Salvation

by Ahren Sanders

  Knowing I marked her makes me hard again, and I have to stop myself from pulling her back when Charlie approaches.

  “Hey, not-so-secret- lovebirds, just wanted to warn you this is a family flight.” She winks at me and walks off, leaving Ember stiff in my arms.

  “Oh my.”

  “She’s a pain in my ass. She’s a pain in Declan’s ass. She’s practically a pain in everyone’s ass. Don’t mind her.”

  “Raven loves her,” Ember states solemnly.

  “Yeah, we all do, unfortunately. But she’s still a pain in the ass.”

  “I hear that 626. Watch it!” Charlie yells over her shoulder.

  We board the plane quietly, and thankfully, Finn sits in our row. Ember’s so small, she takes the middle seat and allows us both to stretch a little.

  “Can you tell me about the code thing?”

  Finn and I look at each other and snicker. “When we were younger, we came up with a code to let each other know what and who was happening. For example, when I got the ‘code 311- get her under control’ at your house last month, that meant my mom. Her birthday is March eleventh.”

  “Why on earth would you need a code?”

  “We had a lot of mischief when we were growing up. It made it easier to talk.”

  “Tell me more.”

  Finn grunts next to her and grabs her hand. She looks at him warmly. “Let’s just say, there were a lot of times we needed a 311 or 425 to help us get through things. Once, I had a girl in Robbie’s basement, and Raven called 425. It was the only reason I wasn’t fucking naked when James barged down the stairs.”

  “That’s so awesome. So I know Robbie’s code is 626, but what about my other hero?” She looks at Finn.

  He hesitates and pulls her close, looking at me over her head. I nod, not wanting to hide anything from her. “My code is 410.”

  She looks between us and gasps, tears rimming her eyes. “Your birthday is the day before the accident?”

  “Yeah,” he says swallowing hard.

  She squeezes him tight against her and then regains her composure, wiping her face frantically. “410 and 626 just became the best days of my life.”

  Both of us look at her, stunned, and I take her out of his arms and into mine, kissing her head. He watches with compassion and gives me a small grin before waving the flight attendant down and ordering us a beer.

  Ember takes out her iPad and pulls up a site with digital music. “You told me Raven wants you to help with Declan’s present in a few weeks. I found these for you to look at.”

  Finn and I both lean into her and watch her explain the best digital music programs she researched. I choose one that looks easy to work with and make a note. Ember leans into me, but holds Finn’s arm close for most of the flight. Instead of jealousy, I feel complete contentment. He nods at me once, telling me he understands. She trusts us.

  Chapter 21

  We Have A Plan

  Robbie

  “No fucking way,” I growl when Ember picks the room with twin beds. “Are you crazy?

  “You should have let me pay for my ticket,” she teases, starting to unpack.

  “Punishment? For wanting to take care of you?” I feign hurt, which isn’t a stretch.

  She looks at me with complete sympathy. Then grins. “It’s not punishment.”

  I stalk to her and throw her on one of the small beds. My body hardly fits against her petite frame. There’s no way we can both sleep on one of these beds for the next three nights.

  I’m about to teach her a lesson when there’s a knock at the door. Tripp yells that it’s time to party and my mom’s looking for me. Ember goes stiff in my arms.

  “Robbie, we need to go upstairs. I don’t want your parents to wonder what we’re doing.”

  “Who cares? They can wait.” I nuzzle into her neck, kissing my favorite spot.

  “Honey, please. This is a family weekend. I don’t want to give the wrong impression.”

  “Is that why you chose twin beds? The real reason? Because of my parents?”

  “It’s part of the reason. I really did want to teach you a lesson, though.”

  I twist to the side and have to brace my legs on the floor to keep from rolling off the tiny mattress.

  “Twenty-seven years old. Live alone. Been having sex for a long time. My parents, who are staying in a hotel miles from here, cock-block me?”

  She giggles and runs her hand under my t-shirt, causing my muscles to flinch. “It’s not a cock-block if I’m being respectful.”

