One MardispA/s

Chapter Fourteen

Chloe and Bradood ood in the doorway of the little house and watched as Belle drove off in a taxi, headed for the airport and straight to Salem. She had called her parents last night, assuring them that she was fine but not disclosing where she’d gone or why. Then she had called Shawn and told him that they needed to talk; a serious talk as to why she’d runaway from Salem.

As Brady watched his sister’s taxi disappear around the corner, he thought of what she’d said to him earlier that morning.

“I really like Chloe,” Belle had said. “I know, I know, I’ve known her for all of three hours, but I really do like her. Besides, you’ve known her a handful of days and you’re in love with her. No, no, no, don’t lie and say you’re not; I’m not stupid and I’m not blind. You two slept together last night, and I mean just slept. In all the years I’ve known you, Brady, you haven’t taken a girl to your bed just to sleep; she’s special to you, and you know it.

“Just don’t be an idiot. You’re never going to find a woman like Chloe Lane again; she’s beautiful, she’s smart, she’s sassy, she won’t take your crap…and she’ll put up with your smart mouth. Just do me a favor, don’t bring home anyone else to be an aunt to my baby besides Chloe. Tell her how you feel, don’t let her go…because I’m pretty sure she feels the same way about you.”

Brady turned now to stare at the woman beside him. What Belle had said was true; she was everything he’d ever prayed to God to have, and she’d fallen right into his lap.

“What?” she asked, turning her gaze to him. “What is it, Brady? Have I grown a third eye or something?”

He smiled at her, covering his serious thoughts with a wicked grin.

“No, but if you’d grown a third boob I wouldn’t be upset,” he returned.

She smacked him in the arm and laughed, her voice full and happy. She couldn’t believe the feelings assailing her right now; she’d never expected this and hadn’t been prepared for it. She hadn’t meant to get her heart involved; but somehow it had. She had snuggled in his arms last night, content just to be there, his scent and the heat of his body soaking into her. She was coming dangerously close to never wanting to leave.

“Chloe,” he said suddenly, “I want to show you something. Go change into something comfortable.”

She looked at him with a questioning look, but nodded her agreement.

An hour later the jean and t-shirt clad couple pulled up into an over grown drive, the road long and winding, weeping willows tall and majestic leaning over the path. Brady throttled down his Harley, easing the motorcycle up to a monster of a plantation house.

It had been beautiful once, Chloe thought, studying the structure as she pulled off her helmet. The walls had been taken over by vines and morning glories, but she could see that they had once been white. Tall, sturdy columns held up a second story balcony that wrapped around the house; she could imagine that, once upon a time, some southern bell had stood just outside her room on the top floor, watching as her man rode up on his horse. Though most of the windows were missing, the grounds in desperate need of care, the paint was peeling and the bottom porch was sagging slightly, Chloe was immediately charmed.

“Oh, Brady, it’s…it’s wonderful,” she breathed, climbing off the bike.

He smiled, holding his helmet in his lap as he watched her study the old house. So, she saw it, too, he thought, the possibilities, the chance to make this structure beautiful again.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said, his eyes still on her. “I’m thinking about buying it.”

She turned, stunned, and stared at him.

“Buy it?” she asked. “But…but how could you possibly afford it. I mean, the house might not be much, but I’ll bet there’s a crap load of land that comes with it. Besides that, refurbishing it would be a bitch on the wallet.”

“Well, maybe for someone else,” he answered slowly.

When she raised a brow and crossed her arms over her chest, he decided to elaborate.

“See, Chloe, I’m not exactly destitute. I’ve…well, I’ve got a trust fund from my mother that’s worth millions. I haven’t touched ever touched it, but I’m over twenty-one, so I’m entitled to it. Right now it’s just sitting in a Swiss bank gathering interest.”

She couldn’t believe what he’d just said; he was worth millions? It was ludicrous, she thought with a hysterical laugh. She, Chloe Lane, had become desperately mad about a man worth more than she’d see in any two lifetimes. She couldn’t blame him for not saying anything to her; after all, it wasn’t like they were in a committed relationship or anything. Still, it would have been nice to know exactly what kind of background he’d come from.

“Brady…well, that’s…that’s a surprise,” she said lamely. “I mean…hell, I don’t know what I mean. I’m glad you have it; I’m glad you’re going to put it to good use.”

