34. Chapter 34
34
Miles
I’m glad to see Brody when he picks me up from the airport. He greets me as if nothing has changed. As if we didn’t both fuck Sophie just last week when I’m sure it’s been on his mind just as much as it’s been on mine. I have to wonder if he’s even finished processing it. He’s been known to overthink things and that experience is definitely one he would pick apart for days, if not weeks.
As we pull away from the curb, he asks the question I’m sure he’s been dying to all weekend. I’m glad he refrained from texting it to me every day.
“Is Sophie ok?”
Flashbacks of the conversation about her ex give me pause, but it’s Sophie’s story to tell.
“Yeah, she’s good. I think she had fun.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know what you meant.” My tone is light. “She’s fine. How was your weekend?”
“I think I may have driven myself into early retirement,” he mutters and I barely catch the words.
“What? I’m gone for all of four days and you retire? What happened?”
“I-” Brody grunts in frustration, focusing on the road as we turn away from the airport. “Mel kind of forced it on me. ”
“We both know Mel can’t force you to do anything.” I cross my arms, waiting for a response. Brody owes Mel a lot for his position, his freedom in his job, but he still wouldn’t do something he didn’t want to.
“I may have asked for help.”
“What does that have to do with retiring early?”
Brody spills everything. My jaw drops more and more with every word. When he’s done, I’m surprised it’s not on the damn floor.
“So, let me get this straight.” I hold up a hand, trying to work through what he’s just told me. Sarcasm is my first instinct. “You– poor baby –were forced to accept a promotion–after obscene pay raises, by the way–in order to get Mel to put security cameras into Sophie’s place without her knowledge ?” Brody is silent. “What is wrong with you, man?”
“Miles, her ex is bad, but his brother is worse. And he’s a cop. I don’t know what his endgame is, but I want her safe.”
“So do I, but can’t you tell her about this?”
“Not-not yet.”
I roll my eyes and let my head fall back on the seat. There’s nothing I can say to change his mind, but it’s going to come out and when it does, I just know Sophie’s going to blame both of us.
“Does her roommate know?”
“What do you think?”
“I’m washing my hands of this.” I hold my hands up as if to show they’re clean. “You’re my friend and I love you, but I’m not going to be a part of you stalking her now.”
Brody’s expression freezes and I realize it never occurred to him to see things that way.
“Fuck.” He mutters the curse in defeat. “But what if something happens?”
“Dude, you already hacked-”
“Not hacked.”
“- hacked into her doorbell cam.”
“Not hacked.”
“Fine, you built yourself a backdoor so you can see when she and her roommate leave or come home, as well as her ex showing up unannounced. What would you call that?”
“It’s already done. Mel has a team trying to track down whatever names they’re using at whatever shithole motel they’re staying at.”
“How do you know they’re staying at a motel? Or even anywhere that would have digital records? ”
“I guess- I guess I don’t.”
“You’d make a horrible detective.”
Neither of us see Sophie over the next couple of days. She has collabs set up for most of the week and claims she’s been neglecting her live-stream fans.
Wednesday afternoon, I leave my studio after filming a solo custom video to find Brody napping on the couch. The TV is still on, playing a show he started yesterday morning.
“You have got to find a hobby,” I mutter as I pass the couch.
“Leave me alone to die.”
“Shut up, Lilo. You have plenty to live for.”
“Like you?”
“I would have thought you’d agree that I’m enough after last week.” I turn toward the kitchen. “Obviously there’s Sophie.”
“Obviously.”
“You were always working on little side projects in college,” I recall. “Contract work or something?”
“I haven’t worked on my own programming in a long time. Everything has been for Harp.” Brody sighs and sits up, pausing the show, though I doubt he’s been paying attention.
“Surely Mel will let you do something .”
“I had a meeting with her Monday,” he says. “Even though I’m the CIO, I don’t have access to anyone on the tech side of things. I can review any updates to our systems and I can discuss tech-related issues with Mel during our monthly lunches.”
“Is that really it?”
“I don’t know why she wanted me out.”
“You know I don’t have any insight. That shit has always been over my head.” I go to the fridge in search of something to eat, but I’m not sure what. Brody’s aimlessness is going to be contagious if he doesn’t find something to occupy him soon. “What about,” I hesitate before asking, “the security stuff for Sophie?”
“I still have access to some of that.”
