Bryce: The Project (Indie Rebels Book 3)

by Miranda P. Charles

  Emma gasped, her mouth open as her warm, creamy channel stroked his hardness repeatedly.

  He caressed her breasts, keeping his gaze on her face as he revelled in the intensity of the ecstasy she was giving him.

  “Bryce,” she moaned as she rocked on top of him.

  He tried to absorb the pleasure while being in control of his body, but he felt himself spiralling upwards with speed. She felt so damned incredible. He tugged her down so he could reach her nipple with his mouth.

  Emma moved faster, her panting becoming loud and harsh.

  “Yes, baby, come for me,” he growled, his hips restless underneath hers as he met her urgent thrusts.

  Emma sped up and he dropped his head back. He was so close and there was nothing he could do to stop the tsunami of pleasure swamping his whole being.

  Then Emma tensed, crying out loud as she clenched her body hard all around him.

  He growled and gasped out her name over and over as he emptied himself inside her.

  “Wow.” Emma collapsed on his chest.

  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple. Wow, indeed. Actually, the word seemed insufficient for what he’d just experienced. It was…sublime.

  Was it because he hadn’t been with a girl he truly cared about before? The only women he’d been with over the last eight years had all been casual or one-night stands. He’d been careful to keep it that way.

  But Emma had destroyed his determination. Unfortunately, he had to let her go home tomorrow without the promise of further communication. It simply wouldn’t be safe for her otherwise.

  Bryce snickered mirthlessly. He still couldn’t believe that the woman he’d tried to protect from his world had already been in it.

  He shook his head to clear away his memories. Why he’d let himself remember every single hot detail, he didn’t know.

  Then again, it might make asking Emma out on a date just that bit more palatable. He’d have to call on every single strand of his acting skills to make her believe he was a fool for her.

  He’d been more convinced about one thing, though. Emma hadn’t known he’d been with the Flowers. None of her actions then and now indicated that. And it intrigued him that she didn’t know as much as Sharryn when it came to the syndicate. Hopefully, he could find out why tonight.

  Ensuring that Kallan had well and truly gone, Bryce pulled out his phone and dialled Emma’s number.

  “Hello, Bryce!” Emma said jovially.

  Wow, he hadn’t expected that level of enthusiasm. “Hey, Em. Just wondering if you’re still at the restaurant. I find myself back in the middle of town and I thought I’d check if I can still join you for a drink or two.”

  “Oh. No. I’m back in my apartment.”

  “Ah, shame. I was really looking forward to catching up with you, and I thought the night was still young.”

  Emma giggled. “Yes. It’s only ten.”

  Bryce frowned. Was she drunk?

  “Hey, you wanna come for coffee? I don’t feel like going out again.”

  He raised his brows. “Yeah, sure. Where are you staying?”

  Emma told him, including her unit number.

  “Great! I’m actually less than five minutes away. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Oh, another coincidence!” she said with a laugh. “See yah!”

  Bryce hung up, certain that Emma was indeed slightly inebriated. That should help him inveigle useful information.

  He let a couple of minutes pass before entering her building and taking the lift to her apartment. His heart started beating faster when he reached her floor, and he inhaled deeply as he knocked on her door.

  Emma sported a welcoming grin as she let him in. “I’m so glad you rang. I was disappointed when you couldn’t join us.”

  “Me too. How was dinner?”

  “Great! The food was yummy. I’m just making coffee. You like latte with no sugar, right?”

  He smiled, following her to the kitchen. “You remembered.”

  “Yeah. I bet you can’t remember what I like.”

  “Decaf mocha with skim milk at night. But during the day you don’t mind full strength cappuccino.”

  Emma turned to him, eyes wide. Then her lips tugged up. “You remembered too,” she said softly.

  He nodded, his breath hitching at the expression on her face. Was she really that thrilled?

  He looked away, pretending to check out her place. “Nice digs.”

  “Thanks. I like it here.” Emma busied herself with the coffee machine on the kitchen bench.

