“Ohmygod. Now you know that’s going to happen.”
He grinned down at her. “Want to meet me for a quickie at lunchtime?”
She pressed her lips together, eyes wide, as he slipped his fingers inside. She sighed longingly. He fucking loved that sigh.
“What do you say, Soph? The hotel next to your office? I’ll get a room, make you feel amazing.” He sealed his mouth over hers, feeling her body tremble as he loved her. “We’ll shower together. You like naughty showers.” His cock twitched just thinking about being with her in the middle of the day. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted as she panted at his words. “Then I’ll walk you back to work, and later, I’ll take you out for an incredible dinner, wine and dine you so you know how much I adore you.”
Her eyes opened. “I can’t…I’ve never done that in the middle of the day.”
“But you want to. With me.”
His mouth moved over hers, devouring its softness as he teased over the special spot that made her grab at the sheets and cry out into their kiss, her sex clenching. When she panted for air, he breathed air into her lungs.
“More,” she said breathlessly. “More kisses, more you.”
He withdrew from between her legs and spread her arousal on his cock, repeatedly moving his hand between her sex and his shaft until it glistened. “Stroke me, baby. I won’t come, because I want to be inside you when I do, but I need you to touch me.”
Her beautiful mouth spread into a seductive grin. “I like touching you as much as I like kissing you.”
He recaptured her lips, more demanding this time as she stroked him and he loved her with his hand. Their tongues danced to the same beat as their ministrations. His hips thrust, her pelvis rocked, and when she grabbed the back of his neck and rose off the bed, her fingernails dug into his skin. She quickened her strokes, and he felt her body flex.
She tore her mouth away and said, “Come with me,” then crushed her mouth to his again.
Their kisses were rough and messy. Her hot mouth and the tight grip of her hand on his cock sent him soaring at the same moment she cried out his name. His body thrust with every pulse of his orgasm as he came on her stomach and chest. She didn’t relent, continuing to work his oversensitive cock, causing him to buck and groan. He brought his mouth to hers again, feasting on her sweetness. She’d mastered making him hard after he’d come, and minutes later he sheathed his erection. He nudged her legs open wider, and her hips rose to greet him. He lowered his mouth to hers and pushed into her tight heat. Their chests met with sticky warmth, and as they found their rhythm, he cradled her body against his, reveling in their closeness. Amid their hammering hearts and frantic thrusts, he had the overwhelming sensation that they were no longer fucking. When did they stop having sex and start making love? Being with Sophie had been different since their very first time. Was it then? As he surrendered to their passion, everything blurred together and delineations no longer mattered.
When they came back down to earth, Sophie curled into him, as she always did after they were close. He listened to the sweet “Mm” sounds she probably didn’t realize she made and he found so alluring. He wanted to do something special for her, to show her that he meant every word he’d said.
“This weekend,” he kissed her softly, “I want to take you someplace special. Just the two of us.”
She snuggled closer, her hand on his cheek. “I can’t. I have to go to my grandparents’ anniversary party. I would invite you to go with me, but since last night was such a huge step for both of us, I don’t want to put that pressure on you.”
He gathered her in his arms. “Where are you going and how long will you be gone?” Monday was Lorelei’s birthday, and he knew it would be a rough time for him. She didn’t need to witness his grief.
“Back home to Oak Falls. I’m flying out Saturday and coming back Sunday night,” she said sleepily.
The thought of not seeing Sophie this weekend brought that prickly feeling rushing back. He pressed his lips to hers, telling himself he could put in extra workouts and hang out with his brothers to distract himself from missing her. But that sounded like hell compared to being with her, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, and holding her in his arms.
Chapter Ten
SATURDAY BLEW IN with chilly temperatures and gusty winds, mirroring the torrent that had been going on in Brett’s head for the past two days. Saying goodbye to Sophie before leaving for his run had been torture. Even the gift he’d hidden in her luggage hadn’t relieved the guilt and self-loathing that was pushing him—as if he could outrun his demons. If he could, he’d have done it long ago.
