Chapter 23

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height




She hungered for him and so did he more than anything. His head dipped lower and lower until his lips met her eager ones in a fiery kiss. 

His mouth was warm and the caress of his lips tender than Emery remembered. His kisses were soft at first but grew demanding when a throaty moan slipped out of her lips. Billion felt her shudder in his arms when his tongue slipped into her warm mouth. He grabbed a fist full of her soft hair and gently bent her head back to deepen the kiss. Without restraint, he tasted every inch of her mouth with a hunger that made her moan into his mouth over and over. 

Out of breath, he lowered his mouth into the dip of her slender neck and sucked on the soft pulsing fresh. All the while holding her to him. Their hearts thumped together, their moans filling the suite from the tongue ministration. He moaned with her when her fingers weaved into his hair, massaging and making the strain in his briefs increase to a point of delicious pain. 

Miles knew it was time to end things as the need to hoist her up and take her grew harder. And for a man with carnal issues like him, It took a great deal of resilience to unlock their lips and break the earth-shattering kiss. They were both panting breathlessly as he leaned his forehead against hers and stroked her cheeks affectionately, and for a whole minute, neither spoke, as they stared into each other's eyes in pure need.

"Go on a date with me," he said, the timbre of his husky voice sending another wave of tingles down Emery's nether regions. 

Emery's heart flipped at his request. "What?" she asked, out of breath. 

"Have dinner with me, tomorrow..."

"Miles," Emery started nervously as she stepped out of his hold. "We can't do this," she added with a hesitant shake of her head. 

"Why not?" Miles stepped intimately closer. "I just want to have dinner with you. We can use the time to talk, and see the way forward... to announce our separation to the public," he added gravely. 

Miles knew she wouldn't have agreed if he had proposed an intimate date. But he knew he wanted Emery and now that she thought she was free of him, he wouldn't be able to win her over without great efforts on his part. 

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Miles asked hopefully, his gaze flicking to her wet lips. 

Emery's breath hitched in anticipation when he took another step closer.  "Yeah."

"Then I'll pick you up tomorrow at 7:30, yeah?" She nodded. 

"Um...would you like to stay for dinner?" Miles asked. 

Stay? After that kiss? Right now, there was only one thought running through Emery's head and that was to rush home, strip out of her wet underwear and soak herself in a hot tub till the ache between her thighs dulls. 

"No…” Emery rephrased after seeing his crestfallen look. “I mean, Natalia might be getting impatient. I need to go." She jumbled, clutching onto her purse. 

Right. Of course it was Natalia. That thought seemed to have calmed Miles down for some reason.

"Um... I will text you?" He nodded. "Goodnight," Emery added. 

"Goodnight, Em... see you tomorrow," Miles' hands balled into a fist as he curbed the urge to reach out for her, and ravish her once more. 

As if Emery knew his train of thought, she offered him a smile and practically ran out of the suite. It was only when she got into the elevator and dug into her purse for her lipstick that she realized the ring was still in her clutch.

Dammit. Emery groaned and cussed herself but did not dare to go back in there again, knowing there would be no going back without giving in to her body's needs.

She didn't trust her hormones to stay holy within a radius of Miles Dekker's touch.

“God, what am I doing?” Emery sighed.

· · • • • ✤ • • • · · 

"For the tenth time, I'm sorry. Geez woman, learn to forgive." Emery said lightly as she helped a drunk Natalia out of her car. 

"Well, I knew you were going to give it to him and that's kinda fine by me, cause I know you need it." She hiccups. "but dude better be good, if you ditched me for that long-"

"OK, that's enough talking for the night." Emery cut her off with an eye roll. "I was not even gone for ten minutes. Come on, let's get you inside."

Natalia giggled and continued her incoherent talking. Emery ignored her and held her friend to her side as she opened the door. 

"You know I can walk right?" Natalia mused, "I mean, I only took six shots of tequila back there." she continued, raising five fingers in Emery's face. 

“Yeah right.” Emery chuckled. "Apparently six or five shots doesn't work on you." She ushered a stumbling Natalia into the house and locked the door after them. 

Gently, Emery led her to the couch and helped her out of her heels. Talia was definitely crashing at her place cause there was no way she was calling her a cab at this time of the night. Emery would not entrust her drunk friend to some stranger.

"Stay here while I get you something to drink, okay?" Emery strode to the kitchen. 

"You know I love you and Chris right?!" Natalia called after her. 

"We love you more baby girl." Emery chuckled. "Don't move if you want to keep that beautiful face of yours intact." 

Placing her clutch on the counter, she fetched a glass of water and sent it to Natalia before coming back to prepare two mugs of hot chocolate. All the while listening in on her friend who was singing off key. 

Have dinner with me. 

His soft voice clouded her senses, bringing back memories of their time together. Unconsciously, Emery's grip on the counter tightened as she reminisces of his hands on her body and the feel of his warm lips on hers. Her eyes flew wide open when she felt warmth pulled in between her thighs. 

"The hell." Emery chastised herself. Quickly, she prepared their drink and joined her friend in the living room. 

