“Thank you. Are you cold?”
“A little.”
“I’ll take you back to the apartment.”
Their hands tangled together, thanks to Brady’s insistence, and they walked back to the apartment enjoying the roll of the waves.
Thankfully, Marc had dropped Jane’s suitcase off earlier, so when they got inside, she had her things at her disposal when getting ready for bed. The apartment only had one bedroom, and he planned on sharing it with his wife. He wouldn’t touch her if she didn’t want him to, but hell if he was going to sleep on the couch. No matter her intentions, she was still his wife.
“Help yourself to the bathroom. Do you want anything to drink?”
“I’m good.” She grabbed her bag and went into the bathroom, closing the door.
Normally, they would be brushing their teeth together, but from the looks of it, he needed to wait his turn to use the bathroom. While he waited, he folded down the comforter for her to get in and changed into only a pair of boxers. His one weapon he had left right now was his body, and he knew Jane would appreciate the hard work he’d put in.
The reflection in the mirror showed him how hard he’d worked. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body, his muscles flexed in the moonlight, every contour defined along with a light patch of hair that led to just below his waist band.
He felt good, but he was nervous as hell, as if it was his first time with a woman. He’d never been nervous with Jane, but with their relationship being held together by a thin thread, he knew he could forever lose her at any moment. That was why he was constantly walking on eggshells around her.
The bathroom door opened just enough that light peeked through into his room. “You can brush your teeth if you want.”
Excited she was letting him in the bathroom, he opened the door to see her in a pair of short pajama shorts and a pink T-shirt. Not his choice of nightwear for her, but she still looked gorgeous with her hair loose around her shoulders and her face clear of makeup.
Quietly, they finished getting ready for bed, occasionally stealing glances at each other in the mirror. Brady took joy in her perusal of his body, in the way her breath hitched when he walked in the small bathroom. He caught her, multiple times, checking him out, and he loved every minute of it.
“Where am I sleeping?” she asked when they were done in the bathroom.
“In bed with me.”
“Brady, that isn’t a good idea.”
“Why not? I have no intention of touching you tonight unless you ask me to. There is nothing to worry about unless you don’t trust yourself. You afraid you’re going to drop that façade of yours and feel me like you want to? I can see it in your eyes, Jane. I can see how you want me.”
“I don’t,” she turned away, clearly lying.
“Okay,” he laughed. “Get into bed, sweet thing. I have a game tomorrow I have to rest up for.”
Reluctantly, she got under the covers, pulling them up around her neck. Her back was toward him, setting the tone for how the night was going to go.
They both lay in the bed, Jane with her back to Brady, and Brady looking up at the ceiling. The urge to kiss her goodnight, to touch her, was powerful, but he restrained. He wasn’t going to do anything she didn’t want.
The sheets were down around his waist, exposing his chest to the night air. He was hot. He wasn’t sure if it was because Jane was so close or if he was boiling with anger over their situation. He wanted to yell at her, shake her until she came to her senses. The Jane he fell in love with was in there, he just had to dig deep and pull her out.
“I hope you had a good day, Jane. Thank you for coming out to visit. I’ve missed you.”
“You’re welcome,” Jane sniffed.
Was she crying?
Brady sat up and leaned over, pulling on her shoulder so he could see her face. Tears streaked down her face, and Brady’s heart broke in half. He didn’t care about his rules, he pulled her into his chest and rubbed her back.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I miss her,” she sniffed. “I didn’t have any time with her. I didn’t get to see her smile or even open her eyes. It’s not fair.” She sobbed into his chest.
Unwillingly, tears flowed down Brady’s cheeks as well, as he thought about his little girl that he’d had to say goodbye too quickly to.
“I know, baby. She was taken away from us too fast. It wasn’t fair.”
Jane pressed against Brady’s chest and lifted her head to look him in the eyes. She ran her hand up to his face, where she wiped away his tears. Her hand gripped his cheek, and very slowly, she lowered her head until her lips pressed against his.
Brady’s entire body froze, too afraid to move in case he scared her away, but instead of her running, she pressed harder. His lips moved against hers, relishing their intimate connection.
Her hands ran down his chest, exploring his new definition and her voice barely whispered across his lips. “Help me forget, Brady.”
That was all he needed from her. He pulled on the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head, revealing her perfect breasts, her pink nipples puckered from the shock of air.
Needing to take charge, Brady rolled her to her back and ran his hands down to her shorts, where he easily removed those as well. She was completely bare to him. He took a moment to take her all in…her beautiful body that he’d spent years worshipping. It had been too long; he needed her more than breath itself.
