Beauty Of Her

Chapter 9

I never got a break.Not one lousy break. Did Peter have some built-in censor made to toy with my happiness? My silly emotions? Because that was exactly what it felt like. Throughout our marriage, I always felt his dagger eyes watching me, waiting to see if I would question his rather questionable behavior. And when I didn’t, it was like it drove him crazier. Like my lack of curiosity was holding him back from revealing the truth. That he wanted to be with a man. And now that we were divorced, he still watched me because he was curious. He wanted to know what I did during my free time. While there was nothing to share, I always harbored a simmering fear that he would resort to asking the girls what I did during my days without him. It was weird to explain and an unfortunate fact I navigated.

And here I was, starting to move on finally with the most unlikely sort of person on my couch. Just when I reached that point, Peter had to ruin the moment. I was ready to explore this amazing kiss Brett just initiated, but the moment was shattered when Peter called. He claimed Zoe left her pajamas, and they needed to return to the house to ensure she had everything.

My eyes searched Brett’s, who sat helplessly on the couch dressed like a casual, sexy businessman, for what to do. “Shit, they’ll be here any minute.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No. God, no.” I paced the room. “Don’t take this wrong, but you can’t be in the house when they arrive. I’m not trying to hide you. It’s just my girls…” I trailed off, pointing to the front door they’d walk through any second.

Brett popped up from the couch, holding up a silencing hand. He surprised me when I thought I was about to lose him. “I’m going to grab those burgers and be in the backyard prepping the food.” He walked to me, swallowing my personal space, and snaked his arm around my back, pulling me against his strong body. “Don’t worry. I know what to do.” With a quick peck on the lips, Brett vanished from the room. The back door creaked open and shut just in time to the front door swinging ajar to reveal Peter and the girls.

I took a deep breath, put on my best smile, and focused on the task at hand. I needed to get through this without any awkward moments. The girls were my top priority, and I refused anything that would make them uncomfortable. “Hey, girls!” I said with a grin, pretending everything was normal. “Is everything okay?”

Zoe and Sara clambered into the house while Peter lurked in the background, looking put together like a country club golfer with hands clasped behind his back. I watched as Peter surveyed the living room, seeing the dented couch cushions and two glasses on the coffee table. I tried to ignore Peter”s presence as much as possible. I didn”t want his negativity to ruin the evening I had planned with Brett.

“I forgot my pajamas,” said Zoe, marching upstairs, not making much eye contact with anyone.

Sara watched her twin sister vanish and shrugged. She walked to me and wrapped her arms around me, letting us sway to a silent beat. I breathed in Sara’s flowery scent, kissing her head. “How was dinner, baby?”

“It was good. I got salmon.”

“Salmon?” My eyes popped. “Look at you eating brain food.” I hugged my girl tighter.

“I miss you.” She leaned in, and I swore she was trying to crawl back into me. Sara was always a cuddler, whereas Zoe was an independent cat.

“Oh, come on. You’ve only been away from Mom for a few hours,” said Peter from the corner, unamused.

I quickly glanced at him and realized this was what he wanted. He wanted a reaction from me. Well, fuck him. I’d give him nothing. I had handed him enough. While Sara clung to me, I caught Brett’s form over Peter’s shoulder from the window. He grilled the burgers and gave me a reassuring nod and thumbs up. His presence was like a warm balm on my frazzled nerves, and my muscles loosened, finally relaxing. It was strange to feel so connected to someone I barely knew, but it was undeniable that there was something between us. Even though he was younger, he understood me, unlike anyone else.

I pushed those thoughts aside as Zoe returned down the stairs with her backpack on her shoulder. “We’re ready to go,” she announced, looking at Peter rather than me.

“Got everything you need, kiddo? This is the last call until tomorrow night.” Peter pulled Zoe in, ruffling her pulled-back hair.

“Dad, stop.” Zoe shrugged out of his hold, rolling her eyes.

Sara peered back to me, knowing this was the final goodbye for the next thirty-six hours. Even though this routine wasn’t new, Sara always gave me a last look before going with Peter and her sister, as if silently asking me if I really wanted her to go.

“Have fun and behave.” I ushered everyone to the front like the best tour guide.

