Jaded

Chapter Two

The city nestled deep within the valley like a glittering jewel surrounded by dark mountain peaks. Thousands of lights twinkled beneath the night sky, stretching across winding streets and crowded intersections. Cars flowed through traffic in steady streams while neon signs painted sidewalks in flashes of color. Despite its size, the city possessed a strange sort of calm. There was crime, certainly. There was traffic and noise and people making poor decisions after midnight. Yet compared to the constant tension of pack life, it felt almost peaceful.

Jade pulled her BMW beneath the glowing sign of The Bear's Honey Pot and smiled to herself. She had always thought the name was adorable. It sounded less like a nightclub and more like somewhere a cartoon bear would spend his weekends. Somehow the owners had managed to pair that ridiculous name with one of the most popular clubs in the valley.

The moment she stepped from the driver's seat, a familiar face appeared from the valet stand.

"Good evening, Miss Laurent." Jake hurried forward with an eager smile already on his face. He couldn't have been much older than nineteen. Every time Jade came here, he greeted her as though she were some celebrity walking a red carpet.

"Evening, Jake." She slipped him a generous tip along with her keys before flashing him a playful wink.

The poor man's face immediately turned bright red.

Jade laughed softly as he stumbled over his thank you.

Some things never changed.

Leaving him behind, she climbed the short staircase leading toward the entrance. The heavy double doors swung open, and instantly the club swallowed her whole.

The bass hit first.

It vibrated through the floor beneath her heels and pulsed through her chest like a second heartbeat. Music thundered from hidden speakers positioned throughout the building, blending with laughter, shouting, and hundreds of overlapping conversations.

Heat rolled over her skin.

The place was packed.

Bodies moved everywhere she looked.

People crowded the dance floor shoulder to shoulder beneath rotating lights that painted everything in shades of blue, purple, gold, and crimson. Smoke drifted lazily through the air, catching the lights and turning them into glowing streaks overhead. The scent of expensive perfume mingled with liquor and sweat. Somewhere nearby, someone burst into loud laughter while another group cheered over a drinking game occurring in one of the booths.

The entire club felt alive.

Not merely busy.

Alive.

Like a living thing breathing around her.

And for the first time all day, Jade felt herself relax.

Just music.

Exactly what she needed.

She made her way toward the bar, weaving effortlessly through clusters of dancing bodies. Couples pressed together beneath the lights while others danced with complete strangers. Women laughed from elevated platforms overlooking the dance floor. Men shouted compliments that were immediately swallowed by the music.

The bar itself stretched nearly the entire length of one wall. Shelves of expensive liquor glittered beneath warm lighting while bartenders moved with practiced efficiency through the endless crowd.

Jade slid onto an empty stool.

Before she could even open her mouth, a colorful drink appeared in front of her.

She smiled immediately.

Kit.

The bartender barely acknowledged her as he wiped down the counter. As always, he had somehow anticipated her arrival. Kit was unfairly attractive.

Tall.

Broad shouldered.

Dark hair.

Dark eyes.

A permanent expression that suggested humanity collectively annoyed him.

Unfortunately, he reminded her entirely too much of Luca.

Not exactly.

Kit's skin was much lighter. Nearly alabaster beneath the lights of the club. Yet there were similarities that made her notice them every time she visited. The same imposing build. The same smoldering features. The same quiet confidence that seemed to follow certain men without effort.

Thankfully, Kit smiled far less.

That alone made him easier to tolerate.

Jade slid a tip across the counter. Kit pocketed it without breaking stride before disappearing to serve another customer.

Taking a sip of her drink, Jade leaned back and surveyed the room.

The cocktail was sweet enough to hide the alcohol entirely.

She approved.

Her pale-green eyes drifted lazily across the dance floor. A group of college students attempting to dance. A businessman loosening his tie after what looked like a very long day. Two women laughing so hard one nearly spilled her drink.

Nothing particularly interesting.

Then she saw him.

Her gaze slowed.

The stranger stood near the center of the dance floor as though he belonged there.

Tall.

Broad shouldered.

Dark hair.

Dark ink curled down his ribs before disappearing beneath the waistband of his jeans. More tattoos covered his chest and ribs, visible beneath the shifting lights because he had apparently decided shirts were optional tonight.

