by Bryce Evans
Double fuck, he’s one of King Abner’s guards. Great fucking idea, Sydney. You had to hit a fucking royal guard. Please leave, please leave. Fuck, just leave, she thought frantically. She watched as the vampire inhaled and scanned the area, narrowing his eyes, then turned and left the room.
This was messed up. She had to leave and regroup. Give the spell time to wear off, then come back and try again. She’d never let a client down, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to start now. Sydney slipped quietly and quickly out the back entrance.
Chapter Thirteen
Nash rode the elevator down to the conference rooms that the Unit used in the basement. Jonas Glenn was sitting at the back table along with all the other members, including his Alpha, and all their mates. He loved these people. This was what Emerson needed to get well. She needed friends and family who would help her get through this, people she could actually count on. They would be here for her if she needed a shoulder to cry on or a person just to listen.
Everyone shouted his name as he walked in. “Nash!” Their voices echoed with laughter. They were all well on their way to drunk.
Ash pulled a chair out so he could sit beside his best friend. She’d been busy lately redecorating their cabin. Her mates wanted her to feel like it was her cabin, too, so they turned over their credit card and told her to do whatever she wanted. He knew Ash well enough to know that she wouldn’t spend money on something unless she really wanted it. She was very frugal, and great with saving money.
“Missed you,” Ash whispered.
“Me too. It’s just been—”
“Crazy?”
“Yes, but soon. I promise,” Nash answered.
“I’ll hold you to that, buddy.”
“I know you will,” he told her. Then he turned to the Unit’s leader. “Jonas, if you have a minute, I want to run something by you.”
Everyone in the room became deathly quiet. He glanced around knowing they didn’t have any secrets from each other. If he was going to tell Jonas what he was thinking, soon enough they would all know.
“Sure Nash, go ahead,” Jonas said.
“Maybe I’m way off here, but I can’t stop thinking about this, and I need to at least let you know. I just don’t want to hurt Emerson. I know if she even hears me suggest it, she’ll be hurt. Right now she needs to trust me, and I don’t want to ruin that…”
“Nobody will tell her anything we’ve talked about, Nash. You know you can trust us all,” Sindrid spoke up.
“I know. I may be wrong; God knows I hope I am. But what if…shit, this is harder than I thought. What if Kingston Prescott set up his daughter to get kidnapped, but didn’t know that they would try and—”
Nash closed his eyes, trying to get the thought of someone hurting his mate out of his head.
“You think he set his daughter up because he couldn’t control her anymore,” Jonas guessed.
“Yes.” Nash rushed the word out of his mouth. He did. Was he just mad at the man for thinking wasn’t good enough to be the mate of a Prescott, or did he really believe Kingston would stoop so low as to have his own daughter kidnapped and hurt, just to show her she would always need her father’s help?
Jonas leaned forward and nodded. “You’re not the only one who’s thought the same, Nash. Stop beating yourself up. We’ve all been trying to come up with any reason someone would have picked her, and how they knew the exact time she was leaving her father’s home. There had to be someone on the inside to know that information.”
“It makes sense. He hates shifters and vampires, and believes they’re beneath his kind. The ‘purebloods,’ as they call themselves. Arranged marriages are the norm for these people, and one never goes against them. So it’s not so far-fetched,” Jansen acknowledged, bringing forth more fears for Nash then he could imagine. Now it all seemed possible. And if Kingston got his way, he would take Emerson back to his home, and away from Nash.
“Nash, are you okay?” Ash asked, putting her hand on his arm.
“He’s trying to take her away from me. She’s confused and scared, but what if he succeeds and…” He could feel his heart beating so hard that everyone in the room stood up, thinking he was going to pass out. Hell, he even thought it.
“Calm down, Nash.” Ash placed her hands on each of his cheeks and spoke gently to him. “Slow your heart down, buddy. I promise it will be alright. I won’t let him take her. She’s your mate, and she won’t be able to leave you either. I saw the way she looked at you.”
And just like that his breathing calmed. Just hearing someone else say that she wasn’t going anywhere did something for him. He couldn’t let her leave.
“Better?” Ash asked.
“Yes, thank you.” Nash pushed his hair off his forehead. “What do I do? How can I fix this?”
“You can’t, but the Unit is working on it. We’re planting the seed with Emerson that she’s needed and will be part of something great here. Like you said, Nash, she needs to know she can trust us all so we’re all doing our part in coming to her and trying to make her feel welcomed. Right now we shouldn’t push her too hard. I’m afraid if we do she’ll run. We’re watching Kingston. He won’t just take her. That would look bad for him, and he doesn’t need that kind of scandal,” Jonas explained.
“I want to tell my mate what I fear, but I know she doesn’t need to hear that,” Nash admitted.
“No, but if it’s true than you won’t have to, because we will. If he’s involved than he’s just as guilty as everyone else for doing that to all those people. The Unit will gather the evidence, and then a trial will be held. I don’t think even his own people will support him once they find out.
“However, at this moment, it’s only a theory. Until we find out the truth, we just watch the man,” Jonas said.
