Arranged love

EMILEE

I TAKE A deep breath and pull back my shoulders as I make my way up the back stairs to find Nigel standing behind his desk in the corner.

“Miss York.” His dark eyes meet mine. “It’s nice to see you.”

“I’m here to see Bones,” I blurt out before I lose my nerve.

“Oh.” His brows pull together. “Is he expecting you?”

“No.” He opens his mouth to speak. “Can you call him for me, please?” Titan has given me access to their suite, not their office.

He nods once and picks up his desk phone. He punches in one number and holds the receiver to his ear. “Hello, Bones? Yes. You have Emilee here in the lobby wanting to speak to you.” He nods once to himself. “Yes, sir.” He hangs up and looks at me. I hold my breath. “He will see you.”

I let it out. “Thank you.”

He ushers me upstairs, and the door to the elevator slides open. There is a conference room to my right. It’s a glass box that overlooks the city. “This way.” He takes me down a long hall and to the door at the end. He knocks once and then pushes it open.

I step inside to see Bones sitting behind his desk. The room is dark. Thick black curtains pulled shut hide him from the city he loves so much. The carpet a dark gray and black leather couch to the right and two black leather chairs sit across from his desk. He stands and nods to Nigel, who exits the room without a word.

I bite my bottom lip nervously, knowing the last time I was in this room Titan was also present and I begged them both to help me. Which was just an embarrassment. I have a feeling this time will be a repeat of then.

“What can I do for you, Em?” he asks, gesturing to one of the chairs.

My eyes scan over his tatted arms. He has the sleeves of his button-down rolled up to his elbows and his tie sits on his desk. He has the top two buttons undone. Bones never liked having to dress in business attire; he preferred jeans and a T-shirt.

“Em?” he asks again.

I don’t move. Instead, I stay where I’m at and force my eyes to look up to meet his. “I … I wanted …” I clear my throat, and he crosses his arms over his chest. “I wanted to let you know that I’m sleeping with Titan.” It rushes out in one breath.

He doesn’t look the least bit surprised, and it just unnerves me more. I run my sweaty hands down my jeans.

“I’m assuming Grave told you-”

“He didn’t have to,” he interrupts me.

“Oh,” is all my mind can gather at the moment.

He walks over to me, and my heart picks up. The smell of cologne surrounds me, and I have to force myself to stay here in the present and not fall into a memory of him.

“I just didn’t want you to be mad at him,” I add quickly as he nears. “We’re …”

“All adults,” he finishes my sentence.

I swallow nervously.

He reaches out and grabs a lock of my hair. He twists it around his finger like he used to, and my knees begin to tremble. “Bones …”

“I’m not mad.” His blue eyes roam my face.

“You’re not?” I ask, feeling the sweat bead between my breasts. Fuck, it’s hot in here. I don’t love Bones, but I can’t deny we had some amazing chemistry.

He shakes his head once. “No, I’m jealous.”

I tense.

He presses his body into mine, and his finger that was twirling in my hair slides into my hair, gripping my scalp and tilting my head back. “I do miss you, Emilee.”

My lips part, and my eyes grow heavy at his words. “I’m …” I stop myself.

“What?” he urges me to answer. “Miss me too?”

I was going to say I’m with Titan now, but am I? I was never really with Bones. We just had an understanding. He was horny-he came to me. He was angry-he came to me. We never had a label; we didn’t need it. But when it comes to me and Titan, I’m lost. I don’t expect him to only fuck me. I’m a queen, for fuck’s sake.

“Bones …” The door opens.

He doesn’t even bother looking away from me. “Get the fuck out!”

The door slams shut after that. It was Grave. I know his voice well enough.

Fuck!

“I’m sorry I came up here,” I manage to get out.

“I’m not.” His other arm snakes behind my back, pulling me closer to him.

“Bones.” My hands grip his white button-down.

He doesn’t allow me to finish that thought. He presses his lips on mine, and I stiffen against him but only for a second. My body reacts to him like it used to.

My arms go up and around his neck, and I open for him, letting Dillan Reed take what he wants like he always did.

TITAN

Pulling up to the York’s residence, I get out of my car and walk up to the door, knocking on it. I place my hands in my pockets, rocking back and forth when the door opens.

“Titan.” She stands before me in a pair of jean shorts and a black tank top. Her hair up in a messy bun and no makeup on. She’s so gorgeous. But Emilee York always was. She could have had any boy she wanted.

“I got your message,” I say.

Her eyes drop to the floor for the briefest moment before she forces them back up to meet mine. She squares her shoulders, stepping to the side. “Come on in.”

I enter the house and she shuts the door behind me.

“Let’s go up to my room.” She grabs my hand and pulls me up the stairs.

Entering her room, I close the door and look around. I’ve never been in here, but I imagine it looks the same as it did before she left for college. White walls, pink décor. A white four-post bed that sits up against the wall with pink and silver throw pillows. She lets go of my hand and turns to face me.

She had messaged me earlier today that she was coming home tonight to spend time with her mother, and that she wanted me to come by and see her. That we needed to talk. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”

“I kissed Bones.” I barely get the question out before she answers.

I just stare at her.

“I’m sorry.” She runs a hand through her hair. “I didn’t know where we stood. I didn’t want you to think I’m one of those girls who expects you to be faithful to me. And I didn’t want you to think I have any expectations,” she rambles, “because I don’t.” She throws her hands up in the air. “But I don’t want you mad at Bones. I went to see him.” She swallows nervously at my silence. “I needed to tell him that we slept together because I didn’t want him mad at you.”

“Em …?”

“I didn’t want Grave to tell him.”

“Em?”

“I’m so …”

“Em!” I growl her name this time.

She takes a step back and bows her head, breathing heavy after her rambling.

I step into her, grip her chin, and force her to look up at me. “I know.”

“What?” Her lips part and blue eyes widen.

“Bones told me.”

“I didn’t mean for it …”

“Will you stop?” I give her a soft smile. “Emilee, I’m not jealous of your past with Bones. I’m also not jealous about what happened today in his office.”

“So you’re not mad at him?” she asks cautiously.

“No.” I can’t help but chuckle.

She runs a hand through her hair. “Well, now I’m embarrassed,” she mumbles to herself.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Bones and I have an understanding. He had her; I wanted her. I wouldn’t call my friend stupid, but I would say when he wouldn’t commit to her, it was a mistake. Emilee is the full package. She’s the kind of woman you use in the bedroom but parade her around as a fucking queen in the streets of peasants.

“I just didn’t know what we are.”

I frown.

She explains further. “I didn’t want you to think I was putting a label on us. But I also wanted him to know what we were doing. I’d hate to come between the two of you.”

“It’s not like that.” I smile at her concern. “But as for us …” I run the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip. “You’re mine, Em.”

“Yours?” She seems shocked.

“Yes.” I run my hands down over her neck and feel her pulse race. “Have a problem with that?”

She swallows and shakes her head, whispering, “No.”

“Good.” I lean down and press my lips to hers. “Now pack your bag and let’s go.”