“We’re going to have a great time,” said Peter before turning to me. “You behave too.” He pulled the door open, then froze in the doorway, peering over my shoulder to the backyard window.

I pivoted, seeing Brett’s form hovering over the barbecue, prepping it for use. His shirt strained across his muscled back, and he squinted into the heat pouring off the grill.

“Who is that?” Peter’s eyes bulged, throwing an arm across Sara and Zoe’s bodies.

“Oh, relax.” I rolled my eyes. “His name is Brett, and he’s here to show me how to use the barbecue.”

Peter snorted, unconvinced, and tapped his boat-shoe-clad foot on the wooden floor. “You can tell me if you hired a pool boy.”

I did a double-take and shot Peter a set of deadly daggers before shaking my head. “A pool boy, Peter? Really? First, the pool is closed, and second, be quiet.” I shifted my eyes to the girls, hoping he’d get the hint, and while I was sure he did, Peter just loved making my life difficult.

“You hired someone to teach you how to barbecue?” Peter twisted his face as if I had somehow betrayed his trust.

“Dad, you don’t understand,” Zoe chimed in. “Mom baked burgers a few nights ago.

Peter turned to Zoe, raising a questioning brow.

Sara laughed. “Yeah, Dad. It was something else. The burgers were, like, white.”

Peter glanced at me, wondering what was true, not that it was his business regardless.

“It’s true.” I shrugged. “I killed the burgers.”

Peter shook his head, still looking skeptical. “Okay, then, I wish you luck. Try not to blow up the backyard.”

I rolled my eyes again, ignoring Peter’s warning as he ushered the girls out the door, leaving me alone with Brett. I turned around and caught Brett staring at me through the window, my heart lurching, knowing he must have overheard some part of the conversation. I offered a half grin before joining Brett in the backyard. He was scrubbing the warm grill with a black brush, squinting into the heat.

“How hot does that thing get?” I nodded toward the boiling grill.

“Really hot. So, be careful.” With a few more brush strokes, Brett hooked the tool on the side of the stainless steel grill and closed the lid. “Everything okay?”

I collapsed onto a chair, exhaling. “Yeah, it’s just my ex. He’s something else.” I swallowed.

“Yeah, I caught that out of the corner of my eye. Was he upset or something? Or maybe it was jealousy?” Brett winked.

“I don’t think Peter would be jealous of anything I did.” I chuckled. Just then, a rumble of thunder miles away emerged. My eyes shot up to the half-blue, half-storm cloud sky, and I wondered how much time we had before the lesson had to be cut short.

“I’m not sure about that. I won’t lie; you left a window cracked from the kitchen, and I overhead a little. He had a tone.”

“A tone?” I scrunched my face. “What kind of tone?”

“A tone of, why did I let her get away. I messed up big time. I should teach her to barbecue, not that handsome pool boy stranger in the back. And he’s all dressed up, almost in a full-blown suit. There’s a certain charm there, don’t you think?”

I threw my head back, laughing. Brett was cute but had no idea what he was talking about regarding Peter. If only he knew I was so far from Peter’s type. Brett’s words still lingered as I watched him move around the grill. He was confident and sure of himself, yet a hint of vulnerability drew me to him.

“Is this what you do? Create scenarios in your head of what people might be saying?” I watched him throw on four red, fat burger patties, hearing the meat sizzle against the grates, making my mouth water.

“Yeah, sometimes. It can be fun if you go in with an open mind.” Brett winked at me and rolled his sleeves slightly above his elbows, bracing his tanned skin against the quivering heat.

I grinned, drinking in every detail, sending a flood of arousal to my core. ”I”ll keep that in mind,” I said, my eyes locked on his muscular, veined arms as he expertly flipped the burgers. The grill”s heat mingled with the rising humidity, creating a wave of energy that enveloped us both. A lightning bolt lit up the sky, followed shortly by a low rumble of thunder.

Brett wiped his forehead with his hand and turned to me. ”Looks like we might have to call it a day soon if that storm gets any closer.”

I nodded with a pang of disappointment at the thought of our lesson being over. ”Yeah, you”re probably right. We can always reschedule.”

