30. Ro
Aslap of skin roused me from my sleep. The humming of insects filled the air, and as I opened my eyes, my vision snapped into focus. The weathered wood of the boat, the grass and trees lining the bank, and Brody Flockhart bringing his hand down against his hip. Repeatedly.
“Mother f…” He stopped when he noticed me lift my head.
“Are you okay? What’s up?” I reached out a hand to touch his arm and recoiled a little at the feel of his skin. It was like touching a sheet of bubble wrap. A canvas of nasty red lumps. I tightened my eyes. Mosquito bites covered every inch of him. After the little suckers had targeted me last night, he’d given me the tarp to cover up. The flying assassins had obviously decided that any blood was better than none. They’d feasted on him instead.
I sat up and took in the braille-like bumps that spread over his back. “Oh, crap! They really went to town on you.”
Brody grimaced. “Yep. I swear I read somewhere that mosquitoes don’t bite men.” He rubbed at his arm. “I may have to ask you a favor. Can you crochet me a pair of mittens? I swear I’m going to scratch my skin to the bone at this rate.” He wagged his head and offered his fists to me like he wanted me to slap him in cuffs.
I gave him a lopsided smile. “At least you had the foresight to put your boxers on at some point. I wouldn’t want your package to have suffered any damage.” His grin made my heart skip, and my insides melt.
A shiver ran over my body as the mist on the water turned to minute drops of dew on my skin. We must’ve fallen asleep last night. We’d had every intention of returning to the jetty, but our post-pleasure snuggles had been too tempting. The last thing I remember was Brody telling me the whole truth about his injury and the worry he’d gone through these last few months. I’d had no idea.
I shoved over to one side of the hull and opened the old canvas. “Come here under the tarp. The bugs’ll disappear once the sun warms up.”
Brody came to join me, wincing a little as he moved his leg. We’d certainly tested its resilience last night. If DIY rowing and boat-sex had been on the list for his physical with the Denver doctor, he’d have passed with flying colors.
I settled on Brody’s chest as the dawn light hit our faces. I sighed, tracing my fingertips through the smattering of hair. The last time we’d lain like this, I’d been full of doubt. My stomach had resembled a tangled ball of yarn at the thought of talking to Coop about me and Brody. Now, I could barely contain the jitters in my chest and the smile on my face.
Thank goodness I hadn’t dreamed last night and chalked the countless orgasms he’d given me down to imagination. No. He was here, hard and warm underneath me. All my tomorrows at my fingertips.
“Let’s start again. Good morning,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I’m just sorry I made you stay out in the bug-infested air. Why didn’t you wake me? I’m sure the tarp would’ve covered us both.”
“Let’s just say I took one for the team.” The warm air of his chuckle ruffled my hair, and he ran his fingers over my shoulder blade. “Do you think anyone would miss us if we stayed out here?”
I looked at him and giggled. “What?”
“We could message Eve. Get her to bring down some muffins and coffee. Send them over to us on one of Coop’s old toy boats. I think we could last about a week before anyone noticed.”
I shook my head, settling back on his chest. “Are you kidding? I bet you have a barrage of messages waiting for you. Interview requests.”
Brody tensed under me. He admitted last night that he dreaded the media questions sure to follow the announcement. The details of his misfortune would be played repeatedly, reminding him of what he’d lost.
The gurgle of the water against the boat was the only sound until, finally, he spoke. “If it’s okay with you, I want to give an exclusive to Alex.”
Now, it was my turn to tense up. Brody must have sensed the shift in my body because he touched my chin gently, tipping my face to look at him. “Hey, I meant what I said. Alex is just a friend and a professional one at that. We’ve always looked out for each other, and if she hadn’t come down to the derby arena the other day, the news would’ve blindsided me.”
I swallowed. He was telling the truth, but I hated the idea of him seeing her again. Of them sharing such an intimate past.
I gave him a brief nod. “Instead, you had to chase some crazy woman all the way into town in your car. I’m so sorry.”
The corners of his mouth nudged up. “Don’t be sorry. Listen, I had the best view in the house, trailing after you. You don’t know how hot you looked in that tiny little dress.”
I chuckled, then kissed his chest. “So now what?”
Brody pulled me closer as if I’d float away at any moment. “I don’t know what’s going to happen or how this is going to work, but I do know we’ll be fine if we do it together.”
I reached below the tarp and curled my fingers around his waist. “Well, as a starter, I expect you to keep up your crochet. I think you show promise.”
He brought his hand to mine, finding the chain of stitches I still wore on my finger. “Next time, I might even make a square. Perhaps I’ll hang out with Winston’s Hot Daddy. Start our own secret knitting group. Kind of like Fight Club. Call ourselves the Stichin’ Studs.”
I huffed a laugh. “Today a square, tomorrow the world!”
Brody grinned and kissed the tip of my nose before pulling me closer. “And what about the derby? You were amazing out there. I was so proud.”
The single cry of a hawk rent the still air, and I let out a long breath. “Thank you. But I’m not sure I want to be a Scalper. Those girls were just plain mean.” Brody opened his mouth, perhaps to convince me to give the team a go, but I shook my head. “Mom and I had a good chat yesterday. Kicked around some ideas. Let’s just say the trial won’t be my last flirtation with roller derby.”
Brody’s face lit up. “I’m glad. You have some serious skills.”
I giggled, moving my hand down to rest just below his belly button. “Oh, yeah?”
Brody sucked in a breath, then met my eyes. The hunger, the desire, the love that burned there sent my heart skittering.
“Oh yeah, I mean serious skills. And as your coach, I intend to help you perfect every single one.”
The End