14. Brennan
fourteen
Brennan
Seven Months Later
I ’m a stupid, stupid man.
How in fuck have I let this much time go by without seeing her?
Astrid struts toward where I’m waiting for her in the small terminal at San Jose airport. Even from across the room, she looks like she belongs in a film—effortless, beautiful. She hasn’t seen me yet, giving me a second to take her in.
She’s wearing slim-cut, plaid capri pants with a white tank top showing off her shoulders. Her hair is loose around her shoulders and she wears white-rimmed sunglasses giving her an old-Hollywood look. Almost like she’s about to slide into the driver’s seat of a vintage convertible.
I can’t help but suppress a grin.
She spots me and her face breaks into a smile that lights her up from the inside. I’m done for. Months of sporadic texting, video calls, and phone conversations have kept our situationship alive, but seeing her in person after all these months. Gah .
Sure, our schedules have been entirely at odds, but I’m never letting this much time go by again. No fucking way.
“Brennan,” she calls out as she approaches, unbothered by everyone around her. Her eyes are focused on me and only me, and it makes me feel like a million bucks.
I don’t even bother with words. Instead, I pull her close and hold her tight. Press my face into her hair to breathe in her peaches-and-cream scent. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too.” Her arms wrap around my neck and we cling to each other like we’ve been apart for years instead of months.
Finally, she takes a step back, plants her hands on my shoulders and scans me from head to toe. “You look…different.”
I can’t help but feel a bit self-conscious, which isn’t a new feeling. My body has never been toned and chiseled like all my brothers. Connor and Seamus are former athletes and gym rats. The twins are naturally lean. Cillian works construction. I’ve always skewed sedentary, though I usually do the bare minimum to keep up appearances.
Unfortunately, I’ve been working like a maniac with barely enough time to grab fast food to eat, let alone work out. Months of skipping the gym means my shirt stretches tight across my chest and my pants are snug.
Crap . All I’ve thought about for the past twenty-four hours is how many ways I’m going to fuck Astrid this week. I didn’t factor in whether she’d still be attracted to me.
“I’ve put on a couple pounds.” I look off into the distance, not wanting to see her disappointment in my appearance.
“Hey.” Astrid cups my cheek. “That’s not what I meant. I was going to say you look happy. The past few FaceTimes worried me. You’ve been distracted. Stressed out.”
I flick my eyes to hers. To be fair, she is looking at me like I’m a tasty treat. Inside, though, there’s a familiar tug of insecurity. Ever-present my entire dating life. I want to be the guy she deserves—the one who’s handsome, confident, and pulled together.
Sexy .
For now, I’ll settle for she likes me a little.
“I am happy.” I take her hand and guide us toward baggage claim. “ You make me happy.”
“God, I hope so. Know this. I’m seven-months’ horny and I won’t wait much longer to ride your gorgeous cock.” She hip checks me. Then her expression softens. “I mean it, B. Whatever’s going on with us, you’re the man I want.”
How can she read my mind? Say exactly the right thing? I grab her giant pink suitcase off the conveyer belt and gesture toward the exit. “Well, let’s get going. I’ve got a surprise waiting for you.”
We step out of the terminal toward the parking lot. Right in front is the car I borrowed for the week—a classic, deep-blue 1975 Buick LeSabre convertible, shining like a jewel under the desert sun. It wouldn’t usually be my cup of tea, but I wanted to try something different.
Something to make Astrid smile.
And it does.
Her eyes widen as she takes in the perfectly restored muscle car. “No way.” She runs her fingers along the smooth curves as she circles around to the passenger side.
“I thought you’d appreciate it.” I lean against the hood, arms crossed, watching her reaction with pure satisfaction. “Figured we’d roll into Palm Springs in style.”
Astrid turns to me, her eyes practically glowing. “This is so fucking incredible. You ‘ borrowed’ this?”
“One of my coders has a thing for classic cars.” I pop the trunk and hoist her bag inside.
She’s still beaming when she slides into the passenger seat. She adjusts her sunglasses in the rearview mirror and settles in, looking every bit like a 1960s movie star. “I knew you had excellent taste, but this is next level.”
Confidence boosted, I can’t help but whistle when I hop into the driver’s seat. I turn on the ignition and the roar of the engine rumbles as I pull out of the airport and head toward the highway. The wind whips around us, pulling at Astrid’s hair. She ties on a white scarf and relaxes back into the seat with an ease that makes me feel light and happy.