A woman danced against him, laughing at something he had said. He smiled slightly. Not enough to seem friendly. Just enough to seem treacherous. There was something effortless about him. He wasn't demanding attention. Wasn't performing for the room. Yet people seemed drawn toward him anyway.

For a brief moment, his dark eyes lifted.

Their gazes collided.

Sharp.

Observant.

Confident.

The kind of eyes that noticed things.

Jade looked away first. Not because she was nervous. Because the game was far more enjoyable this way. She took another sip of her drink and deliberately turned her attention elsewhere, giving him nothing more than a passing glance.

One look.

Then disinterest.

The oldest lure in existence.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

Now she would see if he followed.

A few minutes passed before Jade felt a presence settle beside her.

She didn't immediately look.

Instead, she took another slow sip of her drink, letting the bass vibrate through the polished wood beneath her elbows. Smoke curled lazily from the cigarette between her fingers as colored lights swept across the crowded room.

Only then did she glance sideways.

The stranger had taken the stool beside hers.

Up close, he was somehow even more striking.

The shifting lights revealed the intricate black ink covering his chest and ribs. Some of the tattoos appeared old, faded slightly with time, while others looked newer. His shoulders were broad enough to make the bar stool seem too small beneath him. Dark hair brushed his forehead in a way that looked accidental rather than styled.

Confident.

Comfortable.

Dangerous enough to be interesting.

He lifted two fingers toward Kit.

The bartender immediately nodded and reached for a bottle.

Jade turned her attention back toward the bar.

A small smile tugged at her mouth.

Predictable.

"What is your name, treasure?" he asked. His voice was deep. Rough around the edges. The kind of voice that seemed made for low conversations and bad decisions.

Jade smiled over the rim of her glass. "Ginger." The lie came easily. It always did. "What is yours?"

The stranger grinned. A flash of white teeth beneath the colored lights. "Emmett."

Kit slid two fresh shots onto the counter.

Emmett picked his up immediately.

Jade lifted hers a second later.

The glasses clinked softly.

Then both disappeared.

As the night stretched on, Jade learned everything she needed to know. Emmett worked construction. Owned an elderly golden retriever named Murphy. Lived alone in a downtown apartment overlooking the river. Spent too much money on takeout. Hated cooking. Loved hiking. Talked with his hands whenever he became excited about something.

Jade listened patiently. Occasionally asking questions. Occasionally offering just enough information to keep the conversation flowing. Never enough to reveal anything important. It was a balancing act she had perfected years ago. People loved talking about themselves. All she had to do was listen. And Emmett was surprisingly easy to listen to.

Most men who looked like him were arrogant. They knew they were attractive. They knew people noticed them. Usually that confidence curdled into something irritating. It did not stop her from f*****g them though.

But not Emmett.

He was easygoing.

Funny.

Genuinely kind in a way that felt increasingly rare.

Jade found herself enjoying the conversation more than she had expected. Not enough to lower her guard. But enough.

Eventually the crowd shifted around them as another song thundered through the speakers.

Laughter erupted from a nearby booth. Someone nearly dropped an entire tray of drinks. The club remained gloriously chaotic.

Jade glanced toward the large clock mounted above one of the liquor shelves. Later than she had realized. She finished the last of her drink and slid gracefully from her stool.

Emmett immediately looked over. "Leaving already?"

"Unfortunately." A playful smile touched her lips. She reached into her clutch.

Emmett watched curiously.

A second later, she placed a hotel key card on the bar between them.

His gaze dropped.

Then lifted back to hers.

Confusion.

Interest.

Curiosity.

All at once.

"Room 309." Jade winked.

The expression on his face was worth it.

Grabbing her clutch, she turned and disappeared into the crowd before he could think of a response.

The music swallowed her almost immediately.

Within seconds she was gone. Leaving Emmett staring at the key card resting on the polished wood while the club continued moving around him.

The penthouse occupied the entire top floor of the hotel.

Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the suite, offering a breathtaking view of the city below. From this height, the streets looked almost peaceful. Streams of headlights wound through the valley like ribbons of white and gold. Neon signs glowed against the darkness while distant music drifted faintly upward from the entertainment district several blocks away.

Jade stood near the glass with a half-finished glass of wine cradled in one hand.

The city sparkled beneath her.

She preferred it this way.

