Page 36 of Defended By Bam
He kissed me hard and deep, so much so that I briefly forgot everything: where I was, what had happened, that I didn’t exist anymore. Then the most asinine thought popped into my mind, and I pulled my lips from his.
“I’m sorry,” he panted. “I shouldn’t have forced myself–”
“Oh shit. No. Oh my God I’m sorry. I just. Shit.”
He tucked a stray hair behind my ear, his eyes searching my face for a sign.
Turning my head, I whispered, “I need to brush my teeth.”
A rumbling laugh rose from his chest. God, why was that hot?
“Is that all?” he asked.
Putting my hand over my mouth as heat filled my face, I said, “Yeah. I mean, that was great.”
He pulled my hand from my face and leaned in. “I don’t give a fuck about that, Brooklyn. I needed to kiss you, and morning breath wasn’t stopping me, and it isn’t stopping me now.”
He fisted my hair, not being so gentle this time and tipped my head back. “I want you, Brooklyn. I need you to know. I don’t expect to have you in my bed anytime soon, because I know you’ll need time to heal from whatever that piece of shit did to you, but I want you.”
My brows pinched even as my breath went ragged and my mind turned to mush. “You want me, but you don’t want me in your bed? That doesn’t make sense.”
Jerking me closer, he said, “I don’t just want your body, Brooklyn. I want you. All of you. Here with me. It may not make sense to you. Hell, it doesn’t make sense to me, but it’s what I want. But I’m not him. I’ll never force you to stay or force you to do anything you don’t want. Say the word and I’ll make sure you’re safe somewhere else. But I needed you to know. I had to tell you. Right now.”
My hands went to his chest. “I want to be here with you. And I’d really like it if you’d kiss me again.”
His mouth came down hard to mine, and my hands went to his sides, my fingers digging in and pulling him closer. He didn’t stop kissing me until I was practically breathless.
I wanted to be with him, in his bed, but a slight pinch still present from what Marshall had done to me just days ago reminded me my body needed to heal. But for now, I’d take all the kisses he was willing to give.
Chapter 19
Bama
It had been a few days since I first kissed Brooklyn, and I hadn’t stopped since. I was hungry for her, and when we were apart, I couldn't stop thinking of her. Even the sweetest of women I’d spent time with hadn’t consumed me the way she did. The only time we were apart again was when I went with Butterbean the night before to make the first drop with furniture boys. It was quick and easy. Hopefully any future drops would be the same.
Outside of that, I’d been home with her, not able to get close enough to her even though she was right by my side, and I stole kisses every chance I got, still not sure how to act around Sadie. But I had my suspicions about what she’d been through. She joked that I was too gentle with her, but I couldn’t help it.She still had bruises healing and I didn’t want to hurt her. She mentioned wanting a checkup, so I arranged an appointment at our local clinic. We funneled a lot of cash to the clinic and the head doctor was related to Hammer. It helped tremendously to avoid hospitals in our line of work.
Crowne, Rogers’ cousin in Canada that led R.O.Y.A.L, also told him she’d like to speak to Brooklyn before finalizing the new identities for her and Sadie. Things were moving quickly, but once I told her how I felt, we fell in line with each other.
Sadie insisted on sitting between us as we rode to the clinic. When I told Brooklyn I made her an appointment, she didn’t want to drop her at the clubhouse and Glenda couldn’t come by. They became fast friends and while I worried at first, they proved there was no issue. Glenda was a cool lady, and I hoped she’d find someone that could really appreciate her. You can’t force a connection, though, and we just never had that. But she may not have that again for a while.
“Bama?” Sadie asked in her sweet little voice.
“What’s up?”
“Can we get ice cream when Mommy’s done?”
“Sadie!”
Chuckling, I said, “That’s up to your mom. But maybe we can talk her into it if you’re really good while we wait for her.”
“I’m sorry you have to watch her. We could’ve rescheduled for a time Glenda could help out,” Brooklyn said.
“I’m not watching her. We’re hanging out. Ain’t that right?” I asked as I put my fist out.
Sadie bumped her tiny fist to mine. “That’s right.”
Brooklyn fidgeted so much that I had to look over. “You nervous?”
