I leaned forward, ready to spring into action at any second if necessary.
She looked up from her book, her eyes widening. “Dan?”
I felt somewhat relieved that the man was someone she knew, although that relief was short-lived and quickly replaced with all-consuming jealousy. There was something intimate about how they looked at one another, and once he was close enough to her, my suspicions were confirmed. He wrapped her into a hug, his arms curling low on her waist and looking as if he didn’t want to let her go. He kissed her cheek. “It’s been forever,” he said.
“It has,” she agreed, giving him a smile that made my stomach tie up in fucking knots.
“What’s been going on with you?”
My jealousy further reared its head when the man took a seat at her table. I couldn’t take my eyes away from him, sizing him up. He looked around Autumn’s age, and I supposed he was handsome—with his shoulder-length hair and neatly trimmed goatee. He had a slim build, and I shamefully imagined how easy it would be to knock him the hell out.
“Oh, kind of a lot actually,” Autumn answered with a sigh and then proceeded to tell him all about the things going on with her father. The guy—Dan—listened, riveted and completely enamored with her. I felt my annoyance illogically rising, especially as he reached out and to rub her shoulder, consoling her. He then held her hand, and I envisioned slicing that fucker’s hand clean off his arm.
Get a grip, Brady, I thought to myself. But it was no use. The jealousy I felt couldn’t be contained, and I knew my stare must have been burning a hole in the side of Dan’s face. After a while, he finally noticed me. His eyebrows shot upward, startled. He then leaned in and whispered into Autumn’s ear.
She turned her gaze toward me and I heard her mutter the word ‘security.’
Dan’s expression relaxed and he gave me a wave that I couldn’t bring myself to return.
Realizing that I probably looked like a complete asshole staring so intently at them, I tried to force myself to read the book tossed haphazardly on my lap. But once again, it was no use. I kept straining my ears, trying to hear their conversation. I kept glancing their way, wondering if he was touching her and feeling that horrible pang of jealousy every time I heard her giggle at something he said.
I couldn’t have been more relieved when he finally got up to leave. They exchanged phone numbers before hugging each other goodbye for far too long.
Once he was gone, Autumn sat back down and glanced my way.
Forgetting that I needed to keep my professional distance, I found myself storming up to her table. “Who was that?” I asked, the annoyance clearly detectible in my voice.
She stared at me, her eyebrows raised. “My ex,” she answered after a pause.
“Doesn’t look like he still wants to be your ex,” I said bitterly.
“Well, it’s not like things really ended badly between us. He just transferred to another school and the long-distance relationship was too hard to keep up with. We sort of just fell out of touch rather than officially broke up.”
My heart plummeted. “So…you still like him?”
She shrugged her shoulders. Then she looked me square in the eyes. “I don’t know. Why?”
The question was so loaded, I didn’t even know where to begin. I wanted to tell her right in that moment how badly I wanted her. I wanted to tell her that no one could protect and provide for her the way that I could. I wanted to tell her that if I got to make love to her for every night for the rest of our lives, it still wouldn’t be enough.
I wanted to tell her that if I couldn’t have her, no one else could.
But I had no right to tell her any of that. I had answered her honestly the first night at the safe house. I had no idea what we were, if anything. Our relationship was mostly a distraction for both of us.
I sat before her, my hands clenched in my lap and literally biting my tongue, trying to hold back words that I would never be able to take back if I dared let them out of my mouth.
“Why, Brady?” she asked again. There was no doubt she was challenging me this time, and I had to wonder if she already knew the thoughts going through my head.
As I had far too many times before, I thought about the feel and taste of her skin.
“Because,” I said, trying hard to keep my voice steady, “I need to know who I have to keep my eye on. For safety measures.”
She looked away from me. “Dan isn’t dangerous.”
I grumbled. He was the most dangerous person we had encountered, as far as I was concerned. He posed the danger of permanently ruining my chances with her. He posed the danger of making me realize once and for all that if I didn’t officially make my move and let my feelings be known, I would never have a shot…
“What’s wrong? What are you thinking?” she asked.
“Too much,” I said, standing from her table.
She looked up at me and stood as well. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“Fine, well I have some more studying to do.”
“Then I’ll just sit back over there. Watching you.”
“Yes, I guess you will.”
I dropped back into my chair and opened the book I still hadn’t read.
Fucking Dan.
CHAPTER 11
Autumn
I was deep in thought, immersed in the books and notes in front of me. The library was quiet, which enabled me to fully focus on the pages filled with a lot of complex paragraphs. The exam date was approaching, and I was getting more nervous. Dan had been a nice distraction for a while, but now I needed to focus again.
But that was hard to do with Brady staring at me, his eyes practically boring a hole in my head.
It wasn’t my fault nothing had happened since that first night. We hadn’t known what we were doing from there, and for now, I had to accept that. But I could tell Brady wasn’t okay with it.
I hadn’t even noticed him approaching me until he stopped directly before me. My heart skipped a beat as his eyes penetrated into me, stealing the air out of my lungs. I was reminded once more how sexy and gorgeous he was.
My body heated from the memory of our first night in the safe house.