  An idea comes to mind, and I grab her hand, bringing it to my mouth kissing her knuckles. “You’ll pay for this.”

  She gives me a sexy grin just as there’s another knock at the door.

  “Robbie, honey, are you in there?” My mom’s voice comes through. “I wanted to talk to Ember for a minute.”

  Ember scrambles off the bed, smoothing down her skirt. She gives me a questioning look, and I nod for her to open.

  There’s a lot of murmuring when the door opens and my mom pulls Ember into a hug. She asks all about our trip and comes straight in. When she sees the twin beds, she stops and gives me a knowing smile. She can tell it was not my choice. I shrug and cut my eyes to Ember, who is fully flushed.

  “I wanted to see Ember’s dress for the wedding,” Mom explains.

  I hop up and unpack a few things as my mom gushes over the sketch come-to-life by Ember and Chloe. Even though I know nothing about dresses, I have to admit it turned out great.

  When the talk moves to fabric and accessories, it’s time for me to leave. I kiss both their cheeks and go look for the rest of the guys.

  The whole evening goes well, until Harper mentions the girls going out for a bachelorette celebration. I’m about to pull Ember to me when Finn gives me a look that tells me to drop it. Without speaking, our eyes have a conversation.

  Declan’s about to throw a fit when I speak up, agreeing, “Yeah, man, I think it’s a good idea. We’ll hang here.”

  He understands my look, and the whole group is shocked silent when he says, “Okay, that’s cool.”

  We clean our mess and say goodbye to the parents as all the girls leave to get ready.

  A soon as they are out of earshot, Declan glares at me. “Robbie, you better have a plan, because there is no fucking way I want Raven out tonight without me.”

  “Hell yeah, I have a plan. Play it cool until they leave. Then we’ll be thirty minutes behind them. Finn and I can trace Raven’s phone to where they are. No fucking way those girls are out on the town in a strange city. Fuck, it’s bad enough Ember specifically chose a room with two beds, but no way her ass is out with that crew again without me.”

  “Sweet and wholesome, man, I told you.”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  We sit around for another hour, shooting the shit, until Finn whistles beside me. “Dec, before you lose your shit, remember we have a plan. Don’t fucking go crazy.” He talks to Declan, but gives me a look, relaying the same message.

  I vaguely hear Nate offering to escort the women out, but my eyes land on Ember, and suddenly, my mouth is dry. She’s wearing another dress that highlights the color of her eyes and drapes across one shoulder. Dizziness clouds my vision as I quit breathing.

  When she stops in front of me, I have to control the urge not to throw her over my shoulder and drag her back to our room. Twin beds or not, one of them will suffice while I fuck her senseless. She must know what I’m thinking because heat creeps up her cheeks and she shakes her head.

  “You look fucking incredible,” I say against her lips, kissing her softly. “Promise me you’ll behave tonight.”

  “Absolutely.” She nods, dropping her forehead to mine.

  “I’ll see you when you get back. Call me if you need me.” There’s a flash of something in her eyes, but she smiles.

  They all say their goodbyes, and one minute after they are out of sight, Declan jumps up like a man on a mission. We all follow
him to the condo and hear a painful cry when he walks in.

  A note that reads ‘Didn’t fool us’ lies on the table next to seven cell phones.

  “Fucking shit!” both Gabe and I say at the same time. Declan makes a call and then disappears downstairs.

  I run my hand through my hair, thinking of every which way I am going to punish Ember. If she had any question about my possessiveness, she won’t doubt it after tonight. I may not be as bat shit crazy as Declan Collins, but knowing that my girl is out in a strange town, looking like she does, has me on edge. The idea of another man hitting on her has me seeing red.

  Finn, Tripp, and Kendall’s boyfriend, Brian, watch me closely with amusement. I’m about to question their stupid looks when Declan comes up and tells us the new plan. We’re going to look for the girls with his driver, Chris. It takes two vans to fit us all, and somehow I’m forced to sit by Declan, whose nervous energy is driving me crazy, and Cooper, who keeps talking about being pussy-whipped.

