Dinner with the Kings was more chaotic than I’d imagined. I couldn’t believe I’d be affected, judging from the fact that Rachel and Elizabeth warned me earlier. Yet, I was. One of Rachel’s uncles, Sly, got into a near brawl with another one called Fredrick, resulting in Granny King suspending all the men from contributing a word at the table until the meal was over. It worked because they suddenly became apologetic and quickly resolved their differences. We were all seated for the big meal, one very long table filled the giant dining room and a kids’ table was placed a little farther away from ours, where the kids were seated, eating, and the butler and housekeeper watched over them. Before we started eating, Aunt Nancy forced everyone to express themselves and tell us what they were thankful for. This tradition of hers was supposed to go around, and there were almost twenty-four of us seated at the table. “Please, make it brief.” Aunt Nancy announced after Granny King took too mu
EMMETT’S POV . When I stepped into the car, Amber had shifted to the farther end of the seat and she didn’t utter a word to me. “Amber...” “Please,” she cut me off. “Just take me home. I want to go home.” “That’s not possible,” I replied, and she turned to face me instantly. “What do you mean?” “I’m taking you to dinner. You look beautiful in that dress. We’re going to have our own Christmas dinner together while you show off your pretty dress.” I told her. “And If I don’t want to?” She queried. “I don’t think you have a choice,” I replied. She humphed and turned to face the window. A couple of minutes later, we pulled up at the Tropical Hotel, one of the Kings’ hotels. . With its sixty-foot stone archway and its panoramic views of the city’s skyline. Coupled with several other reasons, the Tropical Hotel was a personal favorite of mine. My men found it easier to monitor security, and my requests for privacy were always immediately granted. p Across the terrace of the ho
“Oh, my God, Julian,” she cried as she rose to her feet. She threw her arms around him, and he hugged her back just as tightly. She pulled away slightly, but still within the confines of his arms. “It’s so great to see you. You didn’t travel home?” “Well, I’m around for a while.” She replied, dodging the question and getting me pissed. What was so hard in telling him she was spending Christmas with me? “What about you? Didn’t you travel home for Christmas?” She asked Waiter Julian. “Ugh, I had to get the extra cash, you know.” I found his reply very funny, especially for someone like him who is going to lose his job a few minutes from now. “That’s understandable.” She replied, and the soft expression on her face as she stared up at him stunned me. It was full of deep affection. I’d never seen such an expression on her face. Seeing her stare at him in this way had a strange effect on me. My chest burned with irritation. “How are you doing?” she asked. “I’m alright. But you
AMBER’S POV . Shiver crackled through my spine at his words. Because I’ve come to know that look in his eyes, the almost ferocious gaze, and I knew what usually followed after that. The last time he had that look in his eyes, he fucked me in the dining room. “Umm,” I swallowed. “I need to go to the Ladies first.” “You’re going to be sorry if I have to repeat myself.” He said. “Please. Someone could come in.” All I could think about was Julian and the fact that he worked here. This was not how I wanted someone who respects me so much to see me. “No one will come in until I allow them to.” Even if that was the case, the igloo was made of wood; I was pretty certain that even if people couldn’t see us, they could definitely hear us, especially since there was no way that I would be able to stay quiet after he touched me. “But people can hear us,” I whispered. His gaze darkened even further, and I had to accept the painful truth that I didn’t have a choice. I rose to my feet
I felt myself leak out even more down my thighs. With my feet solidly positioned on the floor, and my hand gripping Emmett's shoulders, I began to ride him. He pumped his hips up to thrust brutally into me, and I met every vicious drive. Then he ground his hips into my groin. With hands around my waist, he pulled me up until only the broad head of his cock was inside me. Staring into my eyes, he pushed me down his shaft until I was balls deep. I gasped in shock. That was just the beginning. He fucked me harder than I thought possible. The sounds of our moans, harsh breathing, and flesh smacking against flesh filled the space around us and surely escaped the igloo. I gazed out to the skyline as he took me to the heights of ecstasy, and it was breathtakingly dreamlike. The sparkling lights, the dark cloudless star-filled sky, and the half-moon hanging up above. I will never forget this day as long as I live. Emmett gripped my waist as his thrusts came faster, and pretty soon, I c
“I need to answer this. It’s my mom.” “Go ahead,” Emmett replied. I picked up the call and put the phone to my ear. “Mom, merry Christmas mama.” “Merry Christmas, baby. How are you? Did you receive the money I sent you?” Shit, I did receive an alert for the money she sent. But stupid me forgot to text her my appreciation since I was certain she wouldn’t pick up her calls if I’d called. “Yes, I’m sorry. I thought to call, but I knew you were busy. I should have texted.” I apologized. “It’s okay. I wanted you to have a nice Christmas dinner with your friend. You can visit Big Dandy.” I laughed. “There is no big Dandy over here, Mom. We only have fancy hotels and restaurants that I can’t pronounce half of the things on their menu.” I replied, getting soaked into the cheerfulness and sweetness I feel whenever I’m speaking to my mom. “Oh, that’s true. I heard Kinston is for the rich. Never knew it was that bad. But are there medium financially sensible places you both could go? Some
