Audrey And The Hero Upstairs

by R. Linda

  Brody.

  The day went by so fast. After breakfast, we went exploring the beach and the caves and hiked through the trees a little way. The view was incredible, something I couldn’t even describe. It was breathtaking. And then the afternoon disappeared as we swam in the ocean, something I never thought I’d do ever again. The water was cool and refreshing and felt magical on my skin. I never wanted to get out.

  I was so nervous wearing a swimsuit in front of Brody, but after Bennett had helped me pick something that suited me and still covered some of my scars, then reassured me that I didn’t look like a freak, I felt a little more comfortable. If Brody’s expression was anything to go by, I knew I had nothing to worry about. He looked at me like a man dying of thirst in the desert, and I was his water.

  “You’re looking thoughtful,” Brody said from beside me as we roasted marshmallows on the fire.

  “Just thinking about how good this week has been. I feel so lucky and never thought I’d feel that way again.”

  Brody wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed the side of my head. We didn’t speak, and it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was nice to just be there beside him without anyone else around. Time was going too fast, though. Tomorrow we’d have to leave and go back to reality. To people. Work. School. To pretending that things were normal, when they were so far from normal.

  I sandwiched my marshmallow between two crackers with a piece of chocolate and took a bite, savouring the sweet and sticky goodness from the marshmallow. Chocolate oozed down my fingers as I ate. It was delicious.

  “How have I lived my entire life and not had a s’more before?”

  “Good, right?” Brody said, shoving the rest of his in his mouth.

  “Better than sex,” I said. Not that I’d ever had sex before, but I’d heard the expression plenty of times. And I figured sex must be pretty spectacular if people seemed shocked when something else was said to be better. Kind of like Brody right then.

  He coughed and choked down the rest of his s’more. “What?”

  “Figure of speech.”

  “Shit.” He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut.

  “Is there a way to eat these things so they don’t make such a mess?” I asked, licking my fingers.

  Brody’s eyes snapped open and darkened as he watched me. “Audrey.”

  “Mmm?”

  “Stop.” He clenched his fists and gazed up at the stars. Was it just me, or was he a little on edge?

  “What?” I asked again, licking a trail of chocolate off my fingers. It was so delicious. I didn’t want to waste a single drop.

  Brody groaned and snatched my hand in his and proceeded to…oh, my god.

  He licked the marshmallow and chocolate from each and every finger, sucking them into his mouth. And I should have been grossed out, because really…ewww. But I wasn’t. My heart rate increased, and I could practically feel it beating out of my chest, and I knew he would too if he moved any closer.

  It was hot.

  Was it hot?

  I was hot.

  Brody’s tongue swirled around my fingers, licking every last drop of chocolate and marshmallow until there was none left.

  “Brody?” My voice was rough, thicker than usual. What was with that? I sounded like I was getting sick, but I wasn’t. I felt fine. If fine meant I really wanted to rip Brody’s shirt off and lick melted chocolate off his chest.

  “Cupcake.” He pressed his lips to the inside of my wrist and pulled me into his lap.

  My legs hung on either side of him as I draped an arm over his shoulder. His mouth trailed wet, hot kisses up the other.

  “Kiss me.” We hadn’t kissed since my birthday, but things were different now. Feelings were intensifying. There were lingering gazes and frequent touches. A brush of the shoulder, holding hands, kisses on the cheek. And we were alone on a beach by the light of the fire, and everything felt so right.

  Brody’s mouth descended on mine. Hot, demanding, and urgent. His fingers flirted with the hem of my shirt as though unsure what to do. I leaned into him, threading my fingers in his hair, not getting close enough.

  Our tongues danced together to a rhythm set by the waves crashing against the shore. He was gentle and unhurried as he explored my mouth and his hands skimmed along my skin. Breaking the kiss, he pressed his mouth to the top of my shoulder and lifted my shirt over my head. Wrapping his arms around my back and pulling me against his chest, he continued kissing my shoulder while his fingers caressed my spine, causing shivers to roll through my body.

  I reached for his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against mine more than anything else. I pulled it over his head and dropped it into the sand with mine. Leaning back in, I pressed my lips to his collarbone, dragging my teeth across the ridge, tasting his skin. It was better than any s’more.

  Brody threaded his fingers into my hair and pulled back just enough for me to see his swollen lips and dark eyes. His breaths were heavy, laboured, and his mouth brushed mine as he spoke. “We need to stop.”

  “Please, don’t.” I kissed him again, and that was all it took.

  He gripped my hips and lifted me. Stepping around the log we had been sitting on, he carried me across the sand, over the deck, and back into the tent where he laid me gently on the bed.

  Standing at the edge of the bed, shirtless, hair a mess from my fingers, he was incredible. He stood back and admired me. In nothing but a bra and pair of shorts, my scars on full display, Brody looked at me as though I was the most beautiful person on the planet. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. My heart swelled in my chest as I watched him watch me.

  Again, not for the first time, he seemed to be warring with himself. The conflict flashed in his eyes, only to be replaced with desire, time and time again. Knowing he’d want to do the noble thing and never make up his mind, I sat up and reached for the button on the top of his shorts.

