Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
GIDEON
“T hank goodness you were here.” Conner’s father, Frank Merritt, claps me on the back. “You’ll be at the wedding, won’t you?”
I grind my teeth and give him a sharp nod so I can get the fuck out of here. This is what I get for leaving Emerson.
“Great, great. We’ll talk Monday.” He pulls me in close, and I can smell whiskey on his breath. Either he stayed up all night drinking or that’s what he had for breakfast. My money is on the latter. “But you’ll make sure this doesn’t leak to the press, right?”
“Of course.” My smile is tight, but I’m good at keeping my emotions in check. Otherwise I would have burned this hotel to the ground already.
Last night when Emerson fell asleep in my arms, it was the most peaceful thing I’ve ever experienced.
Hearing her talk about her family and her life growing up, my heart broke for all the things she didn’t have.
Sure, her family was filthy rich, but there’s no substitute for love.
She grew up never feeling like she was good enough and not trusting her family to do what was best for her.
When I carried her to bed and she cuddled next to me, it felt like I’d earned it.
Emerson whispered my name in her sleep and reached for me like I was her only lifeline.
When my phone vibrated a few hours later, I saw that it was Gamer’s number on the screen. I shouldn’t have answered it, but deep down, I was hoping for a confrontation with him. I wanted to tell him to break it off with Emerson and let her be free, but instead, I got a new mess to deal with.
Apparently Conner wanted to spend his last night of freedom going balls out. Not only was he doing line after line while drinking, but the woman he brought to his room invited a few friends. When he passed out mid-orgy, she grabbed his phone and called the number marked Lawyer instead of the cops.
I called an ambulance, and by the time I got to his hotel room, the paramedics were there waking him up.
He refused to go with them and called his dad, and that’s how I ended up here in this mess.
Frank Merritt talked to the women before they left, and I’m sure each of them was paid handsomely for their silence.
Now Gamer is hungover as fuck and groaning on the couch next to us. He’s got a sheet around his waist and keeps dry heaving into a trash can.
“We’ve got to meet your mother downstairs,” Frank tells his son as a look of disgust passes over his face. “Clean yourself up. It’s your wedding day, for Christ's sake.”
The sounds of him berating his son are still going as I leave the hotel room. I have no sympathy for either of them, especially when this affects Emerson. I’ve stood by long enough, but I refuse to let her tie herself to this piece of shit.
Once I’m out of the room, I’m half running to the stairs when I come to a dead stop. The door to Emerson’s suite is open, and when I catch a glimpse of her, I almost fall to my knees.
She’s standing there in her wedding dress, looking like something out of my dreams. For a long moment, I wonder if I am dreaming. Then she turns in my direction, and our eyes lock.
“What are you doing? We need to go.” That’s when I see her mother behind her, practically shoving her out of the room. “Oh good, a bellhop. You, come take my bag.”
She holds it out to me, and I’m so shaken by the sight of Emerson in the dress that I take it. Emerson flushes with embarrassment as her eyes widen. She goes to say something to her mother, but I shake my head.
“Allow me.” I hold out my arm for Emerson, and she steps closer, sliding her hand through my elbow.
“Gideon,” she whispers so only I can hear.
“This dress is too much. I can hardly stand next to you. Take the elevator on your own. I’ve got to greet our guests. You’re to go to the bridal room and wait to be called.” She snaps her fingers at me. “See that she doesn’t fall on her face on the way there.”
Clearly her mother doesn’t remember that I’m the lawyer that did the prenup for Emerson, so I don’t bother correcting her. Instead, I watch her get on the open elevator and take it down alone. When she’s gone, I toss her bag in the garbage can next to us, and it makes Emerson laugh.
“I’m so sorry. I’d say she’s not usually like that, but it’s pretty standard.” Emerson looks up at me, her eyes filled with worry. “Where were you?”
“It’s a long story.” A second set of elevator doors opens, and I pull her on. “I’ll tell you later, but I need you to trust me, okay?”
“Of course.” There’s no hesitation as she moves closer and looks into my eyes. “I trust you.”
Without saying anything else, I push the button for one floor down and race to my room. I grab what I need off the table and then make it back to the elevator before it has a chance to close.
I pull her in my arms and bend down, kissing her with all the passion I feel. This is it, do or die, and I don’t know what’s coming next.
The elevator doors open, and we break the kiss, but I don’t let her go. Instead, I take her hand and lead her to the bridal room where she’s supposed to wait to be called like cattle at an auction.
“Gideon, what’s going—” Her words are cut off by me lifting her off the ground.
As soon as we’re inside, I kick the door closed and lock it tight. Then I toss the manilla folder I got from my room on the coffee table.
