Page 108 of Lucky Puck

“I’ve learned my lesson, Kat.” I hiccup before continuing, and she hands me another tissue from the apparently bottomless box.

After I blow my nose, I wonder how atrocious I must look. But what does it matter? “He’s gone.” A fresh stream of tears flows down my cheeks, and I can taste the salty sadness.

“You don’t know that⁠—”

“But he left without saying a word to me. I knew it was over. I don’t know why I was hoping for something after we spoke, and then…” I throw up my hands and let the bitter laugh at my stupidity have its way.

“I don’t know,” she says, less sure of herself. I may be converting her to my hopeless way of thinking. “Maybe⁠—”

She’s interrupted by a hard knock on our door.

“It’s probably Cherry. You answer it.”

She hands me the box of Kleenex, and I hug it to my chest as if it’s all I have.

When she opens the door, I hear Brody’s voice and freeze up like a robot with its chip removed.

“I’d like to speak to Broo—Bianca.”

Kat mumbles something about running out for something she just remembered she needs, and the door closes behind her. Then Brody walks around the corner into my living room, and I bounce to a stand from the couch, dropping the tissues and bumping my shin on the coffee table.

My first instinct is to run to him, but then I remember how I look. Shit.

“Bianca, I⁠—”

“Hold on a sec.” I turn and run for the bathroom.

“Where are you going? Brooks, I need to talk. Fuck this.” I hear his voice getting closer as he talks. “Brooks, please don’t cry. I’m sorry for whatever it is. I want to… hell, I want you to move back in with me.” He mutters something under his breath that sounds a lot like a flurry of swears I’ve never heard.

Then I stop scooping water onto my face and grab a towel. “What did you say?” I hold my breath.

“You heard me.” His voice is soft and has a pleading quality I’ve never heard, like it pains him to say the words.

I open the door and peek out. He smiles, dimple and shiny eyes flashing. Then he grabs my arm and pulls me from the bathroom, and I land against the solid wall of his chest and his furiously beating heart that matches the rhythm of mine exactly.

“Brody…” My voice is so breathy and sexy? that I don’t even recognize it.

He cups my face with one hand while he holds me against him with the other, and I feel everything all at once. The joy, the sensual feel of his lips and his tongue, the bite of his teeth, and the pressure of his body as he presses against me, the muscles of his arm roped around my back, and the feel of his luxurious hair in my fingers.

His mouth moves to my earlobe, where he lightly nibbles, sending shocks of electric pleasure to every nerve ending, especially the ones between my thighs, and I automatically press against him to feel that satisfying bulge of his desire, so perfect that I moan. My eyes roll back, and I’m worried that I might actually faint from overexcitement.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he whispers, fluttering the hairs at my temple with his breath.

My knees collapse, and I’m not even sure what I’ve said yes to, but does it matter? I think my answer to him will always be yes when he makes me feel this way.

“You… ” I can’t speak with him breathing on me, making me feel hypnotized, so I force myself to pull back, just enough to see his eyes, his face, and to figure out what the hell is going on and if this is real or some kind of psychotic break with reality I’m experiencing due to dehydration from excessive tear flow.

“Why?” I finally ask. “Why do you want me to live with you?” I can’t believe I dared to ask. My heart speeds up so fast that I clamp my hands to my chest to make sure it doesn’t escape or explode.

He blinks his eyes and then gulps, clearly uncomfortable with the question, and I’m not sure he’s going to answer me, to admit to feelings beyond lust, which won’t work for me because I’m way past mere lust. I feel tears threatening.

Then he clears his throat. “I could be falling for you.” His voice is quiet, but I hear him.

I reflexively light up like stars in the night, but I tamp down my excitement because this is important. He’s asking me to move in with him. For me, that’s a big deal, and I need to know it’s a big deal for him too, that he’s ready for it.

“I hope so. Because I’ve already fallen for you, and I wouldn’t want to fall alone because that’s the worst.”

“I know. I’ve been there.”