by M. S. Parker
That’s a great idea! I’ll ask her. Now I just have to decide if I want to be Rocket or Gamora. Ty is going to be Groot.
I settled on the couch as I sent my response. I guess it depends on if you want to paint yourself green or wear fur.
Back and forth the conversation went. Rose told me all the pros and cons of both characters. A phone call probably would’ve been faster, but I was more like Rose in the fact that I generally preferred texts to talking. I liked having time to think things through, to re-read what I’d written. Sure, there was always the problem of not having inflection and all that, but when I was texting someone like Kaimi or Rose, they knew me well enough to know when I was being sarcastic or whatever.
By the time Rose and I finished, it was evening, heading into night. I’d finished my dinner and was considering showering and turning in early, maybe with a book or binge some Fear Thy Neighbor, but Rose’s last text changed all that.
How’s Bradyn?
Rose’s question caught me off-guard, but I should’ve expected it. She’d asked about him when we’d talked to each other earlier this week. I was still trying to figure out how to answer her when another text came through.
I really like him. Is he coming home with you, or are you waiting to see where things go? I don’t want you to move to Savannah, but I want you to be happy more. If you do move, I’ll miss you, but I can come visit, right?
Shit.
She’d be picking out her bridesmaid dress if I didn’t say something.
You’re getting way ahead of things. He’s not my boyfriend so I don’t think we need to be worrying about where we’ll be living. I’ll be back home as soon as I finish what I’m doing here. We’ll see what happens then.
I couldn’t believe I was explaining my love life to a thirteen-year-old. Better than trying to explain my sex life, I guessed.
I’m young, but I’m not an idiot. I saw the two of you dancing at the wedding. He looks at you the way Sitara looks at Mom. And you pretend to be all hard and stuff, but I know you like him too.
Fuck.
She was right.
Still…
Liking each other isn’t always enough.
Her reply was quick, and I could almost see her rolling her eyes.
Duh. I know that. You have to work at it.
Fuck again.
I shook my head. I wished I could say that this was the first time Rose had put me in my place, but I couldn’t. She had a way of seeing and saying things that no one else could or would. She was the best person I knew, and Kaimi agreed with me. Rose was better than either of us had ever been or ever would be.
And I couldn’t disappoint her.
I’ll talk to him.
I didn’t have to explain to her what was going on. Those words would be enough for her to know that I’d heard her and that I wouldn’t give up.
Good. I’ll send you pictures of the costumes when we decide.
I didn’t let myself look at the time or try to keep a conversation with Rose going. It would’ve just been me trying to put it off because I was still terrified of what would happen if I followed through.
But I’d be damned if I let Rose down.
With that in my mind, I got up, put on my shoes, and headed for Bradyn’s cabin. My stomach was tied in knots, but Rose was the best motivation I could have. I wanted to try this with Bradyn, but fear might’ve kept me away, anyway. Not now, though.
I just hoped I wasn’t too late.
I knocked on the door and put my hands in my pockets to hide that they were shaking. My chest was tight, my face flushed. I almost felt like I might pass out.
Then the door opened, and Bradyn was standing right in front of me.
Seventeen
Bradyn
I was in the middle of a Say Yes to the Dress binge when someone knocked on my door. I briefly considered putting on a shirt but decided if someone had decided to come by without calling or texting first, they’d get what they got. Besides, it wasn’t like there was anyone at the ranch who hadn’t seen me without my shirt at one point or another.
Nyx was the last person I expected to see on my porch, but there she was. Faded jeans and a fitted black tank top told me she hadn’t been out on a date, but that didn’t tell me why she was here. That hopeful little voice in my head wanted to believe that she was here because she’d decided that she wanted to see what this thing between us could be.
I reminded myself that making assumptions had gotten me into enough trouble and that I needed to stop reading into things. I needed her to actually say the words.
“Can I come in?”
The uncertain look on her face made my stomach twist. The urge to protect her was almost too strong for me to resist…but I did resist it because common sense told me that holding Nyx right now wouldn’t be the best idea.
“Please.” I stepped out of the way and wished I’d grabbed a shirt. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to seduce her or something, but it was too late now because if I went out of my way to get a shirt, she’d think that I didn’t want her to see me without my shirt…
Dammit!
“So, um, I was just talking to Rose – or texting her, actually – and she was telling me about going to a Halloween dance…” She waved a hand and blew out a very long breath. “That’s not important. What is important is that she said she liked you.”
I blinked, confused. “Why don’t you sit down? I’ll get you something to drink, and we can talk.”
She shook her head. “I’m not thirsty, and I don’t want to sit down.”
“All right,” I said. I still had no idea what she was doing.
She reminded me of a skittish horse or a wild animal, the sort that couldn’t be rushed. I had to stay calm, let her speak at her own speed. Let her take the lead. Have control. This hadn’t been easy for her, and what I was asking her to do wasn’t going to be easy either.
“Look, I don’t do this,” she said with a sigh. “I fuck. I don’t talk or go on dates or get to know people.”
I didn’t point out that she’d gone on more than one date with me and we’d talked…and gotten to know each other.
