by S. J. Sylvis
She paused and just took me in. Her eyes gripped me, and it was almost as if she was surprised. A flicker of astonishment shined through her eyes, and I tilted my head, trying to figure out what was going on in her mind.
“I’m never going to want to give you up, Emmett,” she whispered, and then her eyes grew wide. “I cannot believe I just said that out loud.”
Laughter boomed out of my mouth, and that was when Fallon flung herself backwards and flopped onto the bed. She took the blanket and covered her face again. Then I heard her muffled voice. “SEE! I’m so stupid around you. You make me stupid! I have no filter!”
I laughed even harder. Then I threw my phone to the side and pulled the blanket down off her face. I leaned one arm over her blanketed body and inched my face close to hers. I just couldn’t help it. She was too cute, and too funny, and too goddamn beautiful when she was embarrassed. I loved making her squirm. My face was only a breath away, and I stared down into her wide eyes.
“So… about this list, Fallon. The whole… you hooking up with someone…” I inched a little closer, and I could actually feel her lips on mine. I pressed down gently and then pulled back up for just a second. “I guess we can cross that off…right?” Fallon nodded her head slowly, looking at my mouth and only my mouth. She licked her lips, and I felt myself grow hard again. Heat was spiking all over my skin. “Or…” I started, climbing on top of her. “Maybe we can just leave it untouched… and pretend that we didn’t hook up… and maybe just do that part of the list over and over again. That is, until you feel that the goal is met.”
Her words were slow, deliberate. They were like a tease to my ears. “I don’t think that goal will ever fully be met, Emmett.” She gulped and let out a small sigh. “I know this is wrong. I know that when the time comes, I’m going to regret this. But right now, I don’t care.”
A slow, seductive smirk grew on my face. Then I swooped in and closed off every other word that was about to come out of either of our mouths.
Fallon would never, ever become old to me. The second I entered her last night, I realized one thing: I not only wanted her to want me, but I also wanted her to need me.
I wanted her to trust me.
I wanted to be there for her.
I just wasn’t sure that I ever truly could be.
Chapter Fifteen
Fallon
My lips were swollen.
I brought my hand up and rubbed the pad of my finger over their swell and smiled. Emmett and I not only had sex last night in the darkness of his apartment, but we did it again this morning. And this was all after I basically told him the truth about marrying Derek.
What was that saying? The truth will set you free? Well, the truth didn’t just set me free… it set me into full-on free falling.
I honestly didn’t plan on telling Emmett everything last night. I didn’t go in there with the intention of anything, really.
I just... found my way to him.
I was relying on him to make all the bad go away.
Emmett was like my escape, and after sex, he was a really… really… good escape. Everything in my mind disappeared when we were together.
It was the most comforting thing in the entire world.
I sighed happily as I heard the birds chirping while walking to my front door. The smile on my face wouldn’t go away. The song, “Walkin’ on Sunshine”, was basically on repeat in my head.
I snickered at myself while unlocking my door. I’m walkin’ on sunshine, alright. Emmett’s, to be exact.
The second I shut my door, I shrieked and dropped my phone along with my keys. The high I was feeling was quickly wiped away as I looked into my mother’s wary face. She was standing right in the middle of my living room with her arms crossed over her fuchsia dress. Her eyes narrowed the second they landed on me.
“Jeez, Mom! You scared me to death!” I said breathlessly, walking cautiously into the room with my heart pounding violently in my ears.
“Where on earth have you been?!” Her shrill voice caused me to tremble. My mother didn’t give me a chance to answer. “Derek’s mom is almost to the bridal shop, and here you are, walking in with the stench of yesterday on your skin! You look a mess. Where have you been? We’re supposed to be looking at wedding gowns today! Don’t you remember? It should be in your planner! Goodness, you’d think it was my wedding with how you’re not even the slightest bit interested.”
My mouth gaped, and I racked my brain for where I’d placed my planner. I hadn’t looked at my planner in at least a week, which was a big no-no in our world. I wonder what else I’ve missed.
And wedding dress shopping? What?!
I took a deep breath before answering my mom who was still scowling. “Mom, Derek and I haven’t even set a date to get engaged! Why am I going to look at dresses?!
The eyebrow placed on my mother’s face rose so high it could have brushed the clouds. “Because according to Derek and his mother, this is happening when he gets back from Guam. Haven’t you and Derek talked lately? Please…” She closed her eyes briefly before driving them into my forehead. “Please tell me that you haven’t messed this up somehow. This is becoming exhausting. How many men have you ‘sampled,’ Fallon? Thirty? Forty? I thought Derek was the perfect match. In fact, you had told me that. I’m not sure what else to do with you.”
My stomach churned at her words. They were hurtful even if she didn’t mean for them to be. It was just another reminder that I was nothing like the daughter she had hoped for. I pushed back with all my might, playing it off that so-and-so wasn’t attractive, or smart enough, or boring, or… the list went on. When Derek rolled around, I was honestly out of excuses, and I was finally accepting it.
Until Emmett.
Until things became real.
