Hatred With Benefits

T W E N T Y - S I X

EVA.

"Do you want me to take you home?" Dan asks and I'm quick to shake my head in protest. "No, you

don't have to. I'll be fine. " After an hour of walking and exchanging words, we end up in front of a

restaurant that seems close to my place.

"Are you sure? It's pretty late, and I just want to make sure you're—"

"Dan, " I call with a smile, silencing the rest of his words. "I can get home on my own. " I assure him.

Dan frowns, stepping closer to me. "Why do I have this feeling that you don't want me to go to your

place, Eva? Are you hiding something there?" I gulp at his words and Dan laughs as I part my lips to

speak.

"Just fucking with you, sweetheart. I know you don't want me there because you're afraid you won't be

able to resist this temptation in the comfort of your room. " He says cockily, gesturing to his body and

my shoulders shake in a laugh. "Far from that, but sure; let's go with your words. "

"You hurt my pride, Princess. " He mumbles lowly as lifts his hand and crosses it over his chest.

I smile at him and say. "The truth is always bitter. "

Dan fake gasps at my words before we both break into a laugh. As the sound slowly dies down, he

closes the gap left between our bodies and brings me into his embrace.

"I had fun, Eva. Thank you for showing up. " He whispers near my ear and I close my arms around his

back, giving soft rubs to it. "The feeling is mutual. "

Dan pulls away and covers my cheeks with his hands. He pushes his face closer to mine with his gaze

fixed on me before he closes his lips over mine.

I let out a moan as I slide my hands from his back to his neck and coil my fingers through his curls as I

open my mouth, giving him access and he takes it instantly, slipping his tongue inside my mouth to

tangle with mine in a fight for the pleasure.

The kiss starts to turn from gentle to heated when Dan's hand moves to my ass and he gives it a hard

squeeze before he pulls away, pressing his forehead to mine; his words coming out in harsh breathes

as he speaks. "You're so fucking lucky we're here, Princess. You have no idea what I would have done

if it were otherwise. "

"Something other than fucking me?" I lift my brows and Dan chuckles. He moves his face to the side,

and gives my earlobe a long swipe of his tongue before he says, "I would turn that sweet spot between

your legs into my personal heaven, sweetheart. "

His words send a shiver through me and Dan laughs at the look on my face as he pulls back to meet

my eyes.

"I'll come back to it. " He assures and presses his lips to mine for a sweet, short kiss before he draws

back.

"It's getting late. We should end this here for tonight. " Dan says as he drops his hands to my waist.

"You should leave first. My place is closer. " I tell him and he shakes his head. "Ladies first, Eva. "

"You first. " I argue.

"No, Eva. Go on. " Dan jerks his head forward and I sigh before eventually complying with his words–

knowing we wouldn't move from the spot if I don't.

I stop a cab walk towards it and just before I get in, I turn to give Dan a wave.

He waves back with a bright smile on his face before I walk into the car and his frame disappears.

~

When I walk through the door, Emerson is on the couch with his eyes on the screen before him and he

turns to me when I shut the door.

"A nice day, Carson?" He places a hand over the edge of the couch to twist his body towards me and I

roll my eyes as I move from my spot. "Not tonight, Ford. "

"Why? Did your date use up your entire energy?" His voice echoes behind me and I stop on my walk to

the kitchen, turning back to him with narrowed eyes. "How do you know it was a date?"

Emerson chuckles. "Where else would you be coming from so late? Classes ended hours ago. "

I fold my hands against my chest and a smirk climbs on my face as I say, "Are you stalking me, Ford?"

Emerson scoffs and says, "You're the last person I would want to keep an eye on, Carson. I'd be bored

to death. "

"I thought you wanted to watch out for me to make sure you can sleep with me? You lie, Ford. You lie

badly. "Emerson's expression changes when I use his words on him, and I throw him a wink before

turning back to walk into the kitchen. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I get myself a glass of water and empty the content before walking out of the room. Emerson's focus is

turned back to the screen when I get to the living room and I glance at his naked chest– an action I

regret when Emerson speaks.

"Tempted to touch, Carson?" He doesn't remove his gaze from the screen as he says the words.

"I have better use for my hands, Ford. " I throw the words back at him and he shifts his eyes to me.

"Right. They are of a better use when they are wrapped around my cock. " And those words are

enough to make me tremble right on the spot and plant wild pictures that shouldn't be there in my head.

"Fuck you, " I tell him, keeping my composure and Emerson shakes his head. "I told you, Carson.

When you're not bleeding between your legs, I'll give you what you want. "

"Sounds like a failed plan. " I retort before turning on my heels to walk away, only to stop at Emerson's

call of my name. When I turn back to him, he has a serious look on his face as he says, "Rule Number

Two. " No double fucking.

