“I suppose it was just the alcohol. Anyway I better go and fetch my workaholic husband. We need to be in Atlanta by this evening and there’s a storm on the way. A storm in mid-July!”
I don’t like the sound thought of that a sto r m but laugh along anyway as Rachel swans out the room in towards the direction of Bobs office.
I catch sight of a ball of fluff creeping in. Brian pads across the floor with a bone bigger than his head. How the hell is he even holding it in?
“Hey little guy, you enjoying that?” I coo while I tickle behind his ear and he nuzzles into my hand. “That’s a big bone for such a little mouth.”
“Brian’s a man, he needs man food.” Brady’s gruff voice reaches me. Looking up, he’s leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, a megawatt smile on his face that sends my insides to jelly and my hormones into overdrive.
“Brian’s not a man. He’s a little baby.”
“Don’t say shit like that to him, Cinders. You’ll hurt his feelings. How you doing this morning, my little rebel?”
I roll my eyes at the reminder of the most embarrassing night of my life. Seriously, can’t we just forget it ever happened and when we discuss Liv’s bachelorette party in future, act like it was a perfect night that ended soberly and not behind bars?
I need a change of subject but from the smug look on Brady’s face I’m not gonna get it.
“So Liv called earlier. Chris Lyons was found in a dumpster covered in paint. Apparently he was able to ID his attackers and they’re just keeping it on the down low at the minute until they can arrest them. Damn I sure feel sorry for him but from the sounds of it they’re really gonna chuck the book at whoever did this.”
I bite my lip to stop myself giving the game away and watch as the color drains from Brady’s face and his eyes take on a look similar to what you’d expect a cornered wild animal to get.
“R-really? They’re gonna throw the book at ‘em?” Brady stutters, the smile long gone.
“Uh huh. Apparently the paint they used had some type of toxic chemical in so they’re gonna try and get them with attempted murder.”
“I need to go make a call.”
I hide the laughter behind my hand as he legs it out the room. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone move that fast.
I give myself a mental pat on the back and resist the urge to bow after my stellar acting skills. Well ok maybe they weren’t stellar since this is Brady we’re talking about but it doesn’t stop the pride. It almost makes me forget the conversation we’re about to have.
***
“You’re a cruel ass woman, Cindy Martin.” Brady says with a somber shake of his head.
“It was a little funny.” I shrug sheepishly . , T t he humor drained from the situation about an hour and twenty complaints ago.
“Funny!?” He spit’s. “I thought I was a fucking fugitive. I was ready to get the hell outta dodge and head the fuck out to Mexico. Brian would’ve had to wear a sombrero. A fucking sombrero!”
I start to phase out Brady’s voice and focus on the sound of the heavy rain beating against the windows, the water droplets pouring down. The wind is whistling and I can hear the distant sound of crashing. It’s probably a trash can rolling down the drive way.
The weather pretty much matches my emotions right now. One giant disaster. I’m torn between appreciating the moment, enjoying this happiness for however long it lasts and taking one final plunge, putting it all out there and potentially ending it. I know Brady and I need to talk. I know there are things that need to be said. I just need to work up the courage and do it. No hesitation, no avoidance. Easier said than done though.
“Brady.” I sigh.
“Not talking to you.” I can see the pout pulling on his lips, perfectly shaped and pink that I’m just itching to lay mine against.
This is so not the time to get all frisky but with Brady sitting not four feet away with that adorable look on his face and that mouthwatering body of his it’s hard to resist.
Biting my bottom lip, I stand up, the back of my bare legs brushing against the soft fabric of the sofa. Brady’s pupils dilate as his eyes take me in. They drag from my uncovered legs past the short denim and right up to my breasts.
“Those shorts are really fucking short.” He says, his eyes still glued to my chest.
“Uh huh.” I take a step towards him.
“And that top’s really fucking tight.”
“Yep.” My hips sway seductively.
