The Rules Series

by LaShawn Vasser

  I needed to add just a bit more space between us before I took him up on his offer. We definitely had explosive. “Look, if we have sex, and you die on top of me, I’m not sure I’d know how to deal with that. Explaining it would be near impossible. I can be hardcore, but I can honestly say I’ve never killed anyone with my vagina. So, no sex—for now.”

  He smirked. “I could die with you on top of me. I know how I’d feel about it—fantastic. I’d probably have a huge smile on my face. I’d love to see how you’d explain that to my family when they said something like it looks like he’s beaming.”

  I couldn’t resist, the corners of my lips edged up just a bit. Then, Brody flashed that panty-melting smile and had me grinning like a fool. Just his kiss had me swollen and wet. “I’m getting away from you. I won’t be responsible for that! When Dr. Weller releases you for all activities, maybe we can talk about being intimate. In the meantime, are you hungry—for food?” I made sure I was out of arm’s reach because, if I were honest, if Brody touched me again, there was no way I could resist.

  He folded his arms across that broad chest. “Funny you should mention it. I called him. He’s coming over today to do just that.” Wiggling his eyebrows up and down, it was apparent, Brody thought he had me all figured out.

  “You know this is uncomfortable right?” Unashamed and with a full hard-on, he walked over to pick up a piece of toast then took a bite. He spoke through chews. “Make sure you have a couple of energy drinks in the next few hours. You’ll need them.”

  He looked so smug and sure of himself. He had every reason to be. Wistfully, I spoke my inner thoughts out loud. “You make me think so much is possible.”

  Those blue eyes turned serious. They pierced my soul. “Everything is possible.”

  I broke eye contact. “That hasn’t been my experience.”

  Brody managed to erase the space between us and lifted my hand to his lips. “You trust me in the bedroom. Why won’t you trust me out of it?”

  Why did he always do this? I wasn’t built for what his eyes told me even if he never said it out loud. “I want to. It’s not that easy. I’m not even sure if I can.”

  “You keep reminding me; you’re Gina Lee-Xiou. You can do anything. Why not this?”

  He didn’t get it. I needed to make him understand before he destroyed me. “I am who I am, Brody.”

  The second the back of his hand made feather-light contact with my cheek, my eyes closed and I turned into him. This man made me want to levitate. No. I couldn’t fall under his spell. I was the reason he’d been hurt. I’d nursed him back to health. That was the closest I’d ever come to atoning for something I caused, and at some point very soon, I would need to let him go.

  My eyes flew open before I fell completely into the abyss. “Brody. I . . . I need to come clean about something.”

  “Come clean? I don’t like the sound of that.”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  He dropped his arms to his sides, and I immediately missed the contact. “Okay, spit it out.”

  What did it matter? This thing we had was only good for now. It wouldn’t last, it never does. I might as well put all of my cards on the table. “Nina did this to you. My sister, she was responsible for you being shot.”

  Brody was quiet. He didn’t say a word. I couldn’t tell if he were angry, shocked, pissed, or anything. He had an excellent poker face. The moments that ticked by seemed endless. He just watched me, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like being scrutinized. Still, I held his gaze.

  Finally, he responded in a measured tone. “I know. Jamal filled me in on a lot of the goings-on while I was out.”

  “What? You knew but didn’t say anything?” I wasn’t shocked by much, but he’d surprised me.

  “I figured when the time was right we’d discuss it.”

  Wasn't he angry with me? He didn’t seem to want to punish me for Nina’s actions unless all of his affection towards me was an act. I looked to the heavens, the light finally dawning on me. “I get it. You want revenge. You want to punish me.”

  “Revenge? Punish you? Are you serious? Why? You’re not making any sense.”

  “Because it was my sister who did this to you. That’s how it is in this world. Someone does something to you, and you hit them back so hard that they’ll never think of making the same mistake twice.”

  Brody cupped my face in his hands. “Not everyone in this world wants to hurt you, Gina.”

  “Everyone has.” My hurt ran deep, and I wasn’t sure if he could help heal me.

  “I haven’t and I won’t. You just have to be open to the possibility. You do realize, it’s possible to walk away from all of the hate and vengeance. Just walk away.”

  I raised my chin and stared determined eyes into his. “You need to understand this. I will NEVER walk away if someone does something wrong to me. I promise you, I’m going to kill Nina, and it’ll be a slow and painful death. She probably won’t be the only one either, just the first. Then, I’m going to take my rightful place as the head of the Family Council. That is who I am. That is the real Gina Lee-Xiou.”

  I must have left him speechless because he didn’t say anything as I pulled out of his grasp. He just watched as I turned around and walked out of the room.

  Chapter 15

  A couple of hours had passed since Dr. Weller paid Brody a visit. I hadn’t seen him at all during that time. Maybe he’d come to his senses.

  I sat curled up on the couch reading through the information that Hahn sent over. They were newspaper clippings. Eli Nakamura, a member of the Family Council who’d voted for me to lead it, had drowned in a mysterious boating accident.

