“No?” Dare she ask what he was talking about?
He winked. “We’ve never sammiched a woman.”
Good Lord. She’d actually been brazen enough to ask about their sexual escapades? “Sorry. On that note, I’m going to dress for work.”
Chapter Seven
Annalee’s heart jumped to her throat when her cell phone rang. Who in the heck is calling so late?
She flew off the couch, charged into the kitchen and yanked her phone off the table. “Hello?”
“Hello, dear.”
“Mom!” She didn’t sound upset or panicked but something was up. She never called after nine. “Is everything all right? Is Grandma okay? It’s past eleven o’clock,” she said, her voice quivering.
“Everything is fine. I just wanted to let you know I won the thousand-dollar jackpot at bingo tonight.”
She sounded so excited, Annalee smiled despite her heartbeat pounding the shit out of her chest. “Congratulations.” Mom didn’t need the money, it was all about winning. She’d probably spent triple that amount over time to play, but she wasn’t going to say anything to spoil Mom’s moment. “That’s fantastic.”
“I might play tomorrow night too.”
“Oh a splurge. Good for you. Did you tell Daddy you won?”
“Of course, dear. He’s sitting here trying to figure out how to spend the money.”
She envisioned her dad at the table, glasses resting on the tip of his nose, counting each dollar. Smiling ear to ear and shaking her head, Annalee glanced over her shoulder just as Brent walked into the family room from the bathroom, dressed in a pair of jeans, naked from the waist up. His hair hung past his shoulders and water dribbled from the tips onto his rippled chest. Mmm-mmm. She inhaled a vigorous breath. “Buy yourself something nice, Mom.”
“Oh I will. Is there anything you need?”
“No thanks. Spend it on yourself, you deserve it.” Annalee had been self-sufficient and financially stable since college. Whiltby & Sons hired her directly out of high school and offered full tuition reimbursement if she continued working for them after she’d earned her degree. Fortunately she had no student loans to repay, nor had her parents been forced to spend their life savings.
“I just wanted to share my good news, Annalee. I know you have to work tomorrow, so I better let you go, dear. Oh by the way, I finished my invitation list for the wedding. I’ll email it to you tomorrow.”
Oh boy. She’d neglected to apprise her mom of that situation. “That’s okay. You, um, you don’t have to do that.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I won’t be needing it anymore.”
“Pardon me?”
Hopefully this wouldn’t take long. She pulled out a chair and sat down just in case. “I broke the engagement. The wedding is off.” A long, unnerving pause followed. “Mom?”
“I’m here. I’m just in a little state of shock. What happened?”
Well, Jared came home with whip marks all over his body after fucking Willow. “Jared was having an affair.”
“Oh no! Why would he do that?”
Maybe because I was a boring lover. “I guess I couldn’t give him,” okay, she had to drop the bomb sooner or later, “what Willow could.”
“Willow! Oh dear God! How could they do that to my baby? Are you all right?”
“Yes, Mom, I really am.”
“Oh Annalee, I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“Someone from my past has reappeared, and I’m much happier now. His name is Brent Delaney.”
Her mom sighed through the phone. “I don’t recall that name.”
“We worked together on occasion.” And he’s the man I fantasized about for nearly a year.
“I don’t know whether to smile or cry.”
“I assure you, Mom, you can smile yourself to sleep. I promise you’ll love him as much as or more than you loved Jared.” That was a little presumptuous, not knowing how far her relationship with Brent would go, but she needed to say something to prevent her mom from worrying. “I’m going to go now because I need some sleep. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, dear. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Good night.”
Whew. That was finally done.
Annalee laid the phone on the table. She then removed a bottle of wine from the fridge for Brent and a glass from the cupboard. Unfortunately, not knowing the extent of what she’d said to the brothers last night, she decided to give up alcohol completely. While she’d dressed for work that morning, many opportunities to ask Brent presented themselves, but she’d let them go. Sometimes it was better not knowing to what extreme she’d shot off her mouth. What she’d supposedly asked was just…eek.
