A/N: Just a little warning. This chapter isn't what I would consider M, but its certainly iffy...just giving you a heads up
Chapter XIII
"Em, don't do this. Please talk to me," Will pleaded.
She heard the car door slam as the heels of her Mary Janes clicked fiercely against the pavement. The chilly October air wrapped around her as she tugged her green cardigan coat tighter around her body. She stopped at the edge of the sidewalk, wrapping her arms around herself as a rush of air escaped her lips.
She heard the loud clomp of his uneven gait, hurrying to reach her, though she refused to turn, burying her face into the silky material of her scarf.
"Emma," he tried again, his warm breath beating against her neck as he wrapped his arms around her.
She wriggled free from his grasp, catching his gaze for a moment, looking hurt as she folded her across her chest.
"Em, I'm sorry," he sighed, a stream of breath leaving his pursed lips.
She pressed her arms closer against her chest, looking at the yellow toes of her Mary Janes as she muttered, "Everyone hates me."
"Em, what are you even talking about? Just because dinner with my parents didn't go as smoothly as either of us wanted doesn't mean they hate you..." Will desperately tried to reason with her.
"Your mother hates me," Emma stated flatly, trying to control the heaviness settling in her throat. "A-alex's mother hated me too..."
She saw his eyes widen visibly at the mention of Alex's name. She hardly brought him up in conversation, and much less to compare any aspect of her previous relationship to her current one.
"Em, she doesn't hate you...that's just the way she is...please don't take it personally," Will tried to explain. Her stomach twisted with a sense of déjà vu, her hands curling around her scarf as she pushed away a conversation she didn't wish to remember.
"But she liked Terri," Emma dared to whisper, wincing a little as she remembered the drunken comments his mother hadn't kept reined in.
"Terri was a part of their lives—our lives for a long time, Emma," Will gently explained, Emma still refusing to look at him as her stomach knotted. When she said nothing, Will continued, "Terri had been through a lot by the time she met me...her mother suffered from severe depression, but she refused to get proper help for her condition, and Terri's father loved her too much to push her." He took a deep breath, looking at his hands as he spoke the words. "She committed suicide when Terri was thirteen."
Emma's breath caught, tasting the chilly air as she processed the words. She felt her throat contract as Will continued. "Terri never really talked about it much with me, not when we were younger or even later on when we got married. But she did form an unlikely bond with my mother."
"Terri and your mother?" Emma could not stop the words from spilling from her mouth. The only thing she could find in common with the two was their obvious distaste for her.
"Terri needed a mother...and my mother had always wanted a daughter," Will explained, taking Emma's hand in his own. "Its just been hard, ever since the divorce...my mother's still in denial, which was obvious from tonight..." he trailed off, and Emma fought to forget the disastrous evening. "And my father..."
When he didn't continue, Emma spoke hesitantly, "He wasn't as bad as your mother, though I felt like he was watching me—judging me—the entire time..."
"He's just disappointed," Will tried to explain, running his fingers through his hair. "His marriage has been anything but easy, especially regarding my mother's...problem. But he's stuck it out with her, all these years, and though he won't talk to me about, I know he thinks I'm a coward for ending it with Terri..."
Emma felt ill as stared at her feet, comprehending the information Will had told her. His parent's obvious bitterness toward her was now understandable, but it hardly made her feel any better. She was now the villain, stealing Will away from a broken woman—a woman who had suffered more than Emma had ever imagined. "I'm sorry, Will," she whispered, her hot tears burning her cheeks.
"No, Em, you don't need to apologize...this isn't you're fault at all, and I'm so sorry you had to be dragged into the middle of this..." he muttered, catching her gaze.
"I feel bad..." she murmured, burying her wet face in Will's shoulder. She kept her face pressed against his chest, clinging to him. Her view of the selfish woman suddenly changed as she thought of what she had suffered through.
He wrapped his arms around her form, the warmth of his body contrasting with chilly evening. "You have nothing to feel bad about, Emma. My parents are holding onto the past—and just because they have valid reasons to be upset doesn't mean they're right. Terri and I loved each other—and I was there for her in a time she truly needed me in her life. I'm the last person who will deny any of that, Emma," he stated. She kept her face tucked into his neck as he continued to speak. "But what we had wasn't meant to last. We never wanted the same things, and that only got harder to work through the longer we tried to pretend we did. Emma, you're the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you, Emma, more than I ever loved Terri. I want you to know that."
She choked back a sob ineffectively, burying her face deeper into his shoulder.
"Emma, baby, why are you crying?" he whispered, pull away so he could tilt her face toward his.
"I don't know," she muttered thickly, swallowing her tears.
"Emma, honey, please don't feel bad..." he pleaded with her, beginning to stroke her hair.
She nodded, but as she buried her face into his shoulder once again, holding onto his reassurance of his love for her, but unable to stop thinking of Terri with a pang of guilt in her heart.
