F O U R

EVA. 

I freeze in my stand and my eyes are wide as I watch Emerson's lip move against mine. 

This isn't something I expected, but there is a small fraction that anticipated this: The anger that was burning between us to be fueled into something else. Something unexplainable. Something delirious. I had set the trap, but I didn't think Emerson would take the bait. 

Emerson forces my mouth open and slides his tongue through my parted lips, pushing me hard against the elevator wall as his mouth ravages mine and his hand moves to the back of my head, pulling at my ponytail and tilting my head to the back; giving him more opening to plunder my mouth. 

Disbelief dances through my veins as Emerson Ford kisses me rough and hard in a way that reflects how it's always been between us. 

The warmth in my lower belly explodes into an unbearable sensation that leaves an aching need in the sweet spot between my thighs and a thundering heart in my chest. 

I fist my hands in his jacket and instead of pushing his body from mine; I find myself pulling him tight against mine as I shut my eyes. Our chests are pressed to each other and every sense seems to have flown out as we both fight for dominance. The kiss is like it's always been between us– one of us fighting for the upper hand and in this position, Emerson Ford seems to have the upper hand as he presses his hip against mine for me to feel the hardness in his pants. 

"You seem to be enjoying my lips on yours, Carson, " he pulls back, a taunting smile on his face as he keeps me caged against the wall, his large body encompassing mine and I part and close my mouth like a goldfish as I try to think of a comeback.  

"You wish. " My voice is small. Almost inaudible and I want to smack myself in the face for it. 

"I do not think there's any need to make a wish when I feel the urgency of your needy lips against mine, Carson. I bet I'll find you a poor mess if I push my hand between those thick thighs of yours. " He smirks and his words are something that shouldn't sound so hot. They are teasing and aimed at insulting me, yet I find myself wishing he do exactly what he said. I tell myself it's the stance we're in. Nothing more than that. 

"Fuck you, Ford. " I cuss and he shakes his head. "You're asking for too much, Carson, but I won't mind bending daddy's little girl over my desk if you agree to be a good girl and beg for it. "

"That's something that will only happen in those ridiculous scenarios you make up in your head. I bet you've got tons of that up there, don't you?" I chuckle but that doesn't last long when he moves his face closer. 

"Are you daring me again, Carson?" His voice is almost a whisper and his hot breath fans against my face. 

"I am. " I lift my chin. "If you think you have the odds to stick that thing..." I nod to his pants. "Anywhere near me, then you must be insane, Ford. A thing that got hard with one touch from me by the way. "

Emerson laughs and moves back. "Trust me, Carson. This isn't because of you. You're not a sight to get hard for, especially not with me. " He doesn't give me a chance to speak before he presses the button again. The elevator slides open and he gives me one last glance before walking away and I slip on my feet, my breathing heavy as the import of what happened whack me hard.

I shared a kiss with Emerson fucking Ford. 

I shared a kiss with Emerson fucking Ford where we could be caught by men who hate each other as much as we do.

What the hell was I thinking?

~

"I'm home. " I shut the door behind me and I don't wait for a response before heading straight to my room with my heart in my throat. 

I sigh as I lean against the door and fish my phone out. There are a few texts and two missed calls from Aliya. I didn't even notice the poor thing ring because I was too caught up in something I shouldn't be caught up in. 

Kicking my boots off my feet, I stride to my bed and drop on it as I contact Aliya. 

"Bitch, where the—"

"Hey, sorry I missed your call. " I cut her off. 

"What's wrong?" Aliya asks with raised brows, zooming her face closer and I shake my head, gnawing at my lips. 

She frowns. "We don't keep secrets, Evie. "

I sigh and dig my fingers into my thighs. She would probably call me stupid if she heard of the incredibly mindless thing I did. 

"It's just—" I shake my head and Aliya hums for me to continue. Taking a deep breath, I say, "I might have, or might have not kissed him. "

"Who?" She asks. 

"Emerson. " My voice is so tiny that she might have not heard. It could as well pass as blowing wind, but when I look back at the phone to see Aliya's eyes widened with a grin on her face, I know she heard. 

"Oh, you naughty girl. Finally taking on my advice, huh?"

"This isn't something to be proud of, Aliya. " I hiss, laying back against the headboard and she lifts her brows. "Why not? Was he a bad kisser? Considering his looks, you would think—"

"No, that's not it. " He's not a bad kisser. God, he's so far from that term. That ten seconds kiss is probably one of the hottest kisses I've ever had, and I hate that I love it. I hate that even after promising not to think of it, I still think of how it felt and the tingles on my lips for something I should hate. I hate that my body reacted so fast to him and I hate that I let Emerson Ford have his way with me– and would have probably let him have more if he didn't pull back. 

Fuck. Me. 

"So what's it then? Were you expecting more? " She questions and I roll my eyes. "I think you're getting the whole idea of hate wrong. You don't kiss someone you hate, Aliya. You want to smack them in the face, not want your mouth on them. "

She grins sheepishly. "So you want your mouth on Emerson? Which part? Is it the pretty orgasm maker in his—"

"Aliya, " I groan and she laughs. "It isn't funny. "

"I know! I know, " she says through her laugh. "And it's just a kiss, babe. Nothing too serious. Who initiated it?"

"Him. " Though I had indirectly goaded him into it. I shouldn't have uttered a word, knowing where I was. Especially after his words, but that's just it. There's that part of me that will never keep it down when it comes to Emerson Ford, and then there's the other part... The part that blatantly came out of nowhere and was anticipating his every next move. I don't anticipate with Emerson; I do the opposite. 

"And you followed through. Maybe you both just need to fuck each other to get that hatred out of your systems. Might turn out better than being at each other throats. "

"You aren't helping, dimwit. " I tell her and she chuckles. "I'm just saying. "

"Yeah, thanks for the advice, smart pants. I'm heading to bed. "

"You'll figure it out. "

"Fuck off. " It's the only response I give as the echoes of Aliya's laugh fills my room before I hang up and throw the phone to the other side. 

I sigh and stare up at the ceiling with my hands on my stomach. As I shut my eyes to get to sleep, I convince myself this is Emerson's new fucked up way of messing with me and I'll be damned if I let it get to me.