by Kris Bryant
Okay, so we were going to pretend the last two nights didn’t happen.
Erica turned to me. “Tell me the truth. Did you two hook up?”
Brook laughed and pushed Erica away from me. “Quit harassing Cassie. We’re here to ski, not fulfill your weird fantasies.”
“Hey. I just want you to be happy. You deserve it after the last two years of complete and utter bullshit.” She pointed at me. “I approve.”
I stood there and acknowledged nothing. I didn’t even smile, although I was dying to celebrate this new situation with someone, anyone. Not that I thought Brook was my girlfriend, but I was hoping for some sort of acknowledgment. I held my hands up and shook my head at Erica.
“You both suck.” She stomped inside the coffee shop.
Brook tugged on my jacket to get my attention. “Look, I haven’t had time to talk to you, but Gwen saw me creeping out of your bedroom this morning.”
“Shit.” My heart picked up its pace as panic set in. “What happens now?”
She put her hand on my forearm. “It’s none of her business what I do. We’re consenting adults.”
Technically I was an employee of Wellington Enterprises. I had their health insurance and stock options and 401(k) contributions. “Who all did she tell?”
Brook shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. My parents know that my business is my business. I’m sure if my mother was concerned, she’d talk to me about it.”
“Brook, it just happened like six hours ago. She’s probably trying to come up with the right words. I’m kind of freaking out over here.”
“Are you sorry we did it?”
“Are you kidding me? You’re a dream come true.” That was probably too much of a confession, but it came from the heart.
Brook stared at me. I could tell she was struggling to keep her emotions in check. Even though I didn’t feel like she was going to confess the same, the swirling emotions in her eyes gave me just a glimmer of hope. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. But then the door to the coffee shop busted open, startling us both.
“Hey, are you ladies coming or what? Oh, wait. That already happened.” Erica turned just in time to dodge a giant handful of snow from Brook.
Chapter Twenty-one
I was not a patient person. Another reason I didn’t want to be a doctor. Brook texted me to let me know that Noah was going to Lauren’s for New Year’s Eve. Lauren had asked at the last minute, and Brook had accepted. Brook then invited me over to spend the evening with her. I sent Lacy a message telling her I couldn’t make her party tonight, but I’d call her tomorrow to get all the details.
My phone rang, and I was slightly disappointed it wasn’t Brook. “Nana. How are you?”
“I’m tired. I’ve been up since five this morning. I don’t think I’m going to last until midnight.”
“I hope I do,” I said.
“Aren’t you going to Lacy’s party tonight? You were looking forward to that,” she said.
“That’s still up in the air. I’m exhausted from the ski trip.” That was true, but the adrenaline rush from the last three days had kept me going.
“Tell me about your trip,” she said.
“It was actually a lot of fun.” It was hard to keep the excitement out of my voice.
“Now, you worked six hours a day for five days, right?”
“Yes. I was on my own the rest of the time. The kids were pretty good. I skied and snowboarded every day, and hung out at the lodge at night.”
“How was Brook? Was she nice to you? What about the rest of her family? You’d met them before, right?”
“Brook was fine. Completely chill and laid-back. Noah was a lot of fun. I taught him to snowboard. Well, he’s kind of a natural. The rest of the family was really cool, except for her sister Gwen. She has to be related to Satan.”
Nana was quiet. I looked at the phone to see if our call was still connected and thought for sure that would illicit a snort and a fitting retort from her. “Okay, dear. I’m glad you’re home. I’m going to go lie down. Have a fun and safe night. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Nana. I’ll call you tomorrow, but not early.”
“Definitely not early,” she said.
I hung up, and the ding from Brook’s text message rang loudly in my ear.
Baby bear has left the building.
I smiled. How’s Mama bear doing?
She’s torn. That was followed by a sad face. I was hoping for a night with just me and my little guy, but my backup plan looks promising. That was followed by the devil emoji.
My heart skipped, and I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. What time do you want me?
I’m surprised you’re not here already.
I shivered, then gave myself one last look-over. I was killing the hot, younger girlfriend look. I slipped into the house via the mudroom. Brook greeted me in the kitchen with a glass of wine and a smile that weakened me entirely and spread heat to all the right places.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” I took the wine from her outstretched hand. “Are you cooking me dinner?”
She smiled. “I don’t cook, but I’m having food delivered from Ruby’s.”
“Sounds delicious.”
“I’m pretty tight with the chef. Plus, after everything we’ve eaten the past few days, I figured we needed simple and easy.”
I walked over and pulled her close. “I like simple.”
She set her glass on the table and wrapped her arms behind my neck. “Guess what?”
“Um. You missed me?”
“And?”
“You couldn’t wait to see me again?”
“And?”
I stopped myself from blurting out anything I couldn’t take back. Tonight was another fun night, not a night to express my deepest thoughts and desires. “And we’re going to celebrate a new year?”
She thought about it and nodded. “Okay. I can go with that.”
“Wait. What did you mean?” I tucked her wrist behind my back so I could bring her closer and I brushed my lips lightly over hers.
“Mmm. I was just going to point out that we are in a twelve-thousand-square-foot house.”
