racing beneath my palm.

“Sitting with you,” I said innocently. “Watching a movie.”

“Emma.” My name was half warning, half plea.

I smiled and pressed a kiss to his jaw, light and teasing, before finally-mercifully-shifting to sit beside him instead, tucking myself against his

side.

“Okay,” I said finally, my voice coming out slightly breathless. “I’ll be good.”

His arm came around me immediately, and I felt the tension slowly drain from his body as the opening credits began to play.

“You’re trouble,” he murmured against my hair.

I smiled into his shoulder. “You like it.”

But I couldn’t seem to settle. My fingers traced idle patterns on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath the fabric of his shirt. I shifted closer, then closer still, until I was practically in his lap again. My lips found the line of his jaw, pressing soft kisses there.

9:04 am P ppp.

Chapter 158

“Emma. His voice held a warning, but it was weaker than before.

“Hmm?” I hummed against his skin, deliberately innocent.

His hand caught my chin, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. They were dark, pupils blown wide, and something in his expression had shifted from restraint to something more dangerous.

‘You’ve been testing me all day,” he said, his voice low and rough. “Is that what you want? To see how far you can push?”

Before I could answer, he moved-swift and decisive-shifting our positions until I was on my back on the sofa, his body covering mine, caging

me in. One hand braced beside my head, the other still on my waist, holding me steady.

My breath caught. This Daniel-intense, unleashed-made my heart race.

“I- My voice came out small, breathless. “I’m still sore from last time.”

I watched his expression shift, saw the way his jaw tightened as he processed my words. But instead of pulling away, he lowered his head until his lips were at my throat.

“Then I’ll be gentle,” he murmured against my skin, and the promise in his voice made heat pool low in my belly. “So gentle, baby. I’ll take care

of you.”

1

His mouth found mine, and this kiss was different-slower, deeper, full of restrained intensity. His hands moved with deliberate care, as though I were something precious and fragile.

“Tell me if it’s too much,” he whispered between kisses. “Tell me, and I’ll stop.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify