A/N: Long time between updates, I know :( I hope you enjoy!

Big thank you to my betas! One day I'll get laid/lay!

Emmett slept soundly, his arm and leg draped over Rose and his head on her chest. Rose didn't find sleep as easily. She played with his curls, lazily winding them one at a time around her fingers, then letting go, watching them slowly unwind and fall back into place. Emmett mumbled and stirred in his sleep. Rose shushed him quietly, stroking his cheek until he relaxed. When he settled, she retreated to her thoughts.

The evening was unforgettable, and not just the sex. The conversation was amazing, and she was surprised to find that they had so much in common. Rose found herself absolutely captivated by Emmett's smile, his eyes, his voice. When he looked at her, she felt desired. Not just wanted, but needed. She normally frowned on this sort of love-at-first-sight crap, but with him she just knew. They wouldn't need years of dating and months of engagement. If he asked her to go to the courthouse with him that minute, she knew that she would go. This man loved her, wanted nothing more than her, knowing full well she was damaged goods. He even said it- before they had sex!

But...

The tiny, doubting voice in her head made itself known.

What if he changes his mind?

Rose closed her eyes and sighed. The thought of giving all of herself to someone again scared her. She knew that Emmett was nothing like Royce, but she would still be opening herself up for some enormous heartache if Emmett decided to run after the next hot blonde to walk by. He didn't seem the type to do that, though. Everything he'd told her to that point had all been exactly what she needed to hear. But is he too perfect? Rose looked down at the man who was now drooling on her chest. She smiled and used the edge of the sheet to wipe away the puddle. The movement disturbed Emmett, and he lifted his head to look at her.

"Oh, good, you're still here. The candles are in the fridge." He put his head back on her chest and slipped into a deeper sleep.

No. Not too perfect.

Rosalie was an easy mark to follow; that car stuck out on the highway like no other. When she checked into the hotel, he missed hearing what room she was in because he had to stay out of sight. James waited as she went back to her car, then followed her at a distance to the elevators. She hesitated at the pool, and James thought she might skip going to her room and take a swim first, but she just sighed and kept walking. Once she was on the elevator and the doors closed, he stood in front of the display to see where it was headed. The light stopped on the fifth floor. James launched himself into the other elevator and punched the number five, glaring at the ceiling to make it go faster. When he reached the floor, he slowly exited, looking both ways for any sign of his Rose. He heard a door close to his right, about five doors down. Following the noise, he walked down the hall and put his ear to the door. There was no noise on the other side; James wasn't sure if that was good or bad. He was about to leave when he heard a woman's muffled voice. My Rose. He strained to hear what she was saying, but the conversation was over as quickly as it began. Hearing nothing else, he decided to sit in the chairs by the elevators. He figured that she would have to come out to eat since she never stopped for food.

Picking up a newspaper, he tried to read while he waited. He made it through the sports section before getting impatient. He grabbed a pen off the table and started scribbling in the crossword. The elevator doors opened, and James looked up. A very pissed off Emmett stood there holding a motorcycle helmet, staring just above James. Emmett suddenly turned right and jogged down the hallway. He knocked on Rose's door, and after a few minutes, Rose came flying out of the room and into Emmett's arms. James fumed. How dare she let another man touch her. James couldn't watch. He went back to the main floor and found the bar.

James chewed the edges of his nails, occasionally taking a swill of scotch from the tumbler on the bar. The stuffy bartender eyed him cautiously as he filled other orders. James stared back at the man, fierce and unblinking. Uncomfortable under James' intense gaze, the bartender slipped and bumped into a waitress, causing her to drop a tray of drinks. Satisfied with the amount of havoc wreaked, James turned back to his problems. He had to figure out how to get that lumbering oaf out of the picture so Rosalie could see what a real man could do for her.

It's time someone had an 'accident' on their precious motorcycle.

