Bittersweet, page 5
“He’s a lucky boy, and he’s sounds just grand.”
***
A half hour later, they packed up and headed inside. To Jenna’s embarrassment her stomach growled, letting her know it was time for dinner. Brady told her to put her feet up while he cooked, so she curled up in front of the fireplace and admired him from afar. Soon the delicious aromas reached her, making her mouth water and stomach grumble again.
“Is there anything I can help you with in there?”
“No, love, but thank ye.” He smiled, and her heart beat faster, just as it did every time he did that. With his piercing blue eyes that always made her hunger for just another look from him, he was a man who aimed to please, and she loved that about him. He not only cooked and cleaned but was considerate and dynamite in the sack. What more could a girl ask for?
He’d kept the meal simple with pasta and salad, and she insisted on helping him with the cleanup.
“The spaghetti was delicious, thank you.”
He smiled again, took the last plate from her to dry, and shook off the extra suds. Drips of water and soap suds flew through the air, getting her wet in the process, and he laughed at her shocked expression.
“Oh really,” she said, suddenly in the mood to play. She took the sprayer hose from the faucet, turned it on, and gave him a squirt with it. She laughed, and it was his turn to pause in shock.
She could tell by his expression that this meant war and made a run for it, laughing the whole way. She made it into the living room before he extended his arms to catch her, and he swooped her up as if she was feather-light.
“Got ye.”
They both laughed, but when she turned to face him, he became serious. She knew then that the games were over. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and pulled her toward him. As he slowly moved his face closer, his eyes sparkled and completely absorbed hers.
The kiss started out slow, and she wanted him to take his time with it. She held back a groan when he pulled his mouth away and yanked him tighter against her. Her adrenaline pumped faster, and warmth coursed through her body. There was no thinking twice about it; her desire for this man had consumed her.
She pushed him against the wall and kissed him hard, wanting him in that moment more than she’d ever wanted anything. She liked where this was going, liked being in control, needed it right then. She placed her hands on his chest and slowly moved them down his beautifully sculptured abs. “Stay,” she whispered and took a step back so he could watch as she unzipped her dress. It slowly slid to the floor, exposing her bare breasts and her sexy black thong. She kicked it out of the way, pulled his shirt off, and pressed herself against him again, flesh against flesh.
“You’re the first man I’ve wanted in a long time,” she confessed, no longer feeling as vulnerable as she once had. “My first since Tyler left me.”
“Jenna,” he moaned and flexed his hips forward. Her confession seemed to shock but flatter him. “I’m staking my claim, love. Do you hear? Ye’r mine now, as I am yers.”
She purred and rubbed her body flush to his to create friction against the heat of her core. Getting moister by the second, she lowered her head to lick and nip at his nipples and worked her way down his stomach toward the cock she ached for. She slowly tugged his zipper down.
“No underwear. What a pleasant surprise,” she said and gently pulled him out for her wet mouth to taste.
She angled him where she wanted, and he gasped and moaned when she circled his sensitive head with her tongue. She took him as far back as she could over and over, swirling her tongue up and down his thick shaft, and hearing his rapid breathing and moans of excitement turned her on even more. She felt powerful and sexy as hell to be able to bring him so much pleasure.
“Feck yesss,” he hissed. “Like that, oh, shite, Jenna…” He leaned back and closed his eyes, clearly enjoying the feel of her mouth on him.
She could tell he was close and cupped his balls while working him harder to take him over the edge. He placed his hands in her hair and flexed his hips faster and faster to fuck her mouth, so she relaxed her throat. His orgasm rushed through him, and he roared her name in delight as she sucked every last drop down her throat.
He took a minute to catch his breath before he swept her off her feet and into the bedroom. “It’s time to return the favor,” he murmured and dropped her in the middle of the bed. He playfully nipped her thong between his teeth and dragged it down her legs with his mouth to discard it. She moaned when he lowered his head, and he smiled against her glistening lips.
“Brady, please…”
She was breathless with need and lifted her hips as soon as his tongue made the first stroke. His slow, deliberate circles taunted her. As soon as she was close, he drew back and went lower. He slid his tongue through her folds, tasting, savoring, and then stroking in and out as he fucked her with it. She moaned again and then huffed as she reached out for him. She threaded her fingers through his thick, dark hair and gave it a little tug to guide him where she needed him most to end this sweet torture.
He chuckled before he obliged the silent demand, the tip of his tongue applying pressure against her clit with sure, confident strokes to take her over the edge. She massaged his scalp as she rocked her hips, then screamed his name as the powerful force of the orgasm took over.
They made love and cuddled the rest of the night. When she woke up the next morning, she was happier than she’d been in such a long time. They’d had an amazing time the day before, and she was still in Brady’s arms. He was so attentive and treated her as though she was the only one that mattered to him. Realizing she’d developed strong feelings for him was a scary thought.
It can’t be love already, can it? It was so soon. She felt a powerful connection to him, and being intimate had only ignited that spark a million times more. It was hard to explain, but she had never felt that type of chemistry before, not even with Tyler.
