Embry's POV -

"Where are you going?" I whispered, my throat raspy from just waking up.

I opened one eye when I felt Nicolle wriggling in my arms. "Go back to sleep," she laughed and lifted my arm off of her. "I have to open the store today."

"Five more minutes," I groaned as my hands snaked around her waist and dragged her body back to mine. "Please?"

Nicolle sighed deeply. "You do this every morning."

I shifted my body on top of hers, nestling between her thighs and pushing her t-shirt up to kiss her stomach. "It's because you're always trying to leave me."

"I have to work," she breathed as she buried her fingers in my hair and pulled me up to her eye level.

"Call off. We can spend the day together," I begged shamelessly. "I need you." 

I kissed the tip of her chin when she arched her back and her head pressed into the pillow. "Not today," she whimpered.

I pushed my hips forward, shoving my rock-hard morning wood between her legs. I woke up needy and wanting her badly… pretty much like every morning for the last six months.

Too bad we were both dressed and this morning was like every morning since that night on the couch. She said no. Her face said it all. She still wasn't ready. I was tired of that look, tired of her not trusting me. I didn't know why we hadn't had sex yet. She moved in with me months ago and it didn't make a difference. 

The answer was always no.

Even when I kissed her neck in that special spot she liked, the answer was no. Even when we both were completely naked and I was hovering outside her wet warmth, the answer was no. 

We had both become pretty skilled in getting each other off every other single way, but I had never been inside her and it was killing me.

"I could," she offered as she slipped her hand inside my boxer briefs. 

I pulled her wrist before she could grip me, clenching my jaw out of pure frustration. I rolled off of her and stared up at the ceiling. "You should get ready. You don't want to be late for work," I sighed, never making eye contact.

"Embry," she whined as she rolled onto her side to face me, "you know I love you, right?"

I sucked in a deep breath and pressed a kiss to her forehead before climbing out of bed. "I should get up too. Paul needs me early today," I told her before padding off to the bathroom and taking a cold shower. 

As I was finishing my shower, Nicolle came in to brush her teeth. I yanked a towel off the rack and began drying my body. The fact that she never took her eyes off of me, didn't go unnoticed. Attraction wasn't the issue. I removed the towel from my head to find her openly staring at my body.  Most days I would have made a smartass comment and tried to get her back into bed, but today I just didn't have the heart.

I was starting to lose hope that she would ever want me the way I wanted her. 

I left Nicolle standing there as I stomped to my dresser and found some clothes for the day. I pulled on some boxer briefs and a pair of work jeans before sitting on the edge of my bed with a pair of socks in my hand. I felt the bed dip ever so slightly as Nicolle sat next to me. "Are you mad?" she whispered as her fingers shifted through my still damp hair.

"Of course not," I huffed. I snatched a t-shirt from the closet and set off for the kitchen.

Truth was, I was mad. I wanted more. It had been nearly a year since I walked into that bookstore and my whole life got turned upside down. I had done everything in my power to show Nicolle my love for her. We were compatible in every way.

Except for sex.

"Do you want coffee?" she asked when she found me packing my lunch. 

"I don't care."

Once my food was packed securely in the cooler I take to work, I began toasting some bread. My shoulders were tense as I stood at the counter waiting. 

"Here."

I looked over to find a full thermos of coffee sitting beside my lunch box. I watched as she poured her own cup into a travel mug and added her favorite creamer. "Ready?"

I nodded as I buttered the toast and handed her half before making our way out to our Jeep. 

"What are we doing this weekend?" she asked happily.

A sense of dread took over as I remembered exactly where I was supposed to be this weekend. "Well...I'm supposed to go to this thing, but...we could skip it."

"A thing?" Nicolle laughed as she finished her toast and sipped her coffee. "Could you be more specific?"

I ran a hand through my hair and shrugged my shoulders. "It's a wedding...on Saturday." 

Nicolle gasped. "Really? Oh that sounds so fun! Don't you wanna go?"

"You want to?" I replied skeptically. I had been avoiding asking her for quite some time. And although I know most girls loved weddings, somehow I didn't think she would want to attend this particular one.

"I'd love to," Nicolle gushed, going on to recall the last wedding she had been to. "Is it a pack member?"

"Yeah...it's Brady."

"Oh."

