“Gum? You know the stuff you chew.”
She pulls open her purse and digs around inside before handing me a pack of spearmint gum.
“Thanks.” I take a piece and pop it in my mouth. “I’ll help you.”
“With what?”
“Him.” I stand and point at Austin, who’s too busy staring at Em to pay any attention to me.
“No, please don’t,” Alice begs and reaches for my hand to pull me back. “Say nothing to him. I don’t want to lose his friendship. I’d rather be miserable and have him in my life, than be miserable and never see him again.”
“Sorry. I have to.”
“Why?”
I chew my bottom lip. “By helping you, I’ll be helping me.” And with that, I turn and stalk across the room to Em and Austin.
Rome tries to intercept me, but I shove him to the side, knocking him down.
“What the hell is your problem?” he spits, pushing himself up, but I don’t give him a second glance.
I don’t have much focus, but on the rare occasions I channel my energy into focusing on something important, like training, or a game, there is no getting in my way. I’m like a bull seeing red. I charge it head on and it’s best to get out of my way.
Em is my red. And Austin is the matador, waving her in my face.
“Hey,” I say when I reach them. I clench my fist at my side. It’s taking every ounce of strength I have not to knock that smug smile off Austin’s face.
“Colt!” Em widens her eyes, and her mouth drops open. “What’s up?”
“Thought I’d see if you want some gum?”
“Gum?”
I nod. Em looks at Austin and bites her bottom lip. He cups her face and pulls her lip from her teeth with his thumb.
“Sure,” Em says, still watching Austin. “I’d love some gum.”
I smirk to myself because no one is paying me any attention, and I’m happy that she answered right.
And before I can think twice about what I’m doing, I thread my fingers into Em’s hair and tug until she arches her neck and meets my gaze, not fucking Austin’s, before I swoop in and capture her mouth with mine.
Fuck.
34
Emerson
Everything stops. Freezes. My heart stops beating in my chest. My blood stops pumping. My breath catches in my throat. The room fades away; the sounds of the party quieten. Austin isn’t there. No one is.
There is nothing but Colt.
His fingers in my hair, his soft lips, plump and firm against mine.
He’s kissing me.
Why is he kissing me?
I forget I’m sitting on Austin. I forget I’m in the middle of a crowded party. I forget neither of us know how to kiss. All I want to do is reach for Colt. So I do. Twisting my body to get closer to him, I stretch my hand out, cupping his face and pulling him closer.
His hand in my hair hurts, but I like it and want more. Sensing my need, like he somehow always does, he tugs on my hair again before breaking the kiss long enough to grab my waist and lift me.
His tongue... Oh, god, his tongue is in my mouth, moving against mine, touching, tasting, massaging. The faint flavor of beer and mint gum is intoxicating.
He groans. I moan.
And then he pulls away, leaving me wanting more. His eyes are searing into mine and I can’t look away. His chest heaves as he brushes his thumb across his bottom lip like he’s in shock.
Then he winks and walks away.
The asshole winks.
And leaves.
I close my eyes and a drop my head forward.
“Well, that was uhh...” Austin chuckles. Shit, I forgot he was there. Peeling one eye open, I sigh, relief flooding me at his expression; he doesn’t seem pissed or hurt. He’s amused. “I know we planned on causing some scene, getting Colt to stake his claim…” He chuckles. “But I was preparing for a punch in the face. Even brought painkillers in my pocket.”
I open my mouth to speak but stop when I realize what else Colt left me with other than blue balls and an intense desire to kiss him again. Putting my fingers to my mouth, I pull out the gum he offered when he first came over here and roll my eyes.
Austin laughs. “I must remember that move.”
I put the gum back in my mouth and turn to find Colt. He’s bent over the couch, whispering something in Keely’s ear, his eyes boring into me before he pats her shoulders once and leaves the room.
What the hell?
I turn back to Austin, unsure what to do now. “I’m sorry about that, I don’t know what he was thinking.”
I press my fingers to my lips, the heat from his kiss lingering.
“I do, and I think you should go find him,” Austin says, lifting his chin in the direction Colt went. “But, before you do, at least make it look like we’ve broken up and I’m not part of some weird threesome with my teammate and the girl I appear to be dating. Maybe then Keely will help me nurse my broken heart.”
I nod once and open my mouth to say something, but I’m suddenly hoisted into the air and thrown over a shoulder. I’m hanging upside down, staring at a familiar pair of basketball shoes, one firm arm wrapped around my legs, the other gripping my ass.
I roll my eyes.
Alpha male much?
“What the fuck, dude?” Austin growls and stands up. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Taking what’s mine,” Colt growls, giving my ass a slap for good measure as he turns and carries me across the room.
Risking a glance at Austin, I see the amusement in his eyes and the smile he’s trying to hide behind the fake scowl.
“Fine. We’re done. Over. Don’t call me, Emerson,” Austin shouts as Colt stalks out of the room with me still hanging over his shoulder.
Austin and I share a look, one of mutual agreement, thanks, appreciation, whatever. We’re still friends. And now he might have got Keely’s attention.
My attention back on Colt, I clench my fists and smack them into his lower back. “Put me down, you Neanderthal.”
He ignores me and continues pushing through the crowd of people, trying to make his escape.
“Stop,” I shout over the music hoping Colt hears. He does. He stops walking but doesn’t put me down.
I arch my back and glance around, my eyes falling on Rome standing a few feet away, staring with his mouth open. “Pay up,” I say with a grin.
Rome curses and slams his beer down on the table beside him while Colt chuckles and takes off again.
“Colt, dammit. What are you doing?” I punch him in the back again. This is so embarrassing being carried out of a party over his shoulders.
“In case you didn’t notice, when I left you were meant to follow me. Not sit there making eyes at fucking Austin,” he growls once we are outside and walking down the street toward his car.
I punch him in the back again. “How the hell was I supposed to know what you wanted? You kissed me and walked off.”
His hands tighten their grip on me as he lowers me to the ground, holding me until my feet are stable.
“Exactly, Em.” His voice is smooth, his hands still on my hips as he steps forward, pushing me back until I’m pressed between him and the car. He lowers his voice. “I kissed you.”