“You think fixing this place back to it’s former glory is a worthy cause?” he asked.

“Yeah, yeah I do,” she replied, spinning back to the mansion. “I mean, look at it; it’s gorgeous. It just needs some TLC and lots of elbow grease, but it could be such a wonderful home.”

Home, she’d said home, he realized, and not house. So she really did find in it exactly what he did; a place to call home, a place to have picnics on the front lawn, a place to start a fire on winter nights, a place to laugh in…a place where children where to could run around freely and fill the rooms with joy.

“I’m going to see the realtor tomorrow,” Brady said, deciding suddenly to do what he’d been putting off.

She turned back to him with a warm smile, her mind already picturing him bare chested, his body heavy with sweat from manual labor.

“But won’t Neil be upset to loose you during Mardi Gras?” she asked.

“Mardi Gras is over the day after tomorrow,” he replied absently, looking past her to the house. Which was why he missed the hollow look on her face.

“Oh, oh, that’s right,” she managed, upset more than she’d ever planned to be. “Well, then, I think it’s a great idea to buy this old monstrosity and make it your own. Heaven knows, it needs someone to love it.”

Brady’s eyes swung back to her, hearing the note of loneliness in her voice during her last sentence. He was like the house, he thought, in need of someone to love him; but he didn’t want to scare her off. He wanted to show her this, wanted her to see what their future would be together before he confronted her with the fact that he was, despite the fact that they’d only met a few days ago, and despite the fact that they’d both held back from each other, in love with her.

“Come here,” he requested softly.

She looked at him, her eyes tender, and did as he asked. When she reached him, he stretched out his hand and ran his knuckles over her cheek, holding her gaze with his. Slowly, he cupped her face and pulled her mouth down to his, his lips gentle as they both tasted and explored, patiently driving their need upward.

He let his hand skim down her jaw to her throat, then over her breast down to her waist, pulling carefully on the hem of her shirt when he got there. She twisted her body, helping him to work her shirt free of her jeans. His fingers tickled her skin as they rasped the skin over her ribs, his destination apparent. When he found her demi-bra clad breast, he moan approval, then lifted the heavy globe from its covering.

Chloe gasped in pleasure when he pulled on the hardening nipples, breaking their kiss when her head fell back in pleasure. Brady pulled her shirt up, exposing her torso, and leaned over to take a taut peak in his mouth, his body stiffening when she hissed out his name and grabbed his hair, holding on tightly as he drove her crazy.

“Oh, God, Chloe, touch me…please, I want to feel you touch me,” he pleaded, not caring that he was begging.

She obeyed quickly. Grabbing his black t-shirt, she ripped it from his body, her eyes lighting as she took in his defined muscles. Reaching out, she ran a red tipped fingver ver each plain, reveling in desire when she felt his body quiver under her touch. Finally, she found his nipple and flicked it with her nail, need singing in her blood when he caught his breath. Smiling, she laid her palm flat against him and slithered up to his body, pressing herself against him as she slid her hand around to his tight back to scrape his skin.

“Have you ever made love on a motorcycle?” he asked in a gravely voice, unaware that he’d called what he wanted to do something other than sex.

“No, I haven’t,” she replied, her breathing heavy, so caught up that she didn’t hear his slip. “I’d like to try.”

Growling in his throat, he stood and jerked her flush, captu her her mouth in a hot kiss. They swallowed each other, their tongues attacking and spearing as they melded together.

“Turn around,” he commanded, spinning her at the hips and pushing her toward the Harley.

When she leaned over the leather seat, he flipped longlongr ovr over her shoulder and began nibbling on her delicate skin while he unzipped her jeans and let them fall. She gasped as the cool afternoon air hit her bare skin, the feeling as erotic as his mouth now on her ear.

Brady continued to taste her, unable to stop, and dropped his own pants. He was hard, his erection throbbing as he thought of taking her as she bent over his motorcycle. He took a quick moment to protect them, then slid inside of her, his breath hissing out as she surrounded him with heat.

Chloe gasped, the feel of his erection rasping her swollen walls impossibly pleasurable. He stopped for a moment, giving her a chance to adjust to his entry, then began to move, sending swirls of desire curling through her blood and body. He went slowly at first, drawing out their mutual torture, then quickened the pace, pounding in and out of her in a heady rhythm. Her body flushed with the first coil of an orgasm, her tender nipples sliding back and forth over the soft cotton of her shirt causing ripples of need to spear straight to their joining.