  Bryce sat on one of the stools by the breakfast bar, facing Emma. He wondered if Sharryn had spoken to Emma regarding their conversation. But he intended to let Emma bring up the syndicates first. He was keen to find out what she’d share without his prompting.

  “So you’re liking it here in Sydney?” Emma asked, batting her lashes as she placed his coffee in front of him.

  His own eyelids fluttered involuntarily. He could swear she was flirting with him. And he was fucking responding without meaning to!

  He let out a sigh. He shouldn’t have recalled that hot night with her. “Yes, I’m enjoying Sydney.”

  “So…are you staying here for good?”

  He shrugged. “Depends.”

  “On what?” Emma glanced rather furtively at him before gazing at the dark brown liquid streaming into her coffee cup.

  Bryce stared at her. What was she trying to do? Make him talk? About what?

  “I guess it depends on a lot of things,” he answered. “I’m kinda like going with the flow at this point. What about you? What have you been up to?”

  Emma took her cup and went around the bench top to sit next to him. “I’m now a sous chef.”

  “Congrats! Sharryn did mention it.”

  “Thanks. I never thought I’d get promoted since there were two excellent candidates also vying for the position. Thankfully, the boss picked me.”

  Bryce couldn’t help but smile at the happiness and pride in Emma’s voice. A career in food genuinely meant something to her. Even back at Plank Island, she couldn’t stop talking about cooking.

  Hey, was this the reason she didn’t know much about the syndicates? Because she wasn’t as interested in the underworld business as Sharryn?

  His heart skipped. If that was the case, then it was…kind of good.

  “So where do you work now?” Emma asked as she sipped from her cup.

  “I’m a freelance security consultant. Companies hire me to give advice on assets and personal security.” He didn’t have to lie about that. He’d set up the business not long after he’d joined the Indie Rebels both as a means of income and as a cover for his IR work.

  “Oh, wow. That’s great. Has your work taken you to Brisbane in the last couple of years?” Emma’s knee bumped against his.

  His heartbeat accelerated. “Yeah, about two or three times.”

  “You didn’t look me up,” she said with a pout.

  He chuckled. She was most definitely flirting with him. For what purpose, though? “How could I when I didn’t know your surname?”

  “Oh, duh.” Emma rolled her eyes, then stared at the cup in her hand. “Let’s say you knew how to reach me. Would you have called me?”

  He blinked, taken aback by the sudden seriousness in her tone.

  And he had no idea how to answer her.

  Emma waved a dismissive hand. “You know what? You don’t have to answer that. Because things haven’t changed. Long-distance relationships still don’t work, right?”

  “Right,” he croaked.

  Emma nodded. “Too many chances to stray. So unless you find yourself living in Brisbane, I’m not going to entertain another thought of a relationship with you.”

  He inhaled sharply. Emma still wanted him. And, damn it, she was right. A future with her was as impossible now as it had been two years ago, just not for the reason she mentioned.

  Emma slapped her forehead with her palm. “
Bryce?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’m sorry, but I think you should go now. I think I’m drunk, and I’m talking too much.”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. She was too cute. “Okay. Thanks for the coffee.”

  “You’re welcome. And whatever I said, could you just…forget about it?”

  “Sure,” he said lightly, keen not to make her uncomfortable.

  “Thanks. See you around.”

  “Yeah. Call me when you’re not drunk? Just for a friendly drink—of coffee or tea.”

  Emma laughed. “Sounds good. I’d like that. If I forget, could you remind me? I don’t usually forget things, even when I’m drunk, but you never know. I wouldn’t want to miss the chance to see you again.”

  He smiled. “How about I call you if you don’t call me in a day or two?”

  “Okay.”

  “Great. See you later then.”

  “Goodnight.” Emma bit her lower lip.

  And he found himself wanting desperately to kiss her. He turned to the door. He’d better go before he did something foolish. “See yah.”

