19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
C ody said goodbye to the last of their guests and closed the front door. Susanne had already retired to her side of the house, leaving him, Kristi, and Brooke to lock up for the night.
This isn’t awkward at all.
He wished he could call Brooke back as she ascended the stairs to his left with her sexy high heels dangling from her fingertips. Feeling him staring at her, she glanced back, lifted her chin toward his study, where Kristi waited for him, then hit the landing and disappeared down the hall.
He had to let Brooke go, so he could deal with Kristi.
She didn’t wait for him to come to her and barreled out of his study looking for a fight. “I can’t believe you kissed her in front of everyone!”
“I’ve kissed her a dozen times in your presence.”
“Not like that!” Venom filled her words to go with the fury in her eyes.
He slipped his hands into his pockets and stood before her, ready for whatever she had to say. “You’re right. Not like that.” Their usual hello and goodbye pecks were a hell of a lot different than the kiss he planted on Brooke earlier. That one was…intoxicating. Addictive. Tame compared to how he really wanted to kiss her. “I don’t know what came over me.” That was the truth.
Whatever it was, it was still consuming him.
“Perky tits and a tight ass,” she shot back.
“Don’t talk about her like that.” He tried to keep calm, but that irritated him.
“Fine. Then let’s talk about how you left me to go to her because you were raging jealous that every man at the party was making eyes…at. Your. Sister .”
He sucked in a breath and tried to hold back his temper. “I’m not doing this with you again. Brooke is my friend.”
“You keep saying that, but the way you looked at her tonight… It looked like a hell of a lot more than friends and everyone saw it.” Kristi always cared about what everyone else thought.
He got it. In their social circle, image mattered. He often curtailed a comment or toed the line to get ahead, even when he’d rather say or do something different.
Tonight, he hadn’t thought about what anyone would think. He’d simply acted without thinking things through. He could have handled things better. He should have. But what was done was done.
And he didn’t particularly feel like taking it back.
He wondered if what others thought bothered her more than him going after Brooke. “What exactly are you implying?”
“Are you fucking her?”
She meant to shock him and she did.
“No.” And he hated that she’d think that of him.
“You kissed her,” she pointed out, making her case.
“That’s all I did.”
She shook her head like he’d lied to her. “No. You take her side on everything. You’d rather talk to her about…everything than me. When she’s not here, you miss her like you’ll never see her again. Even when you’re busy, you make sure to give her the few minutes you have, while I’m always made to wait.”
True. All of it.
And he was beginning to see why none of his relationships went anywhere.
“I can barely get you to keep a dinner date lately.” Also true.
He’d neglected her. All the fights they’d had lately proved that. “I’ve been working like crazy. You knew it would be like this when your father nominated me for the board position. You not only supported it, you talked him into it, didn’t you?” Still, not a great defense. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck and tight muscles.
She held her arms rigid at her sides. “Yes, I did, because I knew you’d be great at it. I wanted to help you reach your full potential.” Her voice grew louder with each word.
He scoffed. “You wanted me to look even more appealing to all your friends you’re trying to impress. And your parents.” He gave her a you know it and I know it look.
Her blue eyes narrowed. “It’s not like you’re not benefiting from it, too,” she snapped.
“You’re right.” He held his arms out, then let them fall, regret replacing his habit of pleading his case. “I’ve tried to be what you need me to be with the limited time we spend together.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “We’d spend more time together if we lived together. If we were married.” She dropped her arms. “But you don’t want to have that conversation. So I’m left to wait. For you.” She waved her arm at him, then touched her chest. “For what I want.”
He wasn’t ready to take that step with her. “I’m doing the best I can. I thought you knew at least that.”
“What I know is that something has changed between you and her , and I don’t like it.” She pressed her hand over her heart. “You humiliated me tonight. You and she snuck away while I endured the stares and raised eyebrows. How could you?”
He felt bad about that. “I didn’t know I was going to do anything like that. I didn’t intend to hurt you. I didn’t intend to kiss her like that.”
“But you did.”
It just happened, because in the moment he couldn’t stop himself. He hadn’t wanted to. “Yes. I did. And I’m sorry I hurt you.”
It was like he hadn’t even spoken as she spoke right over him.
“What’s worse is you don’t even seem sorry about it.”
“I am sorry.” Didn’t he just say that? And he meant it. But he wouldn’t take it back. He’d never forget that kiss. And as much of a bastard as it made him, he wanted another.
And another.
And another.
“You love me.”
She and Brooke both told him how he felt about Kristi tonight.
Funny thing was, he’d never told Kristi he loved her. She assumed based on their relationship that he did. Up until tonight, even he thought he did.
Then why didn’t you ever say it?
His silence set her off.
“You unbelievably arrogant asshole. You really think I’ll dismiss this and just go on with you like nothing happened.”
“No. Things have been strained between us for a while.” Since he took the board position and got even busier. “I’m sorry that a lot of it is because of me. I’m not sure what I can do about it.”
