Chapter 8
Brandon spent the betterpart of three days, trying to track down Will Huntington, with no luck. He’d called the cop in New York who Leah had mentioned and she had been right. He was helpful and nice.
When she’d first mentioned him, he’d gotten a little jealous, which was of course ridiculous because they weren’t together. Then when he spoke to Detective John Simmons and he realized he was a fifty-eight-year-old married father of two, his jealousy became even more ridiculous.
Detective Simmons had been quite helpful though. Giving him info on the Huntington family and also going to Leah’s previous apartment to talk to the landlord. He found out a man fitting Will’s description had gone by the apartment a couple days before she moved trying to get Leah’s new address. But the landlord didn’t give it to him.
The only way that Brandon could figure out how he knew she was coming there, is that he followed her. That made the most sense especially since the broken window occurred right around the time she would have driven through.
He wasn’t sure what this guy’s plan was but he knew he didn’t like it. While his record was clean as a whistle, the guy seemed to have anger issues. Simmons mentioned that there were several times during the course of the investigation and trial that Will Huntington had lashed out at the media and lawyers. And after his mom killed herself, he went public with it being Leah’s dad’s and uncle’s fault.
He wasn’t sure how Leah had missed hearing about it, but if he had to guess, she had probably stopped watching television and reading newspapers.
Deciding he had done all he could until Huntington showed his face, he made the decision to leave for the day. It was only three o’clock but he hadn’t slept for more than four hours since Logan had shown him the pictures. He needed sleep and he needed it now.
Choosing to walk home rather than getting behind the wheel in his exhausted state, he turned right out of the station. His house was a full mile away from the center of town and sat right on the lake. He’d spent years, seven to be exact, designing and building it. It had been the one thing he’d always wanted and he loved it.
And sure, his family thought he was crazy for building a four-bedroom house when it was just him. Hell, sometimes he’d even thought he was crazy. But now it was all starting to make sense to him.
He hadn’t known it seven years ago or even two weeks ago, but he’d built the house for Leah. And yeah, he knew that sounded crazier than building a huge house, but deep down, he knew it was true.
His feelings for her had gone beyond lust. Did he still want her? God yeah. But it was more. Bigger. He wanted to care for her and console her and listen to her laugh. Fuck, her laugh went straight to his dick and made him hard.
He could picture her, puttering around outside the house and sitting on the dock, dangling her feet in the lake, and she hadn’t even been to his house yet.
But he knew deep down in the same place that he knew he’d never leave this town, and where he knew being a cop was his calling, that she was it for him.
She was his version of home.
Now he just had to find a way to convince her of that while at the same time keeping her safe from what appeared to be a madman.
Turning the corner, his house came into view. He had no idea if Leah would even like it, or for that matter, if she even wanted or planned to stay in Cedarville. That was another thing he would have to deal with down the line.
Entering his house, he bypassed his living room and went straight to his bedroom, stripping off his shirt as he walked. The minute he was horizontal, he knew he’d be out cold. Taking his gun from his holster, he set it in his lockbox that was inside his nightstand. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he plugged it in and made sure it was on before finally laying down.
Once his eyes closed, he was out.
––––––––
Startled awake by aloud banging, his instincts had him shooting out of bed. It took him a second to realize it was someone pounding on his front door.
He quickly checked his phone to make sure he hadn’t slept through an important call from the station.
Nothing.
That meant that whoever was at his door, had nothing to do with work.
He was still half out of it when he opened his door and, for a second, he thought he was having deja vu. In front of him stood Leah.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened and she stared at his naked torso. That was the moment he knew this wasn’t a dream.
“Leah,” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
She licked her lips and slowly lifted her eyes to his face. “You never called. All week. I didn’t hear from you.”
“There was no new information.”
“Not about the case. Just,” she paused. “Just you. You. Never. Called.”
His brain was finally beginning to register what she was saying. “Did you want me to call?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I didn”t NOT want you to call.”
He wanted to laugh but instead, stepped aside. “Do you want to come in?”
Her eyes blinked several times like she wasn’t sure how to answer and she stayed still.
“Leah,” he said her name loudly.
