Текст книги "Undone"

Автор книги: R. E. Hunter

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

31

“Okay, enough,” Luke said, startling Embry as she poured her coffee into a travel mug.

She had avoided him all morning, only speaking when he spoke first. She thought that if she slept on it, she’d wake up and have the answer to the mystery that was Luke. Instead, she was up half the night. The little sleep she got was marred by nightmares about Luke and finals and Jack and anything else her mind could come up with to freak her out.

“What?” Embry said harshly as she faced him.

“Enough with the silent treatment. Talk to me.”

“Fine.” Embry slammed the mug on the counter. “Why did you tell your niece that I would be busy when you take her to see the tree?”

“Seriously?” he asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

His response pissed her off even further. “Yes, seriously. Did you even think to tell me your family was coming to visit? Being that I don’t know what my plans are for the holidays, I’d love to know how you know that I’ll be busy.”

“Embry,” Luke said in a warning tone.

“No, Luke, I don’t understand. Are you ashamed of me? Because I feel like I’m your dirty little secret.”

Luke’s eyes went wide. “Dirty little secret? You wanted this. We both wanted this. We knew full well what it meant when we decided to be together. No one knows about us except for Morgan, and that couldn’t be helped.”

“That’s bullshit, and you know it.” She was fuming and felt tears prickle at her eyes. “You spent the holiday with my family, Luke. What’s the difference?”

“The difference is that my family knows I’m a professor,” he bit out.

“But it’s your family. We don’t have to tell them I’m a student. And even if they found out, would they report us to the school?”

“No,” he replied.

“Right, then why are you keeping me a secret?”

He had no answer. He stood with his arms crossed, that muscle working in his jaw.

Embry grabbed her mug and her bag and brushed by him. “Your dirty little secret has to get to her review session.”

That snapped him out of it. He followed her to the door. “Bree, stop—”

“No, Luke, you stop.” Her mouth fell into a frown. “I’ll see you in class, Professor,” she spat, before walking out the door.

* * *

Embry was feeling particularly spiteful. As Luke went over review questions in class, she sat and stewed over what he’d said. She couldn’t let it go. She knew that they had to be careful or they could both get hurt, but she couldn’t see what that had to do with his family. The more she thought about it, the more upset she got. Emotions clouding her judgment, Embry did the one thing she knew would upset Luke. Resting her chin on her palm, she turned her attention to Jeremy.

“Hey, handsome,” she said.

Jeremy looked over his shoulder then swung his eyes back to her, confusion sweeping across his face. “Me?”

“Yes, you. You look really nice today.” She had to work on her flirting. That was pathetic.

Jeremy pushed the back of his hand against her forehead. “Feeling all right, Bree?”

Embry saw Luke from the corner of her eye, tension in his every move. She knew he hated Jeremy’s hand on her, and she smiled brightly at her friend. “I’m great. Why?”

Jeremy dropped his hand. “Just checking. You’re being a little weird.”

His discomfort made it even more fun. Two birds. One stone. She could torture Luke a bit and give Jeremy a taste of his own flirty medicine. “What?” she asked, her voice filled with sweet innocence. “I’m just being friendly.” She drew her finger up his forearm.

The sound of a textbook slamming onto the podium made them jump. Got him.

“Miss Jacobs, Mr. Price,” Luke said, his voice extra gravelly. “Since both of you seem to understand the concept of punitive damages so well that you don’t have to pay attention to the review, why don’t you tell us about it?”

Jeremy let out a long sigh and shook his head.

Embry stepped up, determined to keep Luke’s wrath from landing on her friend. “Punitive damages are only available for breach of contract if there is fraud, malice, gross negligence, or oppression.”

“Good answer, Embry. How about you, Jeremy?” Her correct answer seemed to have only provoked Luke further. “Want to tell us about stipulated damages?”

Luke proceeded to torture Jeremy, making him look completely inept, and Embry could do nothing but sit by and watch. Her anger at Luke grew until she was sure the entire class felt the fury rolling off of her. Her stupid, stubborn man was taking out his anger on her friend, when it should have been directed at her.

Luke slipped out at the end of the review session while Embry was still packing up. Jeremy pushed past her without even saying good-bye. She shoved the rest of her things in her bag and ran after him.

“Jer,” she called.

He turned, glaring at her. “Just leave me alone, Bree.” He looked around before continuing in a harsh whisper. “I don’t know what that was, but whatever it is, I want no part of it.”