Holy cow, her feet were freezing. She should’ve thrown on a pair of slippers when she climbed out of the shower forty minutes ago, but she hadn’t formed a rational thought since Brent returned from Seattle.
It was sort of lonely without Brody lounging in the family room in front of the television. She didn’t doubt he’d intentionally stayed home to provide her and Brent time alone during their last night together. Bless his great big heart.
To warm her toes, she moved quickly into the family room and buried them in the carpet. Brent now sat on the couch, an elbow propped on the armrest and a hand fisted at his temple while he watched Morton linger at his ankles. She sucked in a deep breath at the exhilarating picture. During the past five days Brent weaseled beneath her skin and became a piece of her existence.
“How are your parents?” he asked.
“They’re great. Mom won a thousand dollars at bingo tonight, so she’s pretty excited.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Are you okay?” His jaws were tense and frown lines crinkled the skin between his brows. “Brent?”
Without taking his eyes off the cat, he nodded. “I’m fine, baby.”
Damn, he was sexier than hell. Even his feet.
Sexy feet? Really?
She sauntered to the coffee table and set the bottle and glass down, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “What are you thinking about?” After filling his tumbler, she sat beside him, folding her legs at the knee. “You look upset. Can I help with something?” Was he as worried about the mission as Brody? Had someone at home upset him?
“I’m just glancing at tomorrow.”
She didn’t want to look that far ahead. It was too depressing. In less than ten hours he’d be leaving. Damn she hated to see him go. “Anything interesting?”
His left brow rose and he removed his eyes from Morton to capture her gaze. “Could be, depending on your schedule.”
“Well, let’s see,” she said, pausing to tap her lips with the pad of her index finger. “I have to work. How’s that for excitement?” She reached forward and tucked cool strands of hair behind his ear. She then caressed his cheek with the backside of her fingers. Stiff, masculine whiskers tickled her skin.
Meow.
Morton jumped on Brent’s lap and padded two furry paws into his thighs. There wasn’t a mushy spot on those rock-hard limbs to lie down. Poor kitty.
“Morton, get down.” She tried shooing him to the floor, but Brent picked him up beneath the front legs and rubbed noses with the persistent feline.
“He’s fine. He just wants a little attention.”
Unbelievable. The cat never acted that friendly or content around any other human being. “What have you done to my cat, Brent?”
He snickered while replacing Morton on his lap. He petted the cat behind the ears before running his hand along its back. The Persian arched into his palm then plopped down dead center on Brent’s crotch.
Nope, no soft spot there either. At least Morton used good judgment when choosing a bed. The little fur-ball had better willingly give it up when it was her turn though, or there’d be a fight.
“He purrs like his mama. My entire lap is vibrating.”
Brent’s gentle petting to the underside of Morton’s chin touc
hed her heart. “He only lies on someone’s lap when he senses an upset. Would you like to talk about what isn’t bothering you now?”
“It’s nothing, baby.” He reached sideways and ran the back of his hand along her face. “I’m fine.”
“Morton doesn’t lie.”
For a long time, she stared into his eyes. They weren’t the normal piercing charcoal shade, nor were they calm, but they expressed either confusion or pain. Something definitely sat heavily on his shoulders. The mission? “This is our last night together. I think it only fair for you to be honest with me.”
“Annalee.” He lifted Morton and placed him on the floor. The feline plopped down on his feet. Brent pulled her onto his lap, tucking her into his arms. “I shouldn’t have come back.”
“Why not?”
He squeezed her tighter. “Because you’re making it impossible to leave.”
Wow, he knew the right thing to say, and it melted her tummy and kick-started her heart. “Then don’t go.”
“It’s my job.”
She wiggled from his arms and turned, maneuvering her robe from beneath her bottom, then straddled his thighs. Her naked pussy settled on the bulge in his pants. His cock hardened instantly, brushing against her slit. What a nice welcoming. “Ask Whiltby…” she rocked her hips, applying a smidgen of pressure to his penis. A deep yearning flooded her insides and her vaginal walls constricted. “For your Ohio job back. It’ll be like old times.”
