Dylan (The Murphy Series Book 5)

by Holly C. Webb

  “How is she doing?” Nell asked taking a few steps closer to him, giving him a cautious smile. “I mean, after everything today. Your father mentioned earlier that she was going to leave, but he’d manage to soothe things over. Is she okay?”

  “She’s okay, Mom,” Dylan replied, turning back to his mother once more. “I think the talk Dad had with her; I think it helped her, and I mean more than just about today. I think she realises now that what happened; what those other cops did, is not something that is right, or normal. I think she could finally be letting go of the past a little. Or at least some parts of it.”

  “I’m glad,” Nell smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes, and Dylan instantly realised there was something more, something she wanted to say, but didn’t know how.

  “Is everything okay, Mom?” Dylan asked giving her a questioning look as he made his way back down the couple of stairs he’d walked up.

  “Yeah,” she replied, but Dylan knew that was a lie.

  “No, it’s not,” Dylan said, setting the bags down on the floor. “You’ve something on your mind. It’s written all over your face.”

  “I’m just a little worried I suppose,” Nell sighed, giving him a half smile before she continued.

  “About?” Dylan asked, getting a distinct feeling that she was about to say something he really didn’t want to hear.

  “Well, you know I think Brook is the sweetest girl,” Nell replied, giving him a worried look. “I really do. But Dylan, you’re falling for her. I can see it in your eyes every time you look at her.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Dylan said, a little surprised by his mother’s comment.

  “I wish it weren’t,” Nell sighed. “I really do, but I don’t know if Brook will ever let you close to her. I don’t know that she knows how. And I’m so scared you’re going to get your heart broken.”

  Dylan stared at his mother for a moment, then smiled before he kissed her on the cheek.

  “I know Brook is very broken, Mom,” Dylan sighed, wishing he could tell his mother she was wrong, but in his heart, he knew she wasn’t. “I know that I might never get past this invisible shield she has put up in front of her to keep the world out. But there is something about her, Mom; something that I can’t get out of my head. She’s never promised to love me. Actually, she’s told me she didn’t know if she ever would, but I have to believe that she might.”

  “I just don’t want you hurt, Dylan,” Nell said, reaching up, gently touching his face.

  “I won’t be, Mom,” Dylan assured her. “I give you my word.

  “Okay,” Nell nodded, giving him a warm smile that said, she wasn’t sure, but she would trust his decision.

  Dylan kissed her on the cheek before he picked up the bags, heading upstairs to the bedroom.

  He stopped at the door for a moment, taking a breath and a moment to let go of what his mother had said before he softly tapped on the door.

  “Come in!” Brook called from inside. Dylan smiled to himself as he pushed open the door. He found her sitting on the bed, wearing an oversized t-shirt, and a pair of shorts that left little to the imagination, brushing her long, blonde hair.

  Jesus Christ! He groaned in his head as his cock instantly twitched. Don’t even go there right now!

  “Hey!” She said with a big smile, as she set the brush down, before climbing up from the bed. She blushed a little as she looked down at the bags in Dylan's hands. “I can’t believe I let you buy me all of this stuff. It really doesn’t feel right.”

  “No, no,” Dylan chuckled as he set the bags down on the end of the bed, giving her a knowing look. “You can’t back out of our deal now. I let you pay for dinner, remember.”

  “Yeah but…” Brook began to protest, but Dylan pressed his finger to her lips, stopping her mid-sentence, smiling at her.

  “Don’t,” he said, giving her a cheeky grin. “Now, let’s put your things away before I leave you to get some rest. Tomorrow I am going to take you to the beach.”

  “The Beach!” She exclaimed, giving him a shocked look.

  “I know you can’t swim or anything for another two weeks,” Dylan said, giving her a smile. “But I want to take you to my favourite place in the world. I might even dazzle you with some of my awesome surf moves. But right now, let’s pack this stuff away.”

