I powered down my phone and put it on the charger. I went into the storage room across from my bedroom. I was still looking for a small box of decorations I had packed away I couldn't find, and this was the only place I had left to look. I walked into the room and looked at the mountain of boxes that still needed to be unpacked. How I had managed to live here for three years and not unpack a single, solitary box in this room was beyond me. I grabbed a couple boxes off the pile and started to root through them.
“What are you doing?” I heard his deep sexy voice from the doorway.
“Looking for those decorations for the tree,” I sighed.
Brody took a step in the room and helped me lift a rather heavy box down to the floor. I opened it and frowned. Inside, right on top, sat a wooden, locked box with my name engraved on the top. I had never seen it before. I removed the box and set it beside me.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I don't know, I've never seen this before. Jackson used to have a box sort of like this, nothing engraved on the top of his, but I haven't seen it in years. If I recall correctly, he either lost or broke it shortly after we got married. I'll have to ask my mom where she found this, she must have packed it. She was the one who did most of the packing when I moved.” I continued sorting through the box, coming across more of Jackson's belongings.
“Maybe it's in this one, Cass.”
“Which?”
“The one labeled Christmas.” I looked over my shoulder and saw his smile.
“Perhaps,” I laughed. I closed the box I had been sorting through, leaving the mysterious locked box on the floor to take to my room and turned to go through the box Brody had opened. Sure enough, there sat the small box of decorations I had been looking for.
“Could you take these to the living room, please? I'll be there in a minute,” I said, running my hand over his back.
He leaned in and tenderly kissed me. “Sure thing, I'll pour us some wine.”
I nodded, and Brody took the box of decorations from my hand and left the room. I closed the box, bent to pick up the little wooden box from the floor, and took it into my bedroom, setting it on my dresser. I tugged on the lock to see if it would open, but it was secured. I had no idea where I would find the key.
I glanced back at the little box again before I shut off the bedroom light. I had a small box of loose keys somewhere in the kitchen I would have to sort through, but for now, it would have to wait.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cass
There was something about theway Brody held me that had always made me feel so safe and secure. I didn't know if it was just because we fit so perfectly against one another or because when he held me, I knew it was with every fiber of his being.
When I opened my eyes, the room was completely dark, the blackout curtains drawn tight. I checked the clock, it was already five. I didn't want to get out of bed, but I had to get to the store, and the way the wind was howling outside, told me it was probably storming, and it would take me longer than usual to get there.
Brody kissed me on the shoulder, pulling me tighter into him. I could only stay in his arms for another ten minutes at most, or else I would probably be late. My eyes drifted shut as I felt his hands slide down my bare body. He had kept me up most of the night, not that I regretted that, but I was tired. His hand stopped on my hip, and he pulled me back against his hardness.
“Don't start, I'm sore, and I have to get up to get ready for work.”
He started kissing my neck, his hand inching toward the inside of my thighs.
“Open your legs,” he breathed into my ear.
A chill ran through my body as I leaned against his chest. He propped himself up on his elbow and met my lips, his fingers running over my aching clit. I was super sensitive and gripped his hand to stop him as he started rubbing in small circles.
“What is it?”
“I'm a little sore and a lot sensitive.”
“That's okay, I have a treat for you,” he chuckled as he kissed me deeper, moving down to my neck stopping at my chest to suck my hardened nipples. He continued kissing down my stomach, stopping when he moved to the insides of my thighs. My back arched off the mattress as I felt his tongue run down my slit and back up, sucking my clit into his mouth. He kept his hands firmly planted on the inside of my thighs, holding them open while I grabbed hold of my pillow and arched my back off the mattress.
“Be a good girl, Cass, I want you to come on my tongue. I want to taste you.” He moaned, blowing gentle breaths across my wetness, then pressing his tongue against my clit.
“Fuck, Brody, you've got to stop.” My hands ran over his head, my fingers pulling and gripping his hair.
“No fucking way.” He sucked my clit into his mouth, gently taking it between his teeth and running his tongue over it.
I couldn't hold it back anymore, yet another orgasm smashed into me. I screamed out his name as he continued lapping at my center.