Clayton
I spent half my night hearing over and over about how Corbin kissed my girl. And each time I heard it, I felt that need to beat the hell out of the dickhead. I think my brothers were starting to get the hint, because I was a raging dick after the first ten minutes.
I sat on a stool near the pool table watching Emelie and Blake talk and laugh. They were on the opposite side, sitting side by side on a couch. I think Blake picked up on my mood and dragged her off, taking pity on the girl. I’d had a death grip on her from the moment we left my room earlier.
I saw movement from my side and when I looked to see Corbin approaching, holding out a bottle of beer, I felt the fury return. I knew he had no idea who she was; it was the continuous shit he and the other guys had given me that pissed me off. No guy wants to hear their girl kissed another man. They sure as shit don’t ever want said guy to be their fucking brother.
“Peace offering.” Corbin placed the beer on the table, still keeping a safe distance.
“How about a black eye?” He stepped back. “That sounds like a better peace offering.”
When he chuckled, I stood, and he held out his hand. “Come on, man, I didn’t know.”
“No, but now that you do, the shit needs to be buried.” And really fucking fast before my head spun off my shoulders and I strangled every dick I lived with. “Enough about it.”
“Okay, I get it.” All traces of humor were gone. “You really like this girl.”
“I more than like this girl.” I sat back down on the stool and took the beer he’d just offered. “She’s not just some chick, Corbin, she’s different. You know yourself had she been any other girl I wouldn’t have given two fucks about you kissing her.”
“I’m sorry,” he finally said, joining me at the table. “It ends.”
I nodded as I stared over the table, my gaze connected with Em’s. I could see the worried look on her face as she tried to hide it by turning back to Blake.
“She didn’t know either,” Corbin added. “She went rigid two seconds into it and pulled back.” I could feel my jaw ticking. “She seems worried, bro.” I knew he was right. “I think we all need to let it go and you need to go reassure your girl that everything is good.”
I watched her look in our direction once again and knew my brother was right.
“If I hear one more time some shitty comment from you about tongues or moans in regards to Emelie, I will kick your ass.” I looked away from Em and towered over my brother. “One day you’ll be in this position, where you’ve got a girl and the idea of any other man touching her drives you mad. She’s mine, Corb.” He nodded his head in agreement. With one more swig of my beer, I stood up and began walking around the table toward Emelie.
Pausing near the end of the couch, I bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go get a drink.” I held out my hand and she looked at it, then back at me.
“Well, that depends,” Blake answered for her. “Are you done moping over something you can’t change? Or do you plan on being a dickhead all night? Because if that’s the case, then she can stay right here with me, because I’ll be much better company.”
Looking at Blake, I saw that familiar fire I’ve seen in her often. It pleased me to know she’d bonded with Emelie. Blake was part of my crew, part of my college family, and now Em was too.
“Crankiness is gone, Mom,” I said to Blake, and she narrowed her eyes at me. “Besides, I was never mad at my girl.”
“Could have fooled me,” Blake added in her snarky tone.
“Me too.” It didn’t bother me when Blake said it, but with Emelie it did. I felt like an asshole the minute she agreed.
Kneeling in front of her, I slid my hands along the sides of her thighs and cupped them both, my fingertips just beneath the hem of her skirt. “I was an ass, but it was directed at the guys. I’m sorry I made you feel like it was you I was pissed at.” I moved toward her to press a kiss to her lips. “I get a little crazy when it comes to you.” Emelie smiled, and I kissed her once more, this time nipping at her bottom lip. “Forgive me.” I could feel myself growing anxious and I knew it was all on my shoulders.
“I think you have the ability to change how this night ends,” Emelie whispered, and I noticed the gleam in her eyes. “We’ll see how well you do.” I understood then what she meant, and I was thankful I hadn’t completely wrecked it for us.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Blake said with a laugh as she slugged my shoulder. “I like this girl, Clayton. Be good to her.”
“I will.” I didn’t look away from Emelie, and Blake slipped away, leaving us alone. “So how about that drink?”
“Okay, but on one condition.” I waited for her to continue. “Can we take our drinks upstairs so we can spend the rest of your birthday with just you and me?”
“Definitely.” My heart raced as I stood up and took her hand in mine.
We walked together to the kitchen and I grabbed each of us a beer, then led her toward the stairs. “Where are you going?” I looked back over my shoulder to see Morgan standing by Xavier’s side, Marcus to her left. Until then, I hadn’t noticed any of them all night.
“Upstairs.”