“I’m kinda afraid.”
“Afraid?” he asked. “Of me?”
“Afraid that if I step through that door, I’m going to go back on my promise to myself and date you.”
He remained calm. On the outside. His insides though, they were doing a happy dance.
“Just come in and we can talk.”
“What if,” she started and then stopped. “What if I want to do more than talk?”
His mouth went dry and he swallowed hard. “We can discuss all options.”
She walked through the door and he closed it behind her. He watched silently as she moved around his living room and into his kitchen where there were huge windows that overlooked the lake.
“Oh my God, this view!” She exclaimed. “It’s amazing.”
He walked up behind her and stared out at the lake over her shoulder. “It is pretty spectacular.”
She gasped, when his chest brushed her back. “How long have you lived here?”
“I only just finished building last year, but I lived on the property the whole time construction was going on.”
She turned, facing him. “You built this?”
“It took a while and I had some help, but yeah.” He held her gaze until she slipped away and started wandering around again. “Can I see the rest of it?”
He nodded. “Sure.” He took her on a tour and her enthusiasm and obvious joy settled his nerves. The thing she seemed to love the most was his huge wrap around porch that could be accessed from almost all the rooms.
“This is like a dream house,” she said as they stood on the porch and looked out over the lake. “Do you have a boat?”
“I do,” he said. “It’s in storage right now, but I’ll pull it out in the next few weeks.”
“You’re so lucky to be able to live here.” She wrapped her arms around her waist.
“Are you cold, we can go back inside?” The weather was mild but the wind coming off the lake made it chilly.
“I really love it out here, can we stay?”
Coming up with a quick plan he said, “Stay here and I’ll be right back.” He quickly jogged to his room to grab a t-shirt for himself since he was still bare-chested and he also grabbed two sweatshirts. Then he pulled a blanket off the couch before finally grabbing two beers from the fridge. He had no idea if she drank beer, but since he didn’t have any wine, it would have to do.
He found her lounging in one of the Adirondack chairs. “Here, put this on.” He handed her a sweatshirt. “And I brought you a beer if you want one.”
She stared at his outstretched arm that was holding the sweatshirt. “You brought me a sweatshirt?”
“Yeah I didn’t want you to get cold.”
“You brought me a sweatshirt,” she said again with an emphasis on the word brought.
Worried that he’d done something wrong, he asked, “Is that bad?”
She rolled her eyes and laughed. “He brings me a sweatshirt and he’s worried if it’s bad.” He had no idea who she was talking to since it was only the two of them out on his deck.
She stood, taking the sweatshirt from his hand. “I don’t think I’m gonna need the sweatshirt after all.”
“Oh, that’s fine. You can use it if you need it.”
“No,” she said and moved closer to him. “You’re not hearing me.” She was now right on top of him, her chest practically touching his. “I don’t need the sweatshirt because in about three minutes I plan to be completely naked.”
His eyes widened and he looked down at her. “Be sure,” his voice was gravelly. “Because as soon as I touch you, I won’t be able to stop.”
“I’m counting on it.”
Without touching her or saying a word he turned and walked back into his house. He heard her behind him as he dropped the blanket, other sweatshirt and two beers on the table.
He heard some noise, like possibly clothes being removed but he didn’t dare turn around until he was inside his bedroom.
Sure enough she had taken off her shirt and jeans and was left only in her bra and panties.
She stood before him confident and secure and he didn’t think there was anything hotter.
As much as he wanted to devour her, he also wanted her to know something.
“If you don’t want to date me, Leah, you don’t have to. I never want you to feel pushed into doing something you don’t want to do.”
“That,” she said. “That right there and the damn sweatshirt. That is why I am powerless to not date you.”
“Because I gave you a sweatshirt?” He was still confused but with her standing mostly naked in front of him, his confusion was fading fast.
“Because you care,” she said softly and stepped close to him, laying a hand on his chest. “You cared if I was cold and just now you cared that I might be doing something I didn’t want to.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said and finally touched her, pushing her hair back from her face.
“I’ve kinda figured that out,” she laughed softly.