“Mansion,” I said. Nana lived in a house. This was an estate.
“Twelve-thousand-square-foot house. Just us. Nobody can hear us. We don’t have to be quiet.” She placed a soft kiss on my neck, then scraped her teeth over the skin. I shivered. “Oh, do you like this?”
“Oh, yes, I do.”
“What do you think we should do until the food gets here?” She slid her hands down the shoulders of my neatly pressed shirt and unbuttoned the top three buttons.
I stopped her hands. “Let’s wait until the food gets here. I don’t want to stop once we get started.”
She stepped back. “You’re right. We have time. Come on. Let’s relax in the living room.”
Brook looked incredible. Even though we were staying in, she looked really chic. Cashmere sweater, dark skinny jeans, and suede ankle boots. Her hair was down and wavy, just how I liked it, and her makeup was light and fresh. I was more casual than she in my untucked, button-down fitted shirt and jeans. I’d slipped on loafers, knowing full well I’d kick them off soon. I kept my hair down because Brook liked it that way and treated tonight like it was my first date with her. Instead of showing up with flowers, I showed up with brownies. I baked when I got antsy. Two dozen chocolate-chip cookies and a bundt cake were cooling on the counter in my apartment. Today had been the longest day, but tonight would be the shortest night.
“I should probably tell you that wine isn’t my favorite drink.”
“What’s your poison? I have a full bar and can make you anything at all,” Brook said.
“I’ll be bartender tonight.”
“You’ll need the codes to get into the bar. Remember, I have a child.”
“He’s six. I can’t imagine he even knows what alcohol is at this point.” I could see the bottle of whiskey I want
ed. It didn’t look opened, but it was one I was dying to try. “I can have anything in here? Anything at all?”
She smiled at me and nodded. “Anything at all. The code is 6969.”
“Seriously?” I laughed.
Single nod with an eyebrow quirk thrown in. I carefully lifted out the bottle of High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram and twirled the bottle in my hand to read the label. It was perfect to celebrate the season, the night, and the woman I cared for. “Last chance,” I said, my hand ready to pop the cork.
“I’ll even put my wine aside and drink a glass with you.” I poured two glasses and handed her one. “What should we drink to?” she asked, her glass a few inches from her mouth.
“Let’s drink to acoustics,” I said.
She tapped her glass against mine. “I can’t wait to fuck you.”
I almost dropped my drink at her confession. Instead, I took a sip. The spicy warmth nipped at my taste buds. I leaned forward so my face was inches from hers. “I can’t wait either.”
She licked my bottom lip. “Mmm. You’re right. Very tasty.”
My desire for her spiked. This Brook was relaxed, knew exactly what she wanted, and was going to get it, too. The gate chimed, breaking our erotic yet playful moment.
“Saved by the bell.” She delivered a swift kiss and left the room to collect dinner. I followed with our drinks. “Have a seat. I ordered tapas and dessert.”
“That’s a lot of food,” I said.
“It’ll sustain us.”
This was the first meal I’d ever had with her where it was just the two of us. I was excited and nervous and knew I wouldn’t eat a lot. The last thing I wanted was to fall into a food coma when we only had a small window of time.
“Have you talked to your parents since Christmas?” Brook asked.
I shrugged. “My mom texted me Happy New Year, but that was it. I texted back. We’re going to have to ease back into a relationship. It’s a good thing I have Nana as a referee.”
“I’d like to meet her.”
I choked on my bite of salad. “Nana has no filter. She speaks her mind and will probably say some very interesting things to you.”
“She’s a pistol, I’m sure. A real firecracker.”
“I love her. Maybe the next time Noah’s with Lauren, we can all share a meal.”
“I’m in.”
It was nice how accommodating Brook was. I wasn’t sure of what was happening between us other than really good sex. I don’t think either one of us was ready to talk about it. Correction. I was ready, she wasn’t. I needed to be careful because we were on shaky ground, but being with her felt so good and right.
“Let’s talk about your family. Why are you and Anthony so reserved with each other?”
“Ah, so it’s noticeable. Okay. It’s a long story. I always knew I was going to work for Wellington Enterprises. All three of us did. We interned during summer breaks and holidays and had a healthy sibling rivalry. He and I both wanted to work export. I liked the travel, and Anthony liked the lifestyle. We both did the job well. My dad picked Anthony over me for the position because he’s a man, and international business is still very sexist.”
“I’d be concerned if I was your father throwing you into a room of wolves.” I tried to be honest without stepping on any toes.
“My father felt the same way. Anthony rubbed his decision in my face and got to do everything I wanted to, while I stayed home and built up Wellington’s grocery stores. I was upset with my father and set out to prove him wrong. In the meantime, Anthony started screwing up the export business. We were losing money. My father chased behind him, cleaning up his messes. Finally, he pulled him from the position.”
“Is that when he realized he wanted to be a chef?” I asked.
“Ironic, huh? He’s all about food and I’m all about business, and my father mixed us up.”
I took another bite. “Well, I think you’re both doing well, and I’m sorry it took forever to get there.”
She shrugged. “I can’t get mad over it now, but we’ll always have that fracture.”