She studied him for a long moment, letting his statement stand like a wall between them. Then her eyes went wide. “I knew all along you cared about her. Loved her even. But it’s not just her who’s changed. Something changed for you, too, tonight. You’re in love with her.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Is it?
“Is it?” she said, echoing his thought.
He didn’t have an answer for her, because right now, in this moment, he didn’t know if she was right.
“I’m done being the other woman in your life. Goodbye, Cody.” She spun on her heels, walked right out the front door, and slammed it at her back.
He waited for the pain and urge to go after her to come over him and make this right. It never came. Because he had chosen Brooke over her and admittedly every woman he’d dated.
They’d left.
Brooke was always here.
She would always be here for him.
His heart beat fast and hard in his chest. His mind wanted to reveal what that truly meant, but he needed a minute to calm down before he started thinking things he’d never allowed himself to even contemplate.
Restless, wired, and unsettled, he walked into his study, hoping to find some peace and quiet and his misplaced sanity.
In a matter of hours, he’d managed to turn his very orderly world upside down.
But there was one thing in his life that was always consistent.
He turned on his heel and headed up the stairs to Brooke’s room. He couldn’t leave things between them the way they were, so he knocked on her door.
She opened it, still wearing her dress. “Hey.”
He took her hand and tugged her out the door. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
She scrambled to keep up with his longer strides. He slowed on the stairs. He didn’t want her to trip and hurt herself. He led her through the living room and back to the kitchen. He released her long enough to grab two plates and the double-chocolate fudge cake from the fridge. “Your favorite.”
“Everyone’s favorite. It’s chocolate. But let’s share it. I don’t want to eat so much sugar right before bed.”
He liked that idea and cut one slab of cake, dumped it onto the plate, put the cake way, grabbed the forks, and headed back to his study. “Come on.” He took her hand in his again, needing the contact and grounding effect it gave him.
He handed the cake off to her and went to the credenza where he kept a few glasses and decanters of liquor. He poured himself a bourbon and sat at his desk.
A lamp on his desk cast a soft glow, but left the rest of the large room in shadows. Brooke walked out of the dark and into the light like some ghostly dream materializing before his eyes, wearing that damn black dress, her feet bare. He found that endearing and sexy as hell.
“So what do you want to talk about?” Brooke asked.
Cody tried to ignore his tumultuous thoughts, but failed miserably when his gaze dropped to her cleavage bouncing above the edge of the dress as she walked around the desk toward him and his mind conjured one hot, naked image of her after the next. He shut that line of thinking down, but another part of his brain made him face a reality he’d been reluctant to see. She was a grown woman now.
She’d rocked his world earlier with the kiss and telling him their relationship had to change if he continued to date, or married, Kristi.
He didn’t have to worry about that now.
Kristi had walked out.
Like always, Brooke was here for him.
“We never fight. We talk to each other. But things have been…strange lately.” Cody raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. He tugged his tie loose and undid the two top buttons on his shirt, trying to relax and find the right words to fix this.
She watched his every move. He was used to her gaze on him, but tonight, it all seemed different. He felt the heat in her gaze touch every part of him. He flexed his forearms as her gaze swept up his arm, across his shoulder to the patch of skin he’d bared at his neck, then up to meet his gaze.
She had to see how much that sultry glance affected him.
She picked up his bourbon and took a sip, like she needed some liquid encouragement.
He scolded her. “You’re not twenty-one yet.” He needed that drink as much as she did. Or ten. Because this night had taken a turn and he didn’t know how to right his world again. He didn’t know if he wanted to.
She put the snifter down in front of him next to the plate of cake. Gently tugging the file out from under his hands, she quickly peeked at his burglary case, folded it carefully, and set it aside. She lifted her hip onto the desk, then settled into a sitting position, facing him, and stared down at him, looking past his tired eyes and straight to his soul. She always read him well and tonight she didn’t disappoint.
“What’s troubling you, Cody?”
“I’m not sorry about what happened between us tonight.”
Her head tilted to the side, but her gaze never wavered. “You didn’t fix things with Kristi.”
Yep. She saw everything. “What makes you think that?”
“I heard the door slam.”
He took a sip of the amber liquid, hoping it smoothed out his rough edges. He could smell her. Always roses and honey. Tipping the glass of bourbon to his nose, he inhaled deeply. He wanted to clear her out of his mind, his entire system. But all he could think about was her and the way his mouth fit to hers so perfectly he could still feel her lips against his. He thought about the way she tasted and his body rebelled against the command in his mind to not think of her in that way.
Rock hard, he ached for the one woman he shouldn’t want, but couldn’t let go.
“You’re sitting here in the dark contemplating reading legal files on burglaries you know your client committed, instead of going after Kristi and having wild makeup sex.”
“I don’t want to talk about Kristi,” he snapped, his frustration getting the better of him, because the woman he wanted was sitting in front of him driving him crazy.
And she was right that he’d have to go after Kristi if he wanted that, which he didn’t, not with her, because he never slept with Kristi here. He never brought any woman here. Because Brooke lived here—with him.
What the hell does that tell you, idiot?
