by Aria Ford
“You too,” Rex said politely.
I glanced at Brad to see him glaring off into the distance. Whatever had been bothering him all night was now worse. The sudden appearance of his friend was enough to send his mood spiraling, and I didn’t know why. I wanted to pull him aside to ask, but I knew that would be rude. Instead, I tried to pull both men into a light conversation.
“So,” I said. “You both know Carla, right? From the gallery?”
“Oh yeah,” Rex said, laughing lightly. “She’s a trip.”
“I love her!” I said enthusiastically. “She’s so damn talented, but I’m exhausted. I swear I’ve never had a boss work me as hard as she does.”
“She’ll do that,” Rex said with a nod. “Carla is no nonsense.”
“No kidding.” I laughed. “I think I’ve cleaned more in the past week than I ever have in my entire life.”
Rex laughed but shot Brad a meaningful look that I didn’t understand. When my eyes turned back to Brad’s face, I saw that same angry and annoyed look in his eyes. I frowned and waited for him to say something but when he did, it wasn’t at all what I expected.
“Gotta pee,” he said. “I’ll be back.”
With that, he jumped out of his chair and hurried away. I watched him, feeling more and more concerned by the second. Something was obviously really wrong with him, and I had no idea what it was. With Rex around, I didn’t have any hope of asking him either.
“So,” Rex said, pulling my attention to him. “What’s going on with you two?”
I hesitated. Rex was obviously looking out for his friend, but there was a stern look on his face that brought me up short. I wasn’t sure how to answer his question.
“Listen,” he said, softening slightly. “Brad doesn’t usually act like this, that’s all.”
“Act like what?” I asked.
“He doesn’t open up to women,” Rex said. “He’s been through some shit and because of that, he’s closed off. He never sees the same woman for any length of time. That’s why I’m surprised by how much time he’s been spending with you.”
“Oh,” I said. “Well, I mean, I guess we were just…”
“Having fun?” Rex asked.
“Yeah,” I said, shrugging. “Is that such a bad thing?”
“No,” Rex said kindly. “But I know Brad. The way he looks at you… it’s obvious he isn’t just having fun. He feels something for you, something deep. I’m not even sure he realizes it yet, but it’s there.”
“I don’t really know what to say,” I said.
Rex was making me uncomfortable, and I knew he didn’t mean to. It wasn’t his words that bothered me. It was my feelings about the matter. Brad had been distant all night, and now I knew why. My own feelings for Brad were much stronger than I wanted them to be. I’d realized that a while ago but I pushed it away, not wanting to ruin a good thing.
“You’re leaving,” Rex said bluntly.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“Eventually,” he said. “You’ll be leaving town, right?”
I nodded.
“Just be careful, okay?” he said. “Brad is already attached to you, even if he can’t see it. When you leave, it’ll hurt him.”
I nodded again and looked away. My head was spinning, and I didn’t know what to say. Rex was prying into something that wasn’t his business, but I didn’t blame him. He was looking out for his friend. It was nice in its own way but my mind was still reeling over it.
I shrugged off Brad’s jacket and jumped to my feet.
“I should go,” I said softly.
I didn’t look back as I hurried through the bar. When I stepped outside, I felt the night air hit me sharply. It stung my eyes but I pushed forward, Rex’s words still playing in my head.
He wasn’t wrong, not about anything. My feelings for Brad were growing stronger by the day, and I didn’t know how to stop it. What started as something casual and fun had quickly turned into something much different.
I thought it was just me, but now that I knew how Brad felt, I couldn’t ignore things any longer. Rex was right. It wasn’t fair of me to let Brad get attached to me when I was just going to leave soon. Besides, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to handle the goodbye myself. Just the thought of leaving Brad was enough to bring tears to my eyes.
I blinked them away and jogged toward my hotel, eager to tuck myself away from the world.
