Aidan sighed audibly. “You know we’re not against our agents falling for the people they’ve been assigned to help or protect. Your own brother fell head over heels for Holly. But it’s very different with you and Emma. She’s the enemy.”
“I know that,” he said, trying not to sound irritated. “Don’t worry. She’s a pretty girl and all, but she represents the world I’d wanted to escape for ten years. That’s more than enough to turn me right off. So even if I’m acknowledging how physically attractive she is, I know now that I can’t possibly trust her. I’m telling you that my physical attraction to her means absolutely nothing.”
“Okay. Next question, then. Can you be believably nice to her? There’s no room for error when it comes to how you act around her. Like you said, you might have to throw a wedge between her and Kallan so you could be the one to get close to her for the sake of the whole Indie Rebels team. A lot is riding on this.”
“Yes. I know what you’re saying, Aidan. I got this.”
“Great. Just checking before you go any deeper with this. And even though it’s a matter of urgency that we find Jester, it’s even more important that they don’t smell a rat when it comes to you. So don’t push too hard too quickly.”
“Copy that. I know what a suspicious bunch they are. I’ll take my time in getting them to trust me, but you’ll have to let me know when I need to hurry up.”
“I will. And…I’m not finding anything suspicious on Emma’s phone records, either. I’m not surprised, considering she gave her number to you without hesitation. It’s probably one of her spare phones.”
“No doubt. But you know what’s bugging me? Sharryn knew that the security officers at Plank Island were associated with the Flowers. I’m pretty sure Emma didn’t know that or she would have said something back then.”
“Could be that Sharryn’s higher up. It’ll be interesting to know why.”
“Yeah. So can you tell what they’re talking about right now?”
“No. How can I?”
“Can’t you read lips?” Bryce teased. “I thought you’d have learnt that by now.”
Aidan snickered. “Unfortunately that’s one of my weaknesses. I’m just too busy to make time to learn it. But right now they appear to be talking more quietly. They look more serious too.”
“Right. Well, I’ll find a place where I can kill time.”
“I’d say you have plenty of time to eat something. They’re not exactly in a hurry to finish theirs.”
“That’s good then. I’m starving.”
“Okay, I’ll call when they’re leaving the restaurant.”
“Copy. Bye.” Bryce hung up and walked into a relatively quiet café. If he hadn’t been concerned about Sharryn getting annoyed at him, he would have stayed and had dinner with them. He could only hope that Kallan wasn’t succeeding in wooing Emma.
Argh, he was so mad at her. How could she have acted so nice and innocent and sweet two years ago? She’d been a ray of light to him, the person who’d pierced through the bleakness of his daily life to give him joy.
And he felt betrayed by the fact that she was Addison Fern’s daughter.
Betrayed? He snorted.
Why should he feel betrayed? He’d hidden something from her back then too, hadn’t he? He’d also been at pains to keep his secret that he was the son of a crime lord. He’d been duplicitous, just like Emma had been. All things considered, he had no right to feel that she’d taken him for a ride.
The important thing to drill into his mind was they were enemies now. He shouldn’t need to keep reminding himself of that particular fact.
He ordered some food and tried to distract himself. Regardless of what was happening inside his chest, his goal was unchanged—infiltrate the Fixers so they could stop Jester and Addison from destroying the Indie Rebels. That was the priority.
Two hours later, Aidan buzzed him. It was time to follow Emma and create opportunities to speak with her.
Bryce left the establishment purposefully. He would do anything to ensure he didn’t fail in this project.
Anything.
Chapter 4
Bryce crossed his arms as he watched Kallan say goodbye to Emma in front of her apartment building, with Emma nodding and laughing at whatever Kallan was saying. Hopefully, Kallan wasn’t trying to charm himself into Emma’s room.
Finally, Emma started to open the door, half-waving to Kallan.
“Time to go, buddy,” Bryce muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes as Kallan kept on talking.
Emma laughed some more but shook her head. Then she entered her building without a backward glance.
Bryce smirked. Good. Not that it meant Emma wasn’t interested in Kallan. She’d been similarly friendly-but-distant in the beginning with Bryce at Plank Island. It hadn’t been until the third day of her holiday that Emma had started flirting with him—when she’d had too much to drink. Evidently, Emma became chatty and incredibly honest when she had a bit of alcohol in her system, and she’d admitted she found him hot and irresistible.
He’d never intended to play around with any of the female guests at Plank Island so he hadn’t responded to Emma’s drunken flirtation. He’d even kept her at arm’s length, striving to be nothing more than a friendly island security officer.
But he’d known there was something between them. With each look, each smile, each “accidental” touch, the air had crackled. And as the days had rolled by, their gazes had held more meaning, their smiles for each other had turned sweeter, and they’d found plenty of excuses to be in each other’s company.
Fortunately, the other security guys had been more concerned about ensuring that the drug shipments to and from Plank Island remained a secret. Since Bryce had been the least trusted out of all the Flowers members, he’d been tasked to simply watch the guests and ensure they didn’t go where they shouldn’t. No one had suspected that he and Emma had been taking walks and chatting at every opportunity.