“Want to talk about it?” Carson asked as they ran along the Central Park Reservoir.
“Talk about what?” Brett ducked under a low branch full of orange and yellow leaves. Fall was his favorite time of year, and his most hated. The foliage was gorgeous, and the cooler temperatures made his runs and workouts that much more bearable. But their sister’s birthday was on the horizon, and it turned all that beauty into ugly, painful memories.
Carson glanced at him with a worried expression. “Lorelei.”
“Lorelei?” Brett’s gut seized, but his answer came easily. “No.”
With the exception of Dylan, Brett and his other brothers had avoided talking about Lorelei until last year when Dylan and Tiffany had come together. Dylan had suggested they honor Lorelei’s memory at their family’s annual fundraiser to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Honoring her at the event had opened the door to conversations that should have happened years ago but had been too painful. He and his brothers spoke of her more often now, but it was still difficult for Brett.
“It’s not her,” Brett said, glancing at Carson and catching an even more worried expression. “And it’s not work.”
“Then what’s up? You’ve been in a great mood all week. I figured you finally got your mojo back, but Dylan said you blew out of the bar alone the other night and he hasn’t seen you there since.”
It felt wrong to hear Carson talk about his mojo. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always.” Carson motioned to a woman pushing a stroller. “I can’t wait to give Addy girl a baby sister or brother. Times have changed, haven’t they? This time last year I wouldn’t even have noticed a woman with a stroller.”
“Times have changed, all right.” This time last month I’d have been checking out every woman we passed. “You had a thing for Tawny forever, right?”
“Since college.” Carson and Tawny had been study partners in college, but they’d also had a secret sexual relationship.
“That’s a long time to carry a torch for a woman.” Brett didn’t know all the particulars, but he knew Tawny had ended things around graduation, and he’d never seen Carson happier than he’d been since Tawny had come back into his life.
Carson glanced over, sweat glistening on his forehead and cheeks. “She’s it for me, Brett. Always has been.”
“Yeah, I get that. I do.” Hell, I’ve been pursuing Sophie for years. “When Dylan met Tiffany, he was all in really fast, too. And Mick has been in love with Amanda since he first met her.”
They jogged along the side of the path to let a group of women who were speed walking pass by.
“That’s love, man,” Carson said. “What are you getting at?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m wondering how you guys make it look so easy after all the shit we’ve been through.”
“Easy?” Carson scoffed. “It sucked not being able to connect with women on any real level for all those years in between college and when Tawny came back. But you go on. And then Tawny came back, and I swear, that wasn’t easy. There was a lot of hurt on both sides. But you know how we struggle to nail down some contracts and others just fall in our laps?”
“Sure.” Brett hated analogies, and Carson knew it, which meant this was the only way Carson could spell it out for him.
“The right relationship is a combination of both
. You struggle to fit together in a way that’s right for both of you.”
“Compromise, Carson. Cut to the chase.”
“That’s just it. I can’t.” Carson grinned and kicked up his speed. “It’s not just compromise. It’s struggling through to find the compromises. Figuring out what battles you want to fight and how much of yourself you’re willing to change or give up to make things work.”
They jogged in silence for a few minutes as Brett mulled that over. “What if there’s something you want to change but you’re not sure you can?”
“If that thing is you hooking up with other women, it’s pretty much a deal breaker.”
“Jesus.” Brett stewed over what his brother thought of him.
“What’s really going on? There’s nothing about us that we don’t have the power to change.”
“Not true.” Anger bubbled up from his gut. “We can’t change that Lorelei is gone. We can’t change that our lives were ripped apart. We can’t change that—”
Carson grabbed his arm, causing him to stumble to a stop.
“What the hell?” Brett wrenched his arm free. Carson was staring at him with a dark expression. Carson didn’t do dark.