“Sounds good. I’ve to go check on her. I didn’t want to leave her but the guards are at her door and I had to tell you what I was thinking.”
“We’re always here for you, Nash,” Larken said.
“Thanks, everyone.” Nash got up from his seat and walked out. This time there wasn’t laughter coming from the room, only silence. Now he needed to make sure to protect Emerson from her own father.
Chapter Fourteen
Emerson waited on the bed, hoping it wasn’t to early to go next door. Last night she didn’t have any nightmares, and she knew that Nash was the reason. She dreamed of him. Their date played over and over in her dreams. The sleigh ride, the movie, getting to blow glass and make jewelry. Then the dream turned into making out until she woke up with her hand down her underwear.
Yes, she’d had thoughts about certain people before, wondering what it would be like, but this dream played the story out. And she was the aggressor in it. She was the one who was pushing, not Nash. He’d been a gentleman through it all, but in her dream, she wasn’t. Then it turned into something very exciting. Just thinking about it now made her wet between her legs. How could this dream be so vivid, so real?
Now all she could think about was Nash—wondering what his favorite color was, what his dreams were. What did Nash want to do? These were all questions she planned on finding the answers to today. He’d already told her they were going ice-skating. First, they were going to eat another type of pancakes, then to the ice ring. She’d been up ready for hours waiting for him to knock on her door. Should she go and knock on his?
Getting up, Emerson crept to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it. A man was sitting in the chair outside, but he got up as soon as the door opened. “Hello, Max.”
“Hello, Miss Prescott. Do you need something?”
“Is Nash still in his room?”
The vampire smiled. “Yes ma’am. I heard him moving around, so I know he’s already up. Would you like for me to knock on his door and get him for you?”
“No... No, I can do it.” Emerson slowly pulled her door closed and stood in front of Nash’s. She hesitated for a minute, wondering if would upset him that she was dist
urbing him before he was ready. She could always wait in her room.
“You’re not going to bother him, ma’am. I promise.”
Emerson looked back and smiled, then nodded. Blowing out a breath, she started to knock but before her hand could hit the door, it was snatched open. Nash was standing there with blue jeans on and nothing else. “Dear God.”
Nash smiled when snickering could be heard from Max. “Is everything okay, Emerson?”
Her mouth hung open. She was so embarrassed when she watched as Nash inhaled and his eyes turned wolf like. “Nothing, I’ll talk to you later.”
Emerson turned to go back to her room in shame but Nash grabbed her hand. She couldn’t control the feeling that made her jerk her hand back, and her magic bolted from her, throwing Nash against the door.
“Oh my… Nash, you okay?” Emerson ran toward Nash, who was on the ground laughing. “What are you laughing at? Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I…I—” Emerson lowered her head in shame. She’d just attacked the one person who had only shown her kindness, with her magic.
Pulling her chin up, Nash smiled. “Don’t you ever hold your head down, Emerson Prescott. I knew better than to startle you like that. I could sense your attraction to me—at least I hope that’s what it was.”
“Of course it was. You had your shirt off, and I had dreamed…” Emerson closed her eyes, knowing she’d just spilt the beans.
“So, you were dreaming of me with my shirt off.”
“Nash Wilder, I didn’t say that.”
“Well you kinda did. Didn’t you think, Max?”
Max just smiled, and looked away trying to hide his expression.
“I wasn’t so get that thought out of your head. I was ready, and wanted to see if you were ready to go eat. I can see that you’re not, so I’ll just wait in my room.” Emerson had started to get up, but Nash stopped her.
“Can you help me up?”
Blowing out her breath, Emerson stood up and held her hand down to him. She didn’t have to do much, because the man was already up and off the floor. His body was so close she could smell the wonderful scent coming off him. It was simply reflex to close her eyes and inhale.
Nash’s shaky voice brought her out of her sex-filled reverie. “Come in while I get my shoes and shirt on. You can wait in the living room.” She could tell that his wolf was close when she watched his skin move as if the it was trying to come out. They stood and stared at each other until finally she couldn’t hold his gaze.
“You win,” Emerson said, and looked away but followed him inside and closed the door.
Did that make her weak, not being able to hold his stare? Because every time he looked at her, everything changed inside her. Her body totally freaked out. She had no experience in this. This was bad. What if Nash was used to women who could give him what he wanted? What if he spent this time with her and realized that she wasn’t enough?
Nash walked back into the room, bringing her out of her dreadful thoughts. Her legs felt like jelly as she slowly lowered herself down to the couch. He was only dressed in a blue button-down shirt with a pair of blue jeans, but he was stunning. He had the kind of face that stopped people in their tracks. Like now—she was stunned that she was getting to spend time with this sweet, hot man.
They both just stared at each other until she could feel the heat rising from her neck to her face. Blinking, she looked away again. If she kept this up, she would be a laughingstock around the shifters. Surely they could already scent her arousal when she was around Nash.
Clearing his throat, Nash asked, “Are you ready to eat?”
“Yes.” When she started to get up, Nash was already by her side to help her. “Thank you.” Emerson quickly dropped her hand from his. What was wrong with her? She wanted to kiss him again.