“What?” she asked, dumbfounded. Shit, he knows.

“Just … Nothing.” He shook his head. “I’ll talk to you later.” He walked away without giving her a chance to respond.

Reeling from Jeremy’s words and seething with anger at Luke, Embry couldn’t move fast enough through the back hallway and into the faculty wing. She schooled her face into a mask of impassivity as she passed several students and other faculty members.

She reached Luke’s office door, knocked once, and stormed in without waiting for an answer. “I can’t believe you just—”

Luke shot up from behind his desk and forced her against the closed door before she could finish her sentence. “Believe it,” he growled. He reached behind her, flipped the lock, and slammed his mouth down on hers.

Her head swam as she desperately tried to hold onto her anger. She wanted to pound on Luke’s chest, yell at him for being so stupid and jealous that he tipped off Jeremy. But she couldn’t be angry with him when he claimed her like that—his warm, wet mouth on hers, every inch of his solid body pressing into her.

“Hold on, beautiful,” he said, as he grabbed her ass and lifted her up against the door.

She did as she was told, wrapping her arms around his neck and locking her legs around his waist. She mentally high-fived herself for her wardrobe choice that morning; her flowy dress gave him easy access. She felt his hardness through his pants, putting delicious pressure against her core. She whimpered, but his finger found her lips, signaling the need for her to be quiet. She couldn’t help herself. Her tongue darted out to tease his finger, licking and sucking. He dragged it down her lips and between her breasts before reaching under her dress and ripping her panties aside. He slid his finger through her wetness, and she shuddered, wanting more but knowing she couldn’t make a noise to ask for it.

He got the message though. He slipped two fingers inside her, curling them into that delicious spot that shot her through the roof. She rode his hand until she spiraled into an intense orgasm, clenching around his fingers. Then his hand was gone, and she heard the clink of his belt buckle. The thick head of his cock rubbed against her sensitive flesh, and he muffled a low groan in the crook of her neck as he pushed into her inch-by-inch.

It was slow torture of the best kind. Her head fell back against the door with a thud, and she bit her lip, doing her best to stifle her cries as he moved inside of her. He gave her a warning look before pulling her from the door. Gripping her thighs, he held her against him as he walked them to his desk. He pushed his paperwork aside, and she watched it fall to the floor as he laid her on her back and pushed back inside of her.

He kept up a punishing rhythm, his fingers digging into her hips as he slammed into her. Each stroke sent a wave of pleasure through Embry as the sensations built inside of her. She was lost in Luke. Her anger and frustration drained away with every hard thrust.

“Baby, I’m gonna come,” he said softly.

His words took her over the edge. Another release rocketed through her, and she bit her lip, struggling to stay quiet. Her muscles seized and clenched around Luke as he pulsed inside of her. He slipped his hands underneath her and lifted her into his arms. He settled her on his lap in his desk chair, holding her as they both came down. He buried his face in her neck once more, and she felt his arms tighten around her.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

All of the pent-up tension left her body at those two simple words.

He brought his eyes to hers. “For everything, I’m sorry. I want you to spend Christmas with my family.”

Embry nodded and brushed her lips against his. “Thank you.”

“One thing, though,” he said, his voice gruff. He narrowed his eyes, grabbed her hands, and brought them to his mouth, placing a kiss on each palm. “Keep these to yourself unless they’re on me.”

Embry’s mouth dropped open, but she didn’t argue. He was the only one she wanted her hands on.

32

Tap. Tap. Tap. Embry anxiously twirled her pen between her fingers and banged it against the desk. The girl next to her pegged her with an annoyed glare. Embry stopped the tapping, but her knee continued to bounce beneath the desk. She was one huge ball of anxiety. She had just finished her last final exam and was ready to break out of the classroom. The rules allowed students who finished early to leave unless they finished within the last thirty minutes of the test. So she had to sit quietly until the exam was over. In other words … torture.

She went over the exam in her head again, wondering if she should have taken more time. She had double and triple-checked her answers. It was out of her hands. She had handed in her final memo already, and once she walked out of the test room, she was officially finished her first semester of law school. Apprehension crept up her spine as she worried about her grades. She had already heard whispers of some students not completing all of their exams because they were so sure they had failed. She hadn’t had any major breakdowns, but waiting until after New Year’s for her grades would be agonizing.

