His to Protect: A Brook Brothers Novel

by Delaney, Tracie

  Millie got hold of Cole’s arm, and she tugged to get his attention. “It’s okay, Cole.”

  “It is not okay,” he said, his jaw clenched up all tight. “She’s told you already to fuck off, so what the hell are you still doing here, huh?”

  Tanner held his hands in the air. “I don’t want any trouble. I just want to talk.”

  Calum joined them, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Cole while Laurella moved next to Millie, close enough that Laurella’s silk top brushed against her bare arm.

  “I said everything I needed to last Saturday, Tanner,” Millie said, her courage bolstered by the wall of support.

  Tanner gave her a beseeching look, very unlike the normal hard, condescending, cocky expression she’d grown to know—and hate.

  “Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking. We can sit at the bar over there.” He pointed unnecessarily and then turned to Cole. “You can see her from your table.”

  Cole didn’t seem remotely reassured by Tanner’s suggestion. He widened his stance, his chest thrust forward, arms crossed in front, and he shifted a little to the side, partly blocking her view of Tanner. Oh God. He was protecting her. A fluttering set off in her chest, despite the seriousness of the situation. But this was her mess, and it was up to her to sort it out.

  “Five minutes,” she said.

  Cole’s head swiveled so fast, she half expected him to reenact a scene from the Exorcist.

  “You don’t have to speak with this dirtbag.”

  She swept a hand down his arm, ending at his fingers, which she squeezed. “I know.” She moved her mouth to his ear, so only he could hear. “I need to finish this once and for all, especially now.”

  She strode past Tanner toward the bar. When he didn’t follow, she tossed a, “Clock is ticking,” throwaway comment over her shoulder and internally hugged herself for being so brave. No doubt Cole had a lot to do with her rediscovered sass. She owed that man an orgasm for the amazing job he was doing to rebuild her self-esteem and confidence. And her eternal gratitude. His belief in her had given her strength, and in turn, had loosened Tanner’s hold over her. He didn’t terrify her anymore.

  Millie pulled out a chair at the bar and sat. Tanner joined her a few seconds later. He looked a little stunned, as though he wasn’t sure what had happened to the downtrodden wife he’d been able to push around for the better part of ten years. When they’d spoken in Central Park, she’d still been under his influence to a certain degree, so she’d let him do most of the talking, but after the last week, and especially this weekend, everything had changed—because now she was with Cole.

  The bartender headed their way but Millie waved him away. She turned to her husband. “What do you want, Tanner?”

  “I want you back.”

  She sighed. He’d said the same in Central Park. “We’ve had this conversation.”

  “I can change. I will change. I’ll do it for you.”

  She almost felt sorry for him. Almost. Except Tanner was an expert at fooling people—apart from her parents. He’d never been able to pull the wool over their eyes, hence his successful campaign to estrange her from them. But everyone else—his friends, the young players he worked with, the coach of the football team—all thought he was the perfect husband and that they had the perfect marriage.

  “You had ten years to change, Tanner.”

  He went to grab her hand. She yanked it out of reach.

  “And you could have told me you were leaving,” he said, a definite undercurrent leaking into his tone. “But we all make mistakes.”

  Her eyes widened. “Mistakes? You think systematically trying to destroy me over the last ten years was a mistake?”

  He huffed, his appeasing mask slipping. “I can only apologize so many times. How long are you going to punish me?”

  Tired of the same conversation, she swiped a hand over her face. They were getting nowhere fast. And then a thought came to her. The earlier sense of unease at bowling, the prickling sensation she’d felt before she’d seen Tanner making his way over. And something Cole had said when Tanner first turned up after she’d met her parents for coffee.

  “Have you been following us tonight? Were you at the bowling alley?”

  “Have you fucked him?”

  Her eyebrows shot up. Yep, he’d followed them. And he’d seen her making out with Cole. “Excuse me?”

  His eyes narrowed into slits. “Brook. Have you let him put his dick in you?”

  Her vision clouded, and her hands shook. She jumped down from the chair. “This conversation is over.”

  He gripped her arm. “I haven’t finished with you.”

  She didn’t even get to yank her shoulder upward because Cole got a hold of Tanner. “Oh, you’ve finished,” he almost growled, shoving Tanner’s arm up his back. He winced in pain.

  “Go and sit down, Mia. Now.”

  She should feel bad about the agony twisting Tanner’s features, but instead, she wanted him to hurt—badly. She wanted to rake her fingernails down his too-perfect face, to slice open his balls with a rusty nail. She sucked in a few deep breaths in a bid to calm her rapidly escalating anger while Tanner struggled to escape Cole’s grip. Cole must be too used to handling criminals resisting arrest, or simply those who’d had a little too much to drink and fancied taking on a cop, because he barely broke a sweat.

  She jabbed a finger in Tanner’s face. “It’s over, Tanner,” she said, and then added on for good measure, “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

  She didn’t have two red cents to rub together, let alone spare cash for a lawyer. Still, saying it felt damned good.

  Chapter 19

  The weeks blended together, and in no time, Christmas was almost upon them. Cole had both Christmas Day and the day after off work, and he knew exactly how he’d spend it… in bed with Millie. Apart from the actual festive meal, of course. They’d have to show their faces then, especially as this year Millie’s parents were coming over as well as Jax’s best friend Paul and his wife Alana. Cole had also invited Draven because he still hadn’t calmed down from the early motherhood being thrust upon his baby sister. The rest of his family had grudgingly accepted the unexpected turn of events, but Draven still had a ways to go.

  The only one missing would be Nate. He’d declined the invitation a couple of weeks earlier, citing work. Cole didn’t know whether it was the truth or bullshit. Never could tell with Nate. Still, they’d have a full house regardless, and Cole was looking forward to this holiday season more than any he could remember, because, this year, he got to spend it with the woman he loved.

  Not that either of them had uttered those exact words. He was too worried she wouldn’t say them back. Cole could only guess why she hadn’t, but he’d put money on it having something to do with Tanner coloring her expectations of what love meant, and she’d needed more time to truly believe not all men were like him. A lot were, though. Cole came across them frequently in his line of work. But equally there were a truckload of good guys, too, and he liked to think he was one of those.

  Cole arose early on Sunday morning and got in an early session at the gym so he could spend the day with Millie. When he arrived home, he barely got the key in the door when a piercing scream sounded in the quiet. Millie! He dropped his bag on the floor and ran for her room. He flung open the door and flicked on the light switch. It took a couple of seconds before his eyes adjusted, not just to the light, but to the scene in front of him.

  Nate was standing by the bed, butt naked, wearing a confused frown. Millie had scrambled up the bed, covers pulled up to her chin, wearing an expression of horror. Nate didn’t even bother to cover his junk. He glanced over his shoulder, saw Cole, grinned, “Hey, bro,” followed by, “So, Goldilocks, what are you doing in my bed?”

  Millie shot a glance at Nate, her face pale, then quickly averted her eyes. She sought out Cole, who started to laugh. By this time, they’d been joined by Jax and Calum.

  “Jesus, Nat
e,” Jax said, going into the bathroom. He returned with a towel that he chucked at their youngest brother. “Cover yourself up, for Christ’s sake. No one wants to see your dick swinging in the breeze.”

  Nate slung the towel around his waist. “Define no one.”

  Cole made his way over to Millie. He perched on the end of the bed and rested an arm around her shoulders. She instantly relaxed into him. “Not exactly the introduction I’d have planned, given the chance.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Millie went to stick out her hand to shake Nate’s then thought better of it, burrowing back under the covers. “I’m kinda naked under here,” she whispered to Cole. “I was hoping for an early morning wake-up call.”

  A flush of desire warmed his insides. “Not quite this kind of a wake-up call, though, I’m guessing.”