Sun shone through the windows, its rays warming Emmett's face and waking him. He grunted, eyes still closed, and rolled away from the light. Reaching out, he felt around the bed for Rose. When he couldn't find her, he opened his eyes and looked around the room. Her bag was missing and her side of the bed was made.

Not again...

Emmett threw back the covers and put on his boxers. He rushed to the bathroom so he could answer nature's call before getting dressed and hunting Rose down again. As he opened the bathroom door, he realized that the light was on. Oh shit. He tried to pull back, but it was too late to stop the motion, but he tried to pull back. He managed to fall into the bathroom, catching himself on the door handle and the edge of the sink.

Rose stood at the sink wrapped in a towel, with her toothbrush in her mouth, staring wide-eyed at Emmett. Embarrassed, he looked up at her, giving her a little smile, and tried not to look like a complete ass. Rose blinked a few times, shook her head slowly, and went back to brushing her teeth in the mirror. Emmett got up off the floor, eased out of the room, and shut the door gently. He sat on the edge of the bed and kicked himself for being such a jerk. He should trust her, not flip out just because she wasn't right there when he woke up. Sighing, he grabbed the remote and started flipping through channels on the TV. After a few minutes of channel surfing, he settled on a news network. Rose came out of the bathroom, carrying her bag.

Emmett's mouth hung open at the sight of her. She had replaced the towel with a thin, baby blue tank top and matching lacy boy shorts. The tank was loose, but hung just tight enough that Emmett could see every gentle curve of her body. He followed her curves down her hips to her long, supple legs. Rose turned to place her bag on the floor and gave him a full view of her heart-shaped ass. She sat on the edge of the desk, crossing her legs.

"So what the hell was that all about?" Rose asked. Emmett wasn't sure if he wanted to be honest and tell her exactly how he felt or if he should play cool and make something up on the fly. Something about Rose's expression told him to tell the truth.

"I thought you had left," he mumbled almost inaudibly.

"Are you serious?" Rose stared at him in disbelief. "After last night, you thought I would just leave you again?"

"It was stupid, I'm sorry. But when you weren't there, and your bag was gone, I just thought..." he trailed off, looking at the floor. Suddenly, he felt hands run through his hair.

"I'm sorry." Rose looked down at him with forgiving eyes. "You shouldn't have to think like that. It's my fault you were stupid." She smiled at him, resting her hands on the back of his neck. Emmett pulled her down and kissed her gently. She pushed back and grimaced.

"What?" Emmett asked.

"No offense, but you should probably go freshen up."

Emmett laughed and stood up, wrapping his arms around her. She nuzzled into his bare chest and sighed.

"You win. I'll be right back." He let go of her and strutted toward the bathroom like a supermodel on a catwalk, winking at her when he got to the door. She rolled her eyes and laughed. Grinning, Emmett closed the door, hoping Rose would still be there when he came out, and hating himself for doubting her.

Rose lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She was irritated that Emmett didn't trust her after the night they had. She knew she had no right to be mad at him; it was her that did the leaving in Chicago after all. And he was obviously going to find her again, so it's not like he had given up on her. Taking a step back and looking at it rationally, the whole thing seemed sweet, almost comically so. She smiled. Emmett was a good man. She still wasn't sure what he saw in her, but she was happy with him.

Happy. I like this 'happy'.

Rose heard the shower water turn on, so she grabbed her laptop and switched it on so she could find things for them to do that day. There was a laundry list of things she wanted to do in the room, but in between those times, she wanted to be entertained. The zoo was first on her list, but she'd put a few other things out as options in case Emmett wasn't really a zoo kind of person. Rose suddenly wasn't sure she could be with a man who didn't like to go to zoos. She always pictured herself taking her family there, walking between the exhibits, eating ice cream and carrying balloons. If he didn't like that, how would she even be able to pretend they had a future?

Okay, I need to get a grip and stop looking for reasons to get out of this relationship.