Anonymous.

Temporary.

No pack politics.

No wolves.

No expectations.

Most importantly, no Walter.

A small smile tugged at her lips. If she ever brought one of these men back to the mansion, Walter would probably have a stroke before sunrise. If the poor man survived that, Luca would likely spend the rest of the week glaring at everyone involved.

The thought amused her far more than it should have.

She took another sip of wine and watched a line of traffic snake through an intersection below.

A light knock sounded from the suite door.

Right on time.

A moment later came the soft electronic click of the key card reader.

The door opened slowly.

" Ginger?" a deep voice called.

Jade turned from the windows.

Emmett stood in the doorway looking noticeably less confident than he had in the club. His dark eyes swept cautiously through the enormous suite. The black t-shirt he wore now covered the tattoos she'd seen earlier, though it did little to hide his broad shoulders and athletic build.

He hadn't actually stepped inside yet. One hand still rested on the door. Like he wasn't entirely convinced this wasn't some elaborate setup.

"You came." A smile spread across Jade's face.

Something about his expression made her want to laugh.

Relief flickered across his features when he saw her. "Yeah."

His gaze drifted around the room again. The marble countertops. The grand piano near the windows. The expensive furniture. The city stretching endlessly beyond the glass. "It's... nice." Emmett relaxed slightly.

Only slightly.

He still hadn't moved.

Jade noticed. "Do you think a robber could afford a penthouse room?"

A reluctant smile pulled at one corner of his mouth. "No."

"Good." She set her wine glass aside. "No one is here but us." Crossing the room, she moved toward the wet bar where room service had delivered drinks earlier.

Crystal glasses gleamed beneath the soft lighting. A bottle of whiskey rested beside a bucket of ice. Behind her, she finally heard the door shut.

Progress.

Emmett stepped into the suite properly. The tension in his shoulders eased as he looked around again. Still impressed. Still slightly overwhelmed.

Jade poured whiskey into a glass and held it out toward him.

He accepted it with a quiet thank you.

For a few moments, neither spoke.

The city lights reflected across the windows.

The distant hum of traffic drifted faintly through the glass.

Emmett took a drink. Then another. Like he was gathering courage.

Jade watched him over the rim of her own glass. The contrast between the man she had seen on the dance floor and the one standing in front of her now was fascinating. At the club he had looked completely at ease.

Confident.

Effortless.

Now he seemed almost uncertain.

The realization made her smile.

"What?" Emmett asked.

"You looked less nervous when you were covered in tattoos and dancing shirtless in a crowded club."

A groan escaped him. "Oh, great."

"It's true."

"I should've stayed at the bar."

"You absolutely should have."

He laughed despite himself.

The sound loosened some of the remaining tension.

Jade preferred people when they were honest. When they stopped performing. When they stopped trying so hard. She leaned one shoulder against the counter. "You're still standing halfway across the room."

Emmett glanced down. As if only now realizing it. "Sorry."

"Are you planning on spending the entire evening over there?"

His eyebrows rose.

Jade's smile widened. "Or were you planning to stand in my doorway forever, Emmett?"

The color that crept into his face was immediate.

And absolutely worth it.

For the first time since he had arrived, he laughed without reservation.

The sound echoed warmly through the penthouse while the city glittered below them.

Emmett stood in the center of Jade's penthouse, slowly moving through it, the city lights flickering through floor-to-ceiling windows. He lifted the whiskey glass to his lips and took a slow sip, the burn sliding down his throat while his dark eyes tracked her every move.

After a few drinks, the laughter gradually faded, leaving behind something more comfortable.

Not silence.

Something easier than that.

Emmett finally crossed the room and joined her near the windows, whiskey in hand. The city stretched endlessly beyond the glass, thousands of lights scattered across the valley floor like fallen stars. From up here, everything seemed smaller. The traffic. The buildings. The people hurrying through their lives below.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Jade had always found that people revealed themselves more in comfortable silence than endless conversation.

Beside her, Emmett took another sip of whiskey. Then another. Not enough to get drunk. Just enough to stop overthinking every word coming out of his mouth. His shoulders relaxed.

The tension she had noticed when he arrived slowly disappeared.

That was better.

"You do this often?" he finally asked.

Jade glanced at him. "Rent expensive hotel rooms?"

