Page 37 of Instant Heat
I felt her shift and before I could properly gather me thoughts, Rae was straddling me lap. Her hips flexed, drawing a deep groan from the back of me throat. It took a lot of effort, but I managed to tear me mouth from hers. I had no idea how me hands had ended up in her hair, but I took the opportunity to pull her forehead to mine.
"Nothing compares to making love to you,acushla. But tonight, I just want to hold you, and tomorrow I want to wake up with you next to me."
I wasn't sure what I expected, but it sure as hell wasn't Rae slipping off me lap and guiding me to her bedroom. In the center of her room, I stood rooted to the spot while she shut the door and padded back to me. Her blue eyes piercing through me as she gripped the hem of me shirt and pulled it up. When she pushed it as far as she could, I took over and pulled it over me head. I bit down on me teeth and dragged in a breath through me nose when her fingers went to work on me jeans.
When all that was left were me briefs, Rae brought her mouth to me chest, placing a tender kiss there before pushing onto her toes to press her lips against me jaw."Then hold me."
***
Something tickled me nose, and it didn't matter which way I scrunched it, the feeling wouldn't go away. I popped one eye open and immediately smiled when a mass of brown hair blurred me vision. By the steady sound of her breathing, I could tell she was fast asleep. Her back was pressed against me chest and me arm banded around her waist.
Waking up like this had a weird sense of calm spreading through me. It also had me wishing I could wake up like this every day. With that thought I abruptly pushed into a seated position. As much as I cared for Adam and Angie, I'd always envied them a little. It was a rare thing to find that one person who, no matter how much they infuriated you, you couldn't imagine waking up without them.
I had never felt that way about someone.
Not once.
Until now.
I looked down at Rae's sleeping form. How much I had come to care for this woman in such a short period of time should have scared the shite out of me. But it didn't. It felt right and natural. Not being able to resist feeling her skin beneath me fingertips, I brushed them over her cheek. She stirred but didn't wake.
With me smile still firmly in place, I slipped out from beneath the covers. I snatched me jeans from the floor and after pulling them on, headed for the kitchen. Scavenging for me morning coffee was becoming part of me daily routine. I'd just triumphantly pressed the button on the machine when I heard shuffling.
I spun around expecting to find Rae looking all sorts of sexy in that little sleep shirt of hers. Yeah, I didn't find that. Instead, Thatcher stood in the opening, a murderous look flashing in his eyes.
"You spent the night?" His gritted-out words sounded a lot like:Did you screw my sister under my roof?
Squaring me shoulders, I widened me stance."I needed to see Rae."
His jaw muscle started jumping, his nostrils flaring with the effort it took to not lose his shite."It had to beyou," he mumbled with a shake of his head.
"Look man, you and I will probably always have our shite. I'm good with that. But I'm not prepared to walk away from whatever this is just because you can't stand the sight of me."
A strangled sound came from the back of his throat as he stalked toward the fridge. He yanked it open and pulled milk, eggs and cheese from it. After placing everything on the counter, he planted his palms on the surface and aimed a glare me way.
"She's not just my sister; she's the most important thing in my life." With a heavy sigh, he cocked his head toward the opening before looking at me again."She's had enough hurt to last her two lifetimes. If you add to that… so help me…"
Said a lot about a man's character when he was willing to do anything to protect his family. In that moment, I had a lot of respect for Thatcher Brooks. I wasn't stupid, the pissing contest between the two of us was far from over, but where Rae was concerned, we could at least try to be civil.
"Everything okay in here?"
Me gaze flicked to the entrance of the kitchen where Rae stood. Her hair tumbling over her shoulder and her beautiful face etched with worry. Those eyes of hers flitted between me and her brother while her teeth worried her lip.
"All good," Thatcher said. When I looked at him, he added,"We have an understanding."
Me eyes found Rae's again and I couldn't help but smile at the woman who'd stolen me heart."We do," I confirmed.
Her shoulders immediately relaxed."Oh good." Relief evident in her voice. She rushed toward me and wrapped her arms around me waist. Tilting her head back, she beamed up at me. I couldn't resist, I bent down and took the kiss I'd been craving since me eyes opened.
"Ugh, I don't need to see this."
Even with Thatcher's protest, I couldn't bring myself to tear me lips away from me girl.Me girl. Man, did I like the sound of that.
Now that Raelyn Brooks was mine, there was no way I was letting her go.
18
RAELYN
