The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO) novel Chapter 301

“So do most of your leggy boobs.” She sulked at him again, big doe eyes that sucker punched him more, and a little petted mouth that was killing him right now. He couldn’t believe he was contemplating walking back to his room and stopping this.

“They’re not the same. Not even close, bella. They don’t have the other side to her … That’s what I mean by “I like you both”. One can’t exist without the other. I wouldn’t like there to be only one and not the other.” He shrugged being almost completely open about his feelings for her.

“So, you like my split personality? … A lover of the cray cray.” She grinned playfully motioning in circles at her temples and crossing her eyes. He smiled, that overwhelming affection for her cuteness hitting him hard and making his mind up for him. He wouldn’t abuse her trust when she was drunk. He loved her and that meant no breaking boundaries when she was vulnerable.

Fuck you, Carrero, wimp!

He moved another hair from her face taking a last longing look with the intention of saying goodnight. Every part of his body was yelling at him, but he didn’t care. He wanted her to be able to face him in the morning and deep down he knew this was not the way it should be between them.

“It’s not split though, there’re glimpses of both versions all the time, just one chooses to dominate … I see drunk Emma sometimes in PA Emma. When she occasionally relaxes too.” He had lost all his merriness, sobering up hard and lingering when he should have been walking out.

“Maybe she doesn’t know how to relax all the time,” she confessed with a conspiratorial wink. Emma couldn’t look anything but gorgeous to him.

“I think she’s scared,” he answered thoughtfully, not sure if it was her he was talking about anymore, or him.

Was he too scared to try to move things on? Was her being drunk an excuse?

“Why?” She watched him carefully, that sweet inquisitive expression on that flawless face. He stood up, his hands moving to cross across his chest and moved away from her. Putting distance between them deliberately.

“Because letting her guard down means she lets go a bit of control and she likes to hold it all together. Letting go makes her vulnerable, leaves her exposed, and that’s worse than death for her.” His voice was steady and low, betraying none of his emotion; it’s what he knew about her, but she didn’t know it was about him too. Moving in on Emma was letting his guard down fully, removing the final barrier which had kept him safe from complete devastation. Wimping out was about protecting him as much as her. Protecting his heart from being broken again.

“If I’m vulnerable, people can hurt me … Men can hurt me,” she whispered into the darkness of the room, sounding suddenly fearful, bringing him out of his own head and that fierce protective instinct for her coming out to play. Watching her he bent so his forehead met hers and pressed their noses together, an awkward position for him but as natural as breathing. He wanted to comfort her and make her feel safe. He would always keep her safe. It took precedence over everything.

“I’d never let anyone hurt you, Emma.” He breathed against her. His hands coming down to hold his weight on the mattress at either side of her thighs so he could stay leaning over her. Bringing them close enough to breathe the same air and smell her gentle tropical skin.

“What if you couldn’t stop them?” She suddenly sounded so young and vulnerable and he wanted to squeeze her badly. He would die to protect her, always.

“I’d always stop them.” He promised with conviction in his voice because he truly meant it. Emma sank toward him impulsively, looking like a lost child, reaching up so she could wrap her arms around his neck and brought their foreheads to touch. He wanted to close his eyes at the way she initiated this cuddle and imprint it to memory, she didn’t often initiate touch at all.

“You won’t always be around,” she said quietly.

“I’m always around if you haven’t noticed,” he said softly, bringing attention to the fact that since he had met her he had engineered almost a constant presence on purpose. Even before he knew what she was becoming to him, he had wanted her around him all the time.

He felt her lift her head and tug him a little closer, so their eyes could lock. The most intimate thing Emma had ever done, and he had to steel himself back in to stop the impulse to kiss her again. She looked so trusting which only calmed his fire.