Chapter 10
Monday morning Brody sat at his desk wondering if he should go to the main house and talk to Claudia. He had been miserable and hungover most of the day before, and he wanted a clear head before he talked to her. She hadn’t rejected John when he picked her up and took her to work that morning. Brody took that as a positive sign.
It was almost ten o’clock, and he hadn’t gotten much done. He couldn’t focus. Claudia had been on his mind all morning. He decided to pick her up from work himself and take her to dinner. He hoped they could talk about what had happened.
He tried to make sense of the spreadsheet in front of him, but he couldn’t concentrate. He stared out at the marina. Maybe he should take a walk down by the river. It wasn’t like him to stop working in the middle of the day, but he wasn’t being productive just sitting there anyway. He needed a break.
He buzzed Autumn and told her to hold his calls. She told him he should take as long as he needed and she’d call him if there were any emergencies. He was confident she could hold off any issues until he returned.
He walked down the back hallway to his private elevator. When he approached the doors, they opened. That surprised him, because the only other person he’d given access to was…
“Hi.” Claudia stepped out of the doors and stood in front of him. “I asked John to bring me.”
“How come?” Her presence stunned him.
“I wanted to apologize for the way I acted on Saturday. I didn’t mean to walk out like that.”
“You ran out.” He didn’t mean to be harsh, but no one ever had the power to wreck him the way she had. He never cared about anyone the way he did for her.
“I know, and I’m sorry,” she said.
“How did you manage to come here at this time of the day?” He looked at his watch. “Did you take an early lunch?”
“I couldn’t focus on anything but you,” she admitted. “I didn’t feel good, so I left early.”
“I was going to pick you up this afternoon so we could talk.” He was certain he never would have made it that long. Who was he kidding? He thought about getting in his car and going to the main house to see her when he bumped into her in the hall.
“I could go home if you’re busy,” she said. “You could meet me at my apartment later.”
“You’re here now..” He wasn’t going to give her the opportunity to run again. “I want to talk.”
“Me too.”
“Let’s go down by the water,” he said. “We can sit on the dock. It’s private.”
“Okay.”
As they waited for the elevator, he said, “I’m glad you came.”
“I should’ve called you last night, but I didn’t know what to say.”
“And you do now?” They got onto the elevator, but she didn’t answer his question. They didn’t speak on the ride down to the marina. He wanted to hold her hand or put his arm around her waist, but he wasn’t sure she wanted him to touch her.
Once they reached the dock, they sat on a wooden bench that overlooked the river. “You look like I feel,” she said. “I made us both miserable.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
She shook her head.
“You need to tell me so I don’t make the same mistake.”
“It wasn’t you,” she said. “I like you, but I’m not sure we work.”
“I think we were doing just fine.”
“We happened so fast,” she said. “I never expected us to get together. My life is crazy right now, and I don’t want to drag you into it.”
“That’s my choice. I can see you’re dealing with something big, and I want you to trust me. You’re not there yet and I understand, but I don’t want to give up on what we’ve got going on. If you need more time to open up to me, I want to give you that time, but I can’t have you running from me.”
“I don’t want to run.”
“You don’t?” Her admission surprised him. He thought it was going to take much more persuasion on his part. “You want to give us a shot?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I want to be with you.”
He stroked her cheek. “This has been the worst two days of my life.”
“Mine too.”
“I’ve never let anyone get to me the way you have. I’m not used to feeling so out of control.” He wanted to be honest with her. He hoped it would help her to trust him.
“I’ve never been in a serious relationship before. This is all new to me too.”
“We could learn together. We’ll probably screw a few things up, but if you’re willing to try I know I can make you happy.” He took her hand in his. “Will you let me make you happy?”
She looked down at their hands. “I want to make you happy too.”
“You do.” He placed his palm on her cheek and gently drew her face closer to his. “Just don’t leave me again.”
“I won’t.”
He kissed her softly on the lips. When she sighed against him, she relaxed into his touch. He still had no idea what was troubling her, but as long as she was there it didn’t matter. He’d get her to open up eventually, but in the meantime, he’d do everything in his power to keep her happy and with him.
* * * *
Claudia placed the bouquet of roses on her kitchen table and glanced at the clock on the wall. He’d be here soon. She read the card again.
Sleeping Beauty,
I’ll be there by seven.
Brody
xoxo
She laughed over his kisses and hugs in the signature line. For such an intimating business man, he was a hopeless romantic. He’d sent her flowers three times this week, picked her up from work personally on Monday and Tuesday, and spent every day trying to persuade her to take the internship at his company.
