Fallon wanted to get rid of Jess, Slater and Hayden so she could chase that fearful look off Brody’s face. He barely knew her. He shouldn’t be so scared for her. She needed to make him forget about the fear, and maybe forget hers in the process.
She turned back to Slater. “When can you get people together tomorrow? You’ll need a space big enough I can teach them some techniques to use against vampires and dark mages.”
“Noon.” The alpha shot Brody a smirk. “I hear you aren’t much of a morning person.”
She laughed out loud. “We were drinking until what? Like four in the morning? Your man Brody woke my ass up at eight after less than four hours of sleep. Was I supposed to be all peaches and cream?”
“I suppose not.”
Hayden cleared his throat. “I have a few things to check on. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He let himself out.
There was a sexy little smile on Brody’s lips as he looked over at her.
“Right,” Slater said. “We’ll be leaving.” He started for the door.
Jess hugged her tight and rose up on her toes to whisper in her ear. “Enjoy, but I want details tomorrow.” Slater pulled Jess out of the house as Fallon dissolved into giggles.
The door shut loudly, and Brody flipped the lock before looking at Fallon.
She licked her lips, and wondered what he was going to do. She hoped he’d pick up where they left off before the interruption.
He stalked toward her, his eyes caressing her body. “You don’t think this is too fast?”
“Not sure I care.” She whispered as she grabbed his belt loop and dragged him into her. She swallowed hard and tried to think as she looked into his smoky blue eyes. “Unless this is too fast for you?”
“I feel like I’ve been waiting an awful long time for you, sugar. If I change my mind, I’ll tell you. But you’re going to have to stop me if I go too far.” His mouth descended on hers in a burning rush and his fingers swept her hair away from her face.
She sucked his tongue, and he groaned as his hands smoothed down her back, pressing her into his body. No, there was no stopping. She needed him, all of him, any way she could get him.
Fallon got to his buttons, but he gripped the bottom of her shirt and yanked it up, leaving her arms tangled above her covered face as he popped the front clasp of her bra.
“Mmm, like icing on a really good cake.” He flicked his tongue over her nipple ring, before taking her taut bud into his hot, wet mouth. He caressed her other breast, rolling her tip between his fingers, tugging just right on the ring.
“Brody.” She gasped, but was too lost in the pleasure to think straight. He had her so worked up she had trouble getting her damned shirt off, but she wanted to see.
“God, Fallon, you sure do taste sweet.” He sucked her into his mouth and gently pulled the ring with the tip of his tongue. That felt really damned good.
Finally free, she dropped her shirt and bra to the ground and looked down. She couldn’t resist combing her fingers through his golden blond hair. He purred against her, suckling, driving her crazy.
“More,” she groaned as his hand slid down her stomach. “Please.”
Brody took a detour, his mouth trailing kisses down her stomach and she almost protested, but it felt so damn good that the anticipation of where he was going drove her crazy. He opened her jeans, and got rid of the rest of her clothes while he licked into her navel and toyed with her belly ring. He looked up the line of her body, meeting her gaze. There was such primal heat in his eyes that she froze, feeling like prey. No one had ever made her feel so desired. She was totally nude while he knelt at her feet with all of his clothes still on. Something about that just revved her engine.
His lips were moist and parted, and desire burned in his smoky blue eyes. A rush of warmth coursed through her as he pulled one leg over his shoulder then spread her open with his thumbs. “This okay?” he whispered, devouring her with his gaze.
“Yes.” If he didn’t get with the program she was going to die. “Please Brody,” she begged, and would have continued but his tongue brushed over that tiny bundle of nerves. She nearly fell apart, it was so good.
He explored her slick heat with long sure licks circling smaller and smaller around her clit. With one long finger he pushed his way inside, bringing a strangled cry from her lips. He fell into a rhythm between his tongue, mouth and fingers, driving her crazy. Her hips rocked against him as she grabbed a fistful of his hair to hold him there. His satisfied growl vibrated through her, shattering and rebuilding her in a white, hot inferno of bliss. The pleasure was so intense she struggled to stay upright with one hand on the counter while he lapped up her honey.
