Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2) (34 page)

He shrugged. “I’m just saying, if you want to keep the bed, keep it. I don’t care where your things go, as long as it means you’re in my bed every night.” He winked at her.

She smiled. “I guess I can deal with that.”

“Good. It’s just as much your home as it is mine, Bree. Bring what you want, and we’ll make it work. If you want to put some things in storage and go through them once the semester’s over, then we’ll get a storage unit. I want this to be easy, not cause you more stress.” He set his food aside and reached out, giving her hand a squeeze.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. Other than her family and Morgan, no one had ever gone so far out of their way for her, to help make her happy. She wasn’t regretting asking to move in with Luke for a second, but her nerves were starting to creep up on her. “I’m excited…” She trailed off.

He tilted his head in question. “But?”

“I’m excited, no buts.
But
,” she giggled, “what if I do something you don’t like?”

“Like what?” He took another sip of wine. “I need examples. Do you have some horrible habits you’ve been hiding from me?” He cringed dramatically.

“No!” She swatted at his chest. Racking her brain, she tried to think of anything that might bother him, but they’d spent so much time around each other already, she couldn’t come up with much. “I don’t know. What if I’m too messy?”

“Then we’ll get a cleaning lady,” he said matter-of-factly. He leaned toward her, raising an eyebrow. “Anything else?”

She chewed on her lip, trying to think of any other scenarios but couldn’t. It wasn’t that she really thought they’d have any major problems, she’d just never taken that step with anyone before. It was a big deal and as it got closer, her worries kicked in. “I just don’t want you to get sick of me. I’ve never lived with a boyfriend before.”

“That makes two of us.”

“You’ve never lived with a boyfriend either?” she asked, laughing.

He silenced her with a searing kiss, his lips hungry and demanding, flaying her wide open and annihilating any concerns left floating around her brain.

She pulled away, panting, and rested her forehead against his. “Point made.”

He tipped her chin up, bringing her eyes to his. “I thought we covered this. I want
all
of you, baby. I know you’re not perfect; I don’t need you to be. I just need you.”

She let out a long sigh and nodded. “Okay.”

Picking up her glass of wine, she tucked her feet beneath her and settled back on the couch. His words had put her at ease. But then she thought of something that he definitely might not like. “Oh! What about Morgan?”

Luke nearly choked on his mouthful of sesame chicken. He swallowed with effort, then narrowed his eyes on Embry. “What
about
Morgan?”

“Well, we’re kind of a package deal, you know. You don’t get me without her. You’ll be seeing a lot more of her.” Embry winked, making a goofy face. “I know you’re excited about that. Wine nights, movie marathons dance parties…”

“As long as she’s medicated” —He paused— “or I am, we shouldn’t have an issue.”

She threw her head back and laughed in earnest. “Medicated with wine?”

Luke shrugged. “Whatever works. Speaking of Morgan,” he said nonchalantly. “How’s the whole wedding thing going?”

Embry raised an eyebrow. “The whole wedding thing?”

“I’m trying to show interest.” He shot her a charming smile.

“It’s good, actually.”

They sat and talked, planning out the move and chatting about what they both had to catch up on. It’d be a busy few weeks ahead, with Luke on trial and Embry’s oral argument coming up. She was suddenly even more thankful that they were moving in together. Even if they were busy, at least they’d be able to spend every night and every morning together.

“You know what we need?” Luke said, breaking into Embry’s thoughts. He leaned in, refilling both of their wine glasses.

Embry stared up at him. She couldn’t believe she’d be moving in with him tomorrow. Her life had changed so much since last summer, and even though there had been some rocky times in between, she wouldn’t change a thing if it meant being where she was right now. “What do we need?”

Lifted his eyebrows suggestively. “A little first date fun.”

“First date…” Realization dawned on her as a huge smile crept onto her face. “Rapid-fire question round?” She’d loved that game, prying information out of Luke by peppering him with questions instead of dull, forced conversation.

