Page 98 of The Love Rematch
He kneels on the floor and places her legs over his shoulders, then dips his head so all she can see is a mess of brown hair. The first lick elicits a sharp inhale. The second leaves her gasping. A few more and Emily is lost in him, no longer in this room or on this earth, let alone inside her own head. She twists the sheets in her fists, biting her lip to keep from breaking as he takes her higher and higher. The stars drop from the sky, sparkling across the ceiling as her back arches in a burst of pure pleasure. His name spills from her lips in a piercing cry.
“Jake!”
It only urges him on. His grip on her hips tightens. His mouth turns ravaging. Emily strains beneath him, overwhelmed.
“Jake. Jake. My god, Jake!”
With her body still trembling, he settles his weight over her and whispers, “That’s my favorite fucking sound in the world, Em.”
And then he proves it, by making her say it again, and again, and again.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
jake
The sun is startingto rise when Jake stirs. The sky is painted in pastel shades. Palm trees sway in dark silhouettes. Light sparkles along the calm ocean surface. It’s probably the most beautiful place he’s ever seen, yet it doesn’t hold a candle to the sight that waits as he looks down at the woman nestled against his chest. Her auburn hair is as jumbled as a bird’s nest and her swollen lips are parted in peaceful sleep. A bit of drool leaks from one edge.
Emily.
HisEmily.
It’s the first time he’s ever been able to sit and spend the dawn basking in her presence, not worried about slipping out the window without her parents seeing or getting home before his mother wakes up. Sure, in typicalthemfashion, he did sneak into her bedroom and technically he isn’t supposed to be here, but it doesn’t matter the way it used to when they were teenagers. This time, he relishes getting caught. He welcomes it. He’s ready for the two of them to finally step into the light.
Which is why he eventually eases out of her embrace. Emily offers a sleepy protest, but he tucks the blanket back around her and presses a soft kiss to her brow, lulling her back to sleep. She’s not a morning person. She needs her eight hours. Besides, this is his task and his alone.
It’s time to quit the show.
For her, yes. But also for him.
Working in reality television has been another punishment he thought he deserved. But he doesn’t. He gets it now. The sins of the father don’t have to be the sins of the son. He’s a different man. A better man. And he deserves to chase his dreams just as much as Emily.
Ever since he was five years old, he’s wanted to direct movies.
And he’s finally,finally, unafraid to do it.
Working forThe Love Matchhas been a great stepping stone in the industry, but he’s too comfortable here. He needs the drive, the literal hunger, the desperation that will force him to take every interview and every chance without acceptingnofor an answer.
So he’s done.
It’s time to find Trish—alone.
Emily might kill him for leaving again or she might be relieved to find him gone in the bright light of day. The fact that he’s not sure tells him everything he needs to know. She never saidI love you. She never saidI forgive you. She saidTouch me until I believe you. And he did. Lord knows he did everything he could, but this is still her choice to make, and there’s only one way to ensure all her options remain available. He has to confess. He has to take the fall for everything that happened last night. He has to let her finish the season without the pressure of his presence, so she can choose Cooper if she wants, or she can choose to be alone, or she can choose him, the same way he’s chosen her.
Of course, he’s not the same complete idiot he was seven years ago.
This time, he leaves a note.
Dear Em,
Last night meant more to me than you’ll ever know. I love you. And in finally finding the courage to say that out loud after seven years of silence, I found the courage to admit other things as well. I want more than this illicit romance for us.
So, I’ve left to find Trish.
I’m quitting the show. For you, and for me. I’m going to tell her the truth about us. I’m going to take all the blame. I don’t want my actions to hurt your business or your brand, and it’s in their best interest to let you finish the season without the scandal this would cause for the network. I’ll probably have to sign an NDA and then security will probably escort me off the property. You won’t see me again until you get back home.
But Em, I’ll be waiting.
I’m not running. I’m not leaving.