  “You sure?” he asked.

  I opened my mouth to speak but couldn’t find my voice all of a sudden, so I nodded. Brody gently pushed me back on the bed and leaned over me. “You’re beautiful. You need to know that.”

  I nodded again, my throat thick with the emotion I saw swimming in his eyes. Brody’s fingers reached for the waistband of my shorts and slowly pulled them down my legs, before he straddled my waist and smiled at me. “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.” My voice was husky and didn’t sound anything like me at all. Brody looked at me as though I was the most precious person in the world.

  “Good, because I’ve been dying to do this,” he said and flipped me onto my stomach. I gasped and flinched, but he placed a reassuring hand over mine on the mattress and dipped his head to my shoulder blade, pressing a kiss to the scarred skin before dragging his lips in a torturously slow movement down my back, his fingers expertly unclasping my bra. I tried not to think too much about how he learned that skill and instead focused on the sensations his lips and tongue were bringing to my almost numb skin.

  “I want to kiss every scar, every blemish on your body,” he whispered as he pulled his lips further down toward my hips. His fingers hooked into the elastic of my underwear and pulled them down over my hips. Teeth grazing my hip, he spoke again. “I wish I could take away all your pain and hurt. I wish I could have stopped the suffering. But I’m going to make it better, one kiss at a time.”

  In that moment, I knew I had fallen irrevocably in love with Brody Kellerman, my hero upstairs. The man who saved my life and held my heart in his hands.

  His lips and tongue continued their delicious assault on my body right to the tips of my toes before Brody flipped me back over and traced the same path on the front of my body. Hands smoothed over my skin, teeth nipped at my hip bone, his tongue swirled around my nipple, and I almost passed out from that alone. He stayed true to his word and kissed every single scar on my body until he captured my mouth with his. I reached for him, pulled him closer, wanting more, and not getting enough. I tried unsuccessfully to find the wais
tband of his shorts, causing him to chuckle and roll away.

  He removed his shorts and dug a condom from his wallet. At least one of us was prepared for this moment. I tried not to analyse the seemingly innocent and responsible action, but…

  Was that condom new? Did he pack in the hopes of this very moment? Or was he a good Boy Scout and always prepared for sex? Did he have sex with women a lot?

  Crap. My mind was running away from me. I should be enjoying the moment and not worrying over every little detail. Brody climbed back on the bed and kissed me softly, tenderly, slowly.

  “I’ve wanted this a long time, cupcake, but now is your chance to back out.”

  Back out. Was he crazy?

  “Shut up and come here.” I pulled him to me.

  Brody kissed me again, the heat from his kiss searing and urging me on. He settled between my legs, and I brushed a lock of hair out of his face. The look in his eyes said more than words ever could.

  Wrapping my arms around his waist, I kissed him with everything I had, hoping to convey the depth of my feelings for him.

  “Brody,” I whispered and shifted my hips, letting him know I was ready. He pushed forward gently and peppered my neck with kisses. His fingers twisted through mine, holding my hand to his chest, right above his heart, as he inched in further, taking his time because…ow!

  But I knew it would be worth it in the end.

  Chapter

  Eighteen

  Brody

  She was perfect.

  The way she fit beneath me like she was made just for me.

  Her soft breaths tickling my skin.

  Her fingers digging into my back as I pushed my hips into hers.

  Over and over.

  The way her back arched, her eyes fluttered closed.

  The way she moaned my name.

  How she looked at me as if I was everything.

  Perfect.

  “You’re crying,” I whispered, my eyebrows pulled together as I brushed a strand of hair out of her face, kissing away the tears, hesitating, not wanting to move, in case. “Did I hurt you?”

  The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt her. Had we rushed things? If she wanted more time, I’d give it to her. I’d give her whatever she wanted.

  She shook her head and sniffed, threading her fingers through my hair in the way I’d come to love, and pulled my mouth down to meet hers in a searing kiss.

  I dropped my forehead to hers. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No,” she breathed, biting my lip. “It’s good.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Really good.” She moved her hips, and I dove in for another kiss.

  “I take it back,” Audrey said breathlessly, after we’d finished.

  “What?” I rolled onto my side and traced a finger along her hip bone, smiling as she shivered from my touch.

  “S’mores are not better than sex.” She grinned at me.

  I collapsed onto the pillow beside her and laughed. “That good, huh?”

  “Better.” Her mouth twisted into a wry smile.

  “I don’t like that look.”

  “You will,” she said and rolled on top of me.

  I groaned and tilted my head back. Having her naked body pressed against mine did all sorts of things to my imagination.

  “Audrey,” I warned, wrapping my arms around her waist.

  “I want to do it again.” She pushed herself up and looked down at me, her lower lip pulled between her teeth as her fingers trailed across my chest and her hips rocked gently against me.

  I was powerless. Held captive by the look in her eyes, the feel of her hands on my skin. And by the confidence she suddenly exuded. I pulled her back down to me and kissed her before rolling her under me again.

