Chapter Nine
SOPHIE COULDN’T BELIEVE her ears. She’d known in her heart this might eventually happen, but hearing Brett say it was so much bigger than dreaming about it. She had to ask the burning question. “What changed?”
“I don’t know. Everything?”
He carried the wine into the kitchen, and she wondered if he was avoiding the conversation. Running. Feeling boxed in. She handed him two wineglasses from a cabinet.
As he poured the wine, he said, “I hate seeing that look in your eyes, like you don’t know if you can count on me, and I know I cause it. But I don’t want you to worry about whether I’m your man or if I mean what I say.” He turned confident, dazzling eyes on her and said, “I mean every word.”
She felt like she wanted to cry and laugh at the same time and had the urge to text Grace and tell her that he was a mind reader after all. “But what about feeling hemmed in and ruining us?”
He handed her a glass and gazed deeply into her eyes with a serious expression. “I don’t honestly know. I’m messed up, but my brothers worked through their issues, which gives me hope. I want to try with you, Sophie. If you still want to try with me, that is.” He put his hand on hers and said, “You’re trembling.”
She cleared her throat to try to regain control of her emotions. “I didn’t realize how badly I wanted to hear that from you until just now. I want to, Brett. I definitely want to.”
The air rushed from his lungs and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Can we talk about it?” she asked carefully, feeling his heart thudding against her own.
“Yes, but if you don’t mind, right now I’d just like to sit and hold you while we watch the movie, drink a little wine, and come to grips with doing what most people do from the time they are teenagers. This is a huge first for me, babe.”
“You’ve never had a girlfriend? Like, ever?”
“If a week in high school counts, then sure, but when you grow up in a house where one day you’re standing on solid ground and the next everything you’ve ever known and counted on has been ripped to shreds, long-term loses its significance.” He kissed the tip of her nose and said, “Think you can give me a little time to adjust?”
It pained her even more knowing how much losing his sister had affected his whole life. The hurt still practically radiated off him. “You know what? I think we just figured out why you have a hard time with commitment.”
His face clouded with uneasiness.
Realizing he’d just asked for time to adjust and she’d thrown another life changer at him, she quickly added, “We’ll take baby steps.”
He captured her mouth in a powerful kiss that rolled through her like thunder. “I don’t do anything like a baby, got it?”
“You sure don’t, but maybe you should remind me again with another kiss.”
“Okay. But you need to know that I’m not ignoring what you said. You might be right, but I don’t want to dissect it tonight, okay?”
“No dissecting. Only kissing.”
Several scorching-hot kisses later, they kicked off their shoes and curled up on the couch to watch the movie. Sophie was as shocked by Brett’s abrupt change as she was by his confession about the wine. An hour into the movie, she still couldn’t stop stealing glances at him, trying to reconcile all the parts of her complicated, emotional man. She couldn’t help but wonder how much hurt lingered beneath his tough exterior.
His gaze moved from the television to her, catching her staring. “Come here, babe.”
He shifted so they were lying on the couch with him spooning her, and ran his hand along her thigh. His breath was warm on her neck, and when he pressed a kiss there, she closed her eyes and soaked it in.
“I like your outfit. I’ve never seen you in cutoffs.”
His voice brought her eyes open again, and she turned around so she was facing him. “No one wears cutoffs in the city, so I don’t wear them out.”
“You should wear them everywhere.” He kissed her softly and squeezed her bottom. “I take that back. You should wear clothes that cover you up around other guys.”
Even though he said it teasingly, she remembered how he’d questioned Charlie and said, “You’re a very jealous boyfriend.”
“What’d you call me?” He drew back, his tone serious again.
“Jealous, which you are, even if you deny it.”
“Hell, babe. I’m not denying it. Wouldn’t you be if you were me? You’re smart, sexy, and sweeter than honey, and I’m a lucky guy. But that’s not what I was asking about. You called me your boyfriend.” A soft smile lifted his lips. “I’m digging that.”
“Really? But it’s a label.”
“No shit. Stop reminding me. Just go with it.” He kissed her again. “I’m not complaining about this, but you can’t see the movie if you’re facing me.”
“I’ve already seen it,” she whispered, and buried her face in his chest.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” He grabbed her ribs, tickling her as he swept her beneath him.
She squealed. “Stop! Stop! Stop!” she pleaded.
He lifted her shirt and kissed her belly. “Answer the question or I’ll do it again.” His hand hovered over her ribs.
“No, please!” She swatted his hand away. “You went to all this trouble. I didn’t want to ruin it. I love that you thought ahead and brought a movie over.” She pulled him up by his biceps and studied his handsome face. He looked different, happier, lighter.
“I need a list of all the movies you’ve seen,” he demanded.
