Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2) (30 page)

But abruptly, his hand disappeared, and he sat upright as the stewardess made a pass through the cabin, asking all passengers to put their seats upright and prepare for landing.

Embry fought the urge to growl in frustration. She’d have to suffer through dinner with Luke’s entire family before she got any relief.

But at least they were in the same boat.

Embry stared out the window, watching the southern scenery whiz by. Luke had rented a Jeep at the airport so they’d have something to tool around the island in. As she rolled down the window, she felt the crisp spring air against her face. It was dark already, and a fairly short ride from the airport, so she couldn’t see much. Before she knew it they were pulling into a long, winding driveway, lined with twisted oak trees and weeping willows. It looked just like she had pictured it. The house was a large, white Victorian, at least two stories, with balconies jutting out in every direction.

“Wow,” she breathed. Luke grabbed their bags as Embry stood, staring up at the grand house. “You grew up here?”

He grinned. “Sure did.” He led her up the brick stairs and pushed through the front door.

Embry heard a high-pitched squeal and, before she knew it, something had attached itself to her leg. She looked down to find Luke’s niece, Mackayla.

“Hey, Mack.” She smiled down at the little girl clinging to her leg. She hadn’t seen her since Christmas and she’d grown at least an inch.

“Embee!” Mackayla squealed.

Embry bent to pick her up, and Mackayla wrapped herself around Embry’s torso. “How are you, sweet girl?”

“I’m good. I got a new doll, wanna see?”

Luke cleared his throat, but Mackayla paid no attention, so he resorted to tapping her shoulder. She turned in Embry’s arms and trained her big brown eyes on her uncle.

“Forget about me?” he asked, his bottom lip jutting out in a fake pout.

Keeping her legs tight around Embry’s waist, she reached out her tiny hands, placing them on Luke’s cheeks in the gentle way only a child could. “Hi, Uncle Luke. I’m busy with Embee right now. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

His jaw fell open, eyes flicking to Embry before addressing his niece. “I guess that’s okay, Mackie. But I’ve missed you.”

“I know,” she said matter-of-factly before turning back to Embry and proceeding to tell her all about her new doll.

Cam and Lori, Luke’s brother and sister-in-law, came into the foyer, and Lori pulled Mackayla off of Embry. “Let’s let Uncle Luke and Bree get in the door, okay, pumpkin?” As soon as she set her daughter down, Mackayla took off, shouting for her grandparents.

Lori smiled at Embry, then pulled her in for a hug. “How are you?”

Embry nodded. “Good.”

Camden came up and wrapped her in a hug, lifting her off the tiled floor. “Hey, sweetheart. Glad you’re back,” he whispered.

“Me, too. Nice touch with the pool table, though.” She shot him a wicked grin.

Camden laughed. “Thought you’d like that. You keeping my brother in line?”

Embry rolled her eyes dramatically. “I can only do so much.”

Luke set their bags by the door and, pressing a hand to the small of Embry’s back, led her through the house. There were so many rooms, she couldn’t keep count— formal dining room, sitting room, living room, casual dining room. Beautiful antique chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, the entire house decorated in a lavish but almost understated manner. Luke’s mother’s careful decoration left it feeling homey and welcoming instead of stuffy.

They made their way into the kitchen and found Caroline Brody. When she spotted them, she threw off her apron and wrapped her arms around Luke. “Oh, I’ve missed you, son.” She turned her attention on Embry. “You are just too beautiful for words. How are you, my dear?”

Embry blushed slightly. “I’m well, thank you.” She kissed Mrs. Brody’s cheek, then motioned toward the counter. A large cutting board covered in veggies sat beside what looked like skewers of beef. “Can I do anything to help?”

Caroline shook her head. “Oh, no, no. I’ve got it all covered. Dinner will be ready soon, go sit and visit.” She shooed them out of the kitchen, and they headed into the sitting room with Luke’s father.

William Brody was warm and friendly, as he had been over the holidays. But now that Embry knew of Luke’s history with his father, she couldn’t help but notice the slight strain between them.

Camden folded himself onto the couch next to Embry as Luke caught up with his dad. “So he told you?” His voice was hushed.

Embry nodded. “Yes.”

“Everything?”

“Everything.” Sadness swept through her as she thought about what the family must have gone through with William Brody’s trial.

“And you’re still here?” Camden raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

Looking toward Luke, then back to his brother, she hoped her eyes conveyed her feelings. She loved him. She was still her. She wasn’t going anywhere. “I’m still here,” she answered.

Cam’s arm came around her shoulders, and he gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’ll fly to New York and kick his ass myself if he fucks it up again.”

Embry smiled, touched by Cam’s protectiveness. “He won’t.”

She was surprised by the conviction with which she said it, but as soon as the words left her mouth she knew it was true. He wouldn’t hurt her again, wouldn’t fuck up again, not like that. She believed him.

Caroline called them in to dinner, and they all took seats at the long, rectangular table in the formal dining room. William sat at one end and Caroline at the other, with Luke and Embry on one side and Lori and Cam on the other, separated Mackayla in a booster seat.

“So, Embry,” Caroline passed her the salad bowl. “how is this semester treating you?”

Embry put some salad on her plate, then dished some out for Luke before passing it down to Mr. Brody. “It’s going all right. Much more challenging than last semester.”