He glanced down at the burgers, checking their progress. ”It looks like we’ve got a few more minutes.” Brett lifted his light brown eyes to meet mine. “You know, I’ll admit. There are two things I haven’t stopped thinking about. Do you want to take a guess?” The corner of his mouth lifted, and I clenched my thighs together. Brett was fun. There was no other way to describe him.

I tapped my chin. “Let me guess. Burgers and…” I bit my bottom lip when a wave of butterflies swirled in my stomach. Brett smiled, egging me on to say it. “The movie theater.”

“You are smart.” Brett took two long strides until he was inches from me, towering over my chair. He crossed his arms, releasing a low growl, and caught himself.

“Those animal sounds you’re hearing are because of how good those burgers smell and have nothing to do with you.”

A low laugh escaped my throat, but I’d be lying if I denied the pounding of my heart against my chest, the rushing of the pulse in my ears. Everything about Brett made me nervous yet feel alive. We barely knew each other, but that could change in an instant. Right now, I wanted his hands on my shaking body. I needed his mouth on my waiting lips. I needed him. But I needed to be sure he wanted me, and I had no idea I had this upfront inner beast emerging until the next few seconds proved it true. While contemplating, Brett must have darted back to the grill to flip the burgers.

“Brett?”

“Yes, love?” His head whipped up from his task as he realized what he had just said and completely froze.

My heart lurched. Love? Did he really just call me that? Because if he did, I wanted to hear it again and again. “Okay, so here’s the thing. You and I really don’t know each other.”

He powered down the grill and sauntered my way. “Yet. We don’t know each other yet. Oh, and the burgers are done.”

“The burgers can wait.” I cleared my throat, fixing my posture. “I would like for us to get closer.”

Brett sat in the chair inches from mine, and when our knees touched, it was what my body craved: his contact. “Okay, so what’s the problem?” He leaned forward, clasping his hands together. Fuck, those hazel eyes with green flecks in them. I could swim in them all day.

I frowned because I was almost ashamed to admit to what I was about to say. “I want to get to know you later.” Scooting forward, I placed a hand on his sculpted knee and swore I caught Brett’s Adam’s apple bobbing. “Right now, I can’t stop thinking about the movie theater and the kiss. If I’m being honest, no one has ever made me feel the way you did.”

Brett’s lips curled up into a grin, revealing perfect white teeth. “Is that right?” He leaned in closer until his breath was hot on my neck. “Tell me more about how you felt…”

My heart pounded faster, and my mouth went dry. I couldn’t believe I was about to say this out loud, but Brett made me fearless. “Your lips were so soft but strong. You knew exactly what I needed before I knew myself.”

Brett’s fingers traced circles on my thigh, and I shuddered with desire. “And what did you need, Julia?” His voice was low and husky, sending chills down my spine.

“I needed…” my voice trailed off as a crack of thunder boomed overhead, drowning out the rest of my sentence. The rain poured from the sky, pattering against the metal roof of the grill area.

Brett stood up suddenly and took my hand, pulling me toward him. “Come on!” he shouted over the pounding rain. “We can make it inside before we get too soaked.”

We ran toward the house, our hands clasped together tightly as we dodged puddles and splashing mud. By the time we reached inside, we were drenched to the skin. Brett grabbed towels from the guest bathroom and rubbed them over my shivering body. I couldn”t help but feel vulnerable and exposed, standing in front of him trembling, with nothing but a thin layer of wet fabric clinging to my skin. Brett’s warm hands against my skin triggered a line of goosebumps, and his touch sent liquid heat throughout my body.

I looked up at him, admiring how his wet hair clung to his forehead and his shirt stuck to his wide shoulders. He was breathtakingly handsome, and standing so close to him only made my heart beat faster.

Without warning, Brett leaned down and pressed his lips against mine, the heat of his mouth sending shockwaves to my core. I eagerly kissed him back, deepening the kiss as my hands tangled in his damp hair.

Brett pushed me against the wall with a thud, his hands roaming over my body as our tongues danced with abandon. Every inch of me burned with desire for this man, and I knew I needed him like I needed the air to breathe. Brett”s fingers trailed down to where the wet fabric of my shirt met my skin. I broke away from his mouth, gasping for air as Brett took a step back, his lust-darkened eyes drinking me in.

“How long has it been for you?” Brett’s growl flooded my ears as his rock-solid body pinned me to the wall. His fingers traced a slow trail until they met my bra, slipping under the lace fabric to squeeze a pebbled nipple.