Chapter 15
Brad
My frustration was worse than ever as I hurried into the bathroom. Rex showing up at the bar was enough to piss me off but having already been on edge, I felt even worse. The bathroom was empty, so I splashed some water on my face and tried to calm down. A part of me wanted to put Rex in his place, but I knew that wouldn’t solve anything. My anger toward him was really just anger toward myself. Rex was being a good friend. Me? I was being an idiot.
Falling for Olivia was never part of the plan, but after spending so much time with her, that’s exactly what I did. I fell for her, and now I didn’t know what to do. Rex was right, getting attached was a mistake, but I felt like I was already in over my head with no way to surface.
Once I was calm enough, I hurried out of the bathroom and made my way back to our table. When I got there, Olivia was gone. My jacket was hanging on the back of her chair, and Rex wouldn’t meet my eyes. He stared down at his hands with a guilty expression.
“What happened?” I asked.
Rex’s head snapped up, and his eyes found mine. He grimaced and shook his head apologetically.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was just trying to look out for you.”
“What did you say?” I asked.
“Just to be careful,” Rex said. “I reminded her that she was leaving. I said she might want to consider what it meant to get close to someone when she was still planning to leave town.”
“Damn it, Rex,” I sighed and ran my hands over my face.
“I’m really sorry, man. I didn’t mean to freak her out. I just wanted to—”
“Look out for me, I know.” I snapped.
Rex looked back down at his hands, that same guilty expression on his face. I wasn’t mad at him but really, what the fuck was he thinking? Of course, Olivia got upset. No one wanted a total stranger butting into their business. She probably fled due to sheer embarrassment.
I stared at the door to the bar, wondering what to do. My first instinct was to chase after her. The night was still young, and I wasn’t done with her just yet. Still, it wasn’t like me to run after a woman, no matter how hot they were. The idea of opening myself to a woman was terrifying, and yet, I’d already done it. I’d already let Olivia in without realizing it. Now I was faced with a decision I didn’t want to make: either chase after Olivia and hope she would understand Rex’s intrusion, or let her go and risk never seeing her again.
Neither choice felt right, but I knew I couldn’t just sit there. I had to at least try.
“I’ll see you later, Rex,” I said, taking a step toward the door.
“I’m sorry again,” Rex said.
I waved away his apology and ran out of the bar. When I reached the parking lot, my eyes roamed around, searching for a sign of Olivia. She was nowhere in sight.
I was about to give up when I saw a familiar black dress running away from the parking lot. I squinted, trying to make out her form in the dark. Her hair was bouncing against her back, and I knew it was her. There was no mistaking it.
Without thinking, I sprinted after her, not slowing down until I was right beside her.
“Brad!” She shrieked and jumped away from me, breathing heavily and holding her hand to her chest. “Shit, you scared me!”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I just didn’t want you to leave without an explanation.”
“I just… I just need to get out of here,” Olivia said, not meeting my eyes.
“I know what Rex said to you,” I said softly. “He shouldn’t have butted in.”
“H
e’s right,” Olivia said bluntly. “I’m leaving. This thing between us, we both know it won’t last.”
“Who cares?” I asked, grabbing her hand. “I like what we’re doing, and I don’t have to stop.”
“I’ll be leaving soon,” Olivia said softly.
“One more night won’t hurt,” I said, my voice low and pleading. “Will it?”
She looked at me with emotion behind her eyes. I could tell she wanted to argue, but her attraction to me was overpowering. Her green eyes swam as she searched my face, desperately trying to decide on an answer.
Before she could speak, I pulled her against me and claimed her lips as my own. She froze against me, then melted. Her lips softened and the sigh she released sounded like heaven. I held her closer, kissing her until we could barely breathe.
When we finally pulled apart, that familiar fire was dancing in her eyes. I grinned, and she grabbed my hand, leading me to her hotel room.