  We find them in a bar downtown, completely shit-faced. My eyes scan the crowd until they land on Ember dancing. When I get to her, she looks at me with glassy eyes and then throws her head back, giggling.

  “What the hell is so funny?” I lick up the column of her exposed throat.

  “The look on your face.”

  “Glad to amuse you, babe, but you won’t think it’s quite so funny when I punish you for your little stunt.”

  “Whatever you say. It was innocent.”

  “Innocent? You’re in a bar in a strange city, with some of the craziest girls in the world, looking like a fucking sex kitten, and you call that innocent?”

  “You think I look like a sex kitten?” Her voice goes low.

  “Absofuckinglutely. Hottest girl in this room. The hair, the body, the outfit… Every guy in here, with the exception of our friends, wants to fuck you. Lucky for me, that’s my job. And when I get you alone, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  Her eyes grow hazy with lust, and she licks her lower lip. “Can you tell me more about this punishment?”

  I move her to a dark corner and pin her against the wall. “Stop looking at me like that, Ember. I’m not above fucking you against the bathroom wall.”

  “Ummm, sounds like fun. What else.” She taunts me, and I grow hard against her pelvis.

  “You like that? You want me to talk dirty and tell you I want to eat your fucking pussy until you beg for mercy for leaving me tonight? Make you come silently against my mouth, fingers, and dick while we’re in a house full of people?”

  “Yes, I want that. I want you any and every way I can get you.”

  Her brazen words shock me, and I tilt her head to pin her stare. I love everything about this girl, but I’ve never seen her this bold, talking about sex so openly, especially in a crowded bar. She still turns pink when I kiss her in public.

  “What exactly are you drinking?” It has to be the alcohol fueling her brazenness.

  “It’s their signature drink, some kind of punch. It’s really good.” She shoves it at me, and I smell the mixture of alcohol. I’m about to taste, when there’s a screeching behind us and Gabe throws Harper over his shoulder, stalking to the back.

  “Uh-oh, guess he found out.” Ember looks at me nervously.

  “Found out what?”

  “She swiped his phone on our way out tonight.”

  “Why the hell did you leave your cell on the table, anyway?”

  “I was instructed to. Is it true you can locate my phone? The girls made me promise to leave it behind because they seem to think Raven and I had the highest risk of being traced.”

  I look away guiltily but then look back and nod. “Yeah, Finn and I can find you by cell phone.”

  “Good to know.” She kisses me lightly and leads me back to the table where everyone has settled.

  Declan hands me a beer, and I give him a look of appreciation as he smirks at me. No doubt, my hard-on is still outlined in my shorts.

  “Are you sucking on a dick?” Cooper asks Kendall.

  “Technically, it’s a straw,” she slurs.

  My eyes dart to Ember’s drink and watch as she looks at me and sucks the offending straw into her mouth, running her tongue around it. My blood starts to stir and rushes to my face. My cock aches for the attention.

  “Fuck, that’s hot,” Cooper yells, and I silently agree.

  It takes a few hours, but we finally corral everyone into the vans to go back. For the sake of space, I pull Ember into my lap and situate her on my chest. Her eyes are gleaming with a happiness I’ve never seen. She relaxes into me and kisses my jaw, placing her cheek against my collarbone. I don’t have to see her to know she’s fallen asleep.

  Finn helps me get her out of the van and into our room. It takes me only a few seconds to get her into one of my shirts. Once I’ve changed and washed up, I walk in and eye the fucking beds again with disgust. Without thinking twice, I push them together and situate her on my chest. It’s official; my man-card is being revoked.

  Chapter 22

  Wedding Weekend

  Ember

  Cruz: Little Star! Call me!

  The text chimes for the second time, and Robbie breaks away from my mouth, looking annoyed. He reaches for my phone and plops beside me, groaning.

  “Cruz needs you, and I need to shower. Thank God we’re getting a bigger bed. When I get out, we’ll pack our stuff and move to Raven and Declan’s room.”

  “You know the only reason I agreed was because Tripp and Finn are too big to sleep on sofas,” I joke.

