Emmalin
As soon as I reached the elevator and saw I was alone, I tried not to have a panic attack. I knew lying to him was going to reach a shit storm later, but I had to. I first needed to focus on not losing my shit.
I reached the lobby and started observing everything and everyone around me carefully. Call it paranoia, I guess.
“Hey, Emme!”
I turned to see Abby running toward me and smiled. Meredith was behind her with Noah. “What are you guys up to?”
“I was planning on taking them out to the theme park, but I’ve got such a migraine. I just can’t do it today.” Noah looked up at me with his sad eyes, wearing his Thor cape.
“Well, I can take them for a few hours while you rest.” Meredith looked from me to the kids. “Oh, Emmalin, I can’t ask you to do that. We can go tomorrow.”
“Mommy, please!” Abby jumped up and down.
I laughed. “It’s fine, really. I don’t mind.” I crouched down until I was eye level with Noah. “What do you say, Noah, would you like to spend the day with me?” He grinned and nodded. I looked at Meredith, and she smiled at his excitement.
“That would be great. Thank you so much.” I took Noah’s hand.
“I’ll have them back before dinner.”
***
“How about this one?” Noah looked up at me with his big blue eyes. He definitely had the Mandrake cerulean eyes going on.
“You’re not tall enough for that one, buddy.” He frowned as I peered at my watch. “We have about a half hour until we have to be back. How about a face painting of your favorite superhero?” His face lit up. “Great!” I turned to Abby, who was no longer standing beside us. A wave of panic started fluttering over me as my hand tightened around Noah’s.
“Abigail!” The whole time we’ve been together, I felt like something was off but thought it was all in my head. Noah ran to keep up with me as I rushed through the crowd shouting Abby’s name. I rounded a corner and saw her bouncing a ball.
“Abigail!” She jumped when I called her. “Don’t ever leave my side. You know not to run off.”
She looked up at me with wide eyes, and almost frightened, at my sudden outburst. She held up her ball. “I went after my ball; he found it for me.” She pointed to a man standing next to her, and I stopped in my tracks. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. Those very same eyes. My grip tightened on Noah’s, and I was sure I was bruising him. I moved him behind me, and in the calmest voice I finally spoke.
“Abby, come stand by me.”
“But—”
“Abby! I said come stand by me right now.” Abby dropped her ball and ran over to me, and I quickly grabbed her, pushing her behind me. I stood there, shielding them, shaking, never taking my eyes off him. He retrieved a piece of paper from his front lapel. Holding it up to gauge my attention on the paper, he smirked then sat it down on a table. With a knowing smile, he turned and walked away.
I don’t know how long I stood there with Abby and Noah behind me, but the next thing I knew Grayson and Meredith came up behind us.
“There you guys are! What are you doing?” I just stood there, staring in the direction he walked, that piece of paper still on the table.
“There was a man,” Abby whispered.
Grayson went into high alert. “A man? What man?” I walked over to the table and pocketed the paper before anyone else could grab it.
“They’re fine. I lost Abby for two seconds. She lost her ball, and someone found it.” Meredith looked relieved.
“Oh, honey, what did I tell you about running off like that? I swear you kids are going to give me a heart attack one day. Come on; let’s get you guys washed up before dinner. Say goodbye to Grayson and Emmalin.” They gave us both hugs before heading back to the hotel. I began to follow them when Grayson stopped me.
He guided me to him with his hand firmly on my nape, holding me close.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded and tried to smile. “I’m fine.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re hiding something from me, and I don’t like it.” I started to shake my head no, and his grip tightened. “Don’t. What do I have to do? Punish you? Fuck it out of you? What do I have to do, Emmalin?” His eyes penetrated mine so deeply, like he was trying to see into my soul. “I have a meeting tomorrow with a new client that was very persistent to meet with me. After that, we’re going home.” I looked at him, stunned, as we started walking back to the hotel. I glanced around us at the smiling families.
“We can’t. We just got here, and this is important to you, Grayson.”
“And you’re important to me, but I’m not having you stay here if I feel like you’re hiding something from me. Something or someone here is a triggering point for you, Emmalin. I saw the death grip you had on Noah and Abby, and you’re refusing to talk, so we’re leaving.” We continued to the hotel. I had to practically run just to keep up with him. I could show him the paper that was on the table, but I didn’t know myself what was on the paper. I had to be sure first.
As soon as we got to our room, Grayson started rearranging his other associates to take over his scheduling for the rest of the week. I needed a minute alone to get a grip on things. I hated this. I went to the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub, pulling out the folded piece of paper that was in my pocket. I stared at it before finally opening it. There was just one word on it.
Checkmate
I tore it into pieces and flushed it down the toilet. I sank to the floor, knees to my chest.
I jumped when the door to the bathroom burst open. Grayson stood there with a worried expression on his face. “I thought”— he stopped and shook his head— “What are you doing?”
I shrugged. “I’m just sitting here.”
“Appears more like you’re hiding out.”
“You’re pissed at me. I didn’t exactly want to be in the same room with you.”
He scowled. “I’m not pissed at you. I want to protect you, but you’re making it fucking hard for me to do that, Emmalin.”
I stood up and brushed past him. “Don’t talk to me like that. I didn’t tell you to cancel the rest of your week. If you don’t want me to be here, fine! I can leave, and you can stay. I can easily go back home by myself if you don’t want me here. I don’t need you hovering over me, though. I’m not a child.”
I grabbed my suitcase, glad I hadn’t had time to unpack yet. Fighting with him was easier. It made this whole thing easier. It made having to leave him easier. I concentrated on keeping my tears at bay, refusing to let them fall until I reached a new destination. I just had to move quickly since time was basically nonexistent. He wanted to protect me, but the truth was, I had to protect him. He grabbed me by the shoulders and practically manhandled me until I was lying flat on the bed with him on top of me. I tried squirming but with his weight on top of me, I was powerless.
He tore my blouse in half as he pushed my skirt up and ripped my panties off in one swift move. He flipped me over and pinned my hands behind my back as he shoved two fingers inside me. “I don’t know what the fuck has gotten into you, but unless it’s me, it’s going to stop now!” I moaned as he slipped another finger in. To any spectator, this would look like an assault, but this is us… this is what I needed. This is how we channeled our frustration and aggression.
“What do you need, Emmalin?” I bit my lip to not say anything. He gripped my hair pulling it tight. “I said, what do you need?” he growled in my ear. I was now panting with his ruthless finger fucking. He pulled my hair tighter, almost to the point of pain. “You,” I finally said. He eased his grip as he unzipped his pants and thrust into me. He bit the back of my shoulder blade as he pounded into me harder. I cried out from the pain of the bite, but it also spurred me on, and I met him thrust for thrust. “Come, baby.” It wasn’t a request. He reached around and rubbed my clit hard, at the same time pinching my nipple. I screamed out as he bit the middle of my back, and I convulsed around him, coming hard. He kept pumping hard, chasing his own orgasm before letting out an animalistic groan.
I was spent, exhausted, and drained. Grayson got up, shed the rest of his clothes and got back in bed, pulling me to him. We were both still breathing hard. “You okay?” I nodded my head. Two seconds went by and he shifted on top of me and pinned my arms on either side of my head. We just stared at each other, not saying anything. He finally sighed and shook his head. “I know what you’re thinking, and if you think I won’t tie you up, you’re sorely mistaken. You and me, remember? We fight together.” I blinked back tears and said the one thing I knew to be true. “I love you, Grayson.” His eyes softened, and he wrapped his arms around me.