  Wei Chan, another Council member who’d also voted in my favor, had a stroke and was now in a vegetative state. Smart. Nina was cleaning up loose ends.

  Ang Woo had to be careful. He was probably next on that list or maybe me. I was not sure which order she was going to try to make her move. I rolled my head around on my shoulders.

  I had to get Brody out of here and back to the United States. He didn’t understand how things were done. Walking away was not an option even if I wanted to, which I didn’t. Nina was going to pay for all that she’d done. I promised myself just as sure as my name was Gina Lee-Xiou.

  She’d covered her tracks well while she was gone those fifteen years but not good enough. I had one more piece that needed to fall into place before I handled her.

  “You have those energy drinks?”

  His voice caught me off guard. I’d been so engrossed in the file that I didn’t hear him walk into the room.

  I shrugged, and quickly closed the folder before he saw what was in it. “Didn’t think I would need them.”

  “Why because you figured you scared me away? I don’t run.”

  “I just felt you needed to hear the truth and not have your head all in the clouds like we might have something more than a fling.” When he sat down next to me, just the husky smell that was uniquely Brody’s was intoxicating; I wasn’t sure I could exercise any control. How was I expected to when he walked in the room shirtless and fresh from the shower? His hair was still wet. I wanted this man and not just physically. I scooted as far away from him as I could, given the size of the sofa.

  “Think you’ll ever stop?”

  “Stop what?”

  “Running. Not only are you sprinting, but you're doing a fifty-yard dash from the only thing that matters. I’m guessing that you figure if you show me the ugliest side of yourself that I won’t want you. That if you reject me first, it won’t hurt as much when I reject you. Have you ever considered that I won’t reject you? That you might be wrong?”

  I looked away. I wasn’t trying to hear what he had to say. There was too much truth to it.

  “Jamal told me how you made sure everything was handled while I was in the hospital. How you never really left my side even though you were dealing with the Council.”

  “Jamal talks too much. Anyway, it was my f
ault you got hurt. It was only right that I made sure you had the best care.”

  Brody placed his fingertip underneath my chin and turned my face toward his. “I get it. You’ve done some heinous shit. I knew that when I hopped on that plane and flew out here. But, what I also know is you have a fierce soft spot for the people you care about. The list might be short, but I’ve seen it even though you’ve done your damnedest to hide it.

  “You’re blind.”

  “Maybe when it comes to you. But, what about my father and mother? What about my sisters and Michael? They were here with us for about a week. Are they blind? Because you made them fall in love with you too.”

  “I don’t believe that not even a little. No one falls in love with someone after a week or even two months.”

  “Tell that to my mother. She said not to mess this up.”

  Hearing him say that made my heart physically ache, and it was hard to talk. “You have an amazing family. They treated me like . . .” I wanted to say like part of the family but couldn’t form the words. “I enjoyed having them here. I didn’t know it could be like that.”

  “I fell in love with you in an instant. It’s possible and so much more. I know it’s going to take you a little longer to figure that out.”

  I searched his eyes for the truth in his words. “You can’t mean that.”

  “Every word. Chang was a bastard and used you and your sister as leverage to hurt your mother, and each other. What he took from all of you is unforgivable, and I hope he’s burning in hell for it. But, Gina, you deserve love. You deserve to give us a chance.”

  I wanted so badly to believe him. I couldn’t hold his gaze. It was so intense, so pure; I was falling, and I couldn’t let that happen. As I glanced away, my eyes landed on the file I’d placed on the table. It was a stark reminder of my truth.

  Still, I didn’t pull away when his lips touched mine.

  Emotions long buried inside made their way to the surface. No matter what I felt, I would have to let Brody go. It was the only way to keep him safe. But, for now, at this moment, I would take everything he had to give.

  “Show me what love feels like.”

  “You better believe I can show you better than I can tell you.” In one fluid motion, Brody lifted me up as if I weighed nothing. We held each other’s gazes as I opened wide and he sat me down directly on top of the massive bulge in his sweat pants. Our bodies lined up perfectly. It didn’t take much to fan the flames that simmered between us. This position automatically sent us into a full on blaze.

  Brody gripped my ass as he lifted me in an upright sitting position and thrust powerfully into me. My eyes never left his as I squeezed my knees tightly against the sides of his hips and rolled my sex against him. It was as if we both needed to see into the depths of the other’s soul. There was nothing gentle about our bodies’ demands. All I could do was hold on to his broad shoulders as we rocked in perfect rhythm.

  He felt so good and hadn’t even penetrated me. When my eyes fluttered closed, Brody pulled me so that his lips lingered next to my ear. “That’s right. Hold on tight. We’re gonna make the earth move.” He continued to stroke into me as I rode him.

  “Mmm . . . oh god.” I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth and bit it.

  “He’s not about to spread you wide and stroke you deep, but I am.” The next thing I knew, my t-shirt had been pulled over my head and was flying across the room. Now, we were both naked from the waist up.

