Hatred With Benefits
T H I R T Y

EVA.

Emerson's eyes are wide with astonishment and awe as he says, "You're a fucking twin?"

"Was. "I correct and his face falls at that one word. "She's dead. "

Emerson seems at a loss for what to say, and when he opens his mouth to speak; I can tell he's being cautious of his words. "What happened to her? And why are you to blame for her death?"

I drop my gaze from Emerson at the remembrance. The images of that day are clear and undisrupted in my mind, and it drives me crazy with each second I spend thinking back to each detail from that night. "Carson!" Emerson's yell of my name snaps me out of my thoughts and I lift my eyes to him. "Are you okay?" I can effortlessly sense the worry in his voice and his gaze.

I give him a small bob of my head as I adjust in my seat. "I don't want to talk about it. "I'm not ready to. Not yet; Not to Emerson Ford.

"I understand. "Emerson's response comes and I clear my throat as I place my palms on my lap at the big change in the air. "My turn. Truth or dare, Ford?"

"Truth. "Emerson doesn't think twice before he says the words and I let out the question I've been dying to ask him since I was in his room. "That painting above your bed. What's it for?"

The moment Emerson's expression changes, I know he knows exactly what I mean and I can tell the meaning behind that painting is either a dark one, or a painful one.

"It's an eye. " Emerson whispers and I nod. "I know, but what does the eye stand for?"

"My mother." His voice is small as the word falls from his mouth and my chest tightens in response when he continues and says, "She's dead.

"Dead?" I repeat his words out of surprise. "But Mrs Ford-"

Emerson interrupts me before I can finish the rest of my words. "That's my stepmom. "

"Oh," it's the first word to slip through my parted lips. "I didn't realize she was-" the rest of the words catch in my throat and Emerson chuckles.

"I know, Carson. You didn't know. I guess we've both lost someone important to us."

"Come here." He gestures to me with his fingers and I crinkle my brows as I ask, "Why?"

"Don't ask me the questions, Carson. Just come here." He urges and I jerk my head. "No."

"Carson-" he drawls, the annoyance dripping from his voice, but I stand my ground and stay rooted to my seat with a smile to frustrate Ford even more. "It's your turn. "

Emerson mumbles some inaudible words before he says, "Truth or Dare. "

Deciding we've had enough hidden and sad truths for the day, I go with the other option. "Dare."

Emerson's lips lift in a tiny smirk as he stares down at his body before heaving his head towards mine. "I dare you to come here, Carson.

"You have an obsession with me, don't you?" I taunt him as I begin to move from my seat and walk toward him. Emerson doesn't give a response to my words as he wraps his hands around my body and pulls me to his lap.

"It isn't comfortable. "I lie as Emerson twists my body so my chest is pressed to his and his hand stays at the small of my back.

"It is more than comfortable. "Comes Emerson's answer and I draw back to stare at his face. Shining brown orbs that seem to carry more burden than they'll love to reveal to the rest of the world stares back at me and I lift my hand to his face, stroking his jaw with my thumb.

I feel it when Emerson takes a sharp inhale of his breath as I stroke his lips with my forefinger, pressing hard into the flesh before slipping a finger into his mouth.

"Suck. "I tell him the words he seems to be fond of and Emerson glares at me before moving his mouth off my finger.

"You're getting bolder, Carson. " He whispers as he lowers his touch to my waist, his fingers digging into the flesh and kindling a reaction that he's capable of.

"I've always been bold, Ford. "I inform him and Emerson's lips tug up in a tiny smile as he pushes his face forward to whisper, "I know, Carson, but you're getting bolder. "With each word that falls from his mouth, his lips brush against mine and I crave to take them in mine, but I don't. Not yet. Not so soon.

"Why?" The words come out in a thick breath as Emerson's tongue swipes over my lips. "Not the Daddy's pet you expected me to be?"

Emerson wiggles his head as his eyes trace every inch of my face. "No, you're not. You're more annoying-" his hands move from my waist to my thighs and he pushes it forward, inching my skirt along the way and exposing more of my skin to his gaze. "You're less innocent and I replace that sexy. "As soon as those somehow insulting yet praising words leave his lips, I push my head forward and close my lips over his, obliterating what's left of the space between us.

Emerson's hand moves to my back again as he slowly lowers me to the floor with the game of truth or dare long forgotten.

When he tries to snake his hand around me, the sound of a glass shattering brings us out of the moment and we stare down at the pieces of the broken glass by our side with the content in it smeared across the floor before we look back at each other then close the distance between us again, not giving a shit about what just happened.

Emerson Ford's touch is addicting- there's something about it that seems to provoke a reaction from me, even in the tiniest way, but more than his touch; Emerson Ford's taste is fucking heaven. He tastes like something I shouldn't have, yet I can't keep my hands or my mouth off, and that's one of the greatest tastes that's ever known to mankind- the forbidden one.

"You wanted to play a game out of boredom. "I press my palms to Emerson's chest and pull back to mock him.

He coils his fingers through my hair and keeps his eye fixed on me as he parts my thighs with one of his legs and settles between them. "Having you is more effective, Carson."

