Waiting in the Wings, page 3
part #7 of Off Screen Series
Slowly, Emma guided Addison upward until Addison’s face rested just above hers. Tears instantly rolled over Addison’s cheeks. Emma smiled and wiped them away with her thumbs. She tenderly guided Addison’s lips to her own and coaxed Addison’s lips to part. She heard Addison sigh into the kiss as it gradually deepened. Emma reached for Addison, allowing her hands to roam over Addison’s back lovingly. Emma moved to lift her shirt over her head, and Addison sat back ever so slightly to take in the view.
Emma smirked. “What are you thinking?” she asked Addison.
Addison answered without hesitation. “No one could imagine how beautiful you are, Em.”
Emma reached out and ran her hand down Addison’s throat to the top of her breast. “Have you looked in the mirror recently?” she asked.
Addison shook her head. “You’re in love.”
Emma’s face transformed immediately. Their brief moment of playfulness eclipsed by the emotional tide that had been rising between them all evening. She lifted her hand to Addison’s cheek and watched as Addison leaned into her touch. “I love you more than anything in this world, Addy.”
Addison moved her lips to Emma’s, stopping just before they would meet. “Do you remember the first time we made love?”
Emma gently allowed her forehead to collapse against Addison’s. “I do.”
“You know what I remember?” Addison asked.
“Tell me,” Emma whispered.
“I remember the way you looked at me when we walked into my apartment before we had even kissed. I knew when you looked at me that day when I found you sitting against my door, waiting for me—I knew that if you walked through that door with me, I would never let you go,” Addison said. She’d never shared that truth with Emma before, although Addison recalled that day frequently even after the years they had been together.
“Addy…”
“I had the same feeling the day you walked into that bedroom at your folks’ house with that box of diapers wrapped up. When I realized what you were telling me… Em, I felt that same emotion. That night? I never wanted to let you go.”
“Addy, I’m right here.”
“I know. Today, I… I’m sorry that…”
“Stop,” Emma demanded gently. “Stop,” she repeated the request and kissed Addison lovingly. When Addison pulled back from their kiss, Emma kept her eyes closed as she spoke. “I remember flying home that day from Kansas. You weren’t home. I waited for you. That entire time all I could think about was how much I wanted to love you. How much I needed you to love me. I had never felt that before—not with anyone. When you made love to me that afternoon… Addison… Everything in my life shifted that day. I’m not sure I knew it then…”
“Em?”
“That’s not true. I knew it. I felt it. I feel it right now with you against me. It’s never changed,” Emma admitted. She opened her eyes and looked into Addison’s. “It shifted the moment I spilled that coffee on you and saw you smiling at me for the first time,” Emma confessed. “Sometimes, Addy, when you look at me, I remember that moment. I realize that on some level I knew even then.”
“Knew what, Em?”
“That I loved you,” Emma said. She met Addison’s lips in a searching, yet possessive kiss that instantly sent small shock waves through Addison’s body.
Addison felt Emma’s hands travel over her back, playing lightly, teasing Addison’s flesh. Emma’s lips moved without warning from the warmth of Addison’s mouth to the softness of Addison’s neck. Addison let herself fall away. She had slipped into bed intending to make love to Emma. As it always seemed to be, Emma understood that what Addison truly desired was to feel Emma loving her.
“Em,” Addy began to protest. “I wanted to show you…”
Emma pulled herself up and hovered above Addison. She smiled, carefully removed the shorts she was wearing and straddled Addison’s waist without any words. Addison’s heart began to pound wildly when Emma began to move against her. Addison reached out and let the palms of her hands play over Emma’s breasts. Emma bit her lip and continued to move sensually against Addison.
“You are showing me right now,” Emma told Addison breathlessly.