It had felt so good. Too good…
Ugh, Autumn. Focus.
“We need to talk,” he said and suddenly grabbed me by my upper arm.
“What? What’s going on?”
“We need some privacy.”
He pulled me into an empty study room and locked the door behind him. I looked around, confused, wondering if there was a problem. There were several armchairs and tables around the small room, surrounded with bookshelves filled with various books.
“Brady, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
He exhaled, a distinct look of frustration on his face. Abruptly, he closed the distance between us. “Look,” he said, “there’s something I need to tell you. I know it’s crazy and all, especially since I’m your bodyguard and any personal relationship between us is strictly forbidden, but I can’t help it.”
I stopped breathing, impatiently waiting for his next words.
“I feel something for you, Autumn.”
“Brady…” I let a small sigh out, trying to calm my racing heartbeat, but it was impossible.
He wasn’t indifferent toward me. Just like me, he felt something that was stronger than our reasoning. Stronger than just sexual chemistry.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he continued. “Since that first night I met you, actually. You blew my mind. And then I saw you again and I was more attracted to you than ever. When that man pulled a gun on your father, I thought I was going to lose my shit. I was so worried about you.”
He moved and stopped directly in front of me, leaving only inches between us before he leaned in.
His warm breath caressed my lips, creating tingles and a churning desire in the pit of my stomach. He smelled so good. I just wanted to forget
all the obstacles between us.
He brought his hand to my cheek and caressed it, making me melt. I needed his touch. I needed him to make me feel all those breathtaking sensations he’d evoked in me in Turkey and in the safe house.
“When I saw that guy earlier, I was so jealous. I don’t want anyone to approach you. I want you all for myself,” he murmured.
Throbbing, I clenched my thighs together, trying to ease the aching forming between my legs. His jealousy surprised me; I had never expected him to react so possessively.
But I liked it…
Unable to resist, I pulled him toward me. “You were really that jealous?” I asked, sliding my hand slowly across his chest. I could feel his heart beating underneath my palm, practically matching the rhythm of my own.
He cupped the back of my neck and drew me even closer. Our bodies met as one, my softness against his rigidness. It was like we were made for each other.
“Yes,” he said. “And if I can’t have you, no one will.”
His lips were on mine before I could even respond. The heat filled my whole being, and all reason was cast aside as I returned his ardent kiss. I pressed against his erection, feeling a deep need inside of me for him.
He moaned into my mouth, pushing me backward until I hit the armchair. Losing my balance, I fell right into it.
I was about to get up, but he wouldn’t let me. He held me in place as he lowered to his knees, placing himself between my legs. My pulse sped and I began panting.
His eyes ate me alive as his hands traveled to my zipper.
“Tell me you feel the same. Tell me you’re crazy about me,” he demanded.
“I’m crazy about you, Brady. I can’t stop thinking about you. I want you. Right now.”
He smirked. “You have no idea how much I’ve fantasized about you saying those words to me.” He unzipped my jeans and pulled them down. “You are so beautiful,” he said, caressing my mound over the thin material of my undies and creating a burning need within me that begged to be satiated. “You’re perfect. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
His fingers stroked me slowly, making me grow hotter. I could already feel my panties getting wet, and he groaned loudly when he felt it too. He moved his fingers over the dampness, sliding up and down in a tantalizingly slow motion that left me panting harder.
“Brady... Ahh...” I bucked my hips, pushing my mound into his hand. Needing him to deepen the touch.
But he seemed content with prolonging my pleasure, merely touching me over my undies with no intention to speed up his pace. He brought his other hand to my thigh to keep me in place when I started squirming, his eyes never leaving mine.
“You’re so sexy,” he said. “I literally ache for you, you know that?”
“Brady!” I cried out. I moved my hips forward, trying to get him to give me the touch I craved.
Finally, he moved my panties to the side and slid his fingers through my swollen folds. I moaned and gripped the arm rests as he started rubbing my clitoris, varying his pace from fast to slow, driving me wild.
I had to press my hand against my mouth to keep from crying out too loudly.
He plunged two fingers inside of me, pushing them in fully. I bit my lip, ecstatic sensation exploding within me. His other hand covered my breast over my blouse, playing with my nipple and doubling the pleasure I felt.
“Are you going to come for me, baby?” he said, his voice low and sexy.
My head rolled back and I closed my eyes, burning under the intensity of his fingers ripping through my wet walls. Each part of me shuddered in reaction to the sweet torture of his fingers. His other hand cupped my mound, the heel of his palm rubbing my clit as he finger-fucked me rough and deep. A muffled scream left my lips when I orgasmed.
He pulled his pants and underwear down and switched places with me. He then brought me to his lap. “I’m all yours,” he said devilishly.
I was on fire, dripping wet. I sat down on his huge length, instantly overwhelmed with unbearable pleasure. The sensitivity of my mound after my climax only enhanced the sensation.
“You have no idea how much I needed this, Brady,” I said with a groan.
I rode him fast, gripping his shoulders as I bounced up and down. Our lips met, and he pushed his tongue deep into my mouth, urgently meeting mine.