She took a bite of cake, chewing thoughtfully, waiting him out. Used to his quick temper when he was frustrated, she’d sit there all night until he decided to spit it out and unload his burden. When he continued to sit there sipping the bourbon, staring at nothing in particular, avoiding staring at her spectacular legs and holding back what he really wanted from her, her lips drew into a serious line.
“I’m sorry, Cody. I never meant to come between you two. Maybe I should have stayed at school. The last time I came home, the two of you had grown really close and my presence upset her.”
“She’s obviously upset about the kiss,” he admitted.
He still couldn’t believe Kristi accused him of having an affair with Brooke. He wasn’t that kind of man. But he couldn’t help himself right now and indulged in a little fantasy about what it would be like to have Brooke writhing under him.
Remembering Kristi’s anger, even understanding that under it lay a hurt he’d caused, didn’t stop him from thinking about the woman in front of him. Brooke had grown into a beautiful woman, sparking another erotic fantasy about him laying her out on top of his desk and taking her in the dim light on top of all his legal files.
She looked him dead in the eye. “So, why’d you do it? You knew it would set her off. Makes me think you wanted to make her mad.”
“I wasn’t using you to cause a fight between us. I didn’t know she was watching us.” He’d been too consumed by Brooke.
He stared up at her and watched the fork slide across her lips as she ate another bite of cake. His gut went tight. He shifted in his leather chair to accommodate his achingly hard cock. “How’s the cake?”
“Decadent.” She stuffed another bite of the rich concoction into her mouth. “You’re avoiding answering me,” she said around the cake. She swallowed and took the bourbon from him to wash it down. He didn’t really like her drinking, but the hum of pleasure she made when she swallowed kept his mouth shut. Her happiness meant more than a silly scolding for something she didn’t do often and never overindulged in.
She watched him with eyes clouded with confusion by the way he studied her. Obviously, the boys on her campus didn’t look at her with the kind of hunger he felt, tried to contain, but failed at hiding from her.
“Look, Cody, if you’re involved with Kristi, or any woman for that matter, our friendship needs to come second.”
“Very noble of you.” He snatched the bourbon back, turned the glass, and took a sip, fitting his lips over the very spot her lips had touched.
Brooke’s gaze narrowed and her pretty lips drew into a tight line. His narrowed on her mouth. The too-tempting tension between them grew along with his desire to kiss her again. If she kept staring at his mouth, he’d give in and fulfill the yearning he saw in her eyes despite how hard she tried to hide it.
“I just want you to know I understand you love her, and that means I take a backseat in your life.” That was Brooke; anything for him.
He dismissed the part about him loving Kristi. Maybe he had. Once. Until he’d had that moment with Brooke months ago at the picnic and something started to change inside him. And right now, he didn’t feel anything but his aching need for Brooke. “She accused me of having an affair with you.”
She set aside the cake, put her hands on the edge of the desk, and leaned in closer to him. “Which you denied without reservation.”
“She also accused me of being in love with you .”
She went perfectly still. It took her a long second to respond. “What’s not to love?”
He’d spilled his guts, telling her the truth about the situation. Her flippant remark upped his frustration.
She slid from the desk and took several steps away, putting space between them. She’d never done that. Until tonight. She’d always wanted to draw closer, but something had changed these last months, and especially the last few days, with her putting increasing distance between them.
He hated it. He wouldn’t stand for it.
Cody didn’t let her get far. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and tugged her back. Off-balance, just like he felt on the inside, she fell back and landed in his lap. Exactly where he wanted her. She stared at him over her shoulder, her green eyes wide with shock, her lips parted on a soft gasp.
He stared at her beautiful face and couldn’t for the life of him deny how he felt in that moment.
He didn’t exactly admit he loved her, but he definitely couldn’t deny it.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said. You know…that I might not love her if I can’t give you up. You’re right. It’s over. She ended it. And maybe I should be upset. But…I can’t stop thinking about our kiss.”
“It was memorable,” she whispered, uncertainty in her bright green eyes.
He squeezed her hips between his big hands. “Stop being casual about something remarkable.”
Her eyes went wide. “I thought you only wanted to be friends.”
“You’re not the only one who’s changed.”
Everything around them disappeared at the edge of the light cast by the single lamp, leaving them cocooned in its soft glow. The intimacy grew along with the silence.
He traced his finger over her forehead, drawing away a stray strand of dark hair, then brushed his nose against hers, and inhaled her sweetness. “Something changed when we stood in this very room in July and I put my hand on you and didn’t want to let go. Then you walked down the stairs tonight looking so beautiful, I caught my breath. But instead of coming to me, you walked the other way, and it hurt. It felt like I was losing you.”
“You were with your girlfriend. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“You should have, because you matter to me, and I would never turn you away.”
“I didn’t turn away from you. I respected your relationship with her, because you matter to me. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It did. A lot. And it pissed me off to see all those guys at the party looking at you and touching you. Wanting you. Worse, I raged inside that you were looking at all of them. Talking to them. Smiling at them. You practically ignored me since the moment you got home. I kissed you because I couldn’t stand how you were pulling away and I was holding back and I could lose you to someone else. They can’t have you.”