XXXX
"And I was thinking maybe we could go downtown for dinner tonight, if that would be—Will are you even listening to me?" Emma sighed, popping a grape into her mouth as she sat on the edge of Will's desk.
He jerked his head toward her, his tired eyes meeting hers. "Sorry," he apologized, blinking a few times.
"Is everything alright, sweetheart?" Emma asked softly, abandoning her grapes as she walked over to Will's side, beginning to massage his shoulders.
"I'm just tired," he admitted. "I sleep better when you stay over," he admitted sheepishly.
With the school year in full swing, the couple had been much busier. Their nights spend together were becoming few and far between.
"Is that all?" she wriggled her body so she was sitting in his lap. He smiled, weakly, as he buried his face against her neck.
"Well, preparing my seniors for the SAT subject test is stressful," he told her, his hot breath ricocheting off her neck. She ran her fingers through his hair, pressing her lips gently against his curls. "And Rachel's been out sick this week, and the rest of the club is train wreck without her...I swear she's the only one who can get them to focus...I just need a break," he sighed.
"Why don't you come over my place tonight?" Emma offered, brushing her lips against his ear as she spoke. "Just a relaxing evening for the both of us..."
She felt his lips curve into a smile. "Sounds perfect..."
The bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch period. Will sighed, closing his eyes as he snaked his arms around her waist. "I wish you didn't have to go..."
"Just a few more hours," she encouraged him, bending over to press her lips against his.
They broke apart as the door clicked open, Will's seventh period class filing through the door. Emma gave him an encouraging smile as she packed up her things, already thinking about the night ahead.
XXXX
"Mhmm, Em, it smells great in here," Will told her as he stepped over the threshold, removing his shoes before following her into the kitchen.
Emma opened the oven, pulling out a tray of homemade vegetable lasagna. She set it on the stove top to cool, disposing of her oven mitts as she approached Will.
"I miss all the time we got to spend together during the summer," she sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He leant in to kiss her lightly. "Me too."
His stomach rumbled, causing Emma to reluctantly pull away to retrieve the lasagna. She brought it to the tediously set table, pouring them each a glass of wine before sitting down.
"This is really nice, Em," Will told her, digging into the meal. "And you look great."
Emma blushed. "You're much too flattering...I didn't even have a chance to change out of my school clothes."
He smiled. "Well, I still think you're gorgeous."
She grinned in spite of herself, taking a bite of her own lasagna .
Once they finished eating and the kitchen was restored to it's immaculate condition, they ended up on the couch, the plastic covering squeaking beneath them as they arranged themselves.
Emma sighed, blushing as she glanced at Will. "Sorry. It's much more romantic at your place."
"Don't worry about it," he chuckled, reaching to cup her face gently. She pulled herself into his lap, kissing him deeply. He moaned against her, pressing his hand against the small of her back.
She continued to work her lips against his, tangling her fingers in his hair. "Do you want to spend the night?" she asked breathily, pulling her swollen lips away from his.
"Of course," he told her, brushing a flyaway hair behind her ear. "Do you want to watch a movie? It's not that late yet."
"No, Will," she muttered, sucking in a breath. "I want you to spend the night...really spend the night." She blushed heavily, but she kept her gaze firmly locked with his.
"Emma..." Will warily drew out her name, glancing at her with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Will, don't look at me like that...I've made so much progress in these last few months. I've been working so hard. I want to do this—for you," she pleaded with him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Em, I don't want you doing anything for me," he mumbled, catching her gaze once again.
"Fine, for me then," she almost whined, feeling impatient as Will deterred her advances. "For us, Will. I'm ready to do this for us."
"Emma, baby—" he started, but she promptly cut him off.
"Will, can't we at least try?" she sighed.
He sucked in a breath, brushing her hair away from her. "Honey, if you're sure that's you want..."
"I want this more than anything, Will," she told him firmly. "I love you."
She felt surreal, and slightly vulnerable, as he allowed her to lead him down the hall to her bedroom. He sat opposite her on the pale green comforter, unmoving as Emma reached out to touch his face, her heart pounding as she leveled her gaze with his. Slowly, but with without hesitation, she leaned toward him, brushing her lips lightly against his. He tasted sweet, the remnants of the wine from dinner in her own breath mixing with his. He soon kissed her back, allowing his fingers to twist through her hair, his lips molding against hers. She pulled away, only for a moment as she caught her breath, situating herself so she was straddled on his lap, kissing him much more deeply in her close proximity.
"Em." Will pulled away, slipping out from beneath her lap, leaving her trembling slightly as she sat against the comforter. "Em, let's talk about this..."
"What's there to talk about, Will?" she practically whined, frustrated that he wasn't complying. She was sick of his hesitation, sick of him treating her as though she were as fragile as glass. "I want you, Will. I've thought about this for a long time, and I know I'm ready."
He was silent as he gazed at her through the veil of darkness; she knew he was chewing on her words, trying to formulate a convincing argument against her, protecting her from something she didn't want to be protected against anymore.