"I smell jealousy. " I tease him, purposely taking a sniff of the air and Emerson's face hardens as he

draws my name. "Carson. "

With a roll of my eyes, I say, "I know the rules, Ford and I abide by them. You're the only one I'm

fucking; no one else. "

"I guess you can be obedient, Carson. " His lips curves and I shove him my middle finger before

twisting my body from his view to walk to my room.

I shut the door behind me and kick my shoes off my legs before strolling to my bed. I fall on the

mattress with a sigh, the softness of the material welcoming me as I bury my face in my pillow with

different thoughts running through my mind.

At the beep of my phone, I raise my head to grab the device and smile weakly at Dan's message.

DAN: A reminder that I loved today's date, Princess. Are you home yet?

I turn with my back to the bed as I type out a reply.

ME: I am, and I did too.

His response comes in almost instantly and I let out a sigh as I read the words across the screen.

DAN: I wanted to ask again: Are you sure something didn't happen earlier? You acted differently after

that moment, and I'm kind of worried.

ME: You don't have to be. Nothing went wrong, I promise.

As I click the send button, I toss the phone to the side and fall back on the bed— that image flashing

through my mind again. I know it was all in my head, but it was fucking horrifying to watch.

Shaking my mind off the thoughts, I stand from the bed to strip out of my clothes, leaving me with my

undergarments. I get on the bed and grab the book by the side, flipping through the pages to distract

myself— I'm only able to read the first line before a yawn slips through my parted lips and I drop the

book to its spot to give in to the sleepiness.

~

"No!" The sound of my scream echoes back to me and my eyelids flutter. I'm met with the sight of a

white ceiling and I'm quick to sit up on my bed; my breath coming out in sharp breathes.

I flinch at the scrape of my door; only to relax when Emerson Ford walks through the door with slightly

wide eyes.

He stands by the door and stares down at me— my body covered in sweats and breathing heavily.

"Eva, " he calls as he takes long strides to get to my side, and not caring about the fact that I'm in only

a bra with my panties nor the consequences of the action I'm about to take– I drag Emerson towards

me when he's at arm's length, and bury my face in his neck.

EMERSON.

"Hey, you're fine. You're fine. It was just a dream; nothing more. " I coo into the side of her neck as I

press my hand harder to her head.

Her thick breath is loud in my ears as she wraps her hands tighter around me.

"You're fine, Eva. " I speak again, giving gentle strokes to her back and she pulls away to look into my

eyes.

"How did you—" her voice is small and I cut her off before she can speak the rest of her words. "I heard

you. " I tell her and she nods.

I stay silent as I watch her stare down at her sheets, sweats covering her brows. With indecision

running through me, I lift my hand to her face to wipe her sweats and ask, "Do you want to talk about

it?"

Carson turns her gaze to me and stares at me with no words before she shakes her head.

"Want to go back to sleep?" She shakes her head again and wraps her arms around her body, giving a

slight shudder.

"I don't think I can. " The tremor in her voice worries me. I don't think I've ever seen her this way— not

even from that night. She looks shaken and it troubles me.

Without a second thought, I move across the bed to her side and Eva switches her gaze to me at the

sound of my movement. "What are you doing?"

"Come here. " I whisper, spreading my hand to the side to give space for her.

"I can take care of myself, Ford. You've done more than enough favors. " She speaks in a fierce tone

and I shake my head. "This isn't a favor, Carson. Come here. " I repeat my earlier request and Carson

says nothing as she moves closer to my side.

"More like it. " I smile as she settles in my arms and she scowls at me. "Don't try anything funny. "

"I won't. " I chuckle, my gaze dropping to her chest at those words. She's only clad in her black bra with

her breasts spilling over the top. The sight is so damn tempting and I know I would have my cock in her

pussy if this was a different situation, but the desire to comfort Carson overpowers my desire to hear

her screams— in a delightful way— and I move my hand from her shoulder to her hair.

"Want me to sing you a lullaby?" I duck my head to Carson's face and she glares at me, but doesn't

give a response as her head falls back against my chest and I chuckle.

I breathe and give gentle brushes to her hair with my hand, giving her the quietness I can feel she

needs and soon enough, when I glance back at Carson— her eyes are shut.

My eyes move over her brows which are raised in worry even in her sleep, and the image of Carson's

scared face crosses my mind.

When I look back at her face, my chest tightens at the sight and the reaction worries me.

She's turning out to be something else.

Eva Carson isn't just an enemy. She's a dangerous one– one who makes my cock throb so damn hard

with her not so innocent gaze and arouses in me things I didn't think I was capable of feeling for her,

with each closeness to her.

Who could have thought I'd be laying in Eva Carson's bed with my arms around her as I watch her

sleep?