“You sorry?” His voice breaks a little on the last word as his breathing quickens, his chest rising up and down faster and faster. From the look at his shorts, it’s not the only thing rising.
“Very.”
“Good.” Brady growls as he grips the back of my legs and yanks me towards him.
I grip onto his shoulders digging my nails into his skin. We should be talking. We should be having an adult conversation about our relationship and future. Sex shouldn’t be getting in the way. I am an independent woman with control over her own body. I can put a stop to this. Totally.
“Oh screw it.” I gasp, grabbing Brady’s face and pulling it to mine.
His lips are soft and when they open the taste of minty toothpaste bursts onto my tongue. His hands move upwards from the back of my thighs to my ass, squeezing and groping along the way. Still staying attached, I move forwards and straddle him , grindi ng . I can feel his hardness rubbing against me, only a few scraps of fabric between us as I grind against him .
“I love you.” He pants.
“I love you too.” I seize the bottom of his shirt and pull it up, lifting it over his head and throwing it to the side.
His chest is smooth and hard with muscle that’s almost like armor. I rub my hands up and down, running them over every ridge, every ab. I lift my arms up as Brady peels my tank up slowly, revealing inches of pale skin. I’m left in only a white and grey satin bra covering my breasts. My hands are still exploring his body but are quickly put to a stop when they’re snatched up.
“My turn.”
Jesus Christ, he moves fast. Before I can blink I’m flipped over onto my back, panting for breath, slick with sweat. Is it me or did this room go up about thirty degrees?
The two buttons on my shorts are pulled apart before two fingers hook into the belt hoop and the denim is dragged down my legs. I sit forwards and return the favor. The light dusting of blonde hair on Brady’s legs tickles my skin as it brushes past while I yank the blue basketball shorts down his legs. , bringing the blue satin basketball shorts with it.
As soon as they’re thrown across the room he climbs o n top of me, spreading my legs wide and holding them up with his arms. His tongue is running up and down my neck . and I can hear the heavy breath right in my ear.
“I love you.” He whispers, coming right to my entrance and slowly pushing in.
“God, I love you too.” I groan.
My back bows and my nails scrape up and down his back as he thrusts into me. I can feel him hitting a spot inside of me that send s my entire body into spasms. My legs shake in the air, shuddering with such intense pleasure that I feel like I’m burning up from the inside out.
“Oh fuck you feel good.” Brady pants, beads of sweat rolling down the side of his face.
I answer with a high pitched whimper as he slams himself into me, harder and harder, faster and faster. Something inside of me is slowly uncoiling and I clutch onto him to keep myself grounded. Over and over he slides his thick length inside of me.
My whole body tenses as wave after wave of pleasure shoots through me. I throw my head back, my mouth hanging open. Just when I think I might collapse from the feeling, it slowly fades, my body going limp.
“Oh shit, oh fuck.” Brady’s face scrunches up as he furiously pumps into me.
He lets out a long low groan as I feel him twitching inside of me. He collapses on top of me, panting for breath.
“I’ve fucking missed you.” He nuzzles into my ne
ck and I go rigid. It’s just another reminder of the conversation we need to have.
I know what will work to take my mind off it now though. I grab his semi hard length hanging between his legs and begin to pump. Sex shouldn’t be getting in the way but I’ll let it anyway.
***
“Well that was fun.” Brady chuckles, his hand tenderly stroking my arm as we lay entwined on the floor covered in blankets from the back of the sofa. “Where the hell did that come from? Not that I’m fucking complaining or anything.”
“I don’t know.” I mutter, knowing I don’t sound the tiniest bit convincing.
“Hey, what’s up? You’ve been acting kinda weird all day.”
“Brady.” I sigh, looking up into his l r ight brown eyes. Those damn eyes have haunted my dreams, teasing me with a future I just don’t know is possible. They twinkle with a hint of mischief and a whole lotta love. How could I ever doubt that?
Love isn’t everything though. If it was surely we would never have broken up in the first place. We wouldn’t have spent six months in a haze of grief and despair. We would have been together united against the world like in all the great love stories.