Throughout her Netflix and coffee night with a half-unconscious Natalia, her eyes stayed glued to her phone, hoping he'd call or text her. 

But to her disappointment, nothing of that sort happened which only increased the need to see him again. 

Thoughts of Miles Dekker never left her that evening and her needy self kept envisioning what would happen after their dinner the next day.

Emery sighed. “What is wrong with me?”

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·

The muscles in Miles' calves strained painfully as he continued his sprint along the highway. He knew he had to stop any moment from now to catch his breath but he just had to put his still yearning body through a different workout. Hence him jogging nonstop since the break of dawn.. 

Miles trotted to a stop in front of a gas station and hunched over with his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Pulling his water bottle from his arm pack, he uncapped it and took a sip of the almost empty water. 

He walked into the mart at the station for a bottle of water. The curious stares started almost immediately when the door rattled behind him, but Miles shunned it as usual as he strolled towards the huge fridge. He put a coin in and grabbed his bottle of water. 

"Uncle Miles!" At the call, Miles looked behind him. He raised a brow when he saw his five-year-old nephew.

"Jason. Buddy, what are you doing here?" Miles bent to gather his running nephew into a hug. He was sweaty but it was not as if he had any choice. The boy would have hugged him nonetheless. 

"I came with dad to get some snacks for the team," The little boy said. 

"That's cool, pal. Where is your dad?" Miles asked as he straightened up with his nephew in his arms. 

"Jason?" Miles stiffened at the sound of his elder brother's voice. "Jason?"

"Right here dad!" Ashton rounded the aisle only to come to a stop when he saw his little brother. He sighed in what could only be a relief.

"Bud I told you not to run off like that," Ashton said, stretching his hands out for his son. “Come on buddy.” Miles lowered the boy down and straightened up. 

"Hey," Miles said. 

"Nice to see you again, brother," Ashton said curtly as he picked his son up. 

"We miss you uncle Miles. Will you come to mommy's birthday?" The boy asked giddily. 

"I don't think your uncle has time for such an unimportant family occasion, Jay. Come on, we need to head back to the field," Ashton said.

Miles ruffled his nephew's hair and said, "I'll be there pal. Nice to see you brother," he told Ashton before prancing out of the mart. 

Uncapping the bottle, Miles took a large chunk of the cold liquid. His timer started to beep and he took a look at the wristwatch in annoyance. 

"Shit. Elle's rehearsal." He cussed under his breath and took off again. 

· · • • • ✤ • • • · · 

Just like any other Saturday at Sweeties, Emery's day was hectic as she helped around her Aunt's bakery. 

Occasionally, she would take a peek at her phone to check for a text from him but nothing was forthcoming. Thrice she had stopped herself from sending him one. A simple hello wouldn't be too obvious but she couldn't find the gut to do it. 

Emery sighed as she handed a patron their order. The door to the staff kitchen opened and she thanked God when her cousin, Janina finally joined her at the counter. The bunch of high schoolers in line were already getting impatient with their apparent slow service.

"What are y'all complaining about? We've got two hands ya know." Ever so friendly, Janina made her displeasure known as she took the teens' orders.

"Oh Em. There is someone here to see you."

"Who?" Emery asked curiously.

Janina leaned in and whispered in her usual conspiratory tone. "Some brunette right back. With them big sunglasses and hoodie, she is definitely some big shot hiding from her fans. "

Emery shook her head at the girl. That was probably just her cousin's journalistic opinion. The rich folks in Manhattan had to watch out for this one when she lands herself a job in the media after graduation.

"Where is she?" Emery asked after tending to the last patron in her line. 

"At the summer hut. Get me an autograph just in case she's a big shot alright?" Janina whispered. 

Emery rolled her eyes. "Why don't you cover for me while I go see what she wants."

"Sure." 

Emery headed to the summer hut, just behind the diner. It was a haven for mostly the old folks who wanted to enjoy their breakfast away from the noise created by students in the diner—an idea she had enticed her Aunt to incorporate a few years ago. And indeed it has helped the business.

"Emery is that you?" Emery's attention was drawn to a gray-haired woman when she stepped out. It was her favorite patron among the lot. 

"Mrs. Anderson." Emery's smile widened when she saw that the woman was walking without any form of support today. "Glad to see you all up and about."

"By grace, child." Emery nodded as she pelted the fluffy bichon frise in the woman's arms. "Know that my prayers are with you dear… how are you holding up, child?"

"It will get better, Mrs Anderson." Emery changed the topic when her throat began to close up. "Boy, you are growing." Saying a quick bye to Mrs. Anderson and her little companion whose name she had long forgotten, she went in search of her visitor.

There were a handful of people at the hut so it was not hard to find a brunette who fits her cousin's description. The woman took off her glasses when she saw her. When their gazes met and familiar striking blue eyes stared back at her, Emery had a shallow idea of who she might be. A very shallow one. 

Stop thinking about him. Emery's feet grew heavy as she made her way over to the woman. She was alone and was dressed in casual jeans and vans so that was a good sign. Or so she hoped.

