Page 34 of Tied Up In Tinsel
I slid my hands forward, smoothing them over the flat planes of his stomach before slipping beneath his shirt. Each ridge of his abs tightened beneath my fingertips, and I took my time exploring, dragging my nails lightly across his skin. My touch trailed downward, brushing over the dusting of hair just above the waistband of his sweatpants.
His muscles tensed under my hand, hard and unyielding, but I pressed closer, teasing lower until my hand slipped beneath the fabric.
Brooks’ breath caught.
“Annie,” he said, his voice low, roughened, already unsteady.
My fingers curled around him, stroking as he hardened beneath my touch. The silky heat of him sent a thrill straight through me, my own body aching in response.
Brooks let out a quiet, helpless groan, and I couldn’t help the victorious smile that curved my lips.
“With Ruby preoccupied…” My voice came out husky, full of intent. “…I can think of a lot of things we could do.”
His smirk returned, slow and dangerous. “Oh, I’m still on working duty, remember? Wouldn’t this technically count as prostitution?”
I laughed, but the sound hitched when he suddenly spun around, trapping my hands where they were. Instead of pulling away, I simply adjusted, fingers gripping his backside now as he stepped into me.
He caught my jaw in his hand, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. His eyes glittered, full of hunger and heat, before he dipped down and pressed his mouth to mine.
The kiss was fierce, unrelenting, stealing the air from my lungs. I melted into him instantly—into his taste, his warmth, his strength. My hands shifted again, wrapping back around him, stroking, tugging, making him groan into my mouth.
“I haven’t paid you yet,” I teased breathlessly against his lips. “I’ll just deduct it from your check.”
“Deal,” he growled.
In the next instant, his hands left my face and swept beneath me. He lifted me effortlessly, my legs locking around his waist on instinct. Brooks spun us both, and I threw my head back with a laugh, breathless and exhilarated.
“Brooks!” I squealed, laughter bubbling up in my chest as he spun me around. My head was dizzy, not just from the movement, but from the sheer joy of being in his arms.
He finally set me down, and I braced myself against him, breathless. He leaned closer, his lips just about to meet mine,when the unmistakable sound of little feet pattered down the hallway.
Instinct took over. I pivoted, slipping in front of Brooks, shielding the unmistakable evidence of his arousal as Ruby barreled into the kitchen.
“Mom!” she shouted with delight, her arms already outstretched.
I caught her, lifting her into the air as her laughter rang through the room.
So close. Ofcourseshe’d come out now.
“Ruby,” I sang back, pressing quick kisses to her cheeks until she giggled so hard she wriggled against me.
“I heard you laughing,” she said breathlessly, “and I wanted to know what was funny. What were you and Brooks doing?”
I darted a glance at Brooks. He was leaning casually against the counter, his smirk smug, though all evidence of what we’d been doing was gone. Relief washed through me.
“Well,” he said, stepping forward and offering his arms, “I was showing your mom a trick.”
I passed Ruby over, like a sack of Christmas gifts, and Brooks took off with her in his arms. He spun her in circles, faster than he had me, her giggles filling every corner of the kitchen. Her head tilted back, her hair wild, her cheeks flushed, while Brooks laughed right along with her.
My chest ached as I watched. It was the kind of ache that came from something fragile, something beautiful you were afraid of losing. Seeing Ruby so happy. Seeing Brooks here, in our home, as if he belonged. It all felt too good. Too temporary.
When he finally set her down, Ruby came racing back to me, crashing into my legs. I bent down, kissing the top of her head, breathing in the warmth of her.
“Mom,” she whispered, glancing up at me and then at Brooks, her expression filled with something far too wise for her seven years.
“What’s up, sweetheart?”
Her smile wobbled, though her voice was steady. “I love this family.”