Somehow, the stress of the last few months—the endless meetings and headaches from trying to integrate the damn company—fades away as we settle into the long drive.
Astrid is here. Next to me. Where she belongs.
We pull onto the wide highway leading into Palm Springs. The mountains loom in the distance as the sun starts to dip lower. Astrid leans back, her arm draped along the seat, fingers brushing through my hair like she’s done it a thousand times before. Her scarf catches in the breeze, but she doesn’t seem to care.
Her eyes are locked on mine and time stops.
The desert stretches wide and golden around us but it feels distant, like we’re in our own world. Every brush of her hand feels electric, grounding me in this moment. Assuring me nothing else matters but us.
“I hate it when you’re stressed.” Her thumb strokes my cheek. “You’re finally relaxing.”
I let out a breath I didn’t t realize I’d been holding. “The acquisition’s a mess. The board promised it would be a smooth transition, but I’m still fighting tooth and nail to keep my vision intact. Honestly? I’m starting to wonder if it’s even worth it.”
“They can’t push you out, can they?” Astrid scoots closer to me and leans her head on my shoulder.
“Feels like they’re trying.” I hear the bitterness and frustration in my tone. “It’s all politics and power plays. They’re interested in chasing quick profits not doing anything that actually matters. It’s exhausting.”
She’s silent for a moment, gazing up at me thoughtfully. It makes me feel understood. She always sees through my words to what’s in my heart. Her thumb traces a small circle on my arm. “Sounds brutal. No wonder you’re burnt out and confused. You need a mental break.”
“Yeah,” I admit. “Probably.”
Her hand glides up and down my thigh. “Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out,” she says softly. “You always do.”
“Thanks. I needed to hear something positive.” I take my eyes off the road for a sec to kiss the side of her head, grateful my tension is easing.
Astrid’s palm creeps up my thigh and cups my half-erect cock. “You’ve worked too hard for it to end like this.”
“Yeah...” I suck in a breath when she unzips my pants. “What are you doing?”
“If you don’t know, I’m not doing it correctly.” Before I can protest she’s pulled out my dick and brushes her thumb over the tip.
I swerve onto the shoulder and screech to a stop. “I’m gonna wreck the car if you blow me when I’m driving.”
“Well, I’m going down on you now, B, so it’s good you pulled over.” She makes short work of my buckle, unzips my pants and grasps my cock in her fist. “You need to come in the worst way.”
“What did you say?” I cannot believe this is happening. I’ve never had such a spontaneous sexual experience in my life. I’m not sure what to do.
Astrid leans over and pushes my briefs down. Locks her gaze with mine as she licks and sucks my balls. I nearly jackknife my hips into her jaw, but manage to hold myself back. Watch as her tongue trails up my shaft to my crown where she engulfs my cock with her hot little mouth. “ Mmmmmm .”
“Fucking hell, A.” I stare down at her working me over. Stroke her hair as she licks and sucks me into oblivion and lightly grazes her teeth along my pulsing vein. Her hand pumps me harder and faster until my breath is choppy and erratic. I’m gyrating and groaning, so close. So incredible. I feel so free. Astrid cups and massages my balls, which immediately tighten.
“I’m going to blow.” I tap her shoulder, but she doesn’t stop.
Her hand works faster. She sucks harder and it’s all over. I explode on her tongue and she drinks down every drop, licking me clean. Gently caressing me until I’m soft and satiated.
She sits up, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and nonchalantly reapplies her lipstick, giving me a sideways grin.
“For someone who doesn’t like to suck cock, you’re very talented.” I tuck myself back into my pants and buckle my belt.
She lifts my arm and places it around her shoulder, leaning against me. Blinks up at me with those green eyes. “Correction. I like sucking your cock. Now you can focus on the drive and we can start our vacation. No work, no stress. Just Palm Springs, this car, tasty food, and lots of naked sexy times.”
“Deal.” I pull back out onto the road.
An hour later, the city comes into view. It’s like a different world here, one filled with sleek, mid-century modern architecture, palm trees swaying in the warm desert breeze, and a peaceful, festive atmosphere.
I’ve been running myself into the ground. Isolating myself from my family and the woman I see a future with.
And for what?
Somehow, I think this week is going to change everything.