Page 20 of Take Hold of Me

She pulls her head back and looks directly into my eyes. “Au contraire. I think it is a very good idea.” She plucks my glass out of my hand and deposits it onto a nearby table, next to hers.

Her French accent. Her lavender scent. Her positive attitude. Everything.Her.

Ripped from the bottom of my soul, I utter, “Ems.”

My hand cups her cheek and directs her lips toward mine. Inches apart, I freeze. Coming in strained gasps, our breaths mingle. Hot wisps of air kiss my cheek.

The music pounds around us, a living creature urging us forward.

She darts her tongue over her bottom lip.

With a groan, my body overrides my brain. Pulling her to me, my mouth covers hers, molding her lips to mine. Lips I haven’t tasted in nearly a year. Like a lightning bolt hitting water, the positively charged particles in my body detonate and obscure the DJ’s music. Nothing exists outside of our kiss.

My hands plunge into her loose hair and run over the little braids, all the while my lips learn hers. Her palms connect with my chest and travel upward, over my shoulders and encircle my neck.

My tongue touches the line of her lips and she opens for me. Barely a breath later, our tongues intertwine with a heady mixture of want.

When someone brushes by us, our kiss breaks. I bracket Emilie in my arms to steady her on her feet. My chest expands at the private knowledge that I was the one who made her unsteady.

“Do you want.” I clear my throat. “To stay or go?”

She whispers, “Go.”

Her whisper slices through my overheated body. The kiss we shared here far exceeds my buried memories from before. She is so sweet, so giving. I don’t deserve such goodness, but maybe just once won’t hurt her. “Then go it is.”

I seal our departure with another blistering kiss, exploring her mouth. When she sucks on my tongue, the top of my head nearly explodes. I have to get us out of here, fast, before I can’t stop my hands from pulling her tight.

Step back, Wills. I hold my breath and break our contact. Unfocused hazel eyes that appear more green than brown call to me. I allow myself one more quick peck and then take her hand to lead her back downstairs. Neil’s engrossed with some woman across the room, but I manage to catch his eye and he walks toward us, smirking.

“Enjoy the evening with your … toy.” Belinda’s whiny voice cuts through the club music.

Next to me, Ems stops. I bend to her ear and say, “She’s not worth it,” then place the delicate shell between my teeth and close softly.

She shudders, takes a deep inhale, and we continue our exit without looking back.

The stairs are filled with people. This must be a fire hazard, but fire marshals aren’t around. Stepping back, I allow Ems to go in front of me, my fingers rubbing my lips where hers just were.

Slowly, we descend from the VIP Room. At the bottom of the stairs, she points toward the coat check. I nod and track her progress while staying in the background. Paparazzi are huddled at the door. Her exit will be chronicled as part of her contracted job for tonight, and I don’t belong in those photos.

While keeping tabs on Neil, who has now joined Ems at the coat check, I watch as she’s being assessed by many of the club’s patrons. No red flags wave danger. The women eye her with envy, mostly fixated on her shoes and dress. The men, on the other hand, undress her with their eyes and check around to see if she’s with anyone. A couple of them look like they’re going to act on their desires. I better move around the room to get a closer look.

“Excuse me,” I say to a group of ladies blocking my path.

One in the group squeezes my tricep. “Ohh, strong. Me likey. Want to come inside with me?” Her head gestures toward the first floor of the club. The other women snicker and look away from their drunk friend.

“Thanks, but I’m on my way out. I’m with someone.”Why did I say that?

She smiles and says, “Lucky girl.” Before I step away, she’s already looking for her next victim.

Ems, in her pink coat, makes her way to the front door. A crush of paparazzi and club patrons engulf her. Mostly male. Unlike before, the energy has changed and my lust-filled body switches over to high alert. Neil is back a few rows, talking with yet another woman.He should be next to her. I can’t waste time on his failings as a bodyguard—my gut tells me to clear the area.

I gulp shallow breaths, rubbing clammy hands on my pants. My eyes rove over various men eyeing her like red meat. Assessing. Discarding the safe ones.

There.

One red-headed man seems to be fixated on her. Now, I’m fixated on him.

Skirting a bunch of people jamming up the lobby, I track Emilie’s movements out the door. Neil managed to get alongside of her and they both smile for the cameras. Redhead ducks into the throng of paparazzi at the exit.

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