  Millie grimaced. “Not exactly.”

  “We’re shooting a couple scenes over in Brooklyn right after Christmas,” Nate said, clearly oblivious to Cole and Millie’s private conversation. “So I thought I’d come and crash for a few days. My flight was delayed, otherwise I’d have been here at a more reasonable hour.”

  “And you didn’t think to tell us you were coming?” Jax asked, shaking his head.

  Nate threw his arms out wide. “Surprise.”

  Calum laughed. “You are a dick.”

  Nate flashed him a grin. “And proud.”

  “Okay,” Cole said, getting to his feet. If he didn’t get rid of this group, they’d set up camp. “Everyone, out of my girlfriend’s bedroom. Now.”

  Nate cleared his throat. “My bedroom.” And then his eyes widened. “Girlfriend?”

  Cole ignored his latter comment. “It can’t be your bedroom when you only sleep in the damned thing five days in the year.”

  Nate scowled. “Then where the hell am I expected to sleep?”

  “We’ll figure it out,” Jax said. “Now can we discuss this in the living room, please.”

  He shooed them all out, leaving Cole and Millie alone.

  “Shit, I’m so sorry,” Cole said. “We didn’t think he was coming for Christmas. I’m going to kick his ass.”

  Millie chuckled. “I must admit it was a bit of a shock waking up to find a naked man in my room, especially when aforementioned naked man wasn’t you. I don’t mind waking up to find you standing over me in the nude.”

  Cole cocked an eyebrow and began to unbutton his shirt. “Is that so?”

  Millie’s gaze dropped to his chest as he worked his way down. He parted the two pieces of material, and she swallowed. “Don’t you need to sort things out with your brother?”

  He removed his shirt, took off his shoes, and then slipped out of his pants, kicking them to one side. “Nope. Jax will handle him.”

  He caged her with his body and tugged down the covers which she still had in a death grip up by her chin. He stared at her breasts. God, they really were delicious. He bent his head, sweeping his tongue over her nipple, then sucked it into his mouth.

  Millie pressed her hands to his chest, pushing him away. “They’ll hear us,” she whispered.

  “I don’t care,” he responded. “I can’t keep my hands off of you.”

  Another kiss, this time on her mouth. She moaned, and the hands that had been holding him at bay wrapped around his neck, pulling him close. She arched into him.

  “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” She let out this delicious giggle that turned his ‘gun’ into a damned rifle. Over the last few weeks, she’d come out of her shell more and more. Behind the drapes was a dirty girl, and he loved it.

  “It might not be an actual gun, but it can’t wait to shoot its load inside you.”

  Her giggles increased. “I love it when you talk dirty.”

  He buried his face between her magnificent tits. “One day I’m going to fuck these.”

  He wasn’t prepared for her next comment.

  “How about now?”

  He lifted his head as excitement rushed through him, pumping more blood to his groin, his cock thickening and lengthening. “Seriously?”

  She nodded.

  “Oh God,” he groaned. “What a gift to come home to.”

  She raised her legs and tucked her toes into his boxers, pushing them down his legs. He had to help her with the last bit. Sitting back on his heels, Cole flung the covers to one side and swept his gaze over her nakedness. She’d gained some much-needed weight, and now she had a flare to her hips and a curve to her thighs. She really was his perfect woman—not just the girl he’d built up in his dreams but a real person who was so fucking awesome, there should be an arrest warrant out for her.

  She wriggled beneath him until she was sitting upright. She plumped the pillows behind her, then reached for him, her hand wrapping around his length. She squeezed and then bent forward and flicked her tongue over his weeping slit.

  “Ah, fuck.”

  His cock jerked toward her as though it was crying out for more. He concurred.

  She caught his hand, replaced her own with his, and grabbed her tits, pushing them together.

  “Is this okay?”

  His mouth fell open. He almost came. He had to squeeze his eyes closed and think of something really non-sexy. Having gained a little control over his body, he edged closer and slid his dick into her cleavage.

