“I love you more,” he replied, smiling at her. “And I need to know you’re safe. I can’t keep you safe on the motorbike.”
“But,” she began to argue, but once more Dylan cut her off with a kiss, then a smile.
“Brook, get into the car,” he chuckled.
She returned his smile, before she climbed into the passenger seat of the Rover. She had to admit; it was a beautiful car. The smell of the cream leather seats was lovely, and the interior was so shiny and new, Brook was almost afraid to move in it.
A sudden memory of Warren came to mind. A memory of him buying a new car, and how furious he’d been with her because she simply adjusted the mirror. It resulted in another one of her many beatings.
“Don’t,” Dylan said as he suddenly appeared in the driver’s seat next to her. She’d been so lost in her memory; she hadn’t heard him get into the car.
“Don’t what?” She asked, looking up at him.
“When you remember something from your past,” Dylan said as reached out, softly brushing her face. “You disappear inside your thoughts, and you get sad. Don’t let him make you sad, not tonight.”
“I’ll try,” Brook replied, giving Dylan a warm smile as she leaned into his touch. “I promise.”
“Good,” Dylan smiled and nodded before he started the engine. Soon they were on their way to whatever the hell Dylan had planned for them.
“Where are we?” Brook asked as Dylan pulled the car to a stop outside a pretty, three-story townhouse.
“My house,” Dylan said, giving her a grin as he turned off the engine. “I thought we could have dinner here. Just spend some time together, alone for a change.”
“Sounds perfect,” Brook said as she unfastened her seatbelt.
“I thought I could cook for us,” Dylan added as he too unfastened his seatbelt. “I’ve got a couple of nice fillet steaks and some vegetables. Also, I make a pretty good burgundy sauce.”
“Sounds yummy,” Brook replied with a smile before Dylan climbed from the car, running around to open the door for Brook.
Once he’d collected the groceries from the trunk of the car, he led Brook up the steps and into his home.
As she stepped through the door, she looked around the beautiful little house and smiled. Dylan’s home was warm and welcoming just as he was. It was decorated in soft, pastel colours and had a beautiful hardwood floor that ran through the bottom on the house. On the left-hand-side of the entranceway, there was a beautiful living room, where there was a luxurious cream sofa in front of a huge open fireplace. On either side of the fireplace there were two pale blue and cream checked, high wing backed armchairs, with a glass top coffee table in the middle. Above the fireplace was a huge, flat screen TV.
On the right of the entranceway, there was a large room, which Dylan had turned into his own personal library. This room also had a huge open fire, on either side of it was a pair of Leather, high backed armchairs, with a leather footstool in between them. The walls were covered in white shelving and filled with more books Brook thought possible for one single person to own.
“You have a beautiful home, Dylan,” Brook said as she finally turned to face him.
“Thank you,” he replied, giving her a smile, before nodding toward the door at the far end of the hallway. “The kitchen is through this way.”
Dylan led her through the door to a perfect appointed and modern kitchen. Brook loved this house. Every part of it said class and style.
“Why don’t you have a seat,” Dylan said as he walked around the counter. “While I get started with the dinner.”
“Isn’t there something I can do to help you?” Brook asked, giving him a questioning look.
“You can sit down and relax,” he said giving her a broad smile. “Maybe open the wine?”
“Okay,” she nodded, resisting the urge she had to insist she help with the cooking. She knew that Dylan was trying his hardest to make her happy. Since Liam told them about Warren being behind the crash four days earlier, Brook knew Dylan was worried about her leaving.
If she was honest, part of her still wanted to run. She was so scared Dylan would be hurt because of her. Leaving seemed like the right thing to do, but there was also part of her that couldn’t breathe when she thought about leaving Dylan. But she had promised him that she would stay, and she was going to try to keep that promise.
Brook opened the wine and poured two glasses, one for herself, one for Dylan. Then she sat at the perfectly dressed table and watched Dylan as he moved around the kitchen, cooking up a storm.
