Part of Me (The Seaside Chronicles Book 2), page 13
“That’s just mean.”
Laughing, he dropped his arm to his side. “Sutton, you want me to change because you don’t want to see my arms?”
“You don’t have to put on long sleeves. A T-shirt is fine. And change out of those sweats. I can practically see your—” I slammed both hands over my mouth, but my damn traitorous eyes still drifted down to his crotch. “Shit!” I swore as I spun around and faced the other way.
The heat of his body felt like a warm blanket as he walked up behind me—and he wasn’t even touching me yet. He put his mouth to my ear. “Are you saying you’re turned on by what I’m wearing? Because I can take it all off if you want.”
I spun back around…and quickly realized that was a bad idea. He was close. Oh. So. Close.
“Brod—um, Brody. Okay, fine, I won’t lie. You have an insanely…fit…body.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up. Then he pulled a Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality. “You think I’m sexy, you want to touch me, you want to—”
I pressed my fingers to his mouth. “Shh, stop.”
He lifted his hand and grabbed mine. When he laced our fingers together, I had to fight to breathe normally. “If you want me to change, I’ll change,” he said.
I nodded jerkily. “I want you to change.”
“My shirt only.”
I chewed on my lower lip for a moment, but stopped when his gaze went to my mouth. “Shirt only.”
He brought my hand up and kissed the back of it, then ran his tongue over each knuckle. The room felt like it was tilting back and forth, and I grabbed his chest with my other hand.
“Brody,” I whispered as I dug my fingertips into his muscles. “The pizza is getting cold.”
Dropping my hand, he took a step back, and I felt myself sway. Without a word, he turned and headed back upstairs.
I made my way to the freezer, took out an ice cube, and ran it over my face and neck. “I’m going to need to break out that damn vibrator if the night keeps going like this.”
Brody
The quiet knock on the door made me stop pacing around the bedroom.
“Um, Brody? Are you still coming down for pizza and movie night?”
She was going to kill me.
I walked over and opened the bedroom door and stared down at Sutton. She smiled, and my heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest.
Tell her, Brody. Tell her you love her. Tell her you want her. Hell, pull her into your arms and kiss the living shit out her.
“Are you mad I asked you to change?” she asked. “I don’t really know what came over me. It’s been a really long day.”
I leaned closer and breathed deeply through my nose. “Is that…whiskey?”
She blushed. “I took a couple of shots. I needed to relax a bit. This whole new thing with the store and the vibrators and Jack showing up and having a key to the shop…it’s a lot.”
“Wait—what? You said Palmer forgot to lock the front door.”
“No. I called her, and she said she did lock it. I guess Jack still has a key. I have a note to call the locksmith tomorrow.”
That motherfucker. I hated the guy.
“But I’m feeling much more relaxed now,” she said.
“Good.” I motioned for her to head back downstairs. “Is this T-shirt okay?”
She glanced over her shoulder and gave me a thumbs up. “It’s perfect. What do you want to watch?”
“I’ll let you pick.”
She clapped her hands and practically skipped to the kitchen. “Awesome! I’ve been dying to watch Bridgerton! I’ve read all the books, but I haven’t been able to see the series yet.”
“What’s it about?”
She sighed as she placed a hand over her heart. “It’s about this family and how they all find love in each of the books. It’s a historical romance, so I hope that’s okay. You can pick the next thing we watch.”
“Historical romance?” I asked.
Flipping open the pizza box, she took two slices out. “It’s a bit cold.”
“That’s okay. It’s my fault for not wearing the right shirt.”
She crinkled her nose, and I nearly groaned. Fuck if that wasn’t adorable.
“Okay, bring the whole box. I’ve got our drinks out on the coffee table. You don’t need a fork or anything, do you?” Sutton asked.
“Nope, I eat my pizza with my hands.”
When Sutton grabbed the bottle of whiskey, I almost said something but then decided to let it go. Clearly, she needed it.
Except, we were only halfway through the first episode when I realized Sutton was getting hammered. Reaching for the bottle of whiskey when she wasn’t looking, I quietly put it on the floor next to the sofa.
Sutton finished off the last slice of pizza, then got up and went for the ice cream. When she walked back in with a bottle of wine and two glasses, I knew it was going to be a long night.
She set each glass down, then handed me the bottle. “Will you pour?” She giggled. “I think I might be a bit buzzed.”
“You think?”
She nodded and flopped back down on the sofa next to me. By the time the fourth episode started, she had her feet on my lap with her head against the armrest as she finished off the last of the wine.
“Um, Sutton, maybe you should let me make you a cup of coffee, or maybe drink some water?”
“What? No. I’m fine. Totally fine! As you can see…I can handle my alcohol.”
I frowned. “I’m not really seeing that side of you, sweetheart.”
She quickly sat up and put a hand to her heart. “I love it when you call me that. You haven’t called me that in a long time. Well, you did earlier when you got home, but I don’t think you realized it.”
“Sweetheart?”
