Cruel Vendetta, page 14
A growl welled up my throat, and I whirled so Emery was sandwiched between my body and the wall. She gasped at the motion and her body jerked when I thrust my hips forward, pressing hard against her core. Her nails cut into my shoulders as she wriggled shamelessly, and I captured her mouth with mine. My tongue slid over hers, and I nipped her lower lip. I slid one hand upward to cup her breast, and my thumb found the tight bud of her nipple. I circled it as I trailed kisses lower, over her jaw then down her neck. I paused at her pulse point then tweaked her nipple and sank my teeth into the sensitive cords of her throat.
“Drew!”
I chuckled against her neck. “Like that, sweetness?”
“Yessss...”
She hissed out the word, arching her back and pressing her breast into my hand. I obliged, rolling the tip between my fingers as I took her mouth again and spun away from the wall. By the time I reached the bedroom we were both panting hard, nearly out of breath from desire. My entire body felt like it was on fire, and a fine sheen of perspiration coated my skin.
I laid her back on the bed, then quickly stripped out of my clothes. Christ, she looked so gorgeous all splayed out like that, ready and waiting for me. My cock swelled at the sight, and I grabbed a condom from the nightstand. I sheathed myself as I moved toward the bed, and she automatically reached for me when I propped a knee on the edge of the mattress. A wicked smile curved my face as I let me her drag me down until I was suspended over her.
As my body covered every inch of her from head to toe, all I could think was... She's mine.
Thirty
EMERY
I'm his.
It’s all I can think as his heat and scent envelop me. His head dipped, and his mouth fastened over the cords of my throat in a hot, open-mouthed kiss. I arched into him, reveling in the pleasure sparking through my body.
A soft cry ripped from my lips when he scraped his teeth along my throat. He dropped another kiss, tender this time, over my fluttering pulse point before lifting his body away from mine.
“God, Em…” His heated gaze skimmed over me, stirring the fire in my belly. “You’re so fucking gorgeous.”
My hands sank into the short, coarse hair at the back of his head as his lips brushed across my navel. Feathering kisses lower, his fingers traced a line across my hipbone and down the crease between my torso and thigh. Deftly he slipped his hand between my thighs, and I arched into him as he swept his thumb over my clit. “Drew!”
With his free hand he brushed the backs of his fingers over my nipple, sending a shiver down my spine. His kisses changed direction, taking the stiff peak between his lips and teasing it with a gentle scrape of his teeth. My hips jerked at the sensation, and I could feel the moisture pooling in my core, easing the way for Drew’s questing fingers.
He lifted his head and smiled down at me. “You’re drenched. You like that, sweetness?”
I couldn’t respond; The only sound that left my mouth was a little whimper of need as Drew pumped his fingers slowly in and out of my channel.
His nostrils flared and some unnamed emotion glinted in his eyes. I sucked in a breath as he withdrew his fingers, then jerked me toward the edge of the bed. My heart pounded with excitement as he spread my legs in a wide vee and ground his pelvis against mine, the soft fabric of his sweats brushing over my sensitive folds. I bit my lower lip, choppy breaths escaping in shallow pants as I watched him drink in every inch of me. He took my feet in his huge hands, gently massaging the arches before sliding his palms over my ankles, up my calves. His hands hooked behind my knees and dragged me up his body until I rested on my shoulders on the bed, my core inches away from his face as my legs dangled over his back.
Holding my hips firmly, he met my gaze and dipped his head to my center. I nearly shot off the bed as his tongue speared into me, hot and insistent. I pressed my head into the mattress as he nipped my clit, curling my fingers into the fabric of the comforter to ground myself in the storm of violent emotions. He licked and teased and ate at me, drawing out the sensual torture until I was nearly mindless with need and crying out for release.
Drew lifted his head and smiled down at me, his lips shiny from my arousal. “You ready to come, sweetness?”
“God, yes, please!”
He chuckled and flicked his tongue over my clit once more before lowering me to the bed. “I’ve been thinking about this for days. How beautiful you are, how good it’ll feel to finally be inside you.”
I watched as he stripped out of his sweats, my gaze caressing every taut line of his body. Propping a knee on the edge of the bed, he slowly climbed between my legs and caged me between his lean, muscular arms. His lips came down on mine, soft at first, then more forcefully as he rolled his tongue over mine.
Tension drained from my muscles, and my head dropped back as he kissed his way over my jaw, scraping his teeth along my throat, sending tingles of pleasure to the tips of my toes. Holy shit. I’d never experienced anything like it. The way his mouth felt on mine, the way we connected… It was perfection, like he’d been made for me.
He braced his hands on the mattress beside my shoulders, and I felt the head of his cock brush my sensitive folds as he stretched his body over mine. My hips lifted of their own accord, inviting him in. His lips covered mine, and he swallowed my gasp as he thrust hard, seating himself deeply inside me. The sensation was almost overwhelming, bordering on painful as he stretched every inch of me.
