~A/N Sorry for the delay, but guess what? I finished this story except the Epi is still being worked on. Brace yourselves, I've stuck with the angst/tragedy genre most of the way through. I don't condone these character's behavior. It's a work of fiction, but it's good for an escape.

Copyright disclaimer: Twilight and all recognizable characters are sole property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 11: Unfaithful

Bella didn't hesitate, she pressed her mouth against his and all the magic came back. Embry was kissing her again and she didn't want it to end, she only wanted more. She jumped and he picked her up all the way. He walked them to the couch and sat her on the back so he could stand between her legs. He kept kissing her mercilessly. She moved her lips in perfect synchronization with his. She opened up and fully submitted to the passion. Her feet pulled him tighter.

He briefly pulled his mouth off hers, only to trail kisses down her jawline.

He panted against her skin. "Bella, what happened? Are you alright?" He kissed her mouth again quickly.

"Please Emb, don't say you don't want me."

"Hell no, I've always wanted you...always," he kissed her again. She felt how much he wanted her when jerked his hips against her. "Are you positive? I mean...should we be doing this?"

Bella couldn't believe how normal it felt. Should she be hesitant or have guilty reluctance? That was the right way to feel, but she didn't. She spoke up, so he wouldn't have any doubt why she came to him. "Take me to your bed and make love to me. That's all I'm sure about."

Previously, she over thought everything. It was her way, but her renewal of feelings had been building for weeks. Bret betrayed her again and again. He pushed her away continuously. She witnessed the way Embry looked at her during their brief reunion. He felt something too. She felt stripped in front of him even when she was fully dressed. Bret never looked at her that way. How could she be married to someone for five years and he still not know who she truly was?

Soon, she was spread out on Emby's bed. It was almost like she'd never left. All traces of clothing were removed in record time.

He whispered against her mouth. "You think I forgot your body?" She shook her head side to side. "I still know exactly how to make you cum, baby." His hand rested just below her navel and she gasped. There might be a hint of embarrassment, since he had never seen or felt her post-baby body. She bounced back quickly and was probably considered underweight because of the stress, but nothing was exactly as before. She tried to stop him before he touched her stretch marks. He held her hand between his fingers.

"Don't you you know how beautiful you are too me?"

His mouth felt so good against hers. She'd missed him more than she ever realized. She had pretended all those years she was over him, but it was a lie. He kissed her breathless, but eventually settled against her neck. He licked and sucked her delicate skin between his teeth. His hands were everywhere she wanted them.

She had an ache between her legs that only he could satisfy. He must have known because seconds later, she was gripping the sheets with her legs wrapped around his head.

Each source of her need was met with gratification. When he joined with her again, they both held still for several seconds. Bella was quickly reminded how good some wolf loving could be. She was literally starved for attention and affection. He held nothing back. He gave her all that she needed and more.

With every thrust, he went deeper...into her body but somewhere else as well. She felt like there was a reclaiming of her soul taking place.

Maybe she had gone there for some validation that she was still a desirable woman and she knew he'd reassure her, but making love with him again opened her eyes to even more.

Embry held her face with the palm of his hand. "So beautiful...feels so good, so right."

She raised her legs, gripped him tighter and higher up his torso. Her orgasms came in sequences. She barely had time to catch her breath. Only when he was assured, she was completely satisfied, he suggested he was close.

His warm hands trailed down her skin in various places. "Can you come again with me, baby? I need you, I want you...I never quit. I'm going to fix it. Let me fix you."

She believed him, even if she didn't know how it was possible. She held onto him tighter, he moved faster, and seconds later, they were both experiencing a perfect completion. Not the end, however...Bella couldn't take it if it was.

He held her in silence for a long while. She knew she probably should go, but her body felt weighted to his bed.

"What happened?"

"Bret's gambling again." He sat up and looked away...towards the window.

She hoped he didn't take the information the wrong way.

"Emb, say something."

"Why here? Why now with me?"

She knew he must have some misgivings about her intentions, so she did her best to explain. "I've thought about you so much these past few weeks. I wanted to call, I wanted to stop by many times, but I was trying to do the right thing."

