Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Hey, Jonah!”
Emmett had gone looking for his favorite human closer to the end of the work day like he normally did.
He couldn’t seem to help himself. Jonah never seemed to mind, and he lifted his head with a smile when Emmett poked his head in.
He was surrounded by new computers, empty boxes and packaging material, with a happy glow to him that said he was exactly where he wanted to be.
“Hey. It’s not the end of the day already, is it?”
Emmett snorted, coming fully into the messy room. “Don’t sound so disappointed. I have plans for us.”
Jonah tipped his head curiously, shutting down the computer he was working on before moving to do the same to the rest. They were scattered on open tables, which Emmett knew wouldn’t be the final set up, but Jonah didn't have much of a choice with all the construction going on in the main room, and Rosalind blasting music in the one office room.
“Plans?”
“Yep. I realized that slimy vampire was right. You need to smell more like me. So I’m taking you out.”
Jonah’s cheeks turned that pretty pink color that made Emmett’s tail want to wag. He held back, he didn’t want to encourage any tail pulling, but he loved that look. He especially loved the scent that came with it, the hint of arousal that made Emmett salivate for more.
Was he using the vampire’s comments as an excuse to get some alone time with Jonah? Maaaaybe. But the guy hadn’t been wrong. Jonah needed to smell like him to sell the fake dating thing.
“Um, I’m not sure…” Jonah began, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.
Emmett’s tail drooped. “You don’t want to?”
Jonah shook his head. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just can’t stay out too late. It's an hour commute home, and my parents will be pissed if I wake them up.”
Ah. Well that was a bit of a problem. Unless…
“You could stay with me tonight, if you want?” When Jonah’s eyes flew wide, Emmett put his hands up, giving him his best innocent expression.
“Not like that.” Unless it went that way, but he wasn’t going to say that outright and scare the human off.
“I mean I’ll take the couch. You won’t have to worry about driving late, I’m not that far from here. ”
Jonah seemed uncertain, which Emmett in no way took offense. Jonah was still new to the supe world and going on a date was a big step. Staying the night at his house might be a little too much.
“Or… we can make sure to set an alarm so you won’t get home too late. It’s only 5pm. We have plenty of time to have fun.”
Jonah nodded slowly, coming to join him near the door. “Yeah, that might work. What did you have in mind?”
“How do you feel about arcades?”
Jonah looked up in surprise. “I love arcades. There’s a small one in the town closest to our home that me and my siblings used to go to when we were kids. I haven’t been in years.”
That was good. Emmett didn't want to put any more pressure on Jonah by having him do something he was unfamiliar with. And it was more fun if it was a competition.
“I know of a good one. Come on. We’ll take your truck so you can head straight home when it gets too late.”
“What about you?” Jonah asked as he closed the door behind him. No locks just yet, but given the construction going on, Emmett wasn’t entirely surprised about that. He wasn’t too worried when his pack was doing the night shift. They’d keep an eye on things.
“There’s a train station nearby. And I can always run.” He flexed his arm with an obnoxious grin. “Werewolf, remember?”
Jonah snorted, his voice just a little heated as he replied, “Yeah, I remember.”
The elevator opened before Emmett could respond to that. He only held back the urge to pout because the elevator was extra crowded and Jonah ended up pressed up against him in order for them both to fit. Emmett was not complaining one bit.
Forced to be professional in the office, he didn’t take advantage of the situation, but he did have a smug grin on his face when the elevator opened to the lobby floor and Jonah didn’t immediately move, his cheeks pink and the scent of arousal strong in Emmett’s nose.
When Jonah finally realized they were the last ones in the elevator, he jumped back, scurrying away with his head ducked in embarrassment.
Emmett was quick to catch up with him, the clumsy human would run into people if he didn’t keep his head up, and threw his arm around Jonah’s shoulder as they headed outside and to the left, heading for the employee parking lot.
Having walked Jonah to his car before, Emmett knew what his truck looked like.
It was an older model, rusty in a few spots, but well taken care of.
The interior was pretty clean, and the engine roared to life without making any sounds that would be concerning.
Emmett would know, one of his siblings ran an auto shop, and he spent a lot of his youth learning to hear the differences.
Jonah obviously took care of the old truck, and when he pulled out into traffic, he moved with the ease of years behind the wheel.
“How long have you been driving?” Emmett asked with a frown. Most supes didn’t start driving until they were a lot older than Jonah. Then again, most supes were still considered children at twenty five. Humans aged faster than supes did.
“I started driving at thirteen,” Jonah explained calmly, following the directions the little robot voice called out from Emmett’s phone in his lap.