“No.” He gasped as if in pain. “I can’t tolerate office confinement.”
“A ship cabin isn’t confining?” she asked, cupping his neck in her hands and planting a kiss on his nose.
“It’s worth the freedom at sea.”
She gently nipped his lips while applying additional pressure to his erection. She was so damn hot, if his penis wasn’t confined in his pants, she would’ve shoved it inside her drenched pussy. It’s amazing how he affected her in so little time. “There isn’t much freedom when you’re rescuing hostages from thieving pirates.” It was time to fish for information about the assignment.
“Baby,” he sucked in a breath and rested his head on the wall behind the couch, “it’s in my blood. I can’t help it.”
She bent forward and patted her mouth to the scar on his shoulder. “Is this from a sea battle?”
His hands latched onto her hips. As he nodded, he guided her crotch up and down the seam harboring his cock.
She didn’t need any help but took advantage of the assistance because it relieved stress from her thighs. “And what about the business you’re conducting in Miami?”
“The ass—Jesus, Annalee, I’m going to fuck you senseless in a minute.” He clamped his teeth together. “The asshole who tortured the captain escaped and is somewhere in that vicinity. I’ve been assigned to help weasel him out of hiding.”
She stiffened to the point her back hurt at the arch. “Why you? You’re not a bounty hunter.”
“The authorities believe he has a personal vendetta against me.”
He tried maneuvering her hips back into rhythm but she steeled her ass, refusing to move. “You’re not serious?”
“If he knows I’m in the area, they suspect it’ll draw him out.”
“Revenge?” She sat poker straight. “From a man known to torture and murder innocent people!” Now she understood Brody’s concern. Her mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut. “That’s dangerous, Brent.” Like he hadn’t already known that.
His gaze played over her face. “I’ve got to do what I can. If he sets sail and hijacks more ships, we could be jeopardizing innocent lives.”
She slid her hands from his neck and placed them on his shoulders. “If he escaped, why the vendetta against you? Why wouldn’t he just flee the country or something?”
“It isn’t that easy, Annalee.” He took a deep breath. “My crew wiped out half of his men.”
“Then he should take it as a warning and haul ass out of here.”
“Men like him don’t work that way. They need to settle the score, per se.”
“Let the authorities capture him, Brent. Why put your life in jeopardy?”
“It’s the authorities asking for my help.” He ran his hands up and down her thighs. “If I don’t assist them and he gets away and kills again, I couldn’t live with myself, knowing I may have made a difference.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “I have to do this, baby. Whether or not he’s captured, at least it’ll give me peace knowing I tried.”
You need to talk him out of it, Annalee. Brody’s plea beat like a drum inside her head.
Dear Lord, how could she? What if Brent was right? She couldn’t withstand being the cause of his guilt if she convinced him to stay and more people lost their lives because of it.
It would take a hell of a lot of faith in God and trust in Brent, but they had to let him do what he thought best.
Even if it slowly drained the life out of her heart.
I’m so sorry, Brody. “Why hadn’t you told me this sooner?”
His lids narrowed. “Would it have made a difference?”
In a sense, no, but it gave her reason to worry over a close friend who’d still consumed her in a case of severe like. Which theoretically made it harder to let him go. “No, I guess not.” But wow, it started upsetting her tummy. If something happened… The color drained from her cheeks.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his gaze peculiarly tracing her face.
Nothing a quick trip into the kitchen wouldn’t cure. A huge lump settled in her throat and her eyes burned. “Yeah, but I’m going to get a glass of water.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “Be right back.”
She dashed into the kitchen and blasted the cold water but her stomach felt too queasy to take a sip. Instead she leaned over the sink and splashed her face. Just as she turned around to grab the dish towel off the stove handle, she bumped into Brent’s chest.
He lifted her chin and lowered his face. Instead of kissing her as she’d expected, he licked the water from her cheeks. The heat from his tongue traveled all the way to her toes.
