Bailey
BROCK CLIMBED INTO the back of the SUV, so that Dallas could drive. Pushing me to the middle of the bench seat, he sat beside me and linked his fingers with mine.
“How are we able to do this?” I asked as Dallas backed out of the garage.
“Since your parents know where you are, but don’t really know who we are, the heat’s died down a bit,” Brock said without further information.
I didn’t really care, so I didn’t press. I hadn’t been out of the house, other than the backyard and the doctor’s office, in over a month. I smiled at Brock. This was a date. A real date. Things were looking up.
Dallas pulled up to a little home in downtown Portland and climbed out of the car.
“Is there another reason the heat’s died down?” I asked once Brock and I were alone.
Brock frowned. “Why would you ask that?”
“Not born yesterday, Brock.”
He sighed. “The heat has shifted to Vermont.”
“My parents?” I asked, my heart dropping into my stomach. “Are they okay?”
“They’re safe, baby.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know.”
“You did something.”
He nodded. “I did something.”
“Okay,” I said, trusting him. I pulled my hand from his, cupped his cheeks, and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I wiped my lipstick from his mouth. “I kind of love you.”
He chuckled. “I kind of love you, too.”
The passenger door opened, and Macey climbed inside while Dallas held the door for her. “Hi guys.”
“Hi, Mase,” Brock said. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks, babe,” she said, and Dallas closed her door.
Dallas jogged to the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb.
“You look great, Bailey,” Macey said. “How do you feel?”
“I feel really good. Thanks for asking.”
Macey turned back to the front and I raised an eyebrow at Brock and nodded toward the couple.
Later, he mouthed.
I wrinkled my nose, but dropped it.
Arriving at the crowded restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised to find a reservation had been made and we were shown to our table as soon as we walked up to the hostess.
Dallas and Brock held our chairs and waited for me and Macey to sit down before taking their seats. Brock settled an arm behind me, stroking my shoulder and generally making me feel adored. After Macey and I ordered a bottle of wine, the waiter left us, and I leaned closer to Brock, my hand on his thigh.
“How long have y’all known each other?” I asked.
“High school,” they answered in unison.
“I was one year behind these two, and Alec was two years ahead of them, so I have always been the irritating little sister.” Macey smiled. “Brock’s younger sister is my best friend.”
Dallas and Brock said nothing, and Macey flicked Dallas’s ear.
“What the hell was that for?” Dallas asked, rubbing the side of his head.
“Because the correct answer should have been, ‘No, Mase. You were never irritating. You are gorgeous and amazing and the light to our darkness.’”
I covered a giggle.
“No, Mase. You were never irritating. You are gorgeous and amazing and the light to our darkness,” Dallas droned.
“Better.” Macey smiled and sipped her wine.
I watched as the three friends talked, and for whatever reason, it made me think of Ali, which in turn, brought tears to my eyes and I tried to blink them away.
“Guys,” Brock said. “If you’ll excuse us for a second.”
“Sure,” Macey said, and Dallas nodded.
Brock held his hand out to me. I took it and followed him outside and around the corner, past the food trucks and into the parking lot where he pulled me into his arms. “What’s up?”
“I just started thinking about how close you guys are and it made me think of Ali.” I forced a smile. “But I’m okay.”
He leaned down and kissed me. “We’re going somewhere alone tonight, so we can talk about anything you want to.”
“We are? Where?”
“Surprise.”
“Please tell me you’re gonna put a ring on my finger and that you bought condoms.”
Brock burst out laughing.
“I didn’t mean that to be funny,” I said.
“I know,” he said, still laughing. “I love you.”
“I’m rethinking whether or not I love you.”
“No, you’re not,” he said, and kissed my again. “And do you know why you’re not?”
“Why?”
“Because you know tonight’s gonna blow your mind.”
“I heard the first time sucks.”
“It won’t with me.”
I shivered. God, I hoped not.
“Better?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes, but I’m starving.”
“Well, let’s get my girl some food, then.”
* * *
I had a tough time concentrating on the food and conversation after Brock’s revelation that we would finally be alone. I’d wanted this since the night he’d informed me he was going to marry me. No, that wasn’t true, I’d wanted it longer than that.
Brock seemed to sense my distraction and carried most of the conversation without me, once again proving how perfect he was for me.
When it was time to go, I nearly knocked my chair over when I stood. Brock gave me a private smile and took my hand as we walked back to the car. Dallas drove us to the Sentinel hotel and, after saying goodnight, Brock opened my door for me and I slid out of the car, taking his hand again as he led me to our room. We didn’t speak, and I took the time to just feel the anticipation.
Brock opened the door and stepped back for me to precede him. I did so and smiled. A large king-sized bed with an upholstered headboard and soft bedding sat against the wall next to a large window. I barely got a chance to admire the luxury before I was swept into Brock’s arms and settled on the bed.
I giggled, running my hands through his hair. “How did you manage this?”
