With that, he stepped right past Melina, closing the distance to Emily and wrapping his hand firmly around hers. His dark eyes were heavy with a desperate, crushing affection.

Without another word, Charlie pulled Emily toward the exit.

They were entirely focused on each other. From the moment Emily arrived, Charlie hadn't spared Melina a single glance.

Melina stood frozen, watching their backs disappear into the crowd. A bitter

realization settled in her chest: she truly had zero chance.

The way Charlie looked at that girl-it was so entirely consuming that there simply wasn't room in his universe for anyone else.

She never imagined Charlie James was capable of loving someone with such obsessive devotion. It was shocking, and utterly devastating.

Devastating, because that girl wasn't her.

But Melina wasn't the type to completely lose her dignity. She forced a sad, self- deprecating smile, turned on her heel, and let the chaotic noise of the club swallow her whole.

Charlie kept a vice grip on Emily's hand, his broad shoulders shielding her from the drunken crowd as they stepped out into the cool night air.

Emily tugged against his grip, looking back toward the doors. "Estelle and Magdalen are still waiting for me!"

"They have rides coming. I already took care of it. Don't worry about them," Charlie said over his shoulder, hauling her straight to his car.

Once inside, Charlie didn't start the engine. The silence in the cabin felt incredibly loud, the tension thick and heavy.

He turned in his seat to look at her. His striking features were serious, his voice low and steady. "I was sitting over in the VIP section with Jonathan. Running into Melina really was just a coincidence."

He had literally just landed. His own staff barely knew his schedule, so there was no way anyone tipped Melina off.

It had been nothing more than terrible timing.

Emily kept her eyes downcast, her expression totally unreadable. "Was it really that much of a coincidence?"

Panic flickered in Charlie's eyes. "If you don't believe me, I'll show you my flight itinerary. You can go through my call logs. Check whatever you want."

Emily didn't say a word.

Charlie unhesitatingly shoved his phone toward her. When he looked up, he caught the wicked, triumphant gleam in her eyes.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're messing with me."

Before Emily could even attempt to defend herself, Charlie grabbed her arm, dragged her across the console, and smashed his mouth against hers.

Words were useless. He needed her to physically feel the absolute desperation tearing him apart.

The kiss was punishing and frantic. Emily gasped, her palms pressing hard against his chest as she struggled to keep up with his raw intensity.

When he finally pulled back, his chest heaved. "Are we still breaking up?"

Emily stared up at him, her eyes wide and glassy.

"Emily," Charlie said, his voice

ragged. "You know how deeply I love

you. That's why it was so easy for you to weaponize a breakup, isn't it? You threw it at me to punish me. It's a textbook emotional hostage situation."

Emily bit her swollen lip. "If it takes a hostage situation to keep you from controlling my life, then I'll break up—"

He swallowed the rest of her sentence. The kiss was aggressive and punishing, as if

he wanted to devour her whole to keep her from saying another word.

Emily whimpered as his teeth grazed her tongue. She fisted the fabric of his shirt, letting out a frustrated groan.

The sound shattered his resolve.

The brutal edge bled out of his kiss,

eť

softening into a slow, coaxing rhythm. He traced her bruised lips delicately, his voice a gravelly. whisper against her mouth. My girl is getting bold."

Emily's eyelashes fluttered.

Charlie kissed her again. "Throw all the tantrums you want. You're my princess, and

I'll spoil you rotten. But do not ever threaten to leave me again."

Despite the dim lighting in the car, Emily could see the raw, bleeding ache in his eyes. A lump formed in her throat, and tears pricked her vision. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

"I'm sorry."

Charlie gently stroked the back of her head. "You're forgiven."

The second the words left his mouth, he winced inwardly. He caved way too fast. If

he had held out a few more seconds, she might have said something even sweeter.

Emily buried her face against his chest. "I quit my job."