L.T. Marshall's Blog, page 55

Jakes view - Book 2 - The elevator

Lovers of my book The Carrero Influence book 2 will love this brand new alternate scene.This is the elevator scene re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


Book 2 - Elevator scene.
Jake walked out of the board room meeting without any clue as to what he had just sat and endured for the last hour, Margo had been glaring his way and nudging him with her foot under the table every few minutes and making him all the more aware of how 'out of it' he was. He had been this way ever since his father's email had come in, informing him that Emma was back in his building... Back within reach and he had no idea how to handle it. He didn't know if he should be happy or panicked that he could just see her around his building again, he wasn't sure how the hell to feel about it but couldn't deny the slight feeling of hope in his chest that he could bump into her. If he was being honest with himself then he hadn't had his head in the game for weeks, not since he had sent her away and today was just another prime example of how 'not well' he was doing without her in his life.Traipsing behind a couple of his colleagues towards the bank of elevators on the floor of the meeting he tried like hell to focus on his afternoon schedule, he knew he had a one to one with the head of finance over the Hunter Carrero merger but for the life of him he couldn't remember why.'I'll see you upstairs in a bit.' Margo smiled his way from walking beside him, she was rifling through files from the meeting and frowning his way. 'Where you going?' He looked at her blankly, trying like hell to act like a functioning human being instead of the mindless zombie of the past few days. Honestly.... few weeks.'To take these to Brandon....' She stared at him dead pan. 'Your lawyer!...' Again staring like he had two heads. He just stared back completely clueless and she sighed heavily.'Well it's just as well one of us was paying attention to the bloody contracts you just signed off on then, isn't it? .... Jake for the love of god...Go see her, I don't know how much more of this I can endure.' She gave him a stern look, sighed and kissed him on the cheek in her motherly fashion before smoothing down his lapel with her free hand and waving as she walked off. He watched her go feeling even more space cadet and completely out of touch with reality.So you signed off on contracts?...Idiot!He heard the elevator ping and open somewhere in front of the men crowding before him and watched them all file into it, sighing and looking back towards Margo for a moment as she disappeared down the hall, he contemplated if she was right. If seeing Emma again would get him out of this funk or if it would just make it all worse.God, he missed her so fucking much.Waiting for them all to clear he walked forward to follow them into the elevator and immediately felt his heart thud through his chest. As though some unearthly force had just conjured her up for him out of nowhere, his eyes met hers as soon as he stepped foot inside. Some force of nature making sure he connected with her as soon as he had even walked into the damn thing. She was near the back, behind a bunch of employees and those baby blues met his for a mere second with all the force of a tidal wave. He couldn't breathe. She was everything of his dreams and more.She was wearing her light grey tailored jacket and pencil skirt from the first time he had ever laid eyes on her over a soft pale pink silk blouse but yet with her soft hair still loose, still waves of perfection and a golden halo around that perfect face. It was all a little too painful to bear after weeks of only conjuring her up in his head and he turned as he found a spot to stand, putting her behind his back so he could think about how to handle this. His stomach was churning and definitely a deep painful ache in his chest that made it near impossible to pretend she wasn't so close. Every part of him straining and aching to just turn and look at her, he wanted to hear her voice...see her smile.She was beautiful, stunning....Perfection. Still his angel.The elevator stopped and some men shuffled in and out, he moved further back, still just focusing on his breathing and scrambling thoughts, staring straight ahead for a little control and wondering what he should say to her. He wanted to say something, anything but he was temporarily rendered mute. Her perfume filling the air around him so he couldn't move, feet locked to the ground and unable to relax at all. She was close enough to just reach out and touch if he turned to look at her but he just couldn't. It hurt too damn much and being back with her only highlighted how much he was still crazy in love with her. He hadn't moved on in any way at all and this just reminded him of how much his life was completely fucked without her.More people moved in at the next stop and he had to shuffle back, closer to her, her perfume getting clearer and causing him more considerable pain, he could feel her, the heat of her body in the elevator despite the other people and he was aware of only her and her proximity. He was almost beside her now, almost shoulder to shoulder save for a gap being forced between them by the man in front standing just forward of them, he glanced her way impulsively. His mind just wanting to look at her again and caught those beautiful blues as she did the same thing.Fuck.It was like a thunder bolt to his heart and when she looked away quickly and stared at the floor he couldn't help the overwhelming need and longing to just step forward and touch her. To lift her chin up and just stare at her and tell her he wanted her back in his life. He needed her in his life. Instead, he stared forward at the doors like a coward, trying to reign it all in and losing sight of anyone else in here apart from her and the sheer agony of this.Say something to her, stop being an asshole and speak.The lift chimed and he saw her move to go, his heart pounding erratically and mild panic setting in at the thought of her going, of seeing her leave without anything from him. No words, no smiles.You're a fucking asshole Carrero.... Speak to her!She had to squeeze past people in front to go and she brushed against him lightly, a surge of electricity and a major pang of longing, it was a brief nothing touch but it rendered him completely useless. Looking at her hopelessly and just aching to reach out and pull her against him. His tongue working loose in a last ditch effort as she caught his eye momentarily. She was the only girl he had ever met who could turn him to mush with just a look at those perfect almond eyes that turned his knees weak.'Miss Anderson.' He said quietly and politely, trying for a smile that was genuine and just feeling like he was stiff and disconnected. Her beauty floored him, her eyes meeting his had made him unable to function and her perfume would stay in his head for an eternity at this rate.I love you Bambino and I fucking miss you so much that I can't bear this.'Mr Carrero.' She breathed back, no smile, no emotion just a cold tone and obviously still hurt over his betrayal. He couldn't blame her, she had been his right hand and he had severed it and sent her off to work in a place he knew she probably would have hated. They had crossed a line in having sex but it had been the best moment of his life, one night that would haunt him forever and he never wanted to lose the memory of what she felt like. He wanted to replay it for an eternity and would never regret being with her. To her though he had done what he always did, he had fucked her and disposed of her and as much as it pained him to have her think that way he knew it was for the best for both of them. He had hurt her, cut her off and disconnected from her in the worst possible way for his own sanity and looking at the cool way she walked out of the elevator without a backwards glance hurriedly he knew he deserved her icing him out. He had been a shit head and a coward and sent her away rather than keep going through the torture of being around her. He just wished seeing her wasn't like a stake being driven through his heart over and over and slumped back against the back wall as the doors closed on the most beautiful view he had ever seen.Back to reality Carrero...You never fucking had her. You never deserved her.

Part 4 finale Chapter 14, book 1 Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 14, part 4 re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 4 finale ( Chapter 14, book 1)

Jake stormed to his room and kicked the door shut with a professional kick box manoeuvre, every nerve ending tingling with the need to release some pent up tension. Jake was a simple creature, he expelled his excess energy in two ways. Either through fighting, sports, other extreme physical pursuits or sex. And lately sex had been completely off the table for him, he was about to remedy that and hoped to god some of this crazy aggressive anger that had been building up for weeks would subside
He couldn't do this shit anymore with her, his life had become one mass of up and down emotional bullshit. His head all over the place to the point he acted like he had PMS like a fucking woman on a daily basis, she drove him nuts yet he couldn't stay away from her. He loved her yet he wished he could walk away and never see her again. He didn't know which way was up or down but he knew one thing, he couldn't bear the thought of firing her and starting over with a new PA so he had to sort this another way.
Hunter had been right about one thing, the lack of sex was screwing with his head, lack of dates and women in general. This wasn't who he was, wasn't who he wanted to be anymore. He would get his ass off this infernal boat and away from her for a few days, Hunter had already agreed he would look after her should Jake take off and he was going to screw himself back to sanity with as many women as it took. Hell, he might even go back tot the days of more than one at a time if it eased his pain in anyway.
Emma had only seen that version of him, so what difference would it make if he went back to it? she had no idea of how much he had changed his lifestyle for her, she didn't see the lack of parties and booze, the lack of women. She only saw what he wanted her to see and lately it had been a moody fucker who was useless at his job and all over the place. No more. Jake was taking his heart back and his god damn life.
He picked up his phone from the docking station and skimmed the names until he came to one in particular, hitting call and sticking it to his ear. Every part of his gut was trying to stop this insanity but he had made his mind up and pushed down all the guilt he was feeling to the back of his mind.
'Hello.' The female voice that answered sounded surprised to be hearing from him after so long but he didn't care, he had chosen her because he knew she would be up for it and available.
'Hey Brianne, long time no see. Thought I would call and see if you were still up for partying.' Jake said smoothly, old Casanova coming out to play effortlessly. He may have been a complete mess around Emma but with other women he had no problem at all, he knew how to play them and he had always done it well. He had zero nervousness about booty calls.
'Of course, for you Jake I would literally drop everything.' She purred, unable to contain her excitement and the lust fuelled husk to her tone now. Jake knew he had her right where he wanted. Brianne from the first time he had met her in a down town bar had been hot for him. Obviously so.
'I'm heading home in a few minutes, flight back from a little trip so you could meet me at my apartment tonight, take it from there.' He moved his phone from his ear as he hauled off his shirt to get changed, mind already making plans to get the hell out of here.
'Definitely baby, I will be naked and waiting for you sexy. Do you want me to bring some booze?' She giggled girlishly, doing nothing at all for his libido but he played along
'Sure, whatever you want, I don't plan on much sleep.' He growled sexily and hauled on a new shirt with one hand awkwardly, trying not to picture Emma with every word out of his god damn mouth. He also couldn't shift the feeling that right now he was a disgusting human being who had never deserved Emma in the first place and this right here proved it. He shoved the sickening lump aside and focused on Brianne
'Sounds like my kind of party, I can't wait to see you again, it's been far to long Jakey baby.' She once again purred down the line and he could almost picture her getting wet for him. Girls were too damn easy, maybe that's why he had fallen hard for Emma. She had been the first real challenge to come along in a very long time, first woman to not drop her panties at the first smile. The first girl that had made him feel something for her that wasn't just lust.
'Cool, so … Laters then. I'll be home around five I guess.' He flipped the phone to his other shoulder as he buttoned up his shirt. Not really feeling the same thrill he used too at hooking up with someone as hot and wild as Brianne but he figured once he got home and had her naked it would all fall into place. Brianne was one of the more adventurous ex-playmates. She was up for any kind of sex and liked to be dominated roughly. Right about now Jake needed to expel a little aggression and doing it sexually was his idea of the perfect solution. He wasn't against a little bit of rough and ready, she liked bondage too and he sure as hell had no problem with being dominant in bed.
'Laters baby.... a lot of laters.' She giggled sexily and then he hung up, he wasn't much for unnecessary small talk and threw his cell on the bed as he continued to get ready.
* * *
Jake headed up on deck looking for Emma half an hour later, changed into a black fitted shirt and jeans, his usual ready to party look. With shades on and a grim expression on his face and a mood to match. He saw her lounging with Leila and called her over, pushing down the ache inside at the sight of her.'Emma I need you a second.' His tone was emotionless and borderline pissed, guilt trying to push into his mood but he stuffed it back down knowing he had to stay in this frame of mind to do this. He gestured her to follow him as he turned and headed away from prying eyes, she followed obediently and he tried to ignore every part of his heart trying to soften at her mere presence.No more of this wimpy shit Carrero.They walked down to the lower floor of the boat, He could feel Emma behind him, tense and quiet and acting unsurely but he had to do this for his own sanity. He had to maintain this anger and mood and leave. Leave her and this stupid infatuation behind so he could go back to just working with her.'I'm leaving for a couple of days...I've left you a credit card in your room in case you want to go out, there's a car on shore that will take you anywhere you want to go.' his voice was flat, devoid of emotion and trying so hard to avoid looking at those wounded baby blues which could unravel him in seconds. From the corner of his eye he saw her head snap up and eyes searching his face questioningly, that punch in the gut feeling of regret but he clenched his fists in defiance and gritted his teeth against it.'Where are you going?.. We cleared your schedule for two weeks so you wouldn't need to go anywhere.' She sounded shocked, her voice slightly higher and faster than normal. He could feel the tension and fear coming from her that he was leaving her alone with these people but he knew Leila would take care of her and Hunter was back tonight and had sworn with his life to watch over her. To make sure no one else tried anything and that she had a relaxing end to the trip. He felt like an asshole to be leaving her though, he had promised he would take care of her and he was being a dickhead by not doing that. She had to know this was the best for both of them though.'Change of plan... Try and relax and have fun. If you can.' He said it angrily, at himself, not her. She was looking at him more and more like she was about to cry and he just felt like punching himself in the face. Anger ripping through him at a hundred miles an hour and worsening his mood.I'm sorry Bambino.'Do you need me to come?' She replied coolly in her PA tone. It wasn't what he wanted but it made this easier on him, closing him out. Taking the feeling out of the conversation and it just reminded him of the fact that this would always be her. She would never love him.'No, I don't' He replied coldly, fully resigned that what he was doing was right.'Jake you pay me to be at your beck and call and go with you at a moments notice.' She retorted haughtily, mannerisms back and tight lift of that defiant chin. He took a moment to look at that face as a reminder that he would never cross this line again. Every part of him hurting to the point he just felt anger again.'I don't pay you to watch me fuck other women, Emma.' He snarled at her nastily, frustration making him react. Regretting it as soon as it was out of his mouth but not willing to apologise over this and show any weakness. If he wanted professionalism back then he had to make her hate him a little bit.Emma looked shocked and a little hurt and the urge to take it all back hit him harder, only giving him more resolve to be harsher. To kill this friendship the coldest way and be done with it. He looked away from those endless sea eyes that ripped his heart from his chest and hardened his face.'I'm redefining the boundaries of our relationship ..... Uncrossing the line. That's what you called it, right?' He tossed back casually, avoiding looking at that beautiful face anymore, he couldn't keep this up with her so close.Don't hate me Miele, just understand this is for the best.'You think going off to screw someone will uncross that line?' Her words sounded pained, quiet and for a moment Jake doubted it all of it. Doubted her feelings and doubted his whole stupid plan. The urge to tell her he didn't mean any of it, to turn and wrap his arms around her and beg forgiveness for being a prick. He would call Brianne in a second and cancel if he thought for one moment Emma would love him back. He turned and saw only cool PA facing him, hands clasped at her waist and a raised brow that contradicted everything.'It's a start.' He turned away in disappointment, heart hitting the floor once again into his room and pulled a case from the cupboard. He had packed a flight bag already and needed only a few clothes.'Got over your little break, I see.' She sounded cold... Reminding him of admitting to a lack of sex at that charity dance.'I think that's probably the reason for the latest tension...I need to go let off steam.' He smirked icily, glad to have an excuse to cool things between them if he was being honest. He couldn't in all honesty keep doing this to himself anymore. His body wasn't built for long periods of celibacy and his shitty moods and fuzzy head might actually improve. She was watching him with a cool expression, poised and motionless as though observing a naughty child carrying out a punishment, that whole school miss thing going on. He tried not to look at her, he didn't want to remember her this way anymore. Soft hair and pretty dresses, tanned and beautiful. He would see her back at work, back in tight tailoring and no nonsense mask on and take it from there.'Enjoy yourself.' She turned on her heel, a slight pinched expression that only riled him more but yet didn't leave.'Don't miss me while I'm gone, Tesoro Mio.' Jake smiled in full Casanova charm, he all but winked at her. Laying it on thick. 'I'm sure you'll find something exciting to do.' He was back to focusing on packing but his voice was flat and emotionless, the cruel and harsh words had been deliberate. He was severing more than unrequited love, he was severing friendship and placing Emma back on the Employee list with everyone else at Carrero Corp, he was done.'When shall I expect you back Mr Carrero?' She seemed to get with the program, returning to her business like manner and tone. His insides bristling with the change in her but accepting what he had chosen finally. This was the future for Jake and Emma. He should never have ventured down this path to feeling and emotions.'When I'm done...Hard to say....It's been a while.' He sneered without looking up. Twisting the knife to make sure that he had sealed the fate of their relationship.He could see Emma smile his way in her fake office face, the one she used to greet business acquaintances and was distracted by his phone vibrating in his pocket. Swiping it out he saw Briannes name on the screen and hesitated.Old Jake had openly dated in front of Emma, had openly had women in the same hotel suites and if he wanted to go back to that then he had to ignore how sick to his stomach answering this call in front of her was making him feel and get back to being that guy. He swiped it and pressed the screen..'Hi.... ' He answered without looking her way, ignoring the nerves ripping through him or the way his hand started trembling with the effort. He lacked his cocky confidence in answering because right now he felt anything but.'Hi baby, it's me again... Just checking if you had left yet as I might meet you at the airport instead.' Brianne was trying for sexy and soft and only irritated him, Emmas eyes were boring into him and making him feel about a foot tall. He cursed her internally and wished he had ignored the phone.'I'll be leaving soon.....' Jake didn't want to have a conversation right now and he hoped his tone conveyed that to Brianne.'Oh... Are you in company and can't talk? Sorry I just missed your voice, it's beyond sexy.' she purred irritatingly and Jake had to steel the urge to tell her to forget all of this.'Yeah, I missed you too, Bambino.' He said flatly, still feeling Emmas presence burning into him like rays from the sun, he wanted to just curl up and die about now.'Okay well my flight gets in around four so I may hang around at the airfield for you if that's okay?'' I'll meet you there.' Jake said quickly and didn't wait for her reply just hanging up quickly to stop the way his throat was trying to strangle him to death with guilt. He slid his phone back into his pocket and couldn't look at her at all, every part of him felt like a complete shit head as though he was openly cheating on her. In his own head he was and it had the ability to stop it all if he let it.Fuck.'Who?' Emma blurted out and caused another slice to his heart, he couldn't tell her it was the girl he used to replace her so many times when she first started working for him. Brianne was small, blonde and could have been Emma's sister to look at but she didn't need to know that.'No one you know. Old flame.' He closed his case, throwing her a fiery look willing her to back off and not pursue this.'If that will be all Mr Carrero...I'll leave you to it.' Emma said icily cold and threw him a look that translated to nothing at all, completely deadpan. She was stiff and devoid of emotion. Sad that he had made it happen this way, pushed her to this version of her that she hadn't been since the first week he had known her but this is who he needed to see from now on. 'Tell the others, after I'm gone, I had to go away for a couple of days.' He was picking up his case, his body stiff with tension and he just had to get out, he couldn't breathe now it was getting closer to leaving her.'What reason shall I give?' She was painfully polite and factual. Another nail in the coffin of his heart.'I don't give a shit Emma... The truth for all I care.' He flexed his eyebrows sardonically at her, really completely done. Jake lifted his bags and strolled out purposely past her, not looking her way again and determined to just go and be done with it. The sooner he put distance between them then the sooner he would be able to think straight and start rationalising all of this. The sooner he could start to move on and the last time he would initiate anything non-business related with her.He felt her follow him down the hall and willed her to not...to stay back and give his heart a chance at letting go of her, he was weakening with every step towards the back of the boat, doubts flooding in and that inner part of him that eternally wanted to protect her clawing him back. To stop, to go back and just get on his knees and beg her to forgive him for being an asshole but he couldn't. He knew all it would take was her following him here and one sad look, one sad fucking set of baby blues his way and he would bail on all of this because like it or not he fucking loved her, and the last thing he wanted to be doing right now was leaving her for anything in the world. It took all of his strength to walk the last steps and hand his bag to the waiting crewman he had told to get the boat ready. If she came out now he was done for but she didn't, she had retreated before he hit the open air and had probably gone back on deck. She had let him go because she had never loved him and as much as he hated himself for doing this it had never been so fucking right. She had made it clear and he loved her enough to let her fucking go.He needed to find his own sanity again, and if he could do that between the legs of Brianne it would be a god damn start.

