Chapter 26 – Seth
My eyes blink hard in the darkness of my bedroom that surrounds us. Nothing but the soft glow of the moonlight spilling in through my bedroom window casts a silver hue over Bri’s exposed skin. She looks otherworldly, and it reminds me just how far out of my league she really is.
The light dances across her curves, highlighting the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she sleeps peacefully in my arms. One hand is tucked gently under her cheek, the mess of her red hair surrounding my pillow like wildfire.
Beyond the glass of my windows, Brookhaven Lake stretches in the distance. Its’ still waters reflect the late summer stars overhead. Out there is a world that I used to see in grayscale. In here, everything is color. Because everything that matters is right here in my arms and inside my home.
My hand settles on Bri's hip. Her skin is warm and soft beneath my palm, and I trace lazy circles there without thinking, like I have every right to. She's on her side, tucked into me—her body molded against mine like she was made to fit there. My gaze drifts over her face, absorbing the moment.
Those perfect lips, soft and slightly swollen from what we did earlier. Her pretty breasts, too full for my hands to fully contain, with nipples so sensitive they pebble with just a look from me. Her green eyes that are currently hidden with dark lashes brushing against her skin like a dream.
She’s everything to me. And fuck, I can’t get enough of her.
I brush my fingers across her cheek, even though I know I should let her sleep.
The TV’s still on, but the screen’s gone black, the Wellingtons sex marathon ended sometime after we fell asleep hours ago.
I lower my head, pressing my lips softly to hers.
Her lips part immediately, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, even though her eyes are still shut.
“What are you doing, Seth?” she whispers, her voice soft, raspy from sleep, and fuck, I could wake up to that sound every day.
“I don’t know,” I say, but it’s a lie. I know exactly what I’m doing.
I flip her easily, rolling her until she’s laying on top of me, her hips straddling my waist, her weight sinking down onto me like she belongs there.
Because she fucking does. Her eyes flutter open.
She props her head up on a fist under her chin.
There’s curiosity in her gaze, but something deeper too.
Something vulnerable like she doesn’t know what I’m going to say next.
“That’s okay,” she whispers. “I don’t know what I’m doing either.”
I shake my head, my fingers tracing up her hips until my hands find her waist and squeeze.
"That was a lie. I know exactly what I'm doing." I exhale slowly. "I can't stop thinking about you. From the night we met on Halloween, that bar, you've been in my head, and you've never left."
I watch her face. She doesn't look scared by that admission, so I keep going.
"When I figured out who your father was, I tried to put distance between us.
I'm new to the team. I know how reckless this looks.
I know what it could cost me if he found out and decided to care.
" I pause. "And even though you've told me you have no relationship with him, I know what it is to be a father to a daughter. I know how that instinct works."
She holds my gaze and gives me a small nod.
"But I've made my peace with the career risk." I swallow. "That's not what scares me."
Her green eyes search mine, waiting.
"It's Sawyer."
She tucks a lock of red hair behind her ear, her palms pressing gently against my chest like she's steadying both of us. "I understand," she says softly.
And I think she does. Because once I let Bri into our world publicly, once Sawyer understands she isn't just another woman passing through or someone I hired as a nanny, there will be questions. There are always questions.
Will she leave us too? Will she die like my mom did?
That's my curse, isn't it? Every woman I've tried to build something with has left. And the thought of Sawyer watching that happen again, of being the one who brought her here and then lost her, that's the thing that terrifies me.
She smiles softly, her lips quirking up just enough to crack something deep inside of me.
“I like you too. And I like Sawyer. Maybe we don’t have to change anything about that right away.”
“What do you mean?”
She shrugs one shoulder. "Maybe we just… keep this between us. For now. Until we know where it's going. I don’t want to hurt Sawyer either."
I hate that. I understand it, but I hate it, because I already know exactly where this is going for me. I'm already gone for her. Have been for a while.
"Is that what you want?"
"Yeah," she nods like she’s deep in thought. "I don’t want to put your career at risk and you’re right, I don’t know how my father would react if he knew we were sleeping together.
I’ve just joined the Mayhem, I don’t want my boss to look at me differently, and Sawyer…
” her voice trails off. There’s a beat of silence while I watch her process it all.