  “Okay,” she replied, giving him a shy smile, before she grabbed some of the bags from the bed, as did Dylan before they both headed for the closet.

  As they both began to unpack the bags in a comfortable silence, Dylan tried to focus on keeping a lid on the desire he felt for Brook, thundering through his veins. He hated he was so close to her, and he couldn’t just take her in his arms and kiss her like they were the only two people in the world.

  “I think this is so pretty,” Brook said suddenly, turning to Dylan, holding up a pretty cream coloured summer dress she’d picked out earlier that day. Dylan smiled and held up the black lace bra and panties set; he’d just pulled from one of the bags he was unpacking.

  “Personally,” he said, giving her a cheeky wink. “I would much rather see you wearing these.”

  Brooks face instantly flushed, as she set down the dress and closed the distance between her and Dylan, reaching for the underwear in his hand. Dylan laughed out loud, as he held them just out of her reach.

  “Oh my, God!” Brook exclaimed as she laughed too. “You’re such a brat. I should tell your mother.”

  “Is that a threat, Ms. McKay?” Dylan chuckled.

  “It’s a promise, Doctor Murphy,” Brook exclaimed, then laughed once more and she pressed herself up against Dylan, trying to reach the underwear.

  The moment she did, Dylan’s body reacted. His breath caught in his throat, and his cock strained against the material of his trousers.

  Brook stilled too, and Dylan knew she felt his arousal as she pressed against him. Neither of them said a word for a moment, and Dylan knew that Brook was uncertain about what she should do next.

  “Brook,” he whispered, as he slowly lowered his hand that was holding the underwear. “I…”

  But he stopped. He had no idea what he should say right at that moment. So instead, he took a deep breath.

  Finally, Brook lifted her head, letting her eyes meet his.

  Dylan held his breath as she stared up at him, but his heart was now pounding ferociously in his chest. It was almost like they were both frozen in time. The only thought he had as he stared down into her eyes, was how completely and utterly in love with her he was. He knew he couldn’t deny it any longer. He was in love with her.

  He leaned down, tenderly pressing his lips to hers.

  The moment that he did, something changed between them. Dylan could feel it, and he knew Brook could feel it too.

  As he pressed against her lips a little firmer, Brook breathed out, before she returned his kiss. Dylan slowly wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer to him as their kiss deepened.

  Slowly he began to move, turning Brook so now her back was against the wall. Finally, Brook slid her hands up Dylan’s arms, then up around his broad shoulders, as she pressed into his body closer.

  “Brook,” he whispered breathlessly, as he kissed her like he’d never kissed a girl before. There was a need deep inside of him, almost driving him on. He didn’t just want this girl; he needed her almost as much as his body needed oxygen and blood. He needed her to survive. It was that simple.

  Dropping his hands down, he eased her t-shirt up her body. As he slipped his hands beneath, he could feel her velvet skin beneath his fingertips, and the need within him grew. He could feel the tiny goosebumps on her skin, and it just pushed him on more.

  Brook dropped her hands from his shoulders to the buttons on his shirt. One by one she began to unfasten them, the whole time her lips never left his.

  Dylan pushed her t-shirt up further, pulling his lips from hers to lift it over her head.

  Dropping the t-shirt to the floor
, Dylan lifted Brook in his arms, moving just enough to set her down on the top of a set of drawers in the closet. Brook wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer, as Dylan found her lips once more.

  “I love you, Brook,” he finally breathed against her lips. “I will love you every day, for the rest of my life.”

  Dylan didn’t know why, but Brook froze. Then suddenly, she pushed him away, before she jumped down from the set of drawers pushing past Dylan, without even looking at him.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t!” She blurted out, almost stunning Dylan as she reached down grabbing her t-shirt from the floor. She held it against her, almost like it was a shield, but she didn’t look at Dylan. Instead, she stared at the floor, and to Dylan’s horror, tears began spilling down her face. “I… Just can’t! I’m so sorry.”