Luke nodded and Embry let out an excited whoop. She loved that he remembered her silly game and was always willing to play along.

“There’s that smile.”

“Yes! I love it, let’s play!”

Luke nodded. “You start.”

She raised her eyebrows in a challenge. “You sure about that?”

“I think I can handle it.”

“Hmmm, you’re very brave,” she teased.

He winked. “The bravest.”

Embry narrowed her eyes at him, getting her game face ready. “Okay, let’s get warmed up, shall we? I’ll start you off with some easy ones. Favorites again.”

“All right.” He rubbed his hands together. “Ready.”

“Favorite word, sound, place. Go.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Fuck. You coming. Between your thighs.”

A shiver of pleasure ran through her as her skin heated. “Mmmm. So that’s the game we’re playing then?”

Luke shrugged, feigning innocence. “I’m not sure what you mean. I’m just answering your questions, sweetheart. Getting
warmed
up.”

Embry giggled. “I’m warm.”

His smile turned wicked. “Then let’s do this.”

“Fine. Guilty pleasure.”

“You.”

She stared at him disbelieving. “
I’m
your guilty pleasure?”

Luke chuckled, then tilted his head in thought. “No. Nope. I need to revise that answer. I don’t feel at all guilty taking pleasure in you.” His devilish grin widened and he leaned over, sweeping his lips against hers. “Let’s say favorite indulgence instead.”

Embry eyed him playfully. “I can deal with that. Okay, chocolate or vanilla?”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “Depends on what we’re talking about. Eating” —He gave her a downright sinful look that could’ve melted her panties on the spot— “or licking off of you.”

A sultry smile crossed her lips as she pictured chocolate syrup and Luke’s tongue. “I think I like where your head’s at,” she said softly. “Let’s go for licking.”

His eyes heated. “Chocolate, definitely chocolate.”

Embry stood from the couch, walking casually into the kitchen. She ducked into the refrigerator, popping up a moment later, holding up a small brown bottle of Hershey’s. “Will this do?” she asked, winking.

Embry made her way downstairs and into the kitchen on Sunday morning, hopping around cardboard boxes strewn about the entryway. The movers had come yesterday and packed up her apartment. She was officially moved into Luke’s. Most of her things were in storage, but there were a still a few boxes of stuff to go through. Her oral argument came first, though.

She found Luke sitting at the breakfast bar, glasses on and flipping through files as he held his phone to his ear.

“I’m happy to take a look at the case. He was acquitted in criminal court?” He looked up and offered her a warm smile, then pointed to the coffee pot on the counter. “So they’re coming after his money in civil now? What’re their claims?”

She filled her travel mug and grabbed a banana, stopping as she passed Luke to drop a kiss on his cheek. As she turned for the door, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his lap.

“Yes, yeah. Hold on just a sec, Chuck.” Luke muted the phone and teased Embry’s neck with kisses. “You heading out, baby?”

Her eyes fluttered closed. “Mmm. Yes, I’m meeting Jeremy to prep for oral arguments next week.”

He set the phone on the counter and wrapped her in his arms. “Okay. I’m heading to the office for a bit. Another attorney is stopping by with some case files for me if you want to drop in for lunch.”

Embry wiggled out of his lap and swept her lips across his before backing away. “I’ll text you.”

A short while later, she pulled into campus and found a quiet study room on the second floor of the library. She texted Jeremy the room number and got to work on her oral argument. They’d be arguing a motion in front of a three-judge panel made up of alumni, upperclassmen and local attorneys. Embry’s professor had divided the class in two, half arguing for the motion, the other half arguing against it. Embry and Jeremy were paired up, arguing on opposite sides and each had ten minutes to make their argument. This would be interesting.