In the breath of a second he lifted her by the waist, causing her to squeal, and sat her on the counter. After he stepped in between her thighs, he pushed the robe aside and spread her legs wide, exposing her to his eyes.
“I want to make this a night to remember, Annalee.”
Considering the circumstance, she refused to read further into that statement. She’d give him this night, and if something happened… No! She couldn’t let that type of negativity bombard her thoughts.
She lowered her eyes, but Jesus, he was looking at…she couldn’t pull her legs together. Why was it so damn erotic? Her body dispensed a stream of warm liquid onto her robe. “Brent, at least make it enough to last until you come back.” Her gazed moved to his face. “You will come see me again, won’t you?”
“My first stop,” he said, placing his thumb on her clit and giving it a swirl.
Her hips jerked. “Soon.” She arched her neck, bumping her head into the cabinet, and rotated her bottom to the twirl of his thumb. “Promise?” she gasped.
“As soon as I can.” He pulled her closer, to where her ass slightly dangled over the edge. He supported her back with his free hand and slipped a fingertip inside her.
She bit her bottom lip, enjoying the swirling sensation as her insides came alive. Grabbing the cabinet lip, she pushed her bottom down, forcing his precious finger deeper. And when he brushed against her G-spot she nearly flew off the counter. “Right there,” she wailed. “Jesus, Brent, right there.” She spread her legs to the max and ground her crotch into his hand, praying he’d add another finger or two.
“Annalee, I can fuck you in ways you’ve never imagined and make you feel things you’ll never forget in this lifetime.” His breathing was heavy and evenly paced, adding passion to her frenzy. “All you need to do is ask.”
She clenched her teeth. “I’m asking.”
He moved his hand away from he
r crotch. “Try again.”
Not giving it another thought, she dropped one hand from the cabinet, blindly grabbed his fingers and shoved one inside her pussy. He immediately removed it but not before she indulged in two seconds of bliss.
“Talk to me.”
“Fuck me with your fingers.” She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting him to ram her hard. Instead, he tweaked her clit. A delicious tingle broke loose in her lower body.
Inhaling a content breath, she rolled her hips to the magic of his fingertip. Just then, something cool pressed against her vaginal entrance. Before opening her eyes for a peek, it slipped inside, stretching her open. The coolness added an erotic flare to her overly heated body. “Uhhh,” slipped from her throat in a glorious sigh.
Fluttering her lashes open, she looked between her legs. Holy shit! He was fucking her slowly with a cucumber he’d taken from the artificial vegetable bowl. A burst of heat exploded in her tummy.
An action that would normally mortify her made her hotter than hell. The eroticism beyond the gesture increased her appetite for something more. Scalding juices poured from her body as her heart rate increased. Beads of sweat broke along her hairline. She placed her fingers over his and withdrew the plastic vegetable. “I have a dildo in my bedroom.”
His gaze rolled upward from her pussy. “Show me the way, baby.”
Annalee, I can fuck you in ways you’ve never imagined. He’d definitely brought that statement to life with the cucumber demonstration. It was the only thought floating through her mind when he carried her to the bedroom and stood her on her feet.
Would she ever look at vegetables the same way again?
He bunched a handful of hair at the base of her neck and tilted her head, exposing her throat to the cool air. When he lowered his face, she expected a soft, heated kiss, but he delicately bit the skin. “Oww.” Really, it didn’t hurt. It startled her more than anything.
“Get the dildo and lie on the bed.”
Damn, he didn’t waste time. Those words shot a zing to her sexual psyche and she nearly made a mad dash to the dresser drawer. But she played it casual, sauntered across the room, opened the dresser and slowly moved the panties and bras aside to retrieve the toy. As she took hold of the lifelike rubber novelty, her heart raced out of control. No one had ever used it on her. No one. Not even Jared. It was the love play gadget she used to satisfy herself after all the times he’d neglected to bring her off, or when fantasizing about Brent.
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