Eyes locked on my eyes, Emmett nods his head without looking away. “Yes, he needed you, Bree.”
Before I can completely come to terms with that, Emmett hits me with another bombshell.
“I need you, Bree.”
Those words, those four little words cause both joy and terror to war inside me.
And ultimately, terror ends up winning.
I’m the last fucking person anyone should need, and if Emmett knew what the hell was good for him and Casey, he’d stay far away from me.
I try to pull away again.
I try to save him.
But, instead of letting me go, he pulls me closer. Wrapping his arm around me tight, his expression darkens.
“Tell me you don’t need me,” he demands, his breath washing over my face. “Tell me after that kiss yesterday, you don’t feel like you’ve finally found what you’ve always been missing.”
If he were Tristan, I’d be downright scared for my life right now.
But he’s not. He’s not that jerkface. And despite the pissed off look on his face, despite the way he’s trapping me, keeping me from fleeing, I know, I know deep down in the marrow of my bones, Emmett would never hurt me.
That’s why I have to end this now. That’s why I have to force these words that slice like razors out of my throat.
“I don’t need you,” I croak, and brace myself for his reaction.
For his disgust. For his disappointment.
But it never comes.
I expect his arms to fall away, for him to take a step back. Maybe even bright white shock to appear on his face.
What I get is him drawing me even deeper into his embrace as his lips crash into me.
I try to resist at first. Try to pretend his taste, his touch, his smell, has no effect on me.
But it’s all in vain.
He kisses me like a man possessed. Like a man fighting for his life.
Like a man trying to prove a point.
And despite how long I try to hold out, how long I try to persevere, I’m drowning and he’s the breath of air I need.
Pushing his mouth into my mouth, he growls before saying, “Liar.”
Then he kisses me even harder.
Pulling back again, his teeth scrape against my lips. “Stop lying to yourself.”
Head swimming, I grab onto him as the force of his next kiss threatens to knock me over.
“Stop lying to me.”
Clutching at his shirt, I open my mouth, ready to tell him off, but he pounces on the opportunity. His tongue sweeps into my mouth to dance with my mine.
My toes curl inside my shoes at the first stroke, a bolt of pure electricity flowing through me.