He fondly referred to her as Sleeping Beauty because after a full day at work she was exhausted, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep her eyes open past nine. He’d stay and watch the news while she slept in his lap. He’d carry her to her bed and then let himself out, but not before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
It had been two weeks since that day on the dock, and he stayed true to his word. He didn’t pressure her into telling him what was bothering her. Actually, telling him about the pregnancy wasn’t front and center for her anymore. She had to tell him. After getting to know him better these past few weeks, she wasn’t as afraid to let him know.
When they first started seeing one another, she couldn’t see past her pregnancy. She saw it as an obstacle they would never be able to overcome. By hiding it, she had been trying to prevent the inevitable. She thought Brody would call it quits once he knew. Now that she could trust him, she didn’t think he’d leave her. She didn’t expect him to accept her and her baby with open arms, but she hoped he’d at least want to stay in her life as her friend. She saw the way he treated Autumn and her kids. Brody’s relationship with Autumn was different from the one she had with him, but she hoped he’d want to keep their friendship. Of course, she wanted there to be more between them, but she’d understand if he couldn’t handle anything else.
She was ready to tell him the truth and let Brody decide for himself what he wanted. Keeping her secret for as long as she did was wrong, but she had to come to terms with her pregnancy and what it meant to let another man in. Telling Gavin didn’t go the way she’d planned, but Brody wasn’t Gavin.
She heard the front door open. Her heart fluttered and her little one jolted around inside her stomach. She placed her hand on her belly and gently pressed back, letting her baby know she was finally going to share her news with the special man who had entered their lives so unexpectedly.
She hurried to the living room to greet him, but he was on a call.
“I don’t care, Gavin!” Brody wasn’t pleased. The tone of his voice proved that.
Wonderful. Nothing set Brody off the way Gavin did.
“No,” Brody said. “You told Jacob you’d have it finished by this week. If you screw this up, we lose the bid. You put Callahan Industries’s reputation on the line. Fix it.”
Claudia could hear the frustration building in Brody’s voice.
“I don’t care what you have to do. Don’t make me fly to Boston tonight. Do you understand?”
Boston? Tonight?
“Call me when you know something.” Brody ended the call. “He’s incompetent.”
“Hi.” She bit her lip. “Rough day?”
He crossed the room in an instant and had his arms around her. “You have no idea.”
“Anything I can do?”
“Kiss me.”
She leaned into him and placed her lips against his. He moved his arms up her sides and to her shoulders, bringing her closer to him. He reciprocated by moving his mouth against hers for a few seconds before slipping his tongue inside and swirling it around, seeking out hers. His stubble rubbed against her jaw. His searing kiss intoxicated her. She wrapped her arms around his neck for support and before she realized what was happening he’d swooped her up and carried her to the couch.
He lay her down and then took his suit jacket off and placed it on the loveseat. He loosened his tie and took off his shoes. Heat coursed through her body, causing her to shiver from pure desire.
“Do you want to talk?” She sat up. “You look stressed.”
“I’m very stressed, but I don’t want to talk right now.” He moved her onto her side, and then slipped in next to her, facing her as he rested on his side. “I don’t want to think about work, Boston, or what a screw up my brother is.”
So, maybe now isn’t the time to tell you I’m having his baby.
“I just need to be close to you right now,” he said. “I need you to help me forget the horrible afternoon I’ve had.”
She ran her fingers along his jaw and to his lips. He kissed her fingers. He’d never asked for anything before. It was always him taking care of her, making sure she was okay and her needs were met.
Who takes care of him?
He brushed his lips against hers. “I won’t ask you to do anything you don’t want. Being close to you calms me. I just want to forget for a few minutes.”
“I can make you forget everything,” she spoke against his lips. “Will you let me?”
“Please.” He trailed his hand along her side and rested it on her hip as he glided his lips down her neck. “Berries, you always smell like berries.”
She wiggled closer to him. Feeling his erection against her thigh made her even more determined. She thrust her hips forward, wanting to explore more with him.
“Oh God.” He dug his fingers into her hips and moved her up and down, pressing harder into her thigh.
She wanted to make him feel good, but she worried her stomach would get in the way. They’d been getting closer these past few weeks, but they were never in this position before. Her stomach was up against his body, and she didn’t want him to have to find out that way, so she decided to put a little distance between them.
He stilled when she went for his belt buckle. He stopped kissing her while she undid the button on his pants and then lowered the zipper.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you forget everything.” She pushed him onto his back and settled between his legs.
“You don’t have to do this,” he said. “That wasn’t what I meant.”
“I want to do it,” she said. “I want to make you feel good.”
She had this overwhelming urge to please him. His body was full of tension. Every one of his glorious muscles were coiled tight and she wanted to give him a release.
