Somewhere between the raindrops, she realized the truth. Memories crashed into her like waves assaulting the shore—every touch, every interaction, every moment they’d shared—and she realized she’d been kidding herself. Her thoughts from the night before floated through her mind. They weren’t over. They weren’t finished. They were just getting started. She realized now how true that was. They’d never been friends. They’d never not been together. Every decision she’d made was because she wanted, no needed, to be close to him.
She’d fooled herself into thinking that if she fought her feelings, held them back, they’d fade or go away. That if she pulled away before their kisses went too far, didn’t cross too many lines and ran from her feelings, they weren’t doing anything wrong. But everything they’d done had crossed lines, pushed boundaries. She suddenly realized with stunning clarity that Luke had known that all along.
He’d let her do it. He’d humored her. He knew from the start where they stood, how he felt. He’d never denied his feelings. But for whatever reason, he’d stepped back, let her believe what she needed to believe to be okay with spending time with him. He’d done it for her, and all it had brought him was pain. He had been waiting for her to admit her feelings, to realize that it didn’t matter what job he had but that they were supposed to be together. She shot out of her chair, worried that it might be too late.
Embry couldn’t move fast enough. She brushed her teeth, ran a brush through her hair, and stepped into her flats. She was out the door and on her way to Luke’s in a matter of minutes. She couldn’t bear the thought of him not knowing how she felt. She didn’t want to lose him. He’d worked his way into her heart in such a short time, she couldn’t imagine her life without him. But she couldn’t worry about that just yet. All she knew was that she had to tell him how she felt, how she really felt. No more running.
Embry pulled into Luke’s driveway. His car was parked out front and lights shone through the windows. He was home. She tore out of her car, running through the rain to reach his front door. She was frantic. The drive over had done nothing to help her anxiety. Her heart pounded in her chest as she pounded on his door. No answer. She rang the doorbell and knocked some more. Nothing. She fought back tears as she continued to slam her fist on the door, calling his name. He was home. He had to answer.
After what felt like an eternity, the porch light turned on, blinding her. When the spots cleared from her vision, she saw Luke in the doorway, shirtless. All thoughts left her brain, and her eyes traveled greedily over his smooth, muscled chest. She took in every inch of his carved torso down to the delicious v that disappeared beneath his jeans.
“Embry?”
Luke’s voice brought her back to reality. Rain was pouring down on her. She was soaking wet and freezing, shaking uncontrollably. Her hair was plastered to her head, her makeup surely streaming down her face, but she didn’t care.
“Hi,” she squeaked out.
“Hi yourself,” he responded.
She stared at him at a complete loss for words.
“You want me to believe you’re standing out in the rain, pounding on my door like a lunatic, just to say hi?” he asked.
“No.” Embry shook her head, steeling herself. “I came to say I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Her voice cracked, and tears clouded her vision. “I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to pretend anymore. I can’t. I’ve been fooling myself thinking we were just friends. We’ve never been just friends. I don’t care if you’re my professor. I don’t care about any of it. I don’t want to lose you, Luke. I can’t lose you. I … I …”
She stopped, trying to catch her breath. She stood in the cold, crying and rambling, while he silently stared at her. The rain splashing against the pavement and Embry’s short inhales were the only sounds as they stood, eyes locked on one another.
Luke’s cobalt gaze gave nothing away, and then slowly, so slowly, one side of his mouth turned up in a smile. “Are you finished?”
“Am I … am I finished?” she asked, bewildered.
“Yes,” he said calmly, giving no hint of his feelings. “Are you finished?”
“I-I guess so. Yes … I’m finished.”
“Good. That’s real good.” He reached out to push the wet hair from her forehead and stepped closer. Framing her face with his hands, he gently brushed his thumbs across her tear-stained cheeks.
Embry was at a loss. She had no idea which way was up. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but Luke’s hands were on her and that was all that mattered.
He stared down at her, his eyes filled with adoration. “I love you, Embry,” he whispered.
Her lips parted and her eyes widened. She gaped at him, completely astonished at the words that had come out of his mouth. Those three words had caused so much pain in her past. But hearing them from Luke, she felt no fear. Pressing up onto her toes, she grabbed his face and got as close to his eye level as she could. “I love you too.”
He bent his head slightly to capture her mouth in a soul-shredding kiss. Their chemistry had always been off the charts, but something about that kiss was different. Nothing stood between them anymore. No more walls, nothing to stop them. Luke dragged his fingers through Embry’s hair. Pulling back, he took in her appearance.
“You’re soaked. Let’s get you out of these clothes,” he said gruffly, the strain evident in his voice.
She nodded and followed him inside. As soon as she entered the foyer, he was on her.
“Nice sweatshirt,” he said, tugging the wet sweater over her head as she kicked off her flats.
His eyes burned with desire, lingering on her torso, naked except for a black lace bra. Lifting her effortlessly, he pushed her back against the door. Embry thrilled at the feel of his skin against hers. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she pulled him closer. She couldn’t get close enough. Tunneling her hands through his hair, she deepened the kiss.
Luke groaned into her mouth. “God, I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” She panted as he traced a path down her neck with his tongue. ”Take me upstairs, Luke.”
“Are you sure, baby?” he asked, nipping her bottom lip.
Baby. She’d missed that so much. Suddenly feeling shy, she leaned into him, burying her face against his neck and hugging him closer. “Yes.” She nodded against his shoulder as butterflies swooped and dove in her stomach. She hadn’t been with someone, really been with someone, in a long time. She wanted Luke, needed him. Pulling back, she tried to convey all she was feeling with her eyes. “Make love to me.”
Luke’s mouth came down on hers, hot and hungry, as he carried her toward the stairway. His warm hands ran up her back, stopping when he reached the clasp of her bra. He made short work of it, dragging it down her arms and dropping it to the floor. He started up the stairs, stopping every few steps when he got too distracted with her to move.
Every kiss, every touch, set Embry on fire. She squirmed against Luke, causing him to lose his balance. Catching their bodies against the wall, he ground his hips into her, his hardness connecting deliciously with her core. She couldn’t wait to remove the layers between them. “Luke, please …”
“Please what, baby?” he said, licking and kissing down her neck.
“You know,” she moaned, throwing her head back against the wall.
“No, I don’t. Why don’t you tell me?” He nipped at her collarbone.
“Bedroom, please,” she said, her voice thick and throaty. She tugged on his hair, forcing his eyes to hers. “I need you.”