Page 54 of Desire

Joey looked away, clenching his jaw, but remained silent.

“Your friendship means the world to Dante,” Emma said. “I hope in time you can accept our relationship and see how much we care for each other.”

Emma held her breath, waiting for Joey’s response. After a moment, he released a heavy sigh and finally spoke. “I need time. That’s all I can give you right now.”

Chapter Sixteen

EMMA

Emma wished that Joey was in the crowd. She thought that he’d really get a kick out of watching her skate. Anticipation coursed through her veins, tinged with an undercurrent of nervousness as she put on the last of her gear. As she skated out of the locker room, Dante stepped up and gave her a quick hug.

“Give ’em hell, Queen Mab.” His lips brushed against her cheek in a fleeting kiss, a gesture of good luck that made her wish they had more time before the game so he could ease her nerves in a more distracting way.

“I’ll do my best,” she said.

At the jammer line, Emma crouched low, her muscles coiled and ready. The shrill blast of the whistle pierced the air, and she surged forward, her powerful strides propelling her into the fray. She wove through the pack with fluid grace, her agility allowing her to evade the grasping hands and flying elbows of the opposing team.

Pain blossomed along her hip as a vicious block sent her careening into the railing. Emma gritted her teeth, the metallic taste of blood sharp on her tongue. Undeterred, she pushed herself back into the thick of the action, her determination fueling each gliding step.

The roar of the crowd faded into a dull thrum as Emma focused solely on the track before her. As the match went on, she fell—a lot. Got shoved and turned around. At one point, she even started skating the wrong way, but she was having the time of her life.

Despite the Sinners ultimately falling short and losing their match, the thrill of the game still coursed through Emma’s veins as she skated off the track. Her teammates surrounded her, their laughter and cheers a balm to her bruised body and weary soul.

Dante waited for her at the edge of the rink, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He drew her into his arms, mindful of her aching muscles. “You were on fire,” he murmured, his fingers tangling gently in her sweat-dampened hair. “A true force to be reckoned with.”

Emma melted into his embrace, the solid warmth of his body a comforting anchor amidst the adrenaline still rushing through her system. In that moment, the rest of the world fell away—the doubts, the fears, the uncertainties. All that mattered was the fierce joy of accomplishment, the steadfast support of her team, and the undeniable connection that shimmered between her and Dante, electric and all-consuming.

“I need a shower,” she said.

“Come home with me and I’ll give you one.”

How could a girl refuse that?

The next day, Emma stared at the spreadsheets scattered across the conference room table, the numbers blurring together as Colleen and Tee debated the merits of various models for the upcoming fall fashion shows. Exhaustion tugged at her limbs, the exhilaration of the previous night’s roller derby game giving way to a dull, persistent ache in her muscles. She reached for her coffee mug, desperate for a caffeine boost to sharpen her focus.

The door burst open, revealing a fuming Anya, her usually composed features twisted with rage. “Have you seen what that little bitch Kiki Pretty posted?” Her voice trembled with fury as she thrust her phone toward the center of the table.

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