Then everything came slamming back in twice as loud.
I dragged a hand over my face and let out a half-laugh that sounded brittle even to my own ears. "Jesus," I muttered. "That oughta be illegal."
Didn't move. Couldn't. My limbs felt like they weighed a hundred pounds each, like gravity had it out for me personally.
And underneath it all, this weird, jittery edge—like my system had burned through something fast and hot and was now scrapin' the bottom of the barrel.
Brody scooped my wrecked body from the couch into his strong arms.
"I'd break all kindsa laws for you," Brody whispered against my skin before kissing my forehead.
Again with the damn swooning.
He carried me to the bathroom and gently sat me on the toilet. I squeaked when the cold porcelain hit my skin. Goosebumps erupted along every exposed inch. It was hard to tell if it was from the cold or from the perfect specimen of a man kneeling before me. He placed his hands on the tops of my thighs, thick fingers spreading to grip the muscle there. His thumbs gently stroked my skin and, I'll be damned, even after the crash, that simple touch had me clenching my thighs together.
Brody didn't notice. His emerald eyes were busy searching mine. He swallowed and licked his lips. "You okay?" His voice was quiet and a little rough. "Today was a lot."
I huffed out a laugh. "Sadly, three back-to-back orgasmsisa lot but?—"
"Not just that." He swallowed again, his eyes darting from mine briefly. "Earlier, at the ranch…"
My mom.
He was so goddamn earnest. So sweet. So caring. This time, it was my chest squeezing instead of my thighs.
"I'm good." I forced a smile. "Glad we could bond over our membership in the dead parents club."
Brody winced.
"Shit, I'm sorry." I placed a hand on his stubbled cheek, stroking his face the same way he was still stroking my thighs. "I've had a long time to come to terms with my lot in life. It's still fresh for you."
He nodded before turning his head and kissing my palm.
"Shower?" he asked.
It was my turn to nod. Brody rose, taking the warmth of his touch with him. He turned the water on, and we waited in silence for it to get warm. I took the opportunity to memorize the curve of his ass and the sharp cut of muscle just past his hip bones. The dusting of coarse hair I felt every time our chests had brushed together. The heart that lay beneath. The slope of his nose and the pout of his lips.
If the last thirty seconds had reminded me of anything, it was that I wasn't cut out for this shit. I wasn'trelationshipmaterial, and Brody wasallrelationship. I'd only end up hurting him. Saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing. I wanted so badly to just enjoy him while I had him, but what kind of mess would I leave in my wake when I left? Because Iwouldleave. Always did.
"Starin' at my cock, viper?" I looked up to see Brody smirking down at me. He was still hard.How was he still hard?"You wanna go again, you're gonna haveta gimme a few. Watchin' my cum drip outta you and eatin' your pussy has me hard as hell, but I'ma need a snack before I fuck you again."
I laughed. Loud. Because he was just so…Brody.
After a shower and a snack,Brody did, indeed, fuck me again. But it was slower, sweeter—full of those reverent kisses I loved so much.
Or, liked. Ilikedthem a lot.
Brody rolled us to our sides and pulled my leg over his hip. At that angle, his slick cock slid against my clit on every slow, lazy thrust. It was perfect torture.
Our tongues danced at the same lazy pace as Brody gripped my hip with one hand and wove his fingers through my hair with the other.
I pressed my forehead to his, our breath mingling in the small space between us. No urgency. No performance. Just the slow drag of him inside me and the warmth of his hand cradling the back of my head like I was something worth holdin' onto.
His eyes stayed on mine.
That was the thing about Brody. He looked at you. Really looked, like he had all the time in the world and nowhere else he'd rather be aimin' those green eyes. The first time, it had made me want to flinch away. Now I just… let him.
His hips rolled forward slow, and my breath caught, fingers curling into the warm skin of his back. He didn't speed up. Didn't chase it. Just kept that steady, devastating pace that had my whole body humming low and sweet.