* * * By the time the plane touched down in New York Jake was beyond drunk, he had hit the booze hard in the four hour flight and was at the point of seeing double. He had tried to drown his sorrows and give himself enough Dutch courage to see this through and gone way overboard. He had been consumed with her, memories of kissing her, aching to go back and just stop this bullshit. God he missed her already.Just being away, the miles widening had been torture for him and instead of distance giving him ability to breathe he had felt each mile choking him to near strangling. He was so fucked over this girl and out of control. Every part of him wanted to turn around and go back, he had pulled up her name on his phone a hundred times and just stared at it, stopping himself from drunk dialling her and telling her he was an asshole because he fucking loved her to death. And he did....all consuming, every single aching part of him loved her beyond anything he could ever explain. She was his world whether she wanted to be or not and he was a major idiot for letting it get this far.He hovered over the song he had pulled from his iTunes a hundred times and thought about sending it but didn't. 'Apologise' – One republic He wanted to tell her he was sorry, he felt like the biggest asshole in the world and his heart was wrenched in two at being this way to his angel. His beautiful perfect fucking little angel.God he was so fucking drunk.Getting off the plane had been an ordeal, he hadn't been this smashed in a long time and almost fell down the steps onto the runway in front of Jefferson. He casually came and helped Jake walk to the car with a silent unamused expression on his fatherly face. Jefferson knew better than to say anything, he had been there through Jakes wild years and tended to let him get whatever was eating him out of his system in any way that Jake felt neccassary. He just helped Jake get into the car and almost groaned when he saw Brianne already there and grinning his way. She really did look like Emma in a devastating way, but she wasn't her... no one would ever compare to her even if they were fucking twins.Fuck.He realised the privacy panel on the limo was already up and groaned, he knew only too well what that meant and didn't have to even look to find she was naked under her fur coat as Jefferson closed the door on them , locking him in his dark hell with a girl who was only focused on sex. Jake was seriously regretting this all over and laid his head back on the seat and just closed his eyes.'You smell like booze Jakey baby, did you start without me?' She smiled and crawled over suggestively to straddle his lap as the car moved off. Jake didn't have the energy to react. He just tried to not see Emma in his minds eye as small hands ran up his abdomen and chest and started unbuttoning his shirt. He was no stranger to sex in the back of his cars but right now he didn't care if he never had sex again as long as she let him sleep this off. She tried to kiss him on the mouth but he turned away, she wasn't her, she didn't kiss like her. He wanted Emma.'Hmmmm, yeah..... ' Jake was trying to just sleep, his swimming head trying to give into the darkness, the only thing stopping him was the probing hands on his body or the small wet mouth now moving across his neck and collar bone as she exposed skin. Jake couldn't deny his body was reacting but he also couldn't deny the whole fucking time he was seeing and hearing Emma in his head. Closing off Brianne completely and just letting his head go any route it wanted, he was definitely getting hard with the writhing small body on top of him and his hands automatically slid up naked legs under a fur coat to find soft naked skin and curves.He opened eyes and looked down at the blonde hair across his chest as she licked and nibbled her way down, breathing in her musky perfume and instantly hating that it wasn't tropical or sweet. It was all wrong for how she looked. Her body ducked lower and she started unbuttoning his pants, horny Jake starting to take control of his mind and with a visual so Emma like he couldn't help but react. He shoved her back and helped speed the way, unbuttoning and yanking them down until he was fully exposed and ignoring her face, If he looked at her he would know it wasn't her and he couldn't do this. He closed his eyes again and relaxed into her mouth devouring him. Pleasure waving up his limbs and the amazing sensation of hot wet mouth on a part of him that had been severely neglected. She was good at doing this and soon had him reaching that pinnacle of release far too quickly, he came in her mouth and only for a second felt remorse at doing something so dirty to his beautiful angel, looking down and seeing Brianne licking her lips back at him. He pushed away the surge of anger and looked away from her again. So god damn conflicted.Closing his eyes again as she let her hand bring him back for a second round, her body fully naked now she had let her coat slide down to the floor, the motion of the car only added to how quickly she was getting him turned back on.Deciding to take matters into his own hands he shoved her off of him onto the seat. Facially she didn't have Emma's beauty and he didn't want to fuck anyone else. So Jake did the only thing he could, he turned her round and pushed her hard against the seat with every intention of abusing this body until every part of his mind that wanted Emma in every way was satisfied. This is why he had chosen Brianne. From behind she was almost her and she had no boundaries in the ways she would let him fuck her, she didn't care how rough or how many times as long as it was him. Brianne was one of those all consumed by Jake kind of women and it would serve his purpose tonight. Pushing her into the leather he got up behind her and smacked her hard across the ass. Leaving his mark with satisfaction before leaning in to wipe Emma out of his head for good.

* * *

'Take her home.' Jake barked at Jefferson as he got out of the car, Brianne tried to follow but he pushed her back in by the face cruelly. He had screwed her mercilessly until he came and then he had bluntly told her that she wouldn't be coming home with him. Jake was beyond pissed at himself right about now and he needed to get the fuck away from her and out of these clothes. He felt dirty and angry and wanted to just go beat the shit out of any mother fucker who looked at him the wrong way.Sex hadn't done what he wanted, it had given him instant relief for the half hour car journey, he had kept her facing away and let out months of tension and frustration until she screamed. But then he had felt empty and fucked up and just hated himself more than he did already. Emma wasn't out of his head, instead he had only made this a whole lot worse by fucking someone who could so easily be her in his memories and just added to his constant god damn torture.He was a complete idiot for choosing Brianne....He should have gone for tall, brunette and skinny as hell.Brianne tried to grab at his wrist as he manoeuvred away and he just glared at her coolly.'It was a fuck Brianne, let it go.' He yanked his hand free and all but slammed the door in her face. Jefferson looked at him with a stern expression but he ignored him, he was still drunk enough to fly off the handle and the last person in the world he wanted to hit was him. Jefferson said nothing but went back to his door and got in. Jake stalked across the car park and towards the elevator in a rage. He was home, back at his apartment yet he didn't want to be here anymore.
He had royally just fucked himself up more in the head. Pressing his penthouse floor code into the keypad he leant back against the elevator with a sigh. He wouldn't stay in New York, he would go stay with Arrick in LA for a few days, and get his head straight. His brother was only young but he had wisdom that sometimes made more sense than Hunters. He knew women as well as Jake did and maybe time with his brother and no women at all was what he really needed to do. Sex had cured nothing, just made him realise until he no longer loved Emma then he would never want to have sex with another women again. She was it for him, no one would ever compare and until he stopped looking at her that way then he would forget about sex at all. Brianne was a mistake and he had never felt this much regret and guilt in his life, it was eating at him mercilessly and all he wanted to do was pass out and forget all about it, forget the last half hour and forget the one woman who relentlessly tortured his mind to near insanity.

Part 3 Chapter 14, book 1 Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 14, part 3 (more to follow) re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 3 ( Chapter 14, book 1)
Taking deep steadying breaths to get his temper under control he turned back and slid into the car once more, swallowing it down, breathing hard. Shutting the door gently and sitting motionless for a second.
He knew there was no way of coming out of this conversation now and he had to do this, for his own sanity if nothing more. Things between them couldn't keep going on this way and last night had been a final line for him. He couldn't stay loving a girl who only wanted friendship.