  “Brook!” Dylan exclaimed, having no clue what the hell had just happened. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I just…” she whispered with a breathing sob. “I just need you to go.”

  “Go!” He exclaimed, having no clue what he had done to upset her. “I’m not going anywhere until you talk to me. Please! Tell me what I’ve done wrong?”

  He took a step towards her, but she jumped back, and closed her eyes, almost like she was waiting for him to hit her.

  “Do… do you think I would hit you?” Dylan asked, feeling stunned and, if he were honest, a little hurt she would ever think that.

  “No… I…I just need you to go,” Brook begged, shaking her head vigorously, as now her tears were flowing freely and her whole body shook with terror. “Please.”

  “Brook,” he said, taking another step, but once more she flinched like she was waiting for the punch to land next.

  Dylan stopped dead in his tracks, staring at her for a moment, having no idea what to think, much less what to say.

  “Please,” she begged, her eyes pinched closed, still refusing to look at him. “Please, just go.”

  Dylan stared at her for a few seconds more, before he turned and headed out of the closet, heading straight for the bedroom door, slamming it behind him.

  He hurried down the stairs, taking them two at a time. When he reached the bottom, he headed for the hall closet, grabbing his bike jacket, then his helmet before he headed towards the front door.

  “Dylan!” Nell called from the living room, as he pulled open the front door, but he didn’t slow down. Instead he hurried out of the house, and along the gravel driveway to where he had his motorbike parked.

  A few moments later, it roared to life, before speeding out of the garage, and back down the gravel driveway. As he passed the front of the house, he saw his mother and father standing on the front steps, but once more he didn’t stop. He just needed to get away. Hit the road and clear his head.

  She thought he was going to hit her! Like he was no better than Warren! Like he could do the things that animal had done to her!

  He knew he was probably overreacting. She was broken, of course she was going to fall apart and react to things that triggered memories. He knew this in his heart. He just had no clue what he’d done that was so wrong.

  Dylan just knew, if he loved her, he would have to see past all of this, but right now, he just couldn’t. He was hurt.

  That’s when it hit him. He told her he loved her. That was when she’d changed. He just didn’t know why that would have upset her so much.

  Then he remembered his other words. I will love you every day, for the rest of my life.

  Was that the trigger? Was that what had caused her to fall apart?

  He just didn’t know.

  He released a long sigh, as he glanced into his rear-view mirror, and spotted a car behind him.

  At first, he didn’t think anything of it, but when he looked again, it was considerably closer, and Dylan could tell it was travelling at speed. He pulled over to the side to let it pass, but it didn’t. Instead, it moved to the side of the road, just as he had.

  “Okay, Asshole!” He shouted, even though he knew the driver wouldn’t be able to hear him through his helmet. “You have the road; go around me.”

  Dylan waved for the guy to pass him, but still, he didn’t.

  “What the hell is wrong with this asshole?” He groaned to himself, as once more he waved again. But this time, the car closed the distance, nudging the back of Dylan’s bike.

  “WHAT THE FUCK!” Dylan yelled, as he twisted down on the accelerator, trying to get away from the car, but it was no use, the faster he went, the faster the car went. “FUCK!”

  Dylan glanced in his mirror once more, trying to see what the car looked like, but the headlights were on full, and he couldn’t see anything.

  The car backed off a little, and Dylan thought it was just sending him a message. He knew that this was about Brook and Warren Pearse. He was sure of it.

  He glanced in his rear-view mirror once more and braced himself when he saw the car accelerating yet again. This time he hit the back of his bike harder, knocking the back wheel out, sending it skidding along the road.

  Thankfully it didn’t drag Dylan with it. Instead, he was thrown free, rolling to a stop with a bang.

  He tied to sit up, hoping to get a better look at the car, but it was gone. All he saw were taillights fading in the distance, before he flopped back down onto the ground, then blacked out.