Or had Doug or Addison known all along?
He had no idea.
Still he’d tried to keep things with Emma from going past friendship. Not having known her real identity, the last thing he’d wanted was to drag her into the underworld with him. Much as he loathed to admit it now, he’d cared about her enough back then to not give her any hope that there could be a future for them.
But he’d failed to maintain his friends-only stance on Emma’s last night at the island, when he’d spotted her walking along the beach with only the moon lighting her path.
He hadn’t intended to bother her, but her drooping shoulders and bowed head had tugged at his heart, and he’d found himself approaching.
Bryce sighed, sagging against the wall next to him as memories came rushing back. He didn’t try to shove them away. Better to act like he was still into her, right? So he might as well remember the whole thing.
Not that he had to try hard. For some reason, that night seemed to be as clear to him as if it had happened yesterday…
Bryce jogged along the sand to catch up to Emma. “Fancy some company?”
Emma swirled around in surprise. “Hi. I didn’t hear you.”
“No wonder,” he said with a laugh, gesturing towards the crashing waves as they gently broke near their feet. “What are you doing here so late?”
“Can’t sleep,” Emma said, looking into the darkness of the sea. “I wish I could stay longer.”
His heart pinched. “Yeah. Just one more night here, huh?”
Emma let out a sad, depressed sigh.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” He itched to hold her, but he forced himself to keep his hands to his sides.
“I’ll miss…” Emma locked her gaze with his. “You.”
He stared at her, every cell of his body pulled towards her. He knew he should fight with all his might. He shouldn’t give in—should never give in.
But the hurt building in her eyes from his wordless rejection was his undoing.
He took her
in his arms and buried his face in her hair. God, she felt good. “I’ll miss you too. Badly. But much as I’m bowled over by you, I just can’t see it working. We live far away from each other. Even if we can visit, what kind of relationship would it be when we’d hardly have time together?”
Emma pressed her face against the crook of his neck. “I know. I’ve been telling myself over and over that long-distance relationships are impossible—impossible—to maintain, so why even start it? But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ll miss you terribly.”
He squeezed her tighter, her statement melting his insides. If only he were a free man. If only he’d never met his real father. If only he hadn’t left home and disappeared eight years ago.
He’d thought he was protecting his mother, brother and himself when he’d decided to run away at only twenty years old from false accusations that he was a thieving drug dealer. He hadn’t known how to prove his innocence against manipulated evidence. If only he’d known that his own father—who he’d believed had died before he was born—had deceived him.
Doug had befriended him and made him think he was being rescued by decent people willing to give him a job and a home despite his tattered reputation. It was only after they’d grown close that Doug had revealed he was his father, hoping Bryce was ready and willing to join the Flowers syndicate.
Never. Despite the fact that he had some love for his dad, he could never agree or condone Doug’s criminal activities, much less be a part of his gang.
But it had been too late. Doug had told him too much, and Fleur had freaked out when Bryce had said he wanted to leave. His only options had been to stay and take on light duties or, well, die. So here he was, still planning the perfect escape—and coming up with nothing.
He exhaled harshly. He simply couldn’t be with Emma. His life was way too dangerous for her.
Emma pulled away to look into his eyes. “Let’s share this night together.”
Bryce stopped breathing as his heart raced. His brain said no, but his tongue refused to say the word.
“I’d love to make some beautiful memories,” Emma whispered. “Please.”
God, how could he say no when she was begging? He couldn’t handle pushing her away when she was already so cheerless.
Shutting up the caution in his head, he claimed her lips and kissed her with all the pent-up desire from the past three weeks.
Emma clung to him, responding avidly and pressing her body harder against his.
They toppled onto the sand, devouring each other’s mouths and running feverish hands on each other’s backs.
He was instantly hard and hot, like all his wet dreams were coming true. Well, they were. How many times in the past weeks had he made himself come while thinking of Emma?
He ground his erection against her mound, planting hungry kisses along her neck.
Emma moaned, wrapping a leg around his waist.
Bryce felt the waves lap at his foot and was jolted back to reality. What the hell was he doing? One of the other security guys could come patrolling this side of the island.
“We better go back to your villa,” he warned.
“I’ve never had sex on the beach before,” Emma said with a shy giggle.
“That’s an exciting thought, but you never know who might pass by.” He placed a peck on her lips and stood, then helped her up. “Do you have condoms in your room?”
Emma nodded. “I have to thank my best friend for buying me some and packing them in my toiletry bag.”
He laughed.
Hand-in-hand, they hurried across the beach towards the accommodations. When they neared Emma’s villa, he lifted Emma and carried her the rest of the way.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Taking a short cut. It’s dark around here and I don’t want you tripping over anything.”
“Aw, you’re so sweet.” Emma kissed his jaw, her forefinger stroking his lower lip.
“Now you’re gonna make me trip,” he teased.
Emma giggled, and he kissed her to keep the noise down.
Finally, they entered her one-bedroom cabin.
“I want to have a quick shower to wash the sand off me first,” Emma said. “Wanna join me?”