He asked if she wanted anything from the kitchen. She told him, some water would be good. He came back drinking a beer, and handed her a water bottle.

"You're leaving him?"

She hadn't even let her mind think that far ahead. All she knew, was how much she wanted to be with Embry again and that was it. She stammered, "Um, I have so much on my plate. I just..."

He got back in bed and pulled her against his side. He kissed her temple. "Stay with me."

She was shocked, but how many times had she wanted him to say those words and he never did?

"I mean permanently, not just tonight, but I do want you to stay tonight, of course. You shouldn't be out driving late at night when you're upset. I'll go get your things tomorrow, the kids too. We'll be cramped until the house is done, but I'll put a rush on it. Where are the kids?"

"Oh my God, I hope you don't think I abandoned them or anything. They're at Charlie's."

He smiled. "No, I knew they were safe, you just didn't say."

She blushed, "Yeah, we didn't say much before." He kissed her mouth that time.

"I mean it, Bella. I know it might be hard to swallow coming from me...given our history, but I've changed a lot. I made mistakes, but I don't want to keep repeating them. Take this as a sign, we were meant to have our second chance."

"Who are you? And what did you do with Embry Call?" He laughed, saying he deserved that. "Sorry, I'm the fucked up mess now. How's that for role reversal?"

"We'll fix it...together. Just say 'yes.' Say you'll give us another chance."

"It's not that simple. It's not just the two of us anymore."

He promised, given the chance to get to know her children, he'd soon love them. Hopefully, they'd like him too. He knew there'd be some adjustments, but it might be a blessing they were so young.

"Bret doesn't deserve his family. He can't keep breaking you financially and lying to you about the help he promised to get. Hell, he probably steals from his own kid's piggy bank to support his habit. That's no way for a father to act. I know I'm not their father, but I'll do a better job. You know it's the truth."

Bella remembered something from the week before. Connor was going around crying about a ten dollar bill he was sure he put in his jar. She thought it was typical little boy carelessness. She wanted to hold the bill for safe keeping when Bret's dad gave it to him for some chores he'd helped with around their house. Bret told her, he was old enough to learn a little responsibility. She told Embry the story. "What if you're right? What if he stoled from his own son? I swear, I don't even know him at all anymore. He's just his disease, nothing more."

Embry was sure that's exactly what he'd done. As bad as Bret was, she also failed the marriage, "I'm a cheater now. He's a liar and addict. It's all destroyed."

"Do you regret what happened?"

"No, and that makes me even worse, I guess."

"It makes you human." He took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. He kissed her again. "I still love you."

"I love you so much, Embry. I couldn't stop, but..."

"But what?"

"I can't leave him."

"Dammit, Bella. Why not? Then what was all this?"

"I...I just mean. It's not a good time. Anison has surgery next week for her ears. Then it's Connor's birthday at the end of the month. He starts Kindergarten soon after. I have to do these things and keep life as normal as possible. I haven't even confronted Bret that I know he's gambling again. I don't mean I won't leave him, just not right this second."

"So this is you asking me to wait? I guess I deserve that. Karma's a bitch."

Thinking about what he offered overwhelmed her. They had failed the first go around, but when he said he'd changed, she believed him. She could tell just by hearing stories from Rachel and Billy. Spending one evening with him in person, let her know for certain. The life she created with Bret was still a fact. She had to do what was best for her kids.

"I never wanted them to be from a broken home. Do you know how bad I hate that terminology?"

"It's better than the alternative, don't you think?"

She didn't know how to answer him. They were still so young and innocent.

"Fine, if you need a few weeks, tell me what to do, but if you think I'm up for some drawn out affair when you go home to your husband's bed every night, you are out of your mind. I'm still a wolf and you know we're possessive assholes. You let me make you mine again. I don't fucking share."

She told him the truth about her marriage bed. Her body would not be shared. She swore it on their love for one another.