  Chapter 22

  Brook

  Brook stood in the closet, holding her breath. The moment she heard the bedroom door slamming, she knew she’d hurt Dylan, and that just made her cry harder. She dropped to the floor and buried her face in the t-shirt she was still holding in her hands and sobbed like she’d never sobbed before.

  He’d said he loved her.

  In her heart she already knew he did, just like she knew that she was falling in love with him too. But the thought of letting another person into her heart was beyond terrifying to her.

  But then he said, ‘I will love you every day, for the rest of my life’ and she froze. They were the exact same words Warren would use, usually followed by, ‘and I will never let you go. Never forget that you belong to me.’

  Deep down, she knew that Dylan was nothing like Warren, but still she was freaked out by his words.

  Just like when he moved towards her. She knew he would never raise his hands to her, but her self-preservation kicked in, and she reacted.

  His face crashed into her mind, and all she could think about was how hurt he looked as he stood there before her. She wished she could go back and undo what she’d done. Go back and not listen to that little voice that had told her, she needed to protect herself.

  She didn’t know how long she’d been sitting on the floor of the closet, when there was a soft tap on the door.

  “Brook,” Nell’s voice came through the door. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

  Brook didn’t answer. She just closed her eyes and wished to God that she was anywhere but there. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed once more.

  She didn’t hear the door opening, nor did she hear Nell coming into the room. It wasn’t until Nell sat down beside her, and softly touched her back, that Brook even knew she was there.

  “Brook, Sweetie,” Nell said as she gently rubbed her back. “Are you okay?”

  “No,” she replied, honestly, knowing there was no point in lying. “Not really.”

  “What happened?” Nell asked, giving her a worried look.

  “What always happens,” Brook replied, finally lifting her head, looking at Nell. “Warren!”

  “I…I don’t understand,” Nell said, giving her a confused look. “I thought he was in jail.”

  “He is,” she sniffed, as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, before she hit the side of her head. “But he’s in here too. Always. And I don’t know that I will ever be free from him.”

  “Oh, Sweetheart,” Nell said, rubbing her back once more. It was at that exact moment, Brook realised she was still naked on top. Other than the t-shi
rt she was holding covering her boobs, she had nothing covering her top half.

  “Oh, Nell!” Brook cried as she quickly pushed up from the floor. “I’m so sorry.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” Nell replied, as she too climbed from the floor. Brook turned her back to her, as she un-balled her t-shirt to put it back on. “You have nothing…”

  Nell stopped mid-sentence, and Brook could feel her eyes burning into her skin.

  “Oh, Sweetie,” she said, as she walked towards Brook. “My sweet girl, what did he do to you? What have you been through?”

  Nell softly touched one of the many scars and faded bruises that were on her back.

  Brook swallowed hard, before she quickly put her t-shirt on, covering up her body once more, feeling completely and utterly ashamed.

  “He doesn’t matter anymore,” Brook said, as she walked out of the closet, returning to the bedroom, sitting down on her bed. A few seconds later, Nell emerged from the closet too before she also walked to the bed, sitting down next to Brook.

  They both sat in a comfortable silence as Brook’s mind raced with thoughts of Dylan.

  “I hurt Dylan,” Brook finally said, releasing a long, frustrated breath. “I didn’t mean to, but I did.”

  Nell turned to look at her, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she waited for her to continue.

  “He was just being… Dylan,” Brook continued, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “He is always so sweet and kind, and I just freaked out.”

  “Can I ask what happened?” Nell asked, the uncertainty in her voice very clear.

  Brook’s face flushed with embarrassment at her question She was unsure if she could talk about having sex, or even almost, with Dylan’s mom. But she had no one to turn to. No best friend, no mom of her own; there was no one else.

  “We were kissing,” Brook finally said, unable to look at Nell as she spoke. “We haven’t really been intimate together, other than kissing. I didn’t feel ready before. But things were… moving on.”

  “Okay,” Nell said, but Brook still felt completely mortified to be talking to her about this.