“I want to kiss you too,” Nash whispered next to her ear.
Jerking around, Emerson faced him, shocked to hear him say it. “You do?”
“I do. More than you know. But I don’t want to push you.”
“Maybe one kiss wouldn’t hurt.”
“Okay.” Nash didn’t waste any more time. He lowered his head, brushing his lips against hers. She loved how soft his lips were. His kisses were spectacular. She allowed him to lead, and as he sucked on her bottom lip, her mouth opened, allowing his tongue to slip inside. She’d only kissed one man before, and it was because of a dare. She’d had a total of four friends at home, and they all were from the job she’d with the Council. If she could even call them friends. Nobody ever came to her house, because they were all shifters.
One night after work they all went out for drinks. It was fun, just a bunch of geeks hanging out, but they decided to go for drinks at one of the local bars. Sitting at the table, they played truth-or-dare, and that was hold she got her first french kiss. Nathan was a shifter, and it was just for fun, but she enjoyed it. He told her on the way home that he liked how she kissed. She didn’t thrust her tongue down his throat and slobber all over his mouth. He said her lips were soft and she gave him just enough tongue. She knew it sounded like two kids talking, but the compliment made her smile.
The kiss wasn’t anything like this one. Nash’s lips were soft as he pressed them against hers, and the touch of his tongue sent a tingling sensation all the way down to her toes. She felt light-headed.
Nash pushed away from the wall and closed his eyes. He almost bit her, but a knock on the door interrupted them.
“Emerson, are you in there?”
Her eyes widened, scared that she’d been caught and with a shifter.
“It’s okay, Emerson. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I know how your father feels about shifters, and now you have to face him coming out of my room.”
He started to move away and open the door, but before he could, Emerson stood in front of him blocking him from getting to it.
“Do you regret the kiss?”
“Are you kidding? Of course not. I...I want you so bad that I’m holding on by a string, Emerson Prescott. I would never regret any moment with you.”
“Then I have no regrets either, Nash Wilder, and I don’t care how my father feels. If he wants to be in my life he better get used to you,” Emerson declared, then rolled her shoulders back and opened the door.
“Father. We were just going down for pancakes. You’re welcome to join us.” She didn’t give him time to answer as she walked out the door, leaving Kingston Prescott with his mouth open watching his daughter walk away from him. Nash couldn’t be more proud of her than he was at that moment.
“Mr. Prescott,” Nash muttered as he walked past him too. Max winked at him as he passed, which made him smile even more. Emerson had shocked him too. This was a good sign that his mate was getting better and more confident.
He could hear Kingston running to catch up with his daughter. The elevator doors opened and they walked inside and waited for her father. “Emerson, I need to talk to you. Alone.” He said the last part looking pointedly at Nash.
“Later. We’re eating, and then we are going ice-skating.” Her eyes lit up as she informed her dad what they were going to do.
“Ice skating? You’ll break your neck! And we need to leave, Emerson. I have an appointment later today. I do own a corporation that I need to run, young lady.”
Before Nash could tell the bigot that she wasn’t going home, Emerson answered, “Then go, Father. There isn’t any need for you to be here anymore. I’m well and safe. I’ve spoken to Jonas Glenn, and the Unit still wants and needs me. My job is here with the Unit.”
The door opened before he could answer, and there were too many witnesses to cause a scene. Instead he followed them into the dining room and sat down at the table across from them. Before he could say another word, Larken was standing at the table.
“Mr. Prescott, I’m sorry that you’re leaving so soon. I was hoping you would get to take in some of the sights before you leave.” Larken said with a smile.
“Leave?”
&nbs
p; “Yes; the front desk told me you called and said that you would be leaving today.”
Kingston Prescott looked lost. This was something he wasn’t going to win and he didn’t know how to handle it.
Clearing his throat, Kingston narrowed his eyes at him and answered, “Change of plans. I need to talk to Emerson alone, but she has plans today, so I’ll be staying a few more days.”
“Oh. Well, okay.” Larken glanced at Nash for a minute than turned his attention to Kingston. Emerson didn’t offer any comment as she watched the interaction between her father and the Alpha. “I’ll inform the staff that you’re staying a few more days.”
“Thank you.” Kingston looked away from Larken, dismissing him as if he wasn’t anyone important.
“Nash, I need a minute.” Larken said, turning around and walking away. Nash didn’t want to leave Emerson here alone with her father, knowing that he was going to try and change her mind. But his Alpha needed him.
“Excuse me a few minutes.”
“Take your time. I’ll be here waiting.” Emerson said with a smile on her face as Nash walked away.
“Emerson what is going on with you? I can’t believe you would belittle yourself.”
Leaning forward in her seat, Emerson said, “Dad, I love you, really do, but my mind is made up. I wish you would change your mind about shifters. What did they ever do to you, for you to hate them so much?”
She watched as her father’s face turned blood red. His body started to shake with anger. She reached out to try and touch his hand. “Father, what’s wrong?”
Jerking his hand back, Kingston’s face turned stony. “You have no respect or loyalty, none whatsoever, for your family. Just like your mother.”
