Page 30 of Bad Call
I’m so turned on by the thought of him working me through a release while I was asleep, that my hips start moving on their own accord, sliding up and down his rapidly hardening erection. My entire body lights up with desire, heat traveling at warp speed through my limbs with each thrust. Emmett’s hand moves across my stomach, fingertips ghosting over the warm skin as I fuck back into him like I need it for my own survival.
“So good, Stell,” he says on a breath. “Do you even know how much I missed every part of you? Don’t ever fucking take this away from me again.”
I shake my head, turning so our lips are just millimeters apart. “I won’t,” I moan. “I promise.” He crashes his mouth to mine, our tongues tangling and tasting as we make out, chasing our climaxes. Everything about the way we come together is perfection, from the gentle touches to the deep, long strokes that hit spots inside of me that only he’s ever seen. I’m so glad that I trusted my instinct to never give my body to another man, because it belongs to Emmett. It could never be this good with anyone else.
Fighting the urge to tell him how I really feel—that I love him more than words could ever express—I holdback, letting my lips do the talking as I kiss him with everything I have. My heart beats wildly behind my rib cage, so full of contentment that it makes my chest ache.
“Come for me,” he rasps. “Let me feel you.” The command is like a lightning bolt straight to my clit, every muscle in my body pulling tight as we careen toward the edge. We’re both panting, moaning messes, fists gripping onto anything we can find until finally, we go off like fireworks, our releases crashing into each other, head-on. My head spins, pleasure rolling through me in long waves as he pulses inside me, filling me well beyond my limit with his hot seed. I’m in outer space, wishing on every star that we never return to reality, because being right here with Emmett is the only place I ever want to exist.
We lie there, our deep, heavy breaths the only sounds in the room as we recover. We touch and kiss for hours, with nowhere to go and no one to see, until deciding we should get up and start the day. I’m not shocked when we re-adopt some of our old routines, showering together before he brings me coffee just the way I like it. It’s like no time has passed in that aspect. I’ve been used to doing it all on my own for so long, but here Emmett is, making me feel at ease under the care of another person. My person.
TWENTY-SEVEN
STELLA
“Oh my gosh, you look gorgeous!”Bailey says excitedly as she extends an arm, allowing me to enter her home. She’s started hosting girls’ nights here once a week now that the football season is over, and after meeting her a couple of weeks ago, they’ve all taken me under their wings. I’m excited to learn more about her and the Grant sisters, Livvy and Sydney—although Livvy and I are quite familiar with each other already.
Good thing these walls can’t talk.
“Thank you,” I reply, tucking a dark brown curl behind my ear. “So do you.” Bailey Hart is the epitome of an NFL player’s girlfriend—tall, beautiful, kind, and outspoken. Everyone seems to gravitate toward her, even though her boyfriend is usually the biggest guy in the room.
“The girls are already in the spa room. They were very convincing when they asked for facials, so that’s the plan—at least until Jett gets back with our pizza. Then, I thought we could drink copious amounts of wine and get into some trouble.” She shrugs, making me giggle as wedescend the carpeted stairs that lead to her basement. When they gave me and Austin the grand tour, I fell in love with them as a couple. Jett was so excited to tell us all about Bailey’s work, boasting that she’s the best esthetician in the world. He made sure she had her own little paradise right in their home, and he hypes her up like the proudest boyfriend to ever exist. It reminded me of the way Emmett used to talk about my dreams as if they were his own, telling me what an amazing nurse I would make every day. Hearing it again at the rehab facility felt like a broken piece of me had been returned—one I hadn’t known I would miss so much until I didn’t have it anymore.
“Got her!” Bailey chimes as we enter the room. Upbeat music plays from a large Bluetooth speaker, the laid-back energy making me feel right at home, even though I hardly know these women. They just have that air about them—that despite being worth a load of money, you can be yourself and they’ll never judge.
“Hi, Stella!” Sydney says, popping up from the plush loveseat in the corner. She’s beautiful, with her long, blonde hair and bright blue eyes, a baggy crewneck and sweatpants hanging from her small frame. She can’t be much more than five feet tall, but she radiates mischief, like she may just do or say something completely unhinged at any time.
“Hi!” I reply as she hugs me like we’ve known each other forever, practically squeezing the air from my lungs with her tiny arms, but I soak it in, because I miss having girlfriends that I can just chill with. Arden is so far away, and Lauren is officially on a completely different sleepschedule for at least another six months, so other than Austin and Emmett, I don’t really have anyone here in Cleveland. There’s a very strong possibility that I could end up staying here, which means I may get a chance to spend a lot more time with these girls. My stomach flips at the thought, excitement zipping through me like electricity.
“Welcome to life with Syd,” Livvy says, peeling the sheet mask from her face before heading my way. “She either hugs you to death or insults you until you wish you were never born. There is no in-between.” I huff a laugh, moving from her sister to her with another hug. I half-expect her to mention the night we were here last, when Emmett and Maddox were on an unspoken mission to see who could make their girl scream the loudest. But thankfully, she doesn’t. If this were Arden’s house, she’d be high-fiving me for getting some action in her guest room, but I don’t know Bailey well enough to read her yet. Talking about my very horny lapse in judgment—and the way that Emmett can get me to do whatever he wants with a single look—might not be the best icebreaker.