Addison’s hands cupped Emma’s breasts in response. Her eyes had become riveted to the sight of Emma moving above her. Addison wasn’t sure what was making her heart race faster, the physical sensation of Emma’s body moving against her or the sight of Emma swaying sensually above her. She loved to watch Emma doing mundane things, baking cookies, playing with Vicki, sleeping, even reading a book. But, no matter how many years they were together, watching Emma when passion lit her eyes always set Addison ablaze. Emma was a master at the art of seduction, at least, she was when it came to Addison Blake.
“No, Em,” Addison’s hands were beginning to tremble in time with the rest of her body. She tried to sit up and take control, but Emma quickly pushed her back down. “Em, please… I want to love you.”
Emma’s passionate gaze transformed into a smile. She leaned in and kissed Addison on the nose. “You are,” she repeated as she regained her previous position. She looked down and into Addison’s eyes. “The way you look at me, Addy. Right now, the way you are looking at me. The way your body moves with mine without you even realizing it. You are loving me. I can see it in your eyes.”
Addison’s head fell back on the pillow. Her hands dropped to Emma’s hips, urging Emma closer. She was struggling against the urge to close her eyes and revel in the sensations coursing through her body. And, Addison knew that Emma had no plans to release her anytime soon. She could feel the arousal and the anticipation building between them, but Emma had made no move to bring their lovemaking to a conclusion. She felt Emma’s fingertips tickle her cheek.
“Addy,” Emma called. Addison sighed. She felt Emma draw closer, the weight of Emma’s breasts falling onto Addison’s chest. “Addy…”
Addison held onto Emma’s hips and gradually opened her eyes to meet Emma’s. Emma leaned in and claimed Addison’s lips in a demanding kiss. Addison’s hold on Emma tightened instantly as Emma’s lips drifted sensually to Addison’s neck and lingered in a whisper just behind her ear.
“Hold on,” Emma whispered.
Holding on is exactly what Addison did. Emma’s lips began a painfully slow descent over Addison’s throat, barely caressing Addison’s skin. She continued gently over Addison’s collarbone until she reached the top of Addison’s left breast. Emma glanced up and watched as Addison bit her lip in anticipation. Emma waited for a beat until Addison’s grip on her tightened further and promptly covered a perfect pink nipple with her mouth.
“Emma!”
Emma was struggling to stay in control. Addison’s body was rising and falling in time with her breathing, which was quickly growing rapid. Each time Addison moved it sent delicious ripples through Emma’s core, never strong enough to pull her under, a persistent signal of a tide that was building. She lost herself in the feel of Addison beneath her. Addison’s fingertips dug into Emma’s back, urging her to continue. Emma noted the faint quivering in Addison’s legs. She continued sensually teasing Addison’s nipples, back and forth with growing intensity.
“So soft, Addy,” Emma sighed as she moved her attention from one nipple to the other.
Addison thought she might die. She could hear the blood in her veins rushing through her ears. Her skin tingled, her body hummed, her legs trembled as a powerful surge gathered in her core. She craved release. Addison seldom begged Emma, if she could have formed a coherent thought it would have been a simple plea for Emma to take her over the edge in a never-ending free-fall. She pictured Emma in the throes of a passionate release. Addison could taste Emma on her lips, and she wanted more. Addison needed more, and she knew that Emma would never surrender to her until Addison had fallen first.
Emma heard the soft whimpers as they escaped Addison’s lips. She understood their meaning, and she reluctantly moved her lips back to Addison’s. Emma traced Addison’s lips softly with her tongue until Addison’s lips parted. The kiss that ensued transformed the soft ripples that traveled through Emma into a crashing wave. A kiss, just a kiss from Addison was all it took for the gathering storm to break. Emma’s hips rotated against Addison bringing them together one final time. Her cries were swallowed by the hungry kiss Addison immediately deepened.
Addison’s hands pulled Emma as close as possible. Emma’s pull reminded Addison of a tornado. Energy swirled with intensity propelling Addison upward against her will. She became lost in the surge, helplessly drifting into Emma, spinning widely, unsure of when she would fall again. Emma’s breasts brushed against her softly, and Addison’s spiral downward began instantly. Her body shook violently as she crashed back to earth.
