Entanglement, p.23
Entanglement, page 23
Gracie made her way down the aisle, sitting next to the Mayor in the front row. Emmy slowly walked down the aisle, a smile painted across her face. She glanced from one side to the next, seeing Maria and Jennifer sitting together, Val and Landon right in front of them. Glancing to Carter, both smiled at one another. She took in the utter bliss and pure happiness that was painted across his features.
Everyone stood as the wedding march began to play, the small band brought in from Fairhope. Carolyn slid her arms under one of each of her brother’s, the largest smile on her face as she took her first step toward her future husband.
Emmy was unable to take her eyes from the young girl, happy she was able to find such happiness in her life, even during a hard time. Petals from the guests flew up into the air, gently falling as she passed, and it was the most beautiful thing Emmy had ever seen. Carolyn walked to the edge of the platform, her gaze on Carter who stood with his hands clasped.
The music slowly came to a stop, silence momentarily falling upon the ceremony before the pastor spoke. “We come here this beautiful evening to witness the joining of two young souls who have found love in one another. Carolyn Hawkins and Carter McGomery welcome and thank each and every one of you for being here on this joyous day of holy matrimony. Who gives this woman to this man?”
“Her family and we do,” Nate and Gabe spoke in perfect harmony. Carolyn turned, kissing each of her brother’s cheeks, taking her steps forward, meeting with Carter’s hand. Emmy smiled as she watched Nate and Gabe move to their seats along the front row.
“Love and desire is something we all need and want. So many people travel this world never meeting their soul mates, their better halves. Today, we witness the beauty of that union between two souls meant to be together….”
“I would like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Carter McGomery.” The band’s singer called the attention of the guests to Carolyn and Carter as they entered the reception area. Applause and cheers exploded, the happy newlyweds lifting their hands in unison. Emmy whistled with a cheer, laughing as she took in the smile plastered on Carolyn’s face.
“She looks so happy.”
Nate, turned to his fiancé with a slight nod. “Marrying the person you are meant to be with does that to you.” Emmy placed her palms on his neck, moving toward him as she planted a kiss on his lips. Chuckling, he wrapped his arms around her and spun her in a small circle before placing her back on her feet, their gazes meeting once more.
“I love the hell out of you Nate Hawkins.”
“Well, good thing I love you back then, huh?” Emmy laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck again as she heard the music start, a cover of Ed Sheeran’s Perfect.
Carolyn and Carter made their way to the dance floor, beginning their first dance as a married couple under the glow of the lanterns that illuminated them. Their eyes remained locked as Carolyn rested her hand, held by his, over his heart.
Nate took Emmy’s hand as the first chorus passed, walking her to the dance floor. He placed his palm to the small of her back, his other holding her hand. Emmy smiled as she moved in close, slowly glancing around the room. How could she believe he was anything but perfect? She knew who he was, she knew the true beauty of this man. She'd caught the catch of the town, he was hers and she was his.
Placing her head down on Nate’s shoulder, Emmy saw Gabe walking his mother to the floor. Gracie had the biggest smile on her face that Emmy had seen since before she'd lost her own soul mate. The way she looked at her son, the way he looked at her, it was a beautiful connection. When he was with his mother, Gabe was different, he was sweet, he was loving.
“What is the story between them?” she asked Nate, nodding in the direction of his mother and brother.
“What do you mean?” Nate asked.
“Just... they act differently than she does with you or Carolyn.” Nate shrugged, spinning her out from him before he pulled her back with a grin.
“Come on, tell me.”
Nate let out a sigh before he began to speak, continuing their dance. “Our mother had Gabe when she was eighteen. The story I know is that they were summer lovers. Even planned to get married when she found out she was pregnant.” Nate, turning with her in his arms, paused.
“But she didn’t marry him. She married Senior.”
“That’s right. She met my father, they fell in love. He asked her to return to the States, said he would help her take care of Gabe when he was born.”
“So, she followed her heart.”
Nate nodded. “After he was born, his father came with threats. He would have his son back, he would raise him in the UK. By that time, I was born and pretty sick. Her focus was on me and she ended up losing him. His family has a lot of money, pulled some shit. She had to let him go.”
“I can’t imagine how that made her feel.”
“She blamed herself, still does. It's why she looks at him like he’s walking on water when he’s home. Regardless of the shit he’s pulled.” It was the first time she'd ever heard him speak with annoyance.
“Do you blame her? She lost her first-born child, Nate. It had to be traumatizing. Surely she’s just happy to have him in her life again.”
“Gabe’s father is a bastard. He raised his son to be the same.” Emmy’s brows furrowed as she heard a slight tone change with his words.
“If you think that, why do you allow him in your house? Why are you so civil with him? Is it all an act?”
“Course not. He’s my brother, Emmy. He's family. I love him, I just don’t like him all the time.”