He sighed heavily, blowing a steady stream of air from his lips, glancing at her warily. She pushed through any regrets, any hesitation that remained as she began to undo the buttons of her blouse. Her trembling fingers completed the task faster than she had anticipated, letting the blouse fall from her shoulders before Will had a chance to comprehend her actions.
She felt his eyes on her, watching his mouth fall open slightly as he couldn't help but to gaze at her body. She felt her cheeks color hotly, glad she had the darkness to conceal her vulnerability. Will's mouth moved again, but he could not utter a word, his eyes unable to contain his awe. Emma felt a surge of pride rush through her, delighting in the way Will looked at her body.
She reached slowly up her back, the hinge of her bra suddenly feeling foreign beneath her anxious fingers. Unclasping the metal hook, she let her the material fall from her chest.
Will's sharp intake of breath startled her at first, and her blush only deepened as she watched him through the darkness, having to turn her face away as his eyes gazed upon her nakedness.
"Emma," he whispered, hardly able to push the words from his lips, his voice thick with emotion.
"I want you to touch me, Will," she told him, her voice as faint as a wisp as it carried softly through the air. She lifted her eyes, bring them to his.
He said nothing as his eyes pleaded with hers, but beneath his struggle to protect her, she saw a distinct flash of longing. Scooting closer to him on the bed, she lifted his arm gently from his side. She felt him stir under her touch, a tingle rushing through her body as she deliberately placed his outstretched hand against her breast. She held it there from a moment, feeling him stiffen from her impulsive behavior, but soon she let her own hand fall away as Will gently stroked her skin.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, his voice hoarse as he struggled to speak. "So, so beautiful."
She felt tears brim in her own eyes, feeling worthy as he uttered the words. She closed her wet eyes as he ran his fingers gently beneath the curve of her breast, tracing a line down to her belly button. Her stomach fluttered, craving the feel of his gentle touch against her skin. She let out a heavy sigh as she felt his lips brush against her collar bone.
"You okay, Em?" he muttered, his lips still pressed lightly against her skin.
"I don't want you to stop," she pleaded with him, a sudden warmth passing through her body as his lips trailed down her chest, making her feel slightly dizzy. A small moan escaped her mouth as he brushed his lips against the crown of her breast, the tip of his nose nose trailing between the valley of her chest.
She gently wrapped her hands around his head, holding his face against her as she twined her fingers through his hair. His warm breath rushed across her skin as she dipped her head to rest her lips in his soft hair. "I love you, Will."
She uttered the words, lifting Will's chin, bending over to kiss him sweetly. "I love you," she muttered again, her lips curving into a smile as they pressed against his.
He kissed her back, moaning as she parted her lips, one hand holding her face while the other ran along the length of her bare side.
Breathing deeply, she brought her fingers to the collar of his shirt, beginning to work at the buttons of his work shirt. She made no effort to rush, her fingers dancing delicately across his stomach through the flimsy material of his undershirt. When she unhinged the last button, she pulled the shirt from his shoulders and then reached for the hem of his undershirt, hesitating for only a moment as she grasped the thin material in her hands, sliding the shirt over Will's head.
He sat perfectly still as she brought her hands to his body, first tracing his sculpted arms, drawing small circles with the tip her nail. Her fingers worked their way to his chest, touching the course hair that curled against his body. She brought her lips to his chest, breathing in the scent of him for a moment, letting the rough hair brush against her cheek before trailing her lips against his skin, lowering her face to his abdomen, her mouth brushing over the tight muscles.
"Mhmm, Em," Will groaned, quivering beneath her touch.
She caught her breath, positioning her body so she was straddling him once again, her skirt riding up her thighs as she pressed herself against his hardness, a thrill pulsing through her. She looked from her own body to Will's, nearly touching as she sat against him, and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to feel him against her. She aligned herself against him, her breasts brushing against his chest as she reached to snake her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. It felt so perfect, so right having his body molded against hers. She rested her neck in the crook of his neck as his fingers worked against the taught muscles of her back, willing her to relax against him.
After a moment, he lowered her to the bed. "You're sure this is what you want, Em?" he muttered, nuzzling her neck.
"I'm sure," she managed to whisper, finding it hard to formulate a coherent thought with his body hovering over hers. She trembled slightly, fighting to keep her words steady. "I love you, Will."
He brought his hand slowly down her body, reaching for the zipper of her skirt as he gently tugged it away. "I love you, too, Emma. So, so much."
She closed her eyes, pushing through her fear, pushing through any guilt that still remained.
"Promise me you'll tell me if you want me to stop," he whispered, his lips leaving a trail across her chest.
She found her voice, reaching for his face, locking her eyes with his. "I promise. But Will, I'm ready." She took in a deep breath, stroking his cheek softly. "I'm ready."
A/N: Well, um, for once I don't have anything to say...I want to know what you guys think though.
Thanks guys for your continuing support!
And as always, thanks to my anonymous reviewers: gleefan, lodvg, Honest Reviewer, Bob, IHEARTWEMMA, and Alyssa