I blinked at her. “What? Do you mean... between us?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah. That would be nice to know.”
A hint of her familiar sarcasm came through, and it made me feel relieved. She was acting like her sassy self again, instead of being apologetic. I could treat her as an equal now, and stop lording this power over her I didn’t want.
“We declared that we’re mates. I presume we’re together,” I began.
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “I hardly want to date you for diplomacy’s sake.”
“It’s not like that,” I rushed to say. “I like you, Emma. Really, I do.”
Her eyes challenged me with a statement that clearly spoke volumes. She didn’t say anything, but I could almost hear her thoughts. You like me. But do you love me?
“What about you?” I flung at her, before she could accuse me of anything. “We had that... moment in the tent, then you acted like you wanted nothing to do with me after. Have your feelings changed since then?”
“Not whatsoever!” she bit back, and her cheeks reddened. “I said I wanted to take it slow. That I didn’t want to rush into anything.”
“You should’ve thought of that before you agreed to be my partner for the King’s—”
“I know, I know.” She took a deep breath, on the verge of exploding. “Can we move past this stupid Contest already? I don’t understand what’s going on with us, Ethan. I know you were upset with me, but you didn’t pick up the phone all break. You never even checked in. How am I supposed to believe you want to be with me when you ghost me for weeks on end?”
“I was busy,” I said.
“Doing what?” Her voice was flat. The way her expression burned made me freeze. She was implying that she knew something.
I gave a heavy sigh. “It doesn’t matter what I was doing. I know it isn’t an excuse. I should always make time for you.”
“Damn straight you should, if you really want to do this!”
“For gods’ sakes, Emma.” We were making a scene. There was no one at the ice rink this time of day, but still, I didn’t want a random paparazzi to walk by and snap a photo of me, the prince regent, getting into an argument with his fiancé in broad daylight.
I grabbed Emma by the arm and hauled her down the hall to a nearby locker room. She didn’t complain— just sent me a nasty look.
As the door shut behind us, I whirled on her. Both of our bags fell to the floor. “Let me make one thing clear,” I said. “I took my vow seriously. I am bound to you now in every way, shape and form. It doesn’t forgive me for ignoring you, but I’m not walking out on us!”
“That’s news to me!” she hissed. “If I had a... a boyfriend... or... or a fiancé or whatever, it sure as hell didn’t feel like it when I was on vacation. I barely know what the hell we are!”
“You didn’t reach out to me, either,” I spat bitterly.
“That doesn’t mean I didn’t want to! I was just trying to give you time.” She fisted a hand in her fiery locks. “Gods, Ethan, you’re so fucking stubborn.”
“I’m stubborn!”
“Yes! You’re a pig-headed brute!” She shoved me backward, or tried to— her hands hit my broad chest, but stopped there. Moving me was like pushing over a boulder. All her touch did was make my skin grow hotter. I desired to rip all her clothes off right here, right now.
I snagged her arms and held them tight. “You need to settle down.”
“Fuck you, Ethan Nowak,” she spat.
I did the only thing that could quiet the rage pulsing through my blood and kissed her. Emma made an angry sound of protest, but it melted away when I forced my tongue inside her mouth. Her body softened immediately, and my hands roamed over her back. The wolf in me whimpered when I was able to touch her again. It was like drinking the nectar of the gods themselves. Emma’s fever on my lips increased, and her honey-soft lips danced against mine like this was all she’d wanted from me for days on end.
The kiss wasn’t enough. Both of us wanted— needed— more. I hastened the tempo of my tongue against hers, and we kissed until both of us were dizzy and couldn’t breathe.
Emma slipped off her jacket. Before I knew what the hell was happening,