But looking up at my mother’s weary face, the way her eyes searched all around the room, no doubt wondering where she’d gone wrong with me, I exhaled.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I’ve been busy lately… with helping Claire get ready for the spring fundraiser. I’ll hurry and change and be ready to go in ten.” My voice came out flat, and I tried with all my power to muster up some type of excitement, some form of enthusiasm for going wedding dress shopping.
I should have been excited.
Getting married should be one of the most exciting days in a woman’s life, and here I was, dreading it with every bone in my body.
I could feel myself slipping away from the person I’d tried to be all my life. I could feel barriers coming down. I could feel happiness slipping through my very fingers. I felt like I was standing on a tightrope, teetering back and forth. I was desperately holding on, balancing between right and wrong, hoping I could somehow save myself. But the more time I spent with Emmett and away from all of this, I knew I was seconds from falling right on my face.
Chapter Sixteen
Emmett
The soft knock on my door had my heart leaping through the roof. This would be the fourth time I’d seen Fallon since we’d had sex, and it just kept getting better.
There was something different about her. She seemed… airy. Light. Happy. It may have been the orgasms changing her demeanor, or maybe it was just me, but whatever it was, it only made her that much more attractive. I couldn’t get enough.
I thought about her constantly. I talked to her every night, and we texted throughout the day.
It was like we were in the puppy-love stage of a relationship, and we weren’t even technically in a relationship.
We were just… us.
I’d catch myself staring at her any time we were together, even if she was halfway across the room at Ships. I could feel the strain of my dick at the sight of her bent over a pool table, trying her very hardest to beat Dawson at pool. She was terrible, and the fact that she found it hilarious, made her that much cuter.
And don’t even get me started on the sex.
Actually… even just kissing her.
I couldn’t stop.
I’d never been so out of control with lust before.
It only perplexed me further.
Fallon and I were just… different.
I wasn’t sure what we were doing. All I knew was that I wasn’t gonna stop.
As soon as I swung the door open and saw Fallon standing there with those tight-as-sin jeans on, I was instantly rethinking my plan for the night.
It was a perfect night to stay in.
“Fourth time this week? I’d say you’re becoming addicted, Emmett.”
I groaned and pulled her by the hand. One of my hands wrapped around her small waist as the other wove into her hair. I captured her lips with mine, only to feel myself harden. I was like a teenage boy with his first boner.
“I just can’t get enough of you,” I murmured against her mouth, and she was left speechless.
I did that a lot. I flustered her to the point that she had no words.
“And yes, I am addicted. I think that’s pretty obvious by now. But… no sex tonight. Not yet, at least.”
Fallon pulled back and pouted. My eyes zeroed in on her pink, jutted lip, and once again, the only thing I could think about was her naked.
Her perky breasts, her brown hair splayed all around her pretty face.
How warm she was. Her flushed skin. The way she trailed kisses down my body, landing right in the spot that I wanted.
“Why not? What are we doing? Are we going to Ships again? Because… um… if we sneak away and do what we did the other night…” Fallon angled her head down, only to bring it back up with a sparkle glistening in her eye. “I cannot promise you that I’ll be quiet. It was really hard to be silent. I never realized how vocal I am until I couldn’t be.”
“Yeah… it was really hard.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her and she laughed.
“That was a dumb joke.”
I smirked. “But I made you smile.”
She smiled even wider. “You seem to do that a lot, you know.”
“I have noticed a time or two.” Who could miss her smile? It lit up the entire night sky. “Okay, enough of us being all lovey-dovey. Tonight…” I grabbed her by the hand, pulling her further into the room. I closed the door behind her, shutting out the almost set sun. It was probably just now becoming busy at the shop, even though it was a weekday, but I’d taken the night off to get on with my plan. “We’re crossing number four off the list.”
Fallon’s brows furrowed. “Number four? What is that… to do something reckless?”
I pursed my lips. “You don’t even know what’s on your own bucket list? You’d think it was mine!”
Fallon was trailing behind me as I walked to the bedroom. Her voice was low and hesitant, as if she didn’t truly want me to hear, yet she did. “Well, the only thing I really care about on the list is the last thing.”
I spun around fast and raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying that the only thing you want to do is… have sex?”
“I did not say that!”
I smiled. “Oh, but you did. Are you…” I covered the distance between us. “Are you using me?”
Fallon busted up laughing. She laughed so hard she snorted, which caused me to laugh. She covered her mouth and nose with her hand. “Oh my god! I can’t believe I just snorted.”
I threw my head back and gripped her waist, laughing. “I’m pretty sure you are the perfect woman, Fallon.”
She looked slightly annoyed. “Because I snorted while laughing? Now you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
I shook my head. “No, because your laugh is contagious. And your smile. You’re fun, and you somehow fit in everywhere you go… and my friends love you… and you’re a killer in bed. Everything about you is just… it.”
“It?” she questioned, placing her hands on my wrists.
I bit my tongue, holding myself back from falling into an even bigger hole. Saying things like that wasn’t part of the plan.
Fallon and I were easy.
We had fun.
Saying things like that to her only made things seem like they were more than they really were.