He picked her up and carried her upstairs and into his room. “Still with me?” he purred.
She could only nod, totally incapable of words.
Brody laid her down and took a step away from the bed. She propped herself on her elbows to get a better view as he pulled his shirt over his head. His abs flexed and relaxed as he tossed his shirt away. He slowly opened the buttons of his fly, her body clenching with each pop. He pushed his jeans down his strong thighs and kicked the rest of his clothes off.
* * * *
Brody stared down at Fallon, lost in her beauty. Her skin was flushed, her nipples pebbled, and she was still glossy and wet as she lay there totally open to his gaze. Her skin was so soft over her long lean muscles and dangerous curves. He loved her tattoos and even the piercings because they were another part of her. “Look at you, Fallon. I’ve never seen a woman as sexy as you.”
Climbing to her knees, she licked her luscious lips. Her demand was low and sultry. “Shut up and come here.”
He knelt on the bed, and she moved lightning quick as she pushed him onto his back and bent over him, taking his hard length into her mouth.
“Fallon… don’t… wait,” he panted, but she wasn’t stopping as her tongue swirled around his tip before enveloping him in the heat of her mouth. “Oh yes,” he groaned as she pulled off him to lick him from base to crown before taking him back into her mouth.
Watching his cock disappear between her lips over and over again was the hottest thing he had ever seen, especially with her stellar ass swaying. Her nails lightly scored over his balls and down his perineum. He nearly came down her throat when her finger traced over his asshole and back up to his balls, only to repeat her path over and over again.
He was about to explode and he needed inside her in the worst possible way. His hands tangled in her hair as he pulled her off with a pop. “Fallon, please… Fallon,” he pleaded as she looked up at him.
Her lips were swollen and glossy, her eyes half open, those long lashes so pretty. “What?” she whispered as she climbed into his lap and licked around one of his nipples.
His head fell back. “Christ, you undo me,” he answered in a rush of breath. Her hand wrapped around his base and she slid over him, so tight. “Fallon, oh sweet heaven,” he cried but thrust into her because he needed to. “You feel so damned good.” He held her there, loving the way she gripped him deep inside.
Then she began to move, her hips gliding up and swirling back down until he was dizzy from the pleasure. Just before he spun out of control, she melted against him and stilled. She took his face in her hands as she kissed him long and deep, until he was crazed with need.
He wrapped his hands around her hips, and drove into her slick heat. Groaning, she began to ride him slowly. He sat up to touch more of her. His hands traveled up her back to tangle in her hair as he kissed down her throat.
Her hips rocked faster, taking him deeper. “Please, Fallon.” he begged between gasping breaths because he was seriously losing his goddamned mind.
“Yes, oh Brody” she moaned, her head fell back. She rode him hard, not stopping even when he lost his rhythm. And then he rocketed over the edge as he called out her name. Her release milked his, drawing the pleasure out forever. An eternity later, she collapsed on top of him.
Brody took her hands in his as she laid there, her head over his heart, her hair spread across his chest and arms. They stayed there, losing track of time. She was his, she was meant to be with him, a part of him. He just had to convince her that he belonged to her.
* * * *
Fallon’s body still rung with pleasure so intense she couldn’t move. She felt at home sprawled on top of Brody with her ear over his heart.
At least until the phone rang. He groaned and reached for it with one arm, but the movement made her inner muscles clench. Okay, that made her panic a little. She felt him harden, and then he wrapped his free hand around her hip to keep her there.
He purred. “Hello?” Yeah, not a good place to stay with him on the phone with Goddess knew who. She climbed off him and the bed. “Oh Fallon. Please stay, sugar.” He reached to pull her back but she shook her head, and backed toward the bathroom.
