CHAPTER 14

JACKSON

I ran five miles on the treadmill that morning, memories of the previous night pushing me on. I spent the night in Emma’s bed and though we didn’t have sex, I kissed her all over that sexy body. I learned how sensitive her nipples were and how much she loved me to suck on them. I found that spot under her ear that drove her crazy as she clawed at my back, making me harder.

I tasted her hot pussy as she held onto my hair and rocked against me. She was sweet like honey and I knew that the further I got into this, the harder it would be to walk away from her.

I made her come, first with my fingers and then with my mouth, memorizing the throaty way that she said my name as she jerked against me. I realized this had been in the back of my mind, buried deep inside. I couldn’t admit that to myself, much less anyone else.

I was oddly satisfied as we fell asleep without having sex. Emma made sure that I came, using her hand again as I arched my back. Fuck, but she felt good. I couldn’t wait to be inside her after all these years, and I pushed the idea away as I came in my boxers, groaning her name as her naked body pressed against mine.

“I’m not going to have sex with you until we’re both completely ready,” I promised her as our eyes closed sleepily. I’d made her put the shirt back on since I’d attack her with her bare skin against me all night long. Emma smiled and curled up against me and I watched her drift off to sleep, knowing that I was in deep shit. This wasn’t a fling that I was going to just forget about. This was my best friend’s baby sister. I watched her grow up and there was a part of this that felt so wrong to me.

It also felt right.

That morning I held her against me for a few stolen moments. I kissed her hair and got out of the bed as she turned onto her back, kicking a leg out from under the blankets.

“Fuck me running,” I muttered. I’d showered and dressed to go, meeting with all the guys in the large gym as we called out insults to each other. Someone turned on some hard rock and I looked around before deciding on some hard cardio this morning. Even though I came last night, I still had a lot of pent-up stuff inside me. I just couldn’t help thinking about Emma.

She was so natural when she reacted for me. I knew that she wasn’t experienced but everything she said and did was sincere. I knew her well enough to know that. Seeing her naked as I sucked her clit into my mouth was one of the hottest things I’d ever seen, and my body reacted to the memory.

How fucking long could I stay away from her?

We worked out for a couple of hours and everyone showered and headed to get some lunch. Nick and I were the last ones in the gym, and he walked with me to my car.

He looked closely at me. “So, are you finally going to tell me what happened the other night at the party?”

“What do you mean?” I tried to act casual as we headed down the stairs, head facing forward so he wouldn’t see any weakness in my face.

“You disappeared outside for quite a while with Emma. I saw how you both looked when you came back in,” Nick said. I considered what to say to that. “Did you fuck her?”

“No. It isn’t like that,” I said defensively, and Nick snorted. “What?”

“She’s your best friend’s sister, man. Think about that.”

His tone was serious.

“Think about that? You’re the one who said that nobody would ever know.” I was confused at his sudden shift in attitude and Nick shrugged.

“I wanted you to get laid. I see a lot more than sex in your face though, and she seems like an innocent girl who deserves more than a heartbreak from you. If it was my sister, I’d kick your ass,” he said.

I unlocked my car door and blinked. Was he right?

We drove to meet the guys for lunch and I was getting out of the car when my phone rang. I glanced down to see that it was Greg calling and groaned.

Nick looked over at the phone. “Good luck with that.”

He walked through the doors of the restaurant, leaving me there to answer the call. I’d been putting off talking to my friend, feeling guilty about my growing feelings for his sister.

“Hey, what’s up?” I asked, forcing cheer into my voice.

“I just wanted to check in. It’s been a while,” Greg said.

I grimaced. “You know how it gets when the season kicks in. Practice, gym, games and sleep. I disappear into the ground as far as anyone else but the team goes.” It was true, but I was making time for his sister in between all that.

“Yeah, I know. I talked to Em last night. She told me about her job and said you did your job warning off the guys.”

Guilt struck me as I leaned against my truck and frowned.

“Yeah, the team got their warning. Emma doesn’t need those assholes pawing at her. As far as the job, she’s usually in the front of the fans. They don’t get too close to the girls and if they do, we have guys for that. She’s safe,” I assured him, knowing that I wasn’t telling him the whole truth.