'It's not about sex Emma.' He said quietly putting his hands back on the steering wheel to give him a point of focus but he didn't start the car. 'It's about this eternal need in you to stay in full control...... Never letting anyone in, never letting yourself enjoy anything and letting your guard down.' It was about her inability to love him the way he loved her and as much as he tried to always skirt around the issue there was no getting away from it anymore. It was make or break time.'That's not true.' She replied defensively, looking at him like a wounded rabbit caught in headlights. His gut aching again that he was doing this to her right now.'Really? Emma, I've been with you for months now, I've seen just about every version of you there is....Tired, grumpy, bossy, happy, pms'ing like fuck.' He was calmer, her sad expression simmering the heat of his temper but his voice was strained, that edge to his tone that hinted at anger bristling below the surface. 'I've seen vulnerable only briefly.' He glanced at her and she looked away a little too quickly. 'I get it Emma...You're strong, you want everyone to see that. You don't need anyone....... But it's not who you are...And it's not true.'He didn't want it to be true, he wanted her to need him.'Yes, it is... Do you ever think that maybe you overthink it and try to see stuff that isn't there?' She spat angrily, turning to him frostily and glaring him down in that way she intimated people at work. He didn't even blink at it, he knew this look on her was nothing more than a defence mechanism to make people back off.'I think I know you better than most people.' He sighed, knowing this was going nowhere that he wanted it too. He did know her, knew that he was fighting a losing battle and he no longer knew why he was even trying.'What if I don't know how else to be, Jake?' She turned to him accusingly 'You keep pushing... Keep telling me to let go and what if I can't? What if this is me... This is all I know... I'm not capable of doing it any other way because I don't know how.' She starts yelling at him, eyes brimming with emotion and he couldn't help but ache. Even mad she was too beautiful for words, mad and closing him down little by little. All he was ever going to get was last night, the memory of a kiss that he wanted one more time.Throwing caution to the wind and knowing this would probably make her madder than hell he thought 'fuck it' and threw his lips against hers. Without hesitation, his mouth moulding to hers and lips hungrily searching for the feeling of completion she gave him, surprised when she responded to his kiss and opened her mouth to meet his. Jake felt every part of him sag into her, his hands finding their own way into that soft hair, tangling his fingers and pulling that sweet mouth closer, tongues gliding against one another, lips perfectly connected and an easy motion of two people so right to kiss one another that it made him ache. He felt her fingers travel up his chest and tangle in his shirt collar, tugging him towards her and his heart soared. Maybe he had been wrong about this and she was finally letting go, tilting her head more to accommodate his mouth on hers, giving as much to him as he was to her, not breaking the embrace but pushing it higher and hotter. Breathing heavily and getting lost in the sensation of the kiss equally. They both moaned lightly as the kiss deepened, soft lips and intense feeling pushing him on.He wanted her closer, needed to feel that body he longed for against him, letting go with one hand and sliding down to find her belt buckle and unclipped it. Sliding an arm around her waist he pulled her into his body as best he could in the small confines of the car, pressing as much as he could of that body to him hungrily, praying for seconds longer to enjoy this but feeling her start to lose the passion between them. Her hands loosened their hold on his shirt, her kissing still keeping time with his but he could feel her reluctantly pulling back as her palms turned to his chest and she gently started pushing him away.Disappointment, anger, heartbreak all colliding at once as he reluctantly pulled away from her and sat back, letting her go dramatically and no longer able to keep his emotions in check. He looked et her with such devastation.'That's exactly what I mean!' He bit in pain. 'This is your biggest enemy Emma...Not me.' He tapped her temple with a finger, extreme crushing pain in his chest as he watched that soft expression move back to cold defensive PA mode, back behind her safe barriers.'Why did you do that?' She spat at him, both of them breathing hard and trying to regain composure.'To prove a point.' He snarled and turned away. He had no point to prove, just a longing to kiss her one more time and feel everything he had felt once more to savour it, because deep down he knew it would be the last fucking time. This was over.'What point?' She asked him accusingly, anger and emotion all over that face. So confused. He scrubbed his hands through his ruffled hair and sighed, grasping at some sense of control and thinking he should just have gotten out and gone for a walk but he didn't.'What does it matter?' his voice was deflated. He was deflated and tired. He was giving up and just wanted to go back to the boat and forget this day ever started.'Fuck you.' Emma snapped at him angrily, tears filling her eyes and shocking all the anger out of him. She had never actually swore at him while yelling like that and he was rendered momentarily speechless. He hadn't ever seen Emma ever yell at him quite like that either. She turned shoving the car door out and was gone in a flash, storming away from the car but he followed in hot pursuit. Guilt eating at him and an inability to ever just let her be upset even if he was the cause. Fuck, fuck, fuck.He caught up in seconds as she stalked towards the road, pulling her back into him and spinning her around to face him, tear stained and all and it just hit him in the stomach like a punch. Emma crying was something he could never handle, she rarely did it and when she did he felt like the biggest dickhead on the planet. He hated seeing her cry, it wounded him in ways he could never explain. She tried to fight him off angrily sobbing but he just folded her into his embrace, pushing his face into her hair and cradling her so she couldn't get away, trying to soothe her.'I'm sorry....Emma stop...Emma. I'm sorry.' His voice was raw and strained. She kept fighting but was losing against his sheer size and strength, she was no match. He just held her close, stopping her outbursts and trying to cuddle her in until she finally began to slump and give up the effort. Finally stilling in his arms, silently crying against him yet not really cuddling him back, he knew if her let her go she would still walk off.'I don't want to fight with you.' His voice was quieter, closer to her ear, his crazy mood taking a new direction again and just trying to stop the stupidity between them. No matter how he felt for her, above all she was meant to be his friend and friends didn't hurt each other like this. 'I don't want to fight either.' She swallowed a sob. Slumping into him dejectedly and he could only hold her closer, that horrid feeling of sadness sweeping through him again.'Maybe we should go back to the boat?' He sounded tired, he was emotionally exhausted and physically fatigued from the events of the last twelve hours. He had no fight left in him and right now all he wanted to do was lay down and try and block all of this out of his head for a few hours.'Maybe.' She whispered with slight relief and Jake just snapped. Losing his temper erratically for no obvious reason other than all of this just fucking sucked.'No.' He snapped, surprising her and making her tense in his arms, looking up with a look of pure confusion.Fuck this shit...Fuck her and everything she did to him!He stalked to the car quelling the urge to push her away from him, placing his hands on the bonnet in a bid to stop the angry energy surging through his entire body. He needed to go to a gym and beat another boxing bag to death to get rid of it this time. Glaring at the hood of the car and wondering how much damage he could inflict before his hands gave out.'I can't do this Emma.' He snapped, his gaze was steady on the hood of the low sleek car. He clenched a fist and went for a punch, stopping it millimetres from the hood and laying his palm back flat on the hot sun heated surface. Deep breathing to try and kerb every internal crazy impulse.'Do what?' Emma tried softly, keeping her distance and obviously a little wary of his mood. He tried to quell it some more for her sake.'This!...Us!' He waved his hand in an exasperated motion, turning back to her, looking at her with sheer frustration and frowned.'You drive me crazy...and not in a good way.' He sighed. Facing the car again. His body emanating all kinds of crazy signals no doubt but he had no control over all the crazy messed up emotions all colliding from months of this hell with her.'I do?' Her small fragile voice sounded completely surprised. She had no clue at all the effect she had on him which only strengthened the fact she saw only friendship between them. She was so innocent and naïve to what this really was for him.Too angelic for words.He sighed again and his face tensed.'You frustrate me on so many levels.'  He carried on, deflated again. Just so fed up with everything that this was.'Sorry.' She murmured sarcastically, he could tell she was probably eye rolling too, he wanted to just forget he ever met her.He threw her an unamused look over his shoulder, seeing her look down to twiddle her fingers nervously and it only made him sigh. Looking back at the car to get a grip on himself and reality, he began kicking at the solid rubber of the tyre with his boot toe childishly, trying to just distract his head from the urge to throw something.'Why do you never talk about your childhood?' His tone changed again, trying to change this whole topic to something...anything. He didn't even know why he would choose this topic among them all.'What? He heard the defensive scared tone in her voice instantly 'There's nothing to talk about.... You have knowledge of the highlights.' She said drily, that warning tone in her voice she used when the conversation was over.'I know bits and pieces Emma, mostly from getting you drunk?' He glared at her accusingly, so pissed at everything right now. Especially this one-sided fucking relationship they had.'Where is this going?' Emma glared back at him suspiciously, always closing him out. He was sick of being shut out.'It hurt you?' His eyes came to rest on her, trying to push every ounce of aggression away again. She messed him up in so many ways and she just had no clue at all. She looked away, crossing her arms around her body protectively and he just felt himself sigh and crumble inside.'It's the past and it should stay there.' Her voice wobbled a little this time with emotion and she moved away to turn her back on him. 'Your mum?....You don't talk about her much either.' He pushed, his voice gentle. Coaxing her to open up about this gave him a little hope that he meant something to her at least.'She's my mum... What else is there to say?' She replied coldly, still keeping her back to him defiantly.'Tell me about her.' He turned on the hood of the car and sat down to watch her, intrigued that for once he wasn't having to battle any information out of her and was helping take his mind off of other matters. Her poise was hostile and stiff but she hadn't ended the conversation.'My mum is a sucker for a sob story.' her voice was raspy with emotion yet held a hint of anger, at him or her mother he wasn't sure. He hated knowing that she had never had the childhood she deserved, hated knowing she had been hurt in ways that someone like her should have never endured. 'That's about all there is to her.' 'She has bad taste in men?' He got up silently and moved towards her, aching to soothe her while she talked about this stuff, just wanting to be there for her. Despite everything. She walked further off putting the distance back between them a little as though she had sensed him getting closer, always holding him at bay.'That's an understatement.' She snapped angrily.'They hurt you?' He had moved faster, gotten to right beside her before he had spoken again. Impulsively reaching out to her like he always did when she was close, the smell of her shampoo in the fresh air luring him against her, his fingers moving into her hair near her ear. Flexing his fingers into her scalp, causing her to lean into his touch, with a sigh and dampening over his mood like a balm. Touching her always brought him calm this way, even when the topic was hard to digest. She leant into him bodily and he was lost to her, his other hand sliding over her shoulder on the other side and sliding down her arm a little. Savouring the softness of her creamy skin.She always feels so fucking good.Leaning in close to the back of her head, breathing slowly and placing his mouth on the back of her hair, inhaling her and curbing the urge to kiss her pain away.'Some.... Some just wanted to....' Her voice weakened as she swallowed hard. His hand left her arm, snaked around her waist and pulled her into his body smoothly. His mouth moving to her neck gently and pulling her tight and close to him to be the strength she needed.'She didn't protect you.' He whispered against her collar bone, the soft delicate smell of her skin bringing him a sense of complete calm, the gentle soft curves of her body making the pain in his chest fade a little and he just held her, wanting to always keep her safe.'She did what she could.' She mumbled, softly allowing her body to meet his, having a little too much of an effect on his ability to think clearly and instinct at being joined with her was taking control. He couldn't stop his nose skimming her shoulder and neck, the hand that was in her hair trailing down her naked arm and wrist and back up. He couldn't deny that no matter what he would always want her this way, always want to touch her and devour every inch of her. Even while trying to give her solace about that bitch mother of hers a part of him wanted to turn her in his arms and just kiss the pain away, lose himself in that mouth and against that honey sweet tongue.'She didn't stop bringing men around her child, Miele.' His voice was hoarse with a mix of emotion and lust and he felt her tense again, this time he knew it was at his words not his action, his mind coming back to what he said and honing in on a tiny glimpse of Emma's past.'Why did you leave Chicago...Leave her?' His hands were still trailing down her arms and up again, but his focus was fully on her words now, the thought that his Emma had run from home to find safety in New York of all places. The thought of the girl he knew running scared from anything made him feel sick to his stomach.'I needed to walk away from all of it.... I needed to save myself because no one else was going too.' Her voice broke a little and he knew without turning her there were more tears and it tore him open to the bone. 'I think you need to talk to someone about all of this Emma....a counsellor... I could ...'She jerked away instantly, spinning to glare at him angrily. All moods snapped closed with simple words and suddenly she was fire and anger and squaring up at him like he was the enemy.'Not a god damn chance.' She spat, all venom and pain in her face. 'I'm not fucking crazy!''Emma that isn't what I said.' Jake responded a little surprised at her sudden turn around in mood, seeing a side of her she normally kept so under control. Sheer emotion and rage seeping from that beautiful face. He attempted to put his arms around her gently again but she held out a hand stopping him. He stayed back, allowing her breathing space to vent.'Don't okay...You wanted to know...Now you know and that's the end of it.' The strength was back in her voice...PA Emma had returned and she stalked past him towards the car, keeping her eyes averted. Her whole demeanour closing up, standing taller and her grace and mannerisms of the polished PA sliding in defensively. He could read her signs, she was putting that fucking wall back up because he was an idiot that somehow always pushed it.'Don't do that.' He snapped accusingly, following her back to the car, close on her heels, he grabbed her arm to turn her but she yanked it away. 'Do what?' She yelled, deliberately looking anywhere but him in an attempt to get away. He grabbed her arm again and tugged her around to face him harshly, this time succeeding.'Don't shut me out again... Clamp down like you always do....Not after everything ....I'm sick to death of this never ending fucking circle.' He raged losing his temper at always feeling like he would get so far and then boom, door would be slammed shut in his face again, driving him crazy.'I didn't want to tell you... You just keep pushing.' She wrenched her arm away, chin lifting defiantly.. 'Let's go back to the boat. I'm hungry and I'm tired.' She sounded so cool and closed off he could feel himself erupting again internally. Always the god damn same shit with her. He lifted his hands to grab at mid air in sheer agitation, not sure if he could choke her about now and gritted his teeth, eyes burning and he paced away from her again, cursing and raging into the open air. She ignored him turning and getting back into the car. Jake walked to the car and got in, slamming his door and buckling up in complete stony-faced silence. 'Conversation fucking over!' He muttered to himself, starting the car and throwing it into gear as he pulled back out onto the road, he turned the car and headed back to where they had come from, neck breaking speed to expel some of the energy building up inside of him wanting to blow out like an explosion.He turned up the stereo loud indicating he wouldn't attempt conversation, in fact he had nothing left to say to her. She was just messing with his head in all kinds of ways and he couldn't do this anymore. Noticing her hand in her hair twisting it anxiously he lost what hold he had left of his temper, seeing her like that always irritated him but now it just fucking enraged him. He tugged her hand out of her hair aggressively.'Stop fucking doing that!' He barked over the music, eyes glinting at her with fury. She glared back haughtily.'That hurt.' She snapped, reaching out to turn the music down, he had no idea what was even playing it was all just noise to drown her out and it was failing. She touched her head at the root of the hair she had been twisting indicating she had pulled it and he felt bad despite his anger, he always felt stupidly guilty when it came to her. She had a way of making him feel like the biggest asshole on the planet effortlessly. Maybe being an asshole was what he should be doing and kill this once and for all. If they weren't friends maybe they could just be professional and not give a fuck about each other anymore.'I didn't mean to hurt you.' He apologised through gritted teeth. 'I'm sorry.' He meant it but it sounded like it lacked conviction, he was done with all of this and he just had to get her back to the boat and out of his face for a while so he could think.'I don't know why it bothers you so much.' She spat at him. 'I don't know I'm doing it.' Angry flashing eyes aimed his way once again and he literally wanted to just hit something.'It bothers me because it's a sign that you're anxious...That you're nervous or upset...I don't like it.' He snapped back, sick of feeling like this all the god damn time, sick of feeling like he should walk on fucking eggshells around her.'Oh, so you want me to unleash vulnerable Emma, but only if she doesn't act nervous or anxious... Makes so much sense.' She seethed. He glared at her, his jaw tensing, fire meeting fire. The sizzle of electric between them causing the air to crackle. He looked away and focused on the road, gripping the wheel hard in an effort to not slam something with his fist. She brought out so much rage in him with so little effort.He got them back to the port in record time and didn't bother to get out when they pulled up, waiting for her to open her own god damn door and go first so he could take a minute to hang back. He took a moment to calm down and was glad to see the speedboat was still moored to the jetty, he wouldn't have to wait around for the ships crew coming for them, guessing the captain was still in town after bringing them over here and he would send the boat back for him later, he had Jakes number.Going back across the water to the boat was silent and she kept herself standing away from him, gripping the rail and looking out to sea. He wasn't going to try anymore, he had made up his mind that enough was enough and he was ruining everything by being fucking hung up on her. He had to remind himself that she wasn't anything more special than a million other girls out there. He just needed to get her out of his head and he could only do that with some real time apart. Maybe that was the issue, too much time spent together every god damn day had made it impossible to ever really move on.When they moored to the back of the yacht Emma didn't wait for him, just hopped up and off the boat and headed up to the top deck. Jake handed off the rope to the crewman who appeared to greet them.'Someone will need to go back for Max later, call him and tell him I brought the boat back.' Jake said abruptly and left the young man to securing the boat before following Emma upstairs.When he got up on deck, Emma was already at the buffet making a food plate, her back to him and he seriously felt like yanking her around and just choking her for once in his life. She had him so wound up and pissed that he couldn't think straight. No woman except maybe Marissa had ever caused this amount of a reaction in him and he needed to be far away right now.'Oh, the love birds have returned.' Leila squealed and threw herself around Emma for a hug, she grinned Jakes way but he only glared back.'We went for a drive.' Jake glared at anyone who dared to look his way then turned on his heel and headed back to his room, he wasn't staying here for this crap feeling like this. He needed head space and time out. Heading back down to the lower floor he pulled out his phone and text Daniel. You may be right about putting my Plan B into action. J He got to his room just as Hunter replied, he had his phone sent over to him with belongings first thing this morning before heading out with Emma to make his stay in hospital more comfortable. Sorry to hear it man but onwards and upwards... Fuck her out of your system. Jake stared at the screen for a moment before sighing in resignation.
I intend too, see you in a few days. J

Part 2 Chapter 14, book 1 Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 14, part 2 (more to follow) re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 2 ( Chapter 14, book 1)

