Bold

by Jennifer Michael

  “I’m ready for this, ready for us. Touch me, and let me touch you. I want to be with you. I need it.”

  He bites his lip as I speak, and indecision courses through him. He searches for answers that I hope are written all over my face.

  “I want to have sex, Brazen. Is that clear enough?”

  I keep my head held high and my shoulders pushed back. I’ve never been more positive of anything in my life. I want Brazen—not because he was there for me this last week, but because I know he’ll always be what I need.

  “Noah, there’s no rush.”

  I’ve heard these words over and over again.

  “I’m not rushing. Our timing couldn’t be more right. This couldn’t be more perfect.”

  My declaration finally sinks into Brazen’s mind. The dam breaks within him, and his hands find me. His touch works its way over my flesh, sending little jolts of pleasure into my veins and leaving a trail of goose bumps across my skin. His bottom lip brushes against my neck as his hands clutch my thighs, and he hoists me up into his hold. With my hands around his neck and my legs around his waist, the view looking down at him is just as good as looking up. His strength as he holds on to me and carries me to the bed makes me feel safe.

  “I would have waited forever for you to be ready, but, damn, does it feel good to hear you say you want me,” Brazen says as he shifts his body weight over me.

  The sheets on my back feel like the finest linen I have ever laid on top of.

  “It’s sweet that you would have waited forever, but I couldn’t hold back even an hour longer.”

  He leans up, looking down at me with so much emotion, while the tips of his fingers skim from my collarbone down to my navel. My body arches, begging for more, and Brazen slips a hand behind my back and snaps my bra open. With care, he peels the straps down my arms before pulling the black cotton hindrance from my breasts, dropping kisses down my cleavage. His hands touch me roughly as his mouth is gentle. He dips lower and lower until he’s tracing the top of my panty line with his tongue. I might not be a virgin, but no one has ever kissed me down there. I’m panting into the quiet room with Brazen finally so close to the area where I touch myself while thinking of him. He licks me over my panties, and I know he’s gotten a taste of how wet I am before he settles between my legs and slips my panties off. Tension builds inside me while he prolongs our contact. He hoists my legs over his shoulders and blows his warm breath against me.

  “I never want to forget what tasting you for the first time is like,” he confesses just before he runs his tongue over me.

  I buck against the gentle contact, and his hands steady my hips before he goes back in for more. He groans as he covers me with his mouth, and I can’t take my eyes off him. His tongue swirls, and his lips suck. There is no area uncovered by him. The heels of my bare feet dig into his back, and I enjoy the ride.

  “Brazen, oh dear God!”

  He sucks my clit into his mouth and rolls his tongue fast and continuously until my fists are pounding into the mattress. Never before have I felt like I was going to pass out from so much pleasure. Brazen’s grip on my hips applies a slight degree of pain that balances out the warring sensations taking over.

  I fall over the edge with Brazen leading the way.

  My eyes close.

  My breathing stutters.

  My body reacts.

  Big time.

  Then, his mouth is gone until his lips crush my own. There is so much passion running through Brazen that it electrifies our kiss. His tongue pushes into my mouth, and I get my first taste of my own orgasm. Brazen rips at his own clothes as I tug on the back of his hair.

  “That was incredible, Noah. You. Are. Incredible.”

  “Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?” My voice is raspy and rushed.

  When he’s finally free of his clothes, he rises and kneels between my legs to grab a condom from the nightstand. It’s my first real view of Brazen’s naked body.

  “Wait,” I tell him, rising up on my elbows. “I want to see you—all of you—before you put that on.”

  A cocky smirk appears on his face. He straightens his shoulders and looks down at me. The muscles in his neck and shoulders are strained. The long days he spends outside doing hard labor do amazing things to his tan and his thick arms. My eyes travel down his chest to the light smattering of blond hair to the lines of his defined abs. His dick is hard and standing proud. I can’t wait to explore his body like he has mine. Next time, I want to touch all of him and learn what he likes. This time though, I need him inside me sooner rather than later.