“Addy!” Emma pulled back from their kiss and screamed Addison’s name as her descent followed in time with Addison’s.
Addison’s hands drew soothing circles on Emma’s back, gently guiding her back to earth. “Em,” she whispered. “So perfect.”
Emma collapsed onto Addison, invigorated and exhausted all at once. “I love you so much,” she whispered. “So much, Addy,” she said as she began to sob.
Addison kissed Emma’s head and continued to stroke her back lovingly. “I love you, Emma.” She ran her fingers through Emma’s hair and let Emma cry. “It’s okay. I know.”
Emma’s physical release had given her emotions silent permission to follow. Addison held her close and whispered endearments as Emma continued to cry in her arms. Sadness was not the culprit. Pure emotion—love, desire, fear, hopefulness, gratefulness, longing, the reality of the new life resting between them—reality collided with the connection they shared. It sometimes could overwhelm them both. When Emma had been pregnant with Vicki, Addison had often experienced a similar need. Love was the spark of life. Addison understood that.
The love that existed between them was not something either Addison or Emma could ever hope to explain. It simply was. Addison often thought that it had always existed. They had always been waiting for each other. Once they had collided, their destiny had been sealed. What existed between them needed to be shared. Addison’s love for Emma spilled over into everything; it couldn’t be contained. Their love had served as Addison’s greatest inspiration in her work. Her love for Emma had given her the voice she’d struggled to find for years. But, it was Emma’s love for her that brought them the greatest reward—a family.
Addison kissed Emma’s head and let her lips linger. “Thank you, Em.”
“For?”
“Everything. This. Us. Our family.”
Emma took a deep breath and jostled herself in the bed to look at Addison. Addison lifted her hand and wiped a few tears from Emma’s cheek. Even in the faint light, Addison could see the redness of Emma’s eyes, yet they continued to sparkle. She placed a tender kiss on Emma’s lips.
“You know,” Addison said. “I can’t remember when you weren’t here. I mean, I can remember it, but it seems like a lifetime ago. Someone else’s lifetime.”
Emma smiled. “I know, Addy.”
“Are you okay?” Addison asked.
Emma nodded. “Scared.”
Addison sighed. “Of what?”
Emma tugged at her lip. “I just hope they always know how much I love them, I guess.”
Addison smiled. Emma was an incredible mother. Tonight had reminded Addison that if there was any role in life that Emma Bronson had been meant to play, it was the role of Mom. She sometimes wished that Emma could see the way Vicki’s eyes would twinkle with adoration when Emma was holding her, just as Emma’s had sparkled in a unique way from the moment she had announced to Addison that they were expecting.
“Em,” Addison began. “They are lucky to have you as their mom. I mean it. I’m lucky.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so,” Addison replied. “You remind me of my mom sometimes,” Addison mused.
Emma was curious. Addison worshiped her mother. The loss of her mother had been devastating for Addison. Addison often told stories about Victoria Blake to her namesake. Emma loved to listen as Addison would weave her colorful tales to their daughter. She knew that a part of Addison longed to share stories of their daughter with her mother. This was unexpected. Addison had never compared Emma to Victoria Blake before, not that Emma could recall. It surprised her.
“How so?” Emma wondered.
“In a lot of ways, I guess. I mean, with the munchkin. You’re firm but gentle. And, even when you are frustrated with her—I don’t know how to explain it. You have this glow about you. My mom had that. Even when she was furious with me, I always felt safest in her presence. Well, until I met you,” Addison explained.
Emma felt another tear wash over her cheek. “That is the highest compliment you could ever pay me,” she said.
Addison smiled. “It’s just true.”
Emma leaned in and placed a kiss on Addison’s cheek. “You know, I’m lucky to have you.”
Addison chuckled. “Dense as the fog, and you still love me.”
“Pretty much,” Emma answered playfully. Addison laughed.
