14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
Brody
I’m struck by how empty it feels without Tasha bustling around as I walk into the quiet house.
Usually, I’d hear her laughter echoing from the kitchen or her soft humming as she worked, her voice filling each space with life.
There’s a stillness here that I hadn’t noticed before, a kind of hollow quiet that settles in the corners of each room, stretching into the hallway.
I hadn’t realized how much I’d gotten used to having her here: her energy, her smile, the way she brings a sense of ease and warmth that seems to seep into the walls themselves.
Work has been a constant grind without her at my side, and I feel the absence of her presence keenly. Just her small glances and easy smiles throughout the day had become a kind of anchor for me.
Tasha made even the toughest days feel lighter. Now, knowing she’s still under the weather, I feel an ache to do something for her, something that shows her she’s not just another part of my day.
Dropping my keys on the counter, I make my way to the kitchen, grabbing a bowl and ladling some of Dana’s chicken and rice soup, rich and aromatic, into it. The steam wafts up, and I can almost imagine the way Tasha’s face will light up at the simple gesture.
I balance the bowl on a tray, making my way upstairs, each step mindful and quiet. I knock softly on her door, pushing it open just a crack, and there she is—curled up in bed, her hair spilling over the pillow like strands of silk.
She’s tired, but when she sees me, a gentle smile spreads across her face, soft and warm. It’s the kind of smile that feels like home.
“You’re too good to me,” she murmurs, sitting up slowly as I place the tray in front of her. Her jade green eyes meet mine, and they’re full of that quiet, genuine gratitude that’s like a balm to something deep inside me I hadn’t realized needed healing.
“Just taking care of you, darlin’,” I reply, my tone casual, though the way she looks at me is melting every wall I’ve built up over the years. I lean down and kiss her on the head.
I don’t even know if she realizes how much of an impact that small, grateful look has on me, but I can feel it, settling in my chest, making everything feel right for once.
Tasha thanks me again, her voice so soft it’s like she’s speaking to a part of me that’s rarely touched, and I shake my head, brushing off her gratitude as I take a seat by her side.
“You don’t have to thank me,” I say, watching as she dips her spoon into the soup, her eyes lighting up as she tastes it. She hums with approval, that little spark in her expression enough to make me feel like I’m exactly where I want to be.
After she takes a few bites, we settle in together, and I flick on the TV, finding an old cowboy movie just starting.
She snickers, her lips curving in amusement, and I can’t resist a grin.
“Hey, don’t knock the classics,” I tease, nudging her playfully. “These guys had style.”
“Oh, style?” she retorts, raising an eyebrow, smirking in a way that makes my heart skip. “I don’t see you riding around with spurs and a lasso, Mr. Thorne.”
“Give me a horse, and I’ll show you how it’s done.” I wink, playing along, and her laugh fills the room, warm and infectious.
It’s like every worry from the day melts away, and all that matters is this moment, her laughter, the light in her eyes that makes me feel like a young man again, full of possibility.
The banter flows easily between us, comfortable and natural. By the time we finish the soup and set the empty bowls aside, I find myself reaching out to her, almost without thinking.
“Your feet must be killing you after the past week,” I say, motioning to her. “Let me help you out a bit.”
A pink blush rises on her cheeks, but she doesn’t protest, extending her feet toward me with a small, trusting smile. I take her small foot in my hand, gently working my thumbs into the arch, feeling the tension melt under my fingers.
Her toenails are painted a soft pink, a sweet detail that only adds to the feeling blossoming in my chest.
“Oh, you’re good at that,” she sighs seductively, leaning back with her eyes half-closed, her body relaxing completely under my touch. I keep working my hands over her tired feet, letting the silence settle around us, glad to be here, to be the one taking care of her in these simple, quiet ways.
She stirs after a while, opening her eyes and looking almost sheepish. “I still have a pile of homework to get through,” she admits, sighing. “Guess my little break’s over.”
“Mind if I hang around while you work? Maybe I can help you out,” I say, not wanting the night to end just yet.
Tasha nods with a small smile, and I pull up a chair beside her as she sets up her laptop and notebook on her lap.
“Accounting work, huh?” I ask, scanning her notes and textbook, chuckling as I spot the pages on adjusting entries and balance sheets. “All right, what part are you stuck on?”
Tasha frowns, her lips pouting gently, pointing to the section that’s been giving her trouble. “This stuff just doesn’t stick in my brain,” she says, a little frustration seeping into her voice.
I go over a few key ideas, guiding her through examples, watching her closely as she listens intently, nodding along, biting her lip in that adorable way she does when she’s really concentrating.