  “Bye.”

  Bryce left Emma’s apartment, forcefully pushing aside his glee from being with her.

  She’d been close to disarming him with charm. He couldn’t let it happen again.

  Chapter 5

  Emma sat on the couch in her lounge room, her finger poised to tap Sharryn’s number. Was this a good time to call? Sharryn could be busy at work.

  Well, Emma could head out and do some touristy stuff, but she just felt like some company. Funny, since she didn’t usually have a problem being on her own.

  Maybe she could call Kallan? He’d said he was flexible and that if she wasn’t ready to hire him as her bodyguard yet, he was still happy to keep her company as a friend.

  Yeah—no. Kallan was all right. She wouldn’t even mind him following her around if she did decide on taking a security detail. But it wasn’t him she particularly wanted to spend some time with.

  She sighed. She really wanted to call Bryce. But, heck, she was still acutely embarrassed from her behaviour the other night. Imagine practically telling him she still had the hots for him.

  Next time that Sharryn encouraged her to keep drinking, she’d put her foot down and say no to more than three glasses of wine. It was just that she’d enjoyed her time with her cousin that she hadn’t stopped Sharryn from topping up her glass.

  Well, she could only hope that Bryce hadn’t taken her declarations too seriously. She’d been kind of vague anyway, if she remembered things accurately. She didn’t recall telling him she still thought about him all the time.

  Seriously, just how exactly did this person-to-person chemistry work? What made Bryce much more attractive to her than any other guy? If she only knew how to turn it off.

  Because Bryce lived here in Sydney.

  She let out a harsh breath. Yes, Sydney, not Brisbane, so no way was she going to set herself up for another heartache. Even if the decision to remain mere acquaintances after she’d left Plank Island had been mutual, it had still hurt just the same.

  Emma jumped as her phone rang in her hand. Smiling, she answered Sharryn. “Hey, I was just thinking of calling you.”

  “Really? Well, here I am. What are you doing today?”

  “Still deciding on that.”

  “Wanna have lunch?”

  “Yes!”

  “Great. There’s a few things I wanna tell you. What about after lunch? What do you plan to do?”

  “Maybe I’ll do some window shopping, since I’ll be out already.”

  “You should call Kallan. Like he said, even if you’re not ready to hire him, he’s more than happy to entertain you whenever you want.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Are you sure you’re not turning down Kallan as your bodyguard because he’s good-looking and you’re afraid Bryce might get jealous?”

  “What? Of course not!”

  “I still cannot believe Bryce is the guy you met at Plank Island. What are the odds of you bumping into him again here in Sydney—on your first trip away from Brisbane after you went your separate ways?”

  “Yeah. That’s such a coincidence, isn’t it?”

  “You’re not thinking—or hoping—that it’s fate, are you?”

  “What? No,” she said with a laugh, feeling her cheeks burn.

  “So has he called you?”

  “Yes, for a very quick catch-up.”

  “Oh, really? Are you going out again? On a date?”

  “Nah. We’re just friends. Not interested in anything more than that.” Even Bryce had indicated that. He’d said he’d like to see her again—for a friendly drink only.

  “Are you sure?” Sharryn asked sceptically.

  “Have you forgotten I’m against long-distance relationships? Bryce is a Sydneysider now. Why would I want a man who’d be absent from my life for months at a time?”

  “Why are you making decisions about your personal life based on what happened to your parents?”

  “It was hard, Sharryn. It hurt my mum so much, and it also hurt me. As a child, all I ever wanted was for my dad to be there for us. I know Dad’s trying to make it up to me now, but it doesn’t change the fact that him having to be elsewhere for business all the time was the reason for my parents’ marriage collapsing.”

  “Oh, honey. You do believe Uncle Addison’s really sorry, right? Your mum did stop him from seeing you. He tried so hard.”

  “Yes,” she said softly. “But knowing how difficult a long-distance relationship can be, I still don’t see why I would even want to consider one.”

