They switched positions and Brook sat between them with her head on Logan’s shoulder, holding both their hands in her lap. They danced with her and she was placed on the bed with rose petals around her. Her arms over her head and hair spread around her. Vaughn never stopped talking above her on a rolling platform.
Dressing them all in black leather, the brothers in t-shirts and tank tops while Brooke rocked a halter top, they were positioned around the stage, with instruments and without. Always, they were touching. Back to back with one brother in front of her, arms around one another like they did at the end of each show. The brothers sat on the edge of the stage and Brooke crouched between them, her arms around their shoulders.
The last wardrobe change was hardest on everyone. Sidney was told to put her in a white tank top with no bra and low-hung jeans. Vaughn had her lie on her stomach on the bed. The bare-chested brothers sat on the floor at the foot of the bed, tendrils of her hair in their hands. All of them were barefoot and the brothers were told to look away, then at her.
Her bare cleavage in the tank top was hard to avoid. Vaughn told her to lie on her back and her hair was arranged to fall off the end of the bed. The brothers lay beside her, on their stomachs. Over and over they moved them. When he had the twins curl toward her, their hands on her hip and stomach, Rex almost lost it.
The moment the photographer called a wrap, Logan and Decklan exploded off the bed and went to the dressing room. Brooke stood and looked tired.
Seeing Rex come into the room, she ran to him and he caught her up, her body wrapping around him. She kissed him deeply, her unbound breasts pressing to his chest. “Hi. I missed you, baby.”
“I missed you, Brooke.” The hoarseness of his voice irritated him.
Stroking his face, she said quietly, “I can sense the testosterone boiling just beneath the surface, baby. Focus on me and how you’re going to remind me later how I belong to you. Only to you Rex.” She stared at him for a long moment and he sighed, nodding his head slightly. “No one compares to you, baby. No one, no two.”
He crushed her to him and she snuggled in, letting him carry her to her dressing room where Sidney was waiting. He set her on her feet but she didn’t let go of him, demanding kisses. He obliged with a soft smile and she ran her hands through the hair he’d gradually allowed to grow out. Silky and black, he always finger combed it back off his forehead but a couple of locks always dropped forward. Tugging it now, she whispered, “Superman. You really need the tat.”
His half smile showed her his dimples, “You’re so beautiful, Brooke.”
Cupping his head in her hands, she whispered, “I’m glad you think so, baby. You’re the only one I want to be beautiful for. The world can have my voice, but you get everything else, Rex. I need you to believe in me. To believe how much I love you. I don’t want you to hurt when I have to do stuff like this.”
Rex tightened his hands on her, “I believe in you, Brooke. I’m sorry. I am, honey. It’s a guy thing, I guess. I swear to you I try to control it.”
She gave him a bright smile, “If you weren’t all alpha male I wouldn’t love you as much. I just…Rex, I don’t want you to worry. Not ever. Not ever, Rex. Because I know what I have and I’m so grateful you love me. I don’t take it for granted. Kiss me hard and let me change so I can finish today’s session and we can go home. Jackson leaves tonight for the weekend. The girls insisted on staying with Jeanette and we have the huge picnic with Mack’s family tomorrow afternoon. But tonight, baby…tonight we have the house to ourselves. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?”
With a growl, he put his mouth next to her ear, “I’m tying your fine ass down, Brooke. I’m going to cover you in drizzles of honey and lick every inch of your body, paying close attention to that sweet little pussy and that pretty piercing I love to tug with my teeth. Then I’m going to fuck you until the sun comes up. We’ll be sticky and sweaty, covered in fluids. That sounds delicious. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Are you wet, baby?”
She nodded, breathing rapidly. “I wish I could taste you right now, stroke my tongue into that hot pussy, and lap up your sweet cream. But waiting will build anticipation and I’ll be aching for you by the time I get you home. My cock is already throbbing for you, Brooke. I wish I was inside you right now.” Her body tightened hard against him twice and she laid her face in the bend of his neck, her heart pounding against him as she gave a little whimper.
“Baby, did you just come for me?” She moaned softly in response. “Oh my god, I love you so much. Thank you baby. I feel so much better.” He stroked his hand over her back. “Go. Finish working so I can make you happy properly.”