“That’s it,” I say, pointing to her notes where she got it right. “See? It’s all about balance, keeping everything equal.”
A light sparks in her eyes as she scribbles down her answers. “I think it’s finally making sense,” she says, giving me a smile that could light up the whole room.
Knowing I’m helping her feels like I’m finally giving back something real, something that matters.
We work through a few more problems, and as she starts to get it, a quiet pride fills me, watching her succeed in something she’d been so unsure about.
Tasha’s stronger and smarter than she knows, and being here to witness it is something I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Eventually, her head begins to droop, her pencil slipping from her fingers.
“Tasha,” I whisper softly, nudging her shoulder. Her eyes flutter open, barely holding on, and I can’t help but smile. She’s half-asleep already, and with a gentle hand, I coax her to lie back, pulling the covers over her as she drifts off.
I slide into bed beside her, wrapping her into my arms, holding her close as her breathing deepens, her body warm and soft against mine.
Tasha nestles against me instinctively, her hair spilling over the pillow in a russet halo. As I breathe her in, the comforting scent of her fills me with a peace I haven’t felt in a long time.
Pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, I feel her lean back into me with a small sigh. I’m overwhelmed by a sense of belonging while I’m holding her like this. It’s a warmth that goes beyond anything physical.
I let my hand rest on her shoulder, brushing a strand of hair from her face, pulling her closer, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest, the rhythm that soothes something deep within me.
In the quiet, with her in my arms, the world falls away, leaving only this: her trust, her warmth, and a peace I never expected.
I press another kiss to her hair, letting the quiet moment wrap around us like a promise, holding her close as sleep begins to pull me under, content in a way I hadn’t thought possible.
Slowly, I kiss her, her eyes fluttering open gently with each kiss. She sighs gently, waking up again, a smile crossing her soft lips.
“You woke me up,” she sighs, stretching and thrusting her ass straight against my crotch.
“You’re waking me up,” I moan, pressing myself against her.
My hands fall to the waistband of her sweats, and she kisses me over and over, thrusting herself toward me.
For a moment, I’m worried about catching whatever she’s got.
But on the other hand, I’m in awe of her and I can’t say no to what I’ve started.
My fingers slide beneath the edge of her sweats, slipping them down, exposing her perfectly shaped ass to the night air. My hand slides across her, feeling her warm skin and the way she stiffens under my touch.
I pull myself out, my thick, hot cock throbbing in the dark. I press myself against her, feeling the wetness between her legs and listening to her sighs.
“Are you too sick for me to have sex with you?”
“No, I want it,” she sighs, grinding her wet pussy against me. “Please.”
My grip on her tightens as I hold her still, pressing myself inside of her.
“Brody,” she gasps softly, gripping my hand that’s on her hip in tight fingers. She cants her hips back, giving me more access and more room to move, and I oblige.
I slide my hand up her body and squeeze her breast, teasing the nipple as I pull slowly all the way back out of her, only to thrust back in.
“You feel amazing,” I say to her on a moan as her walls squeeze me, milking away at my cock greedily.
“Not as good as you,” she whispers before crying out as I press all the way home inside of her with a sharp thrust.
She tries to push me to go faster, but I shake my head a little and slide my hand down to press her lower body back against me.
I keep up my slow, relentless pace, feeling my body coiling tighter and tighter. She’s pleading, begging, bargaining with me, but I just keep pressing in and out, in and out, with a steady rhythm.
“Brody,” she gasps, squirming in my arms. “Please. Please make me come.”
“As you wish,” I murmur to her, slithering my fingers down her body and finding her clit. I sweep my fingers over it a few times, and she rewards me by coming apart with a high scream, her pussy fluttering around me, a gush of moisture accompanying her release.
“Oh lord, Tasha. God, you’re good to me,” I rasp out, pumping into her two more times and then shuddering with a violent release that curls my toes.
I try my best to pull out in time, but admittedly, I’m out of practice. Besides, we’ve never worried about protection even once. She has to be on the pill. She would say something if she wasn’t.
“Thank you for being here,” she says to me, twisting around to face me and pressing her face against my chest.
“Thank you for letting me be here for you,” I say back, squeezing her tightly.
I try not to think about what might happen if she doesn’t want to stay with me. Hell, I don’t even know how to ask her to stay with me. I don’t even know what that would look like, if I'm honest.
I decide I’m too tired to try and figure this all out tonight.
Instead of worrying about our situation, I just cuddle her back against me and allow sleep to claim me.