Jake got back to the boat in early morning, a long drive from a passing farmer he managed to flag down and then having to persuade a boat trip out to the moored yacht from a local when he got to port. Not having his phone or any form of money on him had been brutal but he was glad to be finally climbing the silver ladder onto the back deck of the boat. Hunter was being kept in for forty-eight hours to make sure he would have no lasting effects and some minor antibiotics to make sure he didn't catch any bugs, he would come back to the boat in due time so Jake was happy to leave him. Seeing one of the crew approaching at his arrival he beckoned him over.'Go to my room and get some money from the vanity and pay the guy for the ride.... Just take whatever's there.' He patted the crewman on the back knowing he was trustworthy and left him to speak the native tongue of the local to pay him for the kindness. Jake was too tired to deal with anymore, he wanted to find Emma and check she was okay, tell her that he was back and then go to bed. He was exhausted and almost dead on his feet.'Ricardo?' He turned to the young man quickly 'Where is Miss Anderson?' He asked pointedly.'Up on deck sir, she was on the loungers about five minutes ago.' The young man nodded his way, receiving a pat on the shoulder as way of thanks and Jake headed for the stairs to the upper deck. It was early even for an early riser like Emma, suggesting she had probably waited on him all night and that didn't make him happy at all. She would be as tired as him.'Emma?' He called out as he got to the top of the deck and could see her laid out on the double lounger like an angel resting on the clouds. God, she was a sight for sore eyes, and just being back within ten feet of her relaxed every taut muscle in his body. He felt like he had been tense waiting to get back to her and could finally breathe now that he could see her.'Hey.' She smiled shyly from her position on the lounger as he walked forward intently, she just looked too inviting to not go to her and all thoughts of anything else swam from his fuzzy head. She was like a constant lure for him, pushing sense aside. He slid down beside her on the lounger with a satisfied sigh, his body giving way to the comfiness and ability to finally lie down. He sprawled alongside her not caring if he literally draped all over her, too fatigued too move, laid on his front. He buried his face in his arms to block out the light and felt like he could fall asleep instantly beside her, the smell of her and her nearness, was like being home and now his brain was shutting down with relief.Despite his brain closing down slowly he could feel her breath on his arm and her eyes on his profile, silently looking at him. He could sense her, her shyness at saying anything vibrating his way and as much as he wanted to just sleep he also wanted her to be okay about last night too. 'I'm still awake.' He mumbled, impulsively sliding an arm out across her waist with his eyes closed, pulling her to his side so he could snuggle into her and kill this insane need to stare at him about now. He wanted to know what she was thinking but he really didn't have the energy to do anything about it. He moved his face nearer her neck so he could tuck his forehead against her hair and inhale all the sexy goodness and subtle tropical scent that was just her. He had missed her like crazy.'You smell good.' He muttered almost incoherently, still with eyes shut and sleep trying to overtake him. He could feel her slowly beginning to tense her body, her breathing becoming shallower and the telltale signs of Emma going into PA mode, all business and no emotion.Fuck, he didn't need this version right now.'Thanks.' She muttered a little tightly, Jake sighed internally that she wasn't even going to give him five minutes to rejoice in last night before ripping this to shreds for him. He smiled against her naked skin with a little hint of defeat, smiled because he knew her only too well.'Are you ever going to just learn to let go, Miss Anderson? When you're sober.' He sighed again, wishing she was still drunk for at least a little while.'What do you mean?' She sounded irritated, maybe a little surprised.'I can feel you....Stiffer than a board.....Why so formal after last night?' He smiled again, teasing her might be more fun than an argument right about now, not that he could do much. He had no use of his limbs anymore. He felt her movements and the telltale motion of her twisting her hair anxiously, her cute little annoying habit of nerves on show.God dammit Emma.He reached up, covered her hand in his and pulled her fingers away from that soft beautiful hair. 'Relax, I only want to sleep.' He mumbled, returning his arm to its previous throw across her waist casually. 'Stop thinking and sleep with me...You look tired.' He commanded a little more than he meant too but he wanted this last time with her before reality set in and she found every reason to rip his heart out. He felt her eyes on his face again and knew she was probably glaring at him for pulling her fingers out of her hair like she always did.Truly a return to her uptight former self and not even a hint of carefree holiday Emma left on show.'I'm not tired.' She huffed childishly, feathers ruffled for whatever reason and whatever he had done this time. Hungover Emma was on show and even though it was normally cute, not so much today when he actually cared about what had happened between them last night. He felt her slide out of his arms, leaving him feel a little empty.'I'm going for a swim.' She added as she rose, voice all cool and very Pa and Jake could only sigh at her return, last night had obviously pushed her further than she was comfortable with and here she was reeling it back in again with vengeance. Jake lifted his head to look at her walking away, sexy and cute all rolled into one perfect little package of sheer angelic beauty. He felt that ache of longing at knowing this would never be what he wanted and she was already closing down on him.'Don't drown...I don't have the energy for a repeat of last night.' He sighed, watching her leave with a serious bout of regret at leaving last night, as much as he was glad to stay by his best mates side he couldn't help but wish he had stayed with her and seen through whatever last night had been. More now than ever seeing as cold and closed off Emma had made a grand return. She was back in work mode and he was not too happy about that at all.When Emma had left deck Jake hauled himself up, the lounger no longer so appealing without her on it and dragged himself back to the confines of his own room to sleep in peace away from the death rays of sun. Leaving it dark and only kicking the door semi-closed he collapsed face down on the bed, barely managing to haul the covers back with his heavy fatigued body and all but passed out immediately.

* * *

Jake finally woke up feeling almost normal, his room was still in darkness and he had no clue as to how many hours he had been asleep. He was still in the exact same position he had flopped down and now stiff as hell. He pulled himself up and dragged his aching muscles to the en-suite shower in an attempt to wake up fully. He hated sleeping the day away even if he had an excuse and wanted to make sure he did something more active than lazing around today to counter balance his messed up sleeping pattern.Once showered and dressed he headed up on deck to see what the crew had going for breakfast or lunch or whatever hell time of the day it was. For all he knew it could be evening anyway.Heading up into the sun he was surprised and a little irritated to see Emma had fallen asleep in the highest point of sun in the day, it was noon judging by its position and she was only being saved from the rays by a book over her face. He knew it was her just from that little body alone, she had a figure the other girls should envy, soft curves and perfectly proportioned little limbs. Even her dainty feet always fascinated him, he'd never been a fan of small delicate girls before Emma but somehow it only added to everything about her that was perfect.He sat down on the lounger beside her, smiling at the romance book cover with a shake of his head. The girl was complicated to say the least, he would never have pegged her for romance books and slid it away slowly to reveal that peaceful perfection underneath. Tiny little nose and perfectly kissable lips, a perfect face if he ever saw one and the tiniest hint of freckles forming over the bridge of her nose now she was getting a tan from being here. He gently brushed her hair away from her forehead savouring the silent moments before she woke up fully. Taking in a face that would haunt him for a lifetime.'Hey.' He sounded husky as she began to rouse with the sun fully hitting her face, adorably sleepy and those perfect soft blues that he loved so much flickering open to melt his heart some more.I love you, Bambino.'Hey.' She half smiled, half blinked up at him sleepily, his heart aching a little too much. 'You shouldn't sleep in the sun.' He scolded gently, watching her trying to focus on him. Even though he had put himself in between the sun and her to shield her, she seemed to be having a hard time looking at him properly, squinting at the brightness.'I didn't intend to.' She blinked some more as Jake effortlessly slid his sunglasses onto her face, smiling back when she smiled at him in that endearing way of thanks she had. He knew they had to talk about last night and set things straight, not just brush it aside as she seemed to want to do. He didn't want to do it here either.'Want to go somewhere?' Jake looked off to the ocean, away from her face. A deep sense of trepidation that this was not going to go how he wanted it to but that doing it was unavoidable. 'Such as?' She sounded inquisitive, more mellow than before he had gone to bed and less PA toned.He shrugged in reply, he just wanted them away from here, away from the others who would start questioning him about Hunter, tilting his head up to watch the sea crashing on the distant shore to give him some sense of calm.'Anywhere but here.' He sighed dejectedly. He had told Hunter that deep down he knew Emma didn't want a relationship with him but he had always held a tiny spark of hope that he was wrong, being here now with her after last night and how normal she seemed had killed all his chances. He knew undeniably that Emma was never going to see him as anything other than a boss and a friend.'How's Hunter?' She asked gently, watching his face a little too closely.'He's fine... He will be. They just need to monitor him....Secondary drowning is a risk when you swallow as much as he did.' He answered on autopilot, his head to wrapped up in what was missing between them to really divulge much about Danny.'Secondary drowning?' She queried quietly looking at him almost shyly.'You can drown long after you come out of the water.. .It's in your lungs still.' He tensed, remembering Blake Carlisle his friend in his teens who had drowned after a stupid drunken boat party. It still hurt to remember him.'So where will we go?' She asked a little more brightly, a smile being plastered on her face but it did nothing for his mood. She was far removed from the Emma of last night.'We could drive somewhere.' He went back to watching the horizon instead of that beautiful face of hers, tense, distracted. He just needed to get things moving and get this over and done with, he had formulated a plan at the hospital last night with Hunter... A way out of this emotional mess he was in if things were looking hopeless with her.'Okay.' She smiled a little warily, unsure of his mood. 'Shall I get changed?'He shook his head, looking over her floaty dress and sandals, she was always gorgeous no matter what she chose to wear but in the summer clothes and dresses she was even more so.'No....You look perfect.' His eyes flickered down the length of her as she got up, waving her book at him to say she was going to put it in her room. He watched her walk away elegantly and felt his stomach drop heavily. He had gotten enough from these brief few minutes to know he might be putting his plan into action later today. Emma wasn't the same girl of yesterday, the connection was gone and she was most likely never to get that drunk again knowing how far they had gone.Minutes later Emma walked back on deck towards him, looking every bit the angel who held all the keys to his heart and every bit the destroyer of it. He smiled despite feeling like absolute hell and gestured for her to follow him to the stairs again to get off the boat.

* * *

Driving the coastal roads on the cliffs above where the yacht was moored in the rented sports car wasn't helping Jakes mood much, despite the companionable silence between them Jake was tense as hell. He caught her looking his way a few times but he ignored it, keeping his eyes on the winding road and handling the powerful car expertly. He had been using the quiet time to think things through, look for ways to fix this, other outcomes and yet always came back to the same problem. Emma just didn't feel the same way about him and he had to accept it. Sighing to himself for the hundredth time he tried to focus on just the here and now, of being with her and enjoying the beautiful scenery and the rest of their trip. Feeling her eyes on him once more he tried to lighten his mood, smiling her way softly, remembering a little too well what she had felt like in his arms, that soft mouth and smooth skin, that tongue of hers meeting with his, that body moulded so seamlessly to his own. If anything he could imprint all of it to memory for a lifetime and never regret one second of it. To be able to kiss her so freely had been more than he had even imagined it could be.'So?.....Are we literally just driving then?' She asked brightly breaking the silence between them and looking his way openly, a small subtle smile on show.'Nope.' He replied unemotionally and just kept his gaze fixed on the crazy road to manoeuvre another dangerous narrow turn.'No clues?' She tried again with another look his way, a small hint at irritation.'None!' Jake just answered in the same non-emotional one word way. He didn't much feel like talking just yet, he had a scenic destination they were heading for that he could stop at.'How do you know I'll like it?' She bit a little more aggressively, temper rising quickly in her. Emma was obviously still hungover and easily irritated but it only grated on his already fragile mood.He shrugged as a response.'It's not fun is it?' He responded dryly, unable to keep a kerb on the emotions building up inside of him now that they were nearing the look out point he intended to stop at.'What?' She snapped back around, catching his face turned her way for a second, both of their eyes narrowed at one another.'Being closed out.' He tried for nonchalant but emotion betrayed his words, he just sounded sarcastic and he knew he was being an asshole but he couldn't help it. Getting closer to stopping and really talking was no doubt getting closer to Emma telling him this would always be a boss and PA relationship and he was hurting like hell. 'What does it take Emma?'. He asked impulsively, really wanting to know what he had to do to just get her to look at him the way he looked at her.He shifted gear, eyes back on the road and whole body tense as hell while he waited on her response, he was driving a little faster and heart beating louder.'Jake, please... What are you talking about?' Emma shifted awkwardly in her seat, fixing her seat belt as though the speed was making her nervous and he eased his foot on the gas a little. Slowing down to round another turn.'You're not even going to mention last night?.... Is that another conversation over?' He snapped at her as emotion overtook and regretted it almost immediately.Cool the fuck down Carrero.'You didn't mention it either.' She spat a little too aggressively back at him. Riled by his mood obviously and changing the whole tone of how he had intended this conversation to go.'I was waiting to see if you would.' He tried to keep control of his tone this time, trying to defuse the anger and just talk.'Why?' She snapped, still pissed and he could only shrug. He had wanted her to broach the subject, acknowledge last night in some way because it fucking hurt him that she hadn't. That it had been nothing to her except a drunken mistake.'Jake ....  It shouldn't have happened, we crossed a line.' She pleaded his way, softening her tone the way she did at work when she was trying to soothe a bad mood over some shitty business meeting. She was pandering to him and he couldn't fucking stand it over this.'And there she is! .... Right back to square one.' The sarcasm was thick in his tone. His body stiffening in his seat with sheer anger and heartbreak fighting one another for control.'What's that supposed to mean?' She turned at him angrily.'Anytime you get close Emma, even a hint of letting go you snap right back in and shut the door. NO conversation, No acknowledgement of it, just Wham. OVER!' He barked at her, letting anger loose, unable to stop the infernal ache in his gut from leaking out.'What? ' She hissed with a sardonic laugh 'Because I won't sleep with my boss? I'm not letting myself go? That's being closed off?' She turned away anger flaming her face, body seething rage and he wanted to punch the god damn windscreen so badly.'I don't think there was any doubt about it last night... It's not the issue... It's the afterwards Emma.' His voice was laced with venom, anger seething from every pore, his body tense. He had never been on this side of it before, women had always wanted more from him and he hadn't felt anything. Knowing that was now Emma's stance got to him more than anything ever had in his life, knowing what she was probably thinking right now because he had been that same cold bastard so many times.'I was drunk....being stupid, anyone can make a mistake!' She huffed and stayed looking away from him. Shifting herself away so could turn her body from him towards the door. Jake felt that surge of complete hurt hit him hard, rage kicking in and slammed the car to a halt with foot hitting the floor with the brake pedal. Uncontainable pain oozing from his every pore.This wasn't her... His Emma was not this cold hearted unfeeling bitch who just slammed sex like that. Who dismissed last night as a drunken mistake not worth mentioning.Everything loose in the car rattled forward to the front around them dramatically but he didn't care, he needed to get out and away from her before he ripped the god damn steering wheel off and used it to smash the windscreen out.He felt her looking his way as he hauled off his belt and got out of the car with speed. Stalking far away from it and leaving the door wide open, walking to the cliff edge to try and regain some control over the huge swarm of painful emotions consuming him right now. For a second he had an urge to jump off the fucking cliff just so it would stop. He dragged in a  few deep inhales to cool his jets, simmer his mood until he had control once more.His pain dulled down as sheer anger overtook him, anger that she would be this way about last night. Anger that despite knowing this is how it would be he had still gone down this fucking route, Anger that he hadn't just left it alone and enjoyed a day on the beach with her doing anything except this shit. He was a fucking moron.Taking deep steadying breaths to get his temper under control he turned back and slid into the car once more, swallowing it down, breathing hard.

Why you should read The Carrero Trilogy!

Common misunderstandings about The Carrero Trilogy
Clearing up some misconceptions that arise very often and put new readers off. #thecarrerotrilogy These are points which have been made by people who were put off and then decided to give the books a go and found themselves hooked.

My covers may be all fifty shades-esk but the contents could not be more different. Completely different. (The covers make sense when you read the tale- Symbolic)


Trashy? Nope, there is only ONE naughty scene in book 1 in its entirety. If you are looking for hardcore or even soft Erotica then this is not the book for you, it spends more time on building real relationships in the book than it does in the bedroom. Book two has more blush factor but at all times it's classy and pertains to the story.
Erotica - Again nope, Contemporary romance or Chick lit. This is a story about a woman's journey and the people that touch her life. It touches on issues such as child abuse, sexual harassment and the way women are generally treated in a man's world.
Dominant rich moody male - Again nope...Jake Carrero is the epitome of charm and a nice guy hence why my fans are lining up to marry him. Yes, he's swoon worthy, rich and all the things a male hero fantasy man should be but he's also old fashioned, good mannered and very gentlemanly. He is a real sweetheart and our readers are simply in love with him.
Weak naive heroin? Again NO, all my female characters are strong real women with their own issues and coping mechanisms. My heroin leads the tale and is very complex. Emma is a quiet, reserved and strong heroine who changes dramatically through the entirety of three books. Her character is just as luring as that of her male counterpart.
Couple-based plot? Not entirely, a good romance spends a lot of time on the main couple but this book has other characters and other issues sidling along the way. With other interest in other characters and possibility of future books.
This book is a real emotional rollercoaster and the most common feedback I get is that it not only draws you into the story but makes you feel every emotion quite dramatically. I am a writer who puts a lot of emotion into her stories, not all plain sailing and not always the happy ever after. I am also someone who likes to surprise and twist until the very end.
I have been told this is a movie in the making and received 5 stars across the board on Amazon from all reviewers. Fans are literally wild with hope that this could one day hit the movies, and have already put together suggestions for a fantasy cast list in the fan group.
This is a story of love, friendship and overcoming obstacles in your life. It's a true romance story and shows that love really can conquer all, even when it's imperfect and has been flawed, forgiveness and growth are needed to be everlasting and Emma Andersons story is one that will have you reaching for the tissues one minute and laughing the next.