“My sister helped.”
I craned my head away from his kiss. “She knows about me?”
He smiled, stroking my cheek. “My whole family knows about you.”
I pushed him away and slid off the bed. “Your whole family knows about me and your sister booked us a hotel room.”
He leaned up on his forearm with a smile. “Yes.”
“Oh, my, god.” I paced the room muttering “Oh, my god,” several times, while Brock watched me with a goofy smile. “What?” I snapped.
He patted the bed. “Come here, baby.”
“No. No way.”
“Why not?”
“Because your parents are going to think I’m a whore.”
He scowled. “No, they won’t.”
“You’ve known me for just over a month, you had your sister book a hotel room so we could get it on, and your whole family knows it. I’m a whore.”
Brock’s shoulders shook as he looked away from me.
“This is not funny,” I snapped.
He slid off the bed, still laughing, damn him, and slid his hand to cup the back of my neck. “No one, and I mean no one, will ever think you’re a whore, least of all my family. They are going to love you.”
“But they know about me.” I stared at him. “You don’t think I should meet them first? Make sure they approve?”
“Bailey. Trust me when I say that they are going to love you. And no, I don’t think you need to meet them first, because you and I are separate from them. If by some off-chance reason, and I do mean off-chance, they don’t like you, it means nothing to me.” He smiled. “I love you. I can’t live without you. That’s it. Simple as that.”
I licked my lips. “You can’t live without me?”
“Nope.”
“What did your sister say when you had her book the room?”
“She nearly lost her mind.” He chuckled and nodded to the corner of the room where champagne sat in an ice bucket on the table. “She did that.”
“She nearly lost her mind? Why?”
“Because the last time I talked about a woman with any seriousness, I was sixteen and thought myself in love with my high-school girlfriend.”
“Oh.”
“And, I haven’t been with anyone in almost five years.”
I narrowed my eyes. “No one?”
“No one.”
“No sex, no nothing?”
“No sex, no nothing.”
I bit my lip. “What if you’re out of practice?”
Brock laughed, leaning down to kiss me. “That’s where communication comes in. You tell me what you like and don’t like, and I’ll go from there.”
“What about you?”
“Oh, baby, tonight’s all about you.” Brock slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small leather box. “But first.” He knelt in front of me and opened the box. “Will you marry me?”
Inside the box sat a simple three-stone diamond engagement ring in white gold. The center stone was an oval diamond with smaller diamonds on either side.
“Brock, it’s stunning.” I glanced at him and back to the ring.
“We can return it if you don’t like it.”
“I love it,” I said.
“Is that a ‘yes’?”
I nodded. “Yes. It’s a yes.”
He stood, prying the ring from the box and sliding it onto my finger. It fit perfectly. “Are you sure?”
I squeezed his chin. “I couldn’t have designed one better than this, Brock. It’s incredible.”
“And what about tonight?” he asked.
“You said you’d surprise me.”
“I did say that, but I need you to know that I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”
“What I don’t want you to do is chicken out.”
Brock raised an eyebrow. “Chicken out?”
“Well, we’ve determined you’re out of practice…”
With a growl, he lifted me and, after pulling back the covers, settled me on the bed. “I better get to studying, then.”
I giggled and reached for him. Brock covered my body with his and kissed me, sliding his fingers into my hair and holding me to him. I kicked my shoes off and left them where they fell before reaching for the buttons on his shirt.
“Wait, baby,” he said, and sat up.
“What’s wrong?” I sat up as well.
“I won’t survive you stripping me.” He undid the buttons on his shirt and slipped it off, while removing his shoes, socks, and jeans. He stood in front of me in a pair of tight, black boxer briefs and I licked my lips at the sight. “Okay, you doing that isn’t helping.”
I giggled pulling my blouse off.
“Wait, baby.”
“What now?” I asked, my irritation rising. “If you’re getting naked, I want to get naked.”
He chuckled. “Feisty.”
“I’ll show you feisty if you don’t get your ass in this bed.”
He set a knee on the bed and then hovered over me, leaning down to kiss my neck. “Are we a little impatient, baby bird?” He lifted my cami and kissed my stomach.
I shivered. “Very impatient.”
He pushed my camisole up over my breasts and pulled one side of my bra down. “We’re gonna take this slow, baby.”
“I don’t want to take it slow.”
“I get that,” he said, and removed my camisole completely. “But it’s gonna happen.”
He wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me over him, giving him the chance to unhook my bra and slide it from my arms.
“Gorgeous.” He drew a nipple into his mouth before unbuttoning my jeans.
“Oh, for the love of god,” I snapped, and yanked my jeans off before rolling him onto his back and straddling his hips.
Brock laughed. Actually, laughed at me.
“Why are you laughing?”
He slid his hands to my hips, his fingers playing with the lace on my pink, satin panties. “Because you’re unbelievably predictable and so fucking cute when you’re being predictable.”
