Chapter 5 : Dangerous Games

Emma knew she was playing with fire.

Ever since that heated moment in the library, something between her and Jaxon had shifted. She could feel it in the way he watched her, the way his presence felt magnetic, suffocating, intoxicating all at once.

But that didn’t mean she was about to just fall into his arms.

Not when Noah Sinclair was standing right in front of her, offering everything Jaxon wasn’t.

"You look tense," Noah murmured, tilting his head as he studied her. They were in an empty classroom, supposed to be working on an assignment, but Emma could barely focus. Not when her mind kept drifting back to Jaxon.

Emma forced a smile. "Just tired."

Noah’s lips quirked. "I can help with that."

Before she could react, he reached out—his fingers brushing against her wrist, slow and deliberate. The contact was gentle, careful, the complete opposite of Jaxon’s touch.

Emma swallowed hard.

"Emma," Noah’s voice softened, his gaze dropping to her lips, "I—"

The door slammed open.

Emma jumped, whipping around just in time to see Jaxon standing in the doorway, his jaw clenched, his entire body radiating pure tension.

He looked between them. His eyes landed on where Noah’s hand still rested on her wrist.

And then—fire.

Jaxon crossed the room in three strides, yanking Emma’s arm away from Noah’s grasp.

Her breath hitched.

"She’s busy," Jaxon said, voice low, rough, possessive.

Noah straightened, his calm expression barely shifting, but there was something sharp in his gaze. "She can decide that for herself, Hayes."

Jaxon didn’t even look at him. His focus was solely on Emma.

"Come with me," Jaxon murmured, his fingers still wrapped around her wrist.

A command. Not a request.

And the worst part?

Emma wanted to obey.

__ ______

Jaxon pulled her out of the classroom and into an empty hallway before she could even process what was happening.

Then, suddenly—her back was against the wall.

His hands braced on either side of her head, caging her in, suffocating her with his presence.

The air crackled.

"What the hell was that?" Jaxon growled, his hazel eyes burning into hers.

Emma’s pulse skipped. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," he murmured, leaning in closer, so close their noses nearly brushed. "You’re letting him touch you."

Emma’s breath came fast. "And why does that matter?"

Jaxon’s jaw ticked.

"You really don’t get it, do you?" His voice was gravelly, dangerous, filled with something raw. "I don’t share, Carter."

Her stomach tightened.

Then, before she could even think—his mouth was on hers.

The kiss was nothing like before.

This wasn’t teasing. This wasn’t a game.

This was raw, desperate, filled with heat that burned straight through her core.

Emma moaned against his lips, her hands grabbing onto his hoodie, pulling him closer. Jaxon growled at the contact, his body pressing into hers, hard and unrelenting.

He bit her lower lip, sucking it into his mouth, making her legs tremble.

"Still think it doesn’t matter?" he murmured against her mouth.

Emma didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Because she was already lost in him.

But then—

A sharp voice shattered the moment.

“Well, well. Looks like I’m interrupting something.”

Emma’s stomach dropped.

Caleb Knox.

Leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed, watching them with a slow, smug smirk.

"Didn’t think you’d be this easy, Carter," Caleb mused, his eyes glinting with something dangerous.

Emma’s blood ran cold.

And Jaxon?