  “Get your fill?” he asks, licking his lips.

  “I want to feel you inside me, Brazen.”

  “Shit! Baby, you keep saying things like that, and I won’t be able to control myself.”

  “I don’t want you to. I always want you to lose control with me. My restraint was gone a long time ago.”

  He puts the condom on and then runs his dick across my pussy. I bend my knee, and he kisses it. His teeth bear down on my leg as he slowly pushes inside me.

  “Breathe,” he tells me.

  I obey, which allows him further access. I widen my legs, and Brazen sinks fully inside.

  “Fuck,” he curses and keeps perfectly still until I roll my hips and squirm against the bed. “Noah,” he breathes my name like a content sigh of relief.

  He pulls back until only the tip remains inside and then pushes back in. He repeats this motion again and again. Every time is so agonizingly slow, I might break apart just from the torture of it. My nails dig into the palm of my hand while his hands grip my knees. He leans down to kiss me while he rolls his hips.

  He whispers against my lips, “You feel so good, baby.”

  Then, his hips start to move, and his thrusts become more powerful. My own hands play with my nipples, and Brazen’s fingers go to my clit. He grunts as he rises up and rocks against me harder. I match his motions, and we find a perfect rhythm.

  It’s the perfect mix of rough and tender.

  His words are soft, but his touch is firm.

  His speed is slow, but his thrusts are solid.

  I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to move or walk again.

  “Brazen!” I moan through my orgasm.

  He groans through his. Still inside me, he falls on top of my body and breathes into my chest.

  “Noah, I think you might have been made for me.” And, just like that, Brazen has taken an already ideal moment and made it beyond compare.

  Brazen

  A rush of heavy air blows between Noah’s lips as I watch her sleep in my bed, tangled up in the sheets, in the middle of the day. Life couldn’t get much better than this moment right here. Pounding sounds at the door, and even though I didn’t say that last thought aloud, I know that I’ve spoken too soon.

  “Noah, baby, wake up.”

  Her eyes slowly flutter open.

  “Go in Sunday’s room, and lock the door.”

  She wipes the sleep from her eyes. I hate that whoever is knocking on the door like that is intruding on our day. The pounding sounds again, and Noah springs into action, throwing her clothes back on. I do the same and then open my bedroom door just as Sunday comes running around the corner.

  “Get in here with Noah, and lock the door. Don’t open it until I come and get you.”

  Sunday doesn’t have to be told twice. Most likely, whoever is knocking is here for Sun, and I won’t let her face whoever it is. I march to the front of my home, and the pounding gets louder. I can already tell it isn’t Matt, so that leaves only one other possibility.

  Stephanie.

  I see that I’m right when I open the door, and she’s on fire. Her face is beet red, and her eyebrows are pulled inward.

  “Where is she?” she screams.

  I catch her arm as she attempts to run inside my home.

  “You can’t be here, Steph.” I slide outside and shut the door behind me.

  “I want th
at friend of yours to stay the hell away from my fiancé. We share our locations on our phones, and I’ve seen him at her house three times this week!” She attempts to break through my hold while screaming at the top of her lungs.

  “They weren’t together, and you know that. Matt might have been near Sunday’s home, but he wasn’t with her. Do you know how I know that? Because she hasn’t been home since he beat the shit out of her.”

  Sunday has been here, but that doesn’t mean I’m not concerned about what Stephanie just said. Her phone told her that Matt has been creeping around Sunday’s three times this week. He’s looking for her, and if she’s not at home, I’m sure he knows she’s here.

  “She’s ruining my life, Brazen! Matt and I just want to be together, and she’s always in the way! I want to tell her to move on! I want her to finally get divorced so that I can marry him. I want her out of my relationship!” Instead of continuing her attempt to plow through me, she directs her anger toward me, slapping at my chest with each one of her ignorant pleas.