So why not give it a go...It may surprise you as it has every reader so far.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZ35RFY

Part 1 Chapter 14, book 1 Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 14, part 1 (more to follow) re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 1 ( Chapter 14, book 1)


Jake was searching under the water, too dark to see anything and scrambling with his hands at anything that felt like it could be Daniel, panic gripping his stomach as he frantically surfaced for air and dived again. He had hit the water without a seconds thought the second he knew Danny was in here. No cares that he was maybe too drunk for this and just endlessly searching despite his muscles aching and being so heavy he could barely move anymore. It felt like it had been hours instead of minutes and he still hadn't found him. He wouldn't give up on him, he wouldn't lose his best friend this way.Surfacing for air quicker this time he took a moment to drag more into his burning lungs and wipe the water from his eyes. He could hear yelling from deck, crying from Leila and other voices but he was fully zoned in on the surface of the water looking for any signs of him.'He's here, Mr Carrero.' Yelled out one of the crew from the speed boat nearby and he felt his body lose all fatigue and start swimming their way frantically. He could see them hauling a lifeless body into the boat under the moonlight and a sickness swept through him, a fear that maybe they had been too late and only swam faster to his friends side . 

* * *The hospital had given Jake some dry clothes to wear, he hadn't really thought about anything when he had jumped into the air rescue chopper holding Hunters hand, only that he had to be with him at all costs. It had all passed in a blur of drama and chaos and his lifeless pale face lying still and closed up on the stretcher below him, he felt like he had barely breathed in that entire journey to the mainland hospital. Hunter had been breathing on his own but still not conscious and the paramedics had been messing with tubes and ventilators while Jake kerbed his panic the best he could. He had lost a friend this way once before, saved them from drowning only to have them die later from too much fluid intake.It had felt like an eternity sitting in that hall waiting for word, his stomach churning itself in knots and his hands trembling and cold when they had gotten here, the ships captain had been sent back to the boat as daylight had broken. He wanted him to take care of Emma in his absence, it was the only rational thought he could formulate, focusing on her to give him some peace.He hadn't given himself much chance to begin with to think about what had been happening with her when Daniel had fallen overboard, he had been honed in on him and what was going on, the fear and agony of waiting for word on Hunter. Anytime she had come into his head he had pushed her back down, wanting to analyse it later, not jade the happiest moment of his life with possibly the worst. Until he knew Hunter was going to be Okay all thoughts were on him. Losing Danny would be like losing Arrick, he was as close as a brother and would never forgive himself if he died.'Mr Carrero? Mr Hunter is asking for you.' A young female voice drew his attention, looking up at a young nurse in blue scrubs beckoning her to follow so he did without hesitation. She smiled his way warmly.'He's okay? He's going to be okay I mean?' He tripped over his words, half relief and half exhaustion. Walking behind her and trying to drag his heavy weight with him. He felt about a hundred years older suddenly.'Yes , he will be kept in for observation of course but he's fine. His father has been notified and on his way.' Jake sighed, relief washing over him and the sudden ache to wrap arms around Emma right now. He didn't even have his cell with him to call her. He had gotten here in soaked clothes, a shirt and chino's , not even wearing shoes.Jake was ushered into a side room that resembled every hospital he had ever been in, a lot like that time he had gone with Emma to Chicago. A single bed that was tilted into a more comfy position surrounded by white curtains and a bunch of machines and Hunter sitting grinning at him from the middle of it all like a fucking asshole. Dressed ina hospital gown and tucked in like a god damn child under blue sheets and a blanket.'Dickhead.' Jake grunted at him but still moved in for a shoulder to shoulder man hug and patted his best friend on the back with sheer relief.'You're my hero baby, hear you swam your little lungs out like aqua man trying to find me.' Daniel winked at him but he had the urge to just punch him in the face for being so fucking normal.'Fuck head. At least pretend to be remorseful or at least injured, right now you're making me want to hurt you and I wouldn't feel any guilt at all.' Jake flicked Hunter in the forehead in agitation then hauled a seat over and slumped down ungraciously.'Charming! You look like crap...Tired and definitely not like a guy who got laid.' Hunter eyed him up warily and Jake only stuck the V up at him.'Yeah well, whose fault is that?' He growled at him grumpily, rubbing his face and feeling several layers of fatigue hitting him all at once. Relief was a funny thing, it let loose everything he had been holding back for hours and all of a sudden he was drained in the worst kinds of ways.God dammit he was beyond tired and no longer anywhere near drunk at all. 'Sorry bud....So, how far did you get with little miss icy pants?' Hunter grinned but Jake only glared at him coldly.'Don't call her that....... Danny?, How the fuck did you fall off the boat? There are safety rails for that specific reason and even a drunk asshole like you couldn't just tumble over them.' Jake shifted in his chair trying to find a comfier spot and couldn't. His body aching and desperately in need of sleep.'Misdirection! Interesting.... So maybe started something but didn't finish it huh?' Daniel smirked his way and got another finger aimed his way.'How?' Jake repeated.'Okay I'll go first if you go second... No bullshit from either of us.... Deal?' Hunter looked sheepish and peaked Jakes attention. He sighed and then nodded knowing Hunter wouldn't give this topic up.'I saw Richie trying to coerce Leila into my wild little party, pulling at her dress and trying to haul her back... She was saying NO and I just saw red. I flew for him but being drunk as fuck I mis-aimed and went straight over the rails. I don't think either were even looking my way so to everyone else I just jumped up and superman dived into the ocean.' Hunter shrugged, a little colour rising up his cheeks with embarrassment and Jake couldn't do anything but burst out laughing. He leaned into his knees and just gave into the worst kind of hysterics. Relief, pent up emotional trauma. Who knew? But he laughed so much his sides started to ache and tears poured down his face, when he stopped he realised Hunter was laughing too. Just how ridiculously close he had been to death in trying to save Leila from an orgy he had started. The whole thing was completely crazy.'Jesus Danny.... For the love of god please tell the fucking girl you love her for fucks sakes!' Jake hauled his arms around his ribs to stop the ache but Hunter just raised a knowing eyebrow at him. Both of them knew it wasn't that simple.'Touche!' He winked at Jake but was met with another heavy sigh.'Yeah, whatever.' Jake shrugged and once again pushed thoughts of Emma away, he didn't want to think about this right now.'So?' Hunter pushed at him with a finger and Jake glared back. Telling him was inevitable and a part of him wanted to talk about it. Let it out of his head.'We kissed.... For a while.... Would have been more if some idiot hadn't nose dived off the fucking boat.' Jake shrugged and tried to relax but talking about this had him tense and edgy. He couldn't pinpoint why. It had been everything he had thought it could be, more, but now in harsh daylight and sober as hell he was worried as to what would happen now. How Emma would feel. Maybe not getting to sex had been a saving grace instead of a calamity.'You don't think she wants more do you?' Hunter was eyeing him up intensely, reading his best mate effortlessly as he always did.'No.' Jake hated to admit it, saying it out loud hurt like hell but something deep down was telling him he was crazy to think someone like her would even want more with someone like him. His past, his lifestyle and all the shit he had done even while she was his PA. He had fucked it all up by not realising from day one he should have been showing her he could be a guy worth more. Not a playboy asshole with a string of fuck buddies and a long history of wild parties and reckless acts. It was no wonder Emma never looked beyond friendship, the chemistry was there for both of them but he was an asshole to let her see into all that he had been so easily. Last night had been drunken fun for her, he was stupid not to realise that.How could he win over a girl like her, a pure and sweet angelic girl when he had done nothing to deserve her?'Look man, you know how I feel about this.... If you think there's no future in it you need to be the one to cut ties.' Hunter was frowning at him and he knew what he meant. Firing Emma so they didn't work together anymore was the last thing he would ever do. He couldn't imagine not having her in his life.'I can't...I won't.' He said firmly, his no nonsense tone that even Hunter knew not to argue with.'Then you need to cut ties emotionally. If she wants to be just friends and co workers then you need to get up and go back to who you were until she doesn't mean anything anymore.' Hunter was watching him, laying back on the cushions a little helplessly.'Has that worked for you?' He regarded him thoughtfully.
'It helps. Over time I hope I feel nothing for her but over last couple years I find it easier to put her out of my head.' Hunter shrugged again and they both looked up at the ceiling to contemplate the craziness that was Hunters love for Leila. Jake tried to imagine doing the same thing and couldn't. He was far worse than Hunter in terms of how he felt and his relationship with Emma wasn't exactly something he could just drop and run off to the other side of the world from. He was her boss and all love aside, he did actually need her at work. She was amazing at what she did and he didn't have the heart to look for another PA. He didn't want another PA.

Part 7 conclusion - Chapter 13, book 1 - Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 13, part 7 (more to follow) re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 7 ( Chapter 13, book 1)


'I like both versions of you in different ways, equally.' He sighed, trying to keep his libido under control as his blood started warming up at her obvious come-ons, keeping close. 'What do you mean 'different ways'?' She blinked up at him innocently, he sighed, running a hand across her face lightly and moving her hair to tuck behind her ear, he chewed his lip as he tried to think of the most diplomatic way of answering her. Truth be told he was in love with every version of her but Drunk Emma let him in more than the others, he got a chance of more with her.'PA Emma is cool and capable and she's the best assistant I've ever had, She's funny and sharp and she's good at what she does. I like PA Emma.' He nodded to himself rattling off his mental tick list. Finished with her shoes, he kneeled up, so even though he was still on the floor his head was towering over Emma.'You like her in an employee, employer way?' She reached up and toyed with his spiky hair childishly, instantly making him smile and raised eyebrows at this innocent un-Emma manoeuvre. Alcohol was definitely bringing out a whole new side to her and a flicker of guilt hit him in the stomach all of a sudden. Kissing her like this would over step the mark, she trusted him to take care of her when she was drunk and all of this was just drunk Emma letting go a little. The flirting, the come ons... She wouldn't be like that sober and he was suddenly realising how much of an abuse of her trust it would be to actually kiss her like this.'Yes and no... I just like her, because she's her.' His eyes came to rest on hers an overwhelming feeling of disappointment hitting him in the gut. He couldn't hurt the relationship they had this way.'And drunk Emma?''I'm a little infatuated with drunk Emma if I'm being honest.' He pulled her hand down and straightened up to leave, resigned to doing the decent think and what the fuck away. Taking every ounce of his inner strength to do this.'You are? Why?' She sounded sulky, maybe sensing a change in him but he had to do this for her. She meant more than a one night stand or awkward drunken kiss.'Because she's fun... She doesn't guard what she says.... Or does..' He nodded towards her fingers reinforcing what he was saying, sober Emma would never have played with his hair. 'She giggles and lets her hair down.' And trusted him to not take advantage.Shit'So do most of your leggy boobs.' She sulked at him again, big doe eyes that sucker punched him more and a little petted mouth that was killing him right now. He couldn't believe he was contemplating walking back to his room and stopping this.'They're not the same. Not even close Bella. They don't have the other side to her... That's what I mean by 'I like you both'. One can't exist without the other. I wouldn't like there to be only one and not the other.' He shrugged being almost completely open about his feelings for her.'So you like my split personality?... A lover of the cray cray.' She grinned playfully motioning in circles at her temples and crossing her eyes. He smiled, that overwhelming affection for her cuteness hitting him hard and making his mind up for him. He wouldn't abuse her trust when she was drunk. He loved her and that meant no breaking boundaries when she was vulnerable.Fuck you Carrero, wimp!He moved another hair from her face taking a last longing look with the intention of saying goodnight. Every part of his body was yelling at him but he didn't care, he wanted her to be able to face him in the morning and deep down he knew this was not the way it should be between them.'It's not split though, there's glimpses of both versions all the time, just one chooses to dominate.... I see drunk Emma sometimes in PA Emma. when she occasionally relaxes too.' He had lost all his merriness, sobering up hard and lingering when he should have been walking out.'Maybe she doesn't know how to relax all the time!' She confessed with a conspirational wink. Emma couldn't look anything but adorable to him.'I think she's scared.' He answered thoughtfully, not sure if it was her he was talking about anymore or him. Was he too scared to try and move things on? Was her being drunk an excuse?'Why?' She watched him carefully, that sweet inquisitive expression on that flawless face. He stood up, his hands moving to cross across his chest and moved away from her. Putting distance between them.'Because letting her guard down means she lets go a little bit of control and she likes to hold it all together. Letting go makes her vulnerable, leaves her exposed and that's worse than death for her.' His voice was steady and low betraying none of his emotion, it's what he knew about her but she didn't know it was about him too. Moving in on Emma was letting his guard down fully, removing the final barrier which had kept him safe from complete devastation. Wimping out was about protecting him as much as her. Protecting his heart from being broken again.'If I'm vulnerable people can hurt me.... Men can hurt me.' She whispered into the darkness of the room sounding suddenly fearful, bringing him out of his own head and that fierce protective instinct for her coming out to play. Watching her he bent so his forehead met hers and pressed their noses together, an awkward position for him but as natural as breathing, he wanted to comfort her and make her feel safe. He would always keep her safe. It took precedent over everything.'I'd never let anyone hurt you Emma.' He breathed against her. His hands coming down to hold his weight on the mattress at either side of her thighs so he could stay leaning over her. Bringing them close enough to breathe the same air and smell her gentle tropical skin.'What if you couldn't stop them?' She suddenly sounded so young and vulnerable and he wanted to squeeze her badly. He would die to protect her, always.'I'd always stop them.' He promised with conviction in his voice because he truly meant it. Emma sunk forward towards him impulsively, looking like a lost child, reaching up so she could wrap her arms around his neck and brought their foreheads to touch. He wanted to close his eyes at the way she initiated this cuddle and imprint it to memory, she didn't often initiate touch at all.'You won't always be around.' She said quietly .'I'm always around if you haven't noticed.'. He said softly, bringing attention to the fact that since he had met her he had engineered almost a constant presence on purpose. Even before he knew what she was becoming to him he had wanted her around him all the time.He felt her lift her head and tug him a little closer so their eyes could lock. The most intimate thing Emma had ever done and he had to steel himself back in to stop the impulse to kiss her again. She looked so trusting which only calmed his fire.'I guess.' She whispered at him.'Let go Emma....Trust me to look after you...If not long term then for these two weeks at least. Trust me to protect you.' He was almost begging her. He wouldn't do this drunk but if she was this way tomorrow then maybe he would. Sober he would kiss her if she let him.'I'll try.' She whispered, not loosening her hold on him at all.'Good girl.' His arms came around her, pulling her up to him slightly for a gentle embrace to say goodnight and leave before he did anything stupid, lifting her from the bed for a full body embrace.'Don't say that to me.' She pause mid hold, causing him to halt. Her voice childish.'Why?' He was suddenly confused at what he had said.... Good girl? What was wrong with that?Just don't...' She said a little more firmly, he smiled in acknowledgement and slowly pulled her the rest of the way to cuddle her. Emma snuggled into him a little too readily making his body react in the worst kind of way for this given situation, he had to release his hold or impale her. The sudden release of her body made her stumble awkwardly and Jake cursed himself internally, reaching to catch her and loosing his own footing as his toes hit the bed leg painfully.Fuck. Graceful this was not.He leaned forward too far to try and keep hold of her and somehow completely lost his balance, too drunk for these kind of manoeuvres and even though she weighed practically nothing he went down on top of her, nose to nose and laughing like fools at the awkwardness of their ungraceful collapse. His face was so close to hers and his body fully connected in such an intimate pose that for just a second he couldn't react, his mind a whirring mass of Kiss her... Don't kiss her. He just stared instead like a dumb asshole and couldn't foresee Emma lunging at him full force in a flash.Her mouth connected with his so suddenly that she almost winded him and took a millisecond to realise that she was kissing him, that Emma was kissing him!Fuuuuuckkk.His heart somersaulted to his abdomen and sent all manner of craziness inside of him. His mouth and hers entwined in seconds, moving into the one thing he had wanted for so long and being hit with an overwhelming onslaught of emotions and sensations all at once. Euphoric tingles and extreme hunger, losing himself in her taste.God damn, she tasted like peaches and cream and her soft lips and softer tongue were made for devouring. She kissed like an angel, a little unsurely at first , obviously inexperienced which only made him want her more. He knew he should stop it but he couldn't, the second her lips had met his he was lost to her and no amount of will power would drag them apart right now. He was adjusting his body to lean all over her without crushing her and losing himself into the kiss in ways he had never experienced.This was love, he couldn't deny it anymore. The way she felt, what kissing her made him feel. He was lost with no hope of a come back after this.His hands moved to her hair and around her throat impulsively, wanting to hold her to him and claim her, softly holding her still so he could lead the kiss, show her how to mould to him as she found her way. Her movements becoming more confident and meeting him flawlessly, he loved the fact that it was obvious she hadn't done a whole lot of kissing this way, adjusting herself impulsively to him. She was his perfect pure angel.God, she was made to kiss him.He could feel her heart rate increasing under him, her body moving to accommodate him more comfortable and her breathing getting shallower as she got more turned on. Jake knew without a doubt this was heading for sex and he knew he might not have the will power to stop it, lust consuming him and love driving him.He caught her hands in his and pressed them against the mattress beside her head, pulling away to catch his breath momentarily, trying to slow things down and gain control. Try to rationalise this but he couldn't, the way she was looking at him just pulled him back down. He had no control over this, she had opened a flood gate and he wanted her so badly he had no say anymore. His head was blanking his thoughts out and just lost to the sensations.He dropped back to that inviting mouth and gave himself all in, no regrets, no holding back just kissing her more passionately and harder. Both of them breathing hard and fast, Emma responded with fever, arms wriggling to be free and go to him, legs moving up around his waist and inching herself against his abdomen even though he was trying to keep distance down there. She was moving against his body suggestively in time to the kissing and making him groan wildly. He knew Emma was no virgin, she had mentioned boyfriends in her teen years but she clearly had never been a casual sex kind of person which made this all the more intoxicating for him.Her movements were not skilled and honed, there was an innocence and almost awkwardness, holding onto him as though asking him to guide her. He had been with enough women in his lifetime to know this was almost as close to her being a virgin as he could get and he fell in love with her all the harder.She wouldn't go all in for just a drunken night surely?He pulled away and kissed her again, this time sucking her bottom lip seductively and testing how far she may want to go. She writhed under him, reaching up to try and kiss him again, her body fully moulded to his and despite his obvious arousal she wasn't backing down but pressing herself to him. Jakes head was cloudy with lust and he could no longer think straight, nothing except getting her body naked and him inside of her.She was clinging to him and trying to pull him further into her, moaning at his touch, moaning as his tongue moved back into her mouth slowly and she began scrambling her hands free to haul him down by the shoulders greedily. There was no denying she wanted this as much as him and he was beyond stopping it, his hands moving to skim the side of her breast and revelling in how fucking sexy her body was to him. Holding his weight up so he could shift against her harder. Bringing his groin to her pelvis and parting her legs so there was no denying where he was pushing this, she just opened up and fully let them connect. Her body heat scorching hot in the apex of her thighs and only fuelling his desire.He groaned against her mouth, her body too perfect for words and hand moving down to trace her thigh and head towards her heat ready to take this a step further without hesitation.There was a mass bang in the hall behind them, he had left the door wide open and the sudden noise made him jerk around impulsively, shielding her instinctively to protect her from whatever it was. There was lots of hysterical screaming as the door filled with a dark looming figure of a man and Jake pulled away reluctantly fully from her to turn and look. Confusion clearing his foggy brain.'What the f...?' Jake was shocked yet angry that he had finally gotten to this point with the girl of his dreams and some asshole was wading in to ruin it. He was still on top of her, braced on his arms but their bodies still entangled achingly.'Jake?.... Jake?' The voice at the door sounded hysterical. He recognised Richards voice instantly.'What's it?' He snapped, raging that this was his fucking life right about now.'It's Daniel he fell off the boat... We can't find him.'

