CHAPTER 28
Emmett
Riley
Emmett. You are under arrest for
crashing Julia’s date. Get a hold of
yourself, man. Are ten women not enough for you?
Evan
Riley, give him a break. He’s eliminated a
bunch of them. He might only have four
left by now. He needs at least one for every day of the week.
Evan
Em, though… seriously? Are you sick?
Running a fever?
Oma
Maybe it was a coincidence? LOL.
Riley
No, Julia told me when I checked in with her on how it went.
Parker
How did she say it went?
Riley
She wasn’t very forthcoming. Said that a lady never tells.
Evan
Ouch. Does that mean you’re not a lady, Riley? Because you’re pretty forthcoming
about your dating life. I know things I wish I didn’t.
Opa
I wish I knew how to leave this chat.
Emmett
That’s all she said?
Riley
Oh good, you’re here now. Explain yourself.
Emmett
It was a coincidence. Parker and I just went out for a drink.
Parker
Totally. Very random. Not planned at all.
It’s a small world and all that.
Oma
Emmett and Parker are the most prone to lying of the four of you, though. So…
Riley
See? Oma thinks you guys are full of shit.
Now spill.
Emmett
Sorry. A gentleman never tells.
Evan
That doesn’t even make sense in this context.
Emmett
Okay, true. Let me try again.
Emmett
Riley, fuck off.
Oma
LOL.
Riley is giving the women riding lessons for a segment on the show, and she’s going to lord it over me for the rest of my life.
The amused glances she shoots my way are proof that I’m going to pay for this.
I’m also going to get a lot of unsolicited opinions from her the minute we’re away from the cameras. Hell, maybe she can spill it all in the group chat again like she did this morning.
“Ugh,” Evelyn grumbles from atop her horse. The poor guy has put on the brakes and is refusing to move. And I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to be charged with carrying Evelyn around either.
“Evelyn, just wait in the corner until I can help you out,” Riley calls to her, barely sparing her a glance. Because Evelyn was talking a real big game during setup about how she used to ride.
I don’t know how long ago that was, but it appears as though it might have been in another lifetime.
“Catherine, that’s great. You’ve got such a nice feel. You know that?”
Catherine beams back at my sister, clearly thrilled with the compliment coming from an established horsewoman. “Thank you, I grew up riding. It’s been a while, though,” she replies innocently. She wasn’t present for Evelyn talking a big game, so she’s clueless how it looks for her to say that.
Richard will love it, spin it like blatant shit-talk.
“Jada, you’re a natural! And Akira? Girl, are you sure this is your first time on a horse?”
“Yep! But my uncle in Japan has several on his property and I love to brush
them when we visit.”
“You’ll have to get on next time!”
Riley carries on, complimenting the other women, and I swear she’s intentionally leaving Evelyn out of her praise. The way one dimple pops up on her right cheek like she’s trying not to laugh is a dead giveaway.
My sister is ruthless.
I glance over at Evelyn. She’s glaring daggers at Catherine from atop the immobile horse.
Teri nudges me with her elbow from where we stand at the edge of the arena.
“This is a great scene, but poor Evelyn looks a little embarrassed. Maybe you could hop in and give her a little extra attention, you know? Might help boost her confidence a bit.”
A soft chuckle draws my attention away from Teri. Julia has her fist raised in front of her mouth. She clearly heard Teri’s take on the scene and is greatly amused.
I widen my eyes at her as if to say, Shut up or you’re going to get us in trouble.
She must pick up on it, because she turns to leave, but not before casting one last satisfied glance in Evelyn’s direction.
I watch Julia scurry down the hallway and duck into the tack room where she can get a good laugh in private. She’s wearing a pair of acid-wash Levi’s like they were fucking made for her. Her ass is world-class, and I will die on that hill.
I wonder if Dominic thought so too.
I shake my head, refusing to go down that path. God knows it took me long enough to fall asleep last night, wondering if the date ended there or was granted a second wind after she found me out.
It would have been nice if Riley had even a modicum of information. At least knowing something would have made getting embarrassed in the family chat worth it.
