CHAPTER SIX
“OH.” WHAT A WAKE-UP, Merrily thought, as Brick pressed into her. He was so large and solid, and while she felt slight discomfort, it didn’t really hurt.
In fact, once she got her eyes open and looked at him, she found it wildly exciting. “Brick.”
“Yeah,” he growled. “Me—and only me.”
Never had she seen a man look as he did, sort of savage, clenched all over and very hot.
Braced above her on his forearms, his teeth locked, his gaze devouring her, he pressed relentlessly forward.
With excitement spiking through her again, Merrily put her hands to his bulging biceps. His skin burned with an inner fever. God, he was...incredible.
“Okay?” he asked through his teeth.
For an answer, Merrily slowly wrapped her legs around him, locking her heels at the small of his back. “I won’t break, you know.” She stroked his jaw. “You don’t have to hold back.”
“Don’t.”
One word, a warning, but she couldn’t stop the curious exploration of her fingers over his furred chest—or the automatic flexing of her inner muscles as she tried to accommodate his solid length.
“Ah...God.” His big body tensed, strained, and he growled, “Sorry” before filling her in one strong thrust.
She gasped. Okay, now that hurt a little.
Shocked, Merrily held on to him, but she didn’t have time to worry before he was rocking slow and deep, his face in her neck, his powerful chest brushing back and forth across her sensitive nipples.
Discomfort faded beneath the sweet, sliding friction.
And deep inside her, with each long stroke, he touched...something. Oh, yes. There. She lifted into him more. Dug her fingers into his solid shoulders to better brace herself. “Brick.” And then, as sensation spiraled away. “Brick.”
She’d thought it was amazing before, but now, with him in her, over her, a part of her...
He gave a long, vibrating groan, went still for one taut, suspended moment of time, then thrust more urgently and Merrily knew he was coming, too.
She couldn’t imagine anything more perfect.
She couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else.
Big as he was, it felt nice when Brick sank down to rest on her, one of his hands tangled in her hair and cupped around her skull, the other scooped under her bottom. His heartbeat rocked them both, and heat poured off him.
After a minute, he stirred, his mouth touching her shoulder, over to her throat. With great effort he lumbered up to his forearms again.
Saying nothing, he watched her, almost looking into her heart.
Would he know that she’d already fallen in love with him, that she’d fallen hard the first time she saw him sitting in her section of the diner?
Until she’d met him, being a virgin hadn’t even factored into her busy life.
After meeting him...would she ever want anyone else? Doubtful. After Brick, all over men would pale in comparison.
All too solemn, he bent down and took her mouth—and...seriously? He kissed her like he planned to start all over again.
Shivers chased over her skin, and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight.
When his hand slid down her side to her hip, she accepted that, yes, he planned to do this again.
Oh, boy. She hummed approval, gave him her tongue when he came looking for it, and lost herself in ripe sensation.
With Brick making love to her, she couldn’t worry about tomorrow. She could only enjoy right now.
* * *
EVEN WITH BOTH dogs in the room, Eloise roaming over the foot of the bed, Brick slept soundly. Not that she minded. He was so beautiful she could have stood there all day looking at him. On his stomach, one muscled arm folded up under his head, one hairy leg exposed from beneath the sheet, he was the most incredible man she’d ever seen.
Even in her imagination, she couldn’t drum up a vision more appealing than him.
Her breath shuddered out in a long sigh. Dundee tipped his head, unsure what they were doing, curious and a little worried at the idea of a big male in the bed.
Still. Because he’d stayed the night.
Did that mean anything?
Dolly circled the bed, trying to find a way up, but it was too high for her and Merrily didn’t lift her up. Not yet.
Should she wake him? She dragged her gaze away from his magnificent body—and it really was incredibly magnificent—to see the clock. How late did he usually sleep?
He’d made love to her twice last night before leaving her collapsed and numb in the bed while he went to check on the animals. He came back, woke her to say that he’d taken them out to the yard for a bit, given them more treats and they were now content and asleep.
Then he’d started seducing her all over again. She hadn’t realized that men were so voracious. Or maybe Brick was more voracious than most. He was certainly more...everything else. Bigger, more muscular, incredibly handsome—he was more than any other man she’d known.
Afterward, she’d been too spent to protest when he’d brought a cool washcloth to the bed and tended to her, then tucked her in close to his chest, covered them both and told her to sleep.
Just before dawn, he’d awakened her with small kisses along her arm down to her wrist. The second she got her eyes open she saw the heat in his and knew what he wanted. Or at least, she’d known part of what he wanted. The rest... What a surprise.
