CHAPTER 12

JACKSON

We pulled into Miami and parked behind the hotel we were staying at. The team was on one bus and Emma was with the others on another bus behind us. I couldn’t stop thinking about her and considered sending her a text throughout the flight and bus ride, but I didn’t.

I wasn’t sure what to say. I couldn’t tell her that I went out drinking last night and turned down a random blonde at a bar. I ended our conversation before it even really started.

What the fuck was happening to me?

I got off the bus and took my bag, making my way to the room I was sharing with Nick. We always paired up, and I knew that Emma was likely bunking with Bella. I was a little worried about that, knowing what a flirt Bella could be. She played the good girl role well, but I knew how wild she could get. I didn’t want that rubbing off.

I was shocked that Emma had slept with someone. But she was an adult. I had to accept that, and I was starting to think that Greg should accept it too. It sounded like it was just one guy, but fuck if I wasn’t jealous.

I headed across the lobby to take care of the rooms with Coach, only leaving to go to mine once everything was settled. I liked Coach Foster a lot, but I was also trying to prove that I was worthy of playing more on the field. I needed him to play me more. I looked across to the front doors where the girls were coming in and smiled at the sight of Emma as she laughed with the cheerleaders. I wasn’t sure how she’d fit in, but this looked good on her.

Too good. I saw the way that Joe, the quarterback, was looking at her. He was a great player, but he fucked anything with legs and right now, his sights were set on my girl.

My girl? Emma seemed to be just fine not being my girl right now.

I walked to the elevators as I pushed that thought right out of my mind. I needed to focus on the game.

We checked in and had a few minutes before we headed over to the stadium to practice. We were getting there before the girls and we ran the field together before practicing plays for a while. The home team got their shot just before the game and we all headed into shower and dress for the game. It was a big one since this team came close to the Super Bowl last year.

I put my clothes on in the quiet locker room, noticing the intensity of the moment. I knew we were all feeling the pressure, but I also had the issue of Emma weighing on my mind. I caught Nick’s gaze and he searched my face for a moment.

“Hey man, you good?”

I nodded slowly as Coach walked into the room. He gave us a pep talk, somehow sounding positive as he told us to kick ass. We stood to head out to the field as Coach Foster looked around, checking for any signs that players needed extra focus.

I stood in the tunnel just before we made our entrance, glancing to the left to see Emma huddled with Bella as they waited to run through the crowd. I was a little concerned with her being here at an away game and how the opposing fans might react. They could get nasty and I didn’t want to ruin my career kicking someone’s ass tonight.

They announced us, and we ran out on the field to the boos of the local fans, grinning as we looked around. This was nothing new, and I glanced at Emma as she hurried down the steps and stood right behind the cheerleaders near our bench. Great. I was glad that she was away from the stands but now her ass was on display for anyone to see in the tight shorts under the bright lights.

Fuck me. I hated that everyone could see her this way. I heard Coach call us into a huddle and followed Nick to listen to his plan, forcing myself to focus. If I did play tonight, I needed to know what the hell I was doing out there. I walked over to the edge of the field and watched the first play, ignoring the cheerleaders as I glanced over at Emma from time to time.

She was cheering for the team as well, dancing around with Bella to the music as I forced my eyes back to the field. We were in the lead early on and the guys kept it going as I paced the edge of the grass. I noticed Emma’s eyes on me a few times and looked back at her as the screams of the people in the stands faded away, leaving me in some weird moment with her. I blinked and heard Coach calling my name before I turned my head.

“Bryce is out. Get your ass on that field.”

Holy shit. I slipped my helmet on and ran out, nodding at Bryce as he limped past me with a pained expression. I joined the formation, and we made a play that got Nick the ball and running to the end zone. He crossed the line, and we all cheered as he danced around.

We won the game by ten points and headed to the locker room to clean up. We all showered and changed into slacks and button-up shirts to head over to a rooftop club. We were going to have some drinks and mingle with fans who traveled with us.

We all got there and hit the bar, ordering drinks and talking as people started filling the bar. I saw Bella leading the way inside with Emma and a few others walking behind her. Emma was wearing a short, clingy black dress with heels and her hair down around her shoulders.

I wasn’t the first one to notice her and Joe made a beeline for her. I set down my beer and strode over to the group, my eyes burning into Emma’s.

“Em, I need to speak with you.”

“What are you doing?” Her voice was low as we walked out to the balcony and I looked around to make sure we were alone. Seeing that we were, I gazed into her face that had more make-up on than usual and watched her glossed mouth slip into an involuntary pout. She smiled a gorgeous smile and she was beautiful, her eyes shimmering in the dim lights as I realized that she was happy to see me.

“You can’t keep me from talking to other men every time there’s one within a few feet. I can handle myself.”

I wondered if she cared about any other man in the room as I reached out to slide my hands down her arms. I felt emotion rising in me, coupled with my frustration as I sighed.

“Emma, you can’t torture me this way.”

My voice was soft as I gazed into her eyes, reaching up to cup her face.

“You can’t talk to me like I’m a child. If you wanted me, you should have said that first. I am going to end up with someone. Eventually.”