“So our girl is safe? ”
“Her ex showed up again on Monday and left another note. Mel even has a team trying to track traffic cams in the area, but there aren’t many near her neighborhood, so it’s been slow going trying to figure out what car he’s even driving.”
“Fuck. You know, he called Sophie during the convention. Scared her so bad I thought she was going to pass out.”
“She told me.” He stands just as I close the fridge doors. I’m glad she told him so quickly. “She told me you had to talk her through more than one panic attack.”
“She had a tough time.” I run a hand through my hair.
“You were there for her when I couldn’t be.”
“You’re trying to track down her douchebag ex. I think you win.”
Brody spends that evening with Sophie, out on the town for a nice dinner and I turn in early. In an attempt to release some pent-up energy and tire myself out, I film a masturbation video before going to bed. It’s a good opportunity for content, even if it’s short. If the camera wasn’t on, Sophie’s name would be on my lips the entire time. A wish, a plea, a fucking prayer.
Her name or Brody’s.
Hours later, my mind races with thoughts of Sophie dominating me, thoughts of her ex stalking her, and now thoughts of his brother doing even worse things. I can’t get it out of my head. Brody has been able to help thanks to his job, even in his semi-retirement. I feel utterly useless.
All of a sudden, the sheet wrapped around me is suffocating, the blanket on top far too warm. I can’t lay here any longer, dwelling on impure urges and feelings of helplessness. The combination will be lethal if I let it continue. Fighting with the covers, I finally untangle myself and throw my legs over the side of the bed. I lean over and rest my elbows on my knees, dropping my head into my hands.
Sophie hasn’t brought up her ex again with me since we got back from Miami. Brody hasn’t given me much of an update except for what he said this afternoon. I’m in the fucking dark .
I’m at the door in a flash, ripping it open and aiming for the kitchen. I’ve never been one to use any kind of sleep aid and I’m not entirely sure what my goal is. A shot? A midnight snack?
I glimpse the time on the oven.
A two-hours-past-midnight snack?
Movement out of the corner of my eye makes me jump, clutching my bare chest, just inches from barrelling into my roommate. Brody steps away from the kitchen island to come fully into view. The mounted lights beneath the upper kitchen cabinets couldn’t reach him where he was standing before.
“You scared the shit out of me.” My heart is pounding.
“Sorry,” Brody mutters.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Apparently not. You?”
“Can’t shut off the damn brain. How was the date?”
“It was good. I, er, took her home and then left.”
“Nothing says ‘good date’ like a chaste kiss goodnight,” I chuckle. Brody smiles halfheartedly. “You’re not worried, are you?”
“No, no. Honestly, it was my idea. I don’t want her thinking I’m,” he sighs, “I’m only after sex.”
“Good call.” I wink. “Find anything in here to help you sleep?”
“No, got any ideas?”
My perverted mind has a few ideas, but I don’t think he’ll go for any. Brody catches my look and I follow the bobbing of his throat as he swallows. My eyes flick to his lips when he wets them with his tongue.
He’s been my friend since I was twelve. He’s off-limits, right? Sharing Sophie with me, together , doesn’t mean he wants more.
The faint light falling across his face glints off of his green eyes. His pupils are probably only dilated because it’s dark. As the silence stretches between us, I begin to wonder if there’s something more in those emerald depths.
My mouth is suddenly dry and I don’t think I can find the words to say goodnight. This is the closest we’ve been since our little game, other than the rides to and from the airport. I lick my lips and his eyes drop to follow the movement of my tongue.
“Fuck it,” I breathe, grabbing his hips and pulling his body flush with mine .
As my lips tilt upward to reach his, one of his hands snakes up and around my neck to pull me closer. His mouth is hot and hungry on mine, his tongue parting my lips. I moan into him as his other hand glides down my side, but doubt flashes in my mind, sending a chill through me. I pull away, still holding him.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, shaking my head. “I shouldn’t have-”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Brody grabs my chin and tilts my head up again, returning to where we left off. My hands clutch at his shirt, my body wanting more. Needing more. Needing him . He grabs my hair, pulling my head to the side as his lips trail along my jaw and down to my throat. He nibbles the sensitive skin and another moan escapes me. His hips shift and I feel his erection almost flush with my own.
I turn our bodies and back him up so that he’s leaning against the counter. He allows the movement and lets go of my hair, but doesn’t lift his face to mine. Instead, he pulls back to stare at me, lips swollen and eyes dark.