Bryce answered by carrying her all the way to the bathroom. He put her down, and Emma turned on the hot water before grabbing a hair tie from the vanity and securing her locks in a bun atop her head.
He took a deep breath, unable to believe he was here with her. All his thoughts that this was a bad idea had gone out the window. He couldn’t possibly back out now. He’d just hurt Emma if he did. Besides, she only wanted this one night for her memory banks.
God, he needed this night too. It had only hit him now that he didn’t want her to go without having her. She was the best thing that had happened to him in the last eight years. Surely he could allow himself to accept something pure and good when it was being offered wholeheartedly?
Emma turned to him, and started stripping off her clothes.
He gulped, greedily taking in every inch of skin that she exposed.
Emma dropped her dress to the floor, smiling shyly. “Are you just gonna stand there and gawk?”
“No, but I was enjoying the show,” he said with a grin. He took his gaze off her for a second to pull his shirt over his head. When he opened his eyes again, she was sliding her panties down her legs. His mouth hung open as his body temperature shot up several degrees. She. Was. So. Damned. Hot.
In his haste to be as naked as she, he yanked his briefs down. But they got caught in his erection and the band snapped out of his fingers.
Emma giggled.
“Clearly, I’m all thumbs because of you,” he said dryly.
Emma stepped towards him. “Maybe I should help you then.”
“Great idea,” he breathed.
Emma slid her hands inside his underwear and caressed his hips while she lifted her face towards his.
Eagerly, he kissed her, pulling her close to feel her skin-to-skin.
His hard-on popped out as Emma undressed him, and he knew he was moist at the tip. They’d only just started and he was already as horny as he’d ever been. He put some distance between them so he could rein in his body. “Shower?”
Emma nodded. She checked the water temperature and adjusted the knobs to her satisfaction before stepping inside.
He followed, instantly drawing her close. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, running his hands on the sides of her body before sliding up to cup her breasts. He swiped her already hardened nipples with his thumbs.
Emma bit her lip, shutting her eyes briefly. Then she leaned in to kiss his chest before reaching for the liquid soap bottle. She squirted some body wash in her hands and started soaping his torso. “I’ve been dreaming about this body,” she said, her cheeks flushing.
He grinned, all sorts of naughty and erotic thoughts running through his head. “You’ve been giving me sleepless nights too.”
“Really?” She ran her fingers down his front.
His breathing shallowed. “Uh-huh. You get me so hot just thinking about you.”
Emma smiled, looking pleased. She lathered his erection.
A hiss escaped Bryce’s lips. “Your hand feels so much better than mine.”
“That’s good to know,” she whispered, stroking and tugging, making him harder and bigger.
Ah, he couldn’t take too much of this without coming too soon.
He gently pried her hand from his dick and turned her around, pressing his front to her back and grabbing the body wash. “Let me wash you—get the sand off your body.”
Emma leaned against him with a sigh, angling her head and puckering her lips for a kiss.
He obliged, glad that she was completely relaxed. He did want to get her as excited as he was, so he started soaping her boobs, tweaking her nipples.
“There’s no sand there,” she quipped.
“Oh? Okay, I better check elsewhere.” H
e rubbed her arms, her sides, her belly. Then he lowered his hand down her mound, his fingers easily finding her swollen nub.
Emma let out a soft moan.
He gently bit her earlobe. “I don’t feel any sand down here.”
“But it feels good,” she breathed.
He chuckled, adjusting the shower head so the water washed away the cleanser while he gave her what she wanted, and more. He inserted a finger inside her, groaning at her wetness—and he was damned sure it wasn’t from the shower.
“Bryce,” Emma gasped, flexing her hips.
He reached over with his other hand and stroked her clit while he kept dipping his finger in and out.
“Oh my God,” Emma cried. She turned around to face him and threw her arms around his neck.
He kissed her ravenously, crushing her body to his and so tempted to take her there and then.
He turned off the taps and grabbed two clean towels from the rack. They dried each other hastily, laughing as their arms got in each other’s way. He bent to wipe their feet dry.
Emma caressed his head. “Thank you. You’re the sweetest thing.”
He looked up and grinned. To show her he wasn’t only sweet, he grabbed her ass and pulled her close to his face. He poked out his tongue and flicked her clit.
“Bryce!”
“Mmm,” he murmured before getting on his feet. “Now where’s that condom?”
Emma pulled one out from her toiletry bag and held it up between her fingers.
“Great.” He carried her in his arms and took her to the bedroom, then dropped her on the bed.
Emma tore open the packet and crawled towards him. “I want to put it on you,” she said impishly.
His chest heaved, and he knelt on the bed to give her better access.
But Emma pushed him onto his back and straddled his legs. Teasingly, she took her time in sheathing him, caressing his length as she did.
“Babe,” he said yearningly, panting. This woman was driving him crazy with want.
“There,” Emma said, admiring her handiwork. Then she moved up, lifting her hips to put him inside her.
“Emma,” he mouthed, rapture shooting through him as she slid onto his cock.
Bryce: The Project (Indie Rebels Book 3) Page 4
