Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2) (11 page)

“Wanna play?” she asked, her eyes gleaming.

“You want to play pool with me?” he asked, disbelieving. She never ceased to amaze him.

“Why not?” She raised an eyebrow in challenge. “A little competition never hurt anyone.”

Luke shrugged, acquiescing, but he had a feeling this was a bad idea. A range of images ran through his head, all with the same variation of Embry bent over his pool table.

Embry followed Luke up the stairs and into what had been one of the spare bedrooms. A brand new pool table sat in the middle of the room, the bright green felt completely unmarked.

She walked around the table, running her hand along the smooth wooden finish. “Have you played at all yet?”

“Just pushing the balls around the table a bit,” he called over his shoulder, busy picking out a pool cue from a rack in the corner.

Embry noticed a card taped to the side of the table. Checking to see that Luke was still occupied, she opened it.

Since Embry took your balls when she left, here are some to play with in the meantime. Love you, bro. –Cam

Embry could hear Camden’s voice in her head, which made it even harder to keep her composure. An uncontrollable giggle rose up her throat, and she was caught red-handed as Luke turned and found her with the card in her hand.

He winced, the tips of his ears turning red with embarrassment.

“I’m sorry.” She put the card down, fighting a smile.

He shook his head, grimacing. “It’s fine. Now you know the real reason.”

Hoping to lighten the moment, she grinned mischievously as she amended, “No. I’m sorry I ran away with your balls.”

A wicked smile split Luke’s lips. He strutted over, handing her a pool cue and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “My balls are right where they should be, beautiful. You can check if you’d like.” He smacked her ass as he turned toward the table, leaving Embry with her mouth hanging open.

She stared after him, speechless. She liked this Luke. She liked this Luke
a lot
.

“You wanna break, sweetheart?” he asked, ripping her from her stupor.

Embry shook her head. “Nuh-uh, you go ahead.”

Luke bent over the table, readying himself to shoot.

“Wait,” Embry called out. “How about a friendly wager?”

Luke looked over his shoulder, his eyes gleaming. “A bet?”

“Yep.” She leaned against her pool cue, hoping she looked more confident than she felt. She hadn’t played pool in a few years. She was going to have to rely solely on distraction to beat him.

“Against me?”

“Yes, against you.” She rolled her eyes.

A slow, cocky grin crept onto his face. “Name it.”

“Name what?” she asked, distracted by his gorgeous smile.

“Your price, babe. Tell me what you want to bet.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, tapping her chin. “If I win… you have to buy
and
wear a Gator jersey out in public. On game day!” She stuck her hand on her hip, feeling pleased with herself.

“Alright,” he said, a knowing look playing across his face. “I like where you’re going with this.
When
I win—” he winked “—you have to wear your Georgia thong for me.”

Embry shrugged. Little did he know she had it on right now. She hadn’t done her laundry in a while.

“And cook me dinner,” he added, smirking, “in nothing
but
that thong.”

She let out an exaggerated sigh. “Really?”
Men.

“Really.”

“Fine, I want to add to mine.” She shot him a challenging look.

Luke raised an eyebrow. “Sorry, no can do.”

“What?” She scrunched up her face in aggravation.

Luke turned toward the table, then looked back over his shoulder. “The terms have been set, sweetheart; it’s game time.” He bent at the waist, drew his pool stick back, biceps rippling with tension, and broke, sending the balls scattering. A solid red ball banked off of the side of the table and slid into a pocket. “You’re stripes.” He winked at her.

“Thanks,” she quipped, rolling her eyes. “I figured that out.” She set herself up at the table, lining up her stick with the cue ball, before bending over the table, arching her back and sticking her ass in the air.

“Want some help with your form?” he asked his voice husky.

“Nope, I’m good.” Flustered, she tried to push his words from her mind and concentrate on the ball she wanted to knock into the pocket.

“You sure?” His presence was closing in on her.

“I know how to play pool, Luke. And my form is fine.” She shot him a censuring look over her shoulder.

“Indeed it is,” he agreed, his chest brushing against her back. “But if I could just make a few suggestions…” His breath tickled her neck as his hands slid around her waist.

It took only a moment to make up her mind. She couldn’t constantly fight him off, and she didn’t want to. Dropping the pool cue on the table, she turned in his arms, her hands coming to rest on his hard chest. “What kinds of suggestions?” she asked smoothly.

He only hesitated for a split second before gripping her hips and lifting her to sit on the edge of the pool table. Pushing between her legs, he leaned in until their lips were nearly touching. “I think,” he said, tracing a stray hair down the side of her face and pushing it behind her ear, “that it’s going to take some more wining and dining for you to hear my suggestions.”

Chills broke out across her skin as her body reacted to his words. “There was wine tonight,” she whispered against his lips.

“It’s a start,” he answered. He dragged his hands through her hair, gripping her head as he traced the seam of her lips with his tongue.

Her eyes fluttered shut, her thoughts floating away as Luke continued to tease her, feathering kisses along the corners of her mouth and brushing his lips lightly against hers, but never fully making contact.

An involuntary sigh escaped her lips. “Please.”

“Open your eyes, Embry,” he instructed.

She stared up into hazy pools of dark blue.

“That’s better.” He smiled against her mouth. “Please what, baby?”

She felt as if she’d explode any minute if she didn’t have his mouth on hers. That had been his plan. Make her want it, need it, beg for it. And she loved every second. “Kiss me, please.”

