I suck in a sharp breath as his mouth meets my flesh, hot and wet. My head falls back when his tongue finds my clit, teasing against it with a steady flick that quickly narrows my whole world to that tiny point.
One hand tangles in his hair as the other one flattens against the desk, keeping me upright as Tobias works my body like he’s known it for years. Every move is purposeful and exact, and just like last time, I’m coming before I can prepare. His name is loud on my lips as my thighs clench against his head, hips working against his face as I take every bit he’s willing to give me.
And he said he wished he’d tried to give me everything. That if he had it to do over again, he would have tried to make me stay.
A little part of me—the defiant part that Matt couldn’t break no matter how hard he tried—wants to think that’s what Tobias is trying to do now.
Give me everything. Make me stay.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try to resist, I have to admit he’s doing a pretty good job.
19
Tobias
“Are you sure I should be here?” Brooke’s uncertainty isn’t surprising. It’s become very clear she doesn’t recognize that she’s already part of my family. Whether she likes it or not.
Whether she chooses me or not.
“I’m positive.” I climb out from behind the wheel of the side-by-side we drove over, rounding the front to help her out. “I also feel obligated to tell you what happens when my mother is expecting you for dinner and you don’t show up.” Reaching a hand out, I wait for her to take it before offering a little tug as she straightens from the vehicle. “It’s not pretty.”
Brooke’s lips curve in a smile. “I can imagine not.” She doesn’t pull her hand from mine as we begin walking toward the house. “Your mother is a pretty determined individual, and very much likes when things go her way.”
“No lies detected.” Leading Brooke to the door, I give her a smile. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She needs to know I appreciate whomy mother is as a person. That I don’t see her bossy nature or stubbornness as something to love her in spite of.
It’s actually a big part of the reason she’s so lovable.
My mother knows who she is and makes no apologies for it. That’s what I want for Brooke. Will it happen? I don’t know. The more insight I gain on what happened in California, the more I worry it might not. But I’m going to do my damnedest to give her all the support I can no matter what.
As soon as we step inside, Brooke tugs her hand free, putting a little extra space between us as we enter the kitchen. I know she feels some sort of way about what she should be doing right now. Thinks other people will judge her if she jumps into another relationship too soon.
But considering one of my brothers is about to marry his personal chef, and another rotates through women like most people do socks, I can’t imagine there’s going to be any judgment happening. Not toward her anyway. It’s entirely possible I could catch some shit if any of my brothers heard the rumor going around about the noises that have been coming from my office lately.
Brooke and I have fallen into a weird sort of rhythm. One where we keep our work and home lives completely separate. And not in the way you’d think.
More days than not, one of us finds our way into the other's office, and I find my way into her panties. For a while, Brooke tried to reciprocate, but I’ve shut it down every time.
I’ve got a point to make.
She needs to know, without a shadow of a doubt, I’m nothing like the man she left—the one in California, and the one who sent her there.
More than that, I need to prove to myself I can be what she needs. What she deserves. That the selfish boy who claimedhe wasn’t ready for more has grown into a man who will do whatever it takes to prove he’s ready for everything.
That’s why I only touch her at work where there are limiting factors to help keep me in line. Once I get my hands on her without the fear of someone banging on the door, all bets are off.
As soon as we enter the kitchen, my mother sets her sights on Brooke, hustling to her side with smiles and compliments. Brooke and I came here straight from work—only stopping at home to quickly let the dogs out and switch from our cars to the UTV—so she’s still dressed in her fancy clothes, looking fucking irresistible in high heels and one of those fitted skirts that makes it hard for me to think.
If I wasn’t worried my mother would have come to collect us personally, I might have tried to break the barrier we’ve built and brought her here late with flushed cheeks and weak knees.
It’s going to happen at some point. Honestly, it’s a miracle I’ve made it this long knowing she’s just down the hall asleep in my bed.
“Don’t you look stunning.” My mother hooks an arm around Brooke’s shoulders, leading her toward the table where Mariah sits. “Come have a seat. Mariah and I are finalizing plans for her baby shower this weekend.” She directs Brooke to the seat across from Mariah before sitting down next to her. “Would you be able to come over an hour early to help me put the finishing touches on everything?”
Brooke looks between my mother and Mariah, and it takes everything I have not to intervene. I know this moment has to happen, I just wasn’t expecting it to come so soon.
Her brows pinch as she finally says, “I didn’trealize I was invited.”
