by Linde, K. A.
Fifteen minutes later a fire was roaring in the fireplace, and Brady dropped down into the seat next to her. Her eyes opened wide. She hadn’t even realized that they had been closed.
“You’re sleeping again on me, baby,” he said softly, brushing her hair out of her face.
Baby. He had called her baby. It was such a small gesture, and yet it meant so much. His touch sent butterflies through her stomach. She had craved it for so long. And it happened so unexpectedly. She had expected him to be angry, to yell at her. Yet here he was being gentle and caring and open. She wished that she knew what it all meant.
“Sorry. I’m so tired, but we need to have this conversation.”
“You know,” he said, taking her face in his hands and staring down at her deeply, “I’m not normally a talk-first-and-act-later kind of guy.”
Liz’s heart skipped a beat. Was he . . . ? No. He wasn’t suggesting . . . She opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to come up with a response to that.
“I’m going to be really frank with you right now.” Liz licked her lips at Brady’s words, preparing for the worst. “I’m pissed at you. I’m so angry that it hurts me to look at you. Thinking about you is more painful than a sucker punch. You fucking train-wrecked through my life, and I can’t get rid of you. But at the same time, Liz, my entire body is aching to touch you. I just want to taste your lips and breathe you in, and bury myself inside of you. I feel like I’m going insane, that I’m splitting in two. Because everything tells me I should run headfirst in the opposite direction, but then I look at you, I hear your voice, I see those pleading blue eyes and I’m lost. I forget everything I should do, and I just know what I want to do.”
He pulled her forward until their lips were merely an inch apart. Her breathing was ragged. Her heart beating out of her chest at his declaration.
“And this is all I want,” he whispered before claiming her lips for his own.
Chapter 26
ACT LATER
Liz couldn’t have imagined a more perfect kiss. Brady’s lips, which were normally so demanding, moved with hers sensually, evocatively, captivatingly. They were joined as one, lost in each other’s tender embrace. It was just a kiss, and yet it was so much more than that. It held the promises that Brady didn’t speak.
Her arms wrapped around Brady’s neck as he pushed her gently back into the sofa. She knew that they needed to talk. There was so much left unsaid. But for now she let their bodies do the talking and knew the words would come when they were needed.
Brady’s hands slid under her sweater and ran along her firm stomach. She groaned at the feel of him. His touch sent shocks throughout her body. Her mind was lost to this man and this feeling, which she had never really been able to give up.
Heat radiated from their bodies as they moved against each other. More than a year’s worth of pent-up sexual frustration coaxing the fire between them. Liz’s fingers tangled in his dark hair as his tongue met hers and they massaged each other. Her legs bent almost subconsciously and pushed her pelvis up against him. Brady moaned into her mouth and she felt his weight shift until she could feel the hardness through his jeans.
He broke their kiss to pull her sweater over her head and then took a moment just to stare down at her torso with her breasts spilling out of the skimpy black balconet bra she had chosen. She hadn’t known what was going to happen with Brady, but she sure as hell had decided to come prepared. He playfully snapped the strap of her bra with a dirty smirk on his face.
“Black lingerie?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.
“It’s what you wear when you want someone to see it.” She ran her knuckles down his jawline. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to, but just when I think that I have you all figured out, you surprise me.”
He grabbed her hand in his and kissed each knuckle softly. “Funny. I find that you surprise me constantly.”
Brady placed her hand on his shoulder and then dropped his hands to the waistline of her jeans.
“Sexy.”
He popped the button.
“Smart.”
The zipper dropped to the bottom.
“Funny.”
His hand slid under the material and dragged them down her legs.
“Kind.”
He placed light kisses up her calf, over her knee, and across her inner thigh.
“Delectable,” he murmured, nipping lightly at her black lace thong.
Liz groaned and pressed her hips up invitingly. He was going to drive her mad. “You sound like you’re going to eat me up.”
He moved the lace aside and swept his tongue gently against her folds. “I am.”
“Oh fuck,” she moaned.
Her whole body pulsed at his words. She just wanted him. All of him. As she had never wanted anyone or anything else in her entire life. Walking away had been the hardest thing she had ever done, but being with Brady was the easiest. It was just right. Like all the pieces fell into place and the world was singing to their tune and the entire universe was in alignment.
Her thong met the same fate as her jeans. His tongue swirled around her clit and she bucked against him. Brady forced her hips down roughly as he continued his work, sucking her clit into his mouth and nibbling lightly on the small bead. Her moans increased in volume and he took the opportunity to trail his index finger down her wetness.
He kissed her once more before pulling back and glancing at her panting on the couch. “Someone wants me,” he said, twirling his fingers in a circle over her opening.
“You think?” she groaned, throwing her hands up and gripping the armrest.
“I wasn’t sure. I think you’ll have to beg me for it, baby.” He planted another teasing kiss on her.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” she murmured. “Just please, please . . .”
“Please what? Do you want to come?”