He didn’t give me time to adjust, just pulled out and slammed back in again, stealing my breath. My already heightened awareness tipped me over the edge, and the sensation within me boiled over, rocketing toward another orgasm. I clutched his shoulders as heat raced through my body, and I let go on a silent scream. Drew pumped into me several more times before emptying his seed into the condom with a ragged groan and slumping over me.
He lay heavily on my chest, covering me from head to toe, and I absorbed the heat from his body. His lips brushed over my collarbone, and I shivered as the tingles of pleasure fanned outward, down to the deepest recess of my body, spurring me on. He was still inside me, and I couldn’t bear to break that connection with him just yet. I needed more time, more of him. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough.
Thirty-One
DREW
My stomach clenched as I held the phone to my ear, each ring twisting the knot tighter and tighter. I was not looking forward to the conversation ahead, but I knew it had to happen. On the fourth ring my sister answered breathlessly. “Hello?”
“Hey, sis. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No, you're good. Hold on one sec.” There was some rustling in the background before she came back on the line. “Sorry. I was packing some stuff up so I can stay at home this weekend.”
“Nice. What time are you coming in?”
“I'm leaving in just a few, so I'll be there within the hour.”
That was perfect. This was a conversation I'd rather have in person so I could gauge her reaction. “Want to grab some ice cream?”
“Seriously? Ice cream? Do you think I'm ten?”
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I just thought…”
“Of course I want ice cream,” Izzy responded.
I shook my head. “Brat.”
My sister laughed. “I can meet you at Duncan’s in an hour. Is that okay?”
“Works for me.” I hung up with my sister and mentally rehearsed what I planned to tell her. I had no idea what she was going to say about me dating Emery, but my gut told me she had planned this all along. She'd orchestrated the entire thing and had even seemed disappointed a few weeks ago when I told her that Emery and I were just friends. Of course, it was always the off chance that I was wrong and Izzy was just trying to protect her friend. My sister knew that my house was one of the safest places Emery could be, so it stood to reason that the arrangement was solely for convenience.
I cooled my heels until it was time to leave, then headed toward Duncan's. The antique gold script on the front door gleamed in the sunlight, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped into the welcome air conditioning. Though summer had turned to fall, the warm weather was hanging on. Inside, I slid into a booth and glanced around the quaint shop. The owner, Duncan, loved all things retro. It had the feel of a 1950s malt shop, and it was like a blast from the past.
I scrolled through my phone while I waited, and nearly ten minutes later the jingling bell over the door announced the arrival of another patron. My sister bounced inside, already scanning the small shop. A bright smile lit her face, and she dropped into the seat across from me. “What's up, big brother?”
“Not much.”
The waitress came to take our order, and Izzy and I made small talk for a minute while we waited. “How's the boyfriend?”
She lifted one shoulder. “I don't know. He's more of a friend. He's nice and all, but...”
“Just not feeling it?”
She made a little face. “I wish I could, but no.”
I nodded. “That's okay. If you don't feel a spark, then it's not meant to be.”
She took a bite of her ice cream. “What about you? How's everything going with Emery?”
It was now or never. “Good,” I ventured slowly. “It was kind of a rough beginning, but we figured things out.”
Izzy watched me intently. “That's... good.”
“Yeah.” I fiddled with my spoon for a second. “It's actually been kind of nice having her around.”
“See? I told you,” she said, a teasing smile on her face.
“Well, after seeing what she went through at home, I don't blame her for wanting to get out.”
Izzy immediately sobered. “Did she ever tell you what happened?”
I didn't want to break Emery's trust and confide in my sister without her permission. If she wanted Izzy to know, that was Emery's choice. “All I can say is that her mom’s boyfriend is an asshole, and her mom’s not real high on my list of favorite people at the moment either.”
My sister’s face twisted. “I wish she'd said something sooner.”
“It's over.” I shrugged, though fury at the memory simmered in my veins. “She won't have to worry about it anymore.”
She nodded, toying with her spoon. “I assume she's staying with you for a while then?”
“Yeah.” I drew in a breath and steeled my spine. “Actually, I wanted to talk with you about that.”
Izzy’s eyes narrowed a fraction, but I couldn't tell what she was thinking. “Emery and I have gotten closer over the last couple weeks and we're kind of... dating.”
“Finally!” Izzy threw herself back against the booth with a little squeal. “I thought you'd never grow a pair.”
My mouth dropped open. “What the hell, Iz?”
“Seriously.” She rolled her eyes. “I've been waiting forever for you to pull your head out of your butt.”
“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes. “So I guess it's safe to assume you're okay with me dating her?”
“Yes!” Izzy splayed her hands on the table. “I'm so glad it finally worked out. I'm happy for you guys.”
I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Thanks.”
“So what now?” she asked. “Is she staying with you permanently, or—”
I held up one hand. “Slow down. We're just going to take it one day at a time.” But yes, if I had any say in the matter, Emery would never leave my house or my bed ever again.
Izzy didn't look appeased, but she held her hands up in surrender. “All right. It's your life. Just don't screw it up.”
I rolled my eyes. “I can't believe I'm taking dating advice from my baby sister.”