A grin touched his mouth. "Among other things."

She laughed softly. "There are some questions that don't get answers."

"Fair enough." His gaze returned to the city. "You seem like you know exactly what you're doing."

That surprised her. Of all the things she expected him to say, that wasn't one of them. "What makes you think that?"

Emmett shrugged. "The club." He took another drink. "The way you walked in." Another shrug. "The way you talk."

Jade smiled into her wine. "If I tell you a secret, will it ruin the illusion?"

He looked over. "Depends on the secret."

She swirled the wine slowly. "Half the time I'm making it up as I go."

The admission earned a laugh. A real one. "Somehow I don't believe that."

"You should."

The city lights reflected in the windows, painting gold across the glass.

For several minutes they talked about nothing important. The terrible state of city traffic. A hiking trail he had nearly gotten lost on. The strange people who wandered into the club every weekend.

Easy conversation.

Easy company.

Jade found herself enjoying it.

Emmett wasn't trying to impress her.

He wasn't performing.

Wasn't bragging.

Wasn't trying to guess what she wanted to hear.

He was simply being himself.

It was refreshing.

Eventually she set her empty wine glass on the nearby table.

The soft click drew his attention. When he looked over, she was already watching him. The atmosphere shifted. Not dramatically. Just enough.

Enough for him to notice.

Enough for him to stop speaking halfway through whatever story he had been telling.

The city continued glowing beyond the glass. The distant traffic moved below. Everything else seemed to fade into the background.

Jade stepped closer. Not far. Just enough to close some of the distance between them.

Emmet's expression softened.

A mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

She smiled slightly. There was something almost endearing about how transparent he was. No games. No power plays. No attempts to gain the upper hand.

Just a man standing in an expensive hotel room wondering what happened next.

Jade appreciated directness. She always had. So she decided to offer some of her own. "I didn't invite you here to discuss traffic patterns."

The corner of his mouth lifted. "No?"

"No." She smiles, slowly shaking her head.

His laugh was quiet this time. Almost nervous. Almost hopeful.

Jade tilted her head slightly.

The city lights reflected in her pale eyes.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Neither seemed in any particular hurry to break the tension that had settled between them.

Outside, the valley glittered beneath the night sky.

Inside, the conversation finally gave way to something neither of them had bothered pretending wasn't there from the beginning.

And with that understanding hanging comfortably between them, the rest of the evening became theirs alone.

Jade closed the distance between them with deliberate steps, her curvy hips swaying. She set her wine glass aside and stopped just in front of him, close enough that her creamy skin and the swell of her ample breasts filled his view. Her pale-green eyes locked onto his as she reached up, fingertips tracing his muscular chest.

"You look tense," she murmured, voice low and warm. Her hand slid lower, palm flattening over his abs. "Let me help with that."

She rose on her toes and pressed her pouty mouth to his neck, lips parting to taste his alabaster skin.

Emmett's breath hitched.

Carefully, he set the whiskey down.

His unyielding hands found her waist, gripping the curve of her hips as she ground against him.

Her fingers lifts the hem of his shirt, exposing more ink and hard muscle. When the fabric fell to the floor between them, she dragged her nails lightly down his torso, then leaned in to lick a slow stripe over his collarbone. Jade smiled against his skin and reached between them, cupping the growing bulge in his pants.

She squeezed once, firm and teasing, then popped the button and slid the zipper down. His c**k sprang free, already hard. Jade wrapped her fingers around the thick shaft and stroked him slowly from base to tip, thumb circling the head. She watched his face as she pumped him, her sharp jawline tilted, eyes half-lidded with hunger.

“Ginger… f**k…” he gasps, dark eyes half-lidded.

She gently strokes him, feeling every vein, every inch, his girth. Her pale gaze lifts to his through thick lashes. "Come here," she whispered, backing toward the bedroom.

She kept her grip on his c**k, leading him by it. The bed was wide and low, sheets already turned down. Jade pushed him onto his back, drops her dress from her shoulders, the fabric falling to a pool at her feet. Slowly, she climbed beside him.

She leaned in and kissed him hard, her pouty mouth claiming his while her tongue slid deep, wasting no time in what it is she wants from him.

He groaned into the kiss, hands already gripping her curvy hips.