"But like a I said, we could skip it," I offered weekly.

"You mean, I could skip it and you could go alone?"

I reached for her hand and held it in mine. "No...I mean if you don't want to go then neither of us will."

Nicolle glanced down at our intertwined fingers and sighed. "Why do I always get the feeling you don't want me around your friends?"

I pulled up to the bookstore and put my Jeep in park. "That isn't true. Those guys get rowdy when we are all together. And it will be worse since they're drinking. I just wanted to spare you."

"Okay," she replied quietly. "I better go."

I pulled on her hand and waited for her to make eye contact. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being an ass this morning and not asking you to go to this wedding. Will you go with me? We can dance and you can meet some more of my friends."

She shrugged and turned away from me, but I never let her hand go. "Please, honey. Let me make it up to you."

When I leaned over and pressed kisses to her neck, she finally relented. "Fine. But you're not leaving me much time to get a dress."

"Go today," I suggested, slipping my debit card into her purse and smiling brightly at her.  "Call Kim or Emily and go after work."

Her face brightened a little and she kissed me goodbye. I watched her open the store and throw a little kiss to me before I drove off.

When I arrived at Brady's, the rest of the crew was already there and Paul didn't waste any time giving me shit for being late. I tuned him out as I got busy with my portion of the landscaping task.  The house turned out amazing and with these extra touches, it would be perfect for Saturday.

But their lawn was the least of my worries. As I watched Brady's fiancée flutter about the backyard, ironing out more last minute details, I wondered if inviting Nicolle to this wedding was really the best idea.

Nicolle's POV - 

"So what are you really afraid of?"

I sighed as I sifted through another rack of dresses in the third store we had been in. "Who said I was afraid?"

Kim sighed and slammed her hand onto her jutted hip. "Who are you fooling? I know you. You're scared of...something, but I don't know what."

I continued to browse as she continued to scold me. "Embry is perfect. He loves you. You guys are living together. He's been so patient with you. So what's the problem?"

I sighed again as we made our way back out to the sidewalk and onto another dress shop. We had been looking for an hour with no success. I was beginning to lose hope completely. "The problem is me," I whispered. "I just...don't want him to be disappointed."

Kim laughed. "I'm pretty sure you could just lay there and he would be thrilled." I looked up to see her wiggling her eyebrows and I couldn't help but laugh at her.

"Come on! Guys expect things and he's not a virgin."

"He's not?" Kim scoffed dramatically. "I can't believe it!"

"Shut up!" I scowled, playfully beating her with a hanger. "There is just a lot of expectation there. What if I'm terrible? What if I can't...you know...get him off?" I whispered.

"Girl, please," she groaned. "You already said you guys have been messing around for months. Has he ever complained about what you've done so far?"

"No...but…"

"No buts," Kim insisted as we wandered over to the lingerie section. "You know that boy is butt crazy in love with you, you're sexy as hell, you're only lacking confidence."

I raised my gaze to find her holding up a sexy teddy with garters and stockings. I shot her a look but she only shoved it at me more insistently. I lifted the panty to find the center part was open. "What the…"

"They're crotchless," she retorted happily. "You like it?"

"Ummm... maybe in another color?" I smiled weakly.

…

The next few days went by quickly. After my talks with Kim during our shopping trip, I made up my mind that after the wedding, I would stop being afraid and give myself to Embry. Just the thought of it had me so nervous and excited. I tried not to worry about his expectations and just concentrated on being happy with the man I was made for. 

When we arrived at the wedding, I noticed how jittery Embry was. I hoped it wasn't because I was finally going to meet all his friends. Or that he was embarrassed of me for some reason. I hooked my arm around his bicep as he guided me to the backyard and I took in all the beautiful decor. "This is so pretty," I gushed. I loved all the twinkling fairy lights, pale pink roses, and all the tiny details.

"You guys made it!" Seth exclaimed as he wrapped me in a huge hug. I had only met him twice before but his bubbly attitude was infectious. He released me and gave Embry a handshake/bro hug that had me giggling. "I really thought you wouldn't come, since…"

"Yeah, I decided to bring my girl out and meet the rest of the pack," Embry interrupted before Seth could finish his thought.

I saw the pair exchanging glances before soft music began to play and Seth excused himself. "He's one of the groomsmen," Embry explained as we found our seats.