And still he couldn’t bring himself to say the one thing she’d wanted to hear from him all her young life. She belonged to him.
She’s mine.
The air held a thick tension as they crossed into uncharted territory.
The pulse at her throat fluttered, quick as hummingbird wings. He’d made her nervous, but still, she waited, not taking her eyes off him. Unmoving. Anticipation building. She waited. For him.
Cody took it as an invitation. His eyes locked with hers, he leaned into her, drawn by her enticing lips. His mouth fit over hers. He kept the kiss soft. Tempting.
Maybe it was the bourbon on her lips, or the soft light. Maybe it was the perfume she wore that insisted he draw closer, because he’d become addicted to her scent. Whatever it was, it set him off.
After the first nip at her bottom lip, he plunged, and then he plundered.
Like opening a window in a room and setting a fire free, the spark inside him ignited and consumed. His only thought: he had to have her. He had no idea why he’d taken so damn long to realize he wanted her when she’d made it so clear she wanted him.
He didn't care about the reasons or the whys, the past, or what this meant for their future. He needed her too badly to think of anything but her in his arms right now.
He wanted to feel her soft skin against his.
Now. Yesterday. Immediately.
Lost in her, Cody shut off his mind to everything but the feel of his mouth over hers and the taste of her tongue as they explored and found their unique rhythm. Stuck in the chair, unable to maneuver her closer, he stood with her in his arms and walked around the desk.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, turned into him, this time shyly taking the lead and sliding her tongue along his, finding her courage to give in to his gentle demand and her own curiosity. She took the kiss deeper and he let loose the groan building inside him from the moment his lips met hers.
So damn sweet. So damn good.
He released her legs, letting her body slide down the front of his until her feet hit the floor. No mistaking he wanted her. He blatantly showed her how much, pressing his hard cock to her soft belly. Desperate to touch more of her, he distracted her with another kiss and slid the zipper down on her dress. His fingertips trailed along her spine. Standing a mere inch away, he allowed the gown to fall and pool at her feet. He expertly unlatched her bra and let that drop, too, and never stopped kissing her, despite how much he wanted to see her beautiful body.
With her clothes out of his way, he let himself touch her lovely sun-kissed skin. She trembled at his fingertips. He took her breasts into his hands and weighed them, molding the firm globes in his palms.
She fit perfectly in his hands, as perfectly as her mouth fit his.
Her sigh of pleasure shot through his system in a wave of heat. Every little sound she made expressed how much she liked everything he was doing to her. He sure as hell loved having her greedy hands moving over him.
He wanted to sheath himself deep in her warmth, knowing she’d match him in every way as they made love.
This wasn’t just sex. This wasn’t scratching an itch he never knew he had. This went deeper.
Every kiss, every caress, stoked the fire inside him and made something blaze in his heart and deep in his soul. No matter how close he held her, it wasn’t close enough. He needed to be a part of her.
She’s mine.
She’d always been his.
He wanted her. Now.
Kissing his way down her throat, he replaced his right hand on her breast with his mouth. He licked her taut pink nipple and her fingers contracted in his hair.
“Oh. That feels really good. More.”
He gave it to her, swirling his tongue around the tight bud, then sucking it deep.
“Cody.” She moaned his name.
Pressing her backwards, he held her around the waist as he laid her on the sofa. He slid his hand out from under her back, around her slim waist, and over her taut belly. He slipped his fingers into her lace panties and dragged them down her toned legs. He tossed that last barrier to her naked body on top of her discarded dress. When she was completely bared to him, he held himself inches above her and scanned her body from head to toe, taking in all her soft curves and creamy skin.
“God, you’re beautiful. Why didn’t I ever let myself see it?”
The hesitation and uncertainty just beneath the wild passion in her eyes disappeared. “You see me now.”
He did. For the first time, he let himself really see her as more than his friend and as the woman he wanted more than he’d ever wanted anyone.
She’d done it. Cody saw her as the woman she’d become. A woman he desired. Her.
It seemed so amazing and surreal.
But did he love her the way she loved him?
It felt like it as he touched and kissed her so intimately. Passionately.
She knew sex and love didn’t always go hand in hand, but between her and Cody, there’d always been love.
This could deepen it.
This could truly be the start of something new and wonderful between them. All she had to do was give herself over to it. To him.
Brooke had never been fully naked with a man. Cody’s rapt attention made her feel vulnerable, but beautiful. The appreciation and hunger in his eyes told her how much he desired her. His gaze swept over her in a wave of heat that rippled over her skin. Then his gaze met hers again, filled with smoldering passion. He wanted her.
She’d tried so hard to tamp down the feelings she had for him. But right now, whatever he wanted, she was willing to give. Everything. Anything. It had always been this way, but now it went deeper.
His mouth came crashing down on hers, and he struggled to get his shirt off.