It was true. Addison sometimes created questions where there didn’t need to be any. She didn’t mean to. Emma had grown to realize that many of Addison’s quirks and insecurities stemmed from losing her mother. People didn’t think of death as abandonment. Emma imagined that was because death was not a choice. It was just something that happened when it decided to. In some ways, that made it the worst way to be abandoned. You were given no choice. That was a reality that Emma had never experienced in the same way as Addison had. Addison possessed an underlying need to stay in control. She wasn’t controlling, but she remained fearful of loss. And, Emma did know that what Addison feared the most was somehow losing Emma. That sometimes clouded Addison’s judgment. Dense as the fog was an accurate description. But, the fog was momentary. It always lifted. Emma sometimes needed to remind Addison of that fact.
“I think we all lose sight of the sun in the sky from time to time,” Emma mused. “We know it’s there; we just get lost in all the clouds.”
“You sure you’re not the writer?” Addison asked.
“No. I’ve learned a lot from loving one, though.”
“Em?”
“Yeah?”
“If you asked me to give it all up, I would.”
Emma nestled against Addison. “I know that,” she said. “You never have to, Addy.”
Addison closed her eyes and breathed Emma in. “Lavender,” she mumbled.
“What?”
“I like that name—Lavender.”
Emma giggled. “We are not calling a child Lavender… or Magenta for that matter.”
“Like you,” Addison mused happily.
“I’m not sure I want to know what you are talking about.”
Addison pulled Emma closer. “You smell like lavender.”
“You are silly, Addy. And, we’re still not naming any child Lavender.”
“Lilac?” Addison suggested. Emma remained silent. “Orchid?” Addison offered.
“Well, I’m sure he will thank you when he gets to kindergarten.”
“Ahh… You think it’s a boy.”
“Maybe.”
“Really?” Addison asked. Emma tried not to laugh. “Em? Do you think it’s a boy? Emma?” Emma’s body began to quake with laughter. “Come on; you have a weird sense about this stuff.”
“What does that mean?” Emma kept laughing.
“You knew the munchkin was going to be a girl.”
“I thought so, yes.”
“So?”
“Does it matter?” Emma wondered.
“Nope, but I’d hate to name a girl, King.”
Emma smacked Addison lightly. “The only thing you’ll ever name King in this family is a dog.”
“Are we getting a dog?”
“Go to sleep,” Emma said.
“Em? Maybe we should.”
“Maybe we should what?”
“Get a dog.”
“No.”
“It can protect you when I’m working,” Addison said.
“No.”
“It will teach the kids responsibility.”
“No.”
“It will keep you company when I travel,” Addison argued.
“It will keep me dealing with more poop. No.”
“I think we should.”
“You would.”
“Em?”
“Addy, I swear if you don’t go to sleep, we will be getting a dog house—for you.”
Addison laughed. “Thanks, Em.”
“You’re welcome.”
“King is a good name.”
“Addy….”
Addison let her eyes fall shut. Emma made her laugh unlike anyone she had ever known. She had been gently suggesting to Emma that they get a dog for more than a year. Emma had once told Addison that if Addison could birth it, she could have it. Addison chuckled at the memory.
“I love you, Em,” Addison whispered. Emma had already fallen asleep. “King is a good name,” she mused one last time as she drifted into dreaming. “King.”
Chapter Three
“So?” Jeff began.
Addison leaned back in her chair and smiled. “So what?” she returned.
“What did Emma think about the project?”
“Emma thinks that a reboot of Off Screen is a great idea,” Addison replied honestly.
“Seriously? That’s fantastic! Bellson will green light us before he even sees your script now that Emma’s on board.”
Addison nodded. “Well, Em is definitely on board with the idea of me writing a screenplay, possibly even leading to a reboot of the series.”
“I knew she missed it,” Jeff gloated.
“She does—miss it,” Addison agreed. Jeff smiled broadly, and Addison continued. “But, Emma has no intention of signing on to play Genevieve.”