“Not yet, you aren’t.” Marcus stepped forward and pulled Emelie away from me. I felt the loss of her closeness instantly. “I just got here and I haven’t had the chance to meet this lovely lady yet.”
I smiled as I watched him accept Emelie into the Marcus club. He was always in the center of the girls, sharing secrets, laughing and such. Emelie looked back at me a couple of times, and I just offered her a smile. I loved seeing her like this; she was always so serious and over stressed. She never let herself just have fun. Oh, we had fun with Ethan, and Palmer was a riot, but I meant outside of her element.
It was a different side of my girl.
***
“Thank you for finally stealing me away.” Emelie looked up at me through her long lashes. “I like them, but I was ready to be alone with you.” Feeling her hand slip just beneath the hem of my shirt and trace over my abs caused the words on the tip of my tongue to get lost in my mind.
“I got you a birthday present.”
“Oh, yeah?” I dipped my head just enough to kiss her. “What did you get me?”
“You have to step back and sit down.” Leaning back away from her, I wrinkled my forehead as she laughed. “Just do it.” She pushed against my chest with her hands; I followed her directions and sat on the edge of my bed. “Close your eyes.”
Was she crazy? I didn’t want to miss a second of her.
“Eyes,” she added again, and I grinned as I closed them and waited. I could hear her moving around and I wanted so badly to peek. “Okay, you can open your eyes.”
Have you ever felt as if you had lost your ability to speak? Like something took place before you and you were either so elated, or so shocked that all words escaped you, and you were left feeling so weakened that nothing managed to ring through your mind but utter blankness.
That was me.
“Do you like it?” My girl had to be insane if she thought I didn’t fucking love it. What guy wouldn’t enjoy the girl they are head over heels for standing before them wearing a sexy as fuck lacy number that hid abso-fucking-lutely nothing?
“I love it.” I scanned her body from head to toe, over and over, still feeling blank. “You’re gorgeous, Em,” I finally said in a hoarse whisper. “Even that isn’t a strong enough word.”
“I’ve never bought lingerie before,” she confessed, looking down at herself. “I wasn’t sure where to start.”
“There.” My throat felt raw and she looked back at me, smiling wider. “You started in the perfect place.” I’d never in my life had a girl make me feel so off my game. It wasn’t just my mind she’d managed to scramble, but my heart too. Telling her I loved her right then just felt wrong, but I knew I did. I knew I loved her and Ethan, and had for some time.
I stood, moving closer to her and traced over the edge of her bra as it dipped low, showing off the contours of her breast. “I like this,” I confessed, watching her eyes flutter shut from my touch. Slouching slightly, I kissed the same spot and gripped her hips when she wobbled slightly. “This too,” I continued as I hooked the barely there strap at her side that trailed all the way behind her, leaving her entire ass exposed. “These are nice.” She whimpered when I cupped her ass in my hand. “You bought this for me?”
“Yes.” Emelie’s voice sounded strained.
“Thank you.” Kissing along her jaw, I paused near her ear. “Best birthday present ever.”
“It’s not just the panties and bra that are your present.” There was something to be said about how breathy she sounded. I felt like the king of the fucking world knowing it was me who had her feeling the way I knew she did. “It’s what’s beneath that’s yours too.”
“Like I said,” I began backing up, taking her with me, “best fucking birthday ever.”
She giggled when I spun her around and moved her to the bed, her body bouncing as it hit the mattress. Instead of joining her there right away, I stood at the end, looking at her. My chest tightened; it literally hurt as I tried to slow down my rapidly beating heart.
Emelie was my girl, my everything. Fuck, being lost in one woman, knowing she could destroy me so easily if she wanted to should have terrified me. I should feel weak and vulnerable, but instead I felt powerful and indestructible.
I lifted my shirt up and over my head, quickly removed my jeans, and began to crawl over her waiting body. The way she watched me, her chest moving up and down in quick short breaths, mirrored my own excitement.
“Do you understand just how much I care about you?” Lowering my body to hers, I pushed my hardness against her and her back arched. Her chest lifted, and I took full advantage to suck on her nipple through the sheer material of her bra. “You have me wrapped around your finger, sweet girl,” I confessed, “so damned tightly.”
The words “I love you” were again hanging on the tip of my tongue. I was a mess, a whipped fall at the feet of your girl, no hope of surviving without her, guy. Yeah, that was me.
“Thank you for finally seeing me.” I looked her directly in the eyes. If saying “I love you” didn’t feel right at the time, then I’d ensure she knew just how much being with her meant to me. “For letting me be a part of your life and Ethan’s. You two mean the world to me.”
“Thank you for not making me regret it.” And I never would.