“Mornin’.”
She smiled and pulled away from her thoughts. Having feelings like these for a man again was scary enough, but even worse was not knowing if he felt the same way while knowing she had to leave him eventually. She didn’t want to think about it anymore.
“Good morning,” she greeted, pressing her naked body against his. She sucked on his bottom lip and smiled. “I think it’s time for more,” she murmured, then kissed him, preparing herself for whatever he was able to give her.
Chapter Six
Her memories of the next few days were purely physical. It was as though once they’d started, they just couldn’t help themselves no matter where they were. Her hotel room was no different.
“Brady, stop.” She was short of breath from laughing so hard. She tackled him, pinning his hands above his head on the mattress, and straddled him.
She’d noticed his focus settling on the rise and fall of her breasts as she tried to get her breath back, and it made her smile. They’d been messing around like children, chasing, teasing, and wrestling each other, all in fun, and she was exactly where she wanted to be.
“Ugh, I wish you didn’t have to go. I’m going to miss you,” she pouted, then smiled when he rolled on top to give her a kiss.
“Ye could come with me, ye know. I haven’t been to the boozer in a couple days. I’m bound to lose my job if I keep missin’.”
“I know, and I would come. It’s just that I haven’t seen Sam in a while. Caleb’s going with you, leaving her alone, and I feel guilty for neglecting her. Although my time with you has been wonderful, and I hope to have much more of this before I leave.”
“From now until ye have to go, ye can have ’em all, love, every moment.”
She nodded and snuggled closer. “Will I see you later?”
“It’ll be late, but if ye’ll have me, I’ll be back here as soon as I can.”
“I’ll be here.” She kissed him and was reluctant to let him go when all she wanted was to tie him up and have her way with him again and again. He closed the door quietly in front of her after he quickly changed, and the room already felt empty without him there, but she’d made a promise to herself. It was time to see Sam now, and she couldn’t wait to dish on how well her time with Brady was going.
Her friend was pretty quiet when she came to the door. Something was up, and it couldn’t be good.
“Are you okay?”
Sam didn’t answer. “No Brady tonight?” She flopped on the bed dramatically.
“Um, no, he’s at work, but you knew that because Caleb’s with him.”
“I think I’m starting to regret spending so much time with Caleb,” she whispered.
What the hell? She wouldn’t even look Jenna in the eye. “Okay, Sam, spill it. None of this makes any sense. When I saw you a few days ago, you were on cloud nine and couldn’t get enough of him. What could have possibly changed in a matter of days? Has he hurt you?”
“Of course not,” she snapped. “I guess I just miss our girl time. I think I need some.”
“If you say so.” Jenna helped Sam up, forcing her to get out of bed, “that’s what I’m here for. You want to go see the guys at the pub, or would you rather do something else?”
“Something else.”
They wound up taking a night stroll, sticking close to the hotel. Sam was still unusually quiet, and it was starting to piss Jenna off that she wouldn’t open up, especially after how pushy Sam had been about getting her to talk in the past.
“Okay, Sam, this is ridiculous. Your silence is driving me insane, and you need to start talking.”
“Jenna, you’re the one that’s being ridiculous. Like I didn’t have enough to worry about, now I have to put up with your intrusion. I’m late. Are you happy now?”
She gasped. It was unlike Sam to snap or talk to her that way. “Late?”
“Yes, Jenna, late, as in my menstrual cycle. I’ve never been late before, and it’s scaring the crap out of me. The condom broke that first night with Caleb, and, well, the last person before him had been quite a while ago, so I wasn’t on the pill. I’m sure it’s a false alarm. Hell, I’m praying it is, but I’m still freaked out.”
“Oh, Sam.” She wasn’t sure what to do to comfort her. “Do you want to go buy a test?”
She shook her head. “I will, I swear, but I just want to wait a few days. Maybe by then ‘Aunt Rose’ will make her faithful appearance and I’ll have nothing to worry about.”
“Well, have you told Caleb?”
“No, I’m afraid he’ll be angry, although half of it is his own damn fault. It takes two to tango.”
God, Sam was starting to sound like her mother. “Why don’t you take the next couple of days to think about it? Talk to Caleb too. You shouldn’t be going through this alone, and I’ll be here for you, of course.
“On the bright side,” she teased, “if you are…at least it’ll take the pressure off me. You know Jayden has been bugging me for a brother or sister, or at least he did when Tyler was around. Now he could just borrow yours.”
Sam smirked. “God, Jenna, I swear if I ever have a kid, I hope he’s as great as yours.”
“Impossible. Jayden is one of a kind.” She was having a proud momma moment.
“Now isn’t that the truth.”
The night mellowed out after that. Sam looked a lot better and finally started having a good time. She talked about Caleb a lot and drilled Jenna about Brady. She wanted details, but there were things Jenna wanted to keep to herself. She wasn’t one to kiss and tell, no matter how good it was.
That night she felt as though their roles had reversed a little. For such a long time Jenna had been a mess and Sam had always been there to help her through. Tonight, though, Sam needed her, and it was nice being the one needed, instead of being the one in need.