My breath hitched before I could answer, my response muffled by Brett’s frantic kisses, covering my mouth down to my neck. He nipped at my flesh, forcing me to close my eyes from the sting before leaning back to see his marks.

“Longer than it’s been for you,” I rasped against his lips.

Brett laughed breathily, biting my earlobe as I inhaled and dug my nails into his shoulders. He peeled off my T-shirt, never breaking eye contact with me, and tossed the garment aside. Next, he moved his fingers, looped them under each bra strap, and pulled them down slowly, making sure I wouldn’t protest. While my heart had never pounded harder, I knew this was the right choice. I deserved to be worshiped. I deserved to let down my guard for the first time in years and willingly welcome someone inside my gates. And that person was inches from my face, ready to accept the challenge.

“Tell me how long,” he groaned as he leaned forward and started to suck at the space between my collarbone and neck. His hands worked the bra from my body with ease until both breasts were exposed to the chilled air in the house.

“Years,” I whispered as Brett palmed one of my breasts in his hands. He pinched my nipple, forcing a cry from my throat as he squeezed hard enough to leave a mark. I gasped for air, and his lips returned to mine again. His kiss was deep and unrelenting, no less demanding than his hands as they worked the hooks on the side so he could help me out of my jeans. “Years since I was with anyone else.”

Brett’s hands froze as the button and zipper to my jeans came undone. He leaned back after another scorching kiss, lifting his green-flecked gaze to meet mine. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Neither was I,” I replied, shyly gnawing my bottom lip. With a sly smile, Brett reached out and placed both hands on my waist, slowly lowering both jeans and underwear inch by inch until he tossed them to the corner of the room. He leaned forward and circled one of my nipples with his tongue before squeezing it gently between his lips.

“How many years?” Brett asked between licking and sucking my hard nipples, teetering back and forth from each side.

“Five,” I gasped as Brett left a trail of wet kisses down my stomach, headed between my legs. My muscles tensed as Brett”s lips teetered on the most sensitive parts of my body. His warm hands ran down my bare legs, traveling up until he palmed my bare ass, squeezing the flesh and swaying my hips. I peered down at Brett, and he lifted his eyes, locking with mine. One hand sailed up my front, stopping to caress my breast, only for it to slide back down, pausing right above the dripping center. I nibbled on my pinkie finger and nodded slightly, enough to grant Brett permission to proceed.

His fingers swirled in a circular motion around my clit and slid inside me. My eyes rolled to the back of my head, overwhelmed by my senses as he thrust two fingers deep inside my walls. I arched my back, moaning as he moved his other hand from where it’d been gripping my ass to my stomach, pressing on me to keep me still. I groaned, my legs shaking, and when he curled his finger, brushing against the spot that took my breath away, I lost the ability to speak. Stars burst behind my dark eyelids. I was so close.

“Fuck,” I grunted through gritted teeth while Brett grinned up at me.

I jammed my hands in Brett’s hair as his fingers continued to work my G-spot over and over again. Brett kissed every inch of skin between my pelvis and tits, sucking on my tender flesh, lighting every nerve on fire. The arousal surging to my core boiled, warning me I was on the edge of an orgasm. “Oh God… oh yes, right there…” I panted, digging my nails into Brett’s shoulder blades.

“That’s it, baby. Tell me exactly how you like it.” Brett’s voice vibrated against my entrance before latching his mouth over my clit, sending liquid heat throughout my bones.

I wasn’t expecting his mouth. I wasn’t expecting any of this. I didn’t need to tell Brett what I liked because he knew exactly what to do. He was in charge, and I didn’t have to think about chasing after anything. It was so refreshing handing over control. Handing over your trust, body, and needs to someone else and allowing them to deliver you to an area of greatness you assumed would be abandoned for the rest of your life.

“I’m going to come, please, please…” I begged while Brett increased pressure on my clit with his velvet tongue. I didn’t even know exactly what else he could do until he slid a third finger inside of me and moved them in tandem. “Oh God… yes… yes, fuck…” I panted harder as my walls pulsed around his fingers. I groaned when my orgasm crashed over me, grinding my hips against his mouth and hand. My core clenched and released all over again as a series of intense shudders rocketed through my body.