Embry chewed the end of her pen. She figured that would keep her from tapping it against the desk or throwing it at the head of the proctor who wouldn’t let her leave. Anxious wasn’t even the right word to describe her feelings. She was impatient, eager, downright twitchy. Not only was she itching to get out of the classroom and celebrate a few weeks of freedom, but she also hadn’t spent any alone time with Luke since they’d creatively worked out their differences on his desk. That had been over a week ago, and their plans for the evening were sure to test their self-control.

Some law school deans held events at their homes during orientation and invited professors and first-year students to come for wine and hors d’oeuvres. At Whitman, the dean went all out with a holiday cocktail formal to celebrate the end of the first semester. It was at some swanky Gold Coast mansion, and everyone dressed to the nines.

She couldn’t wait to dress up and have some fun, but keeping her eyes and hands off of Luke would be a problem. She had no doubt he’d look killer in a suit, and knowing that they’d have to be on their best behavior made it even more tempting to misbehave.

The proctor announced the end of the exam, and Embry practically jumped out of her chair. She burst into the hallway and found Morgan waiting for her.

“Well?” her best friend asked. “How’d it go?”

“Good, I think.” She hooked her arm through Morgan’s and walked down the hallway. “Yours?”

“Eh, it was okay. I did enough to pass, so I’m happy. The second half of the test, all I could think about was how glorious that open bar will be tonight!”

Embry hugged Morgan around the neck and bounced up and down. “Oh my God! I cannot wait. You’re going to have to do a bit of Bree-sitting though.”

“No way. My Bree-sitting days are over. I plan on taking at least two bottles of wine to the face and forgetting my own name. Why do you think we got the limo?”

“I’ll be chugging vino right along with you,” Embry assured her. “I just meant that you have to keep me away from Luke.”

“Seriously?” Morgan said, rolling her eyes.

“I haven’t been alone with him in a week.” She gripped Morgan’s arm, her eyes trying to convey the seriousness of the situation. “Me plus Luke Brody in a tailored suit plus alcohol equals trouble.”

Morgan stared at Embry, apparently mulling it over for a minute before responding. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yes, okay. Because me plus Luke Brody in a tailored suit plus alcohol would also equal trouble.”

“Morgan!” Embry said, bumping her hip against Morgan’s.

“What?”

“You know what.”

“I’m sorry. You’ve got me all distracted thinking about Luke Brody in a tailored suit.” A devious grin spread across her face.

“What about Brett?” Embry asked.

“Brett who?”

The girls laughed as they walked out of the law school for the last time that semester.

* * *

Embry stepped out of the limousine, and Morgan followed. They stood side-by-side staring at the English Tudor-style mansion.

“Shall we?” Embry asked, linking her arm with Morgan’s.

“We shall,” Morgan agreed.

They made their way along the cobblestone path to the entrance. The manor held all of the opulence and grandeur of the 1920s. They walked through the main doors, and Embry lost her breath. A large, sparkling chandelier illuminated the foyer and the grand staircase. She felt as if she had traveled back in time or stepped right into The Great Gatsby. At least she would have been dressed for it.

Morgan must have been familiar with the venue because she had picked out the perfect outfit for Embry. Her long blond hair was curled to perfection and gathered so that it hung over her left shoulder. Her makeup was soft and feminine, highlighting her emerald-green eyes. She wore a beige mini-dress with an open back, cap sleeves, and a silver lace overlay that shimmered with her every move. The final touch was a long strand of pearls that Morgan had wrapped around her neck in a way that had them falling down Embry’s bare back. She had never felt so beautiful.

Morgan stunned in a blush, sequin-covered gown with a plunging neckline. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ballerina bun, showing off the long line of her neck. The girls were dressed to impress and ready to party. They followed the staircase to the second floor where it opened into a large ballroom. Morgan had insisted on being fashionably late, so the party was already underway.

They walked arm-in-arm into the room, Morgan pulling Embry and gushing over the ornate antique fixtures. Jazzy Christmas music played through the speakers as gloved butlers passed around champagne and canapés.

“Don’t mind if we do,” Morgan said, plucking two flutes of champagne from a tray and handing one to Embry.

Embry took a sip, the bubbles tickling her nose, and scanned the room. Morgan was still talking excitedly about the venue, but Embry couldn’t be bothered to listen. She was searching for Luke. She hadn’t set eyes on him in days, and she needed her fix. Finals had taken their toll. She was sleep-deprived and had lost five pounds from the stress, but it was missing Luke that had been unbearable. Between his proctoring schedule, his law practice, and her studying, they’d had no time to spend together. She missed his arms, his warmth, his touch. She may not be able to interact with him at the party, but she needed to see him.