Sutton closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. “But the time before that when you said it, you were…” Her voice trailed off, and she opened her eyes once more. “Brody, can I ask you something?”
I started to rub her feet. “Of course, you can.”
She looked like she was debating what to say. Then she sighed. “Did you mean it when you said you didn’t love me? That night that we, um…”
“Made love?”
Her brows pulled down, and she scrunched up her nose. “Is that what we did?”
“It was for me.”
“That brings me back to my question. Did you mean it when you said you didn’t love me?”
My heart jumped into my throat. “I would really rather have this conversation when you’re not drunk.”
She gave me a weak smile. “I’m not drunk enough that I won’t remember. I can hold my alcohol, remember?”
I grinned. “I remember.”
“Then tell me again when I’m sober, but tell me now too.”
I reached for her hand and laced our fingers together. “No, Sutton. I didn’t mean it at all.”
Tears built in her eyes, and I leaned forward and cupped the side of her face. “Don’t cry, Sutton.”
“Why did you say it if you didn’t mean it? I would have waited for you.”
“That’s why. I didn’t want you to wait. I wanted you to live your life. Sutton, you were heading off to college. The last thing I ever wanted was for you to sit around and wait for me. It was never even certain that I’d come back home in one piece. I had a dangerous job in the Navy. I don’t even know how many times I was shot at.”
She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. “What? You were serious when you said you were shot and stabbed?”
I ran my thumb over her cheek. “Yes, I was serious. And that night, with you…I was scared, Sutton.”
“Of what?” she asked—then hiccupped.
I chuckled slightly before focusing on her again. “Of my feelings for you. I knew I loved you before we slept together. But after being with you…I’d never felt that way before, and it scared me. That was part of why I told you that lie. The other part was because I didn’t think I was good enough for you. And I wanted you to live your life. Have fun in college. I never really thought you’d go back to Jack.”
Closing her eyes, Sutton drew in a long breath and then let it out. I nearly coughed at the strength of the alcohol on her breath.
“I wasted all those years with him when what I really wanted was you.”
My heart slammed against my chest. It killed me that I’d caused her pain. I pulled her onto my lap and held her. “I hate that I was the cause of any pain you might have suffered, Sutton. I’m so sorry.”
She rested her head against my chest. “Do you know how many nights I’ve laid in bed and thought about that night we shared?”
“I have, too, Sutton.” I lazily rubbed my hand up and down her back. “I can only hope that someday you’ll forgive me.”
Drawing her head back, Sutton’s hazy eyes met mine. “Forgive you?”
I nodded.
“Brody, even knowing the outcome, I would give myself to you over and over again.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I tried to swallow it away.
She brought her hand up and ran her fingers through my hair as her eyes searched my face. “I’m sorry I made you marry me.”
I smiled. “You didn’t make me marry you. And I’m not sorry we got married. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry.”
Sutton’s eyes filled with tears. “I really wish I wasn’t kind of drunk.”
“Now you admit you’re drunk?” I asked on a laugh.
She moved in my lap to straddle me. “I said kind of drunk. Kiss me, Brody.”
I licked my dry lips. “You’ve been drinking, Sutton. I’m not going to do this when you’re drunk.”
Her finger traced along my jawline. “I love it when you go a few days between shaves. You’re so handsome. It’s not fair.”
Pressing my forehead to hers, I let out a shaky breath. “Let me take you up to your bed, so you can get some sleep.”
She shook her head. “Kiss me like you kissed me the day we got married. At the bakery.”
My heart pounded in my chest. Sutton’s finger ran down my throat, and my entire body shivered.
“Please, Brody.”
I lost the fight to wait. The moment she’d uttered the word please, I knew I’d lost the battle.
Placing my hand behind her neck, I gently pulled her to me, sealing my mouth over hers. She pushed her fingers into my hair as she pressed down, grinding against my hard dick. We both moaned, and when she opened her mouth more, I deepened the kiss. I wasn’t sure where I began and she ended in that moment. All I knew was that it felt so goddamn right.
I ripped my mouth from hers and kissed down her neck, and she dropped her head back.
“Yes…oh God, yes,” she moaned.
When her hands went under my shirt, I knew I had to stop this. She was drunk and most likely wouldn’t even remember half of our conversation.
“We have to stop,” I whispered against the base of her throat.
“No! Don’t stop.”
I pulled back. “Sutton, we have to stop. If I’m going to be with you again, I need to know it’s because it’s truly what you want and not because you’ve been drinking.”
She blinked a few times, then finally nodded. When she attempted to crawl off of me, she slipped and damn near hit her head on the coffee table.
I jumped up. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
Picking her up, I carried her up the steps to her room. I set her down on her bed, and she closed her eyes, leaning against the headboard.
“Do you need help changing into pajamas or help in the bathroom?” I asked.
She opened her mouth to say something—then fell over onto the bed.
“Sutton?”
When she started to snore, I laughed. “Okay, then. Let’s get you under the covers.”
