Noah #3
Emery was straight as a board, as if she was incapable of moving a muscle.
I feared, if she didn’t breathe, she was going to pass out.
My face was on fire, and my head was yelling at me to run, but I couldn’t leave her here.
I couldn’t let this man win. Not when he looked so triumphant, standing there and daring us to kiss with the support of the masses.
I forced all my fears to the back of my mind and tapped into years of training for hostile situations. If I could jump out of helicopters over deserts, I could kiss Carson Torres’s widow.
I shot Charles a glare before I turned to face Emery. She hadn’t moved an inch, and the spotlight made her pale skin appear even lighter. Her eyes were wide and unfocused. She was terrified and overwhelmed, and my heart ached for her.
I could only imagine how she was feeling about having to kiss me. I’d seen her try to flirt. I’d seen her battle with herself over simply holding my hand. This was uncharted territory for her.
“Emery,” I whispered as I dipped down to meet her gaze.
“Does our fearless leader have a little stage fright?” Charles’s words echoed in my head as the laugh of the crowd mimicked the laugh track on a sitcom. I knew he was mocking her, and it was taking all of my strength not to punch the guy.
“Emery, look at me,” I said as I planted both hands on her shoulders.
Slowly her gaze drifted to mine, and I could see the fear in her eyes. She was terrified.
“Emery, it’s going to be okay.” I held her gaze so she would know that I was serious.
She knit her eyebrows together, and her lips parted like she wanted to say something but couldn’t bring herself to form any words.
I pulled her to my chest and wrapped my arms around her.
I needed her to relax. We just needed a single kiss to prove to Charles and the crowd that we were a real couple.
I wrapped my hand around her head and held her against my shoulder for a moment before I dipped down until my lips were next to her ear.
“Just breathe,” I murmured.
Seconds felt like hours until I heard the soft release of her breath and felt her warm air through my suit coat and shirt. I pulled back and stared down at her. Her cheeks were pink, like her heart had started beating once more.
“It’s one kiss, that’s all. It doesn’t mean anything.” I raised my eyebrows to ask if it was okay if I proceeded.
She stared at me for a moment before she began to nod. My heart pounded in my chest. Both fear and anticipation coursed through my veins, making my head spin. I’d spent all of this time preparing her for the kiss, but I hadn’t taken the time to prepare myself.
I pushed my worries aside and lifted my hand to her face. The crowd was growing restless, so there was no time to analyze this any longer. I cupped her cheek as I studied her one last time and then leaned in, closing my eyes.
My entire body froze when my lips touched hers.
I held them there as the sensation of kissing her began to register in my body.
Her lips were soft and supple. The warmth of her skin against my palm and lips made me feel alive for the first time in years.
I hadn’t noticed that her hands were gripping my shirt until she tightened her grasp, pulling me ever so slightly closer.
I raised my hand to find her waist. My fingers first brushed the fabric that’d had me in a chokehold from the moment she walked out of her bedroom.
Then the pressure of my fingertips against her waist sent shockwaves through my body.
I slid my hand around to her back and instinctively pulled her closer to me.
I lost control as the primal desire to feel her body against mine took over.
That seemed to wake Emery up because her hands were suddenly sprawled across my chest as she pushed off, breaking our kiss and taking a step back. The audience, who had been collectively holding their breath, began to whoop and cheer.
I stood there, staring down at her. My brain couldn’t register anything other than Emery. I wanted to pull her back. I wanted to kiss her again, and I wanted it to be harder and filled with feeling.
Because that was what was coursing through my heart and mind right now.
Feeling.
I had feelings for Emery.
“Alright, alright,” Charles said as he held up his hands to quiet the audience once more. “Off you go, you two lovebirds.” He made no effort to hide the mocking tone in his voice.
My fingers found Emery’s forearm and slid down, expecting to hold her hand. Instead, she pulled her arm away and wrapped it around her chest like she was attempting to protect herself.
I curled my fingers into my palm and pinned my arms to my sides as I followed after her. I didn’t fault her for her reaction, but that didn’t mean her standoffish behavior didn’t hurt.
I forced that thought from my mind. My feelings didn’t matter. Right now, all that mattered was Emery and how she felt. If she needed to pull away from me, then I would let her.
She was all I cared about protecting.