She held him for a moment longer and when her body relaxed and she took a deep breath, he lowered her to her feet. “Wait for me. I need one more snuggle.” He nodded and dropped into Sidney’s stylist chair as Brooke went to change. “Don’t go, Rex.”
When she closed the door, Sidney punched him in the arm. “I told you, don’t be such a guy.” Rex smiled and nodded.
Brooke came out and he walked her back to the sound studio where Logan and Decklan were already working on the opening riffs of a song she’d written for them about the bond of brotherhood. The song was written in such a way that it affected all the Marines as well. It was going to be a huge hit with men everywhere who knew what male bonding and putting your life in someone else’s hands was like.
Travis was sitting with the tech and making suggestions. Rex twirled her a few times and brought her back for another hard kiss and hug. When he finally pulled away, his voice was rough and deep. “I’m going to go pick some stuff up for tonight. How long do you think you need to finish up?”
She mentally calculated, “Probably two hours. We have the one track we’re finishing now. Um, oh yeah the fiddle riffs for the one we did yesterday. Come back sooner so I can stare at your hotness while I work. ‘Kay?” He nodded and she grinned, “I love you. You’re so good for me.”
He took her chin between his fingers, “No, honey, you’ve dialed back time for me. You make me feel young again.”
Brooke’s snort was far from ladylike, “You are young. I dare any guy my age to match body and strength to you, my fine-assed baby. Uh uh, you’re beautiful. Perfectly perfect, for me.”
Rex turned to go and hesitated, coming back to her, “Brooke, we’re not screwing around on the wedding anymore. We’ll talk tonight.” She smiled. “You’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you? Wow, I’m a moron.”
She punched him in the shoulder, “Hey, don’t talk about my man like that, punk. No one talks shit about my man. I’ll sic Sidney on you. That crazed spider monkey will whoop your ass.” Sidney and Zane were laughing on the couch behind them. “Don’t let her size fool you, she’s lethal.” She stroked his face once more and sighed, “Back to work but I’ll be thinking about what you said earlier. I’m so hungry…just starving, Rex.”
His eyes narrowed on her and Sidney snorted. “Wicked wench. Go rock it, sugar. I’ll be back, Brooke.” He slapped her ass as she turned and she mouthed, ‘I love you’ and blew him a kiss. She walked in and sat at the piano while Logan and Decklan demonstrated a couple of changes to the opening instrumental. She was nodding, making a couple of suggestions for changes with the piano and they were caught up.
Turning to Sidney and Zane, he said, “God, I love that woman. Keep an eye on her for me. I’ll be gone about an hour. You know I don’t like dragging her into public stores.”
Zane nodded, “Understood. I freak out taking Sidney anywhere now. You need help with anything?” Rex shook his head and walked for the exit. Brooke suddenly jumped up and came to the studio door.
“Hey, baby?” she called and he turned. Suddenly she was embarrassed, blushing. “Get that wine and the, uh, other stuff we used that time.” His look was pure carnal intent and he winked at her. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, Brooke.” He stared at her for a long moment, drinking her in the way only he c
ould. His gaze was an almost physical caress over her body as he headed for the door. As he stepped into the beautiful sunshine-filled day she watched him take sunglasses out of his shirt. Her only thought was, Gorgeous.
She wiggled her eyebrows at Sidney and Zane, turning for the studio with a light blush on her cheeks, when the studio glass door exploded under rapid gunfire. “Rex!” She was running for the door, Zane and Sidney moving to stop her. There was the pop-pop of a smaller caliber gun and Brooke shoved her friend away, hitting the door frame hard.
Rex was on one knee beside his Harley, his 9mm in his hand. Brooke was running toward him. One person was down on the ground twenty feet away with a semi-automatic weapon on the pavement beside them. Another person was crouching behind the truck they’d come in. Rex lowered the barrel of the gun and pulled the trigger, hitting the other shooter in the foot. The guy limped away from the vehicle and started shooting.
As Sidney cleared the door with Zane, they saw Rex shoot the guy three times in the chest and once in the head. It had all happened in less than ten seconds. Assured both men were down, Rex turned to Brooke and frowned. “What the fuck are you doing outside? Baby, you don’t run toward the gunfire! You run away.”