Brett slowed his hand as the intensity faded. He lifted his mouth from my sex, licking his lips and smiling, before reaching up with his free hand and pinching each nipple firmly between two fingers. I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss, tasting my juices. My fingers deftly unbuttoned his jeans, pulling on the zipper tab and freeing his throbbing cock.

He scooped me up bridal style and carried me to the couch, placing me down like I was porcelain before crawling on top of my still-tingling body and dragging his tongue along my neck. I wrapped my legs around his back and squeezed our bodies together, his hard length pressing against my pussy. My hands splayed across his chest, slowly sliding down the rippling muscles of his six-pack abs.

“I want you so bad,” he growled as he leaned back to pull off his pants. Brett balanced on his heels, peeling off his shirt, only wearing black boxer briefs that acted like a second skin. My eyes swept over his ripped body, letting my gaze pause on his thick, veined erection. Brett’s bottomless orbs scorched my skin as he shimmied out of his underwear, springing free his incredible length, leaving me breathless. He stroked his dripping cock, reaching behind him until he found his pant pocket to produce a single condom. “Touch yourself. Show me where you want me to be.”

And without thinking, I obeyed. I sat up on the couch, licking my lips as I ran my hands over my breasts and then to my inner thighs. Once they were in position, my fingers slipped between my slick folds, teasing the sensitive flesh. I moaned as the friction triggered a lazy pulse in my walls.

Brett sheathed his dick and took my hand away from my center, licking my juices off my fingers. He pressed me back by the shoulder until I was pinned under him. He lined himself up with my pussy, teasing my entrance with only the tip of his head. He slid himself back and forth over the wet folds until I thought I would scream from what I needed. His eyes dragged from the contact of his cock pressing into my entrance until he locked eyes with mine. “You have no idea how beautiful you are,” Brett uttered through hooded lids.

“Prove it,” I laughed while trying to relax my muscles enough to let him slip inside. I grabbed his shoulders for leverage, but he was too strong to be pushed around. There was no budging, regardless of how much my core ached for him. He only smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and lunged forward.I stifled a painful moan as his tip split me open from the inside. Brett pumped inside me slowly—each thrust eliciting more and more guttural sounds that made him smile wider by the second.

“You’re so tight, baby,” he grunted while planting one of his hands on my breast and the other firmly on the swollen bundle of nerves.

Every muscle spasm claiming my body had me shaking like a leaf in a storm, reacting to every stroke, feeling how deep he was inside of me, feeling the way he stretched my walls, and caressed every bead of flesh. I writhed under him, calling out his name in whispers and groans. Meeting his rhythm thrust for thrust and angle for angle. My fingers dug into the couch, tearing at the leather while Brett licked and sucked on any piece of skin he could find as he drove me toward another climax. Brett gasped for air as the orgasm began to escape my body. He secured an arm underneath my leg, lifting it up over his shoulder so he could go even deeper than before in one final thrust. My lips opened in a silent scream until Brett stole the sound that quivered on my tongue away again with a searing kiss meant to ruin me.

He leaned over me, bracing his weight on an elbow while still inside of me before massaging my clit, sending me over the edge again. My orgasm caused all of the muscles of my body to seize up and rigidly contract as I shook through aftershocks from the most intense orgasms in my life.

When the waves of pleasure slowed and I was able to catch my breath, I locked eyes with Brett, giving him the silent permission he had been waiting for to really take me, to use my body to capture his release. He moved his hand from my clit to hold onto his dick, still deep inside of me, and maneuvered us on the couch with his strength until I was on top, straddling his glistening muscled body. He rocked from side to side, pulling me up and down on his shaft while he watched his thick cock sliding in and out of my pussy, breaking eye contact with me. Brett pumped a few more times before filling the condom with cum, slamming my mouth to his. Our lips locked as he moaned while he continued to empty himself.

I collapsed onto him, resting my forehead on his shoulder. Our pants and pounding heartbeats cut through the room”s silence, only to be rivaled by the pelting raindrops against the window and the rumble of thunder every few minutes. Brett’s fingers danced circles on my sweaty back while I matched his movements against his slick abdomen.

Five years. Five long, patient years.

And the man lying under me was worth the wait.