EMMETT’S POV . We rode back home with our bodies at least two feet apart. I stared out at trees, all cast in darkness, while we drove through the city and headed back home. Stepping onto the porch, I walked behind Amber and watched as her ass swayed to each side while she walked and the beautiful way the fabric of his dress complimented her sways. Even with the beautiful sight in front of me, I was angry. Who was I angry at? Was I angry at myself for reacting like a jealous fool and trying to claim her on the phone call with her mother? Or was I angry at her for pointing out my insecurity and failing to acknowledge me in the real sense? I couldn’t decide, but either way I was very mad. I knew she was scared for her friend’s safety, but I had no intentions of doing anything to the poor boy. I only wanted the boy to leave my establishment. That does not in any way mean that the boy’s safety was at risk. When I saw him touch her so casually, I wanted to strangle him. But whe
I walked ahead of her, opened the door to my room with my fingerprint, and headed straight for the liquor cabinet. Grabbing the decanter filled with old whiskey, I poured out a generous measure, lifted it to my lips, and took a whiff of its smoky scent of burnt leather and wood. The burn of the liquid as it slid down my throat was most welcome. It seemed to restore a sense of ease and control back to me. I turned around to give my attention to the stranger I’d brought into my most private space. Until now, other than the staff who clean and refill stuff, no one had been allowed into this place. She was standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped protectively around her waist as her eyes roved around my room. I shouldn’t have brought her here, but here we are. This means I was damn well going to do my fantasy justice and fuck her through the night on that white fluffy rug of mine. “Take your clothes off.” I turned
"Now, I'll ask you again, Amber. What do you know about us?" He asked, positioning his hand like an imaginary cuff, very close to my neck. "I don’t know anything," I swore to him. But then he brought his fingers closer and squeezed, cutting off the possible air I could manage to get. "Please," I said, pulling uselessly at my bound hands. "I don’t know anything else." "I heard you were kidnapped a couple of weeks ago. Is that true? He asked. "No. That's not true." I replied."It's not?" He asked, frowning."Yes, it's not," I replied."I also heard someone broke into your room a couple of days ago. Is that a lie too?""Yes." I breathed out."Would you swear on your life that these things didn't happen?" "They didn't happen," I replied, sounding so sure."And your roommate, did she see anything?"I shook my head. "She didn't.""Are you sure about that?""A hundred percent," I replied. Finally, his hold on my throat reduced to a bearable extent.He knew all of these things happened.
A shudder passed over me forcing me to push myself up. "Oh, she's good now," said the tall guy. "Can I remove the blindfold?" I asked. "No. It was nice of you to ask. I told you she’d cooperate," Jonathan muttered. "Are you all right, Amber?" He asked.I nodded, getting more comfortable in the seat. "Don’t worry," the guy behind the wheels said, "We won’t hurt you. Not like that." "Thank you for the assurance." I whispered and pulled my nightgown down to cover my thighs better.""We aren't looking, either," Jonathan assured me. "None of us are looking.""Yeah, the tall guy said. "I've got my own girlfriend to torment." He sighed."You all do." The guy behind the wheels announced. "I think she needed to hear that too." He muttered. "Is Francis here?" I asked. "No," Jonathan answered. "But you'll see him soon. We're taking you to him." I stiffened. "He won't touch you, you have absolutely nothing to worry about," Jonathan added."But he has a problem with me. He didn't seem to l
The night felt like an infinity kind of night. I’ve had a lot of lonely nights in my lifetime, but tonight felt like the loneliest. Maybe I'm being dramatic. Maybe the night seems to be stretching forever because I’ve put all the other lonely nights in my lifetime out of my mind so I could move forward without all of that weighing me down. It took everlasting before my body felt exhausted enough to finally fall asleep. But I woke up abruptly, swatting at my arm on instinct. It felt like I'd been stung by an insect, or maybe a bug bit me. I could no longer feel my legs, so I reached for my blanket to throw it back so I could jump out of bed and check for any bugs on it.Only then did I realize that I couldn't feel my arms too. Not only that, my arms felt so heavy that they couldn't pick up the blanket, nor could my legs move. My eyes widened in horror as I tried again to pick up the blanket. But I couldn't I became confused. Then my gaze jumped to movements in the shadows in my ro
