25. Tejano Blue #3
I hope that’s enough.
His body tenses, just slightly. Enough for me to feel it. His hand stills on my skin.
He tilts his head toward me, voice low. “You can’t keep saying things like that to me.”
I blink up at him. “Why not?”
“Because,” he says, his jaw tightening. “I’m trying really fucking hard to give you what you want. To stick to the terms of the arrangement we made.”
I sit up a little, water dripping down my arms.
“I wanted to give you the time you needed to figure things out after him. But you make it hard when you look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
He meets my gaze. No hesitation. No smirk.
“Like I mean more to you than you care to admit.”
The steam curls around us, thick and silent.
I don’t answer. Because I can’t lie. Not when he’s looking at me like that.
I wade closer and circle my arms around him, straddling his lap in the hot water.
“Broderick,” I breathe, my lips brushing the corner of his mouth. I kiss him softly—just once—then pull back to meet his eyes.
“I care about you,” I whisper. “More than I can even put into words.”
Broderick’s breath catches, his body tightening as my words sink in between us.
My heart hums in my chest touching my nose to his, I close my eyes.
“But I’m scared,” I whisper, the underlying confession feeling like it might crack me in half if his hands weren’t steadying me under the water, resting on my hips.
“I don’t know if I’m ready. What if…”
What if you change your mind? What if I lose you too and then I have nothing—not even this?
I breathe, staring into his eyes. Those mesmerizing green eyes.
“Elena,” he says, steadily, “I care for you too.”
He looks at me like he sees every doubt written on my skin.
“But I need more from you.”
That hits something inside me.
Something broken and vulnerable.
“We’ve done this all backwards,” he says, softer now, pressing his forehead to mine. “None of this has been normal.”
“I’m sorry.”
I sink into his chest, my cheek against his heartbeat.
The bubbles dance around us.
“Can’t we just enjoy this for now and figure all that out later?” I plead, desperate to land back in safe territory.
“We can try,” he says. “But you know we’ve crossed past the point of casual, right?”
“I can only try,” I say quietly, not sure I can admit the truth to him or myself. “But I need time.”
“There’s no rush, we have all night,” he says.
“I need to take it slow.”
Broderick laughs—his chest shaking against mine. “Sweetheart,” he says, tugging my chin up to look at him. “Slow? I know you biblically. Slow, how?”
I roll my eyes, but the corner of my mouth twitches.
He grins, brushing a wet strand of hair off my cheek. “I’m serious. We’ve had sex in half the rooms of my apartment. You cooked for me in lingerie. We’re constantly breaking your rules.”
I bite my lip, trying not to smile.
“Slow,” he repeats, cocking his head like he’s genuinely trying to figure it out. “Does that mean I have to start asking permission to spank you now?”
I smack his chest.
He catches my wrist, then presses a small kiss to the inside of my palm before placing it over his heart.
“Take all the time you need, I’m not asking for much—just a chance.”
I don’t answer. I can’t. Instead, I curl tighter against him, letting the bubbles hum around us, letting my body rest for the first time in days.
Then, after a long beat, he speaks again—quiet, almost careful.
“Let me take you out.”
I lift my head and blink at him. “Like…a date?”
“A proper date,” he says, the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Dinner. Somewhere nice. No funny business.”
“It’s the best kind,” I tsk.
“Maybe if you beg.” He winks.
I roll my eyes, but my cheeks flush anyway.
“You’re serious?” I ask.
He nods. “Yeah. I want to take you out like a grown-up. Hold your hand. Show you off. Let the world know you’re with me.”
I swallow.
“Broderick, that’s against the rules. That’s going to be a lot of paperwork—weeks tied up with HR.”
“Elena.”
“Yes, Broderick?” I say, pouting.
“Fuck. The. Rules.” He kisses my lips, three times.
“Sir, the rules are sacred. I sealed them with a blowjob and everything.”
He chuckles, but it fades quickly. “Is it just the sex? Is that all you want from me? Because we hang out, our friends know about us, you call me when you need me. It stopped being just about sex a long time ago—and you know this.”
Something about hearing him say that out loud makes my chest tighten in a way I don’t expect. I don’t have a witty reply for that. The truth of it settles deep.
He’s right.
“I’m open to renegotiating terms of our agreement,” I say, tilting my head, trying to play it light.
“Okay—that’s not a no,” he murmurs.
Then he leans in and kisses me.
“No, it’s not a no, but maybe you can fuck me in this hot tub to sweeten the deal?” I ask, breaking the kiss, eyes searching his.
His lips brush mine again, softer now. “How about I make love to you instead?”
Love.
I say nothing as he eases me onto him—slowly, softly.
And he does.
He makes love to me tenderly.
In the hot tub.
In the shower.
And because rules be damned…in his bed.