“Let’s take things slow. For both of us. ”
I swallow. “Okay.”
She lowers her face and kisses me softly. “Thank you for finally telling me how you feel."
My hand slides down between us until I'm cupping her pussy, warm and soft.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner.” I slide two fingers inside of her, feeling the wet, warmth of her wrap around me.
“Already so wet for me,” I murmur, brushing another kiss against her lips, this one slower, deeper.
She melts into me, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling me closer as her hips rock down on my cock, seeking more.
I slip another finger inside her, stretching her, coaxing her, while my thumb rubs gentle, lazy circles over her clit.
Her hips respond instantly, rocking into me, chasing that friction that she needs.
I lay back, just watching her—enjoying her—as she moves over me, her body gliding so perfectly against mine while she rides my hand.
We stay like that for a while, lost in the slow rhythm of her hips rising and falling, my fingers buried deep, my thumb stroking her clit.
She’s intoxicating and now she knows how I feel.
I don’t want to keep this a secret. I won’t for long.
But this is the right thing to do. Until I can figure out how Sawyer will feel.
Until I can figure out whether Bri’s going to leave us, too.
“My ex and I only ever had vanilla sex,” she says softly, her voice breathless but playful as her hips continue their hypnotic roll, coating my bare cock with her pussy but not letting me inside of her just yet.
I arch a brow. “Not what I want you to be thinking about right now, but I’ll bite. Was your relationship anything like Mr. and Mrs. Wellington?”
A grin spreads across her face, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She bites her bottom lip, rocking her hips just a little harder, teasing me.
“Not even close,” she whispers, her grin widening.
“My ex is the reason I got into watching married people porn. I wanted to believe that there was more.” She positions her pussy right over the tip of my cock, soaking it without pushing me inside.
It’s a tease but I want her to keep talking.
I lean up and kiss one of her breasts before pulling the nipple into my mouth then I look up at her.
“Did it work?”
She looks down at me with softer eyes. “Yes. But you helped with that too. I always thought I’d end up in a predictable, simple, gentle relationship. I thought that was romance. But you know what I’ve realized? There are different shades and ways romance can show up in a relationship.”
I love that she’s telling me this. Bri’s always been better than me when it comes to expressing her feelings and emotions.
“I would have never known all you had before we met was vanilla sex,” I tease.
She grins. “I was figuratively wearing a mask the night we met.”
And that’s the truth for both of us. My hand moves to her hip, squeezing her thighs as I guide her, feeling the slick heat of her pussy dragging over my bare cock.
Her moan is pure sin, a sound that makes my cock throb painfully.
I can’t take it. I lift my other hand, grabbing her ass and giving it a hard, satisfying slap.
“Fuck, Seth,” she gasps, her head falling back. “See? Stuff like that. I didn’t think I’d love being spanked.”
“I’m starting to think that we haven’t been having enough kinky sex.”
She laughs. “Is that so?”
I spank her again and she moans before whimpering and grinding down onto my hand even harder, drenching my knuckles.
“You’re so soft,” I rasp, my fingers pumping deeper inside her, “but you like it rough, don’t you?”
She nods, her lips parting. I do it again. Louder this time. Harder. Until her and my moans of pleasure mix.
My hand comes down on her ass again, leaving a pink mark that makes my cock ache. She’s so responsive, her body reacting to every touch, every sound, and I swear, the way her greedy pussy clamps down on my fingers has me ready to lose it.
“Dammit, Bri,” I groan, rolling my hips harder against her, spanking her again, the sound echoing in the room. “You’re gonna make me come before I’m even inside you.”
Her green eyes are burning with heat as she watches me fall apart beneath her.
“Yes,” she moans, her voice breathless and needy. “Spank me, Seth. Do whatever you want.”
Fuck. That’s all it takes for me to snap. The sound of my spanks echoes through the room, followed by her sharp gasp and the delicious sting on my palm. I squeeze the flesh, massaging the heat into her ass, and then my fingers drift lower, trailing toward her tight, puckered hole.
“Let me in your ass,” I growl.
Her breath catches, her body tensing slightly before she bites her lip, a mixture of hesitation and curiosity flashing in her wide eyes.
“I’ve never…” she whispers, her cheeks flush but she doesn’t look scared.