Twenty One (Love by Numbers Book 2) by E.S. Carter Page B

nod of thanks to the security guys who stay stationed outside and all but pull her through the main doors. Now I’ve got her here, I just want our guests to bugger off, so I can carry on what we started in the car.
    Loud laughter echoes from the living room and I catch Emma’s eye with a smile before she positions herself behind me, obviously still worried about who she’s going to come face to face with.
    We enter the living room and the first person to speak is of course H.
     
    “W ell there goes my twenty quid, I thought I knew you J, you’ve let me down.”
    Nate smacks him on the back and Liv holds out her hand to collect her cash.
    Emma peers around my back before breaking into a wide smile and launching herself into Liv’s arms.
    “What the hell are you guys doing here? Are you my surprise?”
    She lets go of Liv and looks right at me. The look on her face penetrates straight into my chest.
    If surprises get me that look, I’m gonna give this girl one every day for the rest of her life.
    “Surprise!” Liv shrieks, “Jake flew us out for a few days to help you settle in to the jet set lifestyle.”
    Her mouth gapes open, shock evident on her face.
    “You did this for me?”
    I walk slowly up to her and Liv steps away, so I lean in to her side and link her fingers with mine, whispering into her ear so no one else overhears, “I just want you to know that I understand what you’ve given up and I will do anything in my power to show you, that your faith and trust in me, is warranted.”
    I lean back, look directly into her eyes and place a soft kiss on her slightly open lips. Her warm, sweet breath washes over me, stirring up my lust once again.
     
    “A lright put her down, I’ve not even gotten a Hello yet.” H interrupts; it seems it’s his favourite thing to do.
    We both look over at him and see him begrudgingly handing over a £20 note to Liv, who is now smirking like the Cheshire Cat.
    “So what was the bet, or do I not want to ask?”
    Nate and H answer at the same time, Nate with “Don’t ask”, H with “Well the thing is ….”
    “Spit it out H, this has you written all over it.”
    I wrap my arm around Emma’s waist and she leans into my embrace. I’ve never had the feeling of being part of a couple before and it feels …. nice.
    “I bet these fools twenty quid that you pair would not come straight here. I said, I know Jake too well and he’ll sweep her off to another room or even a hotel for some ….”
    “Don’t finish that sentence H.” I warn, glaring at him wishing he’d just shut his gob.
    Liv interrupts, mischief evident in her teasing smile, “And I said Emma just isn’t that kind of girl, so thanks for keeping your knickers on Em.”
    “Bloody great friend you are.” Emma mumbles under her breath, her embarrassment evident on her cheeks.
    “Alright folks, let’s stop winding up the love birds or Jake is gonna show us that temper he’s renowned for” Nate nods over to me before wrapping his arm around Liv’s shoulders and guiding her and H from the room. “I’ll take funny guys one and two back to our suite for a few hours and we’ll catch up with you both for dinner later.”
    Liv goes to protest but Nate whispers something in her ear and she shrugs, turning her head slightly to shout over to Emma “Have fun” and then she leaves on a wink.
     
    F inally the door to the suite closes and I wonder again if the reasons behind my surprise were worth it. That is until Emma swings herself around in my arms and places a sweet, soft kiss on my lips, “Thank You.”
    Then she places another to the corner of my mouth, “No-one has ever put me first before”, another kiss to the opposite corner, “What did I do to deserve you.”
    Then her lips are firmly upon mine and she rises up on her tiptoes, pressing the full length of her body against mine.
    Not wasting any time, I lick over the seam of her lips and plunder her mouth with my tongue, using both hands to