"Hi. I'm Emery." Emery trailed off, waiting for the woman to introduce herself just in case she got the wrong table.

"Ashley." The woman placed her latte cup down and offered a hand which Emery took gently. "Nice to finally meet my future daughter-in-law." 

Surprisingly, she had an accent. Well her son did too. It was definitely Spanish related but that was Emery's last concern. Did she say daughter in law? This couldn't be good. Why would Miles' mom seek her out?

"Please have a seat. I won't take much of your time… I promise." Ashley urged.

Stiffly, Emery eased into the chair opposite the woman. Her eyes darted around, in search of the man in question. 

"He's not here." Her alleged mother-in-law said lightly as if she knew her exact thought.

And there she was, certain she was being discreet. "You wanted to see me?" 

"Yes. A little bird told me you and Miles needed help so I came to offer my assistance," Ashley said, her voice not giving anything away. 

It's obvious where junior Dekker got his emotionless tone from. 

"We don't. Need any help that is." Emery blurted and when the woman raised a brow, she added, "We're fine ma'am."

"It's Ashley." She took a sip of her latte, her eyes trained on Emery. "I know about your deal with my son."

Anxiously, Emery looked around the diner again. There was no one within earshot but what if there were reporters around?

"Don't worry your secret is safe with me..." Emery was not convinced and the woman might have noticed it because she said, "Miles knows that I know but you can call him to confirm."

I know.

"He may not have introduced us but believe me, I was happy that my son was finally going to settle down." She sighed deeply and said, "But that joy was crushed when I saw that file, Emery. Honestly the revelation was quite upsetting."

Emery sighed. "I'm truly sorry..."

"But it's not all for show… is it?" The woman asked, her eyes all-knowing as she regarded her. 

"Excuse me?" The urge to leave was getting stronger by now. Emery did not want to have a hearty conversation right now. And certainly not with Dekker's mom. 

“You know, if I had not seen that file, I would have never believed that your relationship with my son was for show." The woman said with a shake of her head. "I've seen pictures of the two of you all over social media, Emery..." She went on. "And do you know what I see when I look at all those pics of you two?” Emery only stared at her. “I see love and adoration... even a blind person could see that."

Unable to meet the woman's gaze, Emery glanced down at the diamond ring on her finger. She knew the pictures Ashley was referring to. After all, she had given her son the go-ahead to upload them on social media to drive home their message.

Even thinking about it now, the answer had always been right there, in her face. All those wonderful moments captured in the Bahamas, the smile, the laughter, the silly moments and the heartfelt times, were not for show. She knew that.

They enjoy each other's company, crave it actually. They push each other to brace their deepest fears, taunt the other to open up. When she was with Dekker, her anguish flew out the window. She felt secure. And Emery had a feeling he felt the same.

"All that I'm saying is, I have never seen my son this happy... not for a long time. You make him happy, Emery and I'm glad that he found you."

Emery rubbed the back of her neck. She hated to crush the woman's hopes but... "You said you know about the contract?" Ashley nodded sullenly. "Well then you must know that it has been terminated..."

The woman's gaze shifted to Emery's hand and Emery knew what she was thinking. Why would she still be wearing his ring when it was over between them? 

Emery cleared her throat. "I... until we announce our... um... breakup publicly, it would be questionable to take it off so I tend to wear it when I go out of the house." The words stumbled out of her mouth. 

Ashley nodded. "I don't know what happened between the two of you but he cares about you, Emery and it's obvious you do too." she glanced at Emery's ring again. "I know my son. Miles is the definition of self-sabotage and I know the only reason he's pushing you away and trying to run away from you and all this, is because he has feelings for you Emery and that scares him. Don't let him go. Not if you feel the same about him."

Emery sighed deeply, her breath shuddering as she pondered over the woman's words. "Your son… your son is a very good man, Ashley and yes I do care about him but ... Miles and I are alike in so many ways and as the saying goes, opposites attract. I don't think we could ever work out..."

"Is that what this is about?" Ashley asked gently. 

Emery shrugged. She would be damned to tell a mother that she cheated on her son. Even though Miles never gave her any reasons for terminating the contract, she knew it had more to do with her kissing another guy.

“A piece of advice..." Ashley said. "Take this from a crazy lady who has been married to an Alpha kinda man for thirty years... the heart does not know the law that says opposites attract. You and Miles may be like-poles... but maybe that is all that matters. To heal each other and to find love on the way. That is what matters dear.”

Emery glanced down at her ring again as she blinked those damn tears off. She hated these kinds of conversations for a reason. 

"The two of you need to stop tiptoeing around your feelings and accept what is there. Love is beautiful. It's pure magic if you're with the right person. Don't let fear and insecurity tell you otherwise." Ashely rose to her feet and placed a business card on the table. "And don't be a stranger."

Emery stared after her retreating back until her car pulled out of the block. She picked up the card, a smile touching her lips when she read the words printed in gold. 

Elite couple camp; where love blooms.

Her phone dinged and she quickly pulled it out of her Jean pocket. Finally, his long-awaited text. Her smile was one of pure joy as they texted back and forth. 






You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net