Part 6 - Chapter 13, book 1 - Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 13, part 6 (more to follow) re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 6 ( Chapter 13, book 1)* * *Going back to the boat Jake had been disappointed to find the entire party followed him and Emma, so they had no time alone. The boat ride back had been eye opening though, with Emma standing between his legs as he had perched on the edge of the side and her arms around his neck. She had been about an inch from his face the whole time talking about nothing specific, her eyes had kept moving to Jakes mouth longingly and he had to curb kissing her about a thousand times even though his hands were on her hips and she was pulled practically into his groin. One little inch forward and a tiny head tilt was all it would have taken, she was already mirroring his pose and screaming 'kiss me'. He didn't know if she had any idea what signals she was giving him right now or if she was subtly telling him to go for it, she was obviously drunk and feeling more carefree and it just confused him as to what to do. She was giggling enough, touching him enough and if she had been any other girl he would have high fived himself as all the cues were there that he had scored. But this was her, and she was innocent in all ways sexual, she trusted him and he didn't want to kiss her in front of these people anyway. If and when he did make a move he wanted it private so she could relax and decide without pressure if she wanted it. He didn't want to ruin anything between them and that kiss so long ago in the hotel had made him wary of trying too haphazardly.On the boat he had left her to wander the deck with Leila and headed to the lounger, he was going to let her make the moves if that's what she wanted. Let her relax, let her come tom him and play it by ear. It was the only way he could think of playing this where she was concerned and that way he couldn't screw this all up by assuming it's what she wanted.He kicked back and decided to let it go a little, drink more and get as merry as her if he was going to stop overthinking all of this. Maybe that was half his problem, he was trying to stay sober so he wouldn't make moves on her when he should really be throwing caution to the wind and going with the flow. That's what she seemed to be doing tonight and watching her dance, drink and get in the party mood was definitely doing it for him.'You're in there you know?' Daniel slid down beside him on the loungers next to him and smiled his way, waving a bottle towards Emma and Leila on deck. 'She's been giving you the come on since she got to the restaurant man, what are you waiting for?''You don't know her like I do... She's nothing like the woman we normally chase Danny, she requires a little gentle handling.' Jake frowned his way and then back at Emma, she was laughing with Leila and falling over one another while trying to change the song on the stereo. He smiled impulsively at just how adorable she was.'Is this what love does to you? Makes you wimp out and over cautious. The normal Jake Carrero would have had that chick naked in under three minutes, fucked and back on deck to party within the first couple of hours on this boat. Man, by now you would have fucked her a dozen times in every position and moved onto someone else.... You really are pussy whipped.' Daniel slumped back and shook his head at Jake smirking uncontrollably.'Shut up... I don't want to be that guy anymore.' Jake mirrored Daniels pose and slid another beer from the table to cradle on his abdomen. Both of them staring up at the perfect starry sky contemplating things in general.'No, you don't want to be that way while your head is all invested in her. If she was out of the picture you would revert to kind mate.' Daniel prodded him in the shoulder and he flicked him away.'Maybe she made me realise that doing all the shit I've done in my past isn't enough, It was fun but it was never fulfilling enough to make me happy. It's why I hit it so hard and so constantly.... Looking for more and never finding it...... Until her.' Jake looked his best friends way with a sigh. Daniel regarded him coolly.'Look, she's obviously hot for you tonight so go for it, do me a favour though. If she doesn't want the more when you're both sober Jake then you need to move on, get back in the saddle and put this shit to bed. Bang her, spend the night making her fantasies come true but know if a line is drawn that all of this stops. You go back to who you were and you let that chick do her job.' Daniels stern tone was not that of a guy being a dick but a best mate offering wisdom. He had to agree with what he was saying despite it not being what he wanted to hear. Tonight was the turning point. If he made moves and she wanted it then he would go for it, if she didn't then he would stop it all. By all he meant all of this celibate shit and pining for her and accept it was never going to happen. None of this was healthy and he had no more energy for it.'I should stop! I think I've had enough.' He could hear her protesting Leilas advances with more alcohol. Voices coming their way and Daniel raised an eyebrow at him before sliding off to join the twins dancing badly on deck with Marissa and Miracle.'Hush now, we're on vacation.....party, party, party!' Leila was loud and obnoxious like her normally drunken ass could be.'End up comatose or throwing up in my own shoes, you mean?' Emma sighed as he watched her, grabbing the rail for support. That perfect little body encased in a short floaty red dress and looking a little too divine.'Your loss, sweet cheeks.' Leila pouted cheekily and turned towards the dancing group with a smile, swinging her hips and leaving Emma to either follow or not. Emma turned his way looking at him in a way he knew meant she wanted to be beside him right now.She wants this....Take her cue Jake.'Come. Bambino!' Jakes eyes met hers, a look between them that he couldn't mistake. Years of those same looks from woman meant that even on her he could recognise it. Emma most definitely was finding him attractive enough tonight to want something more than just platonic touches and with a little beckoning finger wiggle, he patted the lounger beside him suggestively. She wants you, she wants this! Relax and go with it.His heart had upped it's beat and his body was definitely feeling a little clammy, nerves kicking in and telling him he should drink a hell of a lot more. Jake never got nervous around women... Ever.She pushed herself off of the rail without hesitation and with a sultry look pasted on her face and chewing her lip she made her way towards him on unsteady legs. She got within a foot of the bed and fell ungraciously on top of him. Luckily even drunk Jake had fighters reflexes and caught her soundly. Okay maybe in some awkward places that his hands shouldn't have strayed but he pulled her to the side of him and wrapped an arm around her quickly to avoid drawing attention to the hand that had fully palmed her breast. She has amazing tits.'Crap.' She breathed through a giggle that made him only want to pull her closer, her skin was a little cool from standing up on the deck all night and he wrapped his warmer body around her to cocoon her in his own heat. 'Bit drunk there, Miss Anderson?' He laughed at her, enamoured by that twinkling set of eyes and the precious smile stuck in place.'Sof course not' She slurred and then looked immediately confused.Jake just cuddled her more, too god damn perfect for words. He had it bad and he knew it. Everything she did had him weak for her and even something as simple as cute slurring of words had him wanting to squeeze the life out of her.'Glad to see you letting go.' He smiled, almost nose to nose with her.'I think falling on top of your boss is more than letting go.' She laughed, relaxing in his arms and regaining control of her vocabulary once more.'I'm not your boss for the next two weeks.' He winked suggestively, plying on the hints thickly that he was completely on board with however she wanted to play this. 'Okay, I shall rephrase... Falling on top of your temporary, not boss, is overdoing it.' She giggled again, the breeze blowing her hair up around her face suddenly and he reached out to smooth it back so he could continue to stare into those cool blue pools of perfection. Her eyes had always drawn him, from that first time in his office those baby blues had captured him and haunted his mind always. She could unravel him with one look.'Do you need me to put you to bed?' He asked, hoping that if he got her away from watchful eyes and maybe alone they could further explore what this was tonight.Gentle handling Carrero. Listen to her, read her signs.'Do I not need to put YOU to bed?' She slurred again and he couldn't help but laugh at that suggestion. If only.'I'm sure I can handle way more alcohol than you, tiny.' He joked, still keeping a firm hold on that body and letting his hands trail down her back slowly towards her ass, she wasn't stopping him anyway. All signs that he wasn't reading this wrong at all.'I'm not so sure, I haven't seen you walk yet.' She pointed at him in the universal drunk air jab. Too god damn cute for words and her mouth was most definitely getting closer to his, her body moving towards him so very slowly. 'I'm sure after seeing you make an attempt at that, it proves you're worse than me.' He shifted to move his groin away from her a little, she was getting too close for comfort and unlike most woman who liked to feel the effect they were having on him he knew Emma wouldn't. She wasn't like any girl he had ever known and this game of seduction was nothing like any he played. The ball was in her court and he was just playing along with whatever she was allowing. He wouldn't scare her off by moving in all Carrero like.'I like your dimples when you smile.' She prodded his face. Focusing on his features a little too closely, distracted by them it seemed and licking her lips as her eyes moved to his mouth. He all but groaned. She's giving every prompt and signal unknowingly, innocently...Fuck.'And there she is.' He grinned trying to deflect just how horny she was making him right now.'There who is?' She ask in confusion, a frown creasing her forehead and eyes coming back to his in confusion.'Drunk Emma....How are you doing? ...I missed you baby.' He smiled, although truth be told she had been drunk since the restaurant.'You missed drunken Emma?' She asked, blinking suspiciously.'I did.' He smirked as that little jealous twinkle hit her eyes. All good signs for him anyway.'Why?... Do you like her more than me?' She pouted with sad eyes, not even smiling when he laughed at her and shook his head. Too adorable for words.'You are drunken Emma....' He soothed, shifting his knee between them a little to keep that wriggling body of hers from getting back into his groin as that was the way she was heading. Aware of it or not she had inched herself right against his chest and abdomen and caught her feet in his, she was trying to get as close as possible and it was taking all of his will power not to flip her on her back and just stick his tongue in her mouth right now. He was almost certain she wouldn't refuse it right about now but the voices of the others on deck were killing this. He wanted it a little more special than making out in front of them, especially Marissa and her wolfish eyes that had been undressing him all night.'No. I'm not... I'm just Emma... Drunken Emma is....' She looked flustered and he could only laugh. 'Why are you laughing? I'm being serious!' She pulled her hands across her chest between them defiantly but it only made her more appealing, he prodded her nose playfully.Fuck, he loved this girl.'Both Emma's are you, they just choose to come out at different times. You're cute when you pout.' He prodded her in the face lightly again before pinching her nose. He could touch her all day and never tire of it.'Why do you like her more?' She slapped his hand away sulkily, more pouting and the saddest eyes he had ever seen, it just made him want to laugh all the more. God... adorable personified. Jesus.. 'How can you not love this version of you?' He wrapped his arms tighter around her, now that she had taken them from her chest, back to her previous close position and planted a kiss on her cheek. He Snuggled his head into the crook of her neck and manoeuvred her body to mould into his a little better. If he wasn't in direct line of that luscious mouth then he would less likely pounce on her and down here he could at least inhale that sweet skin and perfume to his hearts content.Jeeze, she felt good.'Pffft.... I don't love her then.' She tried to wriggle free huffily and he had to lift his head just to see that wounded expression which was all but killing him right now, she really had no clue how freaking cute she was.'Because I do?' He smiled at that adorable frown.'Yes!''That makes no sense.' He jested, stopping the urge to poke her in the face. Playground flirting techniques were not normally his thing.'Yes it does.... If you like her so much, she must be a leggy bimbo.' She sulked and looked away from him, all hints of green eyed monster on show.Interesting.'I already told you, I don't actually like leggy bimbos, Emma.' He lifts his head more to stare at her fully nose to nose. He instantly thought about stopping that sad little face with a kiss, he was close enough, sure enough that she wanted him too and yet he didn't want to do it this way. Not here. He inched close enough, eyes fully locked on the target and didn't take the shot.What the fuck is wrong with you?'I don't believe you.' She almost gulped at the slight reaction to his near kiss, another hint that she was into this. He just had to stop being a pansy and just do it. Stop worrying about fucking things up and kiss her. He had built this moment up in his head so much that now he had too many nerves to try.'Well, that's your prerogative.' He smiled softly this time, willing himself to just go for it. Moving in slowly once more, pushing his crazy scared shitless self aside and just forcing himself to kiss her.The scrapes and shifting noises on deck snapped his attention guiltily away as though his mum had just walked in and caught him trying to fuck someone in his room and he looked towards them. It was pretty obvious by the way he was manoeuvring Miracles dress off that sexy time was about to get underway and Daniel wasn't exactly shy about fucking in front of others or letting them join in.Crap.'Time for bed... I know what Daniels like. Show-time equals go time!' He didn't like the fact that Hunter was doing this with Emma here, he would never lower her to that sort of degrading show. Emma wasn't that kind of girl.'What's he like? What do you mean 'Show-time'?' She looked at him questioningly as he effortlessly pulled her up with him in his arms, he was getting her below deck before she saw anything that made her uncomfortable.'He likes kinky sex, he's an exhibitionist, doesn't matter if you're male or female, he'll try and pull you in ,he has no qualms about fucking in front of an audience.' He frowned Daniels way knowing no way in hell would he ever let any of them touch his girl.Jake caught sight of Leila getting up to leave too, she had never been into that whole scene and well being Hunter she would definitely not want to hang around to see, Richard was following her.'Will you join in?' Emma squeaked at him, a completely crest fallen look on her face thinking that he might want too. His heart warming a little at the obvious upset thinking he might. He had her.Fuck no... She was far more alluring than that shit.'No, it's not my thing Emma.' Not anymore, not in a long time and especially not when he had something better to be a different guy for.'You said you did it on your dad's boat when you were younger..... Group....Stuff.' She accused him softly, obviously thinking back to old conversations from back when he was stupid enough to think they would just stay friends. He regretted being so open about his past back then, wondering if it made her look at him in the way she was looking at Daniel right now. Disgusted.Fuck.'Who do you think was at the root of that?' He raised an eyebrow towards Daniel accusingly, not that it was fair, he had never forced him into all that just helped it along. He pulled Emma along by the hand and towards the stair to the lower deck trying to get her away from this quickly. The music was louder now and Miracle already nakedly laying on a lounger starting to touch herself. The girl seriously had no shame and it made Jake grimace. Why had he ever thought that lifestyle was better than this was beyond him. Looking at Emma he knew he would never go back to that shit even if he never got with her.'So you liked it then?' She asked looking back once more as Marissa got up and began a slow strip tease, her eyes following them. Jake ignored her and shrugged. Putting an arm around her to guide her and hold her up on those Bambi drunk legs of hers.'I was young, it's just sex. I was pretty much partying and pissing my dad off at every turn.' He tried to play it off casually, wishing he had never let her know what was going on and just whisked her off quickly. She was too inquisitive when drunk and this was not putting him in a good light at all. She stumbled on the carpeted floor and he righted her, pulling her close protectively. He could feel the effects of the alcohol more now that he was upright and the relaxed feeling moving over him fast. At least it was quelling his nerves.'You don't do group sex anymore?' She hiccuped, still chasing this god damn infernal subject and he could only frown and sigh internally. Jesus Emma. Are you trying to ruin my chances with this?He smiled at her in complete frustration with her line of questioning looking skywards for a little help, she was like a dog with a bone on this and it was killing him.'I like your smile.' She smiled obviously instantly distracted in her drunken haze.'No, I don't and I like that you like my smile, Shorty.' He stopped and pushed her against the wall to steady her as he pulled his phone from his pocket as soon as he felt it vibrate, he swiped the screen seeing Daniels text on the front and had to hide a visual reaction. Fuck her hard so she never wants to go back to being mates... Good luck! He wanted to kill him about now, swiping the screen closed and shoving it back in his pocket.'I like when you laugh like that.' He glanced up at her trying like hell to stop visualising fucking her now thanks to Hunter and trying instead to focus on her sweet girly giggling instead.Focus on her sweetness, not her cleavage, not her mouth Carrero.'Like what?' She asked innocently, still unable to stop grinning. He just regarded her for a second then realised he had pretty much bodily pinned her to the wall so every inch of her was against every inch of him unknowingly, the hardness growing down between them in his pants was becoming a little too prominent and he shifted away.'Unguarded.... I like drunk Emma.' He pulled her off the wall and lead her to her room, he would take her there and give her one last attempt at turning him down before he would make a move. As long as all the signs were the same as the last hour then he was going to kiss her. More if she wanted but right now he just wanted to kiss her more than anything. Sex would be a bonus he wasn't counting on.'I like drunk Emma too.' She sighed, following him as he opened the door, his hand still grasping hers gently. 'I thought you said you didn't?' He frowned at her with a confused smile. Her drunkenness was as polar opposite to PA Emma as she could get. 'I was jealous... You like her way too much.' She pouted and looked a little forlorn, that only made him laugh out loud, god she was cute.'You're the same Emma .... No reason to be jealous, Bambino.' He calmed his laughing opening her door into the dark room and pulled her to the base of her bed, he had deliberately put her in a room next to his so he could be close if she needed him. Letting her go, he sat her on the end of the bed and undid her high-heeled silver sandals, sliding warm hands over delicate feet on his knees and feeling her watching him. He knew he should switch the lights on but he knew what he was doing in here. He was going to relax her, then he was going to move in without hesitation and go for it. No lights needed for that.'Nooo, you like one more than the other.' She sighed. He smiled and shifted closer so he was between her open naked legs with her dress sliding up high as she accommodated his body, nose to nose almost and practically the same height with her sat on the low bed and him on his knees. Not physically touching but he could feel that sizzle of electricity between them sparking in the darkness. He had been right about her giving off signals. He had no doubts anymore and this last little invited manoeuvre was sealing the deal, PA Emma would never have let him slide into her open legs so suggestively. He reached out touching her hair and running a hand through its silky softness, watching in the dim moonlit dark for her reactions. As expected she tilted her head towards his hand and parted her lips suggestively, her knees pressing to either side of his thighs as her body instinctively responded to him. All the things he had been watching for.
Maybe sex was an option after all.