“Excuse me?” he growled into the phone and sat upright. She couldn’t blame him for the attitude when she just wanted to make love to him all over again.
Shit. They didn’t just have sex. They made love.
Fallon’s heart stopped for a second and then started pounding. She closed herself in the bathroom, and started the shower so she could think.
Maybe he was right, maybe he wasn’t like all the other assholes in her past. He certainly seemed to want her as is. Maybe he was strong enough that she wouldn’t change him for the worse. He was so different than anyone that came before.
* * * *
Brody was ready to strangle Adam. He should have ignored the damned phone. He expected someone calling to update him about Jolene and the baby. But no, Adam was being a nosy intrusive dickhead.
“Really? You aren’t going to tell me what happened, dude?” Adam snorted. “You’re going to hold out on me?”
“Fuck Adam, did you have a real reason to call? Or do you just want to seriously piss me off? ‘Cause you are.” Brody quietly snarled. He had a feeling Fallon was going to bolt, and he needed his dumbass brother off the damned phone so he could stop that from happening.
“Okay, okay.” He sighed in exasperation. “I just wanted to give you the good news. Jolene finally had the baby. They had a boy, they named him Jacob. He’s adorable.”
Brody glanced over at the picture of Sarah. He couldn’t breathe for a moment as the past washed over him, leaving him hollow. His chest ached and his eyes flooded with tears.
He remembered her last call. God, he couldn’t breathe and he felt so damned empty. She told him she was pregnant, and he was so happy. The next morning, all of his hopes and dreams were eradicated when he got the call that she was dead.
Brody heard the water shut off, bringing him back to the present. A present filled with a fiery redhead who brought him back to life. He wasn’t alone anymore. But she started to distance herself as soon as the phone rang. He had to stop her from leaving.
“Hey, Brody. You there, man?” Adam asked softly. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and took a deep breath. “Tell Dakota and Jolene congratulations. I have to take care of something. I can’t come out tonight but I’ll see them soon. Send them my love.”
“Okay. I’ll send some pictures.” Adam hung up.
Brody sat on the edge of the bed for a minute and tried to get his thoughts in order. He knew she always walked away from men and she didn’t look back. Maybe no one had ever chased her before, but he sure as hell would. They shared something. Something she might not be ready to admit.
His phone pinged with a text. He made the mistake of opening a picture of the baby. Tears spilled over as he looked up at Sarah’s picture, and memories drowned him in the past.
* * * *
Fallon paused with her hand on the doorknob, planning to do something she’d never bothered to do before. She was going to go in there, and climb back into bed with Brody, and just dive in. Not into sex, but into this, whatever this was.
She stepped into his room and froze. His gaze was locked on a picture where he was holding his wife. Tears streamed down his face. All of her doubts came flooding in.
How could she let this get so out of hand? Brody was still hung up on Sarah. He looked so devastated, probably regretting what they just did. In the bed he shared with her. Her picture right there, watching.
Oh Goddess, she felt horrible. There was no way in hell anything could ever work between them. Brody was exactly what every man should be but never was. He’d probably chase after her and try to convince her he was ready. Obviously he wasn’t.
Brody needed more time, and a perfect woman. Fallon was neither patient, nor good enough. She could only warp and twist him if she stayed. Her unwillingness to compromise screwed over every man she ever bothered with.
Damon was so dead set against magic, so she hid what she was capable of. They were fine until she saved him from the Dales. He was so horrified by what she did that he wouldn’t even talk to her.
Preston use to be a fun guy to hang out with, until they had sex. Then he became Captain Douche, trying to convince her to do things she wouldn’t, and that went over oh so well. He was a total asshole now.
And Isaac, he’d been such a good friend. She finally gave into him, and he swore up and down he could live without his kinks. She drove him to cheating when he swore he loved her. There were countless others and none of them walked away the same.