“Cinders?” Brady’s eyes widen and his thumb comes up my face wip es ing away a stray tear I didn’t even realize had escaped.
“You broke my heart.” I scrunch my face up in the memory of the pain. “I can’t go through it again. I can’t feel like that again. I won’t make it.”
“What’re you talking about?”
I sit up , pulling the , pulling the soft red blanket closer. I take a deep breath and steel myself.
“What are we doing, Brady? I can’t go on with this if it’s just gonna end the same way. I can’t give you another four years only to find out that you’re not ready, that you wanna be free because it will destroy me.”
“Cindy-” Whatever Brady was gonna say is quickly cut off when we’re plunged into darkness. “What the fuck?!”
The sound of the wind gets louder and louder, turning from the musical whistle to a loud roar. The windows rattle, the glass shaking in its frame. Brian who was tucked up safely in his dog bed whines and I can feel his wet nose nudging me.
I blindly reach for him, my hands sinking into his long fur and I pull him towards me as he whimpers at what sounds like about ten trains coming towards us.
I glance out of the window, not even seeing the blink of a street lamp. It’s almost pitch black in here and the dull light of the half-moon doesn’t even bring enough light in to see my hand in front of my face.
“We gotta get the fuck away from the windows!” Brady rushes out when the rattling becomes more insistent. “Come on!”
I lift Brian up with one hand and feel around for my clothes with the other. As terrifying as this is, if this house collapses I’d rather have clothes on when I need to be dug out.
“Brady?” I squeak when the deafening sound of thunder. One glance behind me and the room flashes with light from the sky.
“Come on let’s move away from the windows. Shit why the fuck would that dick build a house with so many fucking windows?!”
“The b-bathroom.” I stutter, eyes wide with fright as the sky continues to roar. “Doesn’t the downstairs bathroom not have any windows.”
“Brains as well as beauty, come on.”
We rush through the hallway, windows seeming to follow us giving us the perfect image of what’s going on outside. The trees in the backyard are almost vertical against the force of the wind. The rain is constant, basically like a power shower as it soaks everything in sight.
The last sight I have is of the iron garden chairs rolling across the patio before I’m dragged through an open doorway and the door is slammed shut behind me.
I squeeze my eyes shut shut at the relief of not having to see what’s happening outside.
“That is one big fucking storm.” Brady laughs suddenly while shaking his head. “Damn we were about five minutes from being blown the hell away.”
I nod my head jerkily while I stand Brian up on the floor. He whines a little as he takes the room in, his head twitching.
The bathroom is covered in stone effect wall tiles in grey, brown, black and beige. The floor’s a glossy black marble with white streaks running through it. The bathroom suite is modern. A white square shaped toilet stands in the opposite corner with a black vanity with white sunken sink next to it. Thankfully there’s a light just above the sink that I’m guessing is powered by batteries or something since it hasn’t been effected by the power cut.
I take a deep calming breath and swallow the saliva that seems to have gathered in my throat while we were rushing. I straighten my scrunched up tank top out and pull it over my head, feeling bare without a bra on. I step into my shorts minus a pair of satin panties panties while Brady does the same with the blue shorts he was wearing earlier.
He runs a hand through his hair making it look no different from usual and I watch as his shoulders rise before and he lets out a long sigh.
“How long do you think this storm is gonna go on for?” I ask, feeling more than a little overwhelmed. One second we were laying on the floor, arms wrapped around each other and trying to catch our breath and the next we’re running through the house in case the windows give way against at the strength of the wind.
Brady shuffles his feet and leans against the wall, his chest constricting when his back comes into contact with the ice cold tiles. He sinks down to the ground and lies his head in his hands. I can only stand there, not sure whether to move towards him or head outside to face the storm.
My bare feet move forwards towards him of their own accord, slapping against the freezing floor. Brian seems to have made himself a new home at the side of the toilet and is curled up with his bushy tail covering his eyes.
