Page 94 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

“Emmett! Yes! Yes! Ah!”

With one more thrust, Emmett lets out a low, loud, groan as he finishes inside me.

And I can now say, for a matter of fact, that I know what it's like to be thoroughly fucked.

It was like he was a man possessed the second we walked into his house. We came back here to talk, and so I could start going through my things, but as soon as the door shut, our mouths were on each other and our clothes were coming off. We didn’t even make it into the bedroom.

“God damnit, Tiger,” he sighs as he rolls off me. His arm immediately wraps around my stomach, bringing me into him as he lays a kiss on my shoulder. “I swear, that was not my intention.”

“Really? You ask a girl back to your house after telling her that she’s yours, and you don’t think sex is the first thing that’s going to happen?”

He laughs and gives me another kiss. I’m really liking this playful and affectionate side of Emmett. “In my defense, I've never done this before, so I really didn't know what was about to happen.”

I know he didn't mean to diminish the mood with that statement, but I can't help but feel a pang in my stomach. Because he's right. According to him, he’s never done this before. What changed his mind? Why did he come today other than, what I’m assuming, was Simon asking him to? Why did he say those things to Duncan? Was it the heat of the moment? Or is he in this? I don't want to assume anything before I hear the words from his mouth, but it's also really hard not to get my hopes up when he's looking at me right now like I am the only thing that matters in this world.

“Whydidyou come today, Emmett? I figure Simon asked you, but it had to be more than that.”

Emmett slightly nods as he grabs a blanket from his couch and drapes it over us.

“You're right. Yes, Simon asked me. Actually, he didn’t have to. He told me what you were doing, and I was in my truck before he could finish the sentence.”

He stops for a second, and I can tell he’s thinking about what he wants to say next. I don’t push because I know how important this moment is. Instead I just trace lines up and down his muscled arms. I mean to do it to give him comfort. I’d be lying if I didn’t get a little something out of it too. This man could make a career on a spicy site just for his arms.

“When Simon told me where you were, I didn’t hesitate. Not because I didn’t think you could handle yourself, but because when you realize that the woman you want to be with is fighting a battle, you want to be next to her on the field, fighting with her.”

Want to be with? Is this really happening?

“Emmett...”

“For my entire life, I was scared I was like my parents. I didn’t want to be my mom, jumping from relationship to relationship, but I was worried I was like my dad and that I’d leave when it got hard. I didn’t want to be either of them.”

“You were protecting yourself,” I say.

“No. I was protecting others,” he continues. “Or at least I thought I was. If you don’t get attached, no one gets hurt. It was great in theory.”

“In theory?”

“Yeah,” he says, his quiet smile starting to show. “Because the reason I could stay away was because they didn’t mean anything. Not seeing them, or not being with them, didn’t drive me crazy. They were forgettable. But you, Stella Banks? You’re as unforgettable as they come.”

Can you die from swooning? If so, I think I am.

I think Emmett realizes I’m speechless because he leans in for a kiss. I want to touch him and bring him in closer, but my entire body is paralyzed from his words.

“I know what you must be thinking,” he says when he pulls away.

“Please tell me, because I short circuited somewhere between fighting battles and being unforgettable.”

His laugh fills my heart as he kisses my shoulder. “You’re probably thinking, this isn’t what either of us said we wanted. We said two weeks in Florida. And that was it.”

“Oh yeah. We did say that.”

He rolls over and I bask in the feeling of his weight on me. “I know you said you weren’t ready. And I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. It’s probably a recipe for disaster. And I didn’t even ask if you want this. I’ve just assumed. Great job, Emmett. First woman you want to get serious with, and you just tell her she’s yours like she’s a goddamn piece of cattle at auction. What the fuck am I doing?”

I can’t contain my laugher. “Oh my God, Emmett Collins…you’re rambling.”

And if I couldn’t die from swoon anymore, Emmett’s face flushes red in embarrassment.

God, I love this man.

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