  “Oh, man, I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven.”

  He began to move back and forth. The more she squeezed her boobs around his dick, the less control he had. His balls tightened as his orgasm built.

  “Fuck, I’m com—”

  He didn’t get to finish the sentence because Millie raised up on her elbows and closed her lips over the head of his cock at the exact moment he came—right into her mouth.

  “God, I love you,” he groaned, his orgasm going on and on.

  Shit! It had slipped out in the throes of ecstasy. He gazed down at her. His cock popped out of her mouth. She swallowed. He held his breath. This could go either way.

  She folded her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a long, languorous, sexy-as-hell kiss. After a good minute of kissing, she broke away.

  “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 20

  Millie woke on Christmas morning to the sound of rain smattering against the glass. She rolled onto her side and blinked up at Cole who was wide awake, his head propped up on his hand, gazing down at her.

  “How long have you been awake?” she asked, stretching her arms overhead. She’d moved into his room after Nate’s untimely arrival. Sometimes, she thought she might ask to stay, even when Nate went back to LA, but then a niggling little voice would tell her that felt too much like living together. She wasn’t sure either of them was ready for that. Having her own separate room at least gave the illusion they were only dating. Since their dual declaration of love, their relationship had moved at a hell of a pace, and even though remembering his words never ceased to give her a thrill, making that final commitment seemed too brave a step.

  “Not long.”

  “Were you watching me sleep?”

  “Yep,” he said with an embarrassed smile. “Does that creep you out?”

  “Nope.” She leaned in for a kiss. He tasted all minty fresh, which meant he must have already used the bathroom. She slung the covers to one side. “Need to brush my teeth.”

  She quickly freshened up and then scooched back under the covers. There was a definite chill in the air, probably because the heating hadn’t kicked in yet. She snuggled into Cole’s side. He was always warm, like her own personal electric blanket.

  “Do you want your present now or later?”

  She raised herself up on her elbow. “You got me a present?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Duh. It’s Christmas, and you’re my girlfriend. Of course I got you a present.”

  Good thing she’d gotten him one, too. Since she and Cole had become an item, Jax refused to take any rent from her at all, even though she had fought him on the i
ssue until he’d told her, in no uncertain terms, that if she continued to argue he’d throw her out on the street. He’d been joking—at least she thought he had—but it had certainly shut her up. At least not paying rent allowed her to save some money, which came in handy for occasions such as Christmas and birthdays.

  She sat up, cross-legged, and wrapped the covers around her shoulders, her excitement palpable. “Now, please.”

  Cole grinned and reached into his nightstand drawer. He removed two beautifully wrapped gifts, each one decorated with a red-and-white striped bow.

  “Okay, so I didn’t wrap these myself. Laurella did.”

  “That girl is a wonder,” Millie said.

  He passed her the smaller of the two gifts. “This one first.”

  Her fingers trembled as she untied the bow and carefully unwrapped the paper. Even as a child, she’d always savored the opening of gifts. It drew out the anticipation and, therefore, the pleasure.

  Inside was a black velvet square box. Holding her breath, she opened it. Nestled on the green velvet—the color reminded her of Cole’s eyes—was a trio of silver bangles. She took them out. Each one had an inscription with a different message. My love. My life. My Mia.

  Her hand flew to her chest. “Oh, Cole. They’re gorgeous.”

  “Here,” he said, taking them from her trembling fingers. He slipped them over her wrist. “They look good on you.”

  As she twisted her wrist from side to side, they made a lovely tinkling sound. “I adore them.”

  He picked up the other gift and handed it to her. “I hope you don’t think I’ve been presumptuous when you open this, but, well…” He shook his head as though annoyed with himself. “Just open it.”

  She did as he asked. Inside was a glossy magazine, or at least that was what she first thought until she turned it over. It was a prospectus for a college right here in New York.