Chapter 55
Justice
My brain circuits on a loop. He’d been using that clipped tone that, instead of unnerving me, sent a flush over the surface of my body. Wow, I’m finding myself drawn to the kind of man I’d never thought I’d give a second glance to. Still, I prattle. “The hitman was a South African and,” I pause, cleaving my bottom lip through my teeth, “you said love. Why did you say that?”
I stare at Brody, playing with the unraveling stitching on my yoga shirt. I don’t know exactly when, but I’d stopped feeling intimidated having his sculpted body so near.
He’s staring at me staring athim. Bitter air clogs my throat as I wait for him to respond.
Brody’s fingertips brush along the side of my mouth. “Because,” he says. The pause sends butterflies migrating to my stomach. With his arm still looped around me, he squeezes my midriff. “I love ye, Justice.”
My head tilts, eyes misting. Feelings zing through my body like spinning tops.
“Ye start crying,” Brody begins, his savage hand creeps up my spine, “I’ll take it back.”
I bite my eyes closed repeatedly. “Why can’t I be prone to happy tears?”
He strums deceptively soft over the crease between my two breasts. His fingers silently draw over each slope then he reaches down to graze his teeth over the chocolate orbs.
Brody stands to his full height, thoughtfully saying, “My grand always said, before he was stabbed to death—”
My lungs fill to the brim with oxygen as I regard him in shock. “What happened?”
“Had a lot of enemies. That’s not the point, listen. He said, ‘Marry the lass who’s pretty when she cries too. Ye’re a MacKenzie, our lassies are always crying. We’re a numpty lot. Trouble follows us, or we follow trouble. Trust me, pick the pretty one.’ ”
“Brody, that’s a very morbid thing to remember.”
“Aye, and I ain’t no psychic, but I expect you’ll cry over my departed body one day. I’ve my doubts that I could make ye cry happy tears, though. Gran’s probably turning over in his grave, getting comfier, and enjoying the show.”
I laugh-cry, shying away from his efforts to wipe the tears from my eyes. “Shut up, Brody MacKenzie. Tell me you love me. Please.”
“Tell me to shut . . .” Brody grumbles deep into his chest. “I should smack yer arse for that, but I love ye, Justice.” His Sottish brogue thickens, sending tingles running the length of my spine.
“But you love me? Wow, you really know how to make the first acknowledgment of your feelings extra special.” I shake my head, my attraction to him catapulting to the next level. “Can you say it again? Once more with feeling this time.”
“I love ye, Justice Flowers.” His words are an amalgamation of devotion and domination. The big bear softens as his mouth drops over mine then down my neck. “I love ye so much. I’ll never fecking let ye go.”
“I love you too, Brody,” I rise onto my tippy toes.
He grips me by the waist, bringing me flush against his hard body. “I love the look in yer eye when I slide into yer pussy. Och, don’t get me started on yer sweet cunt. Ye cum once, I go crazy, ye cum twice,” he kisses my mouth, “that’s fecking insanity, Justice. The bullshite ye spoke of earlier, not insanity. I love ye.”
Though I’m grinning, my heart conducts a marching band through my veins. The impact blares against my eardrums. Brody’s mouth touches down on the elated crinkle at one side of my lips then the other. Throat wrought with emotion, I murmur my love for him. I grind against him, pressing my mouth to his. When we break away, my head swims. On a last draw of breath, I beg, “Make love to me.”