She wanted to look at him, touch him, so she went after the barriers with her own eager hands. Somewhere in the tussle of getting the shirt off his wrists, they landed hard on the floor. She gave a startled laugh, but let loose a ragged gasp when his mouth clamped onto her breast again. All she could think to do was arch up to him and hope he never stopped touching her. To make sure he didn’t, she dug her fingers through his thick, golden hair and held on to him.
She let herself feel everything. His lips were soft, then strong against her breast. His tongue laved a wet trail over and around her nipple and the underside of her breast before he took her into his mouth again and sucked hard, making her moan. That soft sound drove him on and he took her other breast into his mouth.
He lay cradled between her thighs. His hard cock pressed to her center. She rocked against him and made him growl low in his throat.
Oh, I like that!
One big hand slid down her side and settled on her hip, stopping her movements, but all she wanted to do was rub against him and ease the ache building between her thighs.
“Cody. Please.”
It was a lovely feeling to have his weight pressed down on her, but she wanted the release his body promised her. “I want to feel you fill me and move inside me.”
“Fuck, yes!”
She loved touching him without having to hold anything back. Pressing her hands to the strong, taut muscles in his back, she slid her fingers down his spine to his hips. She splayed her fingers over his ass and squeezed.
He had a great ass. She’d always thought so. She pulled his hips to hers. His hard length rubbed against her sensitive folds and clit, setting off an eruption of pure pleasure.
She tried to take it all in, let herself feel everything, and didn’t hesitate to fully participate and love him the way she’d always wanted to love him.
She tried to imprint it all on her heart and mind so she’d remember every little thing he did and made her feel.
His hot, wet mouth pressed openmouthed kisses down her belly. The last he pressed to her hip. His hands gripped her bottom and lifted her. She caught his eye a second before he pressed his flat tongue to her aching folds. She dropped her head back to the floor and sighed out the overwhelming pleasure building inside her along with the searing heat that raced through her veins. She let out a ragged breath and settled into this new adventure. Every kiss and lap of his tongue sent hot ripples through her system, building toward something she wanted to both prolong and welcome all at the same time.
And then it happened. Something amazing exploded inside her. Flashes of light went off behind her eyelids, and she felt like her whole body had been drawn tight and let loose in wave upon wave of pleasure. Wonderful and amazing and transformative all at the same time. She let the passion crash over her, making her shimmer on the inside.
Like a thrilling roller coaster ride that ended far too soon, she wanted to do it all over again.
But first she needed to get him out of the rest of his clothes. She took advantage of him sitting back on his heels as he stared at her splayed out in front of him.
“God, look at you.” The amazement and appreciation in his gaze and words made her feel powerful.
Her inhibitions evaporated. “I want to see you.” She reached out her hand.
He took it and pulled her up.
She used the momentum to rise up and straddle his lap as she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him into another searing kiss. She tasted herself on his lips.
“Did you know how fucking good you taste?”
“I do now.” She kissed him again as he growled his approval and his hands went to her ass and squeezed, separating her cheeks and making her want his fingers to slide over her slick folds and thrust into her.
Like he read her mind, one of his big hands smoothed down over her ass. He slid one finger, then two into her tight channel, stretching her sensitive flesh.
She moaned and tackled his belt buckle, button, and zipper, dipping her hand into his slacks and sliding her palm over his rigid length. He was hard, thick, and long, the head round as she swept her palm over it.
“Fuck, Brooke. Do that again,” he pleaded.
Oh, she liked that, too.
As she rode his fingers, she slipped her hand inside his boxer briefs, clamped her hand around his rigid shaft, and worked him up and down, hoping she was pleasing him as much as he was her. “Tell me how you like it.”
“Harder.”
She squeezed her hand tighter and saw the bead of precum pearl on the head. She rubbed her thumb over it.
“That’s it. Fuck. That feels so good.” He took her mouth in another mind-blowing kiss. Her heavy breasts pressed to his hard chest.
She wanted to map all his rippling muscles with her hands and mouth. Later.
He tugged her hair back and took the kiss deeper, holding her just where he wanted her.
She loved it and wanted more.
She rubbed her thumb over the damp head of his cock. “I want you in my mouth,” she said against his lips.
“Fuck. I’m so close already. You do that and it’s over. And I want inside you. Now.” He pulled his fingers from her dripping sex, swept his wet fingers over her clit, making her moan again, then gently slid her off his lap and back onto the soft carpet.
Cody vibrated with need for this amazing woman who gave everything and held nothing back. He loved that she asked how he liked to be touched and let him know how much she liked what he was doing to her.
He wanted more. So much more.
As she lay before him, waiting for him, he quickly discarded the rest of his clothes under her steady and appreciative gaze.
“You are so gorgeous.”
He grinned, feeling lighter and desperate all at the same time. “You always make me feel that way.”
He kissed his way up her thigh, feeling her anticipation as his built anew. He stopped at her pretty pink pussy and gave her another lick and kiss on her clit before trailing kisses up her belly. He detoured to one peaked nipple, and then the other, sucking and laving them as she arched beneath him. Only his lips and tongue touched her. He couldn’t wait to press his body to hers, but for right now he contented himself with teasing them both.
