Текст книги "Luke"

Автор книги: M. Malone

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 12 страниц)

chapter nine

†

LUKE

“We made it. Thanks to you.”

Tank raises his beer in my direction and the other guys follow suit.

“I seriously hope we got pictures of that. You looked so cute with your blindfold on.” Zack jumps back before Tank can reach him.

Always the mediator, Finn steps in between them.  “Women stress out about weddings. I’m sure it had nothing to do with you. Emma loves you and that’s what matters. All you have to do is focus on giving her the perfect honeymoon.”

Just as a matter of principle, I make a retching sound. That breaks up the tension and we all laugh.

Zack crosses his arms and stares at me. “You’re always giving us a hard time about being whipped but word on the street is that you’re no longer single either.”

I glare at Tank who doesn’t look even slightly sorry for ratting me out. “Snitch.”

“Oh come on, you knew I was going to tell them.”

Finn makes a face. “Why am I always the last to hear everything?”

As much as I love annoying them about their women, it’s not so easy to be on the other end of the scrutiny. Especially since I’m not exactly sure what’s going on between me and Seven. We’re not together but we’re not strictly friends either, are we?

And considering how she ran away right after I kissed her, she’s feeling just as conflicted as I am. I shouldn’t have pushed her to talk about her past.

“It’s not a big deal. Seven is staying with me for a while. Tank happened to meet her the other day when he was at the bakery. She’s a friend from out of town.”

“A very pretty friend,” Tank adds.

Zack makes kissing noises. It’s so immature yet so funny that I can’t help laughing. “Oh wow. And you guys are supposed to be my older brothers? Are we really sure about that?”

He shoves me. “With that baby face, is there really any doubt?”

Gabe comes back from the bar and hands out beers. He offers me one but I shake my head. I’ll need to drive home in about an hour so I’ve already cut myself off.

“I’m just going to keep ‘em coming. I can’t believe you’re married now,” he says to Tank. “Another one bites the dust. Sasha and I are up next unless Josie convinces you to elope, Zack.”

At the panicked look on Zack’s face, I’m guessing that won’t be happening.

“Technically I guess I have to propose first,” he replies.

Gabe looks disgusted. “You still haven’t asked her? After everything you went through to be with her, what are you waiting for?”

“The perfect moment.” Zack crosses his arms. “She knows I want to be with her forever. But I’ve only got one chance to ask her and I have to get this right.”

“However you ask her will be perfect. She won’t care about whether it’s on a billboard or during a hot air balloon ride. If it was me, I would just ask her one day over coffee. Take her completely by surprise.”

The image of getting down on one knee next to Seven after breakfast one day is so clear in my mind that it’s almost like a memory. Or a vision of what’s to come. I smile thinking about how shocked she’d be if I actually did that one day. I love seeing that look on her face, when she’s surprised or delighted by something.

“You seem to have given this some thought,” Tank says.

I regret thinking out loud when I notice the others exchanging glances. “That doesn’t mean I’m getting married any time soon. I’m just saying.”

“Is your friend the reason behind this sudden change of heart?” Finn asks.

He’s just teasing, I can tell by the twinkle in his eye but I answer seriously anyway.

“Maybe. I’m seeing a lot of things differently since she came around.”

Tank takes another long pull on his beer. “The right woman will do that to you. I know I was a wreck earlier but that’s because I was nervous about screwing up Em’s perfect wedding. Was I nervous about marrying her? Not at all.”

His candid answer is a little unnerving. What is it like to trust someone so completely? There’s so much about Seven that I still don’t know and even though I want to trust her, all my instincts are telling me that something isn’t right. There’s something going on with her and I have to figure out what it is.

“Is everything okay, Luke?”

All eyes swing to me and I squirm under the scrutiny. At least it’s just my brothers. The girls have long ago abandoned us and are clustered at one of the tables oohing and aahing over something Josie is showing them on her camera.

“You know you can talk to us if you need to.”

Zack nudges me in the side. “Come on, I’m sorry for razzing you earlier. It’s all in fun.”

Having people to confide in isn’t something I’m used to but I find myself ready to take a chance. I do need advice and my brothers are exactly the kind of guys who would understand.

I shake my head. “No, it’s not that. It’s just … Have you ever liked someone, a girl, you weren’t sure you could trust?”

Tank leans forward. “You don’t trust your friend? Why?”

Of course he narrows in on the real deal right away. That’s Tank for you. He gets right to the point and doesn’t suffer bullshit. But maybe that’s exactly what I need right now. I’ve been dancing around the problem, too afraid to examine why I don’t trust Seven yet. It’s more than just her weird behavior this afternoon. It’s a gut feeling that I can’t explain.