He dipped his head, leaning his forehead against hers. He had so many things he wanted to say to her but he knew almost all of them would freak her out. “I’m sorry I didn’t call.”
“How sorry?” she said playfully.
“Sorry enough that I will spend all night making it up to you.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You better get started then.”
No longer able to control himself he captured her lips in a furious kiss. It had been almost a week since their first and only kiss and his memory did not do her mouth justice.
She gripped his shirt in her fist and because of their height difference, once he moved his hands to her ass, she was easily lifted into his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist. He turned and pushed her against the wall to give them both some leverage all the while her hands were lifting his shirt.
“Take it off, take it off,” she mumbled and he let her pull it over his head.
“Oh God,” she whispered. “I’ve been dreaming of your chest since the night I first got to town.” She lowered her head and licked his collar bone.
At his intake of breath he felt her smile against his skin. “You taste so fucking good.”
He pushed his dick harder against her making her breath hitch. “When do I get to taste you?” he said and bit her shoulder.
“Now.” She threw her head back against the wall giving him access to her neck. Taking full advantage he licked a path from her shoulder to her ear before nipping it with his teeth. Her hands were in his hair, holding his head against her like she was worried he didn’t want to be right there in that exact spot.
He found her mouth again and before he knew it, he had her off the wall and on the bed with him on top of her.
His movements were frenzied as he lifted himself up and slid his jeans and boxers down his legs.
His cock sprang free and he started to reach for his nightstand to grab a condom when he remembered a very important detail. He didn’t have any.
“Fuck!” he swore.
“What?” she said and sat up on her elbows.
“I don’t have any condoms,” he said, defeated.
Why hadn’t he bought some the day she moved to fucking town.
“It’s a good thing then,” she pulled one out of her bra, “that I do.” She waved it in front of him.
“You carry condoms in your bra?” He reached for it.
“Only when Carly hands it to me on my way out the door.”
He’d have to remember to thank his cousin later.
While he rolled it on, he watched as she removed her bra, leaving her in only her panties. She went to push them down but he stopped her.
“Let me.”
He slid his hands up her legs and felt goosebumps appear. When he reached her panties he peeled them off just as slowly, taking his time and watching her face.
Finally naked, he slipped a finger through her wetness, barely dipping it inside her.
“Please,” she whispered. She was so wet and he knew she was ready. Kneeling between her legs, he guided himself into her, careful to go slow.
His eyes found hers and the look of pure bliss on her face had him pushing slowly all the way inside her.
“Oh God yes,” she moaned.
Afraid that nothing would ever feel as good as this moment, he just sat there, until she started to grind her body against his. And, if he’d thought that just being inside her was the best feeling, her moving was out of this world.
Her legs came up wrapping around his waist, forcing him deeper. “I need you, Brandon.”
Her words lit a fire inside him and he started moving. He pulled almost all the way out before slamming back in. Her noises and moans kept him going like that until her pants became louder and her legs locked around him to force him from pulling all the way out.
He could tell she was close, and thank God, because so was he. He bent to kiss her and her hands came around his back with her nails digging into his skin. She came fast and hard, pushing her heels hard into his legs for leverage. He was teetering on the edge and when she bit his bottom lip between her teeth, his control slipped. Pumping hard and fast, his release pummeled through him.
His body went lax, but not wanting to fall on top of her, he held himself up.
She had a smile on her lips and her eyes were closed.
“Hey,” he said, bending to give her a kiss.
Her eyes opened. “The next time I want to wait to do something...slap me. We could have been doing that for a week.”
He loved her sense of humor, and more, the fact that she still had one after everything she had been through in the last few years.
Slipping out of her, he dropped down beside her. “There’s a bright side to waiting though.”
Turning her head to the side, she stared at him. “What’s that?”
“Now we get to make up for lost time.”
“There is that.” She closed her eyes. “I’m so sleepy,” she mumbled.
He looked at the clock. It was only seven but he felt the same way. “Let’s just take a little nap,” he said and wrapped an arm around her.
She didn’t answer and her soft, steady breathing told him that she was already asleep. Rather than dissecting the fact that she was comfortable enough to fall asleep in his bed, he closed his eyes and followed suit.