Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2) (19 page)

She rolled her eyes, mouth curving into a slow smile. She liked the sound of that.

Luke flicked on the living room fireplace on the way out the door. “This’ll make it nice and toasty in here for when we come back in,” he explained, smiling.

He opened the sliding door, and Embry stepped out into the cold night. Coming up behind her, he wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, giving her a squeeze. “Hang here and I’ll get the fire lit,” he offered as he opened a small storage container on the deck and pulled out a few logs.

“And miss your Boy Scout fire-lighting skills?” She smiled. “Not a chance!”

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged.

Embry sat on the edge of the cushioned chaise lounge, watching as Luke set small pieces of kindling and balled up newspaper into the bottom of the chiminea before placing a large log on top. He lit the paper beneath and then the kindling began to crackle, a low glow rising up from the bottom as the fire sprang to life.

“Impressive.” She nodded her head toward the amber glow.

Luke rubbed his hands together, warming them up. “Boy Scout approved,” he said on a wink, then stalked toward her, huddled in his sweatshirt against the cold. “Stand up.”

She did as she was told, and he dragged the lounge chair in front of the fire. Taking the blanket from her shoulders, he sat back against the lounge, his legs open. “Come here.”

“I sit and stay, too,” she joked as she made her way over to him.

He narrowed his eyes and patted the cushioned chair.

Sighing in defeat, she arranged herself between his legs, her back against his chest. He draped the blanket over them before wrapping his arms around her.

The crisp, cold wind licked at their cheeks, but the fire crackling in the outdoor chimney threw enough warmth to make it bearable.

Snuggled beneath the blanket, they both stared silently out at the bay.

“You’ve been quiet since we left the party,” Luke observed.

Embry nodded. “Just thinking.”

“Want to share?”

She wanted to tell him she loved him, that she was sorry for holding back, but the words wouldn’t come. “Not yet.”

They sat in companionable silence as Embry stared out into the night; the only light the moon’s reflection on the glassy surface of the bay and the slow burning embers in the fireplace. She leaned her head back against him, lulled by the steady sound of his heartbeat. His chest expanded beneath her as he drew in a deep breath.

“Embry?”

“Hmmm?”

“I love you.” His voice was thick and throaty, but she caught the slight trace of uncertainty, almost as if he was scared of being rejected again.

She sat silent, thinking, trying to make sense of the thoughts swirling in her mind.

He tightened his arms around her. “I love you, Embry,” he repeated more forcefully. “And I
know
you love me, too. But I need to hear it. I need to know if you’re in this with me… because if you’re not, then…”

He shifted beneath her, and Embry turned in his arms, looking up into sad blue eyes.

“Then what?” she prompted, her face etched with worry.

A battle waged in his eyes—a mix of honesty, pain, and desire. “Then I’ll let you go.”

She sat up, facing him as her heart began to race uncontrollably and tears stung her eyes. “I’m terrified, Luke.” Her voice cracked. “I’ve never felt this way. I’ve never been so vulnerable. I gave you my heart, and you were reckless with it.”

He dropped his head and, when his eyes met hers again, they were filled with anguish. “I’ll never be able to express to you how sorry I am, Bree. But I don’t know what more I can do,” he said, defeated. “I’ll try harder, give you everything. I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life making it up to you, showing you that you didn’t make a mistake by giving me another chance. But if you don’t believe that, if you can’t let go and trust that I won’t hurt you again, then there’s nothing more I can do.”

A pit formed in her stomach, her heart aching at the thought of losing him.

He’d meant every word. The pain was clear on his face, and she’d heard the sincerity in his voice.
I love you, Embry. I know you love me too.
As she let his words rush through her, her fear began to dissipate, slowly floating away on the wind as threads of trust began to form and strengthen her resolve. She decided right then and there that she was all in.

Shaking her head, she leaned lightly into him and tilted her face toward his. “No,” she whispered, hot tears staining her cheeks. “Don’t give up on me.”

His dark eyes clouded with confusion. “I don’t un—”

Silencing him with a finger over his lips, she held his eyes, trying to convey everything she was feeling—love, fear, longing, pain. She needed him to understand. “I love you, too.”

He drank her in as he cupped her cheeks, his hands warm against her cold skin. “Thank you,” he said softly, his voice nearly shaking with relief. He pressed his lips to hers, teasing the seam of her mouth until she opened for him. The soft caress of his tongue sent a wave of longing through her entire being as she dug her hands into his hair, pulling him closer, as close as she could get him.

After a few seconds, he broke the kiss, his large hands gently holding her face as his eyes clung to hers. “I need you.” There was so much longing in his voice.

Her heart fluttered in her chest. “Then take me.”

Hooking his arms beneath her, he cradled her to his chest, then he stood and grabbed the blanket, carrying her into the house. The room was dark, except for the soft glow of the fireplace, shadows from the flames dancing across the walls.

Luke set Embry down and laid the blanket in front of the hearth. Gently pushing the loose hairs from her face, he reclaimed her lips and coaxed her mouth open, his tongue swirling with hers as his hands roamed her body, fingers tracing every curve. Chills broke out across her sensitive skin as he slowly pushed the sweatshirt up her torso. His lips left hers only to pull it over her head, revealing the cropped corset she’d worn under her party dress.

