CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Saturday, July 29th
Brady thought about a song that he and Claire had been listening to for the last couple of days that fit them perfectly. The title was “Touching Heaven” and that’s exactly what he was doing. She was absolutely his hallelujah and when he opened his eyes and felt her warm body wrapped around his, he knew with certainty that everything good and right in the world lay in his arms.
Holy fuck, last night was incredible.
The first time was mind-blowing, the second soul-twisting, and the third time…well, that broke open his heart. Claire Hughes was going to be his and the rest of his days on earth were going to be spent making sure their bodies, hearts, and souls were solidly twisted together. Anything else would be unacceptable.
Brock’s action and behavior over the last several months suddenly made a lot of sense. In fact, Brady could see how he might be a whole lot worse when it came to keeping Claire close and protecting her. It was like he’d discovered the most beautiful treasure in the world, and keeping her safe and happy was solely his responsibility.
Which, in a way, it was because she didn’t have much family left as far as he could tell. He knew she had Quinn, but he wasn’t sure who she had beyond him. Probably just scattered relatives she’d never been close to. Well, now she had him and his brothers to count on. Not to mention the Bertrands. He knew that once Mama Rochelle found out he had a girlfriend, he was going to be expected to bring her by for supper. No way was Rochelle going to let this happen without her involvement. Which he appreciated.
The other thing he appreciated was the soft curves that were pressed against his morning wood. He had a feeling that if he hauled Claire on top of him, he could slip inside without any problem. Which might be the perfect way to start their day. Just as he was about to move her around, she mumbled something and turned over.
“Okay, still workable,” he muttered. Fitting himself behind her, he trailed his fingers over the slope of her hip. The feel of her silky skin made him want to trail his mouth over every inch. Which he would be sure to do by the end of the day. This weekend was going to be dedicated to Claire’s pleasure. They had forty-eight more hours of uninterrupted time and he meant to spend as much of it naked as she would allow.
Sliding his hands between her legs, he found that the angle of her legs gave him perfect access. He pushed two fingers through her flesh, circled her clit and felt her push her hips against his hands. “Good mornin’,” he whispered against her ear.
“Mmmmm,” she murmured.
Smiling to himself, he buried his face against her neck and inhaled the musky scent he’d left on her skin. The idea that he’d marked her sent a surge of blood to his stiff cock and made him grit his teeth. “Claire, I’m going to teach you about soft, slow morning sex. What do you say?”
Her body stirred as he eased two fingers into her tight channel and massaged the sensitive patch just inside. When she gasped and rocked her hips, he figured she was on board with his plan. “That’s it, baby. Just enjoy the ride I’m about to take you on.” Kissing her shoulder lightly, he fucked her with his fingers so she could get wet and ready to accept his aching cock.
“Brady, you sure know how to wake a girl up.”
He pressed his fingers deeper before dragging them back out to play with her clit. “Plan on enjoying this every morning from here on out.” He rubbed his stubbled jaw against her cheek and relished the idea of marking her. “Bend your knees, baby, and push your ass toward me.”
When she did as he asked without hesitation, he aligned himself along her back and pressed the head of his cock between her damp folds of flesh. They parted as he slid into her from behind. Pushing slowly, he took his time filling her up until he was as deep as he could go. He clasped her hip with one hand and brought the other around her throat, right behind her chin. He’d discovered last night that she got wetter and tighter when he became more aggressive and dominant, so he decided to add a little of it to their morning encounter. When her pussy clenched around him, he grinned. His girl liked it when he took control.
Noted.
Kissing her jaw, he rocked his hips against hers and let his shaft glide out to the tip, then all the way back in. The slick heat surrounding him felt like fucking heaven as he slowly built the momentum. Her gasps and low moans let him know that she was getting close. “Touch yourself,” he instructed her gruffly.
“What?” she moaned.
“Slide your hand down and make yourself come.”
“Oh…”
His dirty girl obeyed and her hand delved between her thighs, her fingers touching and stroking in rhythm to his thrusts. Her rapid breathing made him move deeper, faster. When she groaned his name and pushed her ass back against his hips, he knew she was on the cusp. “Let go, Claire.”
Her mouth fell open and she shook from the intensity of her climax. The rippling sensation enveloped his cock, gripped his length, and sent him over the edge with her.
A growl tore from his throat as his orgasm blasted through him. He gripped her hip firmly, drove himself into her again and again, and hoped he didn’t bruise her. Holy shit, he blew himself apart with the intensity of the pleasure that rolled through his body.
Easing his hold, he kissed her cheek gently and let out a laugh. “I almost blacked out.” When he didn’t get any response, he lifted his head and looked at Claire’s face. Her eyes were closed and she wore a happy, satisfied smile. “Give me a wave if you’re still alive.”