"How come you're not in the wedding?" I asked quietly as the procession began.

Embry shrugged, distractedly glancing around. "Me and Brady aren't that close. He's got Collin and Seth standing up with him. That's all he needs." 

Embry's reasoning made sense, but it still bothered me how nervous he was acting. My mind wandered off thinking what could be bothering him. I didn't want to ask or start an argument, especially today of all days. It's not like Embry knew what I had planned for later or what I was wearing under my new dress.

"You look really beautiful, Nicolle."

I was fiddling with my hands in my lap when Embry wrapped an arm around me, his other hand covering mine and intertwining our fingers. "That dress is really something."

I leaned over to whisper into his ear, "I can't wait for you to take it off later."

I cupped my hand around his jaw and held his gaze. "No more waiting. I'm ready, Embry."

His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat a few times and I think he forgot to breathe. He pulled me close and buried his nose in my hair. "Do you mean it?" 

I nodded and pressed a kiss under his ear. "Later. I promise. But you have to dance with me, okay?"

Embry gave me one more squeeze before he released me and we stood to watch the bride come down the aisle.  I held Embry's arm tightly, feeling so elated that I thought I might drift away.

The service was beautiful. They had a wonderful mix of traditional as well as Quilete customs. I loved weddings and this one was especially romantic. Secretly I couldn't wait to be swaying in Embry's arms later under the twinkle lights. 

"So do you, Brady Fuller, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife…"

I smiled up at Embry, seeing the tenseness in his jaw and his laser focus. Suddenly I was back to wondering what had him so on edge.

"And do, Casey Waters, take this man…"

My stomach twisted at the mention of her name. That name I had seen on the medicine bottle in Embry's bathroom six months ago. The name his packmates were so careful not to mention in my presence. The name of the woman who's shadow I had been living in for months. 

Embry turned to look at me, his expression full of remorse. When he reached for my face, I twisted away from him and rushed away, luckily not making too much of a scene because we were seated at the end of the aisle and the wedding party processing back down the aisle had everyone's attention.

I blinked back tears as I rushed to the reception area in search of a drink. "Can I get you something to drink?" the guy behind the bar inquired. "White wine?"

"That sounds amazing," I grumbled as he began to pour.

"You okay?"

I took my wine and stumbled away from my prying cousin. "Go away, Kim. I'm in no mood to talk."

"He should have told you," she sighed as we sat around a large fire pit.

I stared at the flames as she continued to talk to me, finally giving up and wandering back to her boyfriend. I stood up to get a refill on my wine, but stopped when I caught a sight that made my stomach turn. 

"You know they're just friends now, right?"

I looked over to find the groom himself standing next to me. He had his eyes trained on his new bride and my boyfriend. "I don't really know anything, Brady. I didn't know you were getting married until a few days ago. I didn't know you were with...her. I was completely blindsided."

"Well, I know we haven't met before, but I know lots about you, Nicolle."

"You do?"

He turned to face me as I looked up at him. He smiled brightly as he held his hand out. "I'm Brady. It's nice to meet you, Nicolle."

I laughed as I shook his hand. "I don't mean to be rude, but…" I paused as I glanced over at Embry and saw him hugging Casey. "Doesn't that bother you?"

Brady released my hand and shook his head. "It did. But it doesn't anymore."

"Why not? What if they got back together?"

Brady chuckled lightly as he wrapped his arm loosely around my shoulder. "They won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

He leaned a little closer and sighed. "Because he loves you."

….

"I was hoping we would get a chance to talk."

I looked over my shoulder and saw Casey gazing out at the dance floor. All the guys had a beer in their hands and were singing, "Sexy and I Know It." She stepped up next to me and I couldn't help but be jealous of her dark hair and flawless skin.

"Congratulations. I met Brady. He's really nice."

The wide smile on her face when I mentioned Brady was unmistakable. "Embry is a good guy, too. Are you guys arguing?"

I shrugged and suddenly felt ashamed that I had been keeping my distance from him all night. And I wasn't sure I wanted her to know why I was mad. "He just kept some things from me. But we'll work it out."

She nodded and looked around. "This will be you and Embry soon. Has he asked you to marry him yet?"

I blinked back a few tears and shook my head. "We're not...really there yet. Maybe someday."

"I'm glad he has you."