“Why? No one gets Redbox anymore when we can stream movies right to the television. I thought you were a movie guy. You should know that.”
He lowered his mouth to her ribs in a series of openmouthed kisses that made her squirm. “I know how to stream movies.” He kissed his way up the center of her stomach to her neck and all the way to her lips, then perched above her. “I admit that I don’t have much practice with this, but showing up and saying, ‘Let’s stream a movie,’ doesn’t sound as romantic as showing up with a movie in hand.”
She pulled him down so their lips touched and whispered, “That’s why I didn’t say anything. I love that you brought it, and I love that you thought of me and what I’d like. So instead of tickling me, how about we take this into the bedroom and you can thank me properly?”
He was on his feet in three seconds flat, stripping off her sweater. “I’m going to thank you all night long. Think you can handle that?”
“I’m game for anything as long as it’s with you.” She palmed his erection, and he groaned, making her entire body tingle.
“Christ, Soph,” he ground out. “Now I can’t remember what I was going to say.”
“It’s a good thing thinking isn’t required for what I have in mind.” She fumbled with the button on his pants and he grabbed her wrist, stopping her cold with his dark stare.
“Did you hear what I said, babe? I’m not leaving you tonight. Can you handle that?”
Her eyes widened and her fingers curled around the waist of his pants. “You’re staying? For the night?”
“Unless you don’t want me to.”
“Are you kidding? You’re staying!” She leapt into his arms, earning a hearty laugh and another butt grab. “I can handle it, but are you sure you can?”
He strode toward the bedroom with her in his arms. “How about I show you just how well I can handle it.” He set her on her feet beside the bed and took her in a slow, sensual kiss. “All.” He lifted her shirt over her head and kissed the swell of her breast. “Night.” He removed her bra, sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled her over so she stood between his legs. As he lowered his mouth to her breast, he said, “Long.”
THURSDAY MORNING BRETT awoke to the feel of Sophie’s warm breath whispering over his cheek in soft, repetitive puffs. She was nestled against him in the same position in which she’d fallen asleep, with one knee tucked between his legs and a hand on his neck, as if she didn’t want to chance him running away. The thought made him happy and brought a knot to his gut at the same time. How did they end up here so quickly? A few days ago he was spouting off about not being her great love affair and Sophie had accepted him as such. She hadn’t pushed, hadn’t given him an ultimatum or otherwise tried to pressure him into committing, and she’d managed to reel him right in. He waited for regret to hit, for the restlessness that had chased him his whole life to send him sneaking from the bed and searching for his clothes. It was there, prickling around his edges, trying to get his attention, but there was an even bigger feeling standing in its way. He opened his eyes and found Sophie watching him with a tender, contemplative expression.
“Hi,” she said sleepily.
Her sweet, trusting voice doused those prickly edges. “Hey. Did I wake you?”
She shook her head, a smile lifting her lips. “But I’m glad you’re still here.”
“Soph…” He brushed her hair from her face, feeling a pang of guilt. “Did you think I wouldn’t be?”
She shrugged.
“You knew I was leaving all those other nights. You asked me to stay until you fell asleep, I didn’t…Shit. Was I supposed to read further into that? Why didn’t you say something? I told you I had no clue about how to go about this.”
“No, you weren’t supposed to,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean that. I just wasn’t sure if you’d be here this time, even though you said you would.”
Her words felt like a well-deserved punch to the gut.
“I get why you’d worry, and I’m sorry for that. But you have to know I would never let you think I’d stay and then leave. I haven’t been able to go without seeing you for a single day since we’ve been together. You didn’t force me to. I’m here because I want to be with you.”
She nodded, brows furrowed, which made that knot in his gut tighten.
“I don’t want you to get scared and end this,” she said softly. “I’m okay with you not staying over if it’s easier for you.”
“Why?” came out before he could stop it. “You shouldn’t be okay with it night after night. You deserve more.”
Her lips curved up at the edges. “I’m glad you see that, but my new boyfriend said he bolts when things get serious, so…”
He rubbed his nose along her shoulder, inhaling the lingering scent of their lovemaking. “I’m not bolting.” He nipped at her neck. “I want to be here with you, and if I feel boxed in I promise I’ll tell you. I won’t just take off or end things.”
“Thank you,” she said as he kissed his way down her arm. “Because a girl could get used to waking up to this.”
“A girl?” He dragged his tongue along her side, kissed the dip of her waist and the swell of her hip. “Or you? Because I don’t give a damn about anyone else.”
She squirmed as he kissed his way over her hip to her backside. “Me.”
“Damn right, you.” He gave her ass cheek a gentle bite.
She gasped, then glared at him. In the next breath, she curled around his body and bit his ass.