But instead, I’m still left wondering. Fixating. I’m the one who told her to go on that date. We agreed it was for the best.
But it doesn’t feel like the best.
It feels like the worst.
It… feels. And after years of not feeling much of anything where relationships are concerned, it’s also fucking consuming.
“Yeah, totally. Poor Evelyn,” I reply absently, feeling Teri’s attention on the side of my face. I toss her a smooth smile to mask my distraction. “I’m just going to run to the tack room and grab her some spurs to see if that could help. I’ll be
right back.”
Stupid.
What I’m doing is monumentally stupid.
Teri grins back at me, looking pleased with my response. “Perfect. Richard will
love this.”
Fuck Richard and fuck the consequences.
My brain is out of control, high on something I have zero tolerance for. I know I’m making reckless decisions right now, but I’ve never been one for playing it safe, which is why I don’t let myself overthink what I do next.
I saunter away from the crew, duck down the dark barn alleyway, and with one quick glance over my shoulder to see if anyone is watching, I slip into the tack room.
Julia is here, back to me, fingers trailing over one of several saddles on the rack before her.
I’m not supposed to be here, and I’m not supposed to do this.
I wasn’t planning to say anything.
Hell, I spent all morning telling myself I’d play it cool. I planned to ask how her day was going, toss in a smug joke or two like nothing weird happened last night. Like the thought of her sitting across from some guy who was “sweet” and available and might have an actual chance with her hadn’t been gnawing at me all damn night.
I close the door and lock it behind myself, and the sound makes Julia spin on the spot to face me.
She looks tanner somehow, her skin glowing against a flowy white boho top, the neckline wide enough to show off the elegant slope of her neck, the proud lines of her collarbones. Loose tendrils of dark hair spill out of her messy bun, topping off the sensual look.
Her hair is back to curly, so she’s clearly had a shower.
Maybe with him.
Fuck. I hate living in my brain right now.
The expression on her face is half surprise, half satisfaction. Like she knows I’m losing my goddamn mind. Like she can see straight through me.
So I cave.
“How was your date?” I ask, my tone harsher than I mean.
Or maybe it’s exactly what I mean.
She blinks before moving toward the bench in the middle of the room, taking a seat, propping back on her palms, and crossing her legs.
Pure attitude.
“Wow. Straight to it, huh?”
“Just curious,” I reply with an unaffected shrug. “Call it professional interest.
One coworker to another.”
“Coworkers?” She chuckles, crossing her arms. “You been kissing Teri and
asking her about her dates too?”
“I would never.”
“Oh, don’t go acting all holier-than-thou on me now. You know damn well I didn’t want to go on that date. But it’s for the best, right?”
“No.” I say, my voice low. “It is definitely not for the best. Not for me.”
Her brows lift. “You all but told me nothing would ever happen between us.
Even after the show. You want me. You don’t want me. Make up your fucking mind.”
“You think I don’t want you?” I laugh, dark and humorless. I told her that.
Hell, I even thought I meant it. But that was before I realized I can’t stay away from her.
Her chest heaves as I push off the doorframe to prowl toward her.
“Because if you do,” I say, coming to a stop and towering over her. “Then you’re not paying attention.”
She tries to look unaffected, but I see it—the hitch in her breath, the way her eyes drop to my mouth before snapping back up. “Are you jealous, Emmett?”
My fingers dust over her neck, thumb under her jaw, tipping her face up. “I am jealous. I’m losing my goddamn mind over you. And you’re traipsing around in these tight fucking jeans with a permanent smile on your face like you weren’t out all night with some country club loser who got the chance I only dream of getting with you.”
Her eyes lock on mine, wide and dark. “Then do something about it.”
And that’s all it takes to break whatever leash I’ve been trying—and failing—to keep on myself.
My hands drop suddenly, gripping her hips and tugging her closer.
“You went on a date, and I fucking hate that,” I say, my lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Did he touch you like this?” I drag my teeth over her jaw, letting one hand slip into her back pocket to give her round ass a possessive squeeze.
Her breath catches, but she doesn’t answer. Her silence makes me feel more desperate. More untethered.
I drop to my knees in front of her, needing to look her in the eye. Needing to know. To see. To read her features.