Part 5 - Chapter 13, book 1 - Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 13, part 5 (more to follow) re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 5 ( Chapter 13, book 1)
'You were saying?' He smiled at her and let her loose a little.'Shut up.' Emma toppled, sliding in his embrace, swaying a finger under his nose in the most adorable fashion and looking every bit the cute drunk student with her short wispy hair. 'Not another word, Carrero.'. Finding her amusing he motioned the locking of a key over his lips and pretended to throw it away before casting her a wink and pulling her back in for another slow groove. Another bout of Emma's terrible balancing act but he didn't care, it was an excuse to hold her a little closer and enjoy how she felt being against him. An excuse to wrap his arms a little tighter and pull her a little more closely than he ever dared when it was just work.He finally gave up when it became obvious the only way she was going to manage dancing anymore was in his arms this way and he grinned her way. He could take advantage of it or he could do the decent thing and put her down, grudgingly he chose the decent thing as she always made him feel like he wanted to be better.Too freaking cute for words. Too god damn intoxicating.He tugged her by the hand, watching her unsteady wobble and the way her big eyes watched him adoringly, he had to give her that much. She knew exactly how to wind him around her little finger with just a look whether she meant it or not and he had no will to ever refuse that face. He slid an arm around her shoulders pulling her close to support her and possibly take advantage of holding her once more. He couldn't help but listen to her drunken rambling with a smile, she was making very little sense but he just liked the sound of her voice. It was something he never tired of hearing. She wasn't one of those girls who talked incessantly , in fact she didn't talk enough if he was being honest. Emma was reserved most of the time, even in conversation and he liked the version that appeared when drunk. That version of her let any damn thing out of her head as soon as it hit her brain and that was a girl he was crazy for, incredibly sweet, a little too adorable and a lot of sexy.Back at the table, Jake had practically carried Emma with an arm around her waist to the others who were mid-story about a trip they had taken last summer. Jake could hear Hunter reminiscing over the Ibiza party they had thrown for his birthday, that one time they had ended up drunkenly stealing ski jets and going on a middle of the night adventure while too drunk to be doing anything of the sort. Jake guided Emma to the group of standing men this time instead of the seats where Marissa had switched to a seat directly beside where he had been, sliding a casual arm around her shoulders and pulling her close so she would stay away from that vicious look Marissa had all over her face. Emma didn't seem to notice his over-familiar handling of her so he took that as encouragement that she was fine with being a little man handled. He handed her a drink and leant in to catch up with what his friends were talking about, Leila was on her feet too standing between the twins and he couldn't help notice that Daniel was avoiding looking her way. The boy was completely hopeless when it came to Leila and he wished he would just sort his act out and tell the girl how he really felt about her.'Yeah so Jakes like, I'm sure we can make it.... And he goes speeding off on his fucking jet ski, right in... Doesn't give a fuck.' They all burst into laughter and looked towards Jake as Daniel patted his back. Jake was trying to remember the point in the story and mildly aware Marissa was trying to catch his eye again, he ignored her best he could but she was making him uncomfortable with the efforts she was applying and he cast his mind back to that midnight romp in which they managed to get stuck out at sea with a storm brewing and had ended up using a cave for shelter.'What choice did I have?' Jake cut in, finishing Daniels memory. 'Daniel would have had us sleep out there at that rate, not that he would have minded. Daniels always trying to get in the sack with me, the boys still trying to deny his feelings.' He joked, taking a swig of his beer and relaxing as he felt Emma's eyes on his profile, looking adoring and kissable as ever. God the urge to just lay claim to her in front of everyone right now was killing him. He wanted her badly and cuddling up together was making things so much worse.'It's kind of heartbreaking to watch him suffer... Unrequited love.' Richard broke in, stifling a grimace as Daniel slapped his back a tad too aggressively.'Fuck you. Both of you.' Daniel spat a little harshly.'You know when you know...right?' Vincent threw a wink at Daniel and three of the four men burst out laughing, Daniel rolled his eyes and gave them the finger.'Tried so damn hard to let him down gently, he's just too sensitive.' Jake ruffled Daniels hair.'I've caught him sobbing into his Hagen Das a few times, when you stood him up Jakey.' Richard shoved Daniel in the ribs playfully and winked Jakes way.'He stole my Endless love CD when you missed his birthday bash last year. Perfect crying anthems on there.' Leila quipped in throwing a huge smile at Jake and he smiled back, Leila had been trying for months to be okay around Hunter and this trip was the first time in so long they had not tried to kill one another on sight. They two had some serious history between them.'I swear to god, you guys better stop with this shit. Even if I was that way inclined, I wouldn't jump Carrero's bones. I know where he's been, I have standards.' All three men looked at Jake with eyebrow wiggles and he only sneered at them. By their standards his whites were a hell of a lot cleaner, he had at least some morals when it came to the women he pursued in the past.'Umm, I think I've way higher standards than any of you three.' He defended himself with a frown. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the topic while Emma was standing so close and almost scrutinising his profile, he couldn't look her way when talking about past conquests. God, she had no clue he wasn't even doing that anymore.'Questionable.' Leila threw him a look. He didn't need to see more to know she meant Marissa and almost grimaced at the memory. Everyone could make mistakes, even hellish ones like that. 'But you've improved a lot.' She then smiled at him concealing nothing. A big hearty, winky type of smile and he felt that hint of warmth knowing she meant Emma, Leila wasn't so dumb after all and maybe it was her he should offload to rather than Hunter. Get a female perspective.'Leave her out of this.' Jake warned, squeezing Emma a little more tightly. He may have liked the way Leila was thinking but he had to make sure none of them got the wrong idea for her sake. He also wasn't exactly too enamoured with the way Marissa seemed to be honed right in staring at them both and giving him her best fuck me now eyes. He regretted picking a place in her line of sight to stand.'You know when you know, Right?' Vincent smirked Jakes way knowingly and he really wanted to throat punch him in that second. Like a performing fucking circus the other two men joined him in knowing looks and all three winked his way slyly. He glanced to see if Emma noticed anything untoward but she was busy resting her head into him innocently.Assholes.'Daniel certainly seems to think so.' Jake made kissing noises at Hunter in a bid to cover the moment of complete awkwardness, letting go off Emma to haul Daniel into a head lock and plaster his cheek with wet, noisy kisses. Fucker could take that for initiating all this in the first place.'Fuck off, you creep.' Daniel fought as everyone laughed. Everyone lightening up from the all too serious turn in that conversation much to his relief and he could see even Emma was smiling. Jake came back to put his casual arm back around her possessively and ignored Marissa once again hitting him with a sexual pout.Piss off, for the love of god.'Admit it, you've been planning the Hunter Carrero wedding since you were just a little girl. It's kind of sweet really.' Jake prodded Daniel with his beer bottle and received two fingers on one hand and one on the other as a response. It was an attempt to keep his focus off of what Marissa was now doing with her tongue in the bottle she was holding, he had never had the urge to push it down her throat this badly before. 'You're riding dangerously close to a Hunter free existence. Then we'll see which dude is crying into his Hagen Das. We all know that Mr Smooth Carrero has the biggest man crush on me.' Daniel picked up a beer, mock threw his hair back like a woman and fluttered his eyelashes.'In your dreams pretty boy. I'm hoping for a threesome with the twins.' Jake winked at Vincent and Richard who threw on matching 'EWWWW' faces. Everyone laughed, even Marissa this time which meant she had to stop blowing off the bottle and giving him orgasm looks. He felt that draw for a moment of a guy who definitely had not had enough sex of late and watched for a mere second as she bit on her lip suggestively, memory serving him right of what she used to do with that mouth before sense got the better of him and Emma laying her soft head against his heart almost made him feel guilty even pondering it for a second.Jake adjusted his hold so he could pull her closer and rest his arm further around him. This was the only girl who belonged near his heart whether she wanted it or not. He switched his beer bottle to his left hand so it hung in front of her and gently took her empty cocktail glass and laid it down glancing at her happy face for a moment and only being reassured that bringing her on this trip was the best thing. He had never seen her so chilled or smiley in all the time that he knew her and even being grossly man handled by him tonight hadn't brought out one PA telling off. Maybe she was warming to him after all.Daniel started rehashing another trip last year, another summer vacation a group of them had gone on. There had been sixteen of them that time and of course Marissa, she had tried to get into his bed on more than one occasion and he had even woken up with her nakedly writhing on top of him trying to get him hard. He had considered it for all of ten seconds before shoving her ungracefully to the floor and then proceeded to fuck every girl she had brought with her over that next couple of days just to piss her off. Marissa looked his way devilishly, obviously remembering his little backlash and he felt smug for a moment. He maybe had no feelings for the girl anymore but getting some sick payback for what she had done to him always got a reaction. They seemed to keep doing this around in circles year after year until he had met Emma.... Now it no longer interested him at all and he had no intentions of trying to beat her at any more games of seduction ever again.The waitress came with a tray laying down another round of drinks on the canopied table. Jake handed Emma a fresh cocktail with his free hand, his mouth lingering close to her temple a little longer than necessary as he smelled her, weird and probably a tad obsessive but she always smelled edible. Tropical fruits and sort of slightly sexual in a way and he liked to just do it, because he was fucking weird when it came to her and he had long ago stopped even questioning the shit he did around her.Hunter started eyeing him oddly, waving his phone around and talking about some vague memory that Jake could barely remember. He was flicking his phone at Jake enough that he finally took the hint, letting go of Emma and leaning in to see. He was being strangely secretive by only showing it to Jake and then he saw why.There was no picture only the start of a text which read. Jake... She seems totally into you tonight...Fucking get in there... Look at her man, she's all over you. Jake looked at Daniel with a warning frown but couldn't help but feel a little torn. Emma had been cuddling up to him as much as he was into her since standing here, all the flirting on the dance floor with him and now looking at her glaring Marissa down he was starting to wonder if he should make a play for her or not. He didn't know if it was the alcohol or not, Emma was different on this trip, had been since they arrived and maybe he should stop acting like a woman and just go for it. Daniel was obviously seeing something he wasn't. He caught Marissa once again giving him the bedroom eyes and sighed internally. Staring at her for a moment to give her the back off signals and feeling Emma looking his way.God she looked beautiful with that hair.He couldn't help that same rush of lust whenever he looked at her and being drunk was certainly not helping at all, he pulled her in instinctively for a kiss, part of him saying DO IT and then chickened out and hit her on the cheek platonically instead. She was making him all kinds of nervous now that he was even considering trying to make a move on her tonight. He wasn't sure whether to listen to Hunter or not, he had zero clues when it came to Emma, still no way closer to ever reading her but Leilas encouraging smiles his way and now Hunter giving him a green light had his palms getting clammy and his throat drying up.Fuck...He was scared shitless.'You're very quiet...... Want to go back to the boat?' He said to her softly, hoping that maybe if he got her alone then he would relax and be able to read her signals a little better. Decide if she wanted this or not. Decide what to do instead of freaking out like an amateur over here.'Yes, please, I'm so tired, it's been a long day.' She smiled at him and his crotch most definitely stirred, Emma's husky tone was a little too inviting for platonic thoughts. Fuck maybe Hunter was right, Emma was definitely looking at him in a way he had never seen her look.'Oooh, party on the boat.' Leila chanted and jumped up, impressively bouncing her boobs, all male eyes immediately followed because that's what men were designed to do, seek out impressive tits when jiggling. Even Leilas, even though Jake realised how weird that was and felt a harsh dig to his ribs. Looking down he could see one very unimpressed look from Emma, he knew this look. Her haughty little PA glare which signalled she was not happy with him, feeling suddenly euphoric that she had just given him the green light he had been looking for he gave her an apologetic shrug and wink. Baby, tonight you are going to be kissed senseless.