“I love you, Emerson,” I say, carrying her to the couch. “Don’t say it back, not now. But I need you to hear it from me before you make your decision.”
Tears form in her eyes as she clings to my shirt. “You love me?” When I nod, she shakes her head. “How? How can you love me when it’s only been days and I’m a mess?”
When I lay her down, I look into her eyes as my hands spread her thighs. The fabric of her dress bunches around her, and she softens at my touch.
“Time has no meaning when it comes to soul mates, and you’re mine, Emerson.
” My fingers touch the silky material of her panties, and I can feel them getting wet.
“Life is short, and I can’t spend it with regrets.
” She moans when I pull her panties to the side and push in two fingers.
“I love you, and you deserve to hear it.”
“Gideon.” She rocks her hips up, trying to take me deeper.
“And you’re not a mess, precious. Not yet.”
“Not yet?” Her breath catches on the last word as I rub my thumb over her clit.
“I’m going to fuck you in this dress,” I tell her as I kiss my way down her neck. There’s makeup covering the mark I left, and I rub it off before sucking it again. “This dress is meant for me, so you’re going to have my cum running down your legs while wearing it. Do you understand me?”
“Yes,” she whimpers as her pussy clenches around my fingers.
She opens the front of my pants, and then her hand is there, wrapping around my bare length. She guides the fat head to her wet entrance, and I feel the heat of it kiss the tip. It’s like I’ve been electrocuted with desire as need shoots up my spine.
“I want all my firsts to be with you.” She kisses me at the same time I thrust inside, her cries muffled between us.
The feeling of being inside her is perfection, and I never want this moment to end. But the drive to move, to cum is too strong, and I pull out before quickly pushing back in. My body isn’t my own as it takes over a steady beat.
I break the kiss and stare down at her, desperate to remind myself this isn't a dream. I want this moment burned into my brain for all eternity because it's more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.
“Mine,” I say through clenched teeth and go deeper.
“Gideon!” She shouts my name loud enough that if there’s anyone outside the door, I’m sure they heard it.
The thought makes me even more possessive, and I rut harder. I want her to scream my name from the top of this hotel so everyone knows she belongs to me. That I’m the only one that’s ever going to be inside her.
Her pussy clenches, and her legs tense as her orgasm hits. It’s hot and fast, but so are we, and I can’t hold back. My balls draw up tight, and I cum with her while she milks my cock. It’s messy, just how I promised, and I want nothing more than to collapse onto her and do it again.
But we are running out of time.
It takes us a moment to catch our breath, and when I finally pull out, I stare down at what I’ve done. Her pussy is dripping with my cum, and there’s a tinge of her virgin blood on my cock. It’s erotic and filthy and yet somehow exactly right.
“Mine,” I say again, only this time as a vow.
I manage to put my straining cock back in my pants and fix her dress just as the doorknob jiggles.
“Why is this door locked?” I hear Emerson’s mother snap on the other side.
“Oh no,” Emerson gasps and sits up.
“This is it,” I tell her as I cup her face with my hands. “I love you and always want you to have a choice.” I tuck the hair that has come loose behind her ear as I take a deep breath. “I told you that I didn't want to put you in another cage. That I wanted to set you free. That’s what I’ve done.”
Reaching over to the coffee table, I open the manilla folder and hand her the contents.
“What is this?” She looks at the stack of papers, no doubt confused to see her name across the top of it.
“It’s a choice, Emerson. If you want it,” I say and turn the first page.
“This is a deed to a house in only your name.
It comes with a lot of land so you can garden to your heart's content.” I turn to the next section.
“Along with a living trust set up in only your name to manage it, with enough money to take care of you for the rest of your life.”
“Gideon,” she whispers my name as her eyes widen. “I can’t accept?—”
“There’s nothing to accept. I had Spencer draw up the documents yesterday. It’s done.” Her hands are shaking as she turns the pages of the contract. “Think of it as a wedding gift.”
She doesn’t smile at my joke as a single tear slips down her cheek.
“You’re free, Emerson. Free to live your life how and for who you want. I hope that one day it includes me, but this isn’t contingent on that. This is yours, signed, sealed, free and clear.”
“This is too much, I can’t take all of your money.” Her eyes search mine as I smile at her.
“Well, luckily, I’ve got plenty more.” I stand from the couch, and a look of confusion crosses her face.
“You’re leaving?”
Bending down, I press a kiss to her lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll be close by.” Walking to the door, I grab the handle and look back at her. “I love you, Emerson. No matter what happens next.”
As soon as I pull the door open, Emerson’s mother nearly falls through. I wink at her as I stroll out, and she’s so angry all she can do is huff and puff.
Deciding to give myself a little insurance, I take out my phone and make a quick call.
“Hey, Taylor. Do you still have that contact at TMZ?”