Chapter 23
Jess
Iwas taking Tash’s advice and also heeding the clamour of my own blood and body. Why was I denying myself this? He wanted me. And I wanted him badly enough to taste it.
Brodie was looking at me so intently. As if he didn’t believe what he was hearing. As if he could see all the way through me to where a mass of contradictions swirled in my gut. The desire for this and the pull to deny myself because I was somehow desecrating Cal’s memory.
And, because I’d been hurt before. But he’d just assured me that there were no emotions involved. Just pure, physical lust.
Brodie took my hand and stood up, pulling me up with him. A few people looked up, but then went back to conversations or eating.
There were French doors open nearby and Brodie went towards them, taking me with him. He was holding my hand tight. When we stepped outside, the evening air was still warm. The sky was a dark lavender colour.
He tugged me away from the house towards the back of the garden shrouded in dusk. I whisper-hissed at him. ‘Where are we going?’
He glanced back. ‘If we’re not kissing within ten seconds I’m going to combust.’
My heart nearly pumped out of my chest. My heels were sinking into the grass and I yanked on his hand, stopping him. He looked back and I pulled free to take off one sandal and then the other. My feet sank into the soft grass. ‘That’s better.’
Brodie smiled and for a second I nearly stumbled because it transformed him from merely gorgeous to downright spectacular. He took my sandals in one hand and then took mine again with his other and continued down the garden. The sounds of the dinner faded into the background.
I saw something appear in the moonlight. A gazebo, tucked away behind a wall of greenery. Secluded. Quiet. Perfect.
He tugged me up the steps. There was a seat built along the inside of the gazebo and Brodie sat down, pulling me onto his lap. His thighs were like steel under my bottom.
I put my arms around his neck. He looked at me for a long moment and then he put his hand to my chin and angled my face towards him. ‘Kiss me, Jess. Show me that you want this too.’
I felt a heady sense of power that he was letting me take the initiative. I touched his jaw. It was hard. Stubble scratched my palm. His scar was visible, the jagged edges, I wanted to ask about it, but, again, it was not the right time.
I lowered my head and touched my mouth to his. He was soft and firm. His arm tightened around my waist.
And then, it was as if a match had been struck. Both my hands were on his face and our mouths were glued together, and he was opening up to me and I was...drowning in his scent and taste. I had no idea how long it lasted but when I lifted my head, I felt dizzy.
His eyes glittered bright blue against the dark backdrop. I felt a swell of emotion inside my chest but before it could freak me out too much, Brodie was manoeuvring me with easy strength. I was still on his lap, but I was facing him, my thighs either side of his.
He said, ‘I’m glad we met at that event the other night.’
‘You are?’
He nodded. ‘Kissing you wasn’t just a ploy to deter that woman, even if I told myself it was. I wanted to kiss you.’
I liked that he called her that woman. I felt angry when I thought of how she’d more or less harassed him.
‘You did?’ I said.
‘You really are the first woman I’ve wanted like this in a long time, Jess.’
I searched his face. The fact that I wanted to trust him was terrifying.
Something made me admit to him, ‘I have a confession. Maybe I would have come here with you even if you hadn’t offered to give a donation to the charity, or pay for storage or any of that.’
Brodie smiled. ‘Maybe I could have handled this situation without you here, but maybe I used it as an excuse to ask you to come.’
Ooh, he was smooth. But I didn’t care. I smiled, and I felt light and effervescent. Then Brodie shifted slightly under me and things like words became redundant. He was really, really hard and all that was separating us was the thin fabric of my underwear.