“Ow,” he said with a laugh. “You are a feisty girl.”
Holding his gaze, she rolled onto her back and crooked her finger. He loved how she didn’t hold back. Every time they were together he felt closer to her. He grabbed her wrist with his right hand, holding it beside her head as he spread his left hand over her thigh and pinned her to the mattress, then lowered his mouth to her breast the way he knew she loved.
“Brett,” she begged. “I want more of you. I want you in my mouth.”
“I haven’t had my fill yet.”
He leaned across her body and circled her other nipple with his tongue. Then he blew cool air over the wetness. She arched beneath him, straining against his hands. He squeezed her thigh as he grazed his teeth over the sensitive nub and moved his hand between her legs, teasing over her slick center. A long, surrendering moan left her lungs.
“Jesus, Soph. You have no idea how good you feel.” He brought his lips to hers as he teased between her legs. He traced her lips with his tongue and whispered, “I don’t know what I want to do first. Fuck your mouth or sink into you so deep you feel me tomorrow when you’re sitting in your pretty little skirt at work and you get wet just thinking about me.”
“Ohmygod. Now you know that’s going to happen.”
He grinned down at her. “Want to meet me for a quickie at lunchtime?”
She pressed her lips together, eyes wide, as he slipped his fingers inside. She sighed longingly. He fucking loved that sigh.
“What do you say, Soph? The hotel next to your office? I’ll get a room, make you feel amazing.” He sealed his mouth over hers, feeling her body tremble as he loved her. “We’ll shower together. You like naughty showers.” His cock twitched just thinking about being with her in the middle of the day. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted as she panted at his words. “Then I’ll walk you back to work, and later, I’ll take you out for an incredible dinner, wine and dine you so you know how much I adore you.”
Her eyes opened. “I can’t…I’ve never done that in the middle of the day.”
“But you want to. With me.”
His mouth moved over hers, devouring its softness as he teased over the special spot that made her grab at the sheets and cry out into their kiss, her sex clenching. When she panted for air, he breathed air into her lungs.
“More,” she said breathlessly. “More kisses, more you.”
He withdrew from between her legs and spread her arousal on his cock, repeatedly moving his hand between her sex and his shaft until it glistened. “Stroke me, baby. I won’t come, because I want to be inside you when I do, but I need you to touch me.”
Her beautiful mouth spread into a seductive grin. “I like touching you as much as I like kissing you.”
He recaptured her lips, more demanding this time as she stroked him and he loved her with his hand. Their tongues danced to the same beat as their ministrations. His hips thrust, her pelvis rocked, and when she grabbed the back of his neck and rose off the bed, her fingernails dug into his skin. She quickened her strokes, and he felt her body flex.
She tore her mouth away and said, “Come with me,” then crushed her mouth to his again.
Their kisses were rough and messy. Her hot mouth and the tight grip of her hand on his cock sent him soaring at the same moment she cried out his name. His body thrust with every pulse of his orgasm as he came on her stomach and chest. She didn’t relent, continuing to work his oversensitive cock, causing him to buck and groan. He brought his mouth to hers again, feasting on her sweetness. She’d mastered making him hard after he’d come, and minutes later he sheathed his erection. He nudged her legs open wider, and her hips rose to greet him. He lowered his mouth to hers and pushed into her tight heat. Their chests met with sticky warmth, and as they found their rhythm, he cradled her body against his, reveling in their closeness. Amid their hammering hearts and frantic thrusts, he had the overwhelming sensation that they were no longer fucking. When did they stop having sex and start making love? Being with Sophie had been different since their very first time. Was it then? As he surrendered to their passion, everything blurred together and delineations no longer mattered.
When they came back down to earth, Sophie curled into him, as she always did after they were close. He listened to the sweet “Mm” sounds she probably didn’t realize she made and he found so alluring. He wanted to do something special for her, to show her that he meant every word he’d said.
“This weekend,” he kissed her softly, “I want to take you someplace special. Just the two of us.”
She snuggled closer, her hand on his cheek. “I can’t. I have to go to my grandparents’ anniversary party. I would invite you to go with me, but since last night was such a huge step for both of us, I don’t want to put that pressure on you.”
He gathered her in his arms. “Where are you going and how long will you be gone?” Monday was Lorelei’s birthday, and he knew it would be a rough time for him. She didn’t need to witness his grief.
“Back home to Oak Falls. I’m flying out Saturday and coming back Sunday night,” she said sleepily.
The thought of not seeing Sophie this weekend brought that prickly feeling rushing back. He pressed his lips to hers, telling himself he could put in extra workouts and hang out with his brothers to distract himself from missing her. But that sounded like hell compared to being with her, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, and holding her in his arms.