Page 99 of The Scarab's Game
How my own heart dealt with it didn’t matter.
Shewas what mattered.
Fuck, man, let her go.
I wrapped my fists in her scarf, forcing her close enough to kiss her again. Taste her. Just be nothing but the man making her sigh and smile.
Where Rav was entirely wrong was about how much I had to prove. To Jenn, to her father, to my sister, to Fenix…
To myself.
I wasn’t my father. No matter how many lies I told Jenn, I was doing everything to protect her.
Except her heart.
But in the end, Iwasselfish. I let her believe I was putting her wants above everything else, when honestly, I was putting my needs first. I needed to feel normal and in control again. She gave me both.
Fuck, last night, I’d had my first real sleep in four months. She gave me the peace I needed for that. I hadn’t even brought the gun into the room. The night before, I’d thought about it, but last night? I’d completely forgotten.
I broke from the kiss and wrapped my arms around her. “Let’s go back to the hotel. We have a few hours before we need to get ready, and I can think of a few things I want to do with this scarf.”
How would I survive going back to the real world without her?
Chapter 36
Jenn
“Once we handover our invitations and enter the auction room, I’ll be in work mode.” Emmett held tight around my waist as we walked through the first grand room of the Casino Rocher, past the blackjack table where I’d sat yesterday. He looked dashing in his tuxedo, the pocket square I’d bought him matching my gold evening gown perfectly. My new shoes pinched a bit—I’d tried to break them in, but my feet weren’t used to heels anymore after two years of casual dress at Aunt Penny’s studio.
“I’ll be more focused on the other attendees than you. Don’t take it personally.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I’m watching for thieves who might take the scarab and whoever else might bid for it.”
That seemed excessive, but maybe that’s just how black market auctions worked. “Why isn’t the rest of the team with you?”
“Drew will arrive soon to cover the casino, but everyone else is support staff. We only secured two invitations for the auction—for Reginald and Krista Stone.”
“Shouldn’t you have gotten invites for Drew or Rav?”
“Neither of them looks as stunning in a dress as you.” Emmett’s lips quirked.
I couldn’t help but smile, his hand on my waist a reminder of our shower this afternoon. I could almost feel the hot water cascading over my skin, Emmett’s strong hands lathering me up. If I closed my eyes, I’d be back in the shower, with his lips tracing a path along my collarbone, while his fingers… oh, god, his fingers.
How had so much changed in just a day?
Emmett had always been the one I’d wanted, even when I was fifteen and he was the troubled boy my father warned me about. Our sexual chemistry was so natural; being with him was like wrapping myself in a warm blanket. We’d fallen into this new rhythm quickly. Too quickly? Was there any chance we’d still be together when we got home?
Think about that tomorrow.“I bet they don’t look as stunning in a tux as you do, either.”
“They don’t.” Emmett squeezed my waist and kissed my temple without missing a step.
I took in the grand surroundings, the sweeping lines of the cavern’s ceiling, and the sea of black-tie attire. “What happens if one of these people walks into the auction and finds out what’s actually going on?”
“It isn’tentirelyblack market. There will be some less-than-legal transactions, but most of the items are legitimate. Martine told me she’s enticing the clientele with exclusivity, lower fees, and the Rocher experience.”
“The Rocher experience? Privacy and legal flexibility?”