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“Are you okay being with him alone? I don’t mind staying.”
That hurt, but I kept my mouth shut. Days ago, I would have been the one suggesting he stay because I couldn’t be trusted.
Jett smiled a watery smile. “I’m fine. Thank you, Orion. I-I love you.”
Orion nearly broke down before he wrapped his arms around his younger brother. I was surprised it didn’t bother me the way Gideon had, but I guessed even my over-the-top instincts understood that the alpha was no threat in that way.
“I love you too. I know you question it, but I don’t regret taking you in. You’re my brother, and I’m proud to be the one here for you.”
I stayed quiet during their moment, but finally, finally, Orion turned to leave. “Your room, Jett. Only one Strongfire is allowed to fuck in this office and it’s not you.”
Laughing to himself, the alpha walked out, and I was finally alone with my mate.
CHAPTER18
Jett
My heart was beating rapidlyin my chest as Emerson took my hand. He seemed hesitant, which left a nervous flutter in my belly. Was it because he wasn’t sure what I wanted, or was he already having doubts?
I hated that I’d be questioning everything for a while, but it would be worth it if it meant being with Emerson. I was willing to put in the work and be patient. I just had to pray to all the gods that he was too.
I forced a smile, pushing down my doubts. My brother was right about one thing. We needed to right things between us, and I needed to be with him and see he wouldn’t leave me once the hormones wore off and the cum dried.
“D-do you want to go to my room?” I asked, hating the insecurity that was so clear in my tone.
Emerson narrowed his eyes, clearly picking up on my feelings. His were so intense right now that I was overwhelmed by them even without the claiming bite. It should have eased my nerves, but it didn’t. I was terrified once the adrenaline of the grand gesture was gone, he’d be running again.
“Jett, if you don’t want this, you need to tell me. All of this was because I thought I was forcing you to do things you weren’t comfortable with. So, if that’s what’s happening—”
“No!” I took a breath, trying to calm my heart. “No, alpha. Emerson. No. You never forced me. If anything, I was the one who pushed you.” He didn’t seem to agree, but I kept going. “I’m just so afraid you’re going to leave again. I know you had your reasons, and I’m trying let that go and not hold it over you, but it will probably take some time.”
Emerson’s expression softened and he cupped my cheek, his thumb running soothing circles along the cheek bone. “That’s okay, Jett. It’s natural that you’ll have doubts. I put you through hell. Let me show you how serious I am. It’s time for me to take care of you and prove I can be an alpha you deserve.”
Goddess, these tears would not stop. Every time I saw Emerson, it seemed my tear ducts lost control of themselves. I was just so over crying.
This time, they weren’t even bad tears. A little fear, but more disbelief. I wrote off having this chance, and now here I was, about to lead my mate to my room. I would hold strong on him not marking me officially, but it was a step in proving that the fates were right and this was meant to be.
“Let’s go back to your room. It’s been a long day for both of us. We can see what happens once we’re there.”
I nodded in agreement and hurriedly wiped my eyes. He was right. Nothing would be accomplished if we stayed in this office forever.
I held Emerson’s hand tightly as I walked him through the hallways. In the background, I could hear voices and the sounds of people hustling about the space, probably trying to clean up after the dinner was cut short. I should care that I once again ruined one of Orion’s events, but it was hard to worry about that when my mate’s scent was overtaking my senses.
We finally made it to my room, and I quickly closed the door. Once we were inside, I froze, unsure what to do. The other two times we were together, it was all about me proving that we belonged to each other. Now that it had been established, I didn’t know the next step. I knew I needed Emerson with every fiber in my body, but I felt awkward. Did I wait for him to make the first move? Was he going to wait for me? I just wasn’t sure.
Luckily, Emerson didn’t let me wallow in my self-doubt for long. I had just gained the courage to look up at him, when my mate was suddenly in my space, pushing me up against the wall.
There was no room between us as he cupped my chin and tilted my head up so that I was looking in his eyes. His grip was gentle, nothing like the other times he held me in this position, but my toes still curled in anticipation. It wasn’t something I’d want all the time, but I thought I might like the softer side of my alpha occasionally.
Emerson dipped his head so that our foreheads were nearly touching. His expression was intense, and there was so much emotion passing through his eyes, it was impossible to lock on just one. My lips parted and I let out a raspy breath, waiting to see what happened next.
“Before we move on, I need you to promise me that you’ll stop me if I go too far. If I start to hurt you past a point you enjoy . . .” He squeezed his eyes shut and took a sharp breath. “I need you to swear that you won’t let me get to that point. No matter what. I-I’ll never be angry at you for that. Never.”
I touched his cheek, overcome with my own feelings. I closed the gap between us and lightly kissed his lips. “I promise, Emerson. I have faith in you and believe you’ll never get to that point, but if you do, I swear that I’ll speak up.”
His immediate relief was clear, and I felt myself relaxing as well. I was telling the truth when I said I believed he’d never go that far—he was my fated mate after all—but he needed the words and I understood. Just as I’d need him to tell me he wasn’t rejecting me often for a while, he’d need to hear that he wasn’t a monster. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know the details yet. Just knowing what he needed from me was enough.
Those words were clearly what Emerson needed to hear, and the switch was flipped. One hand found my hair, fisting it tightly so my head couldn’t move, while his mouth met mine in a possessive kiss. I opened to him freely, allowing him to take what he wanted.