“Yeah, it. But come on.” I walked over to my closet and grabbed a red-and-black-checkered flannel for myself. I pulled it over my black t-shirt and then grabbed a beanie and placed it over my head. I turned around and stood back, crossing my arms over my chest after rolling my sleeves a bit. I closed one eye and took in Fallon’s appearance, my gaze lingering on those tight jeans.
“You’re going to be cold.”
Fallon raised an eyebrow. “What? It’s the first warm day of spring. Summer’s right around the corner. I’m wearing jeans and a t-shirt.”
I half rolled my eyes. Yes, she was right. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but the t-shirt was thin, and basically see-through, and hanging off one shoulder, showing off some lacy bra thing that I only wanted to strip her out of.
“Here, wear this,” I said after turning around and pulling down another flannel. This one was black and white. I knew it would be huge on her, but there was just something about knowing that she was wearing my shirt.
It sent a thrill down my body.
She looked good.
Real fucking good.
I quickly turned around and breathed out my nose.
You’re fallin’, bro. You’re falling for someone that isn’t yours.
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts, and reached my hand up on the closet shelf. I pulled down another beanie and handed it to her. She took it suspiciously, and my lip turned upward. I snatched it back and stepped in front of her, inhaling that flowery smell she always had trailing after her. I pulled the beanie down over her head, and she laughed. “Oh, sorry,” I chuckled, realizing the beanie was so big on her head that it covered her eyes. I pulled it up and adjusted it so it was at least covering her ears.
Once I took a step back, I felt my face splitting into a huge grin. She looked so damn cute and ready for what I had planned.
“You look good wearing my clothes, Fallon.”
She smashed her lips together, trying to will away a smile.
“Are you ready?”
“What are we doing? Robbing a bank?”
I barked out a laugh. “Something like that.”
Her expression changed from joking to serious. “Huh?!”
I rolled my eyes. “Relax. We’re not pulling a bank job.” I turned around and started to walk through the living room. “Think of it as… capture the flag.”
“What? What’s capture the flag?”
I spun around quickly only to find Fallon in her adorable beanie on my heels. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
Fallon looked sheepish. “I’m kidding?”
“You never played capture the flag as a kid?”
She looked away, and I feebly ran my hand down my face. “What kinds of games did you play when you were younger? You have two brothers, right? Surely you played some type of game.”
Fallon scrunched her face. “You’ll make fun of me.”
I nodded. “Probably.”
She smacked me on the arm teasingly and then breathed out a sigh of annoyance.
“I’m kidding. What did you play as a kid? Croquet?” I joked, ready to laugh, but then I stopped when I saw the truth on her face. “Oh my god, I was just messing around! You really played that weird game?”
“What? It’s fun!”
I shook my head harshly. “No. It’s boring. What we’re about to do is considered fun, Fallon.”
She didn’t look convinced. “Capture the flag?”
I smirked. “Yep, now come on. We’ve got a little drive ahead of us.”
Fallon slowly followed me to the door and then whispered, “Should we take my car? In case we need a fast getaway?”
She was probably kidding… but it wasn’t a bad idea.
After I locked the door, I turned my gaze to hers. “We can take your car… but I’m driving.” Then I flashed her a wide smile. She returned it, but hers was skeptic
al.
I shrugged and snatched the keys out of her hand and jogged my way over to her beauty.
This was almost better than sex.
Almost.
◆◆◆
“Okay, can you explain what we’re doing out here? This is insane!”
Fallon was sitting in the passenger seat of her car, bobbing her head up and down to the song I’d put on the radio. (Driver gets to pick the music… it’s a rule.)
“You like this song?” I asked.
She nodded. “I do. I’ve never heard it, but I like it a lot.”
My mouth fell open. “Fallon… you’ve never heard of Cole Swindel?”
She jutted that lip out again, and I decided that as soon as we were done with this little adventure, I was taking her back to my place, and she was gonna be underneath me for several hours. “Nope. I don’t usually listen to country… you know, being from the city and all,” she teased, and I chuckled.
“I’m gonna turn you into a country girl. Next thing I know, you’re gonna be wearing cowgirl boots and daisy dukes.” I paused, visualizing her in just that and taking a deep breath.
“Ooh, I like the sound of that. I could totally rock some cowgirl boots, right?”
My voice was gruff. I tried to shake the thought away. “Absolutely.”
“Okay,” she started, turning her body toward me, “what are we doing out here? We’re in the middle of a…” She looked out the windshield, trying to see where we were. “What is this? A hayfield?”
“Please tell me you’ve seen a hayfield before, Fallon.”
She rolled those pretty eyes. “Of course, I have! I’ve just never been this close to one. Are there cows out there?”
I laughed so hard the car shook.
“Emmett! Quit making fun of me, right now!”
“I can’t help it, you’re just… such an outsider.”
She sighed, but I saw the ghost of a smile on her lips.
“Okay, but seriously… you said you wanted to do something reckless, right?” She nodded, looking slightly fearful. “Okay, so you know Axe?” She nodded again, albeit slower than the first time. “Well, he has a day job. He works with underprivileged children and teenagers in the next town over. It’s kind of like The Boys and Girls Club, but a little different.”