“What’s her outfit like?” Greg asked.

“Shorts and a shirt. It’s no worse than what the cheerleaders wear. You know how football is. It’s all a gimmick.”

“I guess. I just don’t want her involved in that.”

I realized how overprotective he was over her and wondered if I sounded the same way. “Greg, she’s making friends and having fun. I know them all and she’s okay. I’m watching out for her behind the scenes,” I said, knowing that she wasn’t spending time with any guy but me.

“I know that she’s safe with you there. Thanks for taking care of her.”

I heard the relief in Greg’s voice, and I held in the groan that was stuck in my throat. I felt like such an asshole.

“No problem. I want to make sure that she’s safe here. She deserves this, though. She’s going to learn a lot,” I reminded him and Greg sighed.

“I know. That’s what worries me.”

It occurred to me that Greg might think she was a virgin. I felt relieved when he moved the conversation to other things. We hung up, and I wandered into the diner, seeing the guys in the back as I went to join them.

“Hey, Jackson.”

I looked over to see one of my hookups walking over though I couldn’t remember her name. One quick look said that she worked there as a waitress and her name was Hadley.

Great.

“Hi,” I said as she stepped in front of me and gave me a hungry look. “How are you?”

“I want to see you on the field more.”

She batted her fake lashes, making me want to roll my eyes. Emma was so much prettier than Hadley and she raised an eyebrow as I stepped back.

“Yeah, me too. I gotta get over to the guys.” I nodded in their direction and started to walk away.

“What are you doing later?” her voice floated over. I paused and turned my head to look back at her.

“I have plans,” I assured her, and disappointment crossed her face. How did I ever think she was hot? Hadley wore a lot of make-up and it made her look harsh under the bright lights. She nodded slowly and walked away as I continued to the tables that were pushed together.

“How did it go?” Nick asked me as I sat down beside him. I shot him a glance. Was he referring to the phone call or Hadley?

“She’s old news,” I assured him and Nick nodded.

“How’s Greg?”

“Good,” I replied as someone laughed and brought up something from the game and I focused on that. We chatted as we ate, heading home for a while after we were done. There was a home game tomorrow night and we just had some practices and workouts lined up. I knew that I needed to sleep as well but I wanted to spend more time with Emma.

I took Nick back to his car and dropped him off as he gave me a serious look.

“Think hard about this, Jackson. You’re fucking up a lot if this goes wrong.”

His words stung and I nodded. I knew that he was right and needed to think this through.

I drove home and found the apartment empty. I called out Emma’s name. I wandered back to my room and took a deep breath as I dropped onto the bed. I fell asleep in the quiet, tired from everything going on with football and the emotions that were running through me.

I woke up to the smell of food and turned over. I saw the light on down the hall as I stretched and then a small figure filled my doorway.

“Hey, are you awake?” Emma spoke softly.

“Yeah. What smells so good?” I asked.

She walked in and sat beside me on the bed. I leaned over to kiss her, and Emma moaned against my mouth. I’d throw the food into the garbage if she agreed to just stay in here with me all night. I tilted my head, deepening the kiss as she slipped her arms around my neck. My call with Greg passed through my mind and I winced as I stroked her tongue with mine.

“Are you okay?” Emma asked as she pulled away to look into my face. “I got some Thai. Want to eat and talk about it?”

“I want to keep you in here and kiss the hell out of you,” I murmured. She smiled and pressed her closed lips to mine. “What are we doing?”

Emma kissed me again and her tongue danced against my lower lip.

“I’m not sure, but I like it.”

She pulled away and pressed her forehead against mine and then she took a deep breath.

“I talked to Greg today. He thanked me for keeping you safe.” My voice was soft, and she looked into my eyes for a long moment. “I don’t know that I’m doing that.”

“You are,” Emma assured me as she pressed herself close to me, driving me crazy. “I’m here, and I know that nothing will happen to me.”

“I might happen to you,” I warned her as she ran a hand through my hair.

“I’ve dreamed of that,” she assured me as she pulled away. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

We made our way to the living room, loading up plates with the takeout and turning the TV on. This felt natural, sitting here. There was a lot of flirting and kissing in between bites of food and comments about the show, but the entire situation felt like home to me.