  “It isn’t Sunday you need to be pleading with. In fact, you should probably have a good long chat with yourself.”

  She begins to sob, and I’m torn between disgust and pity.

  “Leave him, Steph. Nothing is worth the way he treats women. Leave him before you can’t.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You’re just jealous that you can’t have me,” she hollers into my face.

  If she only knew how wrong she was. There is a girl inside who has completely run away with my heart.

  “Let me inside! I need to talk to Sunday!”

  Stephanie is here to fight for a man who deserves nothing, and I just don’t get it.

  The door behind me creaks open, and I stiffen my hold on the flailing girl. Sunday stands under the doorframe with Noah peeking out behind her. Fuck, I really didn’t think Sunday would come out here. I know how much she hates dealing with Stephanie.

  “You need to leave, Stephanie. Brazen deserves more respect than my drama constantly showing up at his door.” The fading bruises on Sunday’s skin look darker as the sun cascades against her face.

  “Inside, Sunday! Now!” My voice is louder and angrier than I’d like it to be, but her presence isn’t going to make anything better with Stephanie.

  With quick movements, I take long strides and distance myself from Stephanie. I grab on to my door handle. “Go home before I call the cops.”

  I throw the door closed, locking it once I’m inside. I peek out to see Stephanie throwing a temper tantrum in my driveway. She’ll go eventually.

  Sunday and Noah stand just inside the foyer.

  “Coming out here was fucking stupid, Sunday.” I’m mad—not at Sunday, but at this whole situation and everything concerning Matt.

  “Is she gone?” Noah speaks up.

  I calm just a little. “I don’t think so. She’s outside, acting like a toddler. Just let her scream it out.”

  I walk into the living room and sit on the couch as Sunday walks slowly down the hallway to the room she’s been staying in. This shit has to stop.

  “So, how was she ever your girlfriend, huh?” Noah asks, taking a seat next to me.

  “Shit, Noah. I didn’t even think about that. I’m sorry she just showed up here.”

  “I’m not a jealous person, Brazen. Especially knowing the little I’ve heard about her and what I’ve seen from the two times she’s shown up somewhere uninvited. I am a little puzzled to know what you saw in her though. I know you better than to assume you only saw a pretty girl and ignored what was on the inside. So, what was it?”

  Her hand rests on my bare chest, and our legs intertwine.

  “Stephanie is like a chameleon. She’s good at being what the other person desires and playing certain roles to get what she wants. It did take me a little longer than it should have to realize she was playing me. Sunday knew from the moment they met, but I ignored her warnings. I’m sorry she just showed up like that.”

  Noah rises up and straddles my hips, and her fingers dig into my hair before she softly kisses my lips. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault she’s crazy. Besides, this thing with Sunday is big, and it weighs on your shoulders. Therefore, it weighs on mine. I want to be here for you. I’ll never make you feel guilty when it comes to this because you’re a good man.”

  She grows hesitant and chews on her bottom lip. I cover her hand with mine and wait for her to say what’s on her mind.

  “I’ve sensed that Sunday is worried about you when it comes to Matt. Can I ask, are you up to something I should be concerned about? What are you planning on doing to keep him away?”

  Sun has been worried about what could happen to me because of Matt for years, long before I started digging around, but that’s the thing; she’ll always be worried until I can eliminate him from our lives.

  “Matt is kind of like the male version of Stephanie. He’s the guy who could charm his way out of any situation, but behind closed doors, he’s anything but charismatic. He’s also a wealthy businessman, far too wealthy for a guy in his line of work. Since he keeps getting out from under the assault charges she’s pressed against him, I’ve been searching for something that will stick.”

  “Are you close to finding what you need?”

  “I have a buddy sniffing him out. He seems to think he’s on to something. I’m not any good at this detective stuff. So, really, it’s just a waiting game.”