It was better to end this now, before she could do any real damage. Her heart was breaking. She should have just gone back to the apartment after Slater and Jess left.
Brody didn’t even look up when she snuck out of the room. That hurt, but she knew deep down that letting him in would only hurt in the end.
Tears filled her eyes. No. She wouldn’t cry. She fought back the tears as she hurried into her clothes, scooped up her shoes and slammed the door on her way out.
It was pouring down rain, and she stood on the porch a second, breathing hard. She could call Jess, but she didn’t want to talk. She could run, but she didn’t know where to go. There was only one place to go, so she ran to the apartment, up the stairs and burst inside.
Fallon flung the door shut and sank into a heap on the floor. She threw her shoes at the wall and slammed her head into the door. Then her phone rang and she pried it out of her pocket and threw it without looking at it. The back popped off and the battery skittered across the floor.
It was one of two people calling. Jess, or Brody and she couldn’t bring herself to talk to either of them. Jess would have a million questions she couldn’t answer. Or Brody and she had to end things with him. That is if he didn’t come to his senses and do it himself. Man, she just wanted to forget all about him.
Her eyes burned and she pressed her hands to her face. No crying, no fucking crying, she told herself. She never cried about Isaac. She didn’t even cry over Damon who crushed her when he left. So she shouldn’t cry over a man she barely knew. She just had to hold herself together and not fall apart.
* * * *
The door slammed downstairs, and Brody shook his head, pulling himself out a sea of lost hopes and dreams. They were all replaced with a new beginning and a bright future.
Shit, how did I miss her leave?
She probably saw him crying and assumed the worse. He wiped the tears away with the back of his hand and hurried into a pair of jeans before racing down the stairs. He nearly fell on his face, but caught himself.
At least her Harley wasn’t ready yet. As long as she didn’t leave he could fix this. He started dialing but her phone just rang and rang. He prayed she’d open the door. He hurried out of his house and up the stairs to the apartment.
He pounded on the door. “Fallon, talk to me.”
“Go away.” Her voice was so cold. “We’re done, we’re over.” She was hurting, and that tore him up. He had to make her see the truth.
“Damn it Fallon.” He slammed his palm against the wood. “Don’t shut me out before you give me a chance to explain.”
She didn’t say anything and her ragged breathing was the only thing he heard.
He took a deep breath, and tried for a calmer tone. “Please Fallon, just hear me out.”
* * * *
Maybe Brody was there to end things. He certainly sounded pissed. Either way, Fallon knew this was going to hurt. She’d rather run, but Brody deserved the truth.
If Malachi wasn’t looking for her, she would find a way to leave, but once he was dealt with she was out.
Brody hit the door again and she jumped. “Fallon, open the damn door. We need to talk.”
“Fine. You want to do this now?” She pushed herself to her feet, finally getting angry. She threw the door open. “We’ll do this now.”
He stood there with his arms crossed over his bare chest, the rain glistening off his skin, and his eyes blazing. “Why did you leave?”
“Look, we don’t need to do this. You obviously realized it was a big mistake. I’m nothing like what you had. So let’s just skip the bullshit talk about backing off when we both know this can’t work.”
His arms fell to his sides, and the fire in his eyes dimmed. “I know what you thought, but if you had just asked, I could have cleared that up.” He threw the door shut and the sound thundered against her. Then he leaned against the only exit as if he thought she would bolt.
She didn’t blame him. She wanted to flee, but they were here and they were doing this. “What good would it do? What does it change?”
Anger flashed through the hurt in his eyes, and he took a step closer. “Ask about the phone call,” he demanded.
“Who was on the phone?”
“Adam. He called with good news. Jolene and Dakota had their baby. They named him Jacob.” He glanced away but swung those blue eyes right back to hers. “So yeah, I was thinking about the past for a minute, but nothing to do with you. I don’t regret what we did. Why the hell do you think I’m here?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes.”