Suddenly she breaks away just long enough to reach for the nightstand drawer. Her fingers closed around a foil packet and she pressed it into his hand.

Emmett tore it open with his teeth, rolled the condom down his thick c**k, and the moment it was on, he moved. More than ready to ravish this beautiful woman.

With a sudden surge he flipped her onto her back.

Jade’s ample breasts bounced with the motion, swaying heavily.

Emmett knelt between her creamy thighs, eyes dark with fresh hunger. He started at her mouth again, kissing her deep and wet, then dragged his lips down her sharp jawline to her throat. His hands roamed freely, squeezing and fondling her soft t**s, thumbs circling her n*****s until they tightened under his touch.

He kissed lower, nipping at the swell of each breast before sucking one n****e into his mouth.

His teeth grazed the sensitive peak, then he switched to the other, leaving faint red marks.

Jade arched beneath him, fingers threading through his dark hair.

“Rough,” she breathed, voice husky. “I want it rough.”

Emmett didn’t hesitate. He grabbed her wrists carefully, firmly and pinned them above her head with one hand while the other slid between her legs. Two fingers pushed inside her slick p***y, pumping hard and fast. She gasped, hips jerking. He added a third finger, stretching her, then pulled them out and replaced them with his c**k in one rough thrust.

He drove into her deep, hips snapping forward with force. Each stroke slapped his hips against her curvy ass. He finally released her wrists only to hook her legs over his shoulders, folding her so he could pound even deeper. His mouth found her throat again, nipping and sucking while he f****d her hard enough to make the king-sized bed creak.

Jade moaned loud, nails digging into his tattooed back. “Harder,” she demanded.

Emmett gave it to her.

He slammed into her p***y again and again, sweat-slick muscles flexing, the wet sound of his c**k driving in and out filling the room. He reached down to rub her c**t in soft tight circles while he kept up the brutal pace, watching her pale-green eyes glaze with pleasure.

He leaned in close, biting down on her lower lip before growling against her mouth, “You feel so f*****g good.”

Suddenly, he flips her onto her stomach, yanked her hips up, and drove back inside her glistening cunt from behind. One hand fisted her hair, pulling just enough to arch her back while the other gripped her waist, holding her steady as he f****d her with raw, relentless force.

Emmett jerked Jade upright against his chest, one strong arm banding around her waist while his other hand clamped over the front of her throat.

He squeezed lightly, rhythmically, just enough to make her pulse flutter under his fingers.

Outside of the penthouse, the world keeps moving. Car horns sound every now and then. They heard none of it though the slams of his pelvis.

Her pale-green eyes fluttered half-shut, a long moan spilling from her pouty mouth as his c**k kept slamming up into her from behind.

“Is that how you want it?” he growled against her ear, hot breath washing over her skin. “Do you feel every inch of my c**k stretching that tight p***y?”

She could only squeal and nod, her ample breasts bouncing with every brutal thrust.

Emmett’s fingers found her swollen c**t again and rubbed tight, relentless circles while he drove deeper, hips snapping hard enough to make her curvy ass ripple. Her head lolled back against his shoulder, eyes rolling as pleasure crashed through her. “C*m for me, Ginger,” he ordered, voice rough. “I want you to shatter on my c**k.”

He shoved her face-down into the mattress again, dragged her hips high, and pounded into her with long, punishing strokes. Each time his pelvis smacked her ass he thrust even harder, driven in a new angle, the wet slap of skin on skin filling the penthouse. Jade’s fingers clawed the sheets. Her whole body seized, then she was c***g hard, squirting around his thick shaft, soaking his c**k and the sheets beneath them.

Emmett f****d her straight through the orgasm, never slowing, dragging every last tremor out of her. Only when her moans turned broken did he pull out, flip onto his back, and drag her on top of him. “Ride me,” he demanded in ragged breaths.

Jade straddled his hips, sank down on his condom-slick c**k in one smooth motion, and started grinding. Her creamy thighs flexed, curvy ass rolling as she took him deep.

Emmett’s hands gripped her waist, guiding her faster while he growled up at her, “Your p***y is so f*****g wet for me.”

She planted her hands on his tattooed chest and began f*****g him in earnest, bouncing hard, her ample breasts swaying with every drop of her hips. The wet sounds grew louder as she rode him without mercy, chasing another peak while he watched her with dark, hungry eyes.