Before he rested against her, he removed his boxers, exposing his hard erection to her. Even with the sadness in her eyes, Brady could tell she was excited by the way her breath picked up and by the rise and fall of her chest. He would spend the rest of his life working out just to receive the same reaction from her every time.
“You’re so handsome,” Jane complimented.
“Thank you,” Brady breathed heavily, lowering himself down on top of her.
His forearms rested on either side of her head, stroking her fanned out hair. His nose touched hers, right before he placed his lips against hers. Lust pounded through him, feeling the need to ravish her, but instead, he took it slow, letting her feel every last ounce of love he was pouring into her.
He hated to see her cry, to see her upset in any way, so right now, he was going to do what she asked, help her forget.
Gently, he slid his tongue inside her mouth, her hands running along his sides. The combination of her touch and the heat of her tongue had Brady ready and willing to be inside of her, but he held off.
He loved her. He caressed her. He made sure she knew who she belonged to. Every touch, every breath he took was for her.
Continuing to stroke her hair, he ran his lips down her jaw, to her neck, and down her chest. Her plump breasts swelled into his mouth from the lift of her chest. Her puckered nipples danced with his tongue.
Needing more, he grabbed her other breast with his hand and squeezed hard until she moaned. He wanted to cause her to react. He wanted to see her writhe under him, show him she had feeling under the emotional veneer she had been living with.
Sucking hard, he pulled on her nipple with his teeth and squeezed her other nipple. Her hands buried into his hair, her hips undulating beneath him.
“I need you,” she moaned.
Brady was more than ready, he could feel his balls start to tighten just from having her in his arms. His cock was straining, pleading to connect with Jane in the most intimate of ways.
Just to see if she was ready like he was, Brady pressed two fingers inside of her to find her soaking wet.
“Fuck,” he said breathlessly. He looked her in the eyes, desperate to hear the words. “Tell me you love me, Jane.”
He hovered his cock at her entrance, teasing the both of them, smoothing her excitement with his cock. She inched closer, trying to insert him herself, but she didn’t speak a word.
“Say it, Jane. Fucking say you love me.”
He stared into her eyes, not letting up until he hear
d the words he was begging her to say. He knew she felt the same way. He could see it in the way she moved against him, in the way her body reacted to his touch, to his kisses.
With the lightest touch, she pressed her palm against his cheek. “I will always love you, Brady.”
His heart felt like it was going to pump out of his chest. At her admission, he slid inside of her. Her soft, yet wet core greeted him. It was like coming home. This is where he belonged. This is where he always wanted to be, with Jane in his arms.
“I’ve missed you, baby,” Brady kissed her jaw and then her lips while rocking his hips slowly.
The slow methodic movements turned into hard thrusts once their breathing picked up, and Jane’s hands roamed to Brady’s ass, pulling him in harder. She clung on to him, digging her fingernails into his skin. The pain was welcome. It made him feel alive, and he hoped it did the same for Jane.
“More,” Jane demanded. “I need more, Brady.”
He would never let her down, so he moved her up toward the headboard, spread her legs further, and grabbed ahold of the iron above them. He gripped tightly and pumped his hips so his balls slapped against her.
The sound of naked skin on skin filled the air as Jane mewed beneath him, her head moving from side to side as if she couldn’t believe the pleasure rocking through her.
“Yes, just like that.”
He didn’t let up. He grew stronger with each thrust, throwing his back into his motion. Sweat dripped down his spine, his muscles flexing with each pump, his heart beating out of his chest.
“Oh, God! Brady!” Jane screamed, her inner walls squeezing him tight.
“Fuck!” Brady breathed, his stomach turning inside out and his cock drilling into her until he climaxed.
Slowing down his thrusts until he dragged out every last drop of his orgasm, he lowered himself down and rested on top of her. Their lips met, soft and sweet and grateful for the connection.
Brady didn’t expect to make love to Jane when he asked her to come to Florida. He was actually expecting her to put up a fight about sharing a bed. The last thing he was anticipating was holding her naked body and kissing her until she fell asleep.
But here she was, Jane sleeping beneath him and his lips caressing her velvety soft skin. He just prayed this was a step forward and not a speed bump before she ripped his heart out again.
Chapter 12
**Nash**
It was midnight and he couldn’t sleep. His head rested against his lumpy pillow, his sight trained on the ceiling fan above him. His mind raced with thoughts of Fallon, of what she said to him, of why the hell he let her walk out his door.
The truth of the matter was he wanted to spend more time with her, but he didn’t know how to say that. He wasn’t good at expressing his feelings, even now, knowing what he wanted, he had no clue how to go about saying it.
He looked at his phone and thought about texting her. Would she be asleep right now? Was she thinking about him just like he was thinking about her?
Of course she wasn’t. She couldn’t leave him quick enough.