“Yes,” she whimpered. His fingers stilled and she nearly cried out in frustration.
“I think you’re going to have to do better than that. Your body is throbbing underneath me and I haven’t even fucked you. I’m not sure you really want me,” he said, enjoying holding all the power.
“Brady, just fuck me. I want you to make me come. I want to surrender to you. I want you to make me see stars,” she pleaded with him. “Please take me. I’m yours.”
He smirked at her with that gorgeous fucking smile and then answered her pleas. Brady’s fingers delved into her wet pussy as his tongue licked and sucked at her clit. Her back arched off the couch as she felt the first wave of orgasm hit her full-on. She had been anticipating him touching her so long that her body couldn’t even hold out for him. She felt his fingers work a come-hither motion against her G-spot and she lost it. Her walls closed around him as pleasure rolled through her body.
Brady left her legs trembling and hastily stripped out of his shirt and jeans. He sat down next to her, grabbed a fistful of her hair in his hands, and brought her face up to his. Liz stopped breathing as she stared into those commanding eyes, that commanding presence. She knew then that she would never be able to resist this man again. And she never wanted to.
“Do you want to see how good you taste?” he whispered, brushing his nose against her.
“Please,” she murmured.
Their lips met softly even as he held her in place. It was a beautiful contrast, just like their relationship. Hot, fiery, and demanding. Soft, intense, and emotional. When they collided, neither could escape the gravitational pull.
She could taste herself on his lips, and she felt her body reacting all over again. There was absolutely nothing Brady could do that would make her uncomfortable. She just wanted this man so badly that all else was lost to her. And he was lost to everything but her.
Brady’s hand trailed down her back and snapped her bra off. He eased her back down on the couch and co
vered her body with his own. One of his hands kneaded her soft breasts while the other remained tangled in her hair. She wiggled her hips temptingly, trying to get to his cock. But he wasn’t going to give her an inch until he was ready.
“Demanding little pussy,” he said as he shoved her hips back into the couch again.
Liz just whimpered in defeat. She was demanding, and she wanted him so badly. The buildup was torture, pure, beautiful, blissful torture, but torture nonetheless. Her body was all built-up tension again already, and she just wanted him to drive his dick deep within her and never look back.
“I haven’t explored enough of your body yet,” he murmured against her neck. “I think I should kiss every inch first. What do you think?”
“Brady,” she groaned.
He chuckled as he trailed kisses down her neck and across her collarbone. “This is mine,” he told her. “And this.”
He left kisses down her chest and then latched on to her breast.
“Both of these.”
His hands sent butterflies through her stomach as he gripped her hips and settled his cock against her opening. She wanted to move and try to ease him into her, but just the feel of him against her was sending her into a frenzy. She didn’t want him to pull back.
“I’m going to erase every memory you ever had tonight, baby.”
“Not the ones of you,” she managed to get out. “I always keep those safe.”
He smiled brilliantly at her. That was the right thing to say.
Brady plunged down into her roughly in one swift motion without any warning. Liz cried out as he stretched and filled her gloriously. As promised, Liz saw stars. She was sure nothing else had ever felt this incredible before.
He started a slow rhythm that she was already anxious to increase as he thrust deeper and deeper into her. Liz arched her back again, trying to give him as much room as she could, but she had forgotten how big he was. She was going to be wonderfully sore in the morning, and still she wanted more.
“Harder,” Liz gasped out. “Fuck. Brady, fuck me harder.”
Brady grabbed her leg and placed it on his shoulder before driving into her harder and faster. She whimpered as he stretched her walls to capacity. He took her so roughly that it was borderline painful, and she was clawing the couch to try to get more leverage.
“Baby, your whimpering is going to make me come,” he growled.
“Oh God,” she moaned.
He smirked and leaned forward to fuck her even harder. She was almost there. She felt a layer of sweat coat her body and her walls tightening unrelentingly around him.
“Open those legs for me,” he said, pushing her leg off of his shoulder and onto the couch. She obliged him by unbending her other leg and spread-eagling before him.
With just that added bit of room, Brady drove down into her and she felt her walls shake. “Right there, yes, oh God,” she yelled, and then she shattered.
Her legs trembled mercilessly as he plunged into her one more time before crying out and filling her. Brady collapsed forward on top of her and she wrapped her arms and legs around him. They were both breathless and shaking from the exertion, but unbelievably, unequivocally sated.
As their breathing evened out, Brady propped himself up on his elbows and brushed her matted hair out of her face. He kissed her lips once and when he pulled back, she couldn’t keep the megawatt smile off of her face.
“You know, baby,” he whispered, “I’ve been angry at you for so long that I just don’t think I have it in me anymore. It takes too much effort. Loving you takes so much less effort, and it means I get to see that smile.”
Liz’s mouth dropped open in shock. Had he . . . had he just told her that he loved her?