He watched her hand lift an inch off the bed and move. “Good enough.” He let his head fall back on the pillow and closed his eyes. “Best damn morning of my life,” he muttered before falling asleep.
***
Claire placed the jar of homemade pickles on the kitchen table and nodded. Seemed she hadn’t forgotten anything. Checking the wall clock, she realized that Andi should be here any minute. Hearing the doorbell ring, she turned quickly and felt a twinge in her legs. She’d been experiencing all kinds of them from the moment she woke up with Brady’s very skillful fingers buried deep inside her body.
Shivering, she walked slowly toward the front of her small house. Not only had the man taught her what it felt like to be sent to the moon, he taught her what tenderness felt like. Opening the door, she greeted her best friend. “Hey, girl.”
Andi pressed her hand to her heart and let out a snort of laughter. “You have been loved good and hard, my sweet friend.”
Stepping back, Claire raised her hand to her face. “How can you tell?”
Andi kissed her cheek and laughed. “As a medical professional, let me give you a list. Beard burn on your cheeks and, I imagine, many other places. The trail of hickeys along your neck. Dilated pupils, which suggest you were just remembering something particularly dirty and delicious.” Lifting Claire’s chin, she gave her a grave look. “The thing that really tipped me off, though, is that ridiculously happy smile on your face.”
“He got me good,” Claire mumbled as she took her friend’s hand and led her into the kitchen. Sweeping her hand over the table, she smiled. “I made all of our favorites: tomato salad, homemade pickles, and egg salad sandwiches.”
Andi swung their hands back and forth and laughed. “Perfect.”
“Oh, I forgot the barbecue chips.”
“Can’t forget those.” Andi sat down and waited. “So?”
Claire sat down across from her friend and smiled. “I may have seen the face of God.” Lifting a chip, she ate quickly. “I definitely saw a bunch of new colors that I had no idea existed and if I didn’t have a job and responsibilities, I might just want to stay in bed with him for…a real long time.”
“Damn, girl, that good?”
“Yeah. I even told him about how I became me and my lack of experience. I was as honest with him as I am with you and you know what he did?”
“What?” Andi asked breathlessly.
“He picked me up, held me close, and made love to my mind and body. There isn’t a part of me that the man didn’t touch. Inside and out.”
“So, this wasn’t just some romp. This was the real deal?”
“As real as it gets. If I’m not careful, he’ll have my heart in his hands and I will be praying he doesn’t crush it.” Leaning back, she picked at the crust of the bread on her sandwich. “I don’t know what to do with my heart and feelings. I’m scared out of my mind.”
“It’s okay not to know how to handle your own heart. Something that fits into one hand is the most powerful organ in the body. It roars, shifts, and changes directions and can shatter in a moment when someone you love slips away. It can also grow ten times its size when someone comes along and fills it up. Maybe Brady knows how to protect and take care of it. He’s a warrior, so if you were going to give it to anyone, he might be a good choice.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want it,” she moaned.
“Possible, but the only way to find out is to give it to him. He doesn’t strike me as a casual guy. He seems more of an all-in, going-to-keep-you type.”
“This isn’t anything that I know how to do,” she replied.
“Doesn’t mean you can’t learn.” Andi picked up a sandwich and started eating.
Claire followed suit and thought about what her friend had said. It was completely right-on, of course. But knowing and doing were two very different things. And the doing had sometimes been the most challenging thing for Claire. But sitting on the sidelines and doing nothing about her happiness was no longer an option, so it seemed she was going to have to dig up some gumption and go all in with Brady. The doorbell rang and Claire stood. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
“Maybe it’s Brady.”
“I told him we could get together later because you and I had plans. I don’t know why he would come by this early.” The doorbell rang again and she huffed out a breath.
“Seems his definition of later and yours are two different things.”
“Maybe,” Claire replied before walking out of the kitchen. Looking through her front window, she saw Brady’s truck parked out front. “That man must have ants in his pants.”
Opening the door, she slid her hand onto her hip. “I have my friend over.”
He braced his arm against the door frame and leaned in with a wicked smile lighting up his face. “I know, darlin’.” He pressed their mouths together, then lifted her in his arms and carried her into the house. “I came by to get my honey-do list done.” He let her slide down his body, grabbed her behind, and gave it a firm squeeze before letting her get away. “God, I’m glad that ass is mine.”
Claire shuffled away and shook her head. “Don’t you have anything to do today?”
“I want to do you, but you’re busy with your friend, so I came over to get your car washed up, fill it with gas, and check the tires.”