Brooke gave a hysterical laugh as she reached him, dropping to her knees in front of him, hugging him and crying. “I was so scared for you. Motherfuckers were shooting at my baby, my man…you think I’m gonna stay inside? I think not.”
She realized her hands were wet as Zane appeared beside them.
The big man said hoarsely, “Brooke, baby, let me check him. Let me check Rex, honey.” Zane tried to tug Rex to his back but his friend’s hands tightened on Brooke.
Rex’s voice was deeper than normal, gravelly, and suddenly she was terrified. “Brooke, listen to me. I love you very much. I’ve lived and loved harder in my time with you than all my life before that combined. Do you believe me?” She nodded in shock. “I love you and I wouldn’t change one minute. Not one fucking minute, baby.”
“Rex…Rex, what’s wrong? Baby, I love you too. With everything, with all of me,” her voice was barely audible as her mind tried to grasp the reality she couldn’t understand. Somewhere there were sirens and people shouting but nothing mattered but Rex.
Rex stroked her hair once, twice, again, his hands memorizing the feel of it. “Brooke. Don’t spend your youth grieving. Don’t you dare. Remember the love we have but don’t go through your life without love like I did for so long. Promise me, Brooke.” She was hugging him and shaking. “Promise me you’ll love again.”
“Rex, what…what’s wrong? I have you to love. I love you and you’re all I’ll ever need. What happened?” She tried to look down and he pulled her chin up.
“Don’t. Look at my face, Brooke. Promise me, Brooke. Please, it means everything for me to know you won’t go through life alone. Please, baby, I need to know. I love you. Promise me, baby.” His voice was hoarse, weaker.
Zane whispered, “Brooke, tell him what he needs to hear. Do it now, honey.”
Brooke whispered, “Rex…are you hit bad?” He nodded his head. “Rex, an ambulance is coming. They’ll be here any minute.” He shook his head slowly. She was murmuring, “Please no, please, Rex. Please don’t leave me. I love you. Please.”
His voice was weaker now, “Brooke, I love you more than my own life, more than anyone or anything I’ve ever known before. You loved me so well, so completely. You gave me so much. I don’t regret it. Tell me you’ll be okay. I need to know you’ll be okay. Promise me you’ll fight Brooke. Tell me you will fight grief and win. Swear it.”
“I…I promise to try, Rex, please, I love you, I need you. Don’t leave me. It’s too soon. I need you, Rex. We’re going to get married and have babies. Please don’t leave me, don’t leave me. I love you, I love you, I love you, Rex.” His grip was relaxing on her. “No baby, please hold on. Don’t let go, Rex, please…I love you.”
Zane was lowering him to the pavement and Brooke followed him down, holding on tight. “Love you, pretty girl. Love you.”
“No, Rex baby, please. I love you.” She curled up beside him on the ground as Zane checked his pulse, her head beside his as the last breath left his body. She said in his ear, “No one will ever love me as well as you, Rex. I love you so much. So much.”
Brooke didn’t hear the people around her. She didn’t hear the sirens of the ambulance and police cars pulling into the parking lot. The roar of two motorcycles entering the parking lot at top speed didn’t register.
She laid curled next to Rex’s body, her arm under the back of his head, her other hand smoothing through his hair. She kept her eyes closed and whispered how much she loved him with her forehead pressed against his temple. She was unaware that her lover’s blood was soaking into her hair and clothes on one side.
When the paramedics tried to pull Brooke away from his body a few minutes later, she resisted, then she fought hard, sobbing hysterically. Sidney pushed them away, screaming in fury.
She crouched beside her, saying gently, “Brooke, baby girl, come with me. Come with me, Brooke. Look at me, honey. It’s Sidney and I love you. I’m going to take you with me. Come on, honey.” Sidney’s voice and expression were calm as tears poured down her face.
“I can’t leave Rex. He needs me, Sidney,” her voice was gentle as her hands stroked over his face and into his hair.