He finally made it to her lush lips and kissed her deeply. Passionately. He settled on top of her, a relief and torture because he still wasn’t close enough, even though he was cradled between her long, gorgeous legs.
She shuddered at the contact of their two naked bodies pressed together and her arms draped around his neck. She pulled him in for a kiss, nothing but complete trust in her green eyes. The head of his cock nudged her wet folds and sank in an inch deep. She sighed his name, spread her legs wider to accommodate him. He sank in another inch deeper, kissing her, loving how her tight little pussy surrounded his aching cock, then thrust his way home.
The second she gasped and tensed, he went still, knowing exactly what he’d done.
She’s mine and only mine!
He felt the possessiveness wash through him. He would never let her go again.
Why hadn’t she told him? He’d get that answer later.
Right now, he needed to take care of her and make this good for her.
“God, baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. It’ll stop hurting in a minute. Just give it a minute.” He clenched his jaw and reined in his need for her, giving her time for the pain to subside and to adjust to his thick length filling her.
Sweat broke out on his skin. So tight. He struggled not to pull out and thrust into her again and again to find the release riding him hard.
He pressed his forehead to hers and stared into her bright green eyes, so filled with awe and trust with a hint of pain. He kissed her softly on the lips, her cheek, her forehead, trying to distract her, feeling his heart soften more and more the longer he reveled in being part of her.
She rocked her hips forward and let out a moan he wasn’t quite sure meant pleasure or pain.
“Honey, please don’t move. Give it a second.”
She took his face into her hands and made him look at her. Her soft smile melted his heart. Her sweet voice whispered what she’d always wanted, but never asked him for until now. Something he’d held back from her. Right now, he was ready to give her everything.
“Love me, Cody.” She shifted her knees and he sank deeper. The second she realized she could bring him closer, feel every inch of him, she did it again, then rolled her hips against his.
Both of them moaned in satisfaction.
The sheer pleasure of it washed over them.
He let her try out the movements and find her way as he backed out a few inches, then sank back into her. Slow and easy.
She didn’t disappoint by lying there passive. No, not his Brooke. She wanted him and gave herself over to him in a way he’d never felt with any other woman.
“Love me the way you want to.” She unleashed him with those words.
His pleasure to give her what she wanted. He pulled out and sank into her again. She rocked her hips and met him, taking him deep and grinding against him. Her fingers dug into his back, pulling him closer. He lost control, knowing, feeling she wanted him that much. He’d never felt this deep connection, or need to possess so completely. He was her first. The only man who’d ever touched her like this, and it was a powerful feeling. She was only his, and it drove him to new heights of ecstasy.
He gave in to her demand and his desire. He thrust into her again and again with furious motions that were more reckless with each downward thrust. She clutched at him, grabbed on tight, and demanded more with her hands and those groans of pleasure he pulled from her. He rose up on his hands and gazed down at their joined bodies before looking back into her passion-hazed eyes. He thrust deep. “I can’t get enough of you.” He pulled out and pumped back into her sweet heat. “I’ll never get enough of you.”
Her fingers dug into his hips as her body tightened around his, wave upon wave of pleasure rolling through her and into him. He bit back his own release hard and watched her gorgeous body contract around his hard cock. She arched into him and gasped out his name.
Fucking music to my ears.
Cody had never watched his partner before. He’d never felt like he could. It made the experience so much more intimate and erotic.
She reached the crest in a beautiful display of passion, sparking his own release. Out of control and his mind, he thrust into her beautiful body, hard and fast, and followed her over the edge as his body contracted above hers. He spilled himself deep inside her, holding his body locked with hers as he pulsed with spent passion and the connection they shared.
Watching her, them moving together, it was like nothing he’d ever experienced, and it made for one hell of a climax. The best he’d ever had. He could barely catch his breath as his heart thrashed against Brooke’s. He hadn’t been the only one to reach that earth-shattering orgasm.
He collapsed on top of her, reveling in the feel of her soft body beneath his, heavy on hers. It felt so good to have her arms wrapped around him, holding him close. He didn’t want to move, but stay wrapped in her love.
He gave himself a minute to gain his senses and strength before he rose onto his forearms, easing off crushing her into the rug, and took most of his weight on his arms. He should get off her. He just wasn’t ready to let her go. He liked the feel of her around him. Still hard and held tightly between her thighs, he kissed her neck. He regretted hurting her, but he was right where he wanted to be.
“Are you okay?”
With her eyes closed, she let her hands roam over his skin, up his arms, and over his shoulders. She never stopped touching him. He liked it so damn much he didn’t know what to say or do, but hope she never stopped.
“Mmmm. Perfect,” she purred.
“I’m sorry I had to hurt you.”
Now that the pleasure had faded, she was probably a little sore. He regretted that, but nothing else.
“I’m fine.” Her eyelids lifted, but didn’t open all the way.
He narrowed his gaze and studied her flushed face and drowsy eyes.