“Yeah. I didn’t tell you the whole story that day when you met her. The reason the FBI came and got me that day was because of her.”

While I briefly summarize the entire meeting with Agent Walker and everything that happened after, Tank listens intently. Then he holds up a hand.

“Hold on. You said you went to the hotel and got her laptop and suitcase, right?”

“Yeah. That was all she brought with her.”

He narrows his eyes. “But I thought you said she was busted by the FBI for hacking into something?”

“Yeah, she was.”

“If she was hacking into something, wasn’t she using her computer then?”

I open my mouth to reply and then shut it just as quickly. “Which would mean that her laptop would still be in FBI custody.”

Finn and the other guys look confused as hell. Finally Zack asks, “What does that mean?”

I glance at him and then back to Tank who nods slowly.

“It means that my instincts are right. She’s lying to me.”

†

The rest of the guys are dancing and Seven appears to be having a good time with Sasha and the girls. I’m surprised to see her socializing so easily since I know that’s hard for her. But then again Sasha has a way of making everyone feel comfortable.

It’s so strange now to look back at how tongue-tied I used to be around her. When we first met, I had a huge crush on her but now I just see Gabe’s girl. My future sister-in-law. Then I look over at Seven and I see all these possibilities. Even though I know she’s not telling me the whole truth, I just can’t believe that she’s actually trying to hurt me. My gut is telling me she’s being pushed into something against her will. I just don’t know why.

Yet.

I leave the main dining room and wander back down the hall to the rooms where we got dressed. This restaurant is set up with several lounge areas which is great when you need a bit of quiet to think. The only information I have to work with here is that Seven’s story of being arrested by the FBI doesn’t make sense. Thinking back on that day, I puzzle over how that could be true. Agent Walker himself is the one who told me she was arrested.

Agent Walker.

“Son of a bitch.”

I stand, pacing as the pieces of a theory start to come together. Agent Walker came into my life not just because I was accused of something but because he needed me. He needed my skills to help him close his cases. He’s not a bad guy but he’s all about the bottom line. His goal is to get information and he’ll use anything or anyone he has to in order to accomplish that.

When my father first came back into my life, Agent Walker asked if I’d had any contact with him and what I knew about him. I told him that I’d never even met my father before. I could tell he didn’t believe me.

Due to my skills, he was probably assuming that I’d dig into my father’s background and find all the dirt for them and then just hand it over. When that didn’t happen, he wasn’t happy about it but there wasn’t anything he could do. He’s tried to hack me before and failed every time.

I should have known he’d find a better way.

“Luke? What are you doing back here? You should be up front enjoying the party.” Tank’s mother takes a seat on one of the lounge chairs. She looks exhausted. I know she’s been recovering from cancer.

“Yes, ma’am. I was just—” That’s when I notice what’s sticking out of the top of her bag. “Is that a laptop?”

She glances down. “Yes, isn’t it cute? Tank just gave it to me last month.”

“I hate to ask but I really need to check my email. Would you mind if I borrowed it? I’ll bring it right back.”

“Of course. Go right ahead.” She hands it over and I take it to the couch across the room so I don’t disturb her with my typing. It’s a pretty basic model but I don’t need much. I can log on to my server remotely and access whatever I need.

It’s been a long time since I’ve done this but desperate times call for desperate measures. I pull up the last email I received from my father’s assistant. I remember his bank’s name from the legal paperwork so I quickly rip the html source from the legit site and use it to craft an official-looking email claiming she’s been locked out of her bank access.

I modify the source to send any login credentials entered to one of my dummy websites. If she tries to click on anything other than the log in space, it won’t work and she’ll probably figure out that something is off. Hopefully she’ll take the bait and I won’t have to resort to more invasive methods to get her password. I close out of everything and delete the history before logging off.

“Here you go. Thank you.” I put the laptop back in her bag.

Tank’s mother nods and then closes her eyes again. I let myself out as quietly as possible.

I just broke who knows how many laws all because I have the vague idea that Seven’s in trouble. I don’t know what Agent Walker is holding over her head but I’m pretty sure he’s using her against me in some way. I’m pissed that she didn’t trust me enough to tell me so I could help her. But trust is something we can work on.

First, I need to give the FBI something they want so they’ll leave her alone.

†

When I get back out to the main dining room, I can tell the reception is winding down a little. Apparently I missed the cake cutting, I observe as I pass the half-eaten wedding cake. I glance around looking for Seven. At least the crowd has thinned out a little. I just hope I haven’t missed saying goodbye to Tank and Emma.