“So,” Sydney says, plopping back down in her seat before kicking her feet up, “I’m dying to know. Are you fucking Austin or Emmett? At first, I thought it was Austin, but then I saw the way you and Emmett were looking at each other like you were seconds away from banging against the refrigerator, and I wasn’t so sure. Spill.”So much for not talking about my sexual activities. This girl doesn’t waste time.
My eyes go wide, and Bailey shoves a glass of sparkling rosé into my hand, obviously seeing the shockthat’s written across my expression. I look around the room, all three girls staring as they await my answer, even though Livvy already knows the gist of it. Bringing the bubbly wine to my lips, I take a deep chug, hoping it’ll loosen me up a little bit. It’s not that I’m uncomfortable talking about sex now that it’s been brought up, especially when they all seem so cool. It’s the wholeopening up about my pastthat worries me. Telling them the story of how I hurt Emmett all those years ago won’t be my proudest moment, that’s for sure.
“I’m definitely not sleeping with Austin,” I reply with a nervous laugh. “Our relationship was very professional, although it did grow into a friendship over time. I adore him, but it’s more like a brotherly thing. Emmett”—I pause, taking a deep breath and releasing it through pursed lips—“is my ex-husband. We were married at eighteen and divorced less than a year later.”
“Oh, wow,” Bailey says quietly. “Did you guys do long-distance for college? I don’t know how people endure that. When Jett was in Boston and I was in Florida, I felt like I was missing a limb—and that was only for a short time.”
I take another sip of rosé, swallowing roughly. “Yeah. I was in Pennsylvania, he was in California. Right off the rip, my parents were in my ear about how it would never work. Day in and day out, that’s all I heard, especially after he left for school. I went to visit him, and when I saw the type of lifestyle athletes live, I panicked. I blew the tiniest inkling of doubt into something that paralyzed me with fear, and I left him as he begged me not to.” My gaze falls to the floor, a blanket of shame suffocating me until Ifeel like I can barely speak. “I never looked back. I was too afraid that if I did, I’d be setting myself up to be hurt—even though deep down, he would’ve never treated me the way I did him.”
“That was the past,” Livvy offers, taking my hand in hers. “The important thing is that you’re here now, and you understand where you went wrong. Emmett’s entire demeanor has changed since he came to Cleveland. Sure, some of it was to keep his job, but now there’s another side of him that’s calmer—more content—and I have to think that your presence has something to do with it. I saw it on his face that night in the kitchen, and I see it on yours now. What the two of you have might be bent, but it’ll never be broken. It’s not possible.”
I sniff away the tears that are threatening to fall, trying my hardest not to break down completely. But it’s hard with the way I’m feeling so much love and acceptance from people I just met. They barely even know me, yet they’re not only allowing me to be vulnerable in front of them, but they’re offering support. I can’t even express how much I needed this—hearing that it’s okay to let go of my mistakes in order to move forward. Emmett deserves the best of me—a woman who’s strong and knows her love will always be enough.
Looking around the room, I smile softly, grateful for these budding friendships that I already know will continue to grow, whether I’m in Cleveland or not. I certainly wasn’t expecting to come in here and be welcomed with such open arms, but damn, it feels good to have a little group of girls to talk to over wine and junk food.
“Okay,” Syd says, cutting through the silence. “Now that we’ve established that getting dick on the regular has made my sister disgustingly soft, let’s move on to something more interesting. Where’s the most scandalous place you guys have ever done it?”
Livvy turns around, scowling in her direction. “Why are you like this? All you think about is sex.” Sydney’s eyebrow raises, daring Liv to answer. She holds strong for about seven seconds before rolling her eyes and exhaling a defeated sigh. “A random equipment room at Impact Stadium.”
Syd’s bottom lip puffs out, and she nods her head in respect. “Nice. Well done, big sis. How about you, Bay? I know Jett’s a freak. Tell me he’s fucked you over the railing of some high-rise in Boston with the whole city watching.”
Bailey’s forehead scrunches, a loud scoff rising up her throat. “Yeah, right. Jett takes his time…every time. If he can’t spread me out on the bed and spend hours pressing every single one of my buttons, it’s not happening.”
“Wow,” I mumble sarcastically. “What a hardship that must be.” She shoves my shoulder playfully, and I throw back the rest of my wine, the tiny bubbles tickling my throat as I swallow. My somber mood from moments ago fades away the longer we talk, the alcohol making me feel fuzzy-headed in the best way.
“What about you, Stella?” Livvy asks, hopping back up onto the treatment table. She lifts a dubious brow, knowing damn well that I’ve had a pretty hot encounter right upstairs, but I skim over that little tidbit, because technically, it wasn’t sex.
