Page 22 of Brooke's Bliss
Damn it.If only he had invested in camping gear.He couldsave this.Somehow.“The lodge.”
Way more expensive but also private.He could make ithappen.
She sighed.“Fine.Back to plan A.I’m staying on mybrothers’ property, but in a guesthouse.They can’t see it from the main house.You’ll just have to get out early.”
He wasn’t planning on leaving at all.He was planning on…Could one squat a relationship?If he stayed, would she get used to him?Hecould be helpful.He was already planning on how to feed her in the morning.Bacon.Eggs.Pancakes.The key was to use real butter and real milk.
Sometimes the way to a woman’s heart was through her stomachand proving he could be a competent member of the household.
Also, “early” was relative.
He moved in, unwilling to give her another second to thinkabout it.He thrust his fingers into all that brown and gold hair that hewanted to tangle himself in.She was so fucking gorgeous.“Anything you want,baby.Look at me.How do you want me to play this?You want straight sex?”
She bit her bottom lip.“I want it however you like, Kent.”
He tightened his hold, giving her hair a twist.“Shane.Myname is Shane and his is Bay.We’re two separate people, and you will refer tous as such.”
Her eyes flared but then her tongue ran along that lip she’dnipped.“Shane.You’ve spent time in Stef’s playroom, haven’t you?You like totop a woman.”
He needed to.Not like in everyday life, but in this way.Heneeded to feel in control.Needed.Wanted.Welcome.“I can handle you, Brooke.Don’t ever think I can’t.Whatever you need, I can take it.”
She seemed to stop for a moment, almost like she was goingto get emotional on him, and he’d meant what he’d said.He could handle heremotions.He wanted them.He was already half in love with her, but she didn’tneed to know that right now.Then her expression smoothed out, and he knew sheplanned to brazen her way through it.She went on her toes again, her mouthclose to his.“All I need from you is a couple of mind-blowing orgasms, ShaneKent.Do you think you can handle that?”
She needed so much more, and he planned on figuring out whathad happened to put her in this place where she needed validation.But he wasgoing with it for the night.“I can.”
He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her for the firsttime, using his hold on her to control the kiss.After a moment’s play at herlips, he swiped his tongue across them, demanding entry.Her mouth opened andhe pressed inside, sliding his tongue along hers, his whole body coming alive.
He felt Bay move in behind her.He swept her hair aside,avoiding Shane’s hand with the expertise of long practice, and kissed her neckwhile his hands came up to cup her breasts.
“Not in the parking lot,” Sawyer shouted as he startedtoward his Jeep.
Asshole.
Shane broke the kiss and was thrilled to see Brooke had losther devil-may-care expression and seemed a bit drugged.
Good.Her very nearness drugged him.He pulled his keys out.“Get in.It’s time we got you home.”
She didn’t have to know he kind of wanted her to be hishome.
When he pulled out of the parking lot, he vowed it would bea night she never forgot.
* * * *
Brooke sat in between the two hottest guys she’d evermet and wished she’d had more champagne.More wine.Maybe a couple ofmargaritas, but no, she’d had to stay in control.The minute she realized Cleowas talking about a job, she’d decided to be an adult.She didn’t even have thecomfort of being totally smashed.
But they’d waited for her.They’d been at the bar, and nowthat she thought about it, they’d walked out of Stella’s this morning behindCleo.
“Did you hear I was going to be at Hell on Wheels tonightand showed up so you could be hanging around in case I needed a ride?”
They had already passed the deputy at the bottom of themountain.She thought it was the new guy who was all of twenty-one anddefinitely not asleep since he had someone pulled over.She hadn’t recognizedthe car, so some tourist was getting the full-on “sheriff needs a chair”ticket.
“That depends,” Shane said.
“Depends?”They were different than she’d thought.All shehonestly knew about them was that Stef liked them and Max hated them.Rye wassomewhat indifferent, though probably leaned toward Max since he constantlyreminded Rye that they’d hit on Rachel.
“It depends on whether you think that behavior is a red flagor the kind of flag that makes you feel like a desirable woman since two menplotted and planned to be right here,” Shane replied.
Well, put that way… “I’m only here for a couple of weeks.I’m just…stressed.”