“Brooke, he’s gone. Rex is gone. Come with me, baby. Rex wouldn’t want you lying on the ground and out in the open like this. You know he wouldn’t. Come with me, Brooke. Please, honey. Let me help you.” She held out her hands and Brooke stared at her unseeing for a long moment.
Brooke carefully took her arm from under Rex’s head, resting it gently on the pavement as she went to her knees beside him. She smoothed his hair, kissed his entire face. “You are so beautiful and I love you so much, Rex. You rest and I’ll be right back. Everything will be fine. You’ll see, everything will be fine because I love you and it has to be.” She lifted his hand and smoothed it through her hair before putting it carefully on his chest, holding it for a moment.
Absently, she took Sidney’s hands and Zane pulled both of them to their feet. “Come on, baby. We need to get you in the shower.”
“He’ll be alone. I shouldn’t leave him alone, Sidney, I should stay. He needs me, he needs to rest.” Her stare was fixed ahead, her pupils dilated, as she began to resist her friends. “I won’t leave him alone.”
Sidney was shaking as hard as Brooke was, “Honey, Boyd and Mack are here. Can they go with him? Is that alright?”
Brooke looked over her shoulder and saw Rex lying on the ground, his torso riddled with bullet holes, a huge puddle of blood around him. Mack knelt near his head, his hand on Rex’s forehead as he whispered a prayer, tears flowing down his cheeks. Boyd was barely hanging on.
“Rex…?” Brooke whispered and dropped like a stone.
Zane caught her, an instant before she hit the ground. She didn’t witness the pandemonium of swarming emergency personnel, arriving reporters, or the studio people who poured from the doors of the building in shock.
Brooke was incoherent as Sidney bathed and dressed her in clean clothes. She was unconscious when Zane loaded her in their SUV.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Brooke was in a daze through the memorial as friend after friend went up to talk about the man Rex Black had been. He’d touched more lives than he’d ever known. Every minute an agony until she stood to give her eulogy and wavered dangerously.
Mack moved like lightening to steady her and led her to the podium. Clearing her throat several times, she blotted her eyes and held the stand with both hands, keeping herself up with white knuckles. The media would treat her gently, talking about her struggle to keep it together while she spoke, about the tears that ran nonstop down her cheeks.
“Rex…Rex was one of the best men I’ve ever known. I say one of because he surrounded himself with other strong and good men like he was. He l
ived his life comfortable in who he was and what he stood for. Every man, every boy growing into manhood, should strive to be like him. To care for others without judgment, to be tolerant, and to give more than they receive. He became a role model for my brother, a father figure for my sisters, was a friend like no other, and showed me the woman I could be.
“He gave me the same devotion he gave his country as a decorated twenty-year Marine. I thought we’d have more time, so much more time together. To get married, have children, grow old together. He always worried about our age difference. As if he wasn’t beautiful, virile, perfect for me in every way. From the moment I met him, he made me laugh, made me blush, he protected me. He loved me for two glorious years and gave me so much in that short time. He loved me so well and always worried about keeping me safe. He gave his life to do that, to keep me safe, which is painful to bear.
“I ache with worry that he was in pain at the end. I don’t know because all he could think about was me. Even at the end, he thought of me first. I’m not sure how you go on from that. I will miss him more than I can express. I loved Rex with everything I have in me as a woman. I’m so grateful he accepted my love, for every minute I had with him. I hope he knows how much I loved him, how lucky I felt that he loved me, too. I hope he knows.”
She made it back to her seat with Mack’s help and her friends held her hands while she stared at her lap. After hugging her and kissing her forehead, Mack stepped up to the podium and took a moment to collect himself. As Rex’s lifelong friend, he would be the last to speak.
“Rex and I were friends for almost forty years. We were more like brothers. He was part of my family, having lost his own parents, and my family embraced his easy laughter and indomitable will. When we enlisted in the Marines together at eighteen, we met Boyd and Zane. We spent the next twenty years serving together. Rex literally saved my life and Boyd’s ten years ago when he walked through enemy fire to free us from cages. Zane laid down cover while Rex dragged and carried us, starved and broken, to safety. They’d been tracking us for six weeks after we’d been ambushed. That was the kind of man he was, the kind of man we all strive to be.
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