I look away to the guy huffing and puffing into his hands and drop onto the floor next to him.
I put it all out there and though I know he didn’t exactly have chance to respond, it doesn’t stop me feeling as if I’m dangling over the edge of a cliff, looking at the ground below that I’m about to splatter on.
“Probably a couple of hours.” His voice sounds scratchy and his face looks tired. “It’ll calm down soon. With the wind the way it is it’s best to stay the fuck away from the windows. We’re not glass proof.”
I frown. What the hells he talking about? Oh yeah, the weather. As if I could forget about that.
“Look Brady-” I start, only to get interrupted.
“I get it. I get it Cinders. I fucked up and it’s gonna take more than a couple of weeks to fix. I know this.” He nods his head as if coming to a realization. “Put it on me.”
“What?”
“Come on. I messed up. I broke your heart; hell, I broke mine too. Talk to me be cause let me tell you now Cinders, losing you again is not a fucking option.” He looks up, straight in my eyes with pure determination. “That day-”
“Was crap.” I finish, not really wanting to hear his excuses.
“You were packing. You thought I was gonna come with you.”
“I’m aware of what happened Brady.” I squeeze my eyes shut as the feelings from that day wash over me. The disappointment, the sadness, the realization that we were over.
“What do you mean you’re not coming back with me?” I ask. Is this a joke? Because if it is, it’s so not funny.
“Bob. He, um, he gave me a job.” Brady doesn’t look at me in the eyes, instead focusing on his feet as if it’s their heart that’s breaking right now.
“But we’re leaving tomorrow. What about college? What about the apartment?”
“Cinders.” He sighs. “College isn’t really working out for me right now.”
“So what? Your giving up? I-I don’t understand what’s happening.” I drop heavily onto the bed, the suitcase that I was halfway through packing bouncing on the springs.
“It’s too much right now. I’m fucking nineteen Cinders and we’re living together and-�
�
“We’ve been living together for almost two years. You wanted to live together. What’s the problem with it now?”
The pain in my chest is taking my breath away. I feel like I’m standing in the eye of a tornado and everything’s falling apart around me while all I can do is watch.
“I love you.” He finally looks up. He looks me in the eye with… Guilt? Pain? Regret? What is it? “I can’t do college right now though. I can’t do this right now.”
“So what? You wanna break up?” Just the thought has my stomach ready to revolt . and bring my breakfast up.
“WHAT? NO!” Brady’s eyes widen and he takes a step towards me. I hold a hand out to put a stop to it. I don’t want him near me right now.
I’ve given him so much of my life. I watch people around me moving on. I watch Noah and Liv who are so hopelessly in love that they can’t imagine being away from each other. My boyfriend wants to move thousands of miles apart from me though. Why can’t I have what Liv has? Why can’t Brady worship me?
“I won’t wait for you Brady.” My face scrunches up with the effort it takes for me to get the words out. “I gave you a second chance once before when you got cold feet. I can’t do it again.”
“Cindy , I just need to breathe.” His eyes fill up with tears. I don’t care. I can’t care anymore.
“I’m done. You can breathe Brady but I’m done.”
“Let’s just talk about this. It ’s just a little break.”
“Like you talked to me when you took a job? We were meant to be leaving tomorrow Brady! And you put this on me now?!” I throw my hands in my hair and grip it in my enclosed fists. The pain in my scalp isn’t even a tingle compared to the pain in my chest right now. “You’re never gonna grow up. You’re never gonna grow up.” I repeat it over and over again as the tears fall down my face.
“Cindy please.” He begs, walking towards me.
“GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!” I point at him and straighten up. “Get out Brady.” I say calmly, too calmly.
“Cin-”
“NOW!”
“Ok, ok.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “I’ll give you a few minutes to think.”
I can see his throat move as he swallows and backs out of the doorway, pulling it closed behind him.
Forever Together (Forever Love #2) Page 26