He laughed softly and then kissed her button nose. “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”
Chapter 27
OATMEAL
Liz woke up the next morning to feel Brady’s strong arms wrapped around her waist and her face buried in his shoulder. The soft comforter covered their still-naked bodies as light streamed into the bedroom from the upstairs window. In that moment, Liz just let herself feel all the joy and happiness that came with where she was and what she was doing.
Brady Maxwell. She was in bed with Brady Maxwell.
And in the early-morning sunshine, half-delirious from lack of sleep, aching in all the right places from last night, she felt as if she was exactly where she needed to be. She knew that they’d had a rough time getting there, and she was sure that the road ahead wasn’t going to be easy. But at least right here and right now, she could let the rest of the world fall away, pretend that they didn’t have Hayden’s article to face or a public ravenous for a scandal, and just be here with Brady.
She nuzzled into him and left a soft kiss on his neck. “Mmm,” Brady murmured as he came to.
“Morning,” she whispered.
He tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer to him. “I had the most amazing dream last night.”
“Oh yeah? Was I in it?” Liz asked, tangling their legs together under the covers.
“You were. I dreamed I brought you to my lake house and had sex with you all morning,” he whispered into her ear.
“Hate to break it to you, but that wasn’t a dream.”
“I know,” he said, nipping at her ear. “I think I have another dream coming on.”
“Am I in that one?”
“It’s me fucking you all afternoon too.”
“Oh,” she whispered. “I feel like I’m having that same dream.”
He chuckled softly and then rolled her on top of him. Liz leaned her breasts against his chest and braced her hands on his shoulders. His hand slid between them, parting her lips and touching her teasingly.
“No begging this time,” she groaned, evading his playful fingers and pressing herself against his erection.
“The begging is my favorite part.” He found her lips and kissed them softly.
Liz smiled and broke their kiss before slowly lowering herself onto him. “The begging or the whimpering? Or was it when you came?”
Brady grabbed her hips and forced her all the way down onto him. Liz gasped at the unexpected movement. “It’s when you come.”
Liz couldn’t argue with that assessment. Every time he made her come, he quickly followed, until both were spent and unable to move. Their bodies were perfectly in tune as if there had never been a pause in their sex life.
Even though she was on top, she let Brady set the pace. His hands guided her body up and down on top of him. Their hips met at a perfect angle. Her breasts bounced with the movement, and all they did was stare back at each other. She had missed this. Missed him. The emotions trapped between her and Brady intensified every touch, taste, feel as they reexperienced everything they had missed in the past year and a half.
Climax crashed over her in waves almost without warning, and Liz dropped over onto his chest again. Brady kept thrusting into her as she rode out her orgasm. She felt him grasp her hips forcefully at the last thrust and his eyes closed as he came.
“This is the best way to wake up,” she murmured softly.
“With you.”
“Mmm, with you.”
Brady kissed her temple and ran his hands up and down her back. “How about you hop in the shower?”
“Join me?” she asked, already almost falling back asleep from his hands on her.
He laughed lightly. “We both know how that will end.”
“So, yes?”
“You shower. I’m going to see if we have anything to eat. Didn’t think that one through.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Brady Maxwell?” she muttered.
“Cut a guy some slack. I wasn’t expecting to spend the weekend at the lake,” he said with a kiss on her cheek as he rolled to the other side of t
he bed.
“I’m glad you did.”
Brady kicked his feet over the bed and stood in the buff. “Me too.”
Good Lord! The man was the definition of sexy. Muscular arms, broad shoulders, washboard abs. It really wasn’t fair to the rest of the world, but she didn’t mind the view one bit.
He found a pair of black boxer briefs, basketball shorts, and a long-sleeve T-shirt from the closet and reappeared covering everything she had been assessing.
“I’m turning the water on,” Brady said, walking into the bathroom.
“Okay. Okay.” Liz hopped out of bed and followed him.
Brady placed a towel on the counter for her and turned the water on full steam. She grabbed his T-shirt and pulled him in for a kiss before he could leave. “You should stay,” she murmured.
“You’re going to need food.”
“Yes,” she said, touching him through his shorts. “I am.”
“I’d bet you’re a little sore. I wasn’t gentle,” he said. “And I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t . . .”
“Liz, shower.” He opened the glass door to the massive walk-in shower and slapped her ass to get her moving.
“Fine. Don’t say I never asked,” she said, scurrying forward.
“Next time I want you to beg me, I’ll let you know.” He shook his head and shut the shower door.
Liz laughed as he walked out of the bathroom. She stepped into the hot spray, letting the water run down her body. Truth be told, she was sore. Very sore. To say he hadn’t been gentle was probably the understatement of the year. He had been as rough as she had asked him to be and then some, but she wouldn’t take it back. Not for a second.
She showered quickly and then changed into one of Brady’s UNC T-shirts and some baggy sweats she found in the closet. It wasn’t the sexiest outfit, but it wasn’t as if he had cared what she was wearing last night. She took the stairs down into the living room and saw that Brady had started another fire. She turned to walk into the kitchen when she caught a glimpse of the lake through the sliding glass doors.