And with those words, we go from a playful moment to a serious one and finally to the one where we're the most open to each other; the one where every skin, corner and inch of our bodies is worshipped by the mouth of the other.

"Hey, you." Dan walks up to me as I walk out of my class and I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously. "Were you following me?"

Dan cracks up at my words. "I'm not that obsessed with you, sweetheart. Not just yet." He winks and I let out a small laugh before he falls into steps with me.

"Feels like it's been long since I saw you." He says as we take the corner that leads us to the fields.

"I'm pretty sure we saw yesterday, Dan. "I tell him and he chuckles. "I didn't mean to see you in that way, Eva. I mean spend some alone time with you. It's been a long since our last date. "At his last words, Dan steps in front of me and stops my steps.

"When are we going on a second one? I've missed being around you; only you and I. "His tongue peeks out of his mouth and swipes along his bottom lip and I snort at the movement. "Seems like you missed something else more than you missed spending time with me?" I call him out and Dan lowers his gaze.

"I think I did. Don't you?" His words come out in a whisper as he takes a step forward, which closes the gap between our bodies.

"Dan-" I call him as I take a look around us to see students moving out and in- none of them paying attention to us. "You do realise we're on the campus?"

"I know," he responds as he presses his forehead to mine. "I just wanted to do this." He turns his face to the side just before his lips meet mine, and hangs his head over my shoulder with his hands wrapping around me in an embrace.

"Are you trying to eat each other faces in the middle of the field?" Dan raises his head and takes a step back at the sound of the voice, and I twist my body to see the blue-haired approaching us.

"You left me in the class to do this, Evie? I feel betrayed." She raises a hand over her chest as she edges beside me and I roll my eyes before I say, "I left you in the class because you were too enthralled by the presence of Sage to take notice of me. "

Redness coats my best friend's cheeks as she glares at me and says, "I wasn't. We were just talking about stuff. "

"Of course you were. " I continue to tease her with a mischievous look on my face, knowing it infuriates her as much as it thrills me.

"Where are you guys headed?" I laugh at Aliya's miserable attempt to distract me from her topic, but I go along with it anyway, knowing if I should annoy her any further- she'll lose it.

"I was asking Eva to take me on a date. " Dan says as he stares down at me and Aliya grins, nudging me with her shoulder. "Looks like you're having a better day than I am, don't you think?"

"You still owe me a well-detailed explanation of what happened with the three of you last time, bitch. "I throw her a frown and she raises her brows, "A well detailed?"

"I don't need to know about how your tongues were down each other's throat and on each other clits. "I shush her in a whisper and she shakes her head, a taunting smile dancing by the corners of her lips. "You asked for it; you're going to get it, babe."

"Can we do this some other time? I need to go with Aliya. " I tell Dan and his face slumps. "Promise?"

"Promise." I smile, which triggers one of his gorgeous dimpled smiles. Dan steps closer to press his lips to my cheek before he moves back and says goodbye.

"Poor guy. "Aliya says when he's out of sight and I turn to her. "He's fallen completely, babe." She pushes her lips forward and I shove her shoulders, causing her to laugh.

"Your place?" I ask as we begin to walk out of the campus.

"Will you take me to your place if I ask for it?" Aliya asks the question she has an answer to and when I give her no reply, she says, "See? It's as if you're hiding something in there, I swear. "

How ironic it is for me to turn my head and see Emerson Ford climb into his car with Paige after those words from Aliya.

"Are you coming?" Aliya's call snaps me out of my trance and I turn my head away from them.

"I'm all ears." I persist as we walk inside Aliya's room and she throws herself on her bed. Her chest falls in a sigh as she turns her head to my side, "You won't give up, will you?"

"You know me more than that, baby. "I beam excitedly and she groans before moving her body to sit up. "It's kind of embarrassing." Her voice is low as she stares down at her hands and picks at her fingers. "Then you should remember you're Aliya Collins and you have no shame. "I swat at her hand to stop her from picking her fingers and she lifts her eyes to me, "Fuck you, bitch. "

"It's a needful reminder. "I proclaim and she chuckles before she says, "Chloe was in my room the other day."

"I can already guess what happened. "I make a disgusted face and she scowls at me. "Do that one more time and you won't hear the end of this. "

"Fine, fine, "I cackle as I raise my hands in playful surrender. "Go ahead and speak, your highness.

"1

Aliya tries to keep the frown on her face at the playful taunt, but fails miserably as the smile climbs on her face.

"Sage might have or might have not caught me naked in Chloe's arms." She finally drops the bomb and my mouth hangs open in utmost shock.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me. "I exclaim and she shakes her head. "Not kidding, babe. "

"Why didn't you lock the door?"

"We were too caught up in each other to take notice of that." She says. "But you shouldn't be stunned with that, because I'm yet to tell you the real detail: what Sage did after she caught us. "Storm out of here?" I lift my brows.

"You think I'd speak to her earlier in class if she stormed out of here?" She wouldn't, but she couldn't have done the other option that's on my mind. No fucking way they had a threesome.

"No, fuck, we didn't. And I thought I was the one with the dirtiest mind. "At the sight of Aliya's face, I realize the words slipped through my lips.