As he cooked, he talked about the impending arrival of the twin babies that Liam and Lexi were going to adopt. Dylan said that the babies were due any day, but he didn’t know much more information than that.
Brook loved to see Dylan so excited about his brother’s future. He knew that his connection to Liam ran deep.
Finally, dinner was ready. Dylan brought it to the table then sat down across from Brook. They ate for a short while in silence, each one just simply enjoying the food and each other’s company.
Brook was surprised just how good a cook Dylan was. The steak was perfect, and the burgundy sauce was unlike anything she had tasted before.
“This is amazing,” she finally said, looking up at Dylan, giving him a broad smile. “You’re just full of surprises.”
“You have no idea,” Dylan replied with a cheeky smile, wiggling his eyebrows. This just made Brook laugh too.
She loved that she felt so at ease when she was with Dylan. She never felt like she had to watch what she said, or what she did when she was with him. It was a feeling that Brook liked.
“So,” Dylan said as he poured them both a coffee after the dinner. “I was actually hoping to talk to you about something.”
“Oh,” Brook replied as she reached for the sugar, dropping one lump into her coffee. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course,” Dylan assured her as he shifted nervously in his seat. “Yes. Of course. It’s just…I wanted… I was just thinking. I know when we talked the other day… I know you said you weren’t sure about the future.”
He stopped and looked at her for a few moments before he took a deep breath and continued.
“Well,” he said as he nervously fiddled with his coffee cup and Brook could see that Dylan was more nervous than he ever had been before. “I was thinking, well wondering actually. How would you feel about moving in here with me? I mean I know right now you aren’t really thinking about the future, and I get it. But I am. I want to make a life with you, Brook. This is a nice house, but you… you could help me make it a home.”
“You want me to move in with you?” Brook asked, giving him a surprised look.
“Yes,” Dylan said as he squared his shoulders, looking her straight in the eye. “I mean, for starters. The truth is, I want it all, Brook. I want us to be a real family. I want to marry you and for you to be my wife. I want a house full of kids with you. But I also know that right now, you’re not there yet. So for now, I’m asking you to take this step with me. I’m asking you to take a chance on the future we both deserve. Move in with me, and let’s just see what happens.”
Brook had no idea what to say. He just told her that he wanted to marry her. He wanted them to be a family. If Brook was honest, in her heart she never believed she would ever want to tie herself down again. She had done the marriage thing, and it had been a living, breathing nightmare. But then she never imagined that she would love someone as much as she loved Dylan Murphy.
There was so much she wanted to say to him, right at that moment. But somehow the words in her heart seemed too small. So she stood up slowly, her heart hammering so fast, she could hardly breathe. Reaching out her hand to Dylan, he took it as he stood up too. The whole time his eyes were fixed on her.
She turned, then without saying a word, she led him from the kitchen, out to the hallway, and finally up the stairs.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she st
opped, allowing Dylan to lead her the rest of the way to the bedroom.
When they reached his bedroom, Brook walked towards the bed, as Dylan closed the door. She stood for a moment, taking a couple of deep, calming breaths before she finally turned to face him.
They both stood there for a moment, and it felt like time was almost standing still.
Finally, Brook smiled, and Dylan quickly closed the distance between them, claiming her lips the moment he reached her.
Brook made short work of the shirt Dylan was wearing, as he reached for the zipper on her dress, pulling it down before it billowed to the floor, around her feet.
As their kiss deepened, Brook was surprised by just how much she wanted Dylan right at that moment.
Feeling a little bold, she reached for the waistband of his jeans. Pulling open the zipper, she pushed them down past his ass, halfway down his legs. She then slipped her hands inside the soft, cotton material of his boxer shorts. Reaching around to the back, she pushed them down over his firm ass too, freeing his impressive erection.
Dylan smiled against her mouth but didn’t say a word.
Brook let her hands glide over the smooth skin of his glorious backside before she ran her fingertips back around to his front. She let the tips of her fingers find his erection before she slowly drew them up the entire length of his swollen shaft.