“To tell me we are a mistake. That you were wrong, I’m not what you want.”
“You’re wrong,” he insisted.
“I’m right. You were so devastated while you stared at her picture.” She shook her head, backing away, and dropped her eyes. “Think about this for a minute. I’m all wrong for you. You’re the perfect, considerate guy, and I let you take me into your room, that you shared with your wife, with her picture right there, and fucked your brains out. I didn’t even think about her. I was thoughtless, and inconsiderate, and—”
His hands tangled in her hair, and he was kissing her like he needed the air in her lungs. She didn’t know what the fuck to do, because that was not what she expected.
When she finally got her wits together, she shoved him back. “Don’t. Just don’t make this harder. We have to end this.”
“Why?” He asked, and when she shook her head, he added, “Did you ever think that if it’s hard to walk away, you shouldn’t?”
Two could play that game. “Did you ever think that if you’re crying over your dead wife just minutes after fucking another woman, you’re not ready for that woman?
He spun her around and backed into the wall so fast she couldn’t react. Then he rolled his hips into her, showing her just how ready he was. “Does this feel like I’m not ready?” He breathed into her ear.
“Don’t, Brody. You’re going to hate yourself when you realize I’m not worth this trouble. I ruin every man I’m with. I don’t want that for you.”
He took her chin in his fingers and forced her gaze to his. “You weren’t the problem. How can you blame yourself for some asshole cheating on you?”
“I couldn’t give him what he needed.” She answered honestly. “I never even made the effort. I wouldn’t now, not even with you. So just walk away before I can hurt you.” A tear fell and she squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t give in, and she didn’t want him to see her fall apart. This hurt so much worse than she ever anticipated.
“Bullshit. I don’t want to change you. I don’t want you to be something you’re not. I want you, and only you.”
She hated herself, but she opened her eyes and went below the belt. “Then why the waterworks right after fucking me in her bed?”
His eyes bored into her. “The last time Sarah ever called, she told me she was pregnant. She’d been in Iraq for months. We spent every minute of her leave together but she had to go back. It was another month until she called with the news that she was pregnant and coming home.” His voice broke, but his gaze held. “The very next day, I got a call that her transport was bombed. So yeah, Adam’s call brought up an old wound, and that hurt, but I’ve moved on.”
Guilt washed over her. It all made sense, but that only emphasized how wrong she was for him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, and tried to push him away, but he wasn’t going anywhere. “Let me go, please. Just walk away now before it hurts worse.”
“No way in hell.” He leaned into her and growled, “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Damn it, Brody. This can’t work.” Her tears spilled over. “I’m fucking things up just like I always do. I’m not right for you. Please, just go.”
“No.” He ran his thumbs under her eyes, catching the tears. “You don’t get to take the easy way out, Fallon. You wouldn’t shed a tear if you didn’t feel the same about me.”
“That’s the problem. I need to get out now before I can’t walk away from you. Before I manage to—”
His mouth closed over hers, effectively putting an end to her argument. He took a handful of her hair and gently pulled her head back, but there was still heat in his words. “Don’t, Fallon. Don’t tell me to let you go again.” He breathed into her ear. “I won’t. I’ll fight, I’ll play dirty, but you’re going to see that I want all of you, even the flaws.”
Brody’s other hand trailed down her stomach to open her pants. Damn her, but she let him, and his fingers slid under her panties. He went straight for her clit, pressing just right, wrenching a cry from her lips.
“Tell me you don’t want this and I’ll stop,” he promised as he pressed two fingers into her heat and slowly slid them back out. “Tell me you feel nothing for me and I’ll go.”
“Brody,” she whispered.
He pulled his hand away and murmured against her throat. “What? Tell me. Do you want me?”
“Yes. Goddess help me, but yes.”
His hands caressed down her body to push her pants down. His thumb grazed over the top of her sex, as he took her mouth in a hard kiss.