“I can do all of that myself.”
He took her hand and led her back toward the kitchen. “I know that, but now that we’re together, I take care of those things.”
As they stepped into the kitchen, Andi snorted. “Couldn’t stay away, Brady?”
“Hey, Andi.” He pulled out Claire’s chair and waited until she sat down. “I’m here to get my chores done before supper. I’ve got to take care of the car and then run over and get a new hose for the garden. Claire had said the one she has isn’t long enough.”
Resting her hand on her face, she wondered if this was some sort of alternative reality that she’d slipped into. As of yesterday, she was a single woman and now it seemed she wasn’t. “Maybe it’s something you should have discussed with me,” she said to Brady as he sat down next to her.
“Honey, I didn’t know it was a thing to be discussed. I thought it was just assumed.”
Claire looked at her friend and raised her hands. “Any of this make sense to you?”
“I haven’t had a boyfriend in like four or five years. As far as I’m concerned, he’s speaking a foreign language.”
Brady gave them both a disapproving look as he pulled his phone out. “I’ll give Kane a call and tell him to come over and take care of your car. Then we can all have supper together.”
“Maybe you want to pick out my china pattern, too,” Andi responded.
“Nah, that’s not my wheelhouse.” Brady pushed a button and smiled at the women as he waited for Kane to answer.
“He looks sane, doesn’t he?” Claire asked her friend as she stood and grabbed a plate out of the cupboard. Setting it down in front of Brady, she put her hand to his forehead. “No fever.” She pulled out a glass, filled it with iced tea, and then handed it to Brady.
“Sometimes people break with reality and it’s not immediately evident,” Andi responded before she shoved some chips in her mouth.
Kane must’ve answered, because Brady spoke quickly, giving him Claire’s address and then a set of instructions. The whole thing took less than three minutes and before the girls knew what was happening, their evenings had been planned. “Kane is on his way over. He’s going to get your car ready for the week and he said something about going by and picking up some chicken to throw on the barbecue.”
Claire shook her head and started talking to herself as she put some food on Brady’s plate. “This little thing we’ve got going isn’t going to last into next week if you keep being high-handed.” As she shook some chips onto the plate, she heard Andi laughing. “I don’t know why you find this so entertaining. Kane is worming his way into your life and before you know it, he’s going to have you so happy and satisfied that you’re not going to know which way is left and which way is right.”
Brady patted her hand and gave her a sympathetic smile. “Darlin’, we’ve hardly gotten started. I’d say by tomorrow, you may be confused about which way is up and which way is down.”
Crossing her arms, she raised an eyebrow. “I suggest you eat your lunch and get to the list you’ve made yourself. ’Cause talking isn’t getting you anywhere.”
“All right, dear.”
Andi lifted her glass and snorted. “Damn, he’s good.”
Claire pulled a pickle out of the jar and took a bite. “You have no idea.” When she saw a small smile start to lift Brady’s mouth, she frowned. “Don’t be so satisfied with yourself.”
He pointed his egg salad sandwich at her and grinned. “I’m not doing a thing except eating my lunch.”
Claire ignored him and looked at her friend. “Maybe we should get on Pinterest and see if we can find a good cocktail to make ’cause it seems that the men we’ve tangled ourselves up with are going to require it.”
Andi lifted her glass and clinked it against Claire’s. “Amen.”
Claire got up and went in search of her iPad. As she walked out of the room, she heard Brady ask Andi about her shift at the hospital. He was a good man and she had no idea why she was fussing at him for the kindness he was showing her. She’d been on her own, making her way, for well over ten years, and the fact that there was a man who wanted to do anything for her was a miracle. She would’ve been satisfied with all the pleasure he’d given her last night. But add taking care of her, and, well…she didn’t know what to do.
It was a strange new land and one she wasn’t totally comfortable in. She didn’t know the customs or the language, so she was afraid of making a mess of it. Which was the last thing she wanted to do. All that physical intimacy they’d had over the last twenty-four hours was leading to some emotional intimacy that she wasn’t sure she was ready for.
But ready or not, here he was. Sitting in her kitchen, making plans and settling himself in. The next step she made, the next move, was probably going to determine a lot of her future happiness. And that wasn’t anything she wanted to screw up.
She saw her iPad sitting on the table next to the couch and grabbed it. Before she walked back into the kitchen, she thought about spending time with Brady on that couch, and a big smile broke across her face. No doubt about it, the man made her happy and grabbing ahold of as much as she could seemed like a real good idea. She knew how fleeting it was and to ignore the big, beautiful man in her kitchen seemed like the most idiotic choice in the world. And she was definitely not an idiot.