Rose closed her laptop and put it away. She started combing out her hair before it dried into a matted mess. There was a thud in the shower, some muffled cursing, then the water turned off. Rose thought about checking on Emmett, then decided against it. Whatever it is, he can handle it. She finished her hair quickly, and Emmett came out as she put her brush away. She picked up the list she had written.

"Hey, I made a list of things we can see while we're here." She turned and looked at Emmett.

Like seemingly every other man in the world, he was incapable of drying himself off before getting out of the shower, so he was still soaking wet and dripping on the carpet. Unlike every other man in the world, he looked like a water god while doing it. Knowing that Rose was staring, Emmett faked a yawn, stretching his arms up and out, flexing every muscle he could, the towel around his hips barely holding on. Rose looked at the list, then back to Emmett, then to the list. She dropped the list. Emmett grinned and dropped his towel.

Rose rushed towards him, jumping into his waiting arms. Emmett backed up and sat on the edge of the bed as Rose kissed up and down his neck, running her hands down his back. The smell of Emmett's skin after the shower was refreshing, and even though the hotel soap wasn't his normal body wash, it was still intoxicating on him. Or maybe it was just him. As he ran his hands over her hips and kissed her deeply, she found that she didn't care.

Emmett broke their kiss and took one of her nipples in his mouth, biting it just hard enough to make Rose gasp and buck her hips. When she moved, she felt his throbbing shaft rub against her. She rocked her hips back and forth, making Emmett groan and pull her closer as his hands continued exploring her body. He took his mouth off her breasts and kissed the soft spot just behind her ear. Rose's body buzzed as every nerve came alive. She gripped Emmett's shoulders from under his arms and raised her hips up, positioning herself just above his waiting cock. She teased him a bit, lowering just enough to press the head of his shaft against her entrance, then raising back up, making him moan. After the third time, Emmett growled, picked her up, and threw her on the bed, landing on top of her. She grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him, biting his lip before he pulled away.

Emmett positioned himself so that he was right at the entrance to her heat again. He pushed in slowly, letting Rose adjust to his girth again. Rose was not in the mood to wait; she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in the rest of the way, raising herself up so she could take as much of him as she could. That sensation alone brought her to the edge of ecstasy, building a pressure deep inside her core. Emmett slowly pulled out of her, then pushed back into her hard, causing them both to moan. He did it again, faster this time, and again, each time making Rose cry out in pleasure.

Her breathing became ragged as each stroke he took pushed her closer to her climax. All she could hear was her heart pounding in her ears, matching him beat for stroke. Her nails dug into the rigid muscles of his back and Rose was sure she would draw blood, but Emmett didn't seem to mind. He had a look of dogged determination on his face, and he was trying his hardest not to finish before she got hers.

He shifted his weight slightly, and Rose felt herself lose control. The room spun, colors became more intense, and every muscle in her body contracted and relaxed at the same time. Her eyes closed, and she let her release carry her as high as she could go. Emmett groaned, taking two long strokes inside of her as he came. He dropped next to her on the bed, grinning and out of breath.

"That's what I'm talkin' bout." He rolled to face her. "You're fucking awesome."

Rose just laughed. Emmett pulled her to his chest and laughed with her. Rose knew that he meant it, and that made it even better for her. She snuggled into his chest.

"What do you want to do today?" she asked him while tracing his abs.

"You."

"Seriously."

"You made a list, right? What are my options? I didn't plan on being in Memphis today, so you tell me."

"Well, I didn't plan on spending my day in Memphis either. I'm supposed to be driving to New Orleans right now," she said haughtily. Emmett stiffened, and as soon as she said it, she regretted it. "Sorry. That's not what I meant." She hugged Emmett tightly.

"I know. Still stings a bit though." He hugged her back. "And it still doesn't help me figure out what there is to do here. Do they have a zoo or something?"

Rose's head popped off his chest and she looked straight at him.