  His voice was husky. “Look at me.”

  I opened my eyes and shivered as he ate me up with his heated gaze. “Perfect.”

  It was as if he was mesmerized by the sight of me. I was already soaking wet, but his intense stare caused a torrential storm throughout my entire body. My swollen breasts ached for his touch. As if he read my mind, Brody’s hands traveled up to my tender flesh. The moment his fingers captured and roughly kneaded them, I threw my head back in pure ecstasy.

  Could someone die from a pleasure overdose? I thought I just might. I was already breathless, throbbing with need, and we were just getting started.

  His face was already level to my chest, and he took full advantage of it. Brody teased the tips of my nipples with his tongue mercilessly. He licked and laved, taunting me until I was out of my mind. Just when I thought I couldn’t take another second, he pulled me into the sweet heat and wetness of his mouth. I held him to me while running my fingers through his hair, digging my nails into his scalp.

  Brody feasted upon me as if I were a last supper. I saw stars when he grazed upon my swollen flesh, and his teeth bit down just enough for it hurt so good.

  I hissed. “I need you so much.”

  “Not as much as I need you.”

  Suddenly, I was flat on my back. He started to kiss a trail down my body. My skin was more than just feverish. It was now a burning inferno.

  Brody descended lower and lower taking my yoga pants with him until they’d been removed from my body. I was naked, but I needed him to be too so that I could feel him skin to skin, flesh to flesh.

  My body hummed and so did my blood as it made its way through my veins. I clenched the soft cushions of the sofa as Brody kissed my hipbone, but when he kissed the delicate inner space of my thigh, and then the softness behind my knee, I almost came off of the couch.

  The sofa was small so Brody kneeled on the floor as he continued to torture me with his lips and tongue. I lost myself in the feel of him. Already sexually on the edge, my inner muscles pulsed and clenched to the point of being more than uncomfortable.

  I whispered. “I’m not sure how much longer I can take this.”

  He growled, and I felt the vibration against my skin. “Now you know how I’ve felt these last two months.” God . . . he was taking great pleasure in torturing me.

  I was squirming so much that he slid his hands underneath me to hold me in place. Brody closed his eyes, it looked as if he was basking in the scent of me. “Mmm . . . you smell so good. I’m sure you taste even better. My mouth is watering.”

  Finally, he kissed me at the apex of my thighs. But it was the long, slow lick down the center of my core that had me about to explode. As a matter of fact, the second stroke of his tongue sent me over the edge.

  I squeezed my eyes shut as I saw stars behind them and screamed his name. “Brodyyyyyyy . . .”

  He didn’t stop just picked up the pace as I detonated. He thrust his tongue in and out of my body while I clenched tightly around him. Brody devoured every bit of me until he’d licked every last drop of my release.

  Panting hard from one of the best orgasms of my life, I took deep breaths to calm myself, while he climbed up my body and kissed me. I could taste myself on his lips, and it made me crazy. The frenzied pace at which we kissed increased, our tongues challenged each other and was still filled was raw emotion and pure need.

  As we continued to kiss, Brody placed one leg over his shoulder and then the other. He lined his dick up to my opening and thrust hard and deep.

  I broke the kiss and screamed. “Yes!”

  There was no gentle build up to feed our desires. Brody pulled almost all of the way out then, plunged into me again. Then, again and again at a maddening pace over and over. The incredible pleasure and sound of the back of my thighs slapping the front of his was bringing on another more powerful orgasm.

  He watched as our bodies connected. It seemed to spur him on even more. His grunts were getting louder and so were my moans. It got to the point where I couldn’t tell which ones were mine and which were his.

  “Come with me baby.” Brody closed his eyes, and I could see it all over his face that he was close to a release.

  I felt my own as I started to convulse around him. One stroke . . . two . . . and then, there it was. “I . . . I’m . . . I’m coming!”

  I dug my nails into his arms as he continued to pound me. I didn’t think it was possible for him to move any faster or harder but apparently, I was wrong. His thrusts were so powerful
they moved the sofa from its original location.

  And, then it happened. He felt it and so did I. The explosion.

  *****

  I woke up the next morning cocooned within the crook of Brody’s arm, my back to his front—completely naked, and feeling sore in all the right places. He made love to me so good I felt like singing. I couldn’t carry a tune, but that still didn’t keep me from wanting to try.

  He was sleeping soundly. We’d slept next to each other for the past couple of months, but last night, or who knows maybe it was early this morning, he’d finally gotten a restful sleep. Great sex will knock you out every time. Wait, we didn’t have sex; we made love.

  I couldn’t wipe the goofy smile off of my face. Brody showed me a million different ways how to love, and it still wasn’t enough. I turned around in his arms and studied his face. He truly was scrumptious. I would never have expected to be with a blonde hair, blue-eyed man. Talk about differences. But, he was my equal in every way—mentally, physically, and emotionally.