***
I knew this moment was one I would want to remember. As we stepped inside her hotel room, my eyes moved slowly over her body. I took in the sight of her in that black dress, feeling myself harden. She was gorgeous, and no matter what happened between us, I wanted her. At that moment, I didn’t care if this would be our last night together. I had to have her.
Our kiss was like dynamite, setting off explosions in my stomach and groin. I groaned when she stepped out of her dress and laid back on the bed, open and waiting for me. The growl that escaped my lips was out of my control. I removed my own clothes, my eyes on hers the entire time.
She trailed her hands down my naked body, lighting running her fingers across my cock. I shivered and kissed her with a gentleness I didn’t know I possessed.
Our bodies were alive with desire as we clung to one another. Her naked breasts pressed into my chest and her smooth legs wrapped around my waist. I could feel her wetness rubbing against me, and the sensation was too much. It wasn’t how we usually did things, but I took her slowly, sliding inside of her while my arms were still wrapped tightly around her back.
My lips never left hers. We kissed and thrust against each other, moving slowly and deliberately. Every thrust of my hips was powerful and desperate. She moaned and panted against my lips, her tongue dancing over mine. She surrounded me, overwhelming with her scent, her taste.
I’d never felt anything so intense in my life. My orgasm was building, but I didn’t care. It was like my body had fused with Olivia’s. I wasn’t moving inside of her. She wasn’t lifting her hips against mine. We moved together, one being. The rhythm between us was more than just in sync. We were unstoppable. I knew I would never feel this connected to another woman.
As my pleasure increased, I tore my lips from hers to gasp for breath. She cried out as she came around my cock, her pussy collapsing and her back arching. I could feel her entire body tremble, and when her eyes found mine, they were full of desperation. I held myself up on my hands, watching her while I continued to thrust inside of her.
My movements sped up. As I got closer to my own release, I couldn’t control myself. I slammed forward with speed and ferocity, making her body jerk and her breasts tremble. The sight of her perky nipples was enough to send waves of desire running down my spine. My body was covered in sweat, and I knew I wouldn’t last much longer.
Sitting up on my heels, I pulled Olivia’s still shaking body with me. She sat on top of me while I continued to thrust upward, making her cry out with renewed pleasure. The effects of her orgasm were working their way through her body when her second orgasm took us both by surprise.
“Brad,” she moaned my name weakly. “Oh God, Brad.”
Her pussy clamped on my cock, and I came so hard I thought I might burst out of her. The feelings that filled my body were unlike anything I’d ever felt before. Waves of ecstasy shot from my groin to every inch of my body. I grunted and sighed, panting and clinging to Olivia’s body with desperation.
She was still shaking from her own pleasure, her arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders. I could feel her hot breath on my neck, and when I pushed her back, our lips collided in yet another earth-shattering kiss.
We rolled apart, both too exhausted to speak. As we rested against the pillows, I pulled Olivia’s body to mine and held her close. I closed my eyes and breathed in her scent, trying to memorize everything about her while I still could.
Chapter 16
Olivia
I awoke the next morning with a smile on my face and a sleeping man by my side. When I rolled over to face Brad, I smiled at how peaceful he looked. He was sleeping soundly, and for the first time since we met, I didn’t see a single worry line on his face. He looked years younger while he slept as if all his trials and tribulations magically disappeared while he was dreaming. I liked seeing him this way. Peaceful. Happy. Content.
My smile widened as I sunk into my pillow, my eyes never leaving Brad’s face. It wasn’t like me to watch someone sleep, but I couldn’t help myself. I brushed his sandy blond hair off his forehead and gently stroked his naked shoulder. I slid my hand down his arm, lingering over his tattoo. Without a shirt on, I could see the entire piece of art. It was a hawk, circling above the sun. The tattoo wasn’t one I’d ever seen before, and I loved to admire it. Whenever we spent the night together, I found myself staring in awe at the talent that went into creating this tattoo.