Brady felt her begin to quake, knew she was going to come for him, tossing him over the edge with her. Her gasps turned to high pitch whines, the swiftly to cries, the birds in the trees around them jumping from the limbs to take flight. She squeezed him, her orgasm compressing him in a rhythmic pattern, her soft walls giving slightly against his rigid shaft. He rolled his eyes back, his head jerking as he let go, his own orgasm taking over.

Chloe fell against the seat of the motorcycle, spent by their quick act. She didn’t know if she’d ever breath normally again. She felt him pull out of her reluctantly, and gave a little cry of protest before she could stop herself.

Brady chuckled at her disappointed sigh, then reached down to lift her pants back up. Disposing of the condom, he pulled his own jeans in place, then turned her around in his arms. Cradling her, sat down on the bike and placed her in his lap.

“Don’t worry, cher, we have plenty of time for more,” he whispered huskily, imaging making love to her in every room of the mansion he was buying.

Chloe held back her tears, feeling her heart empty as she realized that they didn’t have plenty of time; they only had tonight and tomorrow, and then she would have to leave. She couldn’t risk giving him anymore of herself and not expect to be devastated. She had to protect herself, even from the man she’d grown to love.

Chapter Fifteen

Chloe lay tightly wound in Brady’s arms, the moon slipping slowly down to make way for the sun. Yesterday had been the last day of Mardi Gras; she’d allowed herself to stay in a glassy eyed state of denial over the fact. But, her car was fixed, she had cash, and she knew it was time to move on. Nothing ever came of loving someone except pain, she knew that, and she’d kept herself from caring for anyone since she was little girl. She’d been successful in her life philosophy…until now.

Sighing, she turned in Brady’s arms and studied his face. He was so handsome, she thought, even with the slight stubble that seemed to grow overnight, even though he shaved every morning. In sleep, he wasn’t the tough bad ass he portrayed to the rest of the world; no, he was more like the man he’d shown her he was the last few days. Someone with a tender heart, a man who loved his sister, who had dreams and ambitions that he hadn’t even scratched the surface of. He was someone a lot like her. And that was the problem.

Gently, she traced his features, ignoring the tears that ran freely down her face. He could never know, she thought, she couldn’t let him find out that she was desperately in love with him. She’d imagined that he would laugh, scoff at her feelings and toss her out the door in panic. But now, after the way he’d been acting these past precious days, she was afraid he’d be too careful of her emotions; maybe he would keep her with him not because he loved her, or even cared a bit for her, but because he didn’t know how to let her go without hurting her.

Or maybe she was just being crazy. Maybe he had kept himself to their unspoken agreement that this was a no strings attached physical relationship. She just didn’t know, and she couldn’t stick around to find out. But she wanted one last taste, one last time to carry with her forever.

She slowly leaned across and laid her lips on his, rubbing her mouth tenderly back and forth. She felt him stir, responding to her touch in a twilight sleep. Slipping her arms around him, she turned them both over, their kiss still soft, until she was on top of him.

There were no preliminaries, they weren’t needed. He was hard and ready, his body reacting subconsciously to her; she was still slick from their joining a few hours before. Intensifying her embrace, she bit his lip and stroked his jaw, wriggling against him as she thought of taking him inside of her. She reached out to open the nightstand drawer, but felt his hand snake out to link his hand to hers, stopping her from taking a condom out. She let go of his mouth and looked down at him, seeing his sleep hazy eyes fully opened. Shen’t n’t sure if he was fully awake, or if he knew what he was doing or asking of her, but it didn’t matter to her. She wanted this one time for herself, this memory to have on cold nights.

She lowered her mouth to his again, gently pulling his tongue into her mouth as she slid down on his erection, taking him in with one stroke. Moaning at the sensation, she stopped for a moment to soak in the feeling of being filled by Brady, then began rocking her hips back and forth.