She reached for his pants and boxers, giving them a tug. He lifted his hips and helped her slide them down his legs. She was face to face with his massive length. Letting out a nervous breath, she licked her lips and leaned forward, wrapping her fingers around the thick base. She’d only done this a few other times, but never to completion.
He jerked his hips when she swiped her tongue over his tip, tasting the salty essence as it seeped from him. Even down there he smelled of Brody. Traces of his body wash lingered between his legs, mixing with the scent of a man, masculine and aroused.
“You’re so beautiful.” He reached down and gathered her hair up off her face. His voice was raw with need, and his gaze was strong and intense. He supported his weight on his forearm. “I want to watch.”
She took him into her mouth, not all at once, because she had to make sure she could handle all of him. The pregnancy caused her to have a sensitive gag reflex and Brody was much bigger than her toothbrush.
A lot bigger.
She moved her lips down his shaft, feeling his smooth taut skin beneath her tongue, memorizing the texture and taste as she bobbed her head up and down. He tightened the grip on her hair as legs jolted in quick spasms. His thigh muscles stiffened against the sides of her arms.
The noises coming from him mixed with the fact that she knew he was watching her gave her a confidence she hadn’t possessed before. She took as much of him into her mouth as she could and covered the rest with her hand. She pumped him in and out of her mouth, licking the back of his length. With each downward motion she made with her lips, he hardened even more. She liked the thickness of him and imagined what he’d feel like inside her. Her panties were soaked and she fought the urge to reach between her thighs to relieve the ache.. This was about pleasing him, so she squeezed her legs tight and continued to bring him closer.
“Claudia…” He reached for her arm and tried to pull her up, but she didn’t want to stop, “I’m gonna come and you need to…”
She sucked harder A few seconds later, his warm liquid hit the back of her throat. As he spilled inside her mouth, her name tumbled from his lips. She placed a soft kiss on the tip of his softening head, then crawled up and rested against his chest.
After a few seconds of panting, he spoke. “That was so fucking hot.” He tilted her chin up, leaning down to kiss her. “I can’t catch my breath.”
“You liked it?”
“I loved it,” he said. “I needed that.”
“I’m glad I could finally do something for you.”
“What about you? I could do something for you.”
“No, not tonight. I want this night to be for you.” She hugged him. “I want to be with you. I’m ready to take the next step.”
He squeezed her tighter and held her against him. “You’re sure?”
“Positive,” she said. “We need to talk, but I can see you’re exhausted. You have a lot on your mind, so I can wait.”
“Claudia, I’m never too busy for you. If you want to tell me something I’m listening.”
“I know, but right now you need to fix what’s going on in your company. I can feel the tension coming off you in huge doses. If you need to make calls, do what you have to.”
“You’re amazing.” He kissed her hair. “If I don’t clean up his mess, I’m going to have to go to Boston. I don’t want to leave you.”
“I don’t want you to go either,” she said. “So, take tonight to figure out what you need to do and we’ll be together when you resolve this.”
“I can work from here. My laptop is in the car.”
“You want to stay for a while?” She didn’t want him to leave, not now when they were so close to one another.
“I want to hold you while you sleep and carry you to bed.”
She loved the way he cared for her, but she knew he had a busy evening in front of him. She was certain when he left her apartment he’d work through the night.
“I won’t be upset if you need to leave.”
“I would be,” he said. “I feel so connected to you right now.”
“Me too.” She sat up. “I’ll shower while you work. Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’ll help myself to something to drink. By the time you get back, I’ll have some of this resolved and then we can watch TV.”
She giggled because she usually didn’t watch anything but the back of her eyelids.
“Well, I can watch TV and you can snore.”
“I don’t snore.” She looked at him, but he didn’t say anything. “Do I?”
“Maybe just a little.”
“That’s not really sexy, is it?”
“Everything about you is sexy, especially that skilled mouth of yours.” He ran his thumb along her bottom lip. “Now that I know what you can do with these lips, I may never be able to concentrate again.”
She sucked his thumb into her mouth and swirled her tongue along it.
“Vixen.”
She released his finger and kissed him. Her body craved him in ways she’d never experienced for anyone else. She wanted his hands all over her, his tongue between her legs, and his impressive cock inside her desperate body.
“You better get out of here.” He nudged her off the couch. “Before I change my mind and take you without thinking.”
She smiled before getting up off the couch and walking down the hall, swaying her hips all the way. Brody made her feel sexy and wanted.
“I can’t concentrate when you look as good as you do,” he said before he made a phone call.
She hoped he could fix Gavin’s mess without having to leave New York. She couldn’t bear for him to go to Boston. Not when she was finally ready to tell him the truth.