She just hoped everything worked out for Sam and wondered how Caleb would cope with the news.
***
It was late when Brady got back, just as he’d said. She looked as if she’d just woken up and smiled at him as if seeing him again had been the best occurrence of her day.
“Hi,” she said as she started to get up.
He smiled back and lifted her in his arms. “Hey yerself.” He threw her back onto the mattress and enjoyed his view. Her wide smile was breathtakingly beautiful, and without further thought, he joined her. He captured her lovely mouth with his lips, needing to kiss her. He’d been thinking about her all night, and being away was driving him insane. He was addicted, just had to taste her, and it scared him shitless to need her that way.
While working at the pub, Brady had always gotten a fair amount of action. Hell, it was one of the reasons he enjoyed his job so much. But since meeting Jenna things had changed. When he’d gone in earlier, he’d gotten hit on several times. He always did, but tonight he found himself comparing the women to Jenna. Most of them were beautiful but artificial: fake boobs, fake hair extensions, fake fingernails, too much makeup, not enough makeup, and the list went on. None of them seemed to have Jenna’s natural beauty or her charm.
Of course, first impressions could be deceiving, but he didn’t want to know any of them better. He was ruined for everyone else, and he wasn’t sure he was all right with that. Christ, Jenna was only visiting, and he seriously needed to get a grip.
So many things were going on in his head, and he groaned. Why the hell did he have to make things so complicated? He’d always been a chick magnet, and he would be again, damn it. He just needed to enjoy Jenna while he had her, and when she left, everything would go back to the way it used to be. The life of a bachelor was good. He liked no-strings-attached sex and being responsible for only himself. Besides, she had a kid to go back to, so she couldn’t stay even if he wanted her to, right?
His kiss became eager the more he thought about it. It was a way to release the frustration of his thoughts. He needed it to come out somehow, and hell, he was feeling this way mostly because he needed her right then. But as she slid her hands down his body to work his pants off, he changed his mind, calling a stop to their intimacy temporarily.
“Is there something wrong?”
“No, love, it’s late, and we should get going. Pack a bag. We’re goin’ to my place.”
***
They were in his car, almost to his home when Jenna couldn’t take the quiet anymore. Brady looked as though he had a lot on his mind and needed a distraction. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anythin’.”
“Does Caleb ever say anything to you about Sam?”
She’d caught him off guard, and he looked skeptical when he asked, “Why?”
“Is that a hard question for you? I’m asking because I’m curious. I think Sam’s developing feelings for him, and I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“I see,” he mumbled. “Caleb’s a lucky man.” He looked at her quickly and smiled.
“And is she a lucky girl?” She should have dropped it, but she wanted to know.
He laughed. “Ye know, despite what ye may think, we don’t compare notes on the women we’re with. But if I had to take a guess, I’d say that she was. They do spend an awful lot of time together.”
Does he want me like I want him? She should probably just come right out and ask him. “What about me? Would you say I was a lucky girl?”
He sighed. “Well, what do ye think?”
“I don’t know, but I hope I am.”
“Look, Jenna, I think ye’r great, but do we need ta put a label on it? Ye’r mine while ye’r here. I’ve already said so. Seriously, love, why don’t we just enjoy what we have while it lasts?”
“Yours, huh? Okay, forget it.” She rolled her eyes. Obviously, she’d hit a sore spot. Brady clearly wasn’t into discussing his feelings, and she’d obviously misread the connection they had. Or maybe it was all one-sided.
The thought made her uncomfortable. Maybe she should just take a cab back to the hotel and give him some space. Then again, he had a point. She was on a vacation and leaving soon. There was no way what they had could work beyond that, and she should enjoy it while it lasted.
She opened the car door before he stopped and got out, anxious to get her bag back.
“Shite, Jenna, hold on.” She said nothing as she waited patiently beside the trunk. “What’s the matter now?”
“Nothing, Brady, everything is absolutely fine, just fine.”
“Ye’r mad?” he asked, then he smiled when she crossed her arms and avoided looking directly at him in obvious annoyance. “Ye’r cute when ye’r angry.”
“It’s not funny, Brady. I should probably apologize before heading back. I hadn’t realized talking about your feelings was hard for you. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“What the hell are ye talkin’ ’bout? I said ye were great, didn’t I? And who’s goin’ back?” He grabbed the bag from her hand and walked to the door to make his point. “Ladies first.” He waited by the door after opening it, but she didn’t move.
“Look, I’ve ruined the night. Maybe I should just give you some space.”
“That’s feckin’ ridiculous and you feckin’ know it,” he snapped. “Ye surprised me, that’s all, and what I’m feelin’ is hard for me to sort through right now, but I don’t want ye to leave.” He pulled her into his arms. “Please, love, it’s late. Will ye spend the night with me?”
She nodded and he kissed her. His lips moved against hers, slow and sensual. He nudged her lips apart, taking what he wanted until their tongues moved in synchronization and her need for him reached its peak.
“Ye’r a very lucky girl, love, very lucky.”