At my touch, Brad began to stir. He shifted slightly, breathing in a deep breath and blinking his eyes open. He smiled when he saw me staring at him. I grinned back and waited until he sat up to press a kiss to his lips. He kissed me back, long and slow. When we pulled apart, he was still smiling. The sight was enough to keep my own smile firmly in place. I grinned as he pushed himself to kiss me good morning. After everything happened the night before, I didn’t expect to end up here.
Rex shook me to my core with his warnings. I ran out of the bar ready to never see Brad again and yet, here I was, curled up beside him in bed.
“I’m sorry about what Rex said last night,” Brad said as if he could read my mind.
“Don’t be,” I said, shaking my head and sitting up slightly. “He wasn’t exactly wrong. It’s not fair of me to spend this much time with you when I don’t know how long I’ll be in Santa Fe.”
“That’s for me to decide though, isn’t it?” Brad asked, smiling slyly.
“I guess,” I sighed. “He was just worried about you.”
“What did he say?” Brad asked, frowning slightly.
“Just that you never act this way with women,” I said, shrugging. “He said it was obvious you have real feelings for me.”
Brad sighed and ran his hands over his face. He sat up and shook his hair out of his eyes. When he looked at me, his expression was open, his eyes deep with meaning.
“He’s not wrong,” Brad said. “My life hasn’t been the easiest.”
“Tell me about it,” I said softly.
Brad nodded and continued. “My mom left when I was young. She just couldn’t deal with my father’s temper.”
“Was he…” I began, trailing off uncertainly.
“Violent?” Brad asked. “No, just verbally abusive. He was a mean son of a bitch, but he was my dad. For as long as I can remember, he was my only family. I did whatever he wanted, including participating in the family business.”
“The family business?” I asked.
“Theft,” he said without emotion. “Stolen cars. We stole them, fixed them up, and sold them. That’s how I learned everything I know about cars.”
“Wow,” I said, raising my eyebrows. “That’s…”
“Crazy?” Brad asked. “Insane? I know, but I didn’t have much choice. My dad did it, so I did it. Until I got caught.”
Brad sighed deeply and looked down at his arms. For the first time, I noticed faint scars spread out over his skin. They were so light that they were barely visible, but when I looked closer, I saw the same scars scattered over his chest.
“I was
arrested when I was still a kid,” he said. “I thought my dad would bail me out or at least try to get me a lawyer. He didn’t.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“He said he couldn’t put himself at risk,” Brad said. “That, if he got involved, the police would find something to implicate him for. He didn’t want to take that chance, so he left me in juvie. When I turned eighteen, I moved to a higher security prison. I stayed there for a few years, then got out.”
“Wow,” I said. “I never would have guessed that.”
Brad laughed. “Most people don’t,” he said. “It’s not exactly something I advertise.”
I nodded and took his hand, stroking my thumb along his palm. It was shocking to me that this man, this gorgeous and intelligent man, had spent time in prison. Still, it didn’t change how I felt about him. If anything, I felt closer to him now.
“I guess we share the whole ‘shitty parents’ thing,” Brad said with a soft laugh.
“Well, mine never left me in prison,” I said.
“No,” Brad said, laughing again. “But you never told me what happened to them. Why did you leave New York?”
I sighed. “I went to NYU for liberal arts, which they didn’t agree with,” I said. “Even after graduation they kept pushing me toward a more practical degree, something I could make a living with. No matter how many times I insisted that art was my passion, they wouldn’t hear it. Eventually I decided to give their offer a chance. I thought if I took this road trip I would be ready to buckle down and do something practical. They didn’t agree with this little adventure, so they cut me off. Now I don’t really know where we stand.”
“That’s crazy,” Brad said. “If art is what you love, then that’s what you should do. Everyone else be damned.”
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately,” I said softly. “Being here, working for Carla, spending time with you… I just feel like I’m in the right place, you know? The idea of leaving right not just doesn’t feel right.”
“What are you saying?” Brad asked, hope blooming in his eyes.