At least he’d stopped fighting Talon, though the man was smart enough to keep a hold of him.
Dove groaned, her head turning and her gaze landing on Remy. Her voice was cool as she said, “Thanks for this.”
“I’m so sorry,” Remy whispered, the clear distress in her eyes making her look much younger than her twenty-five years.
“Then who the fuck?”
Dove winced, and they all followed her gaze across the room to the couch where the twins, Spencer, and Cooper were hanging out. The twins had gone still, which in itself was very unusual for them, but they were also both staring at Cooper, whose gaze slowly collided with Dove’s. His lips quirked as if he was about to smile, and then he noticed Maddox staring at him.
“Oh, fuck,” Cooper exclaimed, backing toward the patio door.
Maddox’s head whirled around, green eyes blazing as he glared at his sister.
“Of all the people in this club, you fucked him?Him?”
Dove shrugged. “Terrible decision, I know.”
“I’m gonna fucking kill him,” Maddox said, voice low and deathly.
“Be my guest,” Dove said with a careless gesture toward the door Cooper was smart enough to disappear through. Maddox didn’t seem to catch the flash of hurt in Dove’s eyes as she cut her gaze away. She might seem blasé about Cooper’s impending demise, but he got the feeling there was a lot more to it than that.
“Motherfucker,” Maddox hissed, reaching for the gun holstered at his hip, only to have Talon snatch it before he could pull it out. He scowled at Talon, looking like he was considering whether it was worth it to wrestle his gun from his friend’s grip or not.
Maddox cursed, then took off without his gun, heading for the patio door. Talon sighed and slid Maddox’s gun into the back of his waistband before following, giving Dove a quick look Wilder couldn’t decipher. Dove flipped Talon off, then crossed her arms, glaring after them.
A flash of blue behind Dove had his breathing evening out even as his pulse jumped. Cerulean blue eyes met his gaze for a heartbeat or two before Emmett put a hand on Dove’s arm and whispered something too low for anyone else to catch. She nodded, then patted Emmett’s hand before walking after her brother.
Emmett’s gaze clashed with Wilder’s again, and the slight parting of his lips sent a ripple of need through Wilder. That bite of adrenaline was wrecking his control, and from the flare of Emmett’s pupils, he was noticing. Fuck. Hopefully, no one else did, because if Maddox reacted this badly, how would all the people who considered Emmett family react? He was walking a dangerous path, and he couldn’t find a single fuck to give about it because Emmett was worth it. Seeing Emmett look at him with unrestrained need, hearing the sounds he made when he stopped holding back, it was well worth whatever beating he was sure to earn himself.
A loud yelp from outside had everyone heading for the patio doors, but Wilder didn’t move a muscle, gaze locked on Emmett.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Emmett
HE KNEW what that look in Wilder’s eyes meant. Knew it intimately. His heart raced as Wilder crossed the room, the last few people disappearing out the patio doors to yelling that made him cringe. He almost felt sorry for Cooper. The dumbass had brought it on himself, though. He’d clearly hurt Dove if that pained look in her eyes was anything to go by.
Emmett dropped his gaze to the ground, nerves making him wring his hands as he felt Wilder closing the gap between them. Hands found his face, lifting his head until all he could do was stare into green-flecked brown eyes. He wanted to map those flecks like stars in the sky. He wanted to draw them. Paint them. If he could make a green that matched. He doubted he could make anything that perfect.
“You alright?” Wilder asked, that deep rumble of his voice rushing over Emmett and making his knees wobble.
“Fine?” The word caught in his throat, making him clear it. “For a moment there, I thought you and Dove might have…”
Wilder shook his head, those eyes drawing him in like nothing else could.
“I mean, she’s gorgeous?” Emmett started.
“She’s notyou.”
Something fluttered in his chest.
“No?”
Wilder’s thumbs brushed across Emmett’s cheeks, eyes boring into him. “No.”
He rose onto his toes, Wilder surging down to claim his mouth in a frenzied kiss, all teeth and tongues, hands grasping at each other. Wilder was kissing him where anyone could walk in and see. It sent a thrill through him, a gasp ripping from his lips.
Wilder kissed him like he wanted to explore every single part of his mouth, like he wanted to fucking devour him. He’d let him. He’d fucking let him if it meant he got more of Wilder.