He brought his mouth down on hers, and she moaned in relief. Their tongues tangled, stroking slowly, the feeling causing her stomach to clench deliciously. The man could kiss. She gripped his shirt, pulling him closer and reveling in the feel of his lips on hers, their mouths nipping and teasing, never breaking contact. He dragged his teeth over her bottom lip, tugging on it as he slowly pulled away.

He stared down at her, his eyes soft as he held her, slowly stroking his thumb back and forth against the sensitive skin on her neck. “Let’s go downstairs,” he suggested, his jaw clenching with restraint.

She drew back, confused. “Downstairs?”

“I promised I’d be a gentleman,” he said, eyes blazing. “But I can’t do that when I’m thinking about all the things I want to do to you on my pool table.”

His hands tightened on her involuntarily, and she realized he was doing his best to restrain himself and stick to his promise to take it slow. It pulled on her heartstrings that he was trying so hard for her. And as much as she wanted to hear about all of the ideas he had for the pool table, in detail, she knew it would be best to wait. If there were more kisses like that to look forward to, it would be totally worth it.

He helped her from the pool table, holding her hand as he led her from the room. “But what about our bet?” She pouted.

“To be continued,” he said on a wink.

Embry let out a frustrated huff as she stared down at her phone, the alert notification flashing with five new text messages.

“We can do this another time,” Jeremy said sharply.

“No, no, it’s fine.” She was getting ready to meet Morgan, Brett and Luke for dinner and a movie, when he’d shown up at her door. She typed out a quick response in their group chat and brought her attention back to her friend. She’d promised him they’d talk, but she hadn’t realized how serious he’d take it.

“Drink?” Embry offered.

“Sure.”

She grabbed a beer for Jeremy and a bottle of water for herself before sitting down opposite him on the couch. “So, what’s up?” She tried to sound light, but failed miserably. Lately, things between them had been tense at best, and although she’d rather avoid the whole thing, it seemed as if he couldn’t leave it alone any longer.

Jeremy ran a rough hand through his hair, his big brown eyes focused intently on her. “Things are… weird between us.”

“They are,” she agreed, nervously picking at the label on her water bottle.

“I know you and Morgan have tried to avoid the topic around me,” he said, his jaw tightening. “But what’s happening with you and Luke?”

Embry squirmed uncomfortably, not answering.

“Are you…” he hesitated, his expression pained. “Back together?”

“We’re… trying,” she answered awkwardly. “Look, Jer—”

He held up a hand, looking pained. “No, please just let me get this out.”

“Okay.” She folded her hands in her lap, attempting to calm her frayed nerves.

“I know how you feel about him. I’m not stupid. And I hate this.
Hate
it,” he said, wincing. “Because I already know the outcome. But if I don’t say this, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Dread flooded her veins as tears bit at the backs of her eyes.
Don’t say it, Jer. Please, don’t say it.

“I love you, Embry.” His eyes blazed into hers. “I’m
in
love with you.”

Her heart stuttered, then stopped in her chest.

“If there’s even a small part of you that feels the same way…” He trailed off.

She sat in stunned silence, fighting to keep her face blank and losing the battle. The last thing she wanted was for him to see any guilt or pity there. It would break him. But it was all she felt. She loved him, adored him—as a friend. He was attractive, intelligent, hilariously engaging; he was her Jer. But her feelings went no further than friendship. Like he’d said on the day they met, it was strictly platonic. He was an amazing friend, always looking out for her and constantly making her laugh, but he didn’t make her feel like Luke did. Her heart never felt as if it would thump out of her chest when he walked into a room. Her knees never went weak when he touched her. He couldn’t read her, know exactly what she needed with just a look. And maybe, had things been different, had Luke never entered into the picture, she could have—would have—fallen for Jeremy. But things weren’t different. They were exactly the same as they’d always been. And her heart wasn’t budging when it came to her feelings for Luke, even if her head was screaming that it should.

“Say something,” he pleaded, his words scattering her thoughts.

“I don’t—I think,” she fumbled for words then gave up, letting out a long sigh. “Jer, I don’t know what to say.” She looked at him through sad eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to lose you.”

“But,” he said, leaving the air thick with bitterness.

“But nothing. I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to lose you,” she repeated, matter-of-factly.

“And that’s it.” His eyes were hard as he searched her face.

She nodded. “That’s it, Jer. I love him. I can’t
un
love him. I can’t change my heart. I have to see this through.”

“Friend-zoned,” he mumbled, glancing away.

She left it alone, having nothing to say in response.

“How does he do it, Bree? I get it, he has the southern thing going for him.” He rolled his eyes. “But he’s done nothing but cause you pain. He’s a liar. Instead of manning up and telling you the truth, he ran away from it, hid it at all costs until it came out on its own and hurt you worse than if he’d told you himself. Twice.”

She flinched at his words, but how could she argue? It was true. Mostly. Luke had brought so much to her life, made her happy in ways she’d never thought she could be, but he’d also caused the most pain. And she kept coming back for more.

“I don’t know, Jer,” she responded weakly. She felt like a broken record. How did she explain to him all the reasons why she didn’t love him, or why her heart had chosen someone else? “He’s made some big mistakes, you’re right.” But she wasn’t perfect either, and Luke had never held her faults over her head.