Silently, I sink to my knees, dragging my hands down Brody’s body, feeling the chill of the tile through my thin pajama bottoms. Brody’s boxers are the only thing in my way. Keeping my eyes on his, I slide my hands back up his legs to the waist of the offending garment and slowly pull down. Brody chews his bottom lip but doesn’t ask me to stop.
Thank god.
I tease his boxers down further and come face to face with the proof that Brody wants this as much as I do. I stare at his cock and lick my lips again because fuck, I need to taste him. With one last glance up at Brody’s somewhat pained expression, I close one hand around the base of his shaft and then flick my tongue out to ghost over his tip. Brody’s hands grasp the edge of the counter as he groans and I smile with him against my lips. I continue to tease him, swirling my tongue around the head of his engorged cock several times before finally opening my lips to take him into my mouth. His salty taste sends a jolt straight to my own dick. Another groan from above makes me move, bobbing slowly at first, hollowing out my cheeks.
Brody wants more. Without saying a word, he lifts his hands from the counter and gently puts them on either side of my head. When I don’t speed up, he takes control, urging me to move faster. Pushing off of the counter, Brody moves his hips in time with his hands on my head. More and more of him slides down my throat with each thrust, causing me to gag and choke. I drop one hand into my pants to gently stroke myself for some relief. My other hand follows the movement of my lips .
Brody pulls my head closer, shoving his hips so far forward that I feel my throat stretch to accommodate him and I swear my dick is so hard, I could come right this very moment. My nose meets flesh as my hand drops away to take as much as I can and my body convulses, fighting for air.
“Fuck, you take this dick so well,” he breathes just before letting up.
His hips pull backward, his cock falling completely out of my mouth as I sputter and gasp. Saliva and mucus mix on my chin while my hand returns to stroke him. I look up, meeting his gaze, before returning to the task at hand.
“That’s it,” Brody grunts while I take him deep into my throat again. “Such a good fucking boy.”
Jesus, does this man know what he’s doing to me? I might come undone before he does if he keeps that up.
I speed up, listening to the moans and grunts from above me and using them as motivation. I want to suck this man’s soul out. His hands are on my head, pulling and pushing while his hips piston toward my face. I have to stop stroking myself to focus on him.
His grip is tight in my hair and he pulls my mouth off of him. My chin and chest are a mess from my efforts and I’m panting as he tilts my face up toward him.
“I didn’t know how much you wanted this,” he growls. “But now that I do… Do you want me to paint your face?”
My god, this man has the filthiest mouth. Talk about making up for lost time. No wonder Sophie fell for him.
“Yes, please.” It’s an out-of-body experience, as if I’m watching the two of us from afar while I beg him to finish.
“Open that pretty mouth,” Brody orders. “Tongue out.”
I do as he says without hesitation.
Then, one hand still tight in my hair, he uses his other hand to stroke himself. It only takes moments before his breathing becomes erratic, his body tensing. Sticky, salty, white ropes land on my nose, mouth, and chin. I flinch, my eyes fluttering as each spurt lands on me. He moans, his voice high and pained. I know the feeling–it’s the same one Sophie brings out in me.
When Brody sighs and lets go of my hair, it’s clear he’s done. I use my finger to wipe the cum around my lips while I can stare up at him. I use the same finger to wipe what I can from the rest of my face and lick it clean. Brody curses under his breath as he watches .
“Thank you,” I sigh.
Brody seems to come out of the fog of lust, eyes going wide.
“W-w-was that-? I mean is it ok that I-?” He’s stammering.
I sit back on my heels.
“Brody, that was more than ok,” I assure him. “But if you want it to be our secret, I’m ok with that.” Sophie wouldn’t hold it against us, but I won’t push.
He closes his eyes and shakes his head while I stand. My own erection is still very obvious, even in the dimly lit kitchen. Before I can turn to hide it, Brody’s eyes widen.
“Should I-?” He motions with his eyes and I smirk.
“You’re not ready for that.” I shake my head. “Get some sleep. I’ll take care of this.” I quickly brush his lips with mine in a gesture I pray isn’t too far. Brody’s face breaks into a smile.
“Thank you?”
“Is that a question?” I laugh. Now that the tension has lifted and the air is a little lighter, all I want to do is smile.
“Thank you.” Now it’s a statement.
“Go to bed.”