  “Okay. Granted. How about this, then? If you decide not to hire Kallan as your bodyguard, how about going out casually with him? I know for a fact he’s not averse to no-strings fun. Why not forget about anything long-lasting for now. Just make the most of your time here. And tell you what, if Kallan’s anything like my Kerrod, then he’s guaranteed to know his way around a woman’s body.”

  Emma snorted.

  “It’s true! But, honestly, I look at you and you’re so… Look, I just think you haven’t allowed yourself to have fun in ages. You’ve looked after your mum and worked so hard, but I doubt you’ve given yourself permission to enjoy yourself in a long, long time.”

  Emma’s eyes moistened, Sharryn’s words instantly pushing a button. “I’m fine,” she insisted.

  “I didn’t say you’re not. All I’m saying is that things are different for you now that your mum’s gone, but you may have forgotten how to treat yourself even if the opportunity is right before your eyes. Case in point: you’re in Sydney and all you want to do is meet family and go window shopping—and work. Nothing wrong with those at all, but… I don’t know. I just want to shake you and show you a whole world of different possibilities.”

  “A whole world of different possibilities?” Emma said with a chuckle, touched that Sharryn cared so much about her happiness. “Am I missing that much?”

  “You most definitely are, woman. Wait till you find out more of what we have in store for you.”

  “Really now? Do you have other men lined up to entertain me?” she asked dryly.

  Sharryn laughed. “It’s more the shop-till-you-drop kind. You know that your dad’s pretty well-off, right?”

  Emma snickered. She knew her father was wealthy, although she’d never benefitted from that as a kid because her mother had refused any help from him. Since Emma had never been used to having her dad’s financial support, it didn’t mean much to her at all.

  “I have to go and pick up a call,” Sharryn said hastily. “Meet me in the cafe at the ground floor of my office in an hour. I’ll take my break earlier than usual so we can have a good chat before it becomes noisy.”

  “Okay. See yah.”

  Emma sighed loudly as she dropped her phone on the coffee table. Could Sharryn be right? Had she forgotten how to enjoy herself? To give something to herself?

  Her eyes well
ed up, and she blinked a few times. She guessed there was a lot of truth in that. It wasn’t easy to just change the mindset she’d had for years.

  But she’d try. Admittedly, she was keen for a change, and being in a different city with an unexpectedly loving and welcoming family sparked her enthusiasm.

  Her phone rang again and she raised her brows in surprise. It was her father. She had to admit, she felt happy whenever he called, which had been quite often in the last month. They had a lot of healing to do.

  “Hi, Dad,” she greeted.

  “Hello, Emma. How are you?”

  “Good, thanks. You?”

  “I’m fine. Where are you right now?”

  “In my apartment. I’m about to head off to meet Sharryn for lunch. Where are you?”

  “On my way to see a supplier. Listen, Em, I only have a moment to talk. I want you to hire Kallan as your bodyguard. It doesn’t make sense that you’re holding off on it.”

  “Is it really that dangerous here for me?” she asked with a frown. It disturbed her that her father was calling specifically about this. Had something else happened?

  “No, I wouldn’t say it’s that bad. But it’s what I want you to do.”

  Emma scowled, resenting her father’s tone. “Dad, you can’t just push this on me, especially when I don’t want it.”

  “Oh, darling,” Addison said in a much gentler voice. “I’m sorry I’m being stubborn about this. But even though I don’t think you’re particularly at risk, I just want to be sure you’re safe. It would make me feel better to know you’re being watched over by someone I can trust. Please, my daughter.”

  Emma softened. Much as she believed her father was simply being over-cautious, it thrilled her that he saw her as important enough to receive an over-the-top kind of protection. “I just wish I understood more about what’s going on.”

  Addison let out a heavy sigh. “As you know, your Uncle Edgar was set up by a vigilante gang. Sharryn already told you that they might be paying close attention to his relatives, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “I told you before it’s business related. They think we stole some business away from them.”