Page 65 of Embers in the Dark

Tucker sits at the foot of my bed, keeping a distance between us. I can tell he doesn’t know how to approach this situation.

“I, uh, fuck, I’m”—he runs his hands through his beard—“I’m so fucking sorry, Bay. I honestly can’t tell you how mad I am at myself for fucking this up.” The remorse he holds in his expression is evident, but I’m not going to let him off that easily.

“What exactly are you sorry for?” I ask him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t stand up for what I wanted with you when it came to your brother right at the beginning. I should’ve told him I was developing feelings for you. I was a coward—I know that. I knew it then and I just let him take advantage of our friendship,” he explains.

“Why did you do that?” I can’t understand why Tucker just let Danny have that power over him.

“Honestly? I was scared,” he admits, and I can’t help but scoff. “I swear, Baylee. I was really scared. You have to understand this from my point of view. I’ve only known my life with your brother in it. Aside from my mom and brother, your brother and your entire family have been my constant. I didn’t want to risk losing that. What if I tried this thing with you and it failed, and all of you turned your backs on us? And then finding out my mom is sick? I just—” He lets his head fall.

When he looks up at me again, I see unshed tears in his eyes and my heart nearly breaks.

“Baylee, I can’t lose you.” His voice cracks and I nearly crumble. “Then you called me that night and the realization hit that I almost lost you anyway. I stayed away and that asshole almost took you away from me.”

He comes closer to me and he drops his head in my lap. I let the emotion in his words fully absorb because I realize that what Myles did to me has affected each person around me. He didn’t just take from me, but he took from all those who love me.

“I’m still here, Tucker. I’m right here.” I move my fingers through his hair.

“But because of me and my stupidity, he could’ve hurt you so much worse. I ignored you; I pushed you away. I was given this new shot with you and I don’t want to take it for granted. I want to prove to you that you’re everything. I’m sorry I let my fear push this away between us. It wasn’t worth it.” He looks up at me and those green eyes are full of so much pain and he pulls me in deeper.

“What happened with Myles is not your fault. It wasn’t fair to put that on you. I see that now,” I tell him.

“I’m sorry, baby, I never meant to hurt you. I thought I was doing you a favor, keeping you away from me. I never thought I was leading you into the arms of a monster.” He closes his eyes, savoring my touch.

I continue to move my hands through his hair and there’s no point in staying mad at him. I know deep down, despite my anger earlier, I’m layered with love for this man.

I bring my hands to each side of his face and he opens his eyes, our gaze connecting.

“Tucker, you didn’t do this to me—he did it to me. He’s the monster; not you, not me. This is on him, and it was wrong of me to put this on you. I’m sorry for doing that.” I bring my lips to his, softly kissing him.

The minute we touch, he deepens the connection, coercing my lips to open for him. I can’t deny him, my body automaticallyhums with anticipation. His tongue gliding in and his moan spurs me to utter a moan of my own.

“I thought you were going to leave me earlier,” he admits, resting his forehead against mine.

“Never,” I tell him between kisses.

“Baylee, my days begin with you,” he tells me.

“My days set with you,” I admit.

His lips come crashing against mine again, this time there’s no softness to the connection. He starts to move his lips down my jaw to my neck. He brings his hands up my shirt and realizes I don’t have a bra on.

“I love that you don’t have a bra on right now,” he bites down on my shirt, sending a zap of energy straight down to my pussy.

“Then you’ll love what you find under my sleep shorts.” I smirk.

“Fuck, Firefly,” he moans as he moves his hands further south.

I move my hands below his shirt, touching the taut skin of his abs. I let my fingers trail to his back, and I skim my nails up along his shoulders as he glides his fingers through my wet center.

He pulls his fingers out of my shorts and pulls away to remove his clothing, while I do the same with my pajamas. He’s left in his boxers, and I still can’t get enough of seeing him like this in front of me. That happy trail has me salivating, and I just want to run my tongue down his sculpted body and watch him squirm.

“I need you naked,” I tell him. “Lay on the bed so I can ride you.”

“I like you giving me orders.” He smirks.

I’m waiting impatiently on the bed in front of him, as he removes his underwear and sheaths himself in a condom, then he lays back on the bed. I’m so wet, I can feel it down my thighs.

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