“Are you even listening to me?” Morgan asked, taking a healthy sip of champagne.

“No,” Embry answered honestly. “Sorry.” She followed Morgan’s lead and sucked down some more champagne. “Let’s go find Jer and—”

She watched Morgan’s eyes shift and grow wide as a warm hand pressed against the bare skin of her back. She struggled to stand as her knees buckled and her body flooded with sensation. His touch didn’t last more than a second, but in that second, everything slowed down. His thumb dragged down her naked spine and tangled with the pearls. He gave a slight tug and drew her back into his body as his lips brushed her ear. She smelled his spicy-clean scent combined with whatever scotch he was drinking, and she had to fight the whimper rising up her throat.

“You look stunning tonight, Miss Jacobs,” he rasped as he dropped his hand and continued walking.

Her heart kicked into overdrive as she watched him walk away.

“Miss Jacobs,” a voice said to her left, forcing her gaze away from Luke.

Embry turned to see her contracts professor standing before her. “Professor Coleman! How are you feeling? You look fabulous.” Embry said, taking in her long, black gown.

“I’m well, thank you. Feeling much better and ready to get back to work next semester. Professor Brody has nothing but wonderful things to say about your help as a research assistant. I’ve seen the results, and I’m quite impressed myself.”

“Thank you. He’s been a good teacher.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Well, it was nice to see you. I look forward to working with you again next semester,” Professor Coleman said.

“Thank you, Professor. Happy holidays!”

“You too, Embry.”

Professor Coleman walked away, and Embry turned to Morgan, panic sweeping over her features. “Do you think she saw him? Us?”

Morgan grabbed Embry’s hand and pulled her toward the bar. “Calm down, and no. Even if she did, it was so quick I doubt anyone would have given it a second thought.”

“I’m pretty sure your professor doesn’t greet you like that,” Embry argued.

“I’m pretty sure my professor doesn’t look like yours.” Morgan wiggled her eyebrows. “Come on, stop worrying and have another drink.”

The girls found Jeremy and Tessa at the bar. He’d been pretty cold toward Embry since the review session, but they stayed and mingled for a few minutes before strolling out onto the dance floor.

“I don’t like that girl,” Morgan commented.

“So it’s not just me?”

“No. She gives me the creeps. There’s just something about her. It’s kind of like someone cloned you and left out the brain.”

“What? She’s nothing like me!”

Morgan raised her eyebrows. “Really? You can’t see it? That boy is hopelessly in love with you. He went and found a girl who looks just like you.”

“I don’t see it.” Embry shrugged.

“You wouldn’t. You don’t want to.”

“Morgan, stop. He’s my friend.”

“I know he is. I love Jeremy too. I’m just saying I don’t like her.”

“Well, we can agree on that,” Embry said.

At that moment, the music stopped, and the dean grabbed a microphone to address the faculty and students. The dance floor cleared, and Embry had her first real look at Luke. He stood directly across the dance floor, wearing a charcoal-gray suit with a thin black tie and crisp white shirt. The suit was perfectly tailored to his long muscled body, and his dark hair set off his cobalt eyes, which were fixed intently on Embry.

“Wow,” Morgan said, following Embry’s line of sight. “Your man cleans up well.”

“Yeah, he does,” Embry agreed.

The dean prattled on in the background, but Embry’s eyes remained locked on Luke’s. She couldn’t look away. He was jaw-droppingly handsome, and he was all hers. A jab to her ribs caused her to stop her greedy perusal and glare at Morgan.

“Just doing my job.” Morgan gave Embry a dazzlingly smile.

“What job is that?”

“Bree-sitting. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to keep you from mounting your professor in the middle of a school-sponsored event.”

Embry rolled her eyes and took another sip of her champagne. They chatted idly for a few minutes while the dean finished his speech. Everyone clapped politely, and the music kicked back on.

Embry and Morgan made their way around the room, mingling with other students and enjoying the hors d’oeuvres. She did her best to keep her eyes away from Luke, but no matter where in the room she went, she felt him watching her—felt his eyes like a soft caress that set her skin on fire. She eventually lost the battle and found him across the ballroom. He was talking with the blonde woman he’d taken to the bar the night of her setup with Brendan, but his eyes were fixed on Embry. She was stuck to the spot and lost in this gaze.

Morgan leaned in close to whisper, “I suggest that if you want to keep up the innocent student act, you stop eye-fucking your professor from across the room.”