“There you are.” Sasha loops her arm through mine and pulls me toward the front door. “Come on, the newlyweds are about to leave for the honeymoon.”

We join everyone else out front where Tank and Emma stand next to a black Rolls Royce. A uniformed driver waits patiently holding the door open for them.

Emma sees me and comes over first. “Goodbye, Luke. Thank you again for what you did today. I’ll never forget it.” She hugs me and then moves down the line to hug Josie and Zack.

Tank appears next and we clasp hands before he pulls me into a one-armed hug. “Thanks for everything, bro. I’ll see you guys in a few weeks. We’ll have you and your lady over for dinner after we get back. Emma really likes her, by the way.”

I finally notice Seven standing with the other bridesmaids, enveloped in a huge group hug with Emma at the center.

“I’m glad. I really like her, too.”

There’s a huge cheer from the crowd and suddenly everyone is throwing rice. Sasha pushes a small packet into my hands and I think, what the hell, and throw some rice, too.

We all wave as the car pulls away until the Just Married scrawled on the back is barely visible.

I wait patiently as everyone else goes back inside until I can get over to where Seven is standing alone. When she sees me, she breaks out into a huge grin and then practically jumps into my arms.

“Luke, there you are. I was looking all over for you. That was such a romantic wedding, wasn’t it?”

She lets out a wistful sigh and drops her head on my shoulder. One of her legs is wrapped around my waist and she’s almost climbing me. I can smell the sweet scent of the champagne she’s been drinking on her breath. Just then she adjusts herself in my arms, rubbing right up against my groin. I get hard immediately.

“Had a few drinks, huh?” I shift around, trying to set her down gently but since her arms are locked around my neck, she ends up swaying against me. Basically lying on me while standing.

“Yeah. Usually I don’t drink much but Sasha insisted that we have champagne to toast with and I had to take Emma’s because she’s pregnant. Did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t but that explains quite a bit about today.”

I lead her down the walkway to the parking lot. She’s leaning against me with no abandon, her hand traveling under my jacket to rub up and down my back. This is my punishment for some crime in a former life, I think as one of her hands drops below my belt. Seven giggles when I jump, trying to keep her from discovering just how much my body is enjoying her champagne-fueled explorations. My sudden jerk seems to amuse her though because she lets out a happy little sigh and hooks her fingers in the waistband of my trousers.

“And then Josie wanted to get a picture of us with full champagne glasses so Emma gave me another one. Then Rissa insisted that I try the wine because it was her favorite. So before I knew it, I’d had at least three drinks. Your sisters-in-law are kind of pushy.”

“Tell me about it.”

By the time we get to my car, she’s running her hands over my chest and rubbing her nose against my neck.

“Emma chose these boutonnieres because of the smell. Did you know that? She told me all about it. Everyone was so nice to me.”

“I’m glad you had fun.” I manage to juggle my keys out of my pocket and open the door.

“They all love each other. And they adore you.” She peeks up at me, her face half hidden by her hair. “I adore you, too.”

“Oh sweetheart, you are really killing me here.”

I manage to get her in the car without incident but on the way home, she slides as close as she can get with her seatbelt on, resting her hand on my thigh. My hands tighten around the steering wheel and I have to check my natural impulse to drive faster.

By the time we arrive, she’s nodded off.

I come around to her side of the car and scoop her into my arms. Her eyes open but she doesn’t say anything. After how chatty she was earlier, she suddenly seems bashful again. I put her down briefly to open the door to my apartment but then pick her up again. There’s no reason for me to do it. I’m just enjoying the excuse to have her this close.

I take her into my room and set her gently on the bed. Her eyes stay on mine, wide and waiting, as I pull down the zipper on the back of her dress. It’s amazing how much louder a small sound like that seems in a dark room.  She lifts up briefly and pushes the dress down to pool on the floor at her feet.

I pull her closer and kiss her gently on the forehead. “Good night, baby.”

When I get up to leave, her arms lock around my neck almost strangling me. “Wait, where are you going to sleep?”

“I was going to take the futon,” I stammer.

Without the barrier of her dress, her bra seems even sheerer than the last time I saw it. If I’m going to go, I need to leave now before I don’t have enough blood left in my brain to make decisions. But before I can move, she swings a leg over my lap so she’s straddling me.

“Don’t do that. I want you to stay here. With me.” Her hands tunnel through my hair and then her mouth is on mine.

“Sev, I don’t want to do anything you’re not ready for.”

Moaning, she pulls back. “I’m not drunk, Luke. I’m a little tipsy, sure. But that’s a good thing because otherwise I’d be too shy to do what I’ve been wanting to do all day.”