He’d sucked at her fingertips with blatant suggestion until she felt the tug of his mouth everywhere on her body.
She learned it wasn’t at all the same when he did kiss her everywhere, telling her again to “part her pretty knees” and making her insane with the stroke of his tongue, the touch of his teeth and a devastating suckle that had her shivering again just thinking about it.
She closed her legs together tightly to contain the memory, both of what he’d done and the things he’d said.
More than once, he’d called her “love.”
He said such nice things, telling her she was sweet, treating her as if she were somehow special to him... Oh, how she loved it.
Because she loved him. Did she stand a chance of winning him over before he tired of her? Would it be unfair of her to try, when he’d told her up-front what he wanted—and what he didn’t?
She wasn’t a virgin any longer. But she was still new to sex, so maybe that’d be enough, for now, to keep him—
“What’s wrong, love?”
Her gaze shot to his face. “You’re awake.”
“And you look melancholy.” He rolled to his back, stretched those long limbs out with a soft, deep groan and came up to one elbow. Dundee turned circles in excitement, so Brick called him over, gave him a few pats, then reached down and scooped up Dolly to help her into the bed.
Merrily’s heart swelled in her chest.
“Come here, you.” He reached out a hand to her.
She set the coffee aside and let him draw her to sit near his hip on the bed. He fingered the T-shirt she wore as if he might want to remove it. But with both dogs being so attentive, he contented himself with touching her hair, tucking it back. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
His hand settled on her hip. “Did I disappoint you last night? Did I underwhelm you? Is that why you look so glum now?”
“No!”
The corner of his mouth kicked up, letting her know he only teased. “I expected to find you all smiles, maybe even giggling, especially after that last time when you—”
Merrily smashed her hand over his mouth, then looked nervously at Dundee, who looked back. “Shh.”
After kissing her palm, he lowered her hand and muffled a low laugh. “He doesn’t understand, honey.”
But Dundee continued to stare at her, and it made her uneasy. “You don’t know that for sure.”
He turned to the dog and said, “She is incredibly hot, Dundee. So hot I still feel singed. She wore me out with her excesses. Sorry, bud, but it’s true.”
Dundee barked—and it almost sounded like agreement.
“Oh, stop.” She noticed how Tom and Stan strolled in and joined him in the bed, too. He now had a highly interested creature audience. “I made coffee.”
“Did you? Damn, woman, could you be more perfect?” A glance at the clock, and he groaned. “You should have woken me up. Jesse will be here soon.” He went still, then quirked a brow. “Unless he stayed the night next door?”
“I didn’t see his truck when I went out for the morning paper.”
“Then he struck out.” Brick grinned, and in contrast to his expression, he said, “Poor guy.”
Merrily took Dolly and moved aside. “You should have time to shower.”
“But I don’t have time to have you again.” With no reserve at all, he threw back the sheet, stretched again and left the bed—gloriously naked and awesomely aroused.
It left her speechless.
“Morning wood,” he said by way of an explanation. He lifted her chin to bring her attention to his face. “You wanna shower with me?” But before she could answer, he shook his head. “No, scrap that. I’ve been excessive and I have to cool it before you think I’m a sex-starved ape.”
“I wouldn’t—”
He cupped her face, gave her a resounding smooch and headed for her bathroom. “Give me ten minutes, then I’d love a cup of coffee.”
At his retreating back—and sexy backside—Merrily said, “Towels are in the cupboard. Help yourself to whatever you need.”
He lifted a hand in acceptance and continued on his way.
Wow.
In something of a fog, she pulled on jeans, then turned and headed out of the room. The animals all padded after her.
To keep herself busy and avoid dwelling on Brick in her shower, Merrily started breakfast. She had bacon cooking, eggs on the counter and bread in the toaster when Brick strolled in shirtless, hair damp, face freshly shaved and jeans unsnapped.
“Smells great,” he said while she ogled him. He came right up to her and kissed her more thoroughly. “Sorry, love, but I made use of your razor and toothbrush. Hope you don’t mind.”
Still mute, she shook her head, making him grin.
“Look at you, being all domestic.” He clutched his heart. “It’s almost too much, I swear.” And without missing a beat, “Coffee?”
“Oh.” She set aside her spatula and fetched a mug from the cabinet. “Creamer in the fridge and sugar on the counter.”
“I take it black.” He poured himself a cup, sipped, and hummed his appreciation. “Damn, love, but the whole package is a little much.”
“Whole package?”
He saluted her with the coffee cup. “Looking like you look, being as sweet as you are, smokin’ hot in the sack, then proficient in the kitchen, too. And to top it off, you love animals. What else is there?”
