Chapter 28 Aspen
Aspen
After Brooks cleans me up, he pulls us both under the covers and wraps his arms around me. I can’t believe I’m finally here: in his bed, in his arms. Right where I wanted to be.
“So what made you change your mind?” I ask quietly after a few moments of silence.
“I saw you with your overnight bag and knew you were going to him. I couldn’t let that happen,” he admits.
I bite the corner of my lip to keep from laughing. “So you were jealous that I was going to Dawson’s?”
He sighs, and his breath tickles my neck. “Yeah, darlin’. I was jealous. Does that make you happy?”
“Very,” I say with a smile. “But you should know that I wasn’t going to Dawson’s.”
He props himself up on his elbow to look at me. “What?”
“Yeah, I, uh, actually ended things with him earlier today.”
“Why?”
“Because it wasn’t fair to him. I knew I didn’t want anything with him, and I was tired of trying to pretend to feel something.”
“So where were you going then?” he asks.
“Jazz and I were gonna have a sleepover at her place.”
He laughs and drops his head back to the pillow.
“If I had known that all it would take for you to give in was to schedule a sleepover with my friend, I would’ve done it sooner.”
“Alright, get out,” he teases.
“Too late. I’m here now.”
“Yes, you are. And I’m never letting you go now.”
He brushes a piece of hair off my face and then leans down to kiss me.
When he pulls back, he says, “You should probably text her and tell her you won’t be attending that sleepover.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, you’re not leaving this house tonight.”
I smile up at him before I slide out of bed to find my phone and then quickly climb back in next to him. I have several texts from Jazz asking where I am.
Me: Hey, sorry. I’m not going to be able to make it.
Jazz: Uh, you better have a damn good reason.
Me: *sends selfie of me in Brooks’s bed with his arm visible*
Jazz: NO FUCKING WAY
Jazz: Ok, that’s a good reason.
Jazz: As you were, my friend. Can’t wait for details
Me: <3
“She’s been kinda rooting for us this whole time,” I explain when I see him reading the texts.
“Really? Didn’t know we had a team behind us.”
“Surprise, I guess.”
He pulls me closer. “We should probably keep this quiet until I figure out a way to tell Zach.”
I swallow. I knew this was coming, but I still hate hearing it. I don’t want this to be a secret, but I understand Brooks has a responsibility to his son. I never wanted to come between them, and I hope Zach will find it in his heart to accept this.
“Ok. I can do it with you if you think it will help.”
“No, it should be me. You’re such a sensitive topic for him, so I’m not expecting a good outcome.”
“I’m sorry.”
He kisses my forehead. “Nothing for you to be sorry about, darlin’. I made this decision. I can handle the consequences.”
“I know, I just hate that it has to be like this.”
“Listen, if it weren’t for Zach, I never would’ve met you. So, I’m not sorry for the way things played out. It’s just unfortunate that he’s still hoping for a chance to rekindle his relationship with you.”
“You think he still is?” I ask. He’s left me alone for awhile now. I was kinda hoping he’d moved on.
“Yeah. But let’s not talk about this anymore tonight. Tonight is about us. And I’m taking full advantage of it.”
He kisses down my neck, his scruff tickling me as he goes.
His kisses cover every inch of my body. I’ve never felt more worshipped than I do right now.
Brooks isn’t trying to get a quick fuck.
He’s trying to make sure I enjoy every moment of this.
My body craves his. My skin gets hotter and hotter with each kiss he gives me.
Just when I think I can’t take anymore, he’s pulling me on top of him.
I straddle his hips and look down at his impressive erection.
“Let’s test out your new riding skills, darlin’.”
“Yes, sir.”
Then I slide down on him, filling myself with his cock.
Brooks wasn’t kidding when he said I was his for the night, and he definitely took full advantage. After our second time, we both jumped in the shower. Then he fed me, and we cuddled until we both fell asleep.
That wasn’t enough for Brooks, though. Nope. He woke me up at two in the morning by kissing my neck, his hands trailing down my naked body. I let my legs fall open for him, and he made the wake-up call well worth it.
Now, I’m waking up, cuddled up in his bed, but he’s nowhere to be seen.
The sun is shining through the curtains, so I know it’s probably mid-morning by now.
I slowly slide out of his bed and find one of his T-shirts to throw on.
I quickly brush my teeth with the toothbrush that I brought in my overnight bag and make my way out to the kitchen, where Brooks is cooking up some French toast.
When he hears me, he turns and does a double-take when he sees me in his shirt and only his shirt.
“Damn, baby, do you look good in my shirt.”
I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his back. He’s shirtless and in those gray sweatpants I love so much.
“Good morning,” I say groggily.
“Morning, beautiful. You want some coffee?”
“Yes, please. You’re making breakfast?” I unwrap my arms from him and make my way to the barstool while he pours me a cup of coffee.
“Yeah, of course. It’s the least I could do after all the exercise I put you through last night.”
“I’m pretty sure I’ve got beard burn on my thighs,” I tease.
“Good.”
The deep baritone of his voice sends a shiver down my spine. This man has me feeling things I’ve never felt before. He looks at me like he wants to consume me. And I think I want to be consumed. Especially by Brooks.
He plates up my breakfast while I sip my coffee that he made exactly the way I like. How is the one man I’m not supposed to want the perfect man for me?
He sits next to me while we eat.
“Got any plans today?” he asks me.
“Not really. Since I’m off today, I might try to find Jazz to apologize for ditching her last night.
” He starts to say something, but I don’t let him.
“Not that it wasn’t totally worth it, but I’d be a shitty friend if I didn’t try to make it up to her.
She’s the only real friend I’ve ever had, and I don’t want to ruin it. ”
“You didn’t have any friends back in Atlanta?”
I shake my head. “No, not really. I think that’s why I latched onto Zach so quickly. He gave me attention. He wanted to hang out with me. It felt nice to have someone want me around.”
He looks down at his plate when I mention Zach’s name. I know it’s eating him up inside, and I hate that it’s because of me. I really hope they’ll be able to work through this.
“What about back in Florida?”
“No. I had acquaintances and things, but no one I really confided in or would have sleepovers with or anything. And no one I still talk to.” It feels like a freaking sob story, but honestly, I wouldn’t change it.
I didn’t want to be friends with most of the people at my high school because they were all too judgmental.
“So you’re saying I ruined your first friend sleepover?”
I smirk in his direction. “Yeah, but I’m sure whatever Jazz and I were going to do wouldn’t have been as fun as what we did.”
He chuckles. “Good.”
“So what are your plans today?” I ask, trying to get the conversation off of me.
“I’ve gotta go do a little work in the stables with Beck, but tonight I want you here with me.”
I try to hold back my smile, but I’m excited that he wants me to come back again tonight. I was worried we would wake up this morning and he would’ve changed his mind.
“I think I can be available.”
“Oh, you think?” He puts two fingers under my chin and turns my face toward his before he leans in for a soft kiss.
“Yeah, I can be available if there’s more of that.”
“There will definitely be more of that and some other stuff too.”
“Ok. Then I’ll come over again tonight.”
“Good.”
He gives me another kiss before we finish eating. I watch him change into those damn jeans I love so much, and he kisses me goodbye before he heads out for work.