“All that stuff you just mentioned? That’s life, dude. And that anger I hear in your voice? It’s not about any of that shit. So tell me what’s going on because I’m trying to stay out of your business, but you’re like a roller coaster waiting to crash. And we’ve got too much riding on our company for that to happen.”
Brett paced. He dragged his forearm over his sweaty brow and said, “I’m with Sophie, okay? I mean, I’m with her. Staying at her place the last few nights, and before that, staying until she fell asleep. I’m—”
“Wait.” Carson laughed. “You’re with Sophie? Christ, Brett, why didn’t you start with that? I thought you were losing your mind.”
“Because I’m so fucking confused, and I’m going to lose her if I can’t get my act together.”
“Do not tell me you’re screwing around behind that woman’s back, because I’ll kick your ass from here to Mexico.”
Carson could no sooner kick Brett’s ass than any other man could, but Brett knew he’d damn well try if he thought Brett had hurt Sophie. She was already that much a part of their family, and he freaking loved knowing it.
“Can we run, please?” Too edgy to stand still, Brett took off running. “I’m not sleeping with anyone else. In fact, I haven’t been with another woman since before your wedding.”
Carson’s eyes widened. “Seriously? I mean, we’ve all seen the sparks flying between you two, but…wow. No other women?”
“Yeah, wow. That’s how I feel, completely blown away. I thought one night would get her out of my system, but I haven’t been able to go a single day without seeing her. She’s it, Carson, but I’m fucked up. You know it. She knows it. I’ve got enough anger to fuel a 747, and now—”
“Wait. Slow down. Let’s talk for a sec. You’re spending the night at her place? That’s big, man. How’s that going?”
He and his brothers all had a thing about not staying overnight with women. He always assumed they were as fucked up as he was, but with how quickly they’d fallen for their wives and how easy they’d made it look, he wondered if he’d been alone on the Island for Messed-Up Men the whole time.
“It’s awesome,” Brett said vehemently. “I wasn’t sure at first, you know? I was waiting for that fight-or-flight response, and while I felt something, it wasn’t powerful enough to make me leave. I can’t wait to see her at the end of each day, and nothing could drag me from her bed at night. She’s…God, Carson, I’ve never known anyone like her. She calls me on my shit but doesn’t push me to change. I have changed, but that’s all me, for her, but not because she demands it. And you’re going to think this is insane, but, man, her kisses? They fucking wreck me.”
He shook his head, remembering how they’d kissed goodbye that morning for so long, he’d had to wait another ten minutes before actually leaving while his erection deflated. Sophie had taken great pleasure in that, traipsing around the apartment in his T-shirt with nothing underneath, bending over to pick up her socks, purposely giving him an eyeful of her gorgeous ass.
“Sounds like things are good,” Carson said, bringing Brett’s mind back to the moment. “If you’re not messing around, what are you worried about going wrong? What do you need to fix?”
“You know me, man. When I feel boxed in, I’ll kill to get out. I have the power to ruin us without even thinking about it, and it pisses me off that I don’t know if I can handle it.” Anger pounded through his veins. “Sophie deserves more. She’s incredible, man, and being with her doesn’t feel like I’m boxed in. It feels good and right. She centers me, Carson. I don’t ever feel like I want to walk away from her. I hate being apart for work, which is fucked up, right? Obsessive or some shit?”
Carson smiled and shook his head. “Dude, you’ve got it bad. I never thought I’d see the day…”
“Fuck it. You know what? Sophie deserves me. If you guys can get over your shit, I can handle mine. I’m three times the man any of you are. And you know what else? We’ve got to rethink these morning runs, because dragging my ass out of her warm bed isn’t worth the workout. I’m outta here. Thanks, man.”