“But Rose pointed a few things out to me, so I’m here to…try.”
I swallowed hard and tried not to show how eager I was. “I don’t want to make any assumptions here, Nyx. Please spell things out for me.”
She came over to me and took my hand, uncurling the fingers I hadn’t remembered making into a fist. “I don’t know how to do this, and I don’t plan on staying in Savannah. When my job here is done, I’m going home.” She looked up, her eyes meeting mine. “But I want to do what you asked. Spend time together while I’m here.”
It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but I would take whatever I could get. If we really were as connected as I believed we were, then whatever time she and I would have would serve to show her how good we could be together. I’d worry about the rest of it after we made the relationship official.
I didn’t tell her that, though. I didn’t want to scare her away, not when she was finally here and willing.
“I’m really glad to hear that.” I brushed the back of my hand over her cheek. “I know it’s only been a few days, but I’ve missed you, firebird.”
Color flooded her cheeks, but she didn’t look away as she caught my hand and kissed my palm. “I missed you too.”
I didn’t know which of us moved first, but we were suddenly on each other, mouths fused together, tongues battling for dominance. Her hands were all over me, bare skin burning up my arms and down my back as my muscles tensed and bunched under her touch. My hands did their own exploring, under her shirt to trace the lines of her tattoo, the skin still slightly raised under the ink.
She bit my lip, and I hissed in surprise before pulling her tighter to me and dropping a hand to squeeze her ass. Stinging pain broke out down my spine as she raked her nails across my back. Her hair was in a braid, and I caught it, wrapping it around my
hand to give me control. I pulled her head back, and she glared at me, but the only heat in her eyes was lust. She wanted me as much as I wanted her, and I ground myself against her so she could feel how my body reacted to her.
“This is crazy,” she said, her voice breathless. “You know that, right?’
“I don’t care.” I scraped my teeth over her jaw, and the next breath she took was shaky. “Unless you tell me to stop, I’m going to make you come with my fingers.” I pressed a kiss over the fluttering pulse in her throat. “And then I’m going to take you right here, against this wall.”
She shuddered, her nails digging in where her fingers had crept under the waistband of my pants. I was probably going to have bloody nail marks on my ass by the time we were done, but I didn’t care.
“I’m not in the mood to be gentle,” I warned her as I bit the spot I’d just kissed. “So, tell me now if that’s not what you want.”
I sucked in a breath as she nipped the top of my ear.
“I want it.” Her nails dug deeper. “I want you to fuck me so hard that I can’t see straight.”
I smiled, and Nyx must’ve liked whatever she saw on my face because she leaned forward and ran her teeth over my nipple. I cursed, my eyes closing for a moment as she latched on, sucking hard before tugging on it with her teeth. Bursts of bright, pain-pleasure raced in a line down to my groin. My cock had been hard before, but now it pushed against the front of my pants, an aching throb pulsing in time with the pulls of her mouth.
“Dammit, Nyx,” I groaned, then swore as she grabbed my cock through my pants. I opened my eyes and stared down at her. “You’re gonna make me come in my pants.”
“That would be a shame.” She grinned at me, humor dancing in those gorgeous eyes of hers. “This is too nice a cock not to get used as much as possible.”
I grabbed her arms and spun us around so that her back was against the wall. I gave her a bruising kiss, then parted her lips with my tongue, delving into her mouth, exploring every inch of her even as I pushed my hand past the waistband of her pants. My fingers moved over the damp cotton between her legs, pressing against her cleft.
She whimpered, and I pressed harder, rubbing her through her panties. Her hips moved, trying to control the pressure and friction, but I held her where she was, using what I’d learned of her body to push her to climax.
Her body tensed, and she gasped, grabbing my arm with a grip hard enough to hurt, but she didn’t ask me to stop. In fact, the only thing she said was my name, crying it out as she came.
Fuck, I loved hearing her say my name like that.
“There we go, little firebird.” I pulled my hand out of her pants and slid it under her shirt. Her eyelids fluttered as I pinched her nipple. “That’s one. You stay right here while I get a condom, and then it’ll be my mouth’s turn to get you off.”
She gave me a sleepy sort of smile and let her head rest on the wall. Her eyes, however, followed me. I could feel the heat of them on my skin as I hurried to my room. I grabbed a condom from the drawer and was back in the living room before she had a chance to recover enough to move. I’d told her to stay put, but I hadn’t been sure she’d actually do it. Besides the fact that she wasn’t the most submissive woman in the world, I hadn’t known if her legs could hold her.
I went to my knees in front of her and reached for her waist. I watched her face as I undid the button and slowly pulled down her zipper. She ran her fingers through my hair, the expression on her face different than anything I’d seen before. Softer. Not gentle, but like some of the guards she’d had in place weren’t there anymore.
I pulled down her underwear with her pants, then helped her step out of them, baring her long, shapely legs, the curve of her hips, and that oh-so-tempting juncture between her legs, with those dark auburn curls. I didn’t waste time on admiration, though. I wanted to taste her, and I wanted to make her come again.