She’d taken her professor’s advice and attached two manila folders to create a makeshift portfolio for her notes. By the time Jeremy arrived, she’d made a color-coded outline listing all the important points of her argument and had begun filling out index cards with specific cases that she’d use to support her motion.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow, surveying the mess of papers in front of her. “I see you got started without me.”

Embry narrowed her eyes. “Get ready to be crushed, Price!”

He chuckled and took a seat across from her. “Nice tan, Blondie. Have a good spring break?”

A string of R-rated visions of her and Luke on the beach flashed before her eyes: his golden brown skin covered in a sheen of sweat and sand, fun in the outdoor shower, watching the sunset in his arms at the top of the Tybee lighthouse.

A soft blush rose to her cheeks as her thoughts distracted her. “Um, yeah, it was pretty great. Lots of sun and sand.” She smiled. “How about yours?”

“It was good.” He shrugged. “I had an interview with the public defender for an internship this summer.”

“Oh my god!” Embry squealed excitedly. “Jeremy, that’s great! When do you hear back?”

“I just got a callback on Friday. I’m going in tomorrow.” He looked down at his watch. “Actually, I have to keep an eye on the time. Professor Dawson is coming in to meet me and help prep for the follow-up.”

Embry beamed at him. “I’m so excited for you.”

“Thanks.” He nodded back to Embry. “Have you figured out what you’re doing for the summer yet? Law review? Interning?”

She shrugged, unsure. Summer internships were extremely important for law students, and making the law review gave you a one-up when looking for jobs after graduation, but she hadn’t even considered what she’d do for the summer yet. “This year has been so crazy, I haven’t even begun to think about it. And now I just want to make it through these arguments.” She wrung her hands nervously in her lap.

Jeremy waved her off. “You’ll be fine.”

She gave him a pointed look. “Says the man who can memorize anything and charm his way through a room full of people.”

“I do have a good bedside manner,” he defended, raising his eyebrows suggestively and offering his best cheesy smile.

Embry burst out laughing. “I think you mean courtroom demeanor.”

He winked. “That too.”

They worked quietly for the next few hours, both building their arguments, discussing case law and strategy. By the time Jeremy had to leave for his meeting, Embry felt confident in her argument. If she could keep her nerves at bay, she thought she had a chance at actually doing well. Being that it was a large part of her grade, she really hoped so.

It was well past lunchtime when Jeremy left for his meeting, and since Embry hadn’t heard from Luke, she decided to drive over to his office and surprise him.

Making a quick stop at the townhouse, she dug through her boxes to find her coffee maker. Luke always complained that he didn’t have a kitchen at his office, and he had nothing to brew his coffee. Even though he could easily go out and get one for himself, he never did. Since they were combining a lot of their things by moving in together, Embry had a Keurig that she wouldn’t be using. She boxed it up, found a bunch of k-cups and made a quick stop at the store to buy a card and an obnoxiously big red bow before heading to see Luke.

She pushed through the doors into the reception area, balancing the coffee maker under one arm while gripping her laptop and textbooks in the other, then headed back toward his office.

Hearing the murmur of voices coming from behind the half-closed door, she hesitated and considered turning around, but figured he wouldn’t have a client in on a Sunday. So she smiled brightly and poked her head in the door.

But her smile dropped as she found Luke standing in front of his desk, fists clenched at his side, anger blazing in his eyes.

His gaze flicked to her and at once his posture changed, his shoulders slumping and his eyes going soft. “Embry, I’m—”

“Hello.”

Embry pushed the door open the rest of the way to find the source of the voice that had interrupted Luke. It was the girl from the courthouse, her blonde hair pulled back in a severe ponytail. The usual friendliness Embry had seen in her face was replaced with an unpleasant twist of her lips and cold eyes, not unlike the way she’d stared at Embry at the courthouse.

What the hell is going on?

“Oh, hi there,” Embry said cautiously. She set his gift down on the floor beside her, adjusted her books and laptop in her hands, and looked to Luke. “I didn’t know you two knew each other.”