Page 55 of Against the Autumn Pines
“Yes, I am,” I stated plainly.
“Wyatt,” Theo said again.
I looked over at him in enough time for him to tilt his chin in the direction of the exit, and I turned to see a swaying swatch of silver make its way out of the door.
Fuck me.
I moved around Mia and started towards the door, only for Ivy and Damien to run out behind me.
“Dude, I’m sorry! She’s quick,” Damien muttered.
I didn’t reply, mostly because I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but as the screaming started, I found myself running in the direction of the sound, anxiety spiking because while I’d never heard her scream likethat, I was heavily familiar with her screams, nonetheless.
Red curls under the parking lot streetlights, the sparkles of her dress swaying, her heels digging into the gravel, all of it was somehow picturesque. But what truly stopped me in my tracks? Watching her swing a baseball bat at my bike and scream obscenities at me—even though she had no idea I was standing here yet.
Damien cleared his throat next to me. “Do you want help stopping her or?”
“Ember, I think you got the point across, babe!” Aspenhollered over her screaming. It was clear from her tone that she was trying to hold back a laugh.
“Quite the arm she’s got bro,” Rowan said from the other side of me.
“I’m so glad I arrived in time to witness this. Is this the new girl? She’s perfect for you,” Payton stated. “Hey, D. Drinks? It’s been a long ass day.”
“Uh, yeah. Yes. Let’s go. Good luck, Wyatt.” He clapped me on the back and walked away with Payton.
More words were exchanged, more gravel crunching beneath boots and heels, but all I did was stand on the edge of the parking lot with my arms crossed as I watched the woman I’d been obsessing over for months, take a baseball bat to one of my favorite things I’d ever owned.
“I think I’m in love,” I muttered to myself.
The bike was on its side in the gravel, windshield and mirrors shattered, side dented up a bit—nothing that didn’t seem easily fixed. I thought about what I wanted to say, but nothing came to mind as she turned around, panting and covered in a fine layer of sweat, staring at me with the weapon clutched in her hand.
“Do you want to maybe drop that?” I questioned while dipping my chin towards the bat still clutched in her hand.
She shook her head, the movement making the red curls fall over her shoulders and frame her face.
“Fuck it,” I finally said with an arrogant smirk, because there was one sure-fire way to calm my girl down.
Closing the remaining distance between us, my hand wrapping around the back of her neck as I pulled her towards me. Our lips met in pure chaos and catastrophe—perfection. She was everything I ever wanted, and nothing I ever asked for, wrapped into one fiery little package.
I stepped us backwards until we were pressed against thetruck parked next to me, her matching my every step until her backside was pressed between me and polished metal. She bit my bottom lip, and I couldn’t help the groan that escaped me, my hand tightening on her neck while the other squeezed her hip.
The baseball bat hit the ground, and her hands came up underneath my shirt until her nails were digging into the expanse of my chest. It felt as if she was trying to claw her way inside of me until her fingers hit my nipples, her touch lightening as she tugged on the bars through them.
“Fuck Ember,” I growled, reluctantly breaking the kiss before I took her right here against this truck in the parking lot. Her light chocolate brown eyes stared up at me, and fuck, I wanted to kiss her again. I wanted to strip her down right here and take advantage of the anger boiling beneath her skin. I wanted to taste it on her tongue while her body shook beneath me.
“You called me by my name,” she murmured, and I just found myself nodding in confirmation before she continued, her eyes narrowed. “If I ever see that bitch on your lap again, it’ll be her I go after with the baseball bat, not your bike.”
If I weren’t already hard as a rock, that would’ve done it. “Yes ma’am.”
Her gaze dropped as she tried to look away, but I grabbed her chin, pulling her back to me before she could start to overthink about what just happened. I wouldn’t allow it.
Leaning down, my lips brushed hers before a smile overtook my face. “You’re mine, little flame, no going back now.”
She glared up at me and rolled her eyes as if what I was telling her wasn’t the entire truth down to the last syllable. She could tell herself all she wanted that this wasn’t real, but I was in it for life.
I knelt down slightly and scooped her up, her chest going over my shoulder, and I walked a few cars down to her Jeep.
“Wyatt!” she screeched. “Asshole! Put me down!”
