Chapter Thirteen
Brody and Mathias watched Etta and Trina go into the house then looked at one another.
“That was intense.” Brody said.
Mathias nodded and Brody frowned. “I know what you’re thinking so go ahead and say it. You think I’m going to cut and run.”
A shrug was all the response he got, which frustrated him. “Look, I know I don’t have much of a stick-to-it rep when it comes to relationships and I admit that I’m not the fall in love kinda guy, but I do care.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know. A lot?”
“What does that mean?”
“I wish to fuck I knew.” Brody raked his hands back through his hair then lowered his head into his hands.
“She talked about you. When she came to my house.”
“What did she say?”
“That you’re the only person she’s ever known who wasn’t broken. She said that you’re whole and pure and you don’t even know it. But you’re a hero, a real one who gives without asking anything in return. And that she cares deeply for you.”
Had it been anyone else, Brody would have kept his mouth closed. But he and Mathias had been friends since Mathias’ first posting to Brody’s team. Despite a few years difference in age, they’d hit it off and over the years their friendship had deepened. There was no one Brody trusted more.
“Aww shit, man. What am I supposed to do?”
“What you do want to do?”
“Honestly?”
“Always, brother.”
“Okay, don’t laugh. If I had my wish I guess I’d want to save her—from Sadie and Catherine, from the bad memories, Mason, and anyone who wants to hurt her.”
“You’d be her hero.”
“Yeah, silly, huh?”
“Not at all. She already thinks you are, so why not prove it?”
“How?”
“You’re a halfway smart man. You’ll figure it out.” Those words would have stung had they not been accompanied by a smile that let Brody know Mathias was just jerking his chain.
“Time for me to ride.” Mathias stood and offered his hand to Brody. “Later, brother.”
“Yep. Ride safe.”
“Always.”
Brody headed for the house as Mathias went around the side toward the driveway. Etta and Trina were at the front door, and he heard Trina thank Etta. Both turned as he entered the room.
“See you soon,” Etta said to him. “And Brody? If Sadie shows up, do whatever it takes to push her back.”
“Last time I had to drown Red.”
“I know. She told me.”
“Sadie’s gonna get wise to that fast. She’s not stupid.”
“No, but do whatever you can until we figure a way to help Trina eliminate that personality.”
“I will. Oh hell. I’m supposed to train on the mountain this afternoon. Deacon will have my ass.”
“I’ll take care of Deacon.”
“You say that so easily,” Trina commented.
“He and I have a long friendship. There are things we can say to one another that no one else can.”
“I appreciate the back-up.” Brody said.
“I’ll see you soon.” Etta promised and reached to give Trina’s arm a squeeze.
“Thank you, Etta.”
“You’re welcome.”
Etta left and Trina closed the door before turning to face Brody. “Do you hate me after what I said?”
“About what?”
“My stepfather. Mason.”
“No, why should I?” Brody crossed the room to her and took her hands. “Red, I never expected you to be a clean slate. None of us are. We all have baggage. Yours is—well, it’s more tragic than most and far more complicated, but the woman who was with Mason is Sadie, not you. And what happened with your stepfather—honey that’s rape and I’d like to snap the man’s neck.”
“I bet you could.” She pulled one hand free to reach up and touch his face. “But I wouldn’t want you to sully your soul with that.”
“I’m not nearly as pure as you make me out to be, Red.”
“I know. I know being a SEAL means you’ve done things for our country that you can’t talk about and things that might scare me. But I also know you’re good, Brody.”
“I hope I am.”
“And I’m willing to bet that you’re very good at some things.”
The change in her voice and look in her eyes shocked him. “Are you trying to seduce me, Red?”
“If you have to ask, I must not be doing it well.”
“Oh, I don’t know, honey. I think you had me at hello.”
“Then would you like to share a shower with me, and then a bed?”
“Are you sure about this?”
“I am.”
“But you said –"
“I said I hadn’t willingly had sex, and that’s true, but this is different. I want you, Brody and I know what that means. So, do you want to take that shower?
“You bet’cha.”
Trina smiled scooted around him, tugging on his hand. Brody grinned and followed her to the bathroom. She released his hand long enough to turn on the water in the tub and divert the stream to the shower head, then turned to him.
He was surprised when she took hold of his t-shirt and started pulling it upward. Trina tossed it aside and ran her hands across his shoulders then over his chest. “God, you’re sexy.”
"Red− " Did she have any idea the fire she was lighting inside him. Despite her words that she knew what she wanted, he wasn’t sure at all.
“Shh.” With that, she kissed him.
Kissed him like she knew what she was doing.
Good God.
Within seconds they were tearing at each other’s clothes, hands touching, wandering, caressing and all the while, lips locked and tongues warring for dominance in a kiss that had him more than ready for whatever she wanted of him.
When they were free of clothing, Brody pulled her to him, feeling the warmth and softness of her breasts pressing against him. His hands roamed down her back to cup her ass and pull her more firmly against him.
“Forget the shower,” she whispered against his lips.
His answer was to break free and reach in to turn off the water. When he turned back, she claimed another kiss hot enough to set the room on fire. Her arms wound around his neck and he waltzed her back a few feet before they thudded into the wall and Trina’s foot slid on the cheap rug. Her arms reached out, seeking purchase and pulled towels free from the wall rack.
Brody backed her up against the wall and she grabbed his arms, digging her fingers into his biceps as she tried to turn him against the wall. Again, her foot slipped on the rug. Had he not wrapped his arms around her, she’d have fallen.
He lifted her off her feet and she wound her legs around him as he pinned her against the wall. It nearly made him weak in the knees. “Now,” she whispered.
Brody had planned on taking it slow, pleasuring her every way he knew. But the way she was grinding on him and her plea was eroding her control.
“Don’t you want to go to the bed?”
“No, now, Brody. Now.”
He reached beneath her, curled his pelvis and with one push, sank in.
Trina gasped against his mouth. “Yes, please.”
Those words were all the encouragement he needed. Gone were thoughts of her fragile nature and her relative inexperience. There was only the growing need, the small sounds of pleasure coming from her lips and the feel of her.
Nothing else mattered. Nothing at all.