Her cheeks are pink, and her breathing is labored. She stares back at me, need simmering in her dark eyes.
“Did he make you feel like this?” I flick open the button at the top of her jeans before gripping her hip, pushing her boundaries just to see how she’ll react.
She still doesn’t answer, but she lifts one hand—not breaking eye contact—as she reaches down and unzips her pants.
“That’s what I thought,” I mutter roughly, and then I shoot forward, pulling her face to mine as I kiss her—hard, hungry, like I’m trying to erase any trace of him she might still be carrying.
She returns the kiss, no hesitation, no holding back. Her hands fist in my shirt, tugging, demanding.
Suddenly frantic, I turn us, lying her down the length of the bench in one smooth motion.
She makes a surprised noise against my lips when I move over her, but her legs wrap around my hips on instinct.
“I’ve been thinking about this for weeks. Taking you. Tasting you. It’s been fucking torture,” I mutter against her neck. “Every time you laugh, every time you shoot me one of those snarky looks, when you bite that goddamn lip.”
She grabs my jaw. “That’s what I spent all last night thinking about. In my bed.
Alone.”
I’m relieved beyond what I’ve ever felt before. I knew he didn’t stand a chance, but I needed to hear it all the same.
I needed to hear her say it. That she went home alone. That she thought about
this. About me.
Us.
“I think you get off on making me—”
“Emmett.” She grabs my jaw. “Did you storm in here and lock the door just to talk? Stop thinking.”
Then she pulls me back to her mouth, kissing me like she wants to bruise me with it. Her needy moans urge me on.
My hands are everywhere—under her shirt, tracing the soft line of her waist, removing her sandals, tugging at her jeans until she lifts her hips and finally lets me pull them down.
“We don’t have long, but I’m not leaving this fucking room without knowing how you taste,” I growl, getting rid of her pants as efficiently as possible.
“I thought we were staying away from each other?” she murmurs, clearly just as torn as I am. Both of us ready to break every rule we laid out for each other that night in the diner.
I groan when I see her plain white cotton thong. It makes her look far too innocent for all the things I want to do to her.
“This can be a onetime thing. Just to… take the edge off.”
“Yeah. Okay. Definitely. Just to take the edge off.” Her eyes are glassy as she pants out her agreement.
I kneel on the simple plywood floor at the end of the bench and pull her to the edge, one hand gripping each thigh as I spread her. Pausing, I stare for several beats, any intelligent thoughts shriveling up and dying at the sight before me.
“Fuck, Jules. Looking like this should be illegal.”
“Taking this long should be illegal.”
“Mouthy,” I mutter as I reach forward and hook my fingers in the gusset of her underwear to expose her.
She hisses when the cool air hits her cunt. It makes her clench.
“Fuck. Fuck. You want it bad, don’t you?”
“Emmett—”
I cut her off by pressing my fingertips into the fabric and yanking roughly. My patience is shot, and I want her riding my face as soon as possible. I rip her panties over toned thighs and shove them into my pocket before tugging her closer and dropping my head to take one long, firm lick.
She cries out, and it’s fucking music to my ears.
“Yes, Jules?” I smile against her pussy. “Was there something you wanted to say to me?”
“I…” she trails off when I go back in, sucking hard once on her clit.
“You’re going to keep your legs spread and let me enjoy myself?”
“Fuck you,” she breathes. I grin up at her as she props herself on her elbows and gazes down at me, pure dazed lust on her face.
“Maybe one day. But not today.”
Then I dive in, pulling out every stop to make her feel good and forget about every other man who has ever existed.
I spread her with my hands, thumbs trailing up over her lips, tongue trailing close behind. She tastes like heaven, and the sounds she makes drive me wild.
When I spear her with my tongue, her body bucks against the intrusion and she murmurs my name, voice thick, fingers weaving into my hair.
She grinds against my face with reckless abandon. “Emmett, yes.”
“Quiet, doll,” I murmur against her tender flesh. “They’re filming just outside.” I move my mouth back up to her clit and slip two fingers inside to fill her up the way I know she needs.
