Page 49 of Bad Boys After Dark - Brett
Carson could no sooner kick Brett’s ass than any other man could, but Brett knew he’d damn well try if he thought Brett had hurt Sophie. She was already that much a part of their family, and he freaking loved knowing it.
“Can we run, please?” Too edgy to stand still, Brett took off running. “I’m not sleeping with anyone else. In fact, I haven’t been with another woman since before your wedding.”
Carson’s eyes widened. “Seriously? I mean, we’ve all seen the sparks flying between you two, but…wow. No other women?”
“Yeah, wow. That’s how I feel, completely blown away. I thought one night would get her out of my system, but I haven’t been able to go a single day without seeing her. She’s it, Carson, but I’m fucked up. You know it. She knows it. I’ve got enough anger to fuel a 747, and now—”
“Wait. Slow down. Let’s talk for a sec. You’re spending the night at her place? That’s big, man. How’s that going?”
He and his brothers all had a thing about not staying overnight with women. He always assumed they were as fucked up as he was, but with how quickly they’d fallen for their wives and how easy they’d made it look, he wondered if he’d been alone on the Island for Messed-Up Men the whole time.
“It’s awesome,” Brett said vehemently. “I wasn’t sure at first, you know? I was waiting for that fight-or-flight response, and while I felt something, it wasn’t powerful enough to make me leave. I can’t wait to see her at the end of each day, and nothing could drag me from her bed at night. She’s…God, Carson, I’ve never known anyone like her. She calls me on my shit but doesn’t push me to change. I have changed, but that’s all me, for her, but not because she demands it. And you’re going to think this is insane, but, man, her kisses? They fucking wreck me.”
He shook his head, remembering how they’d kissed goodbye that morning for so long, he’d had to wait another ten minutes before actually leaving while his erection deflated. Sophie had taken great pleasure in that, traipsing around the apartment in his T-shirt with nothing underneath, bending over to pick up her socks, purposely giving him an eyeful of her gorgeous ass.
“Sounds like things are good,” Carson said, bringing Brett’s mind back to the moment. “If you’re not messing around, what are you worried about going wrong? What do you need to fix?”
“You know me, man. When I feel boxed in, I’ll kill to get out. I have the power to ruin us without even thinking about it, and it pisses me off that I don’t know if I can handle it.” Anger pounded through his veins. “Sophie deserves more. She’s incredible, man, and being with her doesn’t feel like I’m boxed in. It feels good and right. She centers me, Carson. I don’t ever feel like I want to walk away from her. I hate being apart for work, which is fucked up, right? Obsessive or some shit?”
Carson smiled and shook his head. “Dude, you’ve got it bad. I never thought I’d see the day…”
“Fuck it. You know what? Sophie deserves me. If you guys can get over your shit, I can handle mine. I’m three times the man any of you are. And you know what else? We’ve got to rethink these morning runs, because dragging my ass out of her warm bed isn’t worth the workout. I’m outta here. Thanks, man.”
After the quickest shower of his life and with a handful of clothes in his backpack, Brett raced through the airport to the kiosk and picked up the ticket he’d purchased on the drive over. He hated crowded airports. If they weren’t down to the wire, he’d have taken the company jet, but right now all he wanted was to get to Sophie. He waited forever to get through security, which agitated the hell out of him. By the time he shoved his feet back into his shoes, he was ready to climb out of his skin.
He raced to the gate and came to a screeching halt when he spotted Sophie standing by the windows talking on her phone. Her hair was parted on the side, spilling over the shoulders of her army-green jacket. Her jeans had fashionable holes in the knees, and her white shirt was tucked in only at the center of her waist, giving her a casual-chic look. A big purse hung from the crook of her arm with the grace of a movie star, only Sophie was a million times more beautiful than any celebrity. His heart swelled, and he knew that no matter how hemmed in he might feel this weekend, it would never be enough to cause him to screw up the best and only thing he’d ever truly wanted.