“Uh...I don’t know.” He left her so confused she had no idea what to say. “I think you’re...the whole package, too.”
“Perfect.” When Dundee went to the backdoor, Brick automatically opened it to let him out, then stood there to keep watch. “I think I’ll use that to segue into tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I want to come back. Or stay over.” He shrugged. “Your choice. I prefer the latter, but if I stay, I’ll at least need to head home for supplies.”
She was starting to feel like an idiot with her one-word questions. “Supplies?”
“My own toothbrush and razor. Clean boxers.” His gaze darkened and he looked her over. “More rubbers.”
“Oh.” The bacon popped, and she jumped. She quickly removed it from the pan and put it on a plate. Before cracking the eggs, she willed her jumping nervousness to quiet, kept her back to him and asked as casually as she could manage, “You mentioned staying over again?”
Without her hearing his approach, his hands settled on her waist. He nuzzled behind her ear. “Mmm. I need more of you, love. What do you think of that?”
The egg she tried to crack smashed into the pan. She stared at it dumbly.
Brick eased her aside. “Why don’t I do the eggs? You can check on Dundee and Dolly.”
She watched him scrape her egg mess into the garbage can, then expertly crack four eggs into the skillet. Talk about perfection... No man should look that good in his jeans, be such an incredible lover and know how to cook, too. It just wasn’t fair.
She used the excuse of calling in the dogs to get herself together. If she ever hoped to be more than a convenient bed partner, she had to take control of this situation right now. After drying the dogs’ paws from the dew-wet grass, she closed the door and returned to Brick.
He had the plates on the table and was buttering the toast. “How many eggs do you want?”
“One.”
He put it on her plate and took the other three for himself.
Merrily squared her shoulders. “I’m not a virgin anymore.”
For only a second, Brick paused. “Nope, definitely not.” He put the toast on the table and pulled out a chair for her.
She hesitated to get that close to him when they had so much to talk about, but if he could be cavalier, she would be, as well. “Thank you.”
After she sat, he kissed the top of her head, her temple, and near her ear he whispered, “You’re a sexy, barely tried ex-virgin and, again, Merrily, I want more.” He moved away and sat across from her. “So what do you say? Wanna play for a while?”
Boy, did she ever.
Pretending great thought, she sipped her coffee. “How long are we talking?”
That took the good humor out of his expression. “Need it spelled out, do you? Should we draw up a contract? Maybe specify an ironclad end date so that I’m not underfoot too long?”
“You’re angry?” For some reason, that made her feel better, less confused. “Recall, Brick, you said you wanted me to understand that you wouldn’t be getting involved—”
“I know exactly what I said.” He stabbed into a fried egg with his fork. “But I figured we’d play it by ear. Let things unfold naturally. Not...” He put his fork back down—with egg still clinging to it. “I don’t want to get sent packing too soon.”
“How soon is too soon?”
A flush of color slashed his high cheekbones. “Damn it, you are hung up on time frames, aren’t you?”
She had to bite back a smile of relief. He wanted her. More of her—however much that might be. Elation filled her heart.
“I’m sorry.” Teasing, she asked, “Have I hurt your feelings?”
He looked so dumbfounded by that possibility, and then bemused as he realized it was true, that Merrily laughed.
Maybe he cared more for her than even he realized. Why else would he get so riled over it?
“Virgins are the devil.” While eyeing her, he ate an entire strip of bacon in one bite. “Go ahead,” he said at her continued giggling. “Keep me in suspense. I probably have that coming.”
Because he sort of did, she took her time eating most of her egg, a few bites of toast, but she couldn’t bear the silence or his watchful gaze.
After finishing off a strip of bacon, she reached across the table for his hand. “You were so incredible, Brick.”
Grudgingly, he said, “Thank you.” His warm fingers curled around hers. “Given how you affect me, I might not have been at my best.”
Lord help her. “You were more than I expected. More than I knew was possible.”
“I’m listening.”
“I would love to continue having sex with you.” She thought to add, just in case she spooked him, “For as long as we’re both having fun, so please, go get a toothbrush and boxers and whatever else you need. Definitely more condoms. Maybe bring a whole box.”
His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Yeah?”
She nodded. “Let’s play some more. I want to have as much fun as I can.” And because maybe he needed reassurance, she added, “With you.”
Staring at her, Brick breathed hard, shifted, then glanced at the clock. “If only we had enough time...”
A knock sounded on her door, sending the dogs into fits.