“I’m not—”

“You are, Bree. Everyone stares at him; that’s not the real problem.”

“Then what exactly is the problem?” she asked, annoyed.

“That he stares back. I don’t think a single person in this room could miss the sparks flying between you two if they bothered to pay any attention.”

“Well, then I guess it’s good they’re not paying attention.”

“You’d better hope they’re not,” Morgan said.

Embry let out a frustrated sigh, but she knew Morgan was right. They couldn’t be so obvious. “You’re right, thanks.”

Morgan nodded.

“I’m going to find the bathroom.”

“In need of a cold shower?” she joked.

“Yeah, something like that.”

Morgan wasn’t entirely off base. Embry had to remove herself from the situation, take a few deep breaths, and compose herself. They weren’t love-struck teenagers, and they needed to exhibit a little more self-control. She looked around for Luke but lost sight of him. She walked down the long corridor to the bathrooms. Other than a few students on their way back to the ballroom, the hallway was empty. She found the bathroom and opened the door. Suddenly, a warm chest pushed against her back and forced her into the room. Startled, she gasped and turned to find Luke smiling down at her.

He pressed his body into hers and against the closed door. “Hey, beautiful.”

“Luke!” she whisper-yelled, pushing against his chest. “Are you crazy? You can’t be in here with me!”

“I can’t?” he asked, smirking.

“No, you can’t!”

He eased away from her and reached for the door. “Okay, I’ll just—”

“No,” she said, grabbing his tie and pulling him to her.

He crushed his lips to hers and held her against the door. She felt his erection, long and hard, pressing against her belly.

“Luke,” she whispered.

He tore his mouth from hers, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks. “I couldn’t help myself, baby.” His eyes burned into hers. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.” He captured her lips in a searing kiss, his tongue slowly invading her mouth.

Embry made short work of his belt buckle and pulled him free. His hands traveled down her body, hiked up her dress, and ripped down her panties as he continued his assault on her mouth. Luke cupped her ass with both hands and lifted her up against the door. She automatically wrapped her legs around his waist as he slid her onto his hard cock. Embry cried out. He stretched and filled her until she wasn’t sure she could take anymore.

Luke’s hand came down over her mouth. “Shhh.”

She groaned into his hand as sensation took over and she felt that delicious tremor building deep inside. Luke removed his hand and gripped her ass again. He held nothing back, slamming into her with such force her back slid up the door.

“Is this becoming our thing, baby?” Embry whispered teasingly. “Sex against doors?”

Luke smiled against her lips. “It’s your fault. If you weren’t so goddamn beautiful, I might have a chance at keeping it in my pants.”

“I like it that you can’t keep it in your pants, at least with me. I just think I might miss the bed a little bit.”

Luke groaned as he dragged himself out of her before pushing back in with more force. “Mmm, I have plenty planned for you later tonight, don’t you worry.”

“Is that a promise?”

“No, beautiful. That’s a guarantee,” he said as he joined his mouth with hers once more.

Embry’s mind went fuzzy, and she wasn’t sure if it was the champagne or Luke or both. Her head fell onto his shoulder as her body seized up. “Oh my God! Luke!” she cried into his neck as waves of pleasure took her over.

“Fuck,” he said softly, releasing inside of her.

He feathered light kisses across her cheeks, whispering how beautiful she was before slowly sliding out of her and easing her down from the door. They both cleaned up, and Embry fixed her curls in the mirror. Luke watched her intently before slipping his arms around her from behind, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror.

“You’re coming back to my place tonight, right?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.

“Yep. I packed a bag and left it in the limo.”

They were spending the weekend doing all of the fun Christmas things they wanted to do together before Luke’s family flew in that week.

“Good. I’ll see you in a few hours then.” He spun her in his arms, turning a mega-watt Luke smile on her.

“I’ll see you in a few hours.” She pushed up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his before he slipped out of the bathroom.

Embry checked herself once more in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, but she could chalk it up to the alcohol. She stepped out into the hallway and saw Luke a little ways ahead of her. He nodded at someone walking toward him and continued into the ballroom. The woman was walking in her direction and as she drew nearer, Embry’s heartbeat skyrocketed.

“Miss Jacobs,” Professor Coleman said, tilting her head and pausing to examine Embry.

“Professor,” she replied, smiling. She felt her blush deepen as her skin flushed with embarrassment, but she kept walking and hoped that Professor Coleman wasn’t as perceptive as she seemed.