Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“Want me to shave them for you?” Brody asked.
“You’d want to?”
“Um, well, yeah. I like taking care of you. And I like the idea of doing that.”
“Okay, then,” she whispered.
“Will you get what I need?”
She nodded. “Don’t look?”
He averted his gaze and she got up, grabbing the stuff out of her bag, then nearly slipping in a puddle of water on her way back.
She grunted as her foot hit the side of the bath.
“What is it? Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, just trying to ice skate without skates. Or ice, for that matter. Huh, I don’t think that analogy works.”
“Sweetie,” he said warningly.
“Coming. Coming.”
“Be careful getting back in the bath,” he told her, holding up his hand.
She took his hand, then climbed into the bath with a plonk that made water splash over the sides. “Whoopsie.”
“Are you in?”
“Yep. Yep, I’m in.”
He opened his eyes, running his gaze over her. She glanced down in worry. “What is it? Have I got a nip slip?”
Brody made a choked noise. “What? No, uh, no.”
“Oh.”
“I was just checking to make sure you hadn’t injured yourself. Which was kind of stupid.”
“Why? Because I’m always injuring myself?”
“No, because I can’t see anything from your shoulders down,” he explained. “Well?”
“Well, what?” Uh-oh, had she missed him asking her a question?
“Did you hurt yourself?”
“Oh, just stubbed my toe. No big deal.”
He frowned. “Show me.”
She thrust her foot up into the air, spraying water all over him. “Oh, sorry! I’m such a klutz! Are you all right?” She quickly lowered her foot and got onto her knees. She wiped the water off his face.
“I’m fine,” he told her.
She paused, staring down into his face. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself.”
Leaning in, she pressed her lips to his. A sense of home filled her. That was what Brody was to her. Home. He took over, pressing his lips against hers and running his tongue along her lips until she parted them. When she drew back, she was buzzing with excitement. She lowered her hands to his thighs. Her right hand brushed over his hard dick.
“Sorry,” he told her. “Even though I can’t see anything . . . well, my imagination is working overtime.”
“I could take care of that for you.”
“Maybe later. We don’t want a mess in the bath.” Red filled his cheeks.
She had to grin. “I don’t mind. But I’ll be happy to take care of you later.”
“I’d be happy to take care of you too,” he broached carefully.
Don’t freeze up.
“Sweetie, sweetie, breathe. What is it? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“What’s going on?”
She glanced up. Great. Just what was needed in this shit show. The Fox.
“What happened?” The Fox loomed closer, making her pull back. Because she was stuck in the past. He liked to stand over her, hold her down . . .
He’ll hurt me.
“Fuck. She’s scared of me now!” the Fox snapped.
“I don’t think it’s you. I think it’s him. Autumn. Baby, listen to us. It’s me. It’s Brody-bear. And the Fox. Fox, talk to her. Now!”
She didn’t think she’d ever heard Brody sound angry like that. So forceful. It shocked her out of the past. She took a deep breath.
“Baby girl. It’s me. You’re safe. He’s not here. I killed him, remember? And if I got the chance, I’d do it all over again, slower and in a far more painful way for all that he’s caused you.”
Brody groaned. “Fox, I don’t think that’s what she needs.”
But surprisingly, it made her feel better. She focused on the Fox. Then moved her gaze to Brody.
“I . . . I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” Brody said fiercely.
“Brody is right. This is all his fault.” The Fox looked cold, but she could hear the anger in his voice. Anger aimed at the senator.
“If anyone is sorry, it’s me for triggering you. Sweetie, I don’t need sex.”
“You asked for sex?” the Fox asked, sounding incredulous.
“Not exactly. I just wanted to give her pleasure the way she does for me. I want her to feel good. That’s all, Tutu.”
She slid up onto her knees and wrapped her arms around Brody. It was a brave thing for her to do. Knowing they probably just got an eyeful of her breasts. And the Fox could see her back.
But she had to be brave.
She had to trust.
She knew Brody. Knew them both.
“It wasn’t that. It wasn’t you. It was my fucked-up mind. I just . . . these last few weeks have been so hard.” She turned to look hesitantly at the Fox. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did when I got here. It’s hard not to feel . . . trapped. But I know being here is temporary. Because you think you have to protect us. But if you only want Brody now . . . I’d rather know. Just tell me.”