Page 39 of Unwrapping Ember
After another drag from the blunt, he passes it to me, giving me a nod. “Anything you want to share?”
“There’s this kid—this monster—and honestly, leaving wouldn’t be the worst thing; he wouldn’t be able to bother me anymore.” I sigh, feeling the weight lift even more from my heart.
“What did he do?” He asks a bit hesitantly, his eyes already swirling with regret.
“Something he absolutely shouldn’t have done.”
I watch as his brow furrows and his nose scrunches like Koda’s did when I first told him about it. Shaking his head, he sighs, pulling me closer for comfort. “Did you tell anyone what happened?”
“Koda knows, and so does my friend, but no one else.”
“Did he…”
“Yeah, but I really don’t want to talk about it.”
He places a gentle kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering against my skin. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
I close my eyes, enveloped in the warmth of his embrace and the heaviness of his words. “No, don’t,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.”
Understanding shines in his eyes as he nods. “You can’t keep this to yourself. You need to tell someone who can help and make sure he doesn’t fucking hurt anyone else.”
I know he’s right, but it was hard enough telling Koda what happened—nevermind telling someone that I don’t know. We sit in silence for a while, the air around us growing colder. Finally, I take a deep breath and meet his gaze.
“I could really use a change of scenery,” I say, my voice firmer now. “Maybe transferring here wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.”
His face brightens with a smile, and I can’t help but mirror it. “I think it’s a fantastic idea,” he replies, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “And you won’t be alone. We’ll be here for you every step of the way.”
He takes a long drag from the blunt, locking eyes with me as he takes the back of my neck in his hand. Without a word, he leans in and captures my lips, exhaling the smoke into my mouth. Our tongues dance together,the taste of vanilla lingering sweetly. I kiss him back, inhaling deeply. My body shivers as I reach up, cupping his face in my hands.
“You taste so good,” I whisper against his warm lips.
“So do you,” he chuckles, pulling away for the moment to bring the blunt back to his mouth.
I watch him, savoring the serenity of the snow falling around us. Despite the unexpected circumstances, I realize that being here with Baine is precisely where I want to be.
As we sit together, a blanket of calm envelops me. The snow keeps falling, but it no longer feels biting; instead, it frames our newfound connection beautifully, and I feel an overwhelming happiness wash over me.
In comfortable silence, I lean my head back on his shoulder, feeling completely at peace. This Christmas may not have gone as planned, but it’s shaping up to be more wonderful than I could have ever imagined, all thanks to the guys. With a smile, I close my eyes and breathe in the crisp, snowy air, grateful for the change.
“It’s just us for a little while. Is there anything you want to do?” He raises an eyebrow and licks his lips, igniting a warm thrill within me.
I smile at him and lean in, planting a soft kiss on his lips. “I think maybe we can have a little fun...just the two of us,” I suggest, wrapping my arm around his waist. “I’m so glad you decided to stay home.”
Baine looks down at me, his grin bright and inviting. “I’m glad too, doll. It’s going to be a good Christmas.”
As we sit together, I close my eyes and listen to the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat, feeling completely at ease. Despite the chill outside, my heart has never felt warmer.
“Merry Christmas, Baine,” I whisper, resting my head against his chest.
“Merry Christmas, doll,” he replies, holding me close as the snow continues to fall softly around us.
Baine
Having Ember beside me feels like a breath of fresh air, a sensation I haven't experienced in quite some time. When Koda and Ev left to work a private party, Koda encouraged me to stay here and "bond" with Ember. He must sense how tough things have been for me lately, and I suspect this is his way of nudging me back into the light. She's breathtakingly beautiful. Age seems unimportant to her, and in that case, it doesn’t bother me either. My ex-wife was around Ember's age yet lacked the depth and maturity that Ember possesses.
As memories of betrayal and deception flicker in my mind, anger simmers beneath the surface, but Ember’s gentle, soothing touch alleviates the tension. I haven’t shared intimacy with anyone since my marriage ended, so to say I feel a touch of nervousness would be a fucking understatement. I find joy in watching her interact with Koda and Ev, and if that’s all that comes of our time together, I would still be content. But I can’t deny the desire that pulses through me; the longing reflected in her deep brown eyes tells me she feels it too.
Snowflakes continue to drift down, landing softly in her long lavender hair as she playfully sticks out her tongue to catch a few. A low growl escapes me, a primal reaction at the thought of what she could do withthat tongue and how exquisitely she might do it. She looks at me, a knowing smirk playing on her lips, fully aware of the effect she has on me. I realize I need to tread carefully, but the impulse is too fucking strong to resist.