Luke brought his lips to hers in a sweet kiss before pushing up and out of bed. “I don’t care what day it is. I’m glad you’re here.”
She made no secret of her appreciation of his gloriously naked body as he walked into his closet. He came out a minute later in a pair of flannel pants. He handed her a pair as well, along with a T-shirt.
“I’ll go get coffee started. Feel free to use the shower, and you can wear these home if you want.” He kissed the tip of her nose, shooting her a cute smile before heading out of the room. “Towels are in the closet in the bathroom,” he called over his shoulder.
A hot shower sounded perfect. Embry wandered down the stairs and into the foyer to collect her clothing from the night before. She arranged everything in a pile on the foot of the bed then took the clothes Luke had given her and headed for the bathroom. She found a fluffy white towel in the linen closet, started the shower, and walked into the large stall. The hot water warmed Embry and massaged her sore muscles. Condensation dripped down the beautiful tiles, pooling on the bench across from her. The shower was big enough to hold a group of people, and as she lathered herself in Luke’s body wash, she wished he had joined her. She shut down the highlight reel in her head before she got herself all worked up again and switched gears.
Jack. She knew she had to talk to Luke about him, but did she really want to start their relationship with a talk about her ex? No. No excuses. As much as she wanted to believe she was free from her past, it still had an impact on her. Not only was it affecting her, it was haunting her. The phone calls had stopped, but she knew it was only a matter of time before Jack started calling again or found where she lived. If she hid him from Luke and tried to handle it herself, she was giving Jack power over her emotions and over her relationship. She wouldn’t do that. She didn’t want him affecting her and Luke. She had to stop running.
She would tell him. She just had to find the right time.
Embry stepped into the pajama pants, tied them tight, and rolled the waist a few times so that she could walk without tripping. She pulled Luke’s shirt over her head, ran her fingers through her damp hair, and made her way downstairs. The smell of coffee drew her in, triggering her caffeine craving.
Padding into the kitchen, she snuck up behind Luke and wound her arms around his bare torso, resting her head against his muscled back. She drew in a deep breath, loving his spicy masculine scent. It was that delicious body wash combined with something inherently Luke. She wanted to be surrounded by it always. He turned in her arms to hand her a steaming mug of coffee.
“Pumpkin spice?” she asked, hopeful that Luke had her favorite fall flavor.
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered as he poured a cup for himself.
“My favorite,” she crooned as she took a sip.
“Mine too,” he said, smiling.
Embry took her coffee to the breakfast bar. She pulled out a stool and noticed the Georgia sweatshirt hanging on the back. It was still damp from the previous night.
“I’ll give you another one to go home with if you want,” Luke said, coming up behind her to kiss her cheek.
She shook her head. Putting the coffee on the bar, she turned to face the gorgeous man in front of her. She rose up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t need the sweatshirt,” she said, planting a soft kiss on his lips. “I’ve got the real thing now.”
Luke grabbed her before she could pull away, lifting her onto the counter. His tongue begged entrance into her mouth and Embry opened for him. She was awash with sensation. Luke’s fingers danced through her golden locks, his legs pushing between hers, as he kissed her silly. She was completely wrapped up in him, but if she let it go any further, she’d surely miss her first class.
Pushing gently at his chest, she pulled her mouth from his. “I don’t mind Luke Brody for breakfast,” she said, smoothing her palms over his chest, “but I have to leave soon and I kind of wanted to talk.”
“Talk?” he asked. His hands fell from her waist as his brows pulled together.
Embry reached for his hands to pull him back toward her. She positioned him between her legs and looked into his beautiful face, his features marred with unnecessary concern. She’d figured she’d give him a quick rundown on the Jack situation, but when she saw the uncertainty on Luke’s face, she reconsidered. “Yes, talk. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing, I just thought—”
Embry stopped his words with her finger over his lips. “You thought I was going to run. Even after everything?”
Luke shrugged, not meeting her eyes. She had never seen him so vulnerable. Is that what her insecurities and fears had done to him? He was questioning her even after everything that happened between them in the last twelve hours. She felt the tension rolling off of him and changed her game plan. She could talk to him about Jack another time. They needed a day with no drama, no negativity. They had endured too many false starts, and she wanted to make sure he knew she wasn’t going anywhere.
Embry twined her hands in his and pulled him even closer. “We can talk later, it’s not important,” she said, planting kisses across his chest. She felt the tension easing out of him.
He dipped his head and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed, after everything …”
Embry wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He picked her up and walked toward the stairs.
“Except for class, Professor. Are you trying to make me late?” she asked.
“I’ll give you a pass,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows and carrying her back into the bedroom.
22
Embry ran into her apartment, kicked off her shoes, stripped out of Luke’s clothes, and dug through her drawers for an outfit. Luke had given her another sweatshirt to wear home, and Embry threw it back on after pulling on a pair of jeans. She brushed on some mascara and lip gloss, grabbed her bag, and headed out the door. She drove as fast as she could to campus, speed-walked through the hallway, and breezed into the classroom just as her criminal law professor began his lecture.
He peered at her over his reading glasses. “Nice of you to join us, Miss Jacobs.”
“Sorry, Professor Dawson,” she said, taking her seat next to Jeremy.
After class, they walked to the atrium for a bite to eat before contracts. Luke’s class. Embry had been in such a rush that morning, she hadn’t had time to think about the fact that she’d see him in class. She would have to act as though nothing had changed between them when everything had changed.
“You look different today,” Jeremy said around bites of his bagel.
“I do?” she asked, running her hand self-consciously through her hair.
“Yeah, you’re like …”
“Glowing,” Morgan interjected as she walked up and regarded Embry with knowing eyes.
Embry smiled despite herself, feeling heat rise to her cheeks under her friends’ scrutiny.
Morgan gripped Embry’s bicep, pulling her out of her chair. “Excuse us, Jeremy. We have to have a chat … just us girls.”
Jeremy shrugged and took another bite of his bagel.
Morgan dragged Embry through the back doors of the law school. Embry stopped short, not enjoying being manhandled. “What are you doing?”
Morgan turned on her, a smile lighting her features. “Oh, nothing. Can’t I have a little chat with my best friend? Let’s go sit on the bench!”