She couldn’t think when he touched her, but this wasn’t like the last time. This was intense and all consuming, and she knew he meant everything he said. She was terrified because she was falling hard for him. How the hell was she supposed to push him away when he was telling her everything she needed to hear?
Climax washed over her, and he swallowed her cries. He didn’t stop kissing her until she finally stilled.
There was an edge to his voice. “We need to talk, but you need to listen too.”
“Yeah, we do.” She just wasn’t sure how she was going to survive the conversation.
“Come on, then.” He marched into her bedroom. Fallon pulled her pants up and fastened them before following.
He stood in the middle of the room with a dark look that made her want him more.
“Talk,” Brody demanded.
A harsh laugh escaped. “If you think you can just get me off and win an argument, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“Damn it, Fallon. This isn’t about winning an argument. I need you to see that I want you, all of you, just the way you are. I’m not asking you to change. I’m not asking you to fall for me. I’m asking you to give me a chance because we have a connection.”
“We can’t work, Brody. I’m not what you think. I’m not what you want. Just let me go.” She heaved a sigh, terrified he might actually take her advice. Shit, the direction of her thoughts wasn’t helping. She wanted to protect him from herself.
He shook his head slowly. “Can you honestly say you feel nothing for me, Fallon?”
She wished she could. Instead she stood there, frozen in his gaze.
Brody took a step toward her. “Tell me you feel nothing for me, and I’ll walk away now.”
“I can’t.” Fallon pushed her fingers through her hair. “I can’t. Okay?”
“Then don’t shut me out.” He closed the distance and stood over her, barely an inch away, not touching her. His eyes burned into her. “I’m not like them. Let me prove it.”
“No. You’re not. You’re better than that.”
“So are you.”
“Fuck, Brody. What makes you think we can work?” She moved to step away, but his hands gently wrapped around her upper arms and she stayed.
“Since the night you saved my ass, I’ve been falling. Being with you just feels natural. When you aren’t with me, I feel emptier. Trust me, I know what empty feels like.”
He wrecked her. Fallon caught his face in her hands and kissed him hard, until she remembered why she was fighting this in the first place. She pulled away. “What happens when this falls apart?”
“I won’t let it.” His mouth trailed down her throat and her head fell back.
She believed him. “We’ll try this.” Her eyes closed and she whispered, “On one condition.”
“Name it.” He pulled her shirt over her head and threw it before popping the clasp and shoving her bra down.
“We can’t tell everyone. Just your friends.”
He had her pants open and around her thighs when he pushed her onto the bed. When she looked up at him, he got rid of the rest of her clothes.
“Done. Just tell me why.” Brody opened the top button of his jeans and pulled. Every pop of the buttons ramped up her need.
“I don’t want Malachi focusing on you. He’ll use you against me, and you don’t know what he would do to you.”
He kicked his pants away and pushed her legs open as he climbed between. “Okay. That it?” His voice was low and husky. No way in hell would any other man ever get away with this, but she wanted all of what he had in a bad way.
“Yeah,” she said breathlessly. “Now come here.”
He reached down to pump his length a few times before fitting himself against her gate. Oh, that was so hot. She wrapped her legs around his waist, hooked her ankles and pulled him into her. “Now, I need you now.” She gasped as he hit home.
“Mmm, ditto,” he rasped as he pulled out slowly, only to thrust in hard. “I can’t hold back,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Don’t. I need hard.” She ended on a cry as he pounded into her. He kept going, over and over, until she was clutching his wrists and screaming his name. It was raw, and heated, and so damn good she came apart at the seams.
When he found his release, he whispered her name like a prayer. Her tears burst free as all her barriers come crashing down. Everything was laid bare as he burrowed deep inside her heart.
Brody rolled to his side, pulling her with him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. He whispered in her ear. “I’ve got you. I’m yours. I’m never letting you go.”
“Just don’t change for me, Brody.”
“I won’t, and don’t you dare, either.”