Page 8 of Unwrapping Ember
As Ember turns to me with a smile, I know I have to come up with a plan, and fast. But with the way her eyes sparkle and her familiar, addicting laugh fills the room, I can't deny the rush of old feelings flooding back. This shit is going to be a lot harder than I fucking thought.
The truth is, I'd doanythingto protect her, even if it means keeping her in the dark and pushing down the feelings that are coming back even stronger. But as I watch her take in her unfamiliar surroundings, I can't help but wonder if I made the right choice leaving all those years ago.
"I think I'm going to try and go to bed." She yawns, and as she stretches, I can't help my eyes from checking her out.
I know the guys are too; it's not surprising. Her shirt rises as her arms reach above her head, showing off her toned midriff, the sparkling diamond in her naval catching my eye. No more blonde hair, but shiny lavender-colored hair falls down the middle of her back, stopping just at her hips, her curls bouncing with each movement she makes. Her gorgeous brown eyes glisten in the flames of the fire but hold dark secrets that she thinks she's hiding from me—she isn't. I can tell she's hiding something—holding onto something—but she isn't going to come off of it so easily.
"Alright, I guess we'll see you in the morning," I tell her, pulling her in for another hug.
Slightly disappointed that she's going to bed already, I linger with my arms around her, but she doesn't pull away either. I can tell something is on her mind, but she finally pulls away and forces a smile, trying to pretend that everything is okay even when I know it isn't.
"I'm making breakfast in the morning," Everest says, licking his lips as his eyes fall to her plump, shiny lips.
"I can't wait," she says, rubbing her hands together before she walks off. The three of us staring at her ass hugged perfectly in her sweats.
Fuck, this is going to be hard with her staying here.
As soon as she's out ofsight, I turn to the guys and give them a stern look. "We need to be on our best behavior with her here," I warn them. "She's going through a tough time, and we need to be respectful."
They both nod in agreement, knowing that I mean business. But when it comes down to it, they're grown men who make their own decisions, and I can't fucking stop them no matter how hard I try.
The moment Ember's footsteps fade down the hall, I feel a wave of unease settle over me. It’s like an old, unwanted coat that I can't shake off. I turn to Everest and Baine, who are still lingering near the couch, their expressions teasingly indifferent but their eyes giving away their interest.
"Respectful?" Everest raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You sure you know what that means, Koda? She's not some delicate flower. You might want to remind yourself of that."
“It’s not about her being tough,” I snap back, my voice sharp. “It’s about her being naive. She doesn’t know what kind of monsters lurk in the shadows of our lives—but if she sees one slip up, that innocence is gone, and she’ll be in danger. And I can’t let that shit happen.”
Baine chuckles, leaning forward, his playful demeanor shifting slightly. “Can’t crack a few jokes, then? You know, liven things up a little? She always did like our sense of humor.”
“Be fucking serious, Baine!” I growl, the tension threading through my veins like a live wire. “This is not a fucking game. If anything gets back to her—”
“Chill, dude.” Everest holds up his hands, a mockingly placating gesture. “We just wanted to lighten the mood. But I get it; you’re head over heels, and we need to shape up. We won’t give her any hint of our lifestyle... as long as you keep your own feelings in check.”
“I’m not head over heels,” I shoot back, though I can feel the heat creeping up my neck. “I just want to protect her.”
“Whateveryou say, man. We’ll be on our best behavior,” Baine promises, amusement dancing in his eyes. “As long as it doesn't involve us hiding our personalities. This isn’t a setup for a fucking funeral.”
Before I can reply, there's a soft knock on the front door. My heart sinks; it's too soon for another visitor—too soon for anyone other than Ember, but she’s in the bedroom, so I know it can’t be her.
“What now?” I mutter under my breath as I hesitantly open the door.
The face staring back at me isn’t one I expected. It’s Mia, a girl from our crew who had somehow woven her way into our lives over the last few months. Her dark hair is tangled messily, an electric green streak caught in the light. She eyes me with a mix of mischief and concern.
“Hey, I didn’t want to interrupt," she says, tilting her head slightly, “but I was driving by and wanted to see if you guys needed anything."
“For what?” I ask, trying to hide my irritation.
“Just in case you need some extra help or were in the mood for a little fun." She leans against the doorframe, her attitude casual but her eyes darting around, taking in the chaotic energy of our place, trying to be nosy as fuck.
Before I can respond, Ember pops her head out of her room, yelling down the hall, looking genuinely curious. “Did you call me?"
Mia’s eyes widen slightly as she takes in Ember’s presence, and an almost predatory glint sparks in her gaze.
“No, you're good,” I say quickly, feeling my stomach churn until she goes back into the room and closes the door. I can't help but think of the potential fallout if Ember were to overhear any conversations or catch wind of our secrets.
“Why the fuck are you here so late, Mia?” Everest asks, his tone deep, seemingly annoyed by everything going on.
“Just wanted to check on the guys,” Mia replies, her charm dialed up to eleven as she nods toward the closed door where Ember is. “Make sure that young little thing is not causing too much trouble.”