When I got back to Emmett's house, I didn't have the words to explain how I was feeling. Guilty, tense, and stupid. Why am I still with him? Security is a lame excuse because if that is the case, I could even hire a bodyguard with the kind of money in my account. If I go out there physically for house hunting, I would definitely get a nice apartment in a day or two. So, what exactly is my excuse to keep staying with Emmett?I met him in the living room and when he saw me, he was immediately worried. "Amber," he called, "something is wrong, tell me what."I shook my head, "Nah, everything’s great." "But?"I tried to internally figure out where the hell to go from here. I didn't want to stay here anymore. I don’t even know how I feel about Emmett anymore."The locks in my dorm room have been changed," I told him, hating how thick and emotion-filled my voice sounded. "I can’t imagine anyone attacking me again when news has it that I'm dating Emmett King." I could feel his gaze on me,
Gracie waited for a while, yet I said nothing. Then she continued. "I hope you do know that if any of them decide to murder you, nothing, absolutely nothing, would be done about it?" She asked, hoping she'd get a reply from me at this point. But I still said nothing.I wanted to say something, to defend myself at least. But the words weren't just coming. She was speaking again, so I tried to shift my focus and concentrate on what she was saying. "Anyway, since it seems this is the kind of life you want, I really wish you luck with all of this. I hope you make good decisions and stay away from these men because your life and affinity to live long actually depend on it. But I'd like to let you know that I can’t be involved in whatever you have going on. I don’t want to get mixed up with the people you’re mixed up with. I don’t want to be the next gunshot victim. I-I'm moving out of the dorm. I'll let student affairs know. Maybe they'll get you another roommate or something." "Oh..." T
Olivia sent me a couple of apartment videos and none of them came close to what I was looking for. Justin's recommendations were even better. The more she sent them, the shittier they got. I soon gave up, and she promised to get more videos or maybe take me to see more places in the coming week. So I eased up and got busy with my books. Emmett was home in his study, getting a couple of things done. On days like this, I tend to forget how young he is, with the amount of work he does and the dedication he puts in. He called my mom earlier and we spoke to her. Mom was happy that I was okay, and she discussed yesterday's game with Emmett. I was shocked to find out that they'd been speaking on the phone almost every day, even while I wasn't on talking terms with Em. My new phone finally rang for the first time since I officially launched it last night. It was Gracie. "Hey roomie, how are you?" I asked, picking up the call. She sighed. "I'm fine, but we need to talk." "Oh okay,
We ate dinner much later, after putting my old SIM card in my new phone and starting it up. Gracie's number kept going to voicemail each time I attempted to call. When I couldn't take it anymore, I convinced Emmett to take me to my dorm room, just to be sure Gracie wasn't there. He agreed, and when we got there, Gracie wasn't home, and from the look of things, it didn't seem like she had been there since the break-in. On our way back, I dropped a voicemail for her, asking if she was okay. And did the same via a text message. "What do you plan on doing this weekend?" Emmett asked as we drove off. "Check out some of the houses I'd possibly get. Shit! I need to drop a message to Olivia; she promised to send me a couple of options to choose from." "Olivia Tampa?" He asked. "Aston's sister, yes," I replied. "What if I offer you my place for rent? It has everything you need, and the security is topnotch." "Are you going to stay there with me?" I asked. He grinned and took a moment
When I finally got back to Emmett's home, it was evening already and I was totally exhausted. Wynne took the car keys to park the car. "Is Emmett home?" I asked him. "Just got back." He replied with a small smile. "Thank you," I said and paused. "Not just for now, for always. For your kindness. For saving me the other day. Emmett told me." "It's my job, Amber." He replied. "You don't have to thank me, at all." "Still." I persisted. "You're welcome then." I flashed him a smile, adjusted my backpack with one hand, then left for the house. After dropping my bag, I found Emmett in his home office, frowning at his computer screen. "Can I come in?" I asked, tapping at his door. When he lifted his face from the computer screen, he caught my eyes and a soothing smile spread across his face, warming my heart. "Please." He replied, gesturing to the empty seat in his office. "You seem busy," I noted. "I could go and maybe check on you later." He shook his head. "No, I'm good with
It felt like a weekend had passed since I last set foot on the campus. I left Emmett's home around ten in the morning after reconnecting with Rose and having her fill my ears with everything that happened after I left the house.It was so satisfying hearing her talk about how bitchy and irritable Emmett was all through.When I got to school, I wasn’t guarded and paranoid. Dread didn’t quicken my steps every time I rounded a corner or another student passed me too abruptly. It was a dull Friday morning and since I had only one lecture for the day.I was already discussing the fact that I was searching for an apartment with one of my coursemates, Justin. He was super helpful with a few listings and even offered to take me to see some of them.Unfortunately, they weren't exactly what I was looking for, as they didn't have front desks and standby security. When we got the news that the day's lecture had been postponed till the coming week, we left for the school canteen together.I got an