After the quickest shower of his life and with a handful of clothes in his backpack, Brett raced through the airport to the kiosk and picked up the ticket he’d purchased on the drive over. He hated crowded airports. If they weren’t down to the wire, he’d have taken the company jet, but right now all he wanted was to get to Sophie. He waited forever to get through security, which agitated the hell out of him. By the time he shoved his feet back into his shoes, he was ready to climb out of his skin.
He raced to the gate and came to a screeching halt when he spotted Sophie standing by the windows talking on her phone. Her hair was parted on the side, spilling over the shoulders of her army-green jacket. Her jeans had fashionable holes in the knees, and her white shirt was tucked in only at the center of her waist, giving her a casual-chic look. A big purse hung from the crook of her arm with the grace of a movie star, only Sophie was a million times more beautiful than any celebrity. His heart swelled, and he knew that no matter how hemmed in he might feel this weekend, it would never be enough to cause him to screw up the best and only thing he’d ever truly wanted.
“I’LL TEXT YOU after I escape Nana’s setup,” Sophie said to Grace as she gazed out the window.
“I’m still bummed that Brett isn’t going with you. Imagine the fun Nana would have with him.” Grace laughed. “Can’t you see her pinching his cheeks?”
“Excuse me, ma’am. Can I see your boarding pass please?”
Sophie spun around, and her heart lodged in her throat at the sight of Brett approaching, looking strikingly handsome in a white button-down and a pair of dark slacks, with a wide grin on his face.
“Grace, I’ve gotta go,” she said as she lowered the phone, too stunned to say any more.
Brett thrust his hand out. “Hi. I’m Mr. Slow on the Uptake, and I need to see your boarding pass, please.”
He said it with such a serious tone Sophie feverishly dug her boarding pass from her purse and handed it to him. “What are you doing here?”
“Just a moment, ma’am,” he said authoritatively. “I need to take care of some business before I tend to your pleasure.” His lips curved up in a sexy smile, which morphed to serious again when he turned and addressed the other passengers waiting to board the plane. “Excuse me. I’d like to sit next to my wife on the plane, and I’ll happily give the person holding the ticket for”—he glanced at her boarding pass—“seat number 14C one thousand dollars to swap seats with me.”
She was still reeling from wife as she processed the rest of what he said. “Brett!” She grabbed his arm as the din of the crowd rose. “You’re coming with me? You can’t pay that kind of money for a seat! It’s a short flight.”
He lowered h
is voice and said, “I’m not spending another second away from you, and I don’t care if I have to buy every goddamn seat on the plane. You’re worth it.” He pressed his lips to hers, but she couldn’t temper her smile. “Wait. Is that okay? Fuck, Soph. I should have asked, or planned. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? I’m thrilled.” She launched herself into his arms.
“I’ve got 13B!” a guy yelled. “Maybe you can peer over the seats at her.”
Brett scowled at the guy, then turned a softer expression to Sophie. “I should have offered to go with you right away. I was afraid I’d mess things up, but I was a fool. When it comes to you—to us—there’s nothing I can’t handle.” He held up a finger and called out, “Two thousand dollars to the holder of seat 14C.”
“No! Geez! You’re so impatient. I feel like I just stepped into Pretty Woman or something.”
His arms circled her, while more commotion rang out around them. “Baby, you just stepped into Brett-with-no-fear territory. I hope you can handle it.”
“I’m ready for the trek if you are.” She went up on her toes and touched her lips to his.
“Excuse me.”
They reluctantly parted, turning toward the twentysomething guy with a backpack slung over his shoulder standing beside them with a boarding pass in his hand.
He pushed his dark hair out of his eyes and flashed a friendly smile. “Did you say 14C?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Brett said. “Is that your seat?”
He handed Brett his boarding pass.
Brett looked it over and winked at Sophie. “Looks like we’ve got a deal.” Brett handed him his boarding pass and withdrew his wallet. The people around them cheered.
“First class?” the guy said. “Dude, keep your money. You two just gave me serious relationship goals.”
Bad Boys After Dark Page 12