“How so?” Mr. Brody chimed in, seeming genuinely interested.

She shrugged. “I just can’t seem to get a firm grasp on some of the subjects this semester, and I’ve got a lot of work with the professor I research for.”

“She’s working for Professor Coleman,” Luke informed his parents.

Luke’s mother clapped her hands in surprise. “Debra? Oh, how wonderful, how is she?”

Embry’s brows drew together in confusion. “Y-you know Professor Coleman?”

Luke leaned in, his hand lightly resting on her leg. “She was Mom’s sorority sister.”

“Yes. We go way back!” Caroline eyed Luke. “Why didn’t you mention this over the holidays?”

Luke lifted his shoulder nonchalantly. “Slipped my mind.”

That wasn’t true. Embry had learned that very few things ever slipped Luke Brody’s mind. There had to have been a reason he’d kept that bit of information from his parents, maybe so they wouldn’t mention his relationship with Embry to Debra.

Her thoughts were suddenly scattered as Luke’s fingers, which were resting innocently above her knee, began to move higher. She cleared her throat, flexing her leg and trying shake free of him, but she was afraid to draw attention.

Luke squeezed slightly and offered her a devilish smile as heat rose up her neck. She narrowed her eyes at him, and then attempted to focus her attention back on the conversation.

Caroline was explaining her connection to Debra Coleman when she stopped mid-sentence, her head tilting to the side. “Luke, darling, does Debra know about you and Embry?”

Luke shook his head, unfazed. “No, Mom, she doesn’t. And I’d appreciate you keeping it that way.”

His mother’s eyes lit with interest, and a knot formed in Embry’s stomach. They hadn’t worried much about going out in public together, knowing that if someone saw them there wasn’t much that could be said now that she wasn’t his student. But they didn’t go out of their way to flaunt their relationship either. It could still bring up questions about when, exactly, their relationship had begun and make it difficult for them both at Whitman.

Luke’s voice cut through her thoughts. “There’s no deeper meaning, Mother, so please lose that curious look. Embry is not my student, but there’s no reason to bring scrutiny down on either one of us.”

Caroline nodded but looked as if she wanted to say more.

Lori sat across the table, looking on sympathetically. “You know, Caroline,” she interjected, effectively changing the subject, “I had no idea you were in a sorority at Georgia. Which one?”

Embry breathed a sigh of relief as the two women traveled down memory lane, discussing Greek life at the University of Georgia. Her reprieve didn’t last long, though, as Luke resumed his teasing. His fingers slid from Embry’s thigh, dipping between her legs at the same time she raised her wine glass for a drink. She nearly choked on her wine when his fingers brushed against her center. Even through the denim of her jeans, his touch sent a shockwave straight to her core.

“Excuse me,” she said, coughing. “I’m just going to find the restroom.”

Everyone at the table nodded and Luke stood.

She assumed he was just being polite until she felt his presence behind her. “I’ll just show her the way,” he called to his family as he followed her down the hall.

Luke walked behind Embry, admiring the swing of her hips and the curve of her ass as she searched for the bathroom. “To your right.”

He hadn’t been inside of her in a week, and that was far too long. He couldn’t get the sound of her moans on the plane out of his head. She’d been quiet, so low that none of the other passengers would’ve heard—but he had. He’d watched her as she slept, her cheeks flushing as she writhed in her seat, and he fought the desire to wake her up and make a reality of whatever she was dreaming.

“Left.” He continued to trail her like a lion stalking its prey.

“You don’t have to walk to me to the bathroom.” She glanced over her shoulder, her lips curled in a flirty smile. “I’m sure I can find it on my own.”

He smiled back. “I’m sure you can.”

She rounded the corner and found the bathroom, shooting a wry look at Luke before entering. Before she could shut him out, he followed her in, shoving past the door.

“Luke, what’re you—”

He cut her off by spinning her around and pushing her against the door, his mouth hungrily covering hers. Her lips parted and his tongue found hers, swirling in a desperate dance. She tasted like sweet, red wine and he drank her in, losing himself in the warmth of her mouth. Her fingers dug into his back as he held her against the door, his hips rolling against her. Then he tore his lips from hers, panting.

“Fuck, I want to take you right now. I can’t even think straight.”

Her lips left his, kissing a path down his neck. “I want—”

A slight banging on the other side of the door startled them both. “Uncle Luke? Embee? Do you need help in there?”

Embry looked up at him, her large green eyes flashing with panic before she broke out in a nearly hysterical giggle. “Oh, my God. It’s like she has a sixth sense.”

He chuckled, more frustrated than finding the humor. “I don’t know how Cam and Lori ever have sex anymore with my little terror of a niece lurking outside of doors.” He’d wanted Embry so bad, he allowed lust to cloud his vision and had put her in an awkward position. His face fell in disappointment. “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have followed you in here like that.”

She reached up and pressed her soft lips to his. “It’s all right.” She smiled sweetly. “We’ll have plenty of alone time this week. Just go distract her.”

He turned to go, but a thought popped into his brain that he couldn’t ignore. “Do you want kids?” he asked carefully.

Embry’s nose crinkled. “You’re asking me this now?”

He shrugged, smiling sheepishly.

“Not anytime soon,” she laughed.

“Good answer.” He smiled, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before slipping out of the bathroom to distract his niece.