He eyed the sheer lace, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as his fingers brushed her skin just above the waistline of her flannel pants. Tugging at the satin drawstring, the pants fell to the floor, and she stood before him in matching lace panties.

He blinked rapidly, his eyes raking over her body. “Jesus fuck. You’re fucking beautiful.” Finally, his calm shattered, and he crushed her to him. His mouth devoured her softness as his hands traveled the length of her back, searching out and unclasping the delicate eyelets of her corset. The sheer lace fell to the floor, exposing her breasts, her nipples hardening under his teasing touch. Wrapped up in the sensation of hands and lips, pleasure coursed through her, and Embry found herself on the floor, soft fleece beneath her bare back. As Luke settled above her, his lips and tongue trailed down the long column of her neck, working toward her breasts.

He was still fully clothed, and she was filled with the need to feel his skin against hers. “Luke,” she sighed as his tongue swirled around the hardened tip of her nipple.

He looked up from beneath his long, dark lashes, cobalt eyes burning into her. Caught up in her desire and unable to form coherent words, she tugged at his sweatshirt. He took the hint and kneeled between her legs, yanking it over his head and exposing the gorgeous expanse of his chest. Her eyes blazed, heat rushing to her core as she watched him untie the drawstring of his pants, exposing the thick length jutting out from his hips.

Luke slowly ran his hands up her thighs, his eyes never leaving hers as he reached the lace of her panties and dragged them down her legs. He tossed them aside and grabbed her knees, pushing her legs up and open and leaving her completely exposed. She shivered beneath him, her body ready to explode before he’d even touched her.

Bending his head, he started at her knee, licking and kissing his way to the apex of her thighs. He explored her body with his lips and hands, driving her to the point of madness. She arched her hips toward his mouth, silently begging for him. Finally, he ran a long finger through her wetness, his tongue following suit as he stroked her pussy.

“Please, Luke!” she cried out, her fingers roughly digging into his hair.

He splayed his large hand against her stomach, holding her in place. “I’m just getting started, baby.” He made another pass with his tongue before sucking her clit into his mouth, plunging his fingers deep inside of her. Her back arched up, her head hitting the floor as she came undone over and over again.

But even that didn’t suppress the ache between her legs. She needed him, all of him.

He kissed and licked his way up her body, leaving a trail of heat until he was hovering over her, his biceps taut and straining under his weight as he held himself above her.

He looked down at her, eyes hooded. “I love you so fucking much.”

She smiled up at him, winding her arms around his neck and tunneling her hands through the hair at the back of his head. “I love you, too.”

As he lowered himself, his tongue traced the fullness of her mouth, then pushed past her lips and tangled with hers. She felt his erection hard and heavy against her belly, intensifying her ache for him.

She broke the kiss, panting and shaking beneath him as she reached between them, gripping his cock and lifting her hips toward him. “Make love to me. Please, I need to feel you.”

Blue eyes, large and liquid, stared into hers as he positioned himself at her entrance and sunk into her, groaning in pleasure. Embry cried out, every feeling and emotion crashing into her at once as he filled her, completed her. He’d broken her down, shattered her, then put her back together again. With every kiss, every slow thrust, every heated touch, another broken piece fell back into place until she was whole again.

He moved inside of her, a steady, carnal rhythm driving her toward the edge as their mouths explored each other, tongues tangling. His strong arms held her close as he took her, owning every inch as he dragged himself out of her then pushed in deeper, bringing her closer and closer.

She gave herself over to him, body and soul, falling apart beneath him and calling out his name as they fell over the edge together.

They lay in bed a short while later, naked limbs tangled together, chills breaking out across Luke’s skin as Embry’s delicate fingers traced the curves of his chest. Tonight had been perfect. She was perfect—here, with him, beside him in his bed. There was nothing in the world he’d ever want more than her body curled against his, wrapped in his arms.

“I missed you,” she whispered shyly.

He rolled toward her, his arms coming around her to roam the bare length of her back. “I missed you, too,” he spoke against her lips.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?” she wondered aloud.

“What is?”

“That we’ve kind of been back together for a while now, but I still missed you.”

“I think you just missed this,” he said, pushing his hips toward her with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, I definitely missed that.” She giggled and the sound went straight to his dick.

“I’m just glad you’re here.” He pressed his mouth to hers, her lips warm and sweet.

She sighed, stretching sleepily in his arms and tucking her face under his chin. “Me too.”

He held her tight, breathing her in, still feeling like at any moment she’d decide he wasn’t worth it. But he pushed the feelings aside, relishing the feel of her in his arms, in his bed, and reminded himself that she had the chance to leave, to walk away, and she didn’t. She chose him.

“Luke?” Her warm breath bathed his neck.

“Right here, baby,” he whispered against the top of her head.

“Remember when you told me you didn’t work without me?”

He nodded, memories of the past few months flashing behind his eyes.

“I think you were right.”

Embry hopped through the hallway, her hair falling in long curls around her face as she balanced on one foot, attempting to slip on her other boot. “Five more minutes, I promise!”

“Take your time, babe,” Luke called from the other room.