“Only because I know best.” Izzy grinned, and I shuddered dramatically.
It was funny, actually, how everything had worked out. “I do owe you,” I said quietly. “If you hadn't invited her over...” I wasn't sure I ever would have had the guts to ask Emery out.
“You would have figured it out eventually,” Izzy said softly. “But I'm glad you noticed her sooner rather than later. I think she's had a crush on you for years.”
Funny how Gray had said almost the exact same thing. And if Izzy had noticed, it must be true. “Really?”
She nodded. “I can't say for sure, because she never admitted it, but it was little things. I would catch her watching you sometimes, like you were her knight in shining armor.”
Damn if that didn't inflate my ego a little bit. Okay, maybe a lot. I liked the idea of being her savior, her protector, the man she came home to every night. I wanted it all—for a long damn time.
Thirty-Two
EMERY
I had just dropped off a plate of corned beef for one of our regular lunch guests when the door chimed behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to call out a greeting to the new patron, then froze. Izzy stood just inside the doorway, and a grin spread across her face when her gaze landed on mine. Shoving her sunglasses to the top of her head with one hand, she shot me a little wave with the other.
With a quick promise to check back with Mr. Hawkins soon, I cut across the dining room to meet my best friend. “Hey!” I pulled her in for a quick hug. “You're home early, aren't you?”
“Our prof cancelled class today, so I decided to come home early.”
“You hungry?”
She craned her neck toward the pastry box behind the bar. “Got any pie?”
I did a quick check to see what was left. “Chocolate or banana cream.”
“Chocolate.” She grinned. “Do you have a couple minutes, or are you busy?”
I glanced at the clock. “My break should be coming up in just a few anyway. Let me check in with my customers, then London can take over.”
“Cool. I'll chill ‘til you're ready.”
She moved off to take a seat, and I circulated around the room with the coffee pot, checking in with all my tables. Once everyone had been taken care of, I popped my head into Irene's office. “Do you mind if I take my break a little early?”
She glanced up at me and smiled as she pushed to her feet. “No problem. I can help pick up the slack. Need to move around a little anyway.”
“Thanks.” I shot her a grateful smile, then untied my apron and hung it up before grabbing two plates of pie and making my way back toward Izzy.
“Thanks.” She dug into the pie almost before I slid the plate in front of her. A little moan escaped and she closed her eyes. “Don't tell my mom, but Irene's pie is even better than hers.”
I grinned. There were few people who made dessert—or much of anything—better than Irene.
“How are things going?” Izzy asked between bites.
“Same old.” I shrugged and allowed the creamy chocolate confection to melt over my tongue. “Still trying to save up money and figure out what I'm going to do next year.”
“My advisor was really good about helping with financial aid,” she offered. “I can give you her info if you want.”
“Thanks.” I shot her a tiny smile. “I'll let you know. I'm actually kind of working on something else at the moment.”
I told Izzy about meeting Grace at the flea market and refinishing the cabinet, and her face lit up. “That sounds perfect for you.”
I nodded. “I don't know if it'll pan out, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.”
Izzy set her fork on the edge of her plate. “That's good. Are you still looking for an apartment?”
I shifted uneasily, my pulse kicking up. “Not yet,” I said slowly. “Things are a little up in the air right now.”
She folded her arms on the table and studied me, head tipped slightly to one side. “Between you and Drew, you mean?”
I cleared my throat. “Sort of. So...” I drew in a deep breath, preparing to tell her the truth. “There's something I need to tell you.”
Her eyes flickered the tiniest bit, but her expression never changed. “Well, um... Obviously with Drew and me living together, we've been spending more time together and...” I squirmed in my seat. “I really like him as a person. I think he's a great cop, and he's been really amazing, helping me out with everything. And um...”
She blinked at me expectantly, brows raised, and I closed my eyes and went up a silent prayer she wasn't going to freak out. “I'm in love with your brother.”
When she didn't respond, I finally cracked my eyes open. She stared at me, an amused expression on her face. It was not at all what I was expecting. “Uh...”
Izzy laughed. “Was that supposed to shock me? You've been in love with him for years.”
I blushed. “Was it that obvious?”
“Only to me,” she said easily as she settled back against the booth. “Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
I lifted one shoulder. “I mean... He's your brother. I wasn't sure...”
“And you're my best friend. I want you both to be happy; that's why I suggested you move in with him. I was hoping if you were around each other all the time, it would just happen naturally.”
I smiled. “Looks like you were right.”
“Well, I just met up with Drew and he said basically the same thing.”
My heart jumped into my throat. “Really? Did he say anything about me?”
She smiled a little. “He's a typical guy. Not really one to share emotional stuff, ya know?”
I deflated. So that was a no.
“But...” She propped an elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “He seems happy. And I think it's because of you.”
At that, I blushed, my body warming at her news. He made me feel alive, protected me without patronizing me. I looked forward to seeing him every single day. I wanted to make him happy, because he made me happy. “I'll try my best,” I promised.
“I know.” Izzy offered a soft smile. “I have a good feeling about it.”
