“Woman.” He waved one hand in air. “Whatever. Girls are supposed to cry.”
“And that means you can’t show emotion when your mother dies?”
Her question caused even more tears to fall.
“Oh, Brody, I’m so sorry.” She stood up in front of him. “Would a hug help?”
“Yeah.” He set his glass on the porch and reached one arm around her waist. He drew her down into his lap and turned her sideways so her back was pressed against the arm of the chair, her legs draped across his.
She squirmed in his lap. “This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
“Just be still and humor me, will you? Can I just hold you for a second?”
Her movements stilled and she placed one arm around his neck and the other hand on his chest. She laid her head on his shoulder.
He took a deep breath. So did she.
They sat that way for a few minutes. Lou felt herself relax more and more, and then something changed. Brody’s thighs tensed under her own and his arms clutched her closer. He rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand. She sat up a little more.
“You feeling better now?” Lou asked right before he touched her chin and lifted her lips toward his.
His lips breathed against hers, “Much. Thank you.”
Her heartbeat quickened. “Brody?” she gasped right before his lips touched hers. They were firm, yet soft and she could taste the whisky on his breath. His tongue flicked lightly against her lips, daring them to open. They did. His tongue slipped inside and met hers in a frantic tangle. His hand slid into her hair and he tugged gently, breaking contact.
He looked her in the eye and said, “Unless you want me to make love to you, you had better go to bed now.” Her eyes narrowed as they stared into his. She scooted closer to him in his lap and put both arms around his neck, her lips finding his. He groaned loudly and stood up with her in his arms. He turned and strode toward her bedroom. She reached out and opened the door so he could carry her inside. He dropped her legs and let her slide down his front until her feet hit the floor. His mouth devoured hers and she responded just as passionately.
“God, I want you, Lou. I need to know, though, do you want me?”
She nodded against the pressure of his lips. “But hang on.” She walked through the bathroom and locked the door, just in case Sarah woke.
Brody kicked off his loafers as she started to unbutton his shirt. Her fingers trembled as the buttons slid through their holes. He broke the kiss long enough to pull the shirt over his head. Her hands tentatively touched the hair on his chest and she ran her fingers through it. Her hands shook. He clasped them both in one of his.
He asked quietly. “You can still tell me to go away if you want.”
“I don’t want you to go away.” She looked him in the eye as she said it.
“Good, because I don’t want to go.” He slid his hands beneath her bottom and lifted her feet off the floor. He turned toward the bed and they tumbled onto it. His weight rested on his elbows. His knee pushed her legs apart and he rested between them.
“God, I’m scared,” Lou said, her hands in his hair, stroking him gently as he gazed into her face.
“No need to be scared. I won’t hurt you.” His lips touched her shoulder softly. “This hurt?” he mumbled against her skin.
She shook her head no.
He kissed his way down her throat. “This hurt?”
She shook her head again.
One of his hands cupped her breast as his thumb slid slowly across her nipple. A breath hissed out between clenched teeth.
“Now, I know that didn’t hurt.”
“Maybe just a little,” she gasped.
“Well, then I had better try it again.” His thumb slid across her nipple again and she arched her back, trying to get closer to his touch.
“Much better,” she whispered.