“You never seemed to have a problem with him this badly before.” Nate paused, his stare lingering on her, before he smiled as the song came to an end.
“Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night. Guess I still get a little jealous of how perfect she thinks he is. Sibling rivalry.” His last words were spoken with a lighter tone. Emmy glanced across the floor, seeing Gracie hugging her son.
The night progressed perfectly. Not only did the weather hold out but everything remained on schedule. The dance floor was packed, drinks were being consumed, the food was nearly gone, pictures were taken, and there was not one scene that normally seemed to happen at these events.
Carolyn and Carter were scheduled to leave in less than an hour, with Nate driving them to the airport. The two families had come together to book them a week’s vacation in Ireland, as it had always been Carolyn's dream destination.
As the guests began to leave, Emmy walked around cleaning up the cups and plates that had been left on the tables or fallen on the floor. Tossing the last plate into the trash, she made her way up the clearing toward the house. There was a chill starting to form in the air, a light breeze blowing across her bare arms. Quickening her steps to get back to the house, she bent down to pick up a wayward bottle, pausing as she heard a noise in the middle of the field.
Slowly standing, she dropped the bag and took a step into the tall grass. Being as quiet as she could, a smile formed as she heard a soft moan from a woman. Two more feet in, and Emmy froze when her gaze found Gabe and a young woman from the wedding. Emmy believed it was a friend of one of Carter’s relatives.
She had her dress unhooked, hanging loose to her waist, straddling his lap. His jacket had been removed, shirt opened as his strong arms held her hips against him while she bent slightly backward. His lips moved along her skin, over her breast, her hands running through his hair.
Suddenly the young woman moved up, her hand pressing against his face as their lips found each others. Gabe’s hand pressed to the small of her back before he lifted upward, flipping her to her back on the uncovered ground, his body coming over hers. She ran her hands along his muscled chest, pushing back the sleeves of his shirt to remove it. Emmy felt her body grow hot watching them, unable to move away.
Kneeling back, Gabe kept his gaze on the woman as he gripped his shirt to pull it away. Emmy felt heat between her thighs, her stomach tightened as her eyes roamed his fit figure. Watching the woman’s fingers glide over the ripples of his abs, Emmy began to feel hate towards her.
Gabe reached under her dress, making Emmy bite at the inside of her cheek as he pulled her panties away. His strong back flexed as his arms moved, his hands claiming the curves of the mystery woman. Emmy swallowed, letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, nearly moaning herself as she heard the pleasurable sounds he caused.
Quickly spinning around, Emmy hurried back to the pathway to grab the bag before sprinting toward the house. She didn't stop until she reached the back porch of their house, her breathing ragged as her arm lifted to rest along the corner of the porch. Closing her eyes, she shook her head, her mind a landmine of questions and confusing thoughts.
“Fucking hell,” she spoke to herself with an annoyed tone. Stepping to the trash bins, she tossed the bottle into the recycling followed by the bag in another before she made her way back to the house.
Moving to her and Nate’s room, she grabbed her phone that Nate had put on the charger before he'd left for the airport. Checking the time then the messages, she clicked her tongue along her upper mouth. The flight was delayed. Nate would be a little longer than expected. He'd told her not to wait up and to be sure to lock up.
Tossing her phone to the bed, Emmy reached behind herself to pull the zipper down on the back of her dress. Stepping from it, she stood in front of the full-length mirror in only her undergarments. Looking at her reflection, her hand rubbed against the softness of her own skin lightly. Pausing as her fingers ran along the hem of her panties, she shook her head with a roll of her eyes.
Grabbing her towel from the chair, she walked across the hall to the bathroom, closing the door before she prepared her shower. Stepping inside, Emmy stood with her head back and eyes closed under the hot water. She wanted to wash away what she saw, what he had made her feel again.
She wanted everything back how it was before Gabe came home. She wished she could go back to that day she met Nate in the bookstore. That she'd never gone to Riggs. That she'd never decided to make a decision that would change everything.
Dressed in fresh undergarments, she pulled on her robe, knotting it in the center before she headed back to the bedroom to check her phone again. Emmy rolled her eyes as she saw a missed text from Nate saying the flight would be boarding in twenty minutes, then he would be home. Tossing it back to the bed, she made her way to the kitchen, stopping at the window over the sink to look at the fields behind the house.
Later that night, Emmy sat on the porch, drinking the last of the wine when she saw Gabe stepping from the pathway alone. He was carrying his jacket over his shoulder, his shirt untucked. The very sight of him made her angry. This man walked around the world playing games with people, not caring who he hurt.
Who was that poor girl? Was she someone’s wife or girlfriend? Was she innocent before meeting him? “You’re something else, you know that?” she spoke, taking a drink of her wine. Gabe stopped at the sound of her voice.
“Am I?” he asked, changing his direction toward her.
She watched him move along the back of the porch, opening the screened door to step inside. “Yeah, you are.”