I had completely forgotten that we were in a public place. I squeezed my inner muscles around him, increased my speed, and relished in his hardness.
He held me tight, guiding me as he brought his hips up to meet me. The sizzling sensation threatened to make me erupt into a new orgasm soon. Brady’s low moans were the sexiest sounds I’d ever heard, and I could barely contain myself. I was sure that if I cried out, everyone outside would hear us.
“What are you doing to me?” Brady said, his eyes boring into mine and stealing even more of my heart than he already had.
I smashed my lips against his, shuddering when another orgasmic wave washed over me. I moaned into his mouth as I convulsed several times, arching my back when the pleasure became almost unbearable.
“Damn, you feel amazing when you come,” Brady said. He smirked. “Why don’t you do it again.”
He penetrated deeper into me, creating another rush of delirious sensations. I spasmed around his rock-hard length and clamped my hand against my mouth, already orgasming again, but stronger this time since he hadn’t stopped pounding into me. He moved me on him faster than before, and my whole body felt weightless under such overwhelming pleasure.
“Yes, that’s my girl,” he said.
He stood up and pulled me to the carpet, placing me on all fours. He then plunged into me again, this position bringing a whole new type of pleasure. Our bodies slammed against each other’s in the quiet space of the library room, and our ragged breaths mixed together.
“You’re mine, Autumn, you know that?”
The sensations running through me were so intense, I couldn’t even form a sentence. I clenched around him once more when I came again, and it was so powerful that I would have collapsed onto the floor had Brady’s arms not been holding me in place, as he continued his ruthless tempo.
“I’m only yours, Brady,” I finally managed to say.
He growled and flipped me around, pushing me to my back as he held my legs upward in the air. He thrusted deep, pounding into me like he was going to rip me into two. Just when the scream left my lips, he clamped his hand over my mouth to silence me, driving into me a few more times before finally letting go.
His lips latched onto mine in a maddening kiss, while he ejaculated against my sensitive insides. I hugged him and closed my eyes, enjoying the afterglow in silence.
He brought himself to his elbows, caging me with his strong arms and looking at me so passionately I could hardly breathe. For several moments, we just looked at each other.
“You’re so beautiful, Autumn,” he said, suddenly breaking the silence.
My heart fluttering uncontrollably, I smiled and traced his soft plump lips with my fingers. “Just like you, Brady,” I whispered. “You make my heart act in ways I never expected.”
He laughed, left another kiss on my lips, and pulled out of me. My body protested, wanting more of him despite everything that had just transpired.
It abruptly dawned on me what we had just done. A deep flush came to my face. “What if somebody heard us?” I asked, suddenly engulfed with worry.
Brady got to his feet, and then helped me get up. He shrugged his shoulders. “Who cares? I would do it again, but I think you should get back to studying now.”
He winked and all I could do was gape at him.
CHAPTER 12
Autumn
The rich aroma of coffee woke me the following morning. I lied in bed, feeling more relaxed and refreshed than I had in a long time. Finally, I had gotten a decent night’s sleep.
I rolled over. The other side of the bed was cold, letting me know that Brady must have gotten up quite some time ago. We h
ad fallen asleep holding each other, so I wondered how he had managed to get out of bed without me noticing. I supposed it didn’t matter though.
I smiled to myself, thinking about the incredible night we had shared.
We had very nearly gotten caught in the library, an unsuspecting visitor coming dangerously close to the room we’d been occupying. Giggling uncontrollably like a couple of teenagers sneaking around behind our parents’ backs, we quickly dressed and left the library, heading back to the safehouse to pick up from where we had left off. Much like our experience back in Turkey, we had hardly been able to make it through the door before we were ripping each other’s clothes off again.
We spent the rest of the day, blissfully giving in to the urges we’d been holding back for entirely too long.
Then we ordered takeout for dinner, cuddled and watched a movie, and went to bed, resuming another round of love-making before collapsing in each other’s arms.
In those moments, I felt happiness unlike any I had felt in a long time.
Unlike anything I’d felt since my college years with Dan.
It was obvious that what I felt for Brady ran deeper than what I’d felt for Dan though. I halfway thought I was being ridiculous for falling for a handsome face so quickly, but there simply was no denying how I felt, just like Brady could no longer control what he felt.
“So what are we going to do now?” I had asked before we fell asleep.
“What do you mean?”
“We were supposed to be keeping things professional, but it doesn’t seem like that’s possible anymore.”
“The only thing that’s not possible is me staying away from you,” he had responded, running his fingers through a lock of my hair as we stared into each other’s eyes. “So whatever obstacles come our way, we’re just going to have to figure them out.”
A warm and tingly sensation went through me because finally, we were being honest with one another. It felt good to have that barrier officially broken.
Thinking about our previous night, I rolled out of bed, tossed on a nightgown, and ventured to the kitchen, where I came to an abrupt halt. My heart leapt into my throat, and I tried to jump out of view, thinking fast about what I could do to defend myself. But I hadn’t reacted quickly enough, and the intruder spotted me anyway.
Fearless Hero: A Military Bodyguard Romance (Savage Soldiers Book 3) Page 6