Although, she did stay for a long time at his house and expressed an interest in learning more about his life. But being the idiot he was, he closed her off before she could even ask him where he grew up.
She was so brave, though, telling him about her childhood, about her fake father, John Candy. The thought of her looking at the rotund comedian as a father figure made him chuckle to himself, and also made his heart bleed a little at the same time. Only Fallon would look at John Candy as a father.
Fuck, he wanted to talk to her.
He grabbed his phone and typed out a text to her.
Nash: I’m sorry I let you leave today.
Before he sent it, he stared at his words for a good minute. Did he want to be that upfront about what was on his mind?
Since he wasn’t very upfront earlier, he thought it might be a good gesture, so with a deep breath, he pressed send. He waited on pins and needles for a response, hoping she wasn’t asleep. Knowing Fallon, she was probably a night person, at least he hoped so.
His eyes were glued to his phone, begging for it to alert him of a text message, but nothing came. Tempted to throw his phone against the wall, he set it down before causing any damage.
He sat up and hung his legs off the bed. He was in his boxers and his prosthetic was off to the side. He looked down at his missing limb and started to hate himself all over again.
If he was never in that bombing, then he wouldn’t be so damaged, not just his leg, but mentally as well. Heaven forbid he should act like a normal human being, able to express his feelings. No, he had to be a clammed up mute with a vengeance to depress everyone around him.
“Fuck!” he screamed, pulling on his head. He should have gone to the store for beer, but instead went for a clean night. That was a big fucking mistake.
About to get out of bed, he stilled when he heard his phone beep. Scrambling for it, he looked down at the preview message and saw one from Fallon. His heart stilled in his chest and he rested against his headboard.
Fallon: Took you long enough to text me. I was almost going to go to bed.
Nash laughed out loud. Smiling to himself, he texted her back.
Nash: Sorry, I’m a dick like that. I’m glad I caught you before you went to bed.
Fallon: Is this where you ask me what I’m wearing?
The tension in Nash’s body eased as he realized Fallon was being herself, sweet and understanding. She didn’t bombard him with questions about his past; she didn’t ask him why he was an ass. No, she went on with her regular entertaining self. He didn’t deserve her friendship, but hell if he was going to give it up and be selfless. That wasn’t the man he was.
Nash: Fuck, yeah! What are you wearing?
Fallon: Toe socks and nipple tassels. Some might find it odd, but I find it arousing. There is nothing like a good pasty to the nipple and a warm toe to help you get to sleep.
Nash: I don’t know how to respond to that…
Fallon: How about you tell me what you’re wearing.
Nash: If I said cock sock, would you believe me?
Fallon: Not a chance. There is no way you own one of those. Now, if you’d said leather chaps and an anal plug, then I would have believed you.
Nash: So, that’s how you think of me? A kinky fuck with a pleasure plug?
Fallon: Am I wrong…?
Nash: YES!!
Nash laughed as he typed. He lowered himself down on his bed so he was now resting on his side, his phone in his hand, waiting impatiently for her replies.
Fallon: We’ll see.
Nash: That disturbs me in so many ways.
Fallon: Have you ever tried an anal plug?
Nash: No, have you?
Fallon: No, seems like too much pressure in the sphincter. I don’t think my ass could handle that.
Nash: But you think mine can.
Fallon: Well, I do believe you referred to yourself as a giant asshole at some point.
Nash: I said I was a giant dick. So, according to your calculations, you would assume I have a giant dick then.
Fallon: No, I know you have a needle dick. Only the good looking men have pencil dicks. God can’t be that nice.
Nash: You think I’m good looking?
Fallon: *Gag* God, of course you would fixate on that. Hello! I said you have a needle dick!
Nash belly laughed. He felt like he was back in grade school, and fuck did it feel good.
Nash: Sweetheart, I can promise you that I have anything but a needle dick.
Fallon: Choad?
Nash: No.
Fallon: Hanging to the left?
Nash: No.
Fallon: Oh, sorry, I meant to the right.
Nash: Nope, it’s straight.
Fallon: Spikey dick?
Nash: Are you saying I have a cat cock?
Fallon: Well, do you…?
Nash: No!!
Fallon: Fair enoug
h. Let’s just settle for average size and call it a night.
Nash: How about we don’t and you come measure it yourself?
There was a pause in her rapid texting, and the minute Nash reread his message, he wished he could reach into his phone and take it back. He was in the midst of sending her a text telling her not to look too far into his words when she texted him back.
Fallon: I wouldn’t want you to be embarrassed when you max out at three inches. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Nash exhaled in relief. He should have known she wouldn’t take him seriously.
Nash: I appreciate your kind charity. Do we get to talk about your boobs now?