Skin Deep (Skin Deep #1)

“I love you, too,” I whispered back, kissing him again. I shook my head at him and gave him a small smile. “I can’t believe you waited until we were fighting to tell me you love me.”

He shrugged his shoulders sheepishly, saying softly, “ I was waiting for you to realize it on your own. I shouldn’t have, though. I should have just told you.” He closed his eyes and sighed, holding me even closer to him.

We didn’t sit there in silence for too long before Luke pulled me into the house and started stripping my clothes off of me before we’d barely cleared the door. In fact, we didn’t make it out of the kitchen before he lifted me up, sat me on the counter, and was buried balls deep in my dripping wetness. I wrapped my legs around his thighs, holding on for dear life as he pounded into me, over and over before we both exploded, the waves of release crashing over us, wrenching us under and drowning us in earth-shattering pleasure.

We stood there wrapped in each other, trying to catch our breath when the front door opened, admitting Brandon and Jackson who froze in their tracks, their eyes wide with shock.

Of course, that didn’t last long. “Jesus H., man! I eat on that counter!” Brandon wailed, but there was no mistaking the look of relief in his eyes that belied the pained expression on his face.

Jackson just winked, a secretive smile playing about his lips before he grabbed Brandon and walked backwards out the door. “We’re gonna give you a minute to get your clothes. Just holler when its clear.” He shut the door softly behind them.

Luke and I looked at each other and busted out laughing before he kissed me gently and pulled out of me, helping me down off the counter so we could grab our clothes. Once we were dressed again, he strode to the door, opening it wide and laughing when Brandon stumbled, almost falling, from leaning on the door trying to eavesdrop.

We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with Brandon, Jackson, and Allie, who showed up about twenty minutes after the guys did. I called my mom and my sisters to see what they had wanted, and was surprised when they said that Luke had been by all three of their houses to see if I was there. What shocked me even more was the fact that Luke had never been to Jenna’s house, so how the hell had he known where to go? I called Calland, as well. Luke hadn’t gotten to him; he was just wanting to know if he could borrow my house for a party. Shaking my head I told him no, and told him not to even bother calling Leah because I would be letting her know that I said no, too, to which he replied by calling me a selfish bitch and hanging up on me.

Luke wasn’t far from my side for the rest of the weekend, and I wasn’t complaining. I was almost sorry that I had to go back to work and wouldn’t be able to see him until that evening. Christmas was right around the corner and I was hoping that the time would go by quickly because Floyd always gave me the week off between Christmas and New Years. I know, kick ass boss!

I was finishing setting up a conference with a client when my other line rang. I answered the phone, pleasantly surprised to hear Luke’s warm voice come through the line.

“Hey, baby. Just wanted to call and tell you that I love you. Busy?”

I sighed. “Yeah, a little busy, but I’m always glad to hear your voice. I love you, too, by the way.” My other line rang and I quickly got off the phone with Luke before answering.

After giving my usual greeting, I listened to the silence stretching out on the line. “Hello? Anyone there? Floyd Grim’s office…can I help you?” I shrugged my shoulders, but before I could replace the phone on the cradle, a low, gravelly laugh came through. From reflex, I jerked it back up to my ear, again saying hello.

“You know, Emma, I had high hopes for you.”

Oh, God, it was Creepy. I reached up and clicked on the recorder that Floyd had gotten me; this was the first time I’d had to use it. I remained silent, not wanting to say anything, and really not wanting to stay on the phone with him, but I was hoping he would keep talking and give me some kind of clue as to who he was or why he kept calling me.

The voice chuckled before continuing. “Turns out I was wrong. You’re just like all the others. All the other whores and tramps who say one thing and then do the other. Did you enjoy fucking him this weekend? Huh? Did ya?”

My breath was coming in pants, and my hands were shaking. The little bell on the door chimed as Floyd walked in, and when he saw my pale face and my white-knuckled grip on the phone, he dropped the files in his hands and rushed around the counter to yank the phone out of my hand.

“This is Floyd Grim, and I suggest you find another attorney to call. Do not call my secretary again.” He slammed the phone down and turned to me, patting my back and asking if I was okay.

I nodded and he glanced at me worriedly before scooping up his files and taking them back to his office.

The rest of the day passed without incident until I slipped and mentioned it at dinner that night.

“What? What the fuck are you talking about, Emma?” Luke yelled.

“You should have said something earlier, babe,” Jackson interjected.

I turned my eyes to Brandon, asking silently for him to help me. He glared at me before turning away, refusing to look at me.

“Look, I’ve never had a problem like this before, and it’s not been an issue until a couple weeks ago when he called and told me about the…” I broke off, realizing that Luke’s face was blood red and all three of them looked ready to blow.

I winced when Luke growled at me, “Told you about the what, Emma? How long? Tell me how long this has been going on, that you decided wasn’t important enough to mention. How long!” he bellowed the last words and I flinched, jerking back in my chair.

I blinked up at him, not afraid of him, but more afraid of what he would say. I swallowed audibly, and sent Jackson a grateful glance when he put his hand on my knee, squeezing gently in reassurance. “A while, I guess,” I said softly. “I was getting hang up calls a lot, and I thought I had mentioned those to you. Anyway, he…he called a couple weeks ago and told me that the rose I found on my car was from him.”

“Fucking hell!” Luke exploded, shoving away from the table and slamming outside.

I started to follow him but stopped when Jackson put his hand back on me to keep me still. He nodded to Brandon who stood and went after Luke. As he passed my chair, he hesitated and lightly touched my shoulder before going out the door.

I looked over at Jackson with tears brimming in my eyes. “Jacks…”

“I know, babe. But he loves you and you just told him basically that someone is threatening you. He’s not going to take that lightly. None of us are. We all love you, Emma.” He raised his hand when my eyes widened and continued, “In different ways. You know that, babe. Sure we did…what we did, but we all know that was a one time thing. Luke and I made that deal years ago. Brandon looks at you like the sister he’s never had, and you definitely dealt us a blow tonight. Don’t keep stuff like that from us. Okay?”

I nodded, wiping my eyes and turning to see Luke and Brandon walk back through the door. Without a word, Luke came over to me, jerked me out of my chair and into his arms, and held me so tightly I couldn’t breath. I patted his shoulder awkwardly and he loosened his grip, moving back to look me in the face.

“Don’t hide stuff from me, Emma. I love you so much, the thought of something happening to you, or even just scaring you…it drives me insane. Okay?”