“Oh, God!” Dylan cried out as Brook wrapped her fingers around his cock and began to move her hand up and down the shaft, slowly.
Brook liked that she could undo him just as easy as he undid her. It made her feel good, desirable even. Something she hadn’t felt in such a long time. She glanced up at him from beneath her long lashes as she continued to stroke his cock.
She smiled when Dylan released a cry of pleasure, as he closed his eyes and dropped his head backward.
Suddenly, Brook brushed her soft fingertips across the swollen head of his cock, and she could feel tiny droplets on the tip, and she instinctively ran her finger across them, wiping them away.
Looking up as Dylan dropped his eyes to hers once more, she smiled at him, and then without missing a beat, she brought her finger to her lips and sucked the wetness from the fingertip.
“JESUS CHRIST!” He growled as he struggled to hold back. Before Brook had time to think, Dylan kicked off his shoes and jeans, then scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. Throwing her down on it, he made short work of her bra and panties before he settled between her legs.
“I fucking love you,” he growled against her mouth before he claimed her lips once more. As his kiss deepened, he pushed into Brook, filling her completely. She cried out, but Dylan’s mouth swallowed the sound, and soon she was lost in sheer pleasure,
Thrust after thrust, he pushed into her, bringing her with him.
But then suddenly, Dylan moved, and Brook was on top of him. She rose up slowly, steadying herself with her hands against his chest as she slowly began to move.
As she rolled her hips, she could feel herself losing control. Each movement brought her closer until she could finally feel herself begin to come apart.
As she came, Dylan sat up and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her hard, and he held her closer. He continued to rock up into Brook until finally, he groaned and erupted inside of her, too.
Collapsing back down onto the bed, he took Brook with him, holding her against his chest while they both tried to calm their ragged breathing.
Brook’s mind was in a whirl with so many emotions, but the one thing she knew without any doubt what so ever was Dylan was her future. In fact, she couldn’t imagine a life without him in it. And just like that, she knew what she needed to do.
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly as she lifted her head to look down at Dylan lying next to her.
“Yes?” He gasped, as he opened his eyes to look up at her.
“Yes!” She repeated.
“You…you agree to move in with me,” Dylan asked, and Brook couldn’t help but smile at the look of happiness on his face.
“No,” she gasped, wondering if she’d completely lost her mind because of what she was about to say next. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“You… you’ll marry me?” Dylan asked, and she could hear the shock in his voice. “Wow!”
“I mean,” Brook quickly said, suddenly feeling less sure than she was feeling moments earlier. “If you want… I mean… you said earlier… you said you wanted too…”
Suddenly she felt stupid, and to her horror, hot tears pooled in her eyes. She quickly pushed up from the bed.
“You know,” she exclaimed as she grabbed her dress from the floor then covering herself, feeling completely and utterly mortified. “Forget I said anything,”
She turned to walk towards the bathroom, needing a little privacy to collect her thoughts, but she’d barely taken two steps when Dylan grabbed her hand.
“Brook,” he said as he pulled her back, then turned her to face him. “I want to marry you too.”
“You don’t have to say…” she began to shake her head in protest, still refusing to let her eyes meet Dylan’s.
“I know I don’t have to say anything,” Dylan cut her off, before he reached for her chin, tilting her gaze up to his. “But I want to. I know that this is beyond crazy. We’ve known each other for barely seven weeks. But waiting a year isn’t going to mean I love you more. I know today that I love you. I know today that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Everything about you, it just makes sense to me. So yes, I want to marry you.”
“Really,” Brook whispered as tears trickled down her cheeks.
“Really,” Dylan replied with a smile as he wiped away her tears. “So how about we try this again. Brook McKay, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” She exclaimed before she leaned up, kissing him softly on the lips. “Yes, I will marry you.”