“Why, though? I mean everybody’s happy and things are great. And Erica’s wonderful. I really like her.”
Brook sat back in her chair. “Maybe I’m just too stubborn for my own good.”
“I wouldn’t say stubborn. I’d say determined.”
“You sound like my mother.” She laughed and shook her head at me. “I know. It’s not mature, but it fractured my life, my marriage, and all because Anthony wanted to prove he could beat me at something.”
“How do you feel about things now?”
“Disappointed that I’m responsible for a broken marriage. I didn’t give it the time and love it needed. On the other hand, I really love my job. I’m good at it. I’ve doubled our worth. And I’ve created some very profitable accounts.”
“So, you and Anthony are doing what you both love to do. You can’t change the past. You can only learn from it and move on.”
She leaned back and crossed her arms. “You’re right. About everything. I need to relax about Anthony and focus on my family, my son, my libido.”
I looked up from my plate when she said libido. She gave me a sly wink. I laughed. “I need to focus on school, saving the planet, and masturbating less.”
“Ah, youth,” she said.
“Oh, like you don’t? You’re a passionate woman with very strong needs. I mean, I don’t know your dating habits, but I know you like sex.” I wasn’t fishing for information. I was curious about our relationship, but I wasn’t going to press her.
“Cassie.”
“Brook.”
“I don’t date.”
“Well, except for the woman at the Pearl.”
Brook waved me off. “You’re right. That technically was a date, but nothing happened.”
I held my hands up at her. “You don’t owe me an explanation at all.” Jealousy wasn’t a trait I was proud of, but it was there.
Brook pressed her palms on the table and stood. She slowly walked over to me and rested her hip on the table. “What about you? When was your last date?”
I reached for her hips and slid her so she was between my legs. “I don’t date.”
She smiled and leaned so that her lips hovered over mine. “Liar.”
I shrugged. “I go to school, and I have a very demanding job. I don’t have time for frivolous things like dinners, movies, and dating.” I tried to kiss her, but she playfully pulled back.
“Is your boss a hard-ass?”
I played along but still chose my words carefully. “Oh, most days she bosses me without even looking at me.”
“That’s horrible.” She cupped my chin and tilted my face. “And such a gorgeous face, too. Why would she not want to look at it as much as she could?”
My cheeks warmed at her compliment. “She’s very busy running a massively successful business. She doesn’t have time to slow down and enjoy life or me. And I recently heard she doesn’t date.”
“She’s a hag. I hate her already.”
I ran my hands up the curve of her hips to rest on her waist. Then I brushed my fingertips under her sweater and pressed my lips against her stomach. “Don’t hate her. She has good qualities, too.”
She wound her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer. “Oh, yeah? Like what?”
I ran my tongue right above her waistband and slowly unbuttoned her pants. She didn’t stop me. “She’s very smart, and deep down, she’s a softie.” I looked up at her. “And sexy as fuck.”
She answered me by sliding her pants down her hips and kicking them to the side. I wasted no time in touching her all over. I stood and gently pulled her sweater over her head.
“Want to see my bedroom?”
“I’ve seen it already.”
“Want to see it from the inside?”
“Definitely.”
She led me up the stairs, kissing and touching me the entire time. By the time we made it to the be
d, I was on fire. My shirt was somewhere in the hall, but I couldn’t get my jeans off. I tripped and fell on the mattress. “Help me.”
Brook smirked and straddled my hips. “I kind of like you tied up and helpless.”
“But I still have the use of my hands.” I stroked her breasts until her nipples strained against the fabric.
She moved my hands above my head. “Don’t move them.”
“That’s not fair, though.”
“I never said it was going to be.”
“Tyrant.”
She smiled. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.” She ran her tongue over my lips. The lightness of her touch tickled, but I was too turned on to care. I lifted my head so I could lose myself in her kiss. She indulged me for a few seconds and then pulled away again.
I groaned. “You’re killing me. Please let me touch you.”
She unlatched her bra and slowly slid it down her arms. It ended up somewhere near the closet. “Not yet.”
“At least let me kick off my jeans.”
She shook her head. “But I like you at my mercy.”
“I’m always that. Maybe we can find a nice silk scarf instead of jeans.”
I sighed when she climbed off me and pulled off my jeans. Down to my bra and panties, I sprawled out, giving her quite the view.
“Have you ever been tied up before?”
I shook my head. It was always a fantasy of mine, but one I never voiced or tried. I was always so focused on actually getting laid, I never gave foreplay or role-playing a second thought. I smiled when she resumed her spot straddling my thighs.
“Is it something you’re into?”
“I don’t know. I mean, I like this, but I don’t know if I can handle it. Look at you. I want to touch you everywhere.”
“You’ll still get to do that.”
Her smile sped my already racing heart up. She was so beautiful. “But you told me I had to keep my hands above my head.”
“Do you always do everything you’re told?” She kissed along the edge of my bra. I gasped when she pulled down the lace to expose my nipple. She rapidly sucked it into her mouth. I hissed with a mixture of pleasure and pain. When her teeth grazed the sensitive, swollen bud, I cried out. She released my nipple. “Did that hurt?”
