The night played out differently than Emma had hoped, but if anything, it held up a mirror to what Will was like.
Emma liked to be organised. She liked the security of tidy surroundings, in knowing that her most treasured possessions were where she had left them. She looked around; empty beer bottles stacked up into the shape of a pyramid, sheets of paper just left haphazardly on sides and tables. They were different, but she managed to see past this into his soul. He looked lost, puzzled by the experience of growing up.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a brunette with unfairly long legs emerged from what Emma gathered was Will's bedroom.
She didn't bother acknowledging Emma as she strutted into the room in just a shirt and panties, nor did she didn't seem too bothered when Will stumbled upon her name to introduce the two women.
Will seemed embarrassed, his weak smile said as much. But the woman took no notice, making herself comfortable by sprawling her long legs all over Will.
The three of them barely made conversation, the brunette was preoccupied with darting her tongue in and out of Will's ear and lobe, leaving the bitter taste of disgust in Emma's mouth. She hadn't known women to be so forward when it came to that sort of thing, she certainly wasn't. Her first and only boyfriend had been her best friend Ryan. He had been shy like Emma, but sweet natured and caring. Her mother had approved, on the basis that although his hair was blond, his mother and father were red, making it acceptable for him to take her daughter out. But they didn't get far. Touches seemed so sacred and forbidden at their age and so when they did connect, they found safety underneath Emma's animal printed covers.
The brunette on the other hand didn't seem to be too shy, judging by the way her hand drifted down to Will's crotch. Emma heard a faint murmur from Will's lips, and Emma stretched out her ear to try and hear.
Sarah, as Emma found out left the room, the heat and water from the shower spraying her olive tanned skin that had been assaulted by Will's lips and hands that night.
Will mouthed a sorry to Emma, his eyes drawn away from her.
"She's leaving."
"Oh", Emma was secretly relieved.
"Listen, I'm sorry about - tonight. If I had known, or you know, listened to my messages -"
"It's ok, really," Emma nodded, not really believing what she was saying. Discomfort and embarrassment stayed in the room with her and although she was attracted to him, his conduct to women made her apprehensive.
They heard the door slam hard, signalling that Sarah had departed.
"I'm not seeing her again" he revealed, although Emma wondered if the words were more of a comfort to him, rather than to her. She wondered how many women he had shared himself with, and whether she would just be another conquest to attain. With the latter thought, she began to stand.
"I should, unpack."
Will watched her from the couch. She looked naive and young as her tongue cooled her pink lips. He hadn't made the best impression, and he didn't blame her for wanting to exit. But he didn't want to end their first night like this. He appeared heartless, when it came to the women that shared his bed anyway. But he didn't want that side of him to come across to her. He wondered what sweet Emma would be like in bed, whether she was quiet or loud, how she liked to be touched and kissed. The thoughts turned him on, not because he was still horny, but because there was actually something about Emma that intrigued him, something that was worth getting to know about her.
"I've made you uncomfortable."
"You haven't."
"Please, can we start over?"
Emma looked at him from the door way, nervous apprehension embracing her pose. She smiled sweetly at him, causing his cheeks to blush. They looked so adolescent, fawning over one another in the shy light of the night. By the time she had taken her seat back up on the couch, the uneasiness of befores performance had slipped to the back of their minds.
Two hours had soon passed. By now the time encroached into the early hours of the next day. They started off cautiously, well Emma did, minding not to reveal too much about herself that left her feeling vulnerable. However Will was forward and charismatic, telling her all about his music and song writing. Secretly, she was impressed. He was passionate, and she loved how his eyes glistened whenever he talked about music.
Will loved how she enthused about his passions. She was so mysterious, and so warm. He felt her interest in his life to be so sincere that he wanted to know everything about her. She wouldn't open up though, continuing to unravel him and keeping herself fully bound.
So he treaded carefully, asking about her childhood, where she grew up. She answered perfectly, as if she was being interviewed. But deep down, he knew she was holding back and he wanted to know why.
They were barely more than strangers, she reminded herself, but the way he made her feel, so calm and relaxed strained her guard to keep a look out. Conversation was easy between them, as if they had known each other beyond tonight and that scared her, more than she cared to admit.
He brought it up, the conversation he'd been dying to ask and she wanted to shy away.
"You have a boyfriend?"
It was burning inside of him. He watched her, how her skin flushed at his question and the way her hands shot to her hair, brushing it past her ears. He wanted to know if anyone was loving her, whether or not he would ever get a chance to touch her. She was more of a woman than he had ever encountered, so sophisticated and smart. She was a dream, and as they had talked, he had felt a connection, a bond that had implanted into them both.
"Yes." She replied, placing her empty beer on a coaster. It was dishonest, but the truth would hurt much more, and she had been trapped in that place for so long that the sheer darkness of it all exhausted her.
He looked a little hurt, almost wounded, as if he almost cared about her. But she brushed it off, not wanting to get too attached to this man. To do so would just be careless.
"Do I need to ask about you?"
He got up and reached into the fridge for some more beers, unscrewing the lids and handing one to Emma before sitting back down, this time, next to her.
He laughed, "I guess not." But his eyes didn't match his smile. Secretly, he was devastated.
"You see a lot of women then."
She hadn't meant to sound judgemental, but Will's face told her that perhaps she had been.
"Sorry, that was inappropriate."
"It's true."
Emma blushed, taking a swig of her beer.
"So, what's your boyfriend like?" He was opening his shelter to jealously, but he was intrigued.
"He's-" the truth tickled her tongue, almost like an annoying itch scratching to be free. But the truth of it was, the truth hurt too much that she played her facade, protecting herself more than anyone from the heartache that would eventually reveal itself to Will.
"He was my best friend."
Will nodded, meeting her eyes. Beautiful browns swirled in her eyes. She didn't stop staring at him. Unknowingly, she bit her lip, pulling it between her teeth. He was jealous of her lips, purely because he desired to be between her mouth, kissing her senseless, lapping his tongue against the inside of her mouth.
Their stare lasted a little too long to be appropriate, and Emma cursed silently at her vulnerability for being attracted to such a man.
But it was Will that got up first,
"I'd best get to bed, it was nice to meet you Emma".
He held out his hand to pat her on the shoulder, but she misinterpreted his signal and touched his hand with hers instead. She was embarrassed, fumbling with excuses while he looked purely sensual, his eyes darkly clouded.
"I'm sorry I-"
It didn't matter what she said because he placed his lips ever so gently onto hers for the briefest of movements. As if he didn't care about her boyfriend or as if he saw through her web of lies.
She didn't react as he pulled away, but she missed the warmth that radiated from his lips.
"I just wanted to know what it was like, just one time, kissing you." He whispered, before walking away, calling back to her once more.
"Night Emma."
A/N Thank you for all your lovely reviews.