EMELIA
“I think I'm going to be sick,” I said, slinking down low in my seat.
I hadn't felt well for days, but the adrenaline rush of having to run from Colin had allowed me to forget about my sick stomach long enough to do what had to be done. But now that we were safe, that greasy feeling in the pit of my stomach returned and I felt like I was going to throw up all over again.
“Can we stop somewhere, please?” I asked, wondering if I was going to make it until we stopped.
“Sure thing, Emmy,” he said, looking over at me with a worried look on his face. “You okay?”
“I'm fine. Just something I ate isn't agreeing with me, I think,” I croaked. “I think the adrenaline rush from that chase is making my stomach churn.”
Deacon nodded and started to slow the car down. “So where did you learn to shoot like that?”
I shrugged. “You grow up in this life, you learn a lot of useful skills. I didn't actually think I'd ever use some of them though.”
“I suppose so,” he said with a laugh.
He pulled into the nearest gas station and I jumped out of the car and ran inside. After throwing up in the bathroom – which already appeared to be covered in vomit – I looked through the feminine hygiene section. Grabbing what I needed, I walked up to the counter, making sure Deacon wasn't around or watching me from the car or something. I saw him outside, standing at the car and watching the entrance, but he couldn't see me – or what I was buying – most likely.
I checked out, asked for a bag and rushed back out to the car.
“Feeling better, I hope?”
“Yeah, a lot, thanks. Getting that out of my system helped.” I said, climbing in the front seat of the car.
Deacon got in the other side and started the engine with a roar. We drove off, looking for the nearest hotel in this podunk little town.
“I need to ditch the car,” he said. “Find another mode of transportation for us. Just in case.”
I nodded. He was probably right. If Colin had surived the crash, he'd be looking for the Impala.
“But first, let's find somewhere to lie low,” he said. “Get some rest and we can deal with all this shit tomorrow, what do ya say?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Deacon looked over at me, worried again. “You sure you're okay, love?”
“Yeah, just tired. Everything that's happened lately has me feeling a bit wrung out,” I said, closing my eyes and listening to the hum of the road beneath our tires. “Sleep sounds really nice.”
Deacon pulled into a hotel parking lot a few minutes later. It was a pretty gross and shabby place – looking like the sort of place that rented rooms by the hour. It was most definitely not the nicer hotels I was used to, but it would do. Deacon pulled around back so that the car not visible from the highway.
He paid with a fake name and ID. No questions asked – not surprising in a place like that. We got our room key and walked to our room, mostly in silence. Deacon was on edge, his head turning this way and that as he looked for any potential threats. I glanced around too, but didn't see anything. Then again, I wasn't as well trained and might miss something that Deacon could see.
But we made it to our room without incident, thankfully. I wan't sure I could have handled a shootout right there in the parking lot. And as soon as we were alone in the room, with the door closed and locked, I felt my entire body relax and I fell into Deacon's arms.
And to my surprise, he held me close. He stroked my hair and gently kissed the top of my head. This man, who only weeks before had kidnapped me, was now holding me close and hugging me. Comforting me. I looked up into those blue eyes and smiled, just happy to be alive – and to be with him.
He kissed me, and unlike before, there was more to it than simply raw, unadulterated lust. This time, I could tell that for him, it wasn't just about sex. It was a sweet kiss. A gentle kiss. The sort of kiss you give to somebody you truly care for – not one you just want to screw. It was a kiss that sent a shockwave through my entire body and caused butterflies to start battering the inside of my tummy.
I kissed him back, eager to return his emotions and things got heated quickly – because how could they not in that situation? This man was still insanely gorgeous to me and everything about him was sexy. Though there was more emotion behind our kissing than before, that didn't mean I wasn't still feeling powerful waves of lust for this man.
“I can't believe I'm saying this,” Deacon said as he stared into my eyes. “But I think I'm falling in love with you, Emelia.”
My heart fluttered inside of my chest and I felt such a torrent of emotion that I felt like I could cry. And in that moment – such a sweet, tender, even romantic moment – the rush of happiness I felt pushed away all the scary memories that had been etched into my mind earlier in the day.
“Really?” I choked. “I mean, I think I'm falling in love with you too, but it just doesn't seem possible, given the circumstances and all. It just seems – crazy.”
“It's crazy, but it's true,” he said, pushing a strand of hair from my face so he could see me better. “I'm as surprised as you are, but you're one hell of a girl, Emmy.”
I could feel the color rushing to my cheeks, and I remembered what I had grabbed at the gas station earlier in the day. I hadn't had a chance to use it yet, but now, given everything we'd just confessed to each other, it seemed as good a time as any to talk about it.
“Good, I'm glad to hear you say that, Deacon,” I said, looking down at his shirt instead of his face.
I focused on the buttons, fidgeting with them out of nervousness – I had no idea how he was going to react to what I was about to say. And not knowing made my insides churn.
“I'm glad you care for me, Deacon, because I think I might be pregnant.”