Page 51 of Fate In Fiction

I know Emmett would never hurt me, but I’m about to get into some sort of trouble over this. It’s good I brought Emery with me but, clearly, it’s not enough to put Emmett at ease.

“Man, you should really learn to treat women with respect.” Emmett wrings his hands together as if fighting back a punch. “Maybe they weren’t interested.”

“Women are always interested by the time we are done with them.” He and the group of guys laugh. “A couple tequila shots loosens everyone up.” Emmett’s eyebrows nearly leave his forehead as he grabs a guy’s beer and chugs half. “But that one is feisty and can give one hell of a slap.”

“Did any of them fucking touch you?” His Adam’s apple bobs with a strong swallow, waiting for my answer. The rage in his eyes pins me in place, but I can handle myself. In fact, I did.

“No, and if I wanted, I could have used my flexibility to kick his chin and snap his neck.” Crossing my arms, I huff.

“Oh, relax, man, nothing happened,” the guy jokes. “It won’t either tonight, if you go on about being the consenting police.”

“Yeah, dude.” The guy offers the half-chugged beer glass back to Emmett. “We are just trying to have fun and hang with li’l red. Even she’s gonna call you out, bro.” He nods to me, waiting for my acknowledgement, but I’m too disgusted with them.

“Li’l red prefers to call me boyfriend.” Standing over the table, he makes threatening eye contact with all of them. “You may call me Mr. Wheaton.”

“Like the name of this hotel?” The guy knows Emmett now means business. “You don’t look fancy.”

“You’re lucky I don’t throw your asses out right now. If you ever harass another woman, I will know, and I will find you. I have people.” The table shuts up, laughter ceasing. “Take that as a threat.”

He walks to the other end of the table, taking my hand and leading me out to the front desk. I drop his, needing a minute to process the moment. My eyes remain on the fire in the lobby as I take a few steps toward it, leaning against a random pillar log. I feel my own burning within. Both good and bad. This side of Emmett is doing more to me than I anticipated. Who knew the cool and collected playboy had such a protective streak? I’ve witnessed it twice in less than forty-eight hours now. The glaze in my eyes comes back to focus as I hear the group of bros laughing once again. I can normally hold myself together in moments of panic, just like I held my own yesterday. Yet tonight at the table, I stood glued in place, not sure how to respond. My brain is well aware Emmett can handle the situation, and I let him take care of it. A temporary guy is not someone I should start letting myself rely on for my situations.

“Fucking idiots.” Emmett spits out the words in such distaste. My head whips to the side, forgetting he’s been standing idly by as if I need more protection. “I’m glad you’re okay.” His eyes meet mine with relief, but it’s clear he’s still fuming.

My head slightly turns to the other side, staring down the group of guys. How can I take on Europe if I’m too reliant on Emmett to fight my battles? Even though Emmett’s alpha side is a turn on, I don’t want it to be. My emotions are too high on both ends of the spectrum and these lobby walls of dark wood feel like they’re closing in on me. A dramatic huff makes its way through my lips as I walk past Emmett. I need cool air and a moment of silence. My feet pick up a quicker pace, sensing him right on my heels. Annoyance floods me, wanting to turn around and shove him for being kind and protective. Stopping at one of the outside heaters, I hear his frustrated breaths matching mine.

He's directly behind me. A thread of clothing away as I look forward at the stars over the mountaintops. My pulse thumps loud as I attempt to swallow. His heavy breaths hit my neck, but he doesn’t say a word. My goodness, why does he have to smell this alluring? It’s maddening to have him so close and not act on what my body desires. Crossing my arms, I wonder how quickly I can bolt up to the suite and stay in my room until he leaves for work tomorrow.

“Josie.” His voice drops, putting every intention he has beneath the surface into my name. His sweatshirt brushes against mine as he closes the remaining space between us, but not enough to physically press himself to my back.

My body stays locked in place, finding comfort in the way he desperately spoke my name. “Emmett.” He shouldn’t make me feel needed. Wanted. This has all been an act. “We can’t.” Adrenaline runs high as I find myself stepping forward and turning to face him.

“Josie.” The plea on his lips shoots through my stomach and between my legs. Flicking my eyes to his mouth, I take a final breath, knowing that if my eyes lift to meet his, the green light will flash loud and clear. Emmett swallows roughly and begins to shake his head.

“Worth it,” he exhales, as firm hands grip my face, connecting our lips with a bruising force. Gasping, my mouth parts, giving him better access to deepen the rough, knee-buckling kiss. A moan crawls up my throat at the way he possesses all of me in this moment, so much so, I can only feel, not think. My tongue pushes into his mouth as my body gives in to his need to claim me. His kiss is hungered and delicious… and, oh my God, I’m still kissing him back! Emmett’s hand weaves through the back of my hair as his fist tightens, pulling my strands in a painfully pleasured way. With a tug on my lips from his teeth, my arms wrap around his neck. I need more, more, more, but too soon, he breaks the kiss. Before my brain processes the moment, his hand tugs mine back through the lobby and toward the elevator. We just full-on mauled each other in a front who knows how many people around the hotel grounds. How unlady like. How exhilarating. How… endlessly frustrating.

Sweet baby Jesus.

Oh my goodness.

What on earth just happened?

My mind races, as my heart can’t find a settling rhythm. No freaking way should we have kissed in public for random strangers who have zero business needing us to prove our fake adoration. Humiliation begins to boil as the door to the elevator shuts. My back arches over the railing bar as Emmett pushes me into it. Looking up at him, I know exactly where his mind is assuming this will take off to. Still drunk on his kiss, I fist his sweatshirt. My fingers turn white with a grip strong enough to sober me, and I attempt to push him away.

“I have no fucking doubt the front desk security is watching us right now.” He steps even closer, placing his arm above my head. The beer on his breath mixed with his cologne makes him almost impossible to resist.

Almost.

He widens his stance, caging me in. “Well, isn’t this perfect?” I say, slipping my leg between his, as an unstable laugh settles in my chest. “Gives me better access to knee you in your nuts.”

He pushes off the wall with raised eyebrows, but I doubt he’s thinking I would actually follow through. The doors open to our floor, allowing me to head straight to an open space. God, he shouldn’t be that good of a kisser. Though he’s had quite the roster to practice on. Entering the suite, I channel my sexual frustration into anger. With my arms crossed, I set my jaw and look straight at him.

“You’ve pissed me off,” I spit out.

“Oh, little darlin’.” His head shakes as he stalks toward me, as if on a mission. “You have no idea how livid I am with you.”

Though my brain hears it as, you have no idea what I want to do to you.

“We agreed no kissing.”