"You like zoos?" she asked suspiciously.

"Um, yes. Why? Is that bad?" He looked a little scared.

"Get dressed. We're going to the zoo."

James paced the lobby, riddled with anger and anxiety. It was ten o'clock and Rosalie still hadn't come downstairs. He fought the urge to go up to her room and pound on the door, demanding to be let in. The only thing that stopped him was Rose. James didn't want her to see him take out her little boy toy; it might upset her. Emmett's destruction had to look accidental, then Rose would easily be his. That glorious body, her angelic face, and, most of all, those piercing eyes. When she looked into his eyes that night, it was as though she reached his soul, bringing to life a monster he had never known.

James felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, and he pulled it out. Victoria. As much fun as she had been over the last year or so, she was worn out and no longer held his interest. He ignored the call and continued pacing. The phone vibrated again; he ignored it again. The third time, he couldn't stand it anymore, and he hit the accept button.

"What the fuck do you want?" he snarled, making an older woman in the lobby jump and scurry away from him.

"Well excuse the shit out of me! I didn't mean to bother you, you asshole. I thought you might want to know what's been going on up here."

"Vic, why the hell would I care what's going on in your little world of nothingness?"

"Maybe because you're the talk of the fucking town right now."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The news has your info all over it. They're hunting you down!" Victoria giggled. "You're lucky you left when you did."

"What part of this is funny to you, you dumb bitch? Tell me, please, what part of this seems like a fucking joke to you, because I don't see it." James was shouting. The woman he had frightened earlier was back, this time with the manager of the hotel. James paid no attention to them as he continued to lay into Victoria.

"What are you going to do if I'm gone, Vic? Hm? What are you going to do without your sugar daddy taking care of you and providing for you? Do you really think you can make it on a nurse's salary right now and live the way I've let you live? No. You have it so good right now, you spoiled bitch; you fucking need me, and don't you ever fucking forget it!"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Victoria's sobs rang through the phone's speaker, bringing James a sick satisfaction. No matter how bored he was with her, making her cry never got old, and being able to do it from a different state made him feel even more powerful.

"Now you fucking listen to me-" James's sentence was cut short when he felt a large, heavy hand grab his shoulder tightly.

"Sir, are you a guest at this establishment?" James looked up to see a security guard towering over him. The man was young, no older than twenty, but he was fully developed. His immense shoulders led down to the thick, well-muscled arm that was now bearing down on James, waiting for his response.

"Who the hell wants to know?" he spat, hoping his tone would make up for his lack of size.

"Sir, I'm Felix, and I run security at this hotel. So I ask again-" he squeezed harder, "-are you a guest here?"

James started to squirm under the pressure of Felix's grip. The man knew just where to dig his knuckles, and the pain was intense.

"No, I'm not a guest. I'm waiting for someone," James managed to say. He faintly heard Victoria, still on the phone and panicking.

"Let's go wait outside, shall we?" Felix used James' shoulder to turn him and started pushing him to the exit. James twisted and pulled, but couldn't get out of the man's hold on him.

"Keep struggling," Felix said, a little too happily, "I like 'em feisty!" He pushed James harder, nearly throwing him to the floor. When they finally reached the doors, Felix stopped.

"If I see you in here again, I'll beat the shit out of you, then call the cops. We don't tolerate your bullshit in our lobby." Felix shoved him out the doors and called out, "Have a nice day, sir!"

James tripped on the curb and was nearly hit by a car that pulled up at the same time. He brushed himself off, picked up his phone, and headed to his car. As bitter as he was about being thrown out, he was glad to see that the parking lot had thinned a little and he could get a space closer to the entrance. He could be less conspicuous that way anyway. Starting his car, he pulled into his new spot and waited. He knew that Rose would appreciate his dedication, all the work he put into finding her and keeping her.

She had better, anyway.

Sorry it's so short, folks. Holidays, visitors, all that fun stuff. Leave me love!