He had other worries. She wanted to confront Bret and let him know she knew he was lying to her again. Embry was restless. He got up from the bed and paced around the room. She insisted just like before, he'd never be violent. He might deny it or be ashamed. She was sure he'd be angry, but that was it. He still wasn't sold on her doing it alone. He suggested she have Charlie over for backup since it seemed like Bret's family was always making up excuses for him.

Her father was going to be like Embry and say, 'enough was enough.' They were right, Bella knew it, but the destruction of a marriage was not as cut and dry as some people made it sound. She meant it. She loved Embry, but her love for Bret didn't disappear completely. He had been exactly what she needed at a certain time in her life. What if he could be truly cured? Did she owe him more chances?

She watched Embry dig out his camera and take some pictures out the window. Something must have caught his eye. She picked up the throw blanket and draped it over her shoulders. Bella opened up the closet to find various clothes wrapped in plastic. She thumbed through the hangers and reminisced.

"I miss this."

He joined her, she felt his large hand on her back. "You do? I always thought you resented it."

"No, well...maybe sometimes, but we had fun. It was nice to pretend in a way."

He reached in and plucked out a garment. "Here...put it on. Let's go out."

"Out? Are you crazy? It's late, like..." she craned her neck to see what the clock said.

"Oh wow, you're right...it's 10:38. That's so late, Bella. Come on, you sound like an old woman." He laughed at her.

She was turning thirty soon, but she kinda felt like an old lady. Seriously, did she do anything but read or watch TV after 10 o'clock? Bella studied the bright blue dress. It was a bit skimpy. She wasn't sure it would fit. It looked form fitting. He raised his eyebrows at her a few times.

"Try it, you'll look hot."

She hesitated, but he pointed her to the bathroom. "Put it on."

The club had changed quite a bit, but it was still familiar enough. Embry bought her a cosmo and they sat at a little round two-person table.

"What's wrong? I thought you always liked these girly drinks."

She did, but she hadn't had something like that since the kids. She tentatively took a sip. The drink was just right as was the company. She watched Embry take a swallow of his beer. Her mind tried to catch up to what all had occurred in such a short amount of time. Bella looked around several times, to make sure no one was noticing them.

"It's fine. I doubt the people you know hang out here."

"Yes, but have you forgotten, I own a business in this town? Everyone knows I'm married. The Harrington's are a prominent family from the area. I have a reason to be cautious." He encouraged her to finish her drink to loosen up and then he was dragging her out on the dance floor. She giggled at some of the memories. She knew nothing about dancing before he started bringing her there.

Bella had so many huge life decisions to consider, but when Embry ran his hand up her thigh, past the hem of her short dress, she forgot all of them. He took her hand and guided her to a secluded area. Their dance was slow and seductive. His hands moved up and down her sides. She had been denied physical contact for so long and now Embry was giving her more than she could handle. Her legs felt weak, her stomach twitched and turned upside down. He leaned closer so he could whisper in her ear. He told her how sexy she was in the dress, but he couldn't wait to take her back to his place and take it off.

She told herself the club would be the end of evening. She couldn't possibly stay out all night even though the text she'd received earlier said Bret was staying at his parents' house. Of course, that was a lie. She knew that all along.

They didn't even stay gone an hour. The need to be alone became overwhelming. Bella pulled off her shoes so she could walk faster the few blocks back. When they rounded the corner and his apartment was in sight, he lifted her up and carried her the rest of the way.

The blue dress was the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes. It was draped across the chair by the window. She smiled at the memory of what happened when they came back inside. He was right, he knew her body so well. Neither the years or the distance had managed to diminish their connection. Bella heard the shower. She rushed out of bed in hopes of joining him. She made it just in time.

Leaving was harder than she thought it would be. He kept holding onto her. He wasn't convinced her plan was the right thing. He begged her to let him bring the guys over. They'd have her moved out in less than two hours. She should go to Charlie's if she wasn't sure about having the kids at his place. Bella asked him to trust her, but he asked the same of her.

No matter what had happened before, there was no one on earth, she trusted more than him. She hoped all her wrongs could eventually be made right.

~Thanks for reading.

It's my plan to update once a week until all the chapters are posted. So, does anyone have an opinion or a prediction or two?