She reaches behind her and unhooks her bra. It falls to the floor beside the bed. I watch it fall, feeling like it’s taking my willpower with it.

When I look back at Seven, she looks so vulnerable. Almost like she’s afraid that I won’t like what I’m seeing. That fear in her eyes triggers every protective instinct I have. Nothing is more important than making sure she knows how beautiful she is to me and how honored I am to be with her right now.

“You’re so beautiful. I’m almost scared to touch you.”

She takes my hand and leads me to her breast. At the first brush of my hand against her nipple, she shudders and bites her lip.

“This is what I wanted you to do earlier today. I wanted you to touch me here. And here.” She pulls my hand further down until I cup her through the sheer thong.

At the first touch, she cries out and bucks her hips. Seeing her so untamed snaps the last thread of my control. I hold her still, not allowing her to squirm away from the pleasure.

“Uh uh. Stay right there.”

“Luke.” My name comes out as a plea.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You’ve been tormenting me all night with the memory of these.” I take one of her tight little nipples in my mouth.

She pants as I suck it, hard. When I finally let it go with a little pop, it’s dark red and so hard it could probably cut glass.

“Yes,” she moans as my finger slides beneath her thong again.

“I can’t get the image of this out of my head. Did you shave just to taunt me? Did you plan for me to see this so I’d be thinking about it all day?” My voice has deepened to a growl that I barely recognize.

“No. I didn’t know…” She shudders above me as I pet the delicate skin, painting her moisture all over until one finger slides deep with ease. “Oh, that feels good.”

I slide an arm up under her hair and hold her still. Finally, I have her where I want her and can do everything I’ve imagined. I don’t plan on letting her go for hours.

With my other hand, I yank off my tie, then start working on the buttons on my shirt. Seven covers my hand with hers and unbuttons it the rest of the way. She pushes it and my jacket off my arms. When I settle us back on the bed, our skin meets for the first time and we both moan at the contact. She hooks her feet into the waistband of my pants and works them and my boxers over my hips. We’re both smiling by the time they hit my ankles.

“Nice trick.”

She raises her eyebrows. “They’re in my way.”

“We can’t have that.” I pull her legs around my hips and her back arches as I press against her again, this time with significantly less fabric between us.

My lips follow the line of her throat. Her hands grasp my hair, so tight it hurts, but the bite of pain is arousing. Her skin is slightly salty and I love the taste as I nip my way down to the gentle swell of her belly. She gasps again when I grab the edge of her thong with my teeth.

“This definitely needs to go.”

Her soft sigh as I pull it down ramps my arousal higher. Hesitant to move too fast and shock her out of the moment, I trace her opening with my tongue, teasing her clit with little flicks. She shudders beneath me and when I look up, I’m shocked to see her eyes open, watching me. Her lids are heavy with desire and her bottom lip is clenched between her teeth.

While she watches, I brush my thumb up and down, teasing her little clit before pushing inside her gently.

Her mouth falls open and she cries out helplessly. The sound pushes me over the edge. I lean down, licking into her forcefully, letting her ride my tongue. Dimly, I’m aware of her cries and the flex of her fingers on my shoulders as she comes but I’m too far gone for finesse. I can’t slow down when every instinct pushes me to tease her. Taste her.

Make her mine.

She’s still gasping for breath when I reach over to the night table for protection. By the time I have a condom on, her eyes are open, watching my movements with interest. I gather her into my arms gently and then flip us over.

“I want you on top, baby. We’ll take it as slow as you need to.”

Although desire pushes me to take her, she’s so tiny and I don’t want to hurt her. She looks scared at first but then I brush my dick back and forth, using her moisture to smooth the way. She sighs and sinks down taking half of me before planting her hands on my chest.

A few deep breaths and then she rocks back and forth. It’s so hard to hold still as she pulls me deeper and deeper into her tight grip but I keep my hands on her hips. When I finally hit bottom, her head falls back on her shoulder and she tightens around me.

“Christ. Do that again.”

Her lashes flutter against her cheeks as she squeezes me again. Pleasure radiates through me as she raises up and then drops down again.

“Fuck, Sev. You feel amazing.” I sit up against the backboard and the change in position makes us both groan. Her back arches so hard it looks like she’ll bend in half and she squeezes around me over and over again.

“Damn baby, I feel you coming. Give it all to me.”

I lift my hips, giving her the deep penetration I know she needs. She sobs, her fists falling against my chest as her orgasm rolls through her. My own pleasure beckons, trying to tempt me to follow her over the edge but I fight it. I’m not ready to let go yet.

But as I hover on that sharp edge of pleasure, it’s the look in her eyes that takes me over. Like she’s finally home.