Brick groaned. Over the din, he said, “I’ll have you know, love, I’m hard. Again. Around you it appears to be a perpetual state but most definitely when you talk about having fun and playing—with me.” He shoved the rest of his food into his mouth and put his plate in the sink. He pulled out her chair.
Merrily smoothed her sleep-rumpled hair. “I need my own shower.”
“Go on, then, while I get the door and Jesse and I finish off the coffee. Take your time, okay? I’ll clean up the kitchen.”
That sounded so nice—almost like the partnership she’d always wanted. Brick Carlisle really was the whole package.
How long would she be able to keep him?
* * *
BRICK PULLED THE section of wire fencing taut, added new staples to the post, and Jesse hammered them in with a little more force than necessary.
Curious at Jesse’s tight-lipped mood, Brick moved down to the next section. “I take it sexual frustration is adding to your fervor today?”
“None of your business.”
“I know you didn’t spend the night.”
“No, I didn’t.” Jesse checked that the fencing was still adequately buried under the ground, found one spot that was a little loose and used a looped stake to secure it.
“This is a nice yard.” Brick admired their work. “Big enough, with plenty of shade. And now that we have the fence secure, the dogs are going to love the freedom.”
“Yeah.” Standing, Jesse wiped sweat from his brow with a forearm. “I like that they don’t have close neighbors on either side.”
“Private but not so secluded they aren’t safe.”
Jesse looked toward Tonya’s porch. They could both see her hot tub, now covered, in the corner of her porch. “She’s coming to my shop on Monday to check out the wood.”
“Ah, well, then things must be looking up for you.”
“Don’t be juvenile,” Jesse groused, but he grinned.
“What?” All innocence, Brick shrugged. “I meant that you’ve still got some opportunities with her. It had nothing to do with her seeing your wood.”
“Yeah, right.” Jesse nodded at where the women worked the grill. “So how’s it going for you?”
“Okay.”
“Just okay? Because I know that you did spend the night.”
Brick rubbed the back of his neck, scowled, then blurted, “She had me damn near begging this morning.”
That got Jesse refocused real fast. “Begging for what?”
“Now who’s being juvenile?” He peeled leather work gloves off his hands. “More time with her.”
“She doesn’t want more time?”
“I think she does, but I gave her my damned spiel going in about no commitments and now she’s...well, she’s holding me to it.”
“What a dunce.” Quickly, Jesse clarified, “You, not her.” And then, “Why the hell would you go into all that with her?”
“Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Because you always lay it out there with women?”
“Yeah.” Frustration bubbled over. “Thing is, she’s not like any of the others.”
“Duh. I could have told you that.” He clapped Brick on the shoulder. “You knew her a month and didn’t ask her out, but every time you look at her, it’s clear to anyone with eyes that you’ve got it bad. That alone sets her apart from other women.”
“Yeah.” Brick thought back on his hesitation, all the lame reasons he’d given himself for steering clear. “I’ve been an ass and now I have to figure it out.”
“Fuck me sideways. You actually admit it? Just like that?”
“Yeah. Just like that.” After having Merrily last night, he’d known deep down that he didn’t want to let her go. Not now. Not anytime soon. Probably not ever.
That thought was so uncomfortable, he glanced at Jesse. “She thought I’d want Tonya.”
“No.”
Jesse’s predicament was far more amusing than his own. “Pay attention, man. I’m head over ass, so there’s no reason to mean-mug me. Tonya doesn’t interest me. Take a breath and get a grip.”
Jesse bent to pick up tools. “She spelled it out last night. Friendship is the only thing on the agenda.”
Huh. Usually Jesse scored with ease. Outright rejection had to burn his ass a little. “Better luck with the next one.”
Jesse didn’t seem to hear that sentiment. “It’s not just me, though. She said all guys are off-limits.”
Brick remembered the hot tub comment and scowled. “She’s into women?”
“Nope.” He narrowed his eyes. “I asked.”
Wow. That had to have been an interesting conversation. “Probably too many bozos hitting on her, then, her looking the way she does and all.”
“Maybe, but I get a feeling it’s more than that.” Uneasy, Jesse chewed on his thoughts a bit before saying, “There’s something about her, something sort of... Hell, I don’t know. Maybe wounded.”
And that would change everything. Brick started them toward the house. “So what are you going to do?” No way in hell would he let Jesse muck this up for him. He wanted Merrily for the long haul. A disgruntled friend of his pushing her neighbor could wear out the welcome for them both.
Jesse rolled one shoulder. “She has a lot of stuff that needs to be done around the house, and I don’t mind doing it, so I’m going to be her friend. For a little while, anyway.” He stared at Tonya as they neared the porch. “After that...I dunno. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”