“I’m fine. Just a sharp pinch, then it was gone.” To prove it, she hooked her hand behind his neck and drew him down for a soft, sweet kiss.
He let her kiss him, meaning to keep the sultry atmosphere wrapped around them. One taste made both of them fall into it deeper. He held her close, let his mouth show her all he couldn’t say. He tried to pull back, but her tongue swept over his bottom lip. He growled deep in his throat, pressed his lips hard over hers, and kissed her until they both lost themselves in the moment.
Not wanting to strain her newly awakened body, he broke the kiss and stared down at her, watching for any sign of discomfort as he slowly separated their bodies. She let out a grumble as his dick fell out of her, letting him know she very much wanted him back inside her. He rolled to his side, pulling her into him, keeping her close to his chest, so she still felt their connection. “Why didn’t you tell me it was your first time?”
“I didn’t think it mattered. It’s what I wanted.”
“If I’d known…”
“What? You’d have stopped.”
“No. I’d have taken my time, made sure you were ready.”
“You did all of that. I knew what to expect. From some of the stories I’ve heard from friends, it actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”
“But your first time should be—”
“With someone I trust. Someone who is my best friend and would never hurt me if he could help it.”
She humbled him. He’d taken her virginity—on the floor, for God’s sake—and she spoke of trust and friendship like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to make love to her.
Maybe it had been inevitable.
It certainly felt right.
He’d never regret it. He’d never forget how she made him feel.
“I wanted it to be you, Cody. I waited all this time, for you .”
His heart swelled and he hugged her tighter. “I’m so damn happy you chose me. I’m sorry I pushed you away.” He kissed her on the forehead and combed his fingers through her hair, still needing the contact and closeness he’d only ever felt with her.
“We weren’t ready for all of this.”
He held her beautiful green-eyed gaze. “You were always so sure.”
“You always saw me a certain way, and I wanted you to see me like this. But I had to get here first.”
He understood exactly what she meant. She’d tried to grow up way too fast, trying to catch up to him. Now, they were on more equal footing.
He traced his finger across her forehead, drawing her hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear, and told her the truth about how he felt about this experience. Because for all her waiting, she deserved to know how he felt about being with her. “You were the most amazing lover ever.”
“Sure. Right.” She let loose a nervous chuckle, and her gaze fell away.
Catching her chin in his fingers, he turned her face back and made her look at him. “That’s the truth. You were so free and giving and beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”
She caught her breath and stared wide-eyed at him. “I didn’t know it would be like that.”
He kissed her softly. “That’s what it’s like for us. It’s never been like that for me with anyone else.” He needed her to know that what they shared was special.
She pressed her hand to his chest over his heart. “I’ll never forget this, Cody. You made it so perfect.” She raised her hand and pressed her palm to his cheek.
He loved the soft caress, but not the pinch of pain on her face as she moved. He gently nudged her arm over her chest so he could see her back and hissed at the raw spot on her shoulder blade. He released her arm and kissed her soft, silky skin above her collarbone. “I could have done better. I should have at least taken you upstairs to my bed.” He kissed her again. He loved the way she felt, and with each kiss, she pressed closer to him.
The way she kept touching him drove him crazy. He was still half-hard just lying next to her.
Sore and tender, she wasn’t up for an all-night lovefest. The thought held a lot of appeal, but he had to think of her, even if he wanted to feel Brooke moving under him again. He wanted to hear her say his name as the breath sighed out of her as he drove into her. He wanted to feel her need for him and the way she tried to get as close to him as possible.
“I don’t know how you could have done better, but I’m willing to give you a million chances to prove it.” She pressed her mouth to his, urging him on.
Lost to her, he gave in to her sweet demand and his need for her.
He kissed her with long, deep strokes of his tongue. Her swollen lips pressed to his as he pushed her back into the carpet. She grimaced and shifted to ease whatever hurt. He’d left more than one rug burn on her back. He felt like a prick as he bowed his head and rested his forehead on her pretty breast. The dusky pink nipple puckered, hard against his chin. He took it into his mouth, pressing his tongue over the tight bud. When she moaned and held his head to her, he knew he had to stop, or he wouldn’t be able to in a minute. She needed to rest, recover from her first time. He wouldn’t push his need on her and hurt her more.
It took every ounce of effort and self-control he possessed to release her. He stood and pulled her up by the hands with him. They needed to dress and go upstairs. Sleep.
Not that he would. He’d be thinking about her and what this meant for them.
One realization hit him like a swift kick to the gut. “Damn. I wasn’t thinking clearly. At all, really. We didn’t use a condom.” He ran a hand through his messy hair. He hadn’t even thought about it until this moment, and that wasn’t like him. He was always careful and used a condom. Every time.
Guilt rode him hard. He should have protected her. He should have done better by her all the way around. He’d taken her on the floor, for God’s sake. “Are you on the pill?”
Brow furrowed, she bit her lip. “No. I, uh, didn’t need to until tonight.” Concern clouded her expressive eyes. “I don’t think the timing is quite right…but…”
He drew her close and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “Don’t worry. We won’t borrow trouble. It’ll probably be fine. If not, we’ll deal with it.”
