Chapter 6: Shadow and fire

Emma’s hand shook as she stared at the screen, the photo burning into her retinas like a brand. There they were she and Jake on the balcony table, mid-thrust, her legs wrapped around him, his hands gripping her thighs. The angle was from the trees, hidden and voyeuristic. Kayla’s message pulsed below it, Game on.

Jake snatched the phone from her, his face hardening into something dangerous. “That bitch.”

Emma wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold despite the summer night. “How did she get that? Was she watching us?”

Jake’s jaw clenched, muscles ticking. He scrolled up, seeing the earlier texts from the unknown number the ones he’d sent her himself, teasing about tomorrow. “She must have hacked my old number or something. Fuck.” He tossed the phone onto the couch and pulled Emma against him, his body a wall of heat and tension. “I’m handling this. Now.”

“What are you going to do?” she asked, voice small.

His eyes met hers stormy, fierce. “Confront her. End this shit before it starts.” He cupped her face, thumb stroking her cheek. “Stay here. Lock the doors. I’ll be back soon.”

Emma grabbed his wrist. “Jake, no. What if she’s crazy? What if”

He silenced her with a kiss hard, possessive, pouring everything unsaid into it. “I won’t let her touch us, Em. You’re mine now. No one’s taking that away.”

He was gone before she could argue, the front door slamming behind him. Emma paced the living room, phone clutched like a lifeline. Minutes stretched into an hour. She texted Mia, Everything okay? No response. The house felt too big, too empty.

Finally, her phone buzzed not Mia, but Jake, Dealt with. Coming home.

Relief flooded her, chased by a spike of anxiety. What did “dealt with” mean?

The door opened twenty minutes later. Jake stepped in, shirt rumpled, hair disheveled, a faint red mark on his cheek like a slap. He locked the door behind him and crossed to her in two strides, pulling her into his arms.

“What happened?” she whispered against his chest.

He buried his face in her hair. “Kayla’s been stalking me for weeks. Obsessed. She admitted to watching the house, taking photos. I told her it’s over threatened a restraining order if she doesn’t back off.” He pulled back, eyes searching hers. “She deleted the photos in front of me. Swore it’s done.”

Emma swallowed. “You believe her?”

His grip tightened. “Doesn’t matter. If she tries anything else, I’ll bury her.” His voice dropped, rough with emotion. “Seeing that photo knowing she saw you like that it fucking kills me.”

Heat flickered in his gaze, mixing with the anger. Emma felt it too the adrenaline twisting into something hotter, needier. She pressed closer, feeling him harden against her belly.

“Make me forget,” she murmured. “Make it just us.”

A low growl rumbled in his chest. He lifted her effortlessly, legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to the kitchen the same counter where it all started. He set her on the edge, hands sliding up her thighs, shoving her dress higher.

“You’re mine,” he said again, voice gravel. “Say it.”

“Yours,” she breathed.

He kissed her like he owned her deep, demanding, tongue claiming every inch of her mouth. His fingers hooked into her panties, yanking them down and off in one rough motion. Cool air hit her heated core, but his hand was there instantly, cupping her possessively.

“So wet already,” he muttered against her lips. “All for me.”

She nodded, gasping as he stroked her folds, teasing her clit with expert pressure. “Jake please”

He dropped to his knees, spreading her thighs wide. His breath ghosted over her, making her shiver. “Gonna make you scream my name until you forget hers ever existed.”

His mouth descended hot, relentless. He licked her slow and deep, tongue flat against her entrance before flicking up to circle her clit. Emma’s hands fisted in his hair, hips bucking. He pinned her thighs open with strong hands, denying her any control.

“Fuck, you taste like heaven,” he groaned, sucking her clit lightly, then harder. Two fingers slid inside her, curling to hit that spot that made stars explode behind her eyes.

She came fast too fast and body arching, cries echoing off the kitchen walls. He didn’t stop, lapping her through the aftershocks until she was trembling and oversensitive.

He stood, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes dark with lust. “Not done yet.”

He stripped her dress over her head, bra following, leaving her naked on the counter. His own clothes came off in a blur shirt ripped away, shorts shoved down. His cock sprang free, thick and veined, tip glistening.

Emma reached for him, but he caught her wrists, pinning them above her head with one hand. “My turn to claim you.”

He thrust in hard bare again, no barriers. She cried out at the stretch, the fullness. He paused, buried deep, forehead against hers. “Feel that? That’s me owning every inch of you.”

Then he moved slow at first, grinding deep, making her feel every ridge. His free hand roamed, pinching her nipples, gripping her ass, pulling her closer until there was no space left.

“Faster,” she begged.

He obliged, hips snapping, the counter rattling under them. Sweat slicked their skin, the kitchen filled with the slap of bodies, her moans, his grunts.

“Tell me you’re mine,” he demanded, releasing her wrists to hook her leg over his shoulder, hitting deeper.

“Yours only yours”

He growled approval, thumb finding her clit again. Pleasure built impossibly fast, coiling tight. She raked nails down his back, marking him as he marked her.

“Come with me,” he rasped. “Now.”

She shattered, clenching around him in waves. He followed with a roar, spilling deep inside her, hips jerking erratically.

They slumped together, breathing ragged. He kissed her softly now tender, reverent. “I love you, Em. No one’s changing that.”

She smiled, tracing his jaw. “I love you too.”

They cleaned up lazily, stealing touches, laughing softly at the mess. Jake made them sandwiches, feeding her bites between kisses. For the first time, it felt real solid. Not just heat, but home.

But as they headed upstairs, Emma’s phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at it absently.

Another unknown number.

A video this time.

She tapped play before Jake could stop her.

The screen filled with grainy footage, Jake at Kayla’s door earlier that night. Her pulling him inside. The door closing. Then sounds moans, laughter. Jake’s voice “One last time, for old times’ sake?”

The video cut off.

Emma’s heart stopped.

Jake stared, face paling. “That’s not Em, that’s edited. I didn’t”

But the doubt was there, sharp and cutting.

And as she backed away, phone dropping to the floor, another text pinged

He’ll always come back to me. Game on, bitch.