Part 4 - Chapter 13, book 1 - Jakes view

Lovers of my book The Carrero Effect book 1 will love this brand new alternate chapter.This is chapter 13, part 4 (more to follow) re-written from Jake Carrero's perspective as per requested by you, the lovely fans.Please note there is swearing and sexual references and this is not suitable for those under 18 years of age.


Read at your own risk!!


The holiday- Part 4 ( Chapter 13, book 1)

The restaurant was nice and private, it had a beach theme and little palm roofs over each table that made it quirky and relaxed. The tables spilling out onto the sand near the shore and strung with fairy lights now it was getting dull. Not that Jake cared, his mind was on one thing only. Jake couldn't help but keep watching for Emma's arrival, he'd text them when they were on the way here knowing a phone call would only have his so called mates crooning in the background. He was missing her crazily, it felt like she had been gone for days already and a part of him was nervous that he would hate her new hair.He swore, not one of them better say anything about the days conversation.Marissa was making a hell of a play at trying to get him into some eye on eye action, he had no idea what was with this chick. No patience for the way she was trying to catch his attention when they all picked seats so he decided to stay on his feet as far from her as he could manage. Last thing he needed was Emma arriving and seeing Marissa eye humping him when he really wanted to avoid all talk of her. 

Daniel stayed upright too, coming to his side as the twins ordered in the first round of drinks at the bar. Miracle was sitting next to Marissa, avoiding him at all costs and obviously still embarrassed about earlier, it was obvious the two didn't exactly get on but were making conversation out of boredom. Marissa was still watching him a little too hawkishly. He wished she would just fuck off.The twins came back with trays and started dispersing glasses and bottles all over the table, Jake was handed a beer, Daniel already unsteady on his feet was a sign that maybe he should stop drinking. Daniel had the same tolerance as him and they had pretty much stayed level in amount drunk all day. If he could see signs of it in Hunter then he was sure he was probably worse than he realized too and drunk Jake would be no good at behaving himself around Emma. She was too much of a lure for wandering eyes, hands and mouths.Jake pushed Hunter playfully as he swayed closer and banged into him for the third time.'Jesus man... Stop trying to cuddle up to me.' He smirked at him and Daniel just shoved him back.'You're the one whose trying it on with me, all this lack of playtime has you thinking bro sex is acceptable.' Hunter just smirked right back cheekily at him as the two twins decide to stay standing too, the four of them forming a little group on the side of the table and ostracizing both women.'Never, ever would that be acceptable.' Richard cringed and Jake just shook his head at him.'Says the guy who slept naked in a womb with another bloke for nine months and most likely a bed for the the first few more.' Jake pointed his bottle at him with a cheeky smile. Jake had no problem with gay men, he knew and liked a few of them but his immediate circle of friends right now were obviously not as comfortable with it.'Yeah I reckon Vince is the big spoon and Richie here takes it like a trooper...brotherly love and all that.' Hunter laughed, amused by his own jokes. Jake smiled too, taking a swig of his mellow beer and watching them closely.'Shut the fuck up... I am not that way inclined!' Richie made an effort at putting on a manly pose and grabbed at his package crudely. 'I'm all horny male for tits and ass.''Notice he said ass...not pussy?' Daniel frowned Jakes way, they clinked beer bottles across the neck with nods of agreement. Riling your mates was the best amusement a guy could get.'Busted little brother, now bend over and take it like a good little bitch!' Vince tried to push him forward but was only met with a flustered and almost angry Richie slapping him away. 'Shut up or I'll tell them about that tramp you let use a strap-on up your ass.' Richie spat at his brother and then laughed when Vincent turned crimson. Only reinforcing the fact he had in fact done that. Both Jake and Daniel grimaced at the thought and looked at one another as if to say 'Yeah...just NO.' As kinky as both of them were when it came to sex even they drew the line on some things. Anal on a guy was one of those things, although he was pretty sure if Emma ever was up for that sort of thing he would do it to her.Mind out of the gutter Carrero...She's too pure for that shit.Jake glanced in the direction of approaching blonde hair for a moment, some inner sense to turn that way then did a double take when he realized that small blonder wavy haired girl was in fact Emma. And she looked fucking amazing.Holy hell . Her hair had been cut to above shoulder length, somehow the waves had only gotten wilder and sexier being shorter, blonder highlights which lightened her honey blonde and framed that perfect face in a way that just made every single nerve in his body react impulsively. She was beyond stunning. 

Man he wanted to fuck her right now. Badly.He quelled the urge to groan, reeling back in the five thousand filthy thoughts running through his head right now and walked towards her, she was locked on him visually, smiling softly and completely inviting. For a second he could have sworn she had missed him too if her expression was anything to go by. Without even thinking, he was drawn straight to touching that hair, pushing back a strand from her face and reveling in how soft it felt between his fingers. How soft she looked, how she smelled. God he had missed her like crazy and right now she was like some perfect vision of angelic beauty captivating him and knocking everything else out of focus around them as she smiled up at him almost adoringly. The urge to kiss her was killing him. He ran his hand through that touchable hair and concentrated on staying in control as much as he could. Realizing just how close to her he had gotten and cooling his heavy breathing so she wouldn't see how much he was unravelling . He really needed to sober up if he was going to stop himself.'I like this. A lot!' He said softly, his eyes heavy with lust and intoxication and knowing being this drunk this close to her was a bad idea, he was fighting with every piece of his strength to not just lean down the rest of the way and kiss her. Her mouth was just calling to be kissed right now, soft, pouted and free of makeup and achingly inviting. He could almost reach her, taste her and he knew she would taste as good as she smelled.'Thank you.' She smiled, sexy soft-voiced and pulled the hair from his hand, tucking it back with the rest of her short waves shyly. Eyes flooring him in that way she sometimes looked at him that almost convinced him he stood a chance with her. She looked so god damn adorable when she was like this and he had zero control. He leaned down almost losing the battle to stop himself from kissing her and at the last moment caught it and redirected it to her cheek.Close Carrero....So fucking close.He needed to have more control than this, he needed to sober up a little if he was going to have to look at her all night in that dress and new very fuckable hair. He had been wrong about her cutting it, as much as he had loved it the way it was this somehow was more her. Made her a hundred times more appealing even though he had never been one for shorter hair. It was softer, sexier yet still angelic and he loved it.Grasping her hand to ground himself back to reality he looked back at those perfect baby blue eyes which only somehow seemed bigger and softer with all the layers around her face. Jesus his girl was probably the most breathtaking woman he had ever known and it was taking the strength of a hundred men not to lift her up around his waist right now and devour her. It was almost painful to just take her hand when every fibre of his body was aching for more.'Come on.' He entwined her small delicate fingers in his, happier than hell to have her back with him again and led her proudly to the table. She was the most beautiful woman in the bistro and he would be damned sure no one else was going to get a look in at her. He wouldn't be held liable for having to endure some other guy making a play for her, she would see a violence come out of him that would probably send her running for the hills. Emma followed obediently, tightening her hand in his snugly and making him feel like the only thing that mattered right now was that tiny little set of fingers wrapped in his. She felt like home.
* * *

They sat outside under palm frond umbrellas and the food was pretty good, it helped Jake to sober up enough to not want to haul Emma down the beach and molest her. They had all moved to drinking cocktails thanks to Leila and her crazy huge knowledge on all things cocktail. The girl had once run a little bar somewhere exotic for fun a few years back and seemed to retain the recipe of every drink known to man. She was always handy in teaching Jake new drinks to impress the ladies and right now his knowledge of Emma's preferences was helping him keep her in steady supply of drinks she was happily downing. He liked seeing her relax this way, sitting beside him and fully leaning back in her chair without any hint of defensiveness.He was more than aware of the way the three of his so-called friends were honing in on Emma with her new hair, warning glares at them had proven futile and Daniel smirking was a hint that he was heating up to start trying to goad Jake. The guy got a kick out of it. Jake shifted uneasily ready to defend her with his life if that's what it took, he wouldn't let any of them make even a tiny hint at trying for her.'What motivated this?' Daniel reached past Jake, scooping a strand of Emma's hair and Jake batted his hand away aggressively.'No touching.' The scowl was somewhere between funny and serious and very impulsive. Daniel just raised an eyebrow and grinned at him knowingly, Jake wasn't amused in the slightest at what Hunter was playing at.'Sorreeeee Big man. You have to admit though, your girl does look extra hot with this new do.' He winked at Emma and Jake had to push down the urge to kick him in the face from this angle. If he thought he could flirt with her to get at him then he better back off. Jakes years of mixed martial arts and boxing meant even from a seated position he could take his head off of his shoulders. Best mate or not there was a line Daniel shouldn't cross, for Jake it would always be her.'Ummm, Thanks.'Emma cut in blandly, watching the way Jake frowned at Daniel then punched him lightly in the shoulder. He was trying to curb the aggression but still warn Daniel to back off.'She's not going to sleep with you, so you can cut out the compliments and the flirty crap.' Jake huffed Hunters way with a scowl.'Oh I don't know. I reckon I could charm Miss Ander...... OWWW.' Daniel squawked like an injured animal as Jakes shoulder punched him a lot harder. Fist connecting with the bone under the muscle and most definitely warning him off. 'Calm your pants Jake. God! You'll be pissing on me next.' He huffed and swiped his beer from the table.'Don't tempt me.' Jake wasn't kidding, he wanted to send a clear message to all three men that YES he had zero humor when it came to her and they all better learn that fast. Daniel and Jake threw angry looks at one another before taking what looked like precision planned swigs of their drinks.'Jeeze, testosterone flying much?' Leila laughed, pulling some of the tension away.'Men!' Emma sighed in exasperation, glancing Jakes way with amusement before joining Leila in an eyebrow raise. Jake felt his jets cooling at just watching her interact with Leila. He wanted her to have a friend in her, she was his best girl mate and they were well suited.'Needless to say, I was right!' Leila grinned at Emma with some underlying message between the two girls and Jake found himself narrowing eyes on them.What now?'About what?' Marissa cut in with a pinched tone that made both woman look her way with rather pinched expressions. She was sprawled at the table with full cleavage on show , right in Jakes eyeline and making it obvious it was intentional. He swigged on his beer and looked away. Miracle was picking her nails at the right of her in a similar pose, seemingly a new found love of Jake all of a sudden and he felt himself eye roll and looked back to Emma.Women!'That Jake would be enamored with her new short do...That she would look sexy as hell!' Leila's triumphant tone made Marissa eye roll and Jake had the urge to pour her cocktail over her head. Even for a girl with pretty features, a nice body and generally attractive, he found her repulsive. That black heart and snooty face just killed any looks she once had.'Jakes a man! He appreciates it when women try really hard to get a reaction from him.' Marissa said icily with a flick of her hair, Jake glared at her harshly, not liking her dig at Emma one bit. She glared back challenging him and he had to hold his tongue. 'You would know!' Leila's scathing comment came with a new tone for her. Disdain. Jake couldn't agree more though, if anyone needed a crown for trying to get Jakes attention then it was Marissa. Emma didn't need to try at all. Jake caught sight of the twins moving uneasily in their chairs and both men lift drinks to focus on that instead. Miracle lifted her head in interest, eyes gleaming with the possibility of drama. He sighed knowing the signs of trouble brewing and he wouldn't let any of them ruin this for her.'Emma doesn't need to vie for my attention. She already has it and her hair is a knockout. Much like her.' Jake cut in smoothly, his glare fixed on Marissa coldly, that sinister tone in his voice, devoid of emotion yet portraying a lot to the people who knew him and everyone hushed up. He hoped to god his dangerous tone and angry scowl gave everyone the message to back off. He used to be the alpha of this little circle and he sure as hell would be taking that title back if they kept this shit up.'Man did it just get cold in here?' Daniel jumped up from his perch on the edge of the table and slapped Jake on the back. 'We need a new topic and way more booze man.' Daniel was towing the line, taking his place in the hierarchy and glances towards the twins saw them shuffling their feet too. 
'Couldn't agree more.' Jake relaxed back, happy with the sudden submissive atmosphere. Marissa and Miracle looking down at their fingernails. Jake feeling better, he leaned in and kissed the oblivious Emma on the cheek impulsively, giving Marissa that back off signal as much as the rest of them. She maybe wasn't his woman in the normal sense but she was his queen while on this boat and they would damn well treat her that way. 
* * * 
It didn't take much to get the happy jovial atmosphere back and Jake relaxed into his usual sociable self. Happy that everyone was having a relatively good time and even Marissa seemed to be backing off and occasionally smiling. Emma had never seen him surrounded by people he could relax with and even though the group was small he was kicking back as much as she was. He had tried to slow down his alcohol consumption and was not any more drunk than he had been, although Emma was definitely getting tipsy. He had never laughed so much at her in the whole time he had known her. She was cute drunk, funny and less guarded. She giggled like a child and lost all the airs and graces she sometimes hid behind. Jake loved Emma like this. As though it was like getting a glimpse of who she could be if she ever really did feel comfortable enough to fully let her guard down around him and he wished she was like this more of the time. She seemed to get on with Leila effortlessly and he was glad that out of all the girls here she had chosen her. They gelled and it was nice to see because he knew Leila was one of the few decent girls who was genuine in this lifestyle. She would stick up for her and defend her with honesty if the catty other two started that shit again. Jake hauled her up to dance when the band came out and it was pretty obvious Emma had gone beyond tipsy. He had danced with her a million times at events and never had she been this useless. He couldn't stop laughing and having to grab onto her to support her every two seconds as she kept falling off her shoes. She was all over the place and even when he pulled her against him suggestively she somehow ended up teetering all over the place unable to stop swaying. The temptation to wrap his arms around her fully and put her on top of his shoes so she could stay at peace was killing him. She was so much sexier like this, fully trusting in him to put hands on her wherever he saw fit but he was trying to be a gentleman. So hard to do when the girl was grabbing his hands and pulling them to her body in a way too sexy dance the drunker she got. Emma was outright flirting with him now she was drunk and he wanted nothing more than to just stop caring and go with it.'Your moves are terrible when you're plastered Shorty.' He spun her around catching her from the back and pulling her against him. Hips swaying in time and his arms firmly around her, he knew he had to get them off this dance floor before the gentleman in him fucked off completely.'Shhhh. I'm doing just fine.' She slurred playfully. Giggling at him and just making him smile all the more. 

God she was perfect.'Sure you are. The second I let go, you'll face palm the deck. I'm all that's keeping you upright.' He joked with her, her hair was just under his chin and smelled like tropical fruit and her and just made him want to taste her all the more.'I'm sure I wouldn't... You're exaggerating my drunkenness.' She purred demurely, turning in his arms and giving him a gentle chest shove. 'Let me go and see.' She challenged him and that inner boy of his lifted his hands with a shrug and a smile and stepped back to leave her to it and prove a point. She attempted a step away sassily and stumbled over her own heels immediately, Jakes quick reflexes catching her and pulling that delicate curvy body into his with a tug to save her. He had to steel the surge of lust at pulling everyone of them damn curves against him so fully.
'You were saying?'