“Being raised on a farm meant we had to learn early. I drove a tractor at thirteen, and by fifteen, I could be trusted with my dad’s truck to get to the nearby smaller fields. ”
“Huh. That’s crazy. Could you even see over the steering wheel that young?” he teased.
Jonah smirked, flipping him the bird without looking away from the traffic in front of them.
Emmett hated leaving when everyone else did, the traffic around Spellbound was always abysmal, but if he wanted to spend all the time he could with Jonah, it was better to be stuck in traffic than wait around wasting time.
“What about you? Do you know how to drive?” Jonah asked.
“Yep. Had to learn to be able to join the security team. Turn right here. I know a shortcut.”
Jonah did as asked, flipping on his blinker and waiting for an opening before sliding into the right lane and turning at the light.
Emmett ignored the canned voice on his phone suggesting he turn around, pointing out new directions for Jonah until they were far enough from traffic to move faster than a snail’s pace.
“Do you like working security?”
Emmett gave his attention back to Jonah, a little giddy at the conversation. This was date territory, and he was more than a little happy about that. If he hadn’t been sitting on it, his tail would be wagging wildly, and he’d probably never hear the end of it from Jonah.
“I do,” he agreed brightly. “I like making people feel safe. My pack doesn’t work solely with Spellbound, though I think my alpha and Alistair are considering keeping some of my pack in the building permanently. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of people and see some pretty cool stuff working security.”
“Have you ever gotten hurt?”
Jonah sounded worried, and Emmett couldn’t help reaching over to pat his leg.
“No. You don’t need to worry about that.
There’s a part of the pack that does more dangerous jobs, but I was never interested in joining them.
They usually do a stint in the military and then take private contracts once they’re home again. They’re hardasses. Not my style.”
Jonah snorted, but Emmett didn’t miss the breath of relief that escaped him before he started teasing again. “You don’t say.”
“Is that a complaint?” Emmett shot back with a smirk, thrilled when Jonah shook his head before he even finished the sentence.
“Nope. I spend enough time around stoic and grouchy people. You’re a breath of fresh air, in my opinion.”
That did it. The second they pulled into the parking lot and Jonah parked in a spot, Emmett undid his seatbelt and lunged for the gorgeous man, licking his lips until he opened his mouth on a gasp and their tongues tangled together.
He knew it was a little different than Jonah was used to, but from the throaty groan he let out, he didn't seem to mind.
Fingers dug into Emmett’s fur, making him growl in appreciation as he moved on from Jonah’s tasty lips to lick at his neck instead.
Jonah gasped and tipped his head to give Emmett more room.
It was a sign of submission with werewolves, and it made Emmett salivate to take things further.
If Jonah liked Emmett’s tongue in his mouth, how would he feel with it around his cock or in his ass?
“Gods… Emmett… We need to–” Jonah gasped as Emmett’s tongue tangled with his again, silencing his protests.
Emmett didn’t want to stop, his body thrummed with the need to drag the gorgeous man underneath him, but he didn’t want to push Jonah too far either.
He pulled away slowly, both of them panting when he finally broke the kiss.
“Sorry,” he mumbled breathlessly, suddenly realizing what he’d done. They weren’t in a real relationship, and Emmett had mauled Jonah like a werewolf in heat. He hadn’t even asked permission first. He floundered a little, unsure what to say, when Jonah let out a husky laugh.
“It’s fine. You said we had to touch in order to sell the lie, right? Kissing is touching.”
The reminder that this whole fake dating thing was his idea made Emmett want to kick himself. He should have just asked him out instead of offering to be his fake boyfriend. Sometimes he was an idiot.
Grumpy with himself and unsure how to bring up his regret without making Jonah feel bad or obligated to date him to keep up the lie to feel safe, Emmett just nodded, sliding back to his seat and popping open the door.
He met Jonah around the front, some of his bad mood melting away when Jonah reached for his hand.
“Uh, is this okay?” Jonah asked uncertainly. “I figured since we’re supposed to be in a relationship–”
“It’s fine. In fact, it’s now required. I’m pretty hands on with my partners. If you’re in a relationship with me, you’ll have to get used to that.”
From the way Jonah’s lips twisted to hide his smile, he wasn’t opposed, but he was considering another teasing response. Emmett cut him off with a lick to his lips, making Jonah gasp. He chuckled to himself, tugging their interlaced hands to get Jonah moving into the arcade.
For tonight, he was going to pretend this was a real date.
They weren’t too far from Spellbound, and the arcade was popular, so if anyone from the office showed up, they’d see them together anyway.
Might as well sell it. His choice in no way had anything to do with his attraction to the human. Nope. Not at all.