“I need to be inside you,” he said, joining his mouth with hers.
Embry nodded. Luke stood, removing the rest of his clothes, and set to work undressing her. He swept soft kisses across her body as he pulled off her pants and dragged her panties down her legs. He propped himself up on his elbows, cradled her face in his hands, and tangled his tongue with hers as he slowly slid inside of her.
There was something about two bodies connecting not just for pleasure but for love. Every touch, every feeling was heightened, intense. Luke’s movements weren’t rushed or rough. Although Embry loved that side of him, he was giving her exactly what she needed in that moment. He took his time, slowly dragging himself in and out of her while his hands traveled over her skin and his tongue stroked hers. Before she knew it, she was shouting his name and clenching around him as he let go inside of her.
Embry and Luke lay tangled together on the couch, the only light in the room coming from the soft glow of the Christmas tree. Luke had pulled on his new Gator pajama pants, and he held Embry against his naked chest. She wore his T-shirt and humored him by wearing the lace Bulldog panties he’d bought her.
The Christmas music had long since stopped playing, and Luke had switched the playlist to blues and jazz. Soft violin strains filled the room as Frank Sinatra’s melodic voice sang about his funny valentine. Embry loved the song and hummed along.
“You like this song?” Luke asked, nuzzling her neck.
“Mmhmmm.”
He sang softly in her ear, and even though his raspy, southern voice singing those words was sexy as hell, Embry started to giggle.
Luke gripped her hips, threatening to tickle. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing really.”
“Tell me,” he commanded, nipping at her ear.
“I’m just surprised to hear Frank Sinatra, that’s all.”
Luke squeezed her hips, causing her to jump. “What? A southern boy like me can’t like Old Blue Eyes?”
Embry turned in his arms so she could see his face. “I just figured you for more of an ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ kind of guy.”
Luke rolled his eyes and looked as if he were fighting a smile. “‘Achy Breaky Heart?’” he asked, incredulous.
Embry nodded, smiling.
“I’ll give you an achy breaky heart,” he teased, his lips trailing along her neck.
She really hoped not.
34
Embry put her key in the lock and walked through Luke’s front door. “Hello?”
After speaking with Morgan’s parents, she had spent the last few days packing up her apartment. She and Luke had decided that it would be better to wait until after the New Year to move in. With his family visiting for Christmas and their trip to New Orleans, the week would be hectic enough. But she had gone home and started the process anyway.
She’d been spending so much time with Luke, her apartment needed some attention. Especially her mailbox. Embry hadn’t checked her mail in over a week and had a stack in her purse that she needed to go through. It was Christmas Eve though, and she was excited and nervous to meet Luke’s family.
“Hey, beautiful.” Luke strode through the foyer with a tow-headed toddler on his shoulders. Her tiny hands were wrapped around his head, pulling on his hair, and he gripped her legs to hold her in place. He bent forward, placing a kiss on Embry’s cheek. “Say hi, Mackalya.”
“Hi, Embee!” The little girl waved from atop Luke’s head.
“Hey, Mackayla,” Embry said, waving back.
“Are you here to have Christmas with us?”
“I am.” Embry smiled and set her keys and purse on the entry table.
“Come on.” Luke grabbed her hand. “Let me introduce you to everyone.”
Embry’s stomach fluttered with nerves as he walked her through the house and into the living room. Luke’s family was seated casually on the couches, enjoying the warmth of the fire.
“Embee’s here!” Mackayla shouted, announcing her arrival.
His family turned as one to look at them.
“Everyone, this is Embry.” Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and Mackayla took the opportunity to stroke the top of Embry’s head. Luke continued the introduction. “Embry, this is my mother, Caroline, my father, William, my brother, Camden, and my sister-in-law, Lori.”
“Nice to meet you all,” Embry said.
Luke’s family took turns standing to shake Embry’s hand or greet her with a kiss on the cheek. Lori scooted over on the couch to make room, and Embry took a seat. Lori was a tiny thing with blond hair in a pixie cut, a soft face, and green eyes.
“Welcome to the family,” Lori whispered, her eyes kind.
“Thanks,” Embry replied. Everyone seemed so nice, but it was overwhelming meeting Luke’s entire family.
He sat on the opposite couch chatting with his parents. As if he felt her eyes on him, he gave her a wink and a smile before going back to his conversation.
Mackayla ran over and climbed onto Embry’s lap, wrapping her arms around her neck. “Isn’t Embee so pretty, Mommy?”
“She is,” Lori agreed. Then she smiled at Embry. “If you have the seal of approval from this one”—she nodded at her daughter—”then it’s a done deal.”
Embry wrapped her arm around Mackayla’s back and looked down into her big brown eyes. “You’re very pretty too, Mackayla.”
“I know. My mommy and daddy tell me all the time.”
Embry chuckled, and Lori rolled her eyes at her daughter’s lack of modesty.
They gathered around the table for dinner a while later. Lori and Caroline had prepared a feast.
“This looks wonderful, Mrs. Brody,” Embry said as Luke’s mother set the ham on the table.
“Call me Caroline, please,” she said, as she took a seat at the head of the table, next to Embry. Luke’s mother wore a tweed pantsuit that Embry had instantly recognized as Chanel. Her fading strawberry-blond hair was styled around her shoulders, and it was easy to see where Luke got his baby blues. His mother’s eyes were just as remarkable.
“Okay, Caroline,” Embry said, smiling shyly. Luke reached under the table and squeezed her knee in encouragement. Whether he could tell or not, she was still a nervous wreck, and his touch soothed her.
“So,” Camden said, looking from Luke to Embry. He was tall and broad like Luke. He had lighter hair and hazel eyes, but he had that “Brody” look for sure. He was extremely handsome although, in Embry’s eyes, he didn’t hold a candle to his younger brother. “How did you two crazy kids meet?”
Luke squeezed Embry’s leg again, and she knew to let him do the talking. They wanted to be honest with Luke’s family that Embry was a student, but being that she was no longer his student, they were just going to leave that part out all together.
“Embry was working on a research project with a colleague of mine,” Luke said.
Embry thought that being vague would invite more questions, but he knew his family better than she did. She would follow his lead.
“Anything interesting?” Camden asked.
“Probably not to you,” Luke joked.
Camden shot a glare at Luke before turning and smiling at Embry. “What my baby brother probably failed to mention to you is that I, also, went to law school.”
Hearing Luke referred to as a baby made Embry laugh. “You’re right, he never mentioned it.”
“I thought so,” Camden said. “My brother just loves being the only lawyer in the family.”