Chapter 63 – More Than a Game

Emma wasn't sure if it was the adrenaline from seeing James again or the way Alex had just claimed her in front of him, but her entire body was still burning.

Alex's lips moved against hers with a hunger she hadn't felt before. It was different this time—not just teasing, not just a challenge. It was real.

She tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, needing more.

Alex groaned against her lips, backing her up against the wall. His hands slid over her waist, firm, grounding. His body pressed into hers, and every inch of her felt him.

She should slow down.

Should take a breath.

But then Alex's lips left hers, trailing down her jaw, his breath hot against her skin.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured.

Emma didn't.

Instead, she pulled him back, kissing him harder, deeper.

Alex let out a rough chuckle, his hands tightening on her hips. "God, Carter, you're going to ruin me."

Maybe she already had.

Emma felt his lips move against her neck, her body shivering in response.

She had been with Alex long enough to recognize the shift in his touch—he was still the same arrogant, playful man, but this was different.

This was undeniable.

A fire that neither of them could put out.

Alex's hands slid beneath her shirt, fingertips tracing over her bare skin, his touch possessive. "You're mine," he murmured against her throat.

Emma exhaled shakily, her fingers gripping his shoulders. "Is that so?"

Alex lifted his head, his eyes dark with something dangerous. "Yeah." His thumb brushed over her lips, his voice dropping. "And you love it."

Emma hated how right he was.

Because she did love it.

Loved the way he touched her, the way he looked at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Her heart pounded against her ribs as she met his gaze. "And what about you, Kingston?" she whispered. "Do you love it?"

Alex's smirk faded, his expression unreadable.

His fingers curled under her chin, tilting her face toward his.

"I love you," he said simply.

Emma's breath caught.

The air between them thickened, charged with something far more terrifying than lust.

She searched his face, expecting a smirk, some kind of deflection.

But Alex just watched her, his eyes steady, his words hanging between them like a challenge.

He meant it.

Every damn word.

Emma swallowed hard.

Because despite every fight, every argument, every time she had told herself she hated him…

She was starting to realize something.

She was his.

And maybe, just maybe—

She didn't mind.

Emma barely had time to process Alex's confession before his lips crashed into hers again, stealing every rational thought from her mind. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer, like he was terrified she'd slip away.

But she wasn't going anywhere.

Not now.

Not after those three words had cracked something open inside her.

Alex loved her.

And the terrifying part?

She wasn't sure she didn't love him back.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, nails scraping against his scalp as he deepened the kiss, his body pressing her into the wall like he needed to feel every inch of her.

His lips left hers, trailing down her throat, his breath hot against her skin. "I meant it, Carter," he murmured. "I don't throw that word around."

Emma swallowed hard, her heart pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it.

Alex pulled back just enough to look at her, his dark eyes searching hers. "Say something."

Emma opened her mouth, but before she could answer—

Her phone buzzed.

The sound was sharp, cutting through the moment like a knife.

She cursed under her breath, hesitating before reaching into her pocket.

James.

Of course.

Alex saw the name flash across the screen, his jaw tightening. His playful smirk was gone, replaced by something cold, something dangerous.

Emma sighed, declining the call and shoving the phone away. "I don't want to deal with him right now."

Alex's fingers curled around her wrist, his grip firm but gentle. "You don't have to."

There was an edge to his voice, a promise of something darker beneath the surface.

Emma had seen Alex angry before, but this was different.

This was personal.

She brushed her fingers over his jaw, grounding him. "He doesn't matter."

Alex exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just slightly.

"Good," he murmured, brushing his lips against hers again. "Because right now, I only care about you."

Emma felt her stomach flip.

She didn't realize how much she needed to hear that.

How much she needed to know that, for once, she wasn't alone in this fight.

Alex pulled her toward the couch, guiding her onto his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. His hands slid under her shirt, fingers tracing over her skin, his touch firm but slow, unhurried.

He wanted her to feel everything.

And God, she did.

Her lips found his again, her body melting against him.

The rest of the world didn't matter.

Not James.

Not the past.

Just this.

Just them.

But deep down, Emma knew this wasn't over.

James wasn't the type to walk away easily.

And neither was Alex.

She just didn't know who would be left standing when it was all said and done.

—

To be continued…