She gasped when my mouth pressed against her, then cried out when I ran my tongue along her slit. The taste of her burst across my taste buds. Salty and so much her. Her thighs rested on my cheeks, and I felt those muscles quiver as I flicked my tongue back and forth across her swollen clit.
“Fuck, Bradyn.” She squirmed, pulling at my hair until my scalp burned.
I tightened my hold on her hips and put my teeth on her clit, giving her a hint of danger. As I toyed with that sensitive bundle of nerves, I pushed two fingers into her pussy, the passage already slick and wet.
“More…please…more…” she begged. “I need…I need…”
I knew what she needed, and it wasn’t me talking to her. Without moving my mouth from where I was now alternating licking and sucking her clit, I moved my fingers inside her, twisting and curling until they pressed against her g-spot. I rubbed the tip of my finger over the sensitive flesh, and she keened. I didn’t let up, even as she curled her body over mine, holding me in place as she came.
I didn’t plan to go anywhere, but I didn’t mind her enthusiasm.
“Shit.” She sagged against the wall and would’ve hit the floor if I hadn’t been holding her up. “Where the hell did you learn how to do that?”
I eased back, taking my fingers with me. I grinned when she made an annoyed sound at the loss of my hand between her legs, but I wasn’t teasing her. If I waited any longer to be inside her, I would explode. Honestly, I was surprised I managed to get the rubber on without blowing.
As I stood, I slid up her body, letting her feel every inch of me. I hated that we were still wearing clothes, but there’d be time for me to worship every inch of her…after I fucked her right here and now. My cock bumped against her, and she shifted, hooking one leg around my hip.
My world narrowed down to simple movements.
Tip dipped inside.
Hands under her ass.
Lifting and sliding.
Her back against the wall as I sunk into her balls deep.
My breathing caught, and the world froze for a moment.
Then she was rocking her hips, and everything started again.
I pressed my face against the side of her neck, thrusting up into her with short, brutal strokes. She moved with me as best she could with little leverage, using gravity to take me deep. Each time we came together, she made a sound somewhere between a sob and a moan.
I pulled skin into my mouth, tasting sweat and the faint tang of soap. I worried at it with my teeth, sucked on it until I’d marked her. Nails scored my shoulders, and I knew I’d have marks of my own to show off the next couple days.
“Bradyn…” Her entire body trembled, and a roll of my hips made her scream.
She clenched around me, and I was done, my world exploding around me.
The next thing I knew, I was on the floor, leaning against the wall, and Nyx was next to me. We were both still half-undressed, our breathing still harsh, but the tension between us had broken. For now, anyway. Once my brain started working again, I planned to ask her to stay the night so we could take our time once my cock was up to it again.
My phone went off before I could say anything, the tone telling me it was my mother. I was tempted to ignore it, but I couldn’t think of anything short of an emergency that would get her to text me.
I yanked my pants up as I stood and stumbled the couple feet it took me to get to where I’d left my phone on the table. My mind was still more than half-distracted, thinking about getting the condom off and whether Nyx and I should take a shower before or after we had sex again…and then I saw the message.
Your nephew Clancy’s just been rushed to the hospital. I thought you’d want to know.
“Fuck.”
Eighteen
Nyx
Bradyn’s expression when his phone went off made me think that it wasn’t someone he wanted to talk to, but he got up anyway. Curious, but not wanting to seem nosey, I focused on getting my clothes all straightened around. I’d barely finished zipping my pants when Bradyn cursed.
“Fuck.”
The expression on his face made me go to him without even thinking about it. “What’s wrong?”
“I-I have to go.” His eyes darted around the room, not really landing anywhere. “My…I mean…I need…fuck.”
If he hadn’t looked so upset, I might’ve thought that he was trying to figure out a way to rush me out of his place. Considering that he’d been the one to initiate the whole ‘spending more time together’ thing, common sense would be that something had happened, but anxiety didn’t always listen to common sense.
Actually, it never did.
I put my hand on his arm, trying to ignore the red lines I’d made all over his torso. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
This time, he saw me, and the pain in his eyes made me flinch. “That was my mom. My nephew’s been taken to the hospital.”
Shit.
All of my selfish thoughts fled.
“Does he live here? In Savannah, I mean.” I mentally cursed myself. I needed to be better than this. “Is it somewhere you can drive, or do you need to get on a plane?”
Okay, that was a little better.
“Drive,” Bradyn said. “My sister and her family live in the city.”
He still looked dazed, and I couldn’t blame him. If I’d just gotten a text from Kaimi that Rose was in the hospital, I wouldn’t be handling it well. And that definitely meant driving would’ve been out.
“Do you need someone to drive you?” I asked. Not for the first time while I was in Georgia, I wished I’d gotten my license.
“No, I can do it myself.” He started toward the door, but I caught his arm before he’d gone more than a couple steps.
“I’m pretty sure they’re not going to let you into a hospital wearing only a pair of pants.” My gaze dropped to the noticeable wet spot on the front of his pants and then realized I probably looked just as bad.
He realized what I was looking at and actually blushed. Under other circumstances, that would’ve made me want to jump him again.