  “And, if you get it, will that be the resolution or his tipping point?” Her voice breaks, and worry causes her forehead to wrinkle.

  “He won’t like being threatened. If he has secrets, which I’m sure he does, he won’t like that I know what they are, but what’s the alternative? I let Sunday remain scared of him for the rest of her life? I can’t do that.”

  “Promise me, you’ll be careful. I understand you need to end this for Sunday, and I want him to leave her alone, too, but I don’t want that to mean you’re putting yourself in harm’s way. Nail this bastard, but be safe about it.” She stabs her pointer finger into my chest for emphasis.

  “I promise.”

  Matt is a pathetic excuse for a man. In all the years I’ve known him, he’s never confronted me. He avoids me at all costs really. Especially when I’ve gone out looking for him after he hurt Sunday. Matt prefers his victims to be smaller than him and vulnerable. I don’t think he’d ever physically come after me. Sunday has told me he’s threatened to ruin our business, and I don’t doubt he has the power to do so, but nothing is more important than freeing my best friend from her asshole husband. He can take my fucking business if he’d just leave her alone.

  “Come back to bed with me?” Noah rolls her hips over my lap, teasing me in the most delicious way.

  I lift from the couch and bring my girl with me in my arms.

  “You aren’t too sore?” I ask, genuinely worried.

  She just throws her head back and laughs. “No way, and it’s my turn to explore your body like you have mine.”

  There is a naughty spark in Noah’s eyes, and I can’t wait to have her hands on me.

  My body is hers to journey.

  Brazen

  “Sunday, quit banging shit around. You’re driving me nuts!”

  My houseguest is uncharacteristically loud today. The racket in the other room continues.

  “Get in here before I glue everything in place in that damn kitchen.”

  She comes into the living room, holding a turkey sandwich with extra cheese and spicy mustard. I know the girl well enough to know her snack is covered in the dark yellow condiment. She sits, ignores me, and doesn’t move to eat.

  “What’s up, Sunday?” I have a hunch that all the noise is a cry for my attention.

  “We need to talk.” The plate of turkey on sourdough finds a home on the coffee table next to the couch as Sunday turns to face me, wearing a serious expression. “Things are escalating instead of getting better. You and I both know it. Matt h
as been showing up more often, and Stephanie is becoming increasingly unstable.” The hesitancy in her voice gives me pause.

  “I’m working on it, and you’re safe now, here with me.”

  She’s already shaking her head at my words. “I can’t live at your house forever.”

  The fact that she is having a hard time holding eye contact with me makes me sit up as concern pinches between my brows.

  “What do you want me to do? You know you’re always welcome here. I actually like having you around the house.” Always.

  “Will I live here when you get married and have children? Will I be crazy Aunt Sunday, still living here ten years from now, afraid to go outside?”

  I get down on my knees and position myself directly in front of her with my hands on her legs. “This won’t go on that long, Sunday.”

  A tear falls from her eye and rushes down her cheek. “Are you sure? Really sure? Because I’m not.” She looks away.

  I hate what this is doing to her. “What can I do to help?”

  It’s apparent she has an alternative solution she’s throwing around in her head, and I don’t think I’m going to like it.

  “Brazen, I want to leave.”

  I’d swear someone just punched me in the gut. One really fucking hard upper cut to the stomach.

  “Out of the question. It’s not safe at your house.” Not happening.

  “I don’t want to go to my house. I want to find a new home.”

  This is so much worse than a punch. I haven’t protected Sunday. I’ve failed so many times since she met this guy. Her parents abandoned her. The authorities have let her down. Matt continues to hurt and frighten her. So much so that her whole life is dictated by him.

  And, now … Sunday wants to run.

  I understand it. I wouldn’t want to live the way she has been either, but if she leaves, there will be no one to help keep her safe. As she sits on my couch with fading bruises, I’m plagued with the knowledge that I haven’t done that. Here, Matt continuously finds her.