He rubbed against her, his erection stroking her shockingly aroused g-spot over and over again. The feeling of him inside of her with nothing between them was making her crazy, pushing her to the edge faster than she’d intended. She fell with sharp pleasure, coming swiftly as she rode him. They kept their lips fused, his mouth swallowing her cries as she orgasmed. Still she didn’t stop her rocking, moving her hips faster and faster as she realized, amazed, that she was going to come again. She sat up fully, taking him all the way to the end of her, her movements frantic and fast now as she spiraled out of control. The hard fist of an orgasm shook her body again, her cries bouncing off the thick walls of the room. She felt him come with her, his body spilling itself wet and sticky inside of her.

When they’d both stopped quaking, she rolled off of him anto nto his arms, memorizing his smell, his taste, each inch of his body. She didn’t fall back to sleep, but instead watched his eyes close in contentment and his breathing grow even. When the sun was rising over the trees, she slid silently out of bed and to the other room, her eyes spilling over with tears. She needed to leave before he woke and stared at her with his bright blue eyes, or else she’d never go.

Brady woke with a lazy stretch and yawn, his arm automatically reaching for Chloe. His hand fell on cold sheets where her body should have been. Coming completely awake, he sat up and began to panic. She’d done this only once, but after he’d brought her back to his bed with the demand that she not leave him in the middle of the night again, she’d not left him. Confused, he stumbled out of bed naked and stormed across the hallway. Swinging the door open, he looked around for her, only to find the closet empty, the bed stripped and her suitcase gone.

“Damn it to hell!” he snapped loudly.

Sprinting down the hall and out the door, he heard her try to turn over her car, the engine chugging in protest. She tried again and he listened as the vehicle whined again. Grateful to have found her before she’d left, Brady raced out to the driveway where the car sat; when he reached it, the engine finally caught with a loud wheeze. He jumped in front of it, his bare body gleaming in the sunlight. Slamming his hands against the hood, he leaned down and stared at her with hard eyes.

“Get out!” he yelled angrily.

“No, Brady, get out of the way!” she hollered back, easing the car forward slowly.

“Damn it, Chloe! I said get out of the car!” Brady returned.

She shook her head in resolution, her stubborn jaw set as her head tilted up slightly.

Growling in frustration, he laid down in front of the car and crossed his arms over che chest. He heard the transmission shift to park and the brake engage, then the door was opened and slammed shut.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, her voice furious as she stared down at her lover’s prone and naked body.

“I’m not letting you leave,” he told her. “You are not going anywhere; at least, not without me.”

“Wh…what? Damn it, Brady, what are talking about?” she asked, her voice raising with each word.

“I’m talking about you and me,” he answered, catching her confused eyes with his. “You have to give me chance to convince you to stay; you can’t just take off without letting me show you how good we could be together.”

She blinked quickly, her mind jumbled with her own feelings and the words he was saying.

“I…I don’t understand,” she croaked.

Brady stood and grabbed her hips with his hands, holding her firmly in place.

“I know you don’t,” he said gently. “Chloe, I need to tell you something. I have to say this, so don’t interrupt me. Chloe, I love you. I love you so much that I ache with it; it’s crazy, it’s nuts, and I know I sound insane. No one falls in love this quick. But, damn it, Chloe, I have. I can’t imagine my life without you; I want to refurbish that old mansion together, I want it to be our home. I want to see you standing on that top balcony waiting for me to come home, smiling and waving when I do. I want to see you carry my baby, our baby, and I want to spoil our child rotten. Hell, Chloe, I’ve never had sex without protection, ever. But I wanted to this morning; the thought of making you pregnant…” he trailed off and stared down for a moment, collecting his thoughts.

“I want it all, Chloe, and I want it with you. I want to make love with you, and it is making love when I’m with you, every day of our lives. I want to love you and give you everything I am. Please, Chloe, please, give us a chance.”

Tears traced down her face, her eyes heavy with moisture as she stared at him. He’d said everything that was in his heart…and it had been everything that was in her heart, too. He loved her, really loved her, and he wanted to give her a real home.

“I…Oh, Brady, I love you too,” she confessed, flinging herself into his arms. “I want you…us, too. I want our home, our children, our life together; forever, Brady, that’s what I want. And that’s what I’ll give you.”

He captured her mouth in a searing kiss, molding her body to his as he claimed her. Finally, they had what they needed – each other.

Breaking the kiss, he looked down at her with a tender smile.

“Now, why don’t you turn the damn car off and come inside.”