Page 6 of Black Light: The Crossover
EMMA
“I’m eating! Look!” Lifting the little napkin of hors d’oeuvres, Emma pouted at Chase. “Come on.”
“Not going to work, baby. Jax said one drink, and that’s it.” He plucked one of the little cheese puffs off her napkin and popped it into his mouth with a grin. “Plus, you know how much he hates the taste of our cocktail inventions.”
“It’s not fair, though. We worked hard to create these with Susie, and I only got to have the Mistletoe Mojito!”
“And I’m sure that Susie can make you a Santa’s Appletini on another day,” Chase retorted, and it was probably true, but it wouldn’t be at the Christmas party, which was what made the drinks special.
She had to give it another try. “Maybe Jax only meant one of each?”
“Nice try,” he scoffed. “You and I both know what he meant, and I know neither of us want toreallyget punished tonight.”
“Yeah, I know,” Emma admitted, sighing as she watched another one of the brilliantly red martinis go out to one of the newly arrived special guests from the rooms upstairs. The thin wedge of granny smith apple on the rim made the perfect red-green mix for the holiday, and she could remember just how good they tasted. “Maybe I should have ordered the— hey!”
Chase covered his mouth to hide the fact that he was laughing around another mouthful of stolen puff pastry. It took him a second to chew and swallow, but he finally managed to stop laughing long enough to say, “Don’t be mad, beautiful. I’ll go get us some more.”
“You better. Those are always the first to disappear when Avery makes them,” she grumbled. He tried to snag another one, but Emma was ready this time and tucked the napkin against herself. “Not happening!”
“Fine, fine. I’ll be right back.” Chase grinned, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before he strolled toward the food table, looking way more delectable than one of the cheese puffs as he worked his suit like he was walking the runway.
Sometimes I still can’t believe this is my life.
The thought of being seen with the two ex-models used to make her self-conscious, and a few years ago she probably would have reached for a shawl to cover herself, but it wasn’t like that anymore. When Chase glanced back at her, still wearing that heart-stopping grin, Emma just felt a rush of warmth in her chest. It was their love, their connection, and she ran a thumb over her wedding ring as he stopped at the table of food.
Chef Avery and her team were still setting it up against the wall, but people were already sneaking bites, just like Emma, Madison, and Samantha had. As soon as they opened the main doors, the table would get flooded, which was happening in…ten minutes?
Less than that.
Checking the clock on the wall had Emma scanning the room for Jaxson again. He’d been gone for a while, and when she turned back to the girls, she was relieved that Madison and the actress Khloe Monroe were still talking about their sky-high heels. Tapping Samantha on the arm, she waited for her friend to look at her before she quietly asked, “Did you see where Jax went?”
“Yeah. He and Cash went into the club area with Elijah,” she answered before lifting her Santa’s Appletini to her lips. It was tempting to ask for a sip, but Chase was right — Emma didn’t want to get inrealtrouble tonight. Just the fun kind. As if Samantha had read her mind, she grinned and leaned closer like she was sharing a secret. “You know they’re probably planning something terrible for us tonight. Or wonderful. Or both.”
“True.” Emma made herself smile back, but she didn’t feel as relaxed as Sam seemed to be. There was a nagging feeling in her stomach that something may have gone wrong. It was probably paranoia, but why else would Elijah have pulled him away?
Were they behind schedule on setup? Had someone called in sick? Did something break? A hundred things could have gone wrong and she was silently praying that nothing would ruin their night. They needed this. One night before the holidays kicked off where they weren’t just parents, but lovers. Chase, Jaxson, and her all needed tonight. Just as that anxious feeling started to overwhelm her, Emma saw the curtain to the play area swish open and Cash stepped out with Jax and Elijah close on his heels.
She sat up in her seat, waving to catch his eye, and as soon as Jaxson saw her, that devilish smile lifted one side of his mouth and all her anxiety melted away, making room for the blossoming arousal that had her thighs squeezing together. He didn’t even glance at Elijah as the Dungeon Master leaned in to say something, Jax just nodded, keeping his gaze locked on her until the other man stopped talking.
Then he stalked toward the bar.
Coming right for her.
The intensity of his stare combined with that all-black suit made him look deliciously dangerous, and Emma felt her heart racing before he’d even covered half the distance.
“Oh shit,” Sam whispered beside her. “They were definitely planning something.”
Emma was vaguely aware that Cash was moving toward them as well, but she couldn’t take her eyes off her husband as he got closer. She barely managed to slip the napkin of hors d’oeuvres onto the bar before he pulled her off the bar chair and captured her mouth in an intense kiss. His arm found the small of her back, holding her tight enough to lift her partway out of her shoes, while his other hand caught her neck and almost immediately shifted into her hair to hold her in place.
It was dizzying, powerful, and for a moment Emma wasn’t sure if Jaxson had actually dipped her backward, or if her head was just spinning from the possessive force of the kiss. He’d been somewhat careful of her lipstick when he’d kissed her before, but Jax didn’t seem to care at all now. He nipped her lips, claiming her wholly and completely in front of everyone around them, and when she moaned, she was rewarded with a low groan that told her he wanted her just as much.
Whatever the guys had discussed in the play area had obviously wound him up, and while that might have made her nervous on other nights, in that moment she wanted whatever he had planned.
“Fuck… you’re both so damn hot.” It was Chase’s voice, and he was close.
Jax broke off the kiss with a growl, releasing her hair to grab Chase’s so he could yank him into an even rougher kiss. Emma loved seeing her men like this, close enough to hear the hushed sigh of bliss as Jaxson bent Chase’s head back, making him submit like only Jax could. The moment seemed to stretch, like the three of them were in their own little bubble, outside of time and space, and that feeling grew stronger as Chase wrapped his arm around her back, linking all of them.
They were the infamous trio.