"You are?" I scoffed. "Why?"

"Embry felt really guilty when we broke up. I didn't handle it as well as I could. I always knew what I had with him was temporary, but when he imprinted on you, I thought my world was coming to an end."

I faced her now, suddenly feeling guilty for the pain they both went through just so Embry and I could be together. "But you found Brady."

"Yes," she chuckled. "He was there for me and when he imprinted on me, I suddenly realized why Embry couldn't just turn his back on you."

"I know he never meant to hurt you."

She faced me now and held my shoulders. "I told him I forgave him when we talked earlier. I don't want him to keep carrying around the guilt anymore. He couldn't help imprinting on you just like Brady couldn't help imprinting on me. It's time to move on."

Casey gave me a quick hug and a warm smile before fluttering off to join her husband on the dance floor. A slow song started to play and I couldn't hide my disappointment when I didn't see Embry anywhere. I swung around to head back to the bar when I ran directly into Embry.

"You weren't gonna leave me, were you?"

I cocked my head and tried to hide my smile. "I should. You and your friends had quite the little sing-a-long going out there."

He grinned and nodded and I could've sworn he was blushing but it was too dark to tell. "Dance with me," he blurted when I tried to drag him away from the party. I stopped to gaze up at him, reaching up to sweep the hair off his forehead. "I promised you a dance," he sighed softly.

I nodded and felt my heart bursting when Embry pulled me across the dancefloor and gathered me in his arms. We swayed to the music, his hands secured tightly on my lower back. It felt like we were the only two people in the world when he held me.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Casey. I knew this would be hard for you, but I was too much of a coward to give you fair warning," Embry explained softly with his mouth near my ear. "I hope you can forgive me."

I didn't even have a chance to respond before Embry gripped my wrist, spun me in a circle and snapped me back to him. I gasped when he dipped me back, bringing me up to him slowly. "I love you, Nicolle. I love you so much."

I tightened my arms around his neck and pressed my lips to his. I lifted my leg and wrapped it around the back of his. I hoped it looked sexy and cool like I had seen on Dancing With the Stars. I felt Embry slide his tongue between my lips as his hand tip-toed up my calf and around to my thigh. 

He jerked back quickly when his fingers smoothed over the garter clip holding my stockings up. "What is that?"

I gave him a shy smile and dragged him off the dancefloor. We stopped off to say good night to the friends that were still there. By the time we got out to where Embry had parked his Jeep, he was full of questions. I turned to face him and sighed, "You get one look, so you better pay attention."

"What?" he scoffed. "One look at what?"

I glanced around to make sure we couldn't be seen by any of the other guests before I lifted the bottom hem of my dress and flashed the lower half of the teddy I wore underneath. I stifled a giggle as Embry's eyes grew large and his mouth gaped open. I truly stunned him. "Let's go," I insisted as I pulled his keys from his hand and made my way to the driver's side.

Embry slid in beside me, still staring, still stunned. "You've had that on all night?"

"Yes," I hummed. "I wanted to make it a surprise for later."

"You did?" he gasped as he slid closer and rested his hand on my knee.

"But you already saw it so…"

"No...I didn't see much. But I want to. Can I?" Embry pleaded as I considered how much longer I would continue to tease him.

When he buried his face in my neck and licked his way up to my ear, I nearly wrecked his car. "Behave," I scolded as we pulled up to his house.

I was nearly racing to get away from Embry as we entered the house. When I tried to escape into the bedroom, he wrapped his arms around me from behind and pressed his lips to my neck. "I want you out of this dress," he murmured against my skin.

"I don't know," I teased, thankful he couldn't see my face.

I felt his fingers on my zipper and his tongue on my shoulder. "Can I help you with this?"

"Yes," I managed to squeak out as his teeth worked on the straps of my dress. 

I twisted away from him and pressed my hands to his chest. "Give me 15 minutes and then you can join me," I promised.

Embry's eyes roamed over my body as I held my dress up with my hands. "15 minutes," he echoed. "I can try to wait that long."

I ran off before he could change my mind. I was determined to make this a night he wouldn't forget.

 …

A/N: I know I suck for not getting this out sooner. My motivation hasn't been the best. I'm thankful for the readers who put up with my slow updates. One more part after this and this short fic will be done. Thanks for reading!