  His eyes grow heated, and his voice lowers. “No, babe, you agreed because you know tonight, I’m going to be inside you and that’s virtually impossible on this set-up. I think two days is long enough to deprive myself.” He puts his lips to my forehead and hops up.

  I almost cry as he slips into athletic shorts, covering his nakedness. He must feel my stare because he gives me a sly grin and stalks back to me. “Call your crazy cousin. He’s dying to hear about the weekend. I know, because he texted me, too. I’m going to get us some coffee and find a shower to jump in.”

  I grab my phone and dial, watching his muscular back as he leaves.

  “It’s about time. Where the hell have you been?” Cruz’s exaggerated tone causes me to smile.

  “Hello to you, too. It’s been busy.”

  “Tell me.”

  I sit up and sigh. “Cruz, we haven’t even had the wedding yet, and it’s been wonderful. This place is spectacular. Raven and Declan thought of everything for a small but intimate affair. The first night, we had a Girl’s Night that was quickly ambushed by the guys, but it was okay. Yesterday, Raven and Jenna included me in spa day and I was spoiled.”

  “They really seem like nice people, Ember.”

  “You have no idea. But nothing compares to last night. The entire rehearsal was crazy. It was a night filled with humor and tears. At the actual rehearsal, someone locked Declan in the bathroom, and the wedding planner insisted the rehearsal go on without him, not knowing where he was. Nate, Declan’s band mate that I told you about who they’ve always teased about his love obsession with Raven, was at the end of the aisle to accept her hand. Declan came rushing out, screaming loudly. He looked murderous. No one would admit to locking him in the restroom, even his dad looked suspicious. It was priceless.”

  We both laugh as I explain more. Robbie gives me a soft look when he hands me my coffee and goes back to the shower.

  “And then last night was the most incredible dinner I’ve ever been a part of. The speeches were heartfelt and emotional. I also got to meet the legendary Max Roberts, and he is beyond charming, exactly like Robbie and Finn. Those three are cut from the same cloth.”

  “I’m so glad you went. How is Robbie handling the bedroom situation?”

  “Oh my God! The look on his face when I picked this room was hilarious. He was resourceful, though, pulling the beds together.”

  “Man, he has it bad.”


  “I do, too. That’s why I agreed to move to the larger room tonight and give the guys on the sofa a bed.”

  “I would say that’s kind, but there are definitely different motives there.”

  “Maybe there are,” I practically sing into the phone.

  Cruz has known since the first night that Robbie and I had sex. He could tell by my ‘glow’. Alex shook his head, but Cruz seemed to want to give me a crown. Of course, it helped that he adores Robbie.

  We talk for a few more minutes, until Robbie comes in with only a towel wrapped around him and droplets of water clinging to his chest. “Cruz, I need to go.”

  “Wait —”

  “Robbie walked into our room wearing only a towel. Do you understand why I need to go?”

  “Yep, talk later. Love you!” He hangs up.

  I stare unashamed at Robbie as he slips on a clean pair of running shorts and a T-shirt.

  “Get moving, Ember, and get your stuff packed. I’m hanging by a thread, trying not to attack you in that bed.”

  The sounds of female voices cause me to jump into gear and throw on some clothes.

  When I get out of the shower, I run through my routine quickly. I’m surprised to find that Robbie has already moved us and is making up the bed with new sheets.

  “Don’t even want to know what happened on the old sheets.” I giggle and hurry to fix my hair and makeup. When I join the guys upstairs, my jaw almost hits the ground. Finn and Robbie are already in their formalwear with Gabe, Max, and Tripp drinking a beer. They all look unbelievably hot.

  Robbie’s eyes rake up and down my body before capturing my own. He stands up as whistles fill the room. Not caring that we have an audience, his hands grab my ass, and he takes my mouth in a searing kiss that should only be shared in private. A sizzle travels through my veins as I momentarily forget where we are.

  “You look stunning. Absolutely breathtaking.” He pulls back and looks down at my dress again. “The sketch didn’t do it justice.”

  “Thanks,” I rasp.

  “If I were Robbie, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight,” Tripp tells me, winking.