“Wanna share with me what I supposedly did this time?” He asked, leaning back against the window, crossing his arms with a grin.
“You think you’re some gift to women or something, leaving a path of bodies in your wake. I sure as shit hope you used protection.” Gabe laughed as he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it before returning his attention to her.
“You sound a little jealous.”
“Jealous?” she repeated, standing from her chair. “What do I have to be jealous of? I’ve got a man to lay next to every single night. A man that loves me. A man I love. A man who wants to marry me and have kids with me. Not some game player who can't commit.”
Licking his lips, he exhaled the smoke from his cigarette, his stare lingering on her. “No, you don’t sound jealous at all.”
“Did you at least get her name?”
Shrugging, he gave a light laugh, exhaling another cloud of smoke as his gaze lowered to the wooden floor. Emmy scoffed and shook her head, disgusted as she thought of what he'd done.
“Whose girlfriend was she? Since we know you can’t go after someone on your own.” Gabe’s grin faded, his gaze now turned to a glare. “What? Hit a nerve?”
“You speak a strong game for someone who goes back and forth between brothers. This the ‘hate me’ day?”
“Screw you.” Emmy retorted as she tossed her glass across the small room at him. Gabe ducked from the impact, the glass shattering on the wall next to him. Dropping his jacket to the ground, he made a dash for her, his hands grabbing her arms in a tight hold.
“What do you want?”
“Get off me!” she screamed, her hand lifting as his grip loosened, her palm slapping across his face.
Gabe took a step back and licked his bottom lip, his jaw tight as he looked back at her. They stood in silence, their eyes locked on one another, her breathing growing faster. It was like time stopped, all sound surrounding them faded to silence.
Her hands closed tight at her side, as her stomach tightened in awareness of him once more. Without conscious thought, she moved to him, her hands pressed to his shoulders, her feet leaving the floor as her legs wrapped around his waist.
His hands gripped her ass, moving her toward the wall of the house. Her hands slid under the collar of his shirt, digging her nails into his flesh. There was an eagerness in her movements, a craving in her eyes that reflected just what she wanted.
Slamming her forcefully against the wall, Emmy let out a groan as they kissed, her hands releasing his shoulders to move between their bodies. She never gave a second thought to her actions as she reached his belt. Working quickly to undo the buckle, he secured her body against the wall with his own. His fingers slid up her robe, pulling at her panties with a strong tug, tearing them from her.
Pulling his zipper down, she reached under the material, bringing a groan from his lips as she gripped him. Her own body reacted to the hardness she found as her hand closed tightly, gliding up and down. He pulled his head back, their lustful gazes connected and for the first time since that night at Riggs, both said the same to one another.
“Say it.”
She didn’t want to say it. Saying it meant admitting he was right. She loved Nate, but she was no longer able to deny the draw, the sinful thrall Gabe had over her. She wanted them in different ways, but wanted them both nonetheless. She knew the danger, the damage that would be caused to so many people. The damage she would cause to herself and her own sanity.
Pulling her hand from him, she returned them to his shoulders. Her body was nearly screaming at her to say whatever he wanted, she needed to feel him. She needed to be taken back to that place he had taken her so long ago. She knew it was wrong but, Lord help her, it’s why she craved it.
“I want the rush,” she answered breathlessly.
He gave her a sideways grin at those four words. Feeling his hand move from her ass, she heard the jingle of his belt buckle moving, and kept her gaze locked to his. Her lips parted to say something more, to plead this remained between them, but her voice fell silent.
With a forward thrust of his hips, he slid into her, her walls stretching before clinching around him as though welcoming him back. Her eyes rolled, her head moving to rest beside his as her hands gripped at his shoulders to pull him closer. Her lips parted in a moan against his ear as she felt bliss swirling through her.
There was no turning back now.
Chapter Twenty
Waking up Christmas morning was different that year. Emmy stretched under the sheet, opening her eyes when the scent of cinnamon crept into the bedroom. With a smile, she stretched once more before she tossed the sheet from her body, sliding her feet into the slippers waiting at the side of the bed.
She stood and grabbed her robe that was draped over the foot of the bed. Pulling her hair over her left shoulder, she moved down the hall, poking her head around the corner as she came to the kitchen. Emmy grinned bigger as she spotted Nate at the stove finishing her favorite holiday breakfast. As he turned his head, she walked toward him with a shake of her own.
“What’s all this for?” she asked as she slid her arms under his, wrapping them around him.
“I’m making my queen breakfast on Christmas morning. Do I need any other reason?” She smiled at his words, laying her head on his back, her eyes closing at the feel of him so close to her, the sound of his heart against her ear. She still couldn't believe that this was her life. She, Emmy McCay,woke up each morning to find this man was still as in love with her as the day he proposed.
“You really need to stop being so perfect.”
Nate chuckled at her comment. “What can I say, comes naturally.”
