Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
brADLEY
I wrap an arm around her shoulders and draw her in close to me, kissing her on the side of the head.
“That was amazing,” I say, staring up at the ceiling, pressing my free hand to my forehead in hope that it will help me regain my composure.
I guess I can only try. The beat of my heart feels like wild horses racing through my chest, my whole body and soul alight for her. “You’re amazing,” I add.
“Nope. You are,” she whispers. “I never knew it could be like this. Or that you, of all people, could be tender like that.”
I chuckle, enjoying the warmth of her body pressing into my side as she snuggles in. “Me of all people?”
“You know what I mean,” she sighs. “I never quite know what to expect with you.”
“As long as I wasn’t too rough.”
“You weren’t. You’re amazing.” She leans up a little and rests her head in her hand.
Her fingertips trail over my chest and I’m just about ready to flip her on top of me to go again, but I need to just breathe and enjoy coming down from the biggest high I’ve had in a very long time.
“Are you sure you enjoyed it? I’m a little rusty. ”
I glance down at her as she catches her bottom lip between her teeth, like she’s anticipating my answer.
“Can’t you tell?” I chuckle. “I came so fast, like a fucking first timer. You have me all messed up here with my mind completely blown. I meant it, you were awesome. I knew we would be.” I pull her a little closer so I can tilt my chin up to kiss her softly. “Don’t ever doubt it.”
“Sounds like you’ve been thinking about it, too,” she laughs sweetly and burrows her face back into my neck. Her warmth is better than any snuggly blanket. Chelsea has this way about her that makes everything better; she barely has to try.
I smile, thinking about her earlier admission of imagining sucking me off. Talk about an ego boost. “Oh, trust me, I have.”
“Well, all I can say is Mindy and the other moms aren’t gonna be happy. Here I was making things up to get her off your trail, and now we’re doing that exact thing… I mean, not that we’re a thing or—”
I can’t help but press my lips together and stifle a quiet laugh. “Do you want to be a thing?”
“It’s been a long time for me,” she says. “But with you, I’m running out of reasons why we should fight it.”
“I think I ran out of reasons when we had our seven minutes all those years ago. And in college I was just too young and stupid.”
She laughs softly. “Hey, it’s okay. We were kids back then.”
“But I knew you were special even all those years ago,” I go on. “You always have been, Chels.”
“I feel the same way. Even with that red-blooded bachelor reputation of yours.”
“Past-tense, babe.”
“Your wild days are gone, just like that?”
I laugh and run my hand through my hair. “Yes, since you came along, they are. Everything I want is right here. You and Deaton. You know how much I love that kid.”
“The feeling is mutual, trust me. He loves you too.”
“I love the both of you,” I blurt before I can even think about stopping myself. It seems I’m on a one-track route straight to the I love you’s. Hopefully, she won’t run to the hilt. “I think a part of me always has.”
She looks up at me and our eyes meet, with that sweet, sexy smile on her face. “You love me, too?”
“Yes, Chels. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but there it is.”
“Brad, this might sound a bit, um, cliche, but I love you too.”
I make a noise somewhere between a laugh and a chuckle. “Phew for that.”
She laughs along with me, but quickly sobers. “It’s scary for me after my divorce and everything, but I can’t help the way I feel about you. I think this has been brewing for quite a while. And you get on so well with Deaton.”
I wasn’t expecting her to say it back, but, fuck, I’m so glad we’re on the same page. “He’s a great kid. And I know you come as a package deal, and it’s fine by me.”
She leans up again to meet me with her lips, and I can’t help myself when I groan into her mouth.
Every fucking touch is like a jolt of electricity.
Being here like this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“Thank you, Brad. I mean it, you do so much for us already. After my divorce, I just kinda lost hope, but you’ve always been there. ”
“I know you’ve had it tough, babe. But I’ll never hurt you or Deat. Never.”
She nods against me. “I know.”
“You’ve done a stellar job of raising your son and building up your business all while being a single mom. I meant it when I said you’re amazing, in every way there is.”
“That’s so sweet,” she whispers. “Some days have been better than others, but I couldn’t do it without the support system I have. You, my parents, my friends. It takes a village.”
“And I want in to that village, more than you know.” In some ways, I know I’m already a small part of it.
“Are you sure you’re ready for that kind of thing? It’s a lot. We come with a lot; a package deal.”
I nod, strong in the knowledge of what I want, and it’s her.
It’s always been her. I want to be a bigger part of her village, in every possible way.
“I’m more ready than I’ve ever been. All we have to do now is finalize the details for buying this place,” I say, looking around her small bedroom.
It’s quaint and freshly painted, with wooden slat blinds and hardwood floors.
She’s made it cozy with her white-wash furniture and cute pendant lighting.
I feel her chuckle against my body, and I glance down. “Like that’s so easy,” she says.
“Well, that’s one thing about real estate, babe. You have to think like a winner. And we’re going to win that auction no matter what it takes.”
“I thought we talked about this? You know my funds are limited…”
I place my finger over her lips and press my lips to the top of her head. “I told you there’s no need to worry about that. I have a plan.”
“Are you sure it’s a smart idea being lovers and business partners?”
I blow out a breath. “For us, I think it works. Would it work for everyone? Oh, hell no. I’ve seen it all in this game of real estate, but we know we’re always going to be friends, no matter what happens with us, right?”
“Yes,” she says. “Always. I’d never want to ruin a good thing, and our friendship is like no other.”
“And so we will protect it at all costs. I don’t want to lose that either. I know there can be a fine line between being friends forever, and now lovers, but we owe it to ourselves to give it a shot.”
“Couldn’t have said it better.”
“And I’ve got two weeks to convince you that buying in with the bakery is a good idea. I won’t interfere, I’ll be a silent partner.”
“You will, huh?”
“Silent in business, maybe. But not anywhere else.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” she says, inching her hand down my torso. Her fingers gliding over my skin to my belly button and then over my ready and willing cock. “Wow, you’re ready to go again?” she sounds surprised, and that makes me smile.
“Oh, baby, you have no idea.”