3. Brady

3

Brady

A s I consider Melanie's predicament and the reason she too is staying at our friends' place, I can't help but chuckle. Here I thought we didn't have anything in common, and it turns out we do. We both have noisy roommates and we both love cod—when it's cooked.

The delicious smells of the food in the brown paper bag in the back seat make my stomach grumble as I pull up in front of my buddy's giant estate and kill the ignition. I shake my head and grin as I look up at the living room window. Who would have thought I'd be sharing a late-night meal with a woman who always shoots me down, but says she doesn't hate me. I get it, though. She's working hard to get her master's degree and why would she want to get messed up with a guy like me? Nothing good can come from that.

That thought brings a pang to my stomach, and as it curls into a tight, near-debilitating knot, I swallow against the bile punching into my throat. Working to settle my stomach, I jump from the front seat and grab the bag of food from the back seat. I hit the fob, and when I'm able to get control of that unwanted rush of emotions, I start toward the front door.

I make it only one step when my phone pings and I stop to pull it from my pocket, somehow hoping it's Melanie, but knowing that's impossible. We haven't exchanged numbers. Although, maybe Brighton gave her mine when she called. Then another thought hits. What if she's messaging to say she's changed her mind?

Why does the idea of that bug me so much? I can have my pick of any girl I want, and I'm not trying to sound like an asshole here. It's just that lately all that partying, with girls who only want me for a good time, has lost its appeal.

I check my phone to see that it's my mother, and my heart thumps. I won't take her call now. She'll be half asleep from her meds, and it's hard to understand her when she's slurring, especially when she swallows them down with alcohol. Besides, I already made a big deposit into her account earlier today. She'll find it in the morning when she's clear headed. Although, I'm not so sure she's ever clear headed anymore.

I tuck my phone away and start toward the house again, only to come to a resounding halt when I'm suddenly hit with an epiphany. Melanie thinks I'm a player—a fucking joker. Why wouldn't she? After my father died and I'd become ‘the man of the house' I was told to stop acting like a whiny eight-year-old. I never thought I was whiny, or overly emotional. Christ, I was close to my dad and his death nearly destroyed me. But no tears were allowed to be shed in my mother's household.

Maybe if Melanie knew who I really was, things would be different. If I was myself with her, maybe she'd like that guy. My chest deflates. Or maybe she wouldn't. But what the hell do I have to lose? Honestly, I've been hiding my emotions for so long, I'm not even sure I know how to be real in the face of others.

I use my key and let myself into the massive estate, and I glance up the big staircase and take a couple of deep breaths before I dart up the stairs. I force one foot in front of the other, and find the door to Melanie's side of the house cracked open. Didn't I close that when I left? Now I really am worried about an intruder. I push it open and hope to find a serious Melanie on the sofa studying—or simply waiting for me—but the room is empty. A measure of panic hits.

Maybe she just went to bed.

I head to the kitchen and drop the food on the counter, then tiptoe down the hall to find the most gorgeous woman I've ever set eyes on laid out on the bed in the spare room. Jesus. She's no longer dressed in her frayed shorts and T-shirt, which I happened to find real, and sexy and perfect on her. Now she's dressed in some sexy number, and while I like it—damn, who am I kidding, I kind of love it—it's not what drew me to her in the first place.

"Hey." I swallow. What the hell is going on? She can't be dressed like this for me, right? She sits up, and smooths her hand over her stomach, and I take in the way the lacy lingerie hugs her breasts. Because I'm a damn idiot and completely off my game, I ask, "Were you expecting company? I thought we were eating?"

"I'm hungry, Brady." I nod and I'm about to let her know that I came back with food like we discussed, but she crooks her finger. "But not for food."

Sweet mother of God and all that is holy.

What the fuck is happening right now? I hesitate for the briefest of seconds and something moves over her face, something that looks a lot like worry—that I might not find her desirable. Christ, I always took her for a self-assured, confident woman, but hey, maybe that's just what she puts out there. I, for one, personally know we're not always who we appear to be.

She makes a move to get up, and I reach over my head, grip my T-shirt and tear it off. A little gasp catches in her throat, and while my cock is reacting, there's a part of me that sort of hoped she might have seen me as something other than a boy toy, but that's ridiculous. It's all I ever put out there, all I ever allow people to see. Why should she be any different? And why did I think for one second anyone ever wanted anyone but the guy who could give them a bucking good time, a long running joke describing the men on the Bucks team.

"This what you want?" I ask, the air around us charging, growing hot and volatile, and as blood leaves my brain, I no longer wonder about her sudden change of heart. Hell, maybe she had a discussion with Brighton. I know my buddy Noah hasn't been discouraging my attraction to his friend. In fact, he told me when I wasn't looking, Melanie was.

"Get over here, Coddy."

I grin and take a deliberate, measured step toward her. Working to forget my darker thoughts and give her the playful man she's looking for, I jokingly say, "I'm coming, Lanie ."

She cocks her brows. "No one has ever shortened my name quite like that before."

"Yeah, that's a first?" I like having firsts with her.

She pushes the blankets down and my cock thickens even more when I see long silky legs that lead up to black lace panties that light a fire to my already wild imagination.

"Yes, and I have to say, I like it." I pop the button on my jeans and close the distance between us. My dick jumps and pokes out of the top of my boxers.

"Something else you like, Lanie?" I tease.

"I'll have to see more before I can decide, Coddy."

I grin and tug my pants down, exposing myself to her. Her lips part, a pink flush flashing across her cheeks as I take my dick into my hand, rubbing it from base to crown as it thickens even more. "How about now?" I ask and her gaze lifts, locks with mine.

"Yes…"

"I already know I like what I see." I let my gaze travel from the tips of her toes, up her silky legs, over her flat stomach to her gorgeous full breasts. "But that doesn't mean I don't want to see more."

Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and while it's easy to tell she's excited and wants this, I sense a bit of apprehension. What changed in her since I was gone? I'm not sure, but now is probably not the time to ask. Now is the time to give her what she wants. I press my knee into the bed and climb on, staying up on both knees as I slowly inch toward her, and position myself between her legs, after inching them open.

I want to ask if she's okay, if it's been a while, but she doesn't want any kind of serious conversation from me right now, so instead I run my hands up her legs, and gauge her reaction as I come close to her barely covered pussy. "You need this?" I ask instead. She nods, and I slide a finger between her thighs. "Why don't you open up these gorgeous legs and show me much how much you want my cock."

Her eyes go wide, and I sense that no one has ever talked to her quite like that before. But I also sense that she likes it. She slowly inches her legs open and I wet my lips, dying for a taste of her as I turn all my focus to pleasing her.

I touch the lace material on her panties and slowly tug on the band, exposing only the top of her sex. I take in her pretty pink clit, swollen and needy, begging to be touched. I zero in on it, and bend forward, letting my warm breath fall over her beautiful nub when I say, "I really like what I see."

"Brady…" I slide my tongue over her clit, and she moans as her hips lift. "God, Brady."

I kiss her and tug her panties down a bit more, exposing more of her lush body. Her hands slide through my hair and she holds me to her, and I bite back a chuckle. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's been a while for her.

I inch back, and she whimpers at the loss of my mouth as I slide her panties down and toss them away. But that whimper turns to a moan as I flatten myself on the bed, slide my hands under her backside, and lift her sex to my hungry mouth.

She gasps. "Oh yes. Just like that."

I kiss her gorgeous pussy deeply, loving the flavor of her on my tongue. Jesus, I don't think I've ever tasted anything so sweet or addictive. Yeah, I'm going to want more of this. My cock thickens, and I need to get these fucking pants down before I rupture my throbbing cock. I just don't want to take my mouth off of her to do it.

I slide my tongue over her, and her juices wet my mouth as I eat at her like a man starved. She moves her hips, and her sexy little moans of pleasure reverberate through my body. I lift my head to see her, taking in the heat in her eyes as she watches. I slide a thick finger inside her and her mouth opens. "I never knew how hungry I was until this moment."

"No?" God, I love how breathless she sounds.

"No, and I'm going to eat and eat until I've had my fill." She nods, clearly liking that idea. I bury my face between her legs again, a man on a mission to quench his thirst, and his appetite. I explore her with my finger, wanting to discover all her likes. I slide it in and out as I circle her clit with my tongue, and when her moans grow louder, I crook my finger to press the rough pad of my finger against the hot bundle of nerves inside. Her body tightens around me and I take a deep breath to center myself as my cock throbs, wanting in on the action.

I fuck her with my finger and slide another in for a snug fit, and she trembles around me as she quietly chants my name. I pull out and slide back in and glance up to see her rolling her head from side to side, her hair a tangled mess beneath her. I fucking love watching her come undone beneath my ministrations.

Lost in pleasure, she moans something incomprehensible, and with the soft blade of my tongue, I apply more pressure, taking her to the edge of ecstasy. She tugs at my hair, giving in to the pleasure pulling at her, and as she lets go, her hot cum spills from her body and coats my fingers and mouth. I lap at her, drinking in every last drop, but it's going to take more than one night with her to quench my thirst, and that sort of frightens me.

I lightly pet her, and blow a breath over her quivering clit, and her entire body quakes. I stay between her legs, wanting to fall asleep with my mouth on her, my fingers inside, but my cock has other ideas. So does Lanie, judging by the way she's tugging at me. I lift my head and grin at her.

"Something else you need to see?" I ask, and swipe my tongue over my lips to taste her again.

She crooks her finger, and I'm about to climb up her body when she stops me. "Up on your knees."

I momentarily hesitate. If it wasn't for the lust in her eyes, I'd think she was tossing me out after her orgasm. I do as she says, and my cock twitches, my crown spurting pre-cum as it peeks out of my boxers. I arch a questioning brow as she gives me a mischievous grin.

"I think I might want to kiss the cod," she says, a hint of laughter in her eyes.

My head rears back. "What? Seriously? Right now?"

She chuckles, tugs on my pants until my cock springs free, and wraps her small fingers around the length of me. I run a shaky hand through my hair. "Jesus."

Her warm breath washes over my crown and pre-cum drips from my slit as she leans in and wraps her full lips around my cock. "Mmm…" she murmurs around a mouthful.

"Fuck me."

She tilts her head, and lust, need and playfulness dance in her eyes as they meet mine. My cock slips from her mouth and she murmurs. "That sounds like a good idea. But I'm not quite done kissing the cod." Her hot breath fires my blood and she turns her attention to my cock as it throbs in her hand. She stares at me, like she's committing my dick to memory. I'm about to tell her she doesn't have to sketch anything with her mind. Fuck, she can put her mouth on me anytime she likes. My words fall off as she stretches her lips around me again, taking me to the back of her throat.

I grip her long dark hair and wrap it around my hands as she takes me deep, and since it's actually been a while for me too, I bite down on my cheek to tamp down the urgency in my body. Her hands follow the action of her wet mouth, and I shake, pleasure gripping hard, too hard. I need to be inside her. Need to feel her hot body wrapped around my dick.

I gently tug on her hair. "Fuck. Now."

My dick stands at attention as she takes her mouth off my cock, and I give a little push until she's flat on her back, her legs wide open, her body mine for the taking. I jump from the bed, my eyes still on her sexy body, her nipples specifically as they poke through the lace material, and tear my pants and boxers from my body in record time. So much for tamping down my urgency.

She writhes and lifts her hips, welcoming me into her body and seconds before I climb over