Jade rolled her hips, taking him deeper with each rock of her body. Her ample breasts bounced with the motion; she grabbed his hands and pressed them to her chest so he could feel the weight and softness while she rode him.

Jade rose above him, a goddess carved from cream and shadow, her curvy hips rolling in a slow, deliberate rhythm that made the muscles in her thighs stand out. Her pale-green eyes were half-lidded, fixed on the man beneath her.

Emmett. Six feet of alabaster skin and dense, corded muscle, a canvas for the dark ink that snaked over his arms and chest. His smoldering eyes, black as the sky outside the window, watched her every move, his hands resting lightly on her waist, letting her lead.

Emmett thrust up to meet her, hands sliding down to grip her ass, spreading her wider.

Jade moaned and ground harder, chasing the friction on her cl*t. She leans forward, only to bite his lower lip, then sat up straight again, riding him with steady, powerful strokes. Her pale-green eyes stayed locked on his dark ones as she brought them both closer, her body moving with focused, hungry intent until the tension coiled tight in both of them.

The heavy sway of her ample breasts brushing against his chest.

The coarse hair there scraped against her sensitive n*****s, pulling a sharp gasp from her pouty mouth.

Emmett’s hands slid up her back, his touch a brand of heat, before he cupped the back of her head and guided her down. His mouth found hers, a deep, possessive kiss that tasted of whiskey and raw desire. He nipped at her lower lip, then soothed the sting with his tongue, a slow, teasing dance that mirrored the grind of her hips. The thin latex of the condom sheathed his c**k, a frustrating barrier that did nothing to dull the sheer power of him filling her, stretching her tight p**y with every downward thrust.

“Harder,” she demanded, her voice a breathy rasp against his ear. She straightened up, bracing her hands on his chest, her sharp jawline set with determination. “I said f**k me harder. Don’t hold back.” She wanted to feel the raw strength she saw coiled in his body, to be taken so thoroughly that the memory would be seared into her skin.

She increased her pace, her ass slapping against his thighs with a wet, rhythmic sound that echoed in the quiet room. Her breasts bounced with the force of her movements, and Emmett’s gaze was locked on them, his hands coming up to worship their soft weight. He kneaded the flesh, his thumbs brushing over the tight, pebbled ni**les, making her cry out.

For a moment, he complied.

His hips began to snap upward to meet her downward plunge, driving his d**k deeper inside her.

The impact sent shock waves of pleasure through her body, building a tight coil in her belly. She could feel the control she had, the power to command this devilishly handsome stranger, to make him give her what she craved. She rode him with wild abandon, her head thrown back, the city lights a blur behind her eyelids. She was so close, teetering on the edge of a devastating orgasm, her movements becoming more frantic, more desperate.

Then, everything changed.

In a fluid, powerful motion, Emmett’s hands, which had been caressing her, clamped down on her hips like steel manacles. He stilled her movements, holding her impaled on his thick c**k, her body trembling with unspent need. A low growl vibrated in his chest, a sound of pure, predatory intent.

His eyes, no longer smoldering but burning with a dark fire, held hers.

The playful compliance was gone, replaced by an aura of absolute dominance that stole the air from her lungs.

He had let her have her fun, her moment of control.

The game was over.

Before she could protest, he moved.

With a strength that left her breathless, he flipped them.

Jade found herself on her back, the cool silk sheets a shock against her overheated skin, her legs spread wide as he settled between them.

He loomed over her, a magnificent beast of muscle and ink, his dark hair falling over his forehead. He hooked his arms under her knees, pushing them up and back, opening her completely to him. “You wanted rough?” he murmured, his voice a deep, dangerous purr. “I’ll give you rough.”

He slammed into her.

The force of his thrust stole her breath, a guttural cry tearing from her throat. There was no slow build-up, no gentle rhythm. He f****d her with a brutal, punishing intensity, his hips a piston driving his c**k deep into her willing hole. Harder than when he had been on top of her before.

The bed frame groaned in protest, the sound mingling with her ragged moans and the slick, obscene music of their bodies colliding. He was relentless, a storm of pure sensation, and all she could do was hold on, her nails digging into the powerful muscles of his back. The power dynamic had been violently, deliciously reversed.

She was no longer the one in charge.