I glanced back over at Emmie. Her smiling at Wrenley made my heart pound.
“Well, she seems like a really nice girl,” Landon finally said. His eyes flicked to mine, sharp and accusing. “And you don’t get many chances with someone like that.” It was the closest thing to approval I’d ever get from him, and somehow, it meant more because he didn’t hand it out easily.
Plus, he wasn’t wrong. Someone like Emmie didn’t come around a lot. I’d be an idiot to ruin it.
When Josie helped Wrenley up and started toward the ice, leaving Emmie there, I pushed off the boards. “I’ll be right back.”
I left my brothers and approached her.
“Hey, you,” I greeted.
She smiled up at me. “Hey.”
I squatted down in front of her, balancing back on my heels. “Wren seems to be taken with you.”
“She’s really cute and sweet. She wants to learn how to figure skate.”
“Look at you, influencing the younger generation.”
Emmie shrugged. “I’m amazing, what can I say?”
“Yes, you are.” I placed my hands on her knees. “Need help lacing your skates?”
Before she could say no, I grabbed her foot that was already in a skate, pressing the blade against my thigh.
“You know I can do them myself,” Emmie remarked but didn’t move.
“I know.” I glanced up at her, a teasing smile settling in. “You couldn’t make me do this.” I tugged lightly at the laces. “I’m choosing it.”
Her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile. “Choosing, huh?”
“Yeah,” I murmured, tightening the laces. Her eyes tracked my fingers. “Don’t act like you hate it.”
Emmie rolled her eyes, but her hands came to rest on my shoulders. “I don’t.”
I glanced up at her from under my lashes. “If you ever want me on my knees for you, just ask.”
The way her eyes flared and mouth parted open made me smirk. I loved how reactive she was.
“Careful. I know all the dark, hidden places here,” she said softly, hands gripping my shoulders as I moved to the next skate.
“You want to pull me into a closet and have your dirty way with me?” I teased. “With my family here? What a dirty minx you are.”
Emmie’s cheeks flamed as she hissed at me. “Mateo.” She glanced over to make sure no one heard what I said.
“Hey, you implied it, not me!”
“You’re incorrigible. You know that?”
I finished tying her skates but kept my hand on her left ankle, softly rubbing my fingertips under the edge of her leggings.
“Maybe, but I’m all yours,” I said.
Her hand came up to trail along the side of my jaw, eyes locked onto mine as she spoke. “Mine.”
The way she said it, voice low and husky, sent a visceralreaction through my body. It was like she staked her claim on me. Not an ounce of me was upset about that. I was hers. She didn’t know just how much, but I was.
When she brushed her thumb across my lip, I nipped at the pad. Her pupils overtook the green in her eyes. Damn it. Maybe I should find an empty closet to fuck her in. Who cared if my family was here?
