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Emerson
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EVERYTHING STOPS. FREEZES. My heart stops beating in my chest. My blood stops pumping. My breath catches in my throat. The room fades away; the sounds of the party quieten. Austin isn’t there. No one is.
There is nothing but Colt.
His fingers in my hair, his soft lips, plump and firm against mine.
He’s kissing me.
Why is he kissing me?
I forget I’m sitting on Austin. I forget I’m in the middle of a crowded party. I forget neither of us know how to kiss. All I want to do is reach for Colt. So I do. Twisting my body to get closer to him, I stretch my hand out, cupping his face and pulling him closer.
His hand in my hair hurts, but I like it and want more. Sensing my need, like he somehow always does, he tugs on my hair again before breaking the kiss long enough to grab my waist and lift me.
His tongue... Oh, god, his tongue is in my mouth, moving against mine, touching, tasting, massaging. The faint flavor of beer and mint gum is intoxicating.
He groans. I moan.
And then he pulls away, leaving me wanting more. His eyes are searing into mine and I can’t look away. His chest heaves as he brushes his thumb across his bottom lip like he’s in shock.
Then he winks and walks away.
The asshole winks.
And leaves.
I close my eyes and a drop my head forward.
“Well, that was uhh...” Austin chuckles. Shit, I forgot he was there. Peeling one eye open, I sigh, relief flooding me at his expression; he doesn’t seem pissed or hurt. He’s amused. “I know we planned on causing some scene, getting Colt to stake his claim...” He chuckles. “But I was preparing for a punch in the face. Even brought painkillers in my pocket.”
I open my mouth to speak but stop when I realize what else Colt left me with other than blue balls and an intense desire to kiss him again. Putting my fingers to my mouth, I pull out the gum he offered when he first came over here and roll my eyes.
Austin laughs. “I must remember that move.”
I put the gum back in my mouth and turn to find Colt. He’s bent over the couch, whispering something in Keely’s ear, his eyes boring into me before he pats her shoulders once and leaves the room.
What the hell?
I turn back to Austin, unsure what to do now. “I’m sorry about that, I don’t know what he was thinking.”
I press my fingers to my lips, the heat from his kiss lingering.
“I do, and I think you should go find him,” Austin says, lifting his chin in the direction Colt went. “But, before you do, at least make it look like we’ve broken up and I’m not part of some weird threesome with my teammate and the girl I appear to be dating. Maybe then Keely will help me nurse my broken heart.”
I nod once and open my mouth to say something, but I’m suddenly hoisted into the air and thrown over a shoulder. I’m hanging upside down, staring at a familiar pair of basketball shoes, one firm arm wrapped around my legs, the other gripping my ass.
I roll my eyes.
Alpha male much?
“What the fuck, dude?” Austin growls and stands up. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Taking what’s mine,” Colt growls, giving my ass a slap for good measure as he turns and carries me across the room.
Risking a glance at Austin, I see the amusement in his eyes and the smile he’s trying to hide behind the fake scowl.
“Fine. We’re done. Over. Don’t call me, Emerson,” Austin shouts as Colt stalks out of the room with me still hanging over his shoulder.
Austin and I share a look, one of mutual agreement, thanks, appreciation, whatever. We’re still friends. And now he might have got Keely’s attention.
My attention back on Colt, I clench my fists and smack them into his lower back. “Put me down, you Neanderthal.”
He ignores me and continues pushing through the crowd of people, trying to make his escape.
“Stop,” I shout over the music hoping Colt hears. He does. He stops walking but doesn’t put me down.
I arch my back and glance around, my eyes falling on Rome standing a few feet away, staring with his mouth open. “Pay up,” I say with a grin.
Rome curses and slams his beer down on the table beside him while Colt chuckles and takes off again.
“Colt, dammit. What are you doing?” I punch him in the back again. This is so embarrassing being carried out of a party over his shoulders.
“In case you didn’t notice, when I left you were meant to follow me. Not sit there making eyes at fucking Austin,” he growls once we are outside and walking down the street toward his car.
I punch him in the back again. “How the hell was I supposed to know what you wanted? You kissed me and walked off.”
His hands tighten their grip on me as he lowers me to the ground, holding me until my feet are stable.
“Exactly, Em.” His voice is smooth, his hands still on my hips as he steps forward, pushing me back until I’m pressed between him and the car. He lowers his voice. “I kissed you.”
Bringing one hand up, he grips my jaw. So hot. His eyes on mine, searching, looking deep into my soul. “I. Kissed. You,” he repeats, emphasizing every word.
He. Kissed. Me.
Oh...
I gasp and Colt’s lips quirk up at the sides, a slight smirk before his mouth descends on mine again and I melt into a puddle at his feet.
Our hands are frantic, moving, touching everywhere as realization sets in. The enormity of his actions. A simple kiss. An enormous meaning.
He. Kissed. Me.
He. Is. In. Love. With. Me.
His body is hard and hot against mine. Strong. His tongue is demanding, dominating my mouth as he devours me right here against his car. I caress his cheeks, tug on his hair, rub my hands over his chest. It’s too much, and not enough. I want him closer, need to push him away.
I need more.
More kisses, more touches, more breaths across my lips, more nips at my collarbone, more sighs and groans.
More of him.
“I’m sorry for hurting you,” he whispers against my lips, his fingers digging into my back, clutching me to him.
“It’s okay.” I pull his mouth back to mine not ready to stop yet.
He drags his mouth down my neck, licking and nipping at my skin. “I didn’t want people to think bad of you.”
“They’ll be talking now.” I moan as he drags his teeth across my collarbone.
“Fuck ‘em.” He comes up and bites my bottom lip, pulling it into his mouth. I see stars.
He nudges my feet apart, sliding his knee between my legs, and I’m this close to becoming the girl that humps his thigh.
I can’t help it, I laugh. Colt pulls back, panting, a curious expression on his face.
“Sorry.” But I’m not, not really. His leg is still pressed against my center, and my shame went out the window the moment Colt’s lips brushed mine in the middle of a crowded party while I was sitting on another guy’s lap.
“What?”
“Just thinking I’m about ready to ride your thigh right here if you don’t take me home now.”
Colt flashes a cheeky smile and rubs his thigh against me. He groans. “Baby, I have so much more you can ride than my thigh.” He drags me across his leg, and I sigh, my head falling to his chest. I breathe him in, smiling when I recognize my body wash on his skin as he brings his lips to my ear and whispers, “Like my face.”