"What did she do then?" I query, dismissing the thought and Aliya says, "She threw her fist in Chloe's face then drove her out of here. "

"Aww, that's so cute. She fought for you. " I coo and Aliya pins me down with a glare. "It isn't cute."

"Why? Because you don't love her?"

"Because I don't like how I felt after." She confesses. "It felt good to watch her get violent because of me. I felt good, and I don't like that feeling, Evie."

As I part my lips to speak, the vibration of my phone interrupts me and Aliya nods for me to get it.

I fish the phone out of my bag and crease my brows at the sight of Mike's name across the screen.

"1

"Dad?" I call out as I press the phone to my ear and Aliya raises her brows at me from her seat at the mention of the man's name. I raise my shoulder in a shrug as a response to her unasked question as I wait for an answer from the other line.

"Princess-" Mike's voice sounds tired as it echoes through the phone and the realization that I haven't checked on the man in a very long time stings my heart.

"Hey, dad. Is everything alright? You don't sound so good. "I say and there's some shuffling in the background before he speaks again. "It's your mother. " "Mom?" I repeat in a sudden disturbance. "What's wrong with mom?" At my words, Aliya is by my side and staring down at me with worried eyes.

"She collapsed earlier and I have no idea why. She was fine this morning, but now she doesn't look so good. I've phoned Mr Holmes and he said he can't make it, so we'll have to wait till tomorrow. I just wanted to fill you in on it. "He explains and my heart races in my chest at his words as unsettlement flows through me. She collapsed. Mom has never collapsed before- at least none that I know of, so what the fuck could have happened?

"I'll be there tomorrow. "I inform dad.

"Alright, Princess. I have to get back to her. "I hum before the line disconnects and I throw my phone on the bed.

"Did something happen to Delilah?" Aliya asks as she places a hand on my shoulder and I give a nod. "Dad said she collapsed.

"

"Is she fine? Did he take her to the hospital? What did they say is the reason?" Aliya questions at once and I say, "He's looking after her, but Mr Holmes couldn't make it."

"Then he should take her to see another doctor?" Aliya suggests and I sniffle a laugh. "You don't mean that. You know how Mike is; he wouldn't even if she's on the brink of death. He's been like that since last time. He trusts no one with the health of his family except Mr Holmes."

She sighs and stretches her hand over my shoulder. "You shouldn't think about it. I'm sure it's nothing serious. " Aliya assures me and I nod as she lifts her hand to the side of my face and presses my head to her shoulder.

I shut the door to the apartment and throw my bag to the side as I stare around the house. When there's no sign of Emerson Ford, I make my way towards my room and close the door behind me.

I kick my boots off my feet before striding to the bathroom; stripping out of my clothes, I get under the shower with my hands pressed to the wall as the water rolls down my body, soothing the skin and calming my nerves.

When I get back into the room, Emerson is in my bed and without a word, I clad my body in my usual night attire of panties and a thin shirt before crawling into the bed next to him.

"Hey. "I whisper when Emerson drapes a hand around me to bring my body flush against his and he smiles before he responds with, "Hey. Ready to sleep?"

"I am." I tell him and Emerson brushes my hair with his hand before wrapping it around the back of my head while the other stays on my waist. I drop a leg over his and keep my arms secured around his waist with my head pressed to his chest as I listen to the soft beats of his heart and the fluffy breaths over my head, knowing this will be the last night I get to have that.

I don't know why I tell him about it, but the words handily slip through my parted lips. "I have to head home tomorrow."

The silence that takes over the space of the room after my words stretches for a long, and I begin to think he fell asleep and didn't catch my words until Emerson speaks. "Why?"

"My mom. Something happened so I have to make sure she's alright. "I tell him and there's that silence again.

"Close your eyes, Carson." It's the only response Emerson gives before he presses me tighter to his body, and I do exactly like he said; letting the sleep take away my worries for a short time in his warmth.

EMERSON.

When her breath fans against my throat, I know she's asleep and I pull away to stare at her face. The annoyingly beautiful face of Eva Carson.

I lift my hand and carefully tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear to not wake her up before pressing a feathery kiss near her eye.

Ever since that night, I feel a closeness to her in a way I have never felt before, but I have no idea how she feels from that night. Eva Carson is the most difficult woman I've ever met; she knows how to close off her emotions, and it gets hard to tell what's going on in her head. She knows how to give a little detail on how she feels without giving too much, and she knows how to easily slip into how it's always been from the very beginning. I've always seen women as easy creatures- they either feel or they don't. But it's different with this woman because it's hard to tell if she's feeling, feels too little, feels too much or doesn't feel at all unless she lets you in and that's something I replace interesting about her.

The previous night, I was in her bed. This morning, she fell right back to degrading me and just now, she crawled into her bed with me and expressed her thoughts. A thought that tugs at my heart. A thought that makes me want to take her hand and hold it as a promise to assure she's fine; A thought that makes me want to take her face in my palms and kiss away her concerns; A thought that makes me feel things I shouldn't.

And now, as I watch her chest rise and fall in her sleep- I know I might be hating Eva Carson a lot more than I should and that shit fucking scares me.