Her eyes burned into mine, challenging me.

“I don’t want you with anyone else. I want you for myself.”

Her hands were on my chest and I grabbed her by the elbow, pulling her closer. She slipped her hands up my chest as I backed her against a wall.

I moved in closer and could smell her body wash.

She breathed in and her chest rose up and down.

“I want you, Jackson.”

I could no longer resist this woman.

I kissed her softly, unable to believe that I was finally feeling her mouth against mine. Emma wrapped her arms around my neck as she kissed me back, pulling me down closer to her.

Fuck. I tilted my head and slowly deepened the kiss, noticing her lips tasting like cherries. She was the best thing I’d ever tasted and the most beautiful woman I had ever held in my arms. I didn’t know where I was or why as our tongues slid together, and I wrapped my hands around her waist to pull her closer against me. Her body was perfect under this little dress and I reached down to cup her ass as she moaned against me.

She tried to climb me, eager to wrap her body around me.

I pulled back to look for some place we could be alone. I saw a door and dragged her over to try it, then pushed her inside the storage area for the bar. I lifted her on a box and pulled her face close to mine as I kissed her hungrily. Emma wrapped her arms around me and I pushed her back before kissing her face and neck.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Emma murmured against my lips as I kissed her again.

I pressed against her, feeling her heat through my pants as I spread her legs wider with my body. I wanted to take her right here, but this wasn’t the right place for us to be together. I wanted her in my bed where we could be alone and I could show her how much she meant to me.

Still, I kissed her harder. I slipped my hands under the short skirt, sliding my hands over her legs and finding the hem of her underwear.

“You’re fucking dangerous in this dress,” I stroked my thumbs over her upper thighs, feeling how wet she was with the tip of my thumb. I lowered my mouth to suck on her neck. “Why the fuck aren’t we in Tennessee right now?”

“I don’t know,” she murmured as I slipped my hand over her leg, pulling her body to me as she rocked against me.

“I won’t take this all the way with you. Not here. I. Will. Make. You. Come.”

She let out a guttural moan and gripped my hair.

I stroked her through the cloth before slipping a finger underneath and finding her bare, slick pussy. Her clit was hard and needy as I circled it slowly. Her breathing changed as she got more excited and I found her parted lips with my mouth. We kissed deeply, her breath hitching in her throat as my finger kept moving against her.

I slipped a finger inside her and my cock hardened against my pants. I wanted to rip my pants down and bury myself inside her, fucking her until she didn’t even know her own name. Instead I slid my thick finger into her tight wet core, slipping it against her walls.

She let out a cry. I moved my finger in and out of her and felt her body react with pleasure. I sometimes paused, almost intoxicated with the pleasure I was giving her, and her kisses urged me on.

Emma came hard, her warmth washing over me as I cupped her pussy. I didn’t want to miss a single moment of this and I kissed her tenderly, memorizing the way that she clung to me.

We rested our foreheads against each other before I felt her unbutton my pants and lower the zipper.

“I haven’t really done this too often, but I want to try.”

She reached her hand around my throbbing cock and tightened it, stroking me gently. I’d had women in every way possible, but nothing ever felt this good. It was just her hand, but I groaned against her mouth as I felt myself so close to coming already.

Emma kept stroking me, her hand small and warm as I kissed her harder. I knew that I was going to come sooner than planned but she felt so good. I took one hand and reached blindly around to find something to prevent the mess that was coming. We still had to make an appearance at this party tonight and I didn’t want anyone knowing what happened.

I found a napkin and covered myself as I jerked forward, coming harder than I ever had. I let out a low groan and she jerked her hand away. I kissed her hard and she kissed me right back. I considered just taking her back to the hotel for the night.

Things were different between us. Things just changed with Emma, and I knew that as I tasted her hungry mouth with my tongue. We both pulled away from the embrace reluctantly and I cracked the door to listen for anyone and use the light to clean up.

One look at Emma showed that it was obvious that she’d been with someone and it was obviously me. Everyone saw me drag her out here. I licked my lips as I stared at her. “You look beautiful,” I stroked her cheek, proud of the fact that I was responsible for the rosiness in her cheeks, the sparkle in her eyes and the swollen lips.

“I look like I’ve been in the storage closet with you, don’t I?” Her voice was low, and I nodded. “Should I just go back to the hotel?”

“Yeah. I’ll go with you,” I was shocked at how easily that slipped out and she stared at me with wide eyes. “Just head to the bathroom and clean up. It’s relatively dark in there and I think you’ll be fine. Do you have any more lip gloss?”

Emma patted her chest, and I groaned aloud as I secured my pants. I knew that it was plain to see that I’d been with someone and I considered just letting it be known that I was with Emma. There weren’t any rules about it and it wasn’t this crowd that would mind as much as everyone in Chattanooga.

We left the closet and walked back to the club, walking through the doors as I saw Emma searching for the bathroom. The room was thick with people now and the music was loud, so I might not have to explain too much at all. I smiled and followed her to the bathrooms to clean myself, still in disbelief over everything that just happened.