  ***

  I woke in the morning to Audrey’s head on my chest and her legs twisted through mine. I couldn’t help but smile. But lying there in the silence, the doubt crept in. Not about my feelings for her, because there was no doubt about them, but what our family and friends would say. I didn’t want to disappoint Leanne and Steve, and I suddenly felt like I was betraying them, which was the last thing I wanted to do.

  They were openminded and pretty laid-back. They didn’t bat an eye when Linc and Indie got together. In fact, Leanne had been waiting for it forever, apparently. It seemed everybody, including Blind Freddy, knew that Linc and Indie were in love with each other except those two. They let their fear of disappointing Nate and his parents get in their way. And it was all for nothing. Leanne and Steve were totally okay with Linc and Indie. They adored him like a son.

  I knew they’d be happy for Audrey if she told them she was seeing someone, just like I knew they’d be happy for me. I just wasn’t sure how they’d react if they knew we were seeing each other. The age difference, while not huge, was still substantial, given Audrey’s age. But she didn’t act, talk, think, or behave like a teenager. With everything she’d been through, she had to grow up fast, and that was one of the things that attracted me to her in the first place. Her determination. Her strength. Her willpower.

  She stirred in my arms, lifting her head to look at me. “Hi,” she said softly.

  “Morning.” My voice was thick with sleep. “How are you?”

  “Great.” She smiled shyly.

  “Me too.”

  Audrey stretched, lifting her arms above her head as she yawned, her still very naked body pressing into mine. I groaned and gently rolled her off me so I could get out of the bed.

  “What?” She sat up and frowned, the covers slipping to her waist.

  “You need to…” I waved my arms at her, “put a shirt on.”

  She frowned and pulled the covers up over her chest, her eyes clouded over, and she nodded once. “Okay.”

  Crap. I knew what she was thinking.

  “No.” I leaned down and pinched her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “Not because of that, okay?”

  “Sure, whatever.” Her voice was sad, and I hated hearing the defeat in it. She had nothing to be self-conscious about. I loved every single fucking scar on her body, and I’d make it my mission to remind her of that. Every. Single. Day.

  “Because now I need to go and have a really cold shower, otherwise we’re not leaving this tent all day.” I pressed my lips to hers, smiling as she melted under my touch before I left her to go and cool down.

  After my shower, I dressed and came back out to find Audrey gone. I called for her but didn’t get a response. My skin prickled in fear, but I tried not to overreact. She could have been anywhere.

  I walked outside and spotted her down on the sand by the water. I stood back and watched her for a while. Standing there in her shorts and swimsuit, she was almost a different person than the girl she had been two months ago. I was so proud of her, and completely in awe of the way she had handled these last few months. They couldn’t have been easy, but she pulled through because she was a fighter, and I’d never met anyone stronger.

  I walked across the sand and stopped behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. I placed a kiss to the top of her shoulder. “You okay?”

  “Is it wrong if I admit I don’t want to go back?”

  “Not at all. I don’t want to either.”

  “Promise me something.” She turned in my arms and wrapped her arms around my neck.

  “Anything.”

  “We’ll come back here again.”

  “Every birthday, if you want.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Can we sit for a while?”

  “Of course.” I sat in the sand and pulled Audrey down to sit between my legs, and we watched the waves crash against the shore in silence, until the sound of kids laughing broke it.

  “Guess that’s our cue to leave.” She sighed.

  “Yeah, we should be heading back.”

  I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to stay right there on the beach, wrapped in our own bubble, where we were untouchable, unbreakable, and completely free to be ourse
lves and do whatever we wanted. But life didn’t work that way.

  Audrey had school the next day. I had work, and Leanne and Steve were expecting us back in a couple of hours.

  Audrey stood and dusted off her shorts, then put her hand in mine and didn’t let it go until we pulled up to the house a few hours later.

  With one last, lingering kiss—because who knew how long it would be before I got the chance to kiss her or hold her again—we unpacked the car and walked inside.

  Leanne jumped on us the moment we closed the front door, wanting all the details about the weekend. Did we have fun? Did we go exploring the caves? Hiking? What was the tent like? We answered as many questions as we could without flat-out lying to her until Steve dragged her away, telling her we were probably exhausted and needed to get some rest. He wasn’t wrong. We were exhausted, but it wasn’t really from any of the reasons he was probably thinking.

  I carried Audrey’s bags to her room and set them down on the floor.

  She turned and gave me a half smile, the one she gave when she was unsure or nervous, and I knew exactly what was worrying her.

  Looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was hanging around, I shut the door behind me and crossed the room to Audrey. Grasping her shoulders lightly, I bent my knees to look her in the eyes. “Don’t think like that.”

  She wrinkled her nose and looked away. “Like what?”

  “Like you’re overthinking things. I can see the cogs in your brain turning.”

  “But—?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “You don’t even know—”

  “I do. You’re worried about this.” I gestured between us before pulling her to me and wrapping my arms around her back. Her body fit perfectly against mine, soft and warm in all the right places. “And what it all means and what happens now.”