Page 56 of Cocky Player

“I figured that.”

“It was a huge production.FBI.SWAT.Police.I remember the helicopter hovering overhead, the whir of the motor blades.I have flashbacks from them sometimes.Or flashlights.Or that loud twang of something smashing metal.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Brenna, if you’re trying to scare me away.”

“It’s just…I’m a mess, you know, and I spent so many years being safe at all-girls schools that this wholedoing my own thingis new and scary.And while I want it, I want all the normal things every girl in her twenties wants, you have to realize how utterly new atlivingI am.”

He slid his hand through my hair, down the length of it, slowly brushing my hair and calming my runaway thoughts at the same time.

“Look at me,” he finally said and his thumb was at my chin, tilting my head back until our gazes met.“I like you, Brenna.I liked everything I knew about you before today, even when you were backing away.I’mhere.And I’m not going anywhere.Thank you…thank you for trusting me with this.I’m so, so sorry this happened to you, and so much more damn thankful you were found.”

“Me too.”

“Can I kiss you now?”

“I’d be upset if you didn’t.Please…don’t let your knowledge of this make you back off or change anything.You might think you’re pushing me too fast, but I want it.I like it when you take control and get bossy.It gets me out of my head so I can enjoy everything we do and not overthink it.”

“Then promise me one thing.”

“Anything.”

His eyes gleamed.“That’s a large order.”

I meant it with every fiber of my being.“What’s the promise, Connor?”

“Be honest with me.Always.It’s okay to second-guess yourself, it’s okay to take time, it’s okay to rush forward without thought of consequences.It’s okay to live your life how you want on your terms.God knows I’ve been doing it for years, but if there’s ever a moment you hesitate, need me to slow down…you need a break, you have to tell me.”

It was possibly the easiest promise I could make.“I can do that.”

“Good.”That glimmer in his dark eyes burned brighter and he brushed his mouth over mine.“Now kiss me.”

Twenty

Connor

I meantto keep the kiss soft and warm.She’d thrown a lot on me and knowing the horror of what she’d lived through made me want to wrap her in my arms and ensure no one ever hurt her again.The raging need to protect someone was foreign, but with Brenna’s lips on mine, her hands pressed to my chest and her sweet scent enveloping me, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

She shuffled, scrambled to my lap and straddled me until the warmth of her center was pressed against me.A groan rumbled through me as I fought against getting hard.

Taking her after she shared so much and became so emotional wasn’t on my radar but as she continued grinding against me, it was becoming harder to keep the pace.

“Brenna.Hey.”I slid my hand to her cheek, through her hair and slowed the kiss.“Is this what you want?”

Hazy, soft green eyes landed on me and a pink bloomed on her cheeks right before she shoved her face into my shoulder.“No.”She laughed softly, the vibration slid across my skin.“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.You don’t need to apologize for anything.”I slid my hand through her hair, down her back.

She laughed harder and clung to me.“It’s not because ofthat.”Her voice lowered to a whisper.“I started my period this morning and forgot.”

Oh.Ohhh.I hugged her tight.Spending so many years not getting close to women unless I was sleeping with them meant I didn’t exactly have a lot of experience with this part of dating.

In theory, Brenna having her period didn’t change how much I wanted her, but that’d be a first for both of us.And maybe after a night of emotional downloading wasn’t the time to experiment.

“How about we order pizza, get some drinks and watch some television then?”

She relaxed against me and I could almost feel her relief at my reaction.Fuck it though.It was as natural as a man sporting a woody at the absolute wrong time.Nature happened.She didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about.

“Or…we could go out to eat somewhere?There’s a super cute Italian place around the corner.”

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