I scoffed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You do realize that you’re wrinkling your nose at me while straddling my hips and gracing me with a view of the most incredible set of breasts ever?”
I rolled my eyes. “Why am I predictable?”
He sat up so we were chest to chest, my legs still straddled against him. “You’re predictable because I knew you were going to want to get down to business.”
“How did you know that?” I asked, but it came out in a whoosh when he took my nipple in his mouth again.
“Because you’re you, Bailey. And you are perfect.” He rolled me onto my back and slipped his hand between my legs. “So wet already.”
I nodded with a whimper as he slid one finger, then two inside of me, returning his mouth to my breast. I slid my hands into his hair and gripped tight, arching my hips in an attempt to get closer to him. “Brock.”
He removed his hand and I groaned in frustration, but he didn’t leave me hanging for long. He slid my underwear off, settled my legs over his shoulders and kissed the inside of my thighs before delving into my center. When he added his fingers, I nearly lost my mind.
“That’s it, baby. Come for me.”
I gripped the bedding as an orgasm ripped through me. Brock kissed my inner thighs again and climbed up my body to kiss me. “Ready for more?”
I nodded, unable to catch my breath. He grinned as he stood briefly to grab a condom and remove his boxers. I smiled slowly, and Brock joined me on the bed again. He kissed me as he slid the condom on and then stroked my cheek. “You need to stop for any reason, we stop.”
“I won’t want to stop.”
“Bailey.” He searched my eyes. “You need to stop for any reason, baby. We stop.”
I bit my lip and nodded. He slanted his mouth over mine and I opened to taste him. His fingers worked my nipple to a tight bead and then he focused on the other one. By the time he slid his hand between my legs again, I thought I might go mad with wanting. “Brock?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“You’re taking too long.”
“Okay,” he said, and shifted his hips between my legs, sliding himself inside of me.
“Oh, god,” I rasped, raising my knees so I could wrap my legs around his waist.
“Too much?”
I lifted my hips. “Not enough.”
Brock moved slowly, driving me insane, but also working my body into a frenzy. He slipped his hand between my legs and I thought I’d come apart right then and there. “Baby, this is gonna hurt.”
“I’m ready,” I said.
He gave one hard thrust and I felt the sting of my virginity slip away. Brock buried his face in my neck, breathing slow and deliberate as he waited.
“Why did you stop?” I asked.
“You need a minute, baby. Trust me.”
I did trust him, but when his fingers returned to my clit, I started to rethink that. “Brock.”
“Thirty seconds, baby.”
“Brock,” I growled.
And then he was moving again. He hitched one of my legs up further, holding me secure at the knee while balancing himself with his other arm and surging into me. I forced myself not to make a noise, lest he think I was in pain and stop.
When my orgasm built to the point of no return, I couldn’t hold myself back and called his name as I climaxed around him.
Brock gave two more thrusts before I felt him pulse inside of me and he collapsed, rolling me to my side, but staying connected. “Holy shit, baby.”
I giggled, even though I was trying to catch my breath.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sweeping my hair from my face. “How bad do you hurt?”
“I don’t hurt…at all.”
“Are you sure?”
“Brock, yes. I would tell you. God, that was…it was amazing.”
He kissed me, smiling against my lips.
“Can we do it again?” I asked.
“Absolutely, but let’s give your body a little while to adjust.” He separated himself from me and slid off the bed.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back.”
I sighed, closing my eyes. I heard the flush of the toilet and the running of the sink and then warmth pressed between my legs. I opened my eyes to see Brock holding a washcloth to me.
“This will help,” he said.
He was right. It did help. When he pulled the washcloth away, I saw the blood and wrinkled my nose. “I’ll take that.”
“I got it, baby.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Baby. I got it.” He chuckled and walked back in the bathroom.
“I wish I had a change of clothes,” I said.
“You have two.”
“What?”
Brock walked back into the room, sans washcloth, and grabbed a duffle bag off the floor, holding it up. “I packed your skin stuff and a couple changes of clothes.”
“Seriously?” I asked.
“I told you this was all about you.”
I climbed off the bed and wove my arms around his neck. “You are seriously too good to be true.”
He chuckled, leaning down to kiss my neck. “Oh, I’m aware.”
“Okay, I want to do that again.”
“Oh, really?”
I nodded, kissing my way down his chest, and kneeling in front of him. “But I want to start here first.”
“Bailey.”
I smiled, taking him into my mouth, not entirely sure I knew what I was doing, but determined to figure it out. I’d seen a little porn in my lifetime, so I tried to remember the bits before I’d shut off the computer due to major embarrassment. I guessed I was on the right track when Brock hissed through his teeth and slid his hands into my hair. I didn’t get to finish my lesson, however, as I was lifted and settled on the bed with Brock gloved and inside of me before I could protest.
“I wasn’t done,” I complained.
“The problem is, I almost was.”
I beamed. For whatever reason, that made me feel quite proud of myself and I smiled until I screamed.