Her gaze narrowed. “What does that mean? If you think I’ll go to some clinic… No.” She shook her head.
He loved her strength and conviction. She’d never give up a baby. He’d never want her to. He slipped his hands under her hair and held her head, sweeping his thumbs over her soft cheeks. “I mean, I’ll take care of you and the baby. You know I will.” He ran his hands through her dark hair and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I know you’d never get rid of our baby. You’re too much of a nurturer to do anything like that.”
“Nurturer, huh. That’s how you see me.”
“Honey, you took good care of me a minute ago.”
A blush rose from her pretty breasts up to her forehead. So beautiful. She rested her hands on his waist and stood nude in front of him, not a touch of self-consciousness in her body or face.
The door to his study stood wide-open to the rest of the house, concerning him. Her mother could have come in and seen them. Brooke didn’t seem concerned that they weren’t alone in the house, but he could have, and should have, done things a lot better.
Next time.
He bent to pick up her gown.
“Thanks.” She slid the pretty dress up her legs and over her body.
He missed the gorgeous view. Cody pulled on his pants while she snatched her underwear and bra from the floor and handed him his shirt, boxers, socks, and tie. She held the dress over her breasts. He dragged on his shirt but didn’t button it, stuffed his tie in his pants pocket, wadded up his remaining clothes, and hooked his fingers in his shoes.
He held his free hand out to her.
She stared down at the carpet where they’d made love, then took his hand.
He’d never come into this office and not think of making love to her. He pulled her close, draped his arm around her shoulder, and turned them to the door. “Come on. It’s late.”
Leaning into him, she glanced up and gave him a shy, inquisitive smile, but she didn’t ask any questions.
He could only guess at what was going through her mind.
She probably wanted assurances and to know what this meant.
He was still working that out in his mind.
But something made him want to make a million promises, because it seemed nothing and everything had changed between them.
They were still friends. But they were also so much more.
Cody stopped outside Brooke’s bedroom door. Thankfully, her mom’s room was on the other side of the house. They didn’t have to worry about being caught half-naked in the hallway. His room was a couple doors down the hall, but he was reluctant to release her and let her go to her bed alone.
He wanted to go into Brooke’s room, lie with her, and hold her for the rest of the night.
Cupping her cheek in his hand, he looked into her beautiful green eyes, the color of grass in spring. “Are you sure you’re okay? You aren’t terribly sore, are you? I could draw you a warm bath to soak.”
She grabbed his belt loops and pulled him into the room with her. As she backed up toward the bed, a mischievous smile graced her face to match the light in her eyes. “I do have this ache. Maybe you could make it better.” She went up on tiptoe and took him back into the fire.
Cody went willingly, slamming the door shut at the last second before she got him too far into the room and to the bed and no return. She smiled sweetly, even though this probably wasn’t a good idea. He needed to be the voice of reason, even though reason quickly left him every time she smiled at him like that. “I don’t want to hurt you, Brooke.”
“You won’t.” She let go of her dress, dropping it to the ground along with the lingerie in her hands. She took his hand, pulled him into her, and pressed her breasts to his bare chest. “Stay. I don’t want this to end. Not yet.”
“God, help me,” he said against her lips, dropped his shoes and the clothes he had in his hand, and grabbed her hips, drawing them to his pulsing erection. Her clever fingers slid down his belly and released his pants. They slid down his legs, and he kicked them off. She shoved his shirt over his shoulders and down his arms. Free of his clothes, he surprised her and picked her up under her arms and tossed her on the bed. She laughed heartily until he landed on top of her and silenced her giggles with a searing kiss. She shifted, and he remembered the raw spots he’d seen on her back. With his arms circled around her, he rolled them both over the bed until she was on top of him.
She rocked her hips over his hard length and he groaned. He thought he’d take his time and make sure they went slow. She had other ideas. The second she felt him at her opening, she pressed down in a slow, steady motion, sheathing him like a glove. She rose above him and rocked her body over his. Soft light filtered through the window sheers, allowing him to watch the pleasure come over her in a beautifully erotic display.
He guided her with his hands gripped on her slender hips, then reached up and cupped her breasts in his hands, tugging on her nipples with his fingers, bringing out a soft moan as she arched into him. “That’s it, baby, do whatever feels good.”
With her head tilted up, her dark hair spilling down her back, she was lovely riding him.
The longer he watched, the more turned on he got. Her passion spilled over into his as they moved together, and waves of pleasure crashed over them until her body tensed and convulsed around his hard cock. He spilled himself deep inside her. She collapsed onto his chest, breathing heavily. Her lips pressed to his throat as his heart thundered. He hadn’t thought they could reach the heights they’d reached the first time they’d made love.
He was so wrong.
Wrapped in her arms, Cody held Brooke close, and they both settled into sleep locked together.
Nearly out, he heard her softly whisper. “Don’t let go.”
His last thought was his only thought as he held her tighter.
Never.