Chapter 26
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Brook asked, giving Dylan a worried look. “I mean, I know how important your family is to you. Maybe we should call them and tell them to come down here. I mean, what about Liam?”
“Liam will understand,” Dylan assured her, giving her the biggest smile ever. “And we can celebrate with them once this whole court thing is over. But right now, today; it’s about you and me.”
Dylan stared at Brook for a moment, almost expecting her to say she’d changed her mind, but she didn’t. Instead, she just smiled, then leaned in and kissed him softly.
“I love you,” she whispered, looking up into his eyes.
“Not as much as I love you, Brook McKay,” Dylan replied, still feeling a little stunned that she’d agreed to this whole crazy idea.
As they lay in bed the night before, Dylan started to talk about when and where they should get married. He told her that it had become something of a tradition for his brothers to have their weddings in the back garden of his parents’ home. He then laughed and added; it had also become something of a tradition for the worst-case scenario to happen on a Murphy Boy’s wedding day too.
“What do you mean?” She asked giving him a confused look.
“Well,” Dylan sighed, then laughed again. “The day of Landen’s wedding, Amelia was kidnapped by her stalker. The day of Finn and Emmy’s wedding, Lexi got trapped in Liam’s apartment with a psycho who then shot and killed their dog Sky. Of course, Liam saved the day both times.”
“Are you serious?” Brook asked as she pushed up onto her elbow and looked down at Dylan.
“Yeah,” Dylan sighed, remembering just how horrible both of those days had been. “But I guess in the end it all turned out okay. I mean, they still got married, and are very happy now.”
“What about Liam and Lexi’s wedding?” She asked as she rolled onto her side to face him.
“Well there was no crazy stalkers or psychos that day,” Dylan replied but then chuckled. “Though Summer did manage to eat the wedding cake before the ceremony. She was still so tiny, no one though
t she would be able to reach the cake on the table, and I suppose they were right. What they hadn’t counted on was her knocking it over instead. Then she managed to get through half a layer before they discovered what had happened.”
“Oh no,” Brook exclaimed, but she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Yes,” Dylan laughed too. “As I said, seems to be a tradition for us boys. In fact, it might not be a bad idea if we just sneaked off and got married without telling anyone. Would probably be the safest thing to do.”
“That actually kind of sounds perfect to me,” Brook sighed as she rested her head back down on his chest. “It’s not like I will have anyone filling up my side of the church anyway. I don’t even think my dad would be able to make it. “
She sighed like that thought made her feel a little sad.
“We should just go to the courthouse,” she laughed, trying her hardest to hide the sadness she was feeling inside. “Say I do, then go to some random burger place for the reception.”
“Then why don’t we do that,” Dylan said, suddenly thinking that as crazy as it sounded, it made perfect sense. “Just me and you. We could have a judge marry us in ten minutes, what could possibly go wrong?”
“Exactly!” Brook laughed out loud. “In fact, we should go down there tomorrow…”
“I’m serious,” Dylan said, pushing up in bed, turning to Brook. “Why don’t we?”
“Because it’s insane,” Brook replied looking at Dylan in complete disbelief. “We haven’t known each other that long.”
“Why does that matter?” Dylan asked, moving so he was now on his knees. “Where does it say you have to be with someone a set amount of days? Okay, some people like to wait for a long time. That’s what Finn and Emmy did, but Landen and Amelia were only together a few short weeks, and they’re one of the happiest couples I know.”
“But everything is so up in the air right now,” Brook said, and Dylan knew her mind was racing right at that moment.
“I know,” he said as he reached out and took her hold of her hand. “Just like I know you have every reason in this world to think that getting married again would be the worst idea imaginable. But what if it’s not? What if everything that’s happened was life bringing you here? Bringing you to this exact moment? Brook, I love you, and I know you love me too. Your life has been such a complicated nightmare. So, what if this once you take the easy choice? What if you say yes and you come with me tomorrow? Why not forget about everyone else, and do this one thing for just us?”
Dylan (The Murphy Series Book 5) Page 25