Julia gasps, and I’m pretty sure it’s partially from the sensation and partially from the realization that we are sneaking around—flying dangerously close to the sun.
Her words transform into wordless moans, and I can feel from the tautness in her body that she’s trying desperately to keep quiet.
And I don’t make it easy for her. I work her hard. Fucking her with my fingers and feeling her go so warm and wet around me. Tasting her arousal as she makes a mess for me. Watching every twitch of her muscles. Storing away every needy sound she makes so that I can play this soundtrack in my head when I’m alone later and fucking my fist while thinking of her.
“You going to come for me, Jules?” I taunt while trailing my mouth over her inner thigh, adding a third finger and watching her stretch for me.
“Yes. Fuck. Please. Please don’t stop.” Her quiet voice brims with tension, and her skin hums beneath me as I slip a palm up the underside of her leg, spreading her wider before doubling my efforts.
She asked me not to stop. And who am I to deny her?
I don’t stop. I use my mouth to show her how badly I want her—how badly I need her. Sucking, licking, biting.
And when her legs shake, I still don’t let up. Her fingernails grip my scalp. I
can tell how close to the edge she is.
And I shove her right over.
She cries out as her body bows off the bench, and my free hand shoots up to cover her mouth. I want to hear her make that noise over and over again.
I hold her there, still going, wanting to draw out her pleasure for as long as I can before I have to go back out there and pretend I have eyes for anyone other than the woman stretched out before me right now.
“Mm,” she murmurs before her body goes soft.
I watch her. Pink cheeks. Glassy eyes. Damp skin.
She looks thoroughly sated, and it makes me feel like a king. Making her feel good is a high I’ve never felt before.
She throws an arm over her face with a contented sigh and a disbelieving giggle.
“I might owe you one for that.”
I pull my fingers from her, loving the sight of her slick, puffy, pink pussy before me. It makes me want to throw caution to the wind. Rip off my belt and impale her on my cock. Listen to her scream my name over and over again.
But I can’t. Not here. Not now.
“No, doll,” I drop a kiss on her thigh. “That was all for me.”
I’m not lying. I needed that. Needed her. To feel… us.
Suddenly, the reality of it all feels heavy. It feels real. It feels like the thing I’ve been avoiding.
If nothing else, it’s exactly what we agreed we would not do.
But with her, my willpower is trash. I’m not sure why I bothered trying when everything with her feels completely inevitable. Like it’s meant to be.
We’re meant to be.
Still kneeling, I reach for her jeans as she sits up.
“Sorry,” I mutter, slipping her ankles into her pants.
She laughs. “No, you’re not.”
I grin now, staring at her legs as I attempt to get her dressed again. When I finally peek up at her face, she looks… lighter somehow. Happy. And that makes
breaking all my rules worth it.
“No, I’m not,” I finally confess with a wink.
“That was—”
“Hot as hell and also dangerous as fuck.” I glance over my shoulder, hoping against hope that no one heard us or is figuring out that we’re locked in here together. “I have to get back.” Regret tinges my voice as I turn my attention to her.
She stares at me with a soft smile on her lips. She’s fucking perfect. Too perfect for me. Too good to be true.
But I don’t tell her that. I just push up and kiss her, taking her mouth with a gentleness that doesn’t match the way I just took the rest of her.
“See you out there,” I say, drawing away even though I don’t want to.
It’s only when I’ve reached the door that she hisses, “Wait!”
When I turn, she’s looking around herself, searching for something. “My panties are missing.”
“No, they’re not.” I reach back, removing them from my pocket with one
quick tug.
They dangle from my pointer finger.
Her eyes widen. “Give them back.”
“No chance. These are mine now. Let’s call them a souvenir.” Her jaw drops open as I toss her a cocky wink and push them into my jeans.
“You can’t just—”
“What? Go out there and continue recording with your underwear in my pocket? Watch me.”
I don’t give her a chance to respond. I just turn and walk back to the set, only thinking about the fact that she wants a repeat performance.
Hands slung casually in my pockets, panties pinched between my fingers, I announce to the cast and crew, “Sorry, looked everywhere and couldn’t find any spurs.”