I pulled her back up into a seated position and pulled her covers down, then laid her head on the pillow. I drew the covers up and over her. She snuggled deeper into the pillow and sighed.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“’Night, Brody. I love you.”
My heart felt like it skipped a goddamn beat at those three words. Warmth filled my chest as I stared down at her. I would love Sutton Bradley for as long as I lived, and I knew I’d do anything in my power to keep her happy, healthy, and safe.
I slowly shook my head. No. Not Bradley anymore. “I love you, too, Sutton Wilson. More than you know.”
Kissing her on the forehead, I stepped back and gave her one last look before I walked out of her room. I softly shut the door and headed back downstairs, turning off the lights in the kitchen and living room.
After sitting on the sofa, I stared down at my still-hard cock. I could take it in my hand, but that wouldn’t satisfy me in the least. I picked up the remote and turned off the TV, then sat in the dark for a few minutes until my phone buzzed. It was a text message from Miles.
A part of me wanted to delete the message without even reading it. Jack wasn’t going to be in the picture much longer, so whatever Miles found would be moot at this point. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the text.
Miles: Sir, I found some info on the subject you sent a few weeks back. Still interested?
I drew in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Me: Yes. Send what you’ve found.
The three dots started to move, and I found myself holding my breath.
Miles: I’ll email it all to you, but looks like our guy is into some shady business. He’s also a polygamist.
My stomach dropped.
Me: Polygamist?
Miles: Married a Melissa Frankfort his sophomore year of college, then married a Sutton Bradley almost two years later. Divorced from the second wife, but still married to the first. Has two kids with her.
I stared at the text, stunned, then scrubbed my hand down my face. “Motherfucker!”
Once I got over the shock of that little bit of information, I replied to Miles.
Me: Send me everything you’ve got on him, Miles. And thanks.
Miles: Anything for you, Chief.
I tossed my phone onto the coffee table and stared at it. Five minutes later, it pinged with an email notification. Glancing toward the stairs, I closed my eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Sutton. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Sutton
I rolled over, slowly opened my eyes, and then slammed them shut again. “Oh God, my head…”
“Good morning.”
Turning at the sound of Brody’s voice, I opened one eye and moaned. “It’s too bright. My head feels like it’s going to explode.”
He chuckled. “Here, I have a glass of orange juice, your favorite bagel with cream cheese, and three Advil.”
Forcing myself to sit up, I fully opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was that I was still dressed in what I’d been wearing last night. Thank God. If anything had happened between me and Brody while I was drunk, I would never be able to look at him again.
Brody placed the tray over my lap and smiled. “Feeling it this morning, I take it?”
I let out another moan. “I haven’t had that much to drink in I don’t know how long. Why did you let me get so drunk?”
His eyes widened. “I tried to get you to slow down, but you weren’t having it.”
I picked up the orange juice and took a sip, and it made me feel the tiniest bit better.
I looked up at Brody and felt butterflies move into my stomach when I remembered our conversation on the couch.
“Do you remember anything from last night?” he asked as he sat down on the side of the bed.
I took a bite of the bagel and nodded.
“How much?” he asked, his face filled with hope. He clearly wanted me to remember at least some of it.
“All of it.”
His brows lifted. “All of it, huh?”
I nodded, then reached for the orange juice and Advil. I tossed the pills into my mouth and drank half the glass. The memory of last night made my entire body feel warm.
A soft smile spread over Brody’s face, and I felt my cheeks heat.
“Where do we go from here?” I asked.
Brody reached for my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Where do you want to go?”
I dug my teeth into my lip and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming last night.”
“I meant everything I said, Sutton. I’ve never stopped loving you, and I hate that I didn’t have the courage to take a leap with you that night.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and I had to blink back tears of joy. I’d waited for so many years, dreamed so many times of hearing Brody say those words to me.
“I never stopped loving you, either,” I said. “I feel like we’ve both been reading each other so wrong the last few months.”
He laughed. “I think so. Sutton, I’ve never been happier than I have this past week. I…want to…date you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Date me? You’re married to me, Brody.”
It was his turn to blush. “I’ve tried for so long to fight my feelings for you, and I’m tired of denying the truth. I think it’s safe for me to fall.”
“Fall?” I asked with a questioning look.
“That’s what it feels like, Sutton. Like I’m on the edge of a cliff, and the only way I can have you is to step off it and fall. That thought used to scare me, but now…I’d fall from the moon if it meant getting to love you every day for the rest of my life.”
Tears ran down my face as I felt a sob escape.
“Are those happy tears or…?” he asked.
I took the tray and placed it on the nightstand, then threw myself at Brody. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. Just held me. And it was the most amazing feeling I’d ever experienced.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I love you so goddamn much, Sutton.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I prayed I wasn’t dreaming. I pulled back and looked him directly in the eyes. “I’m not dreaming, right?”
He smiled, and my heart flipped in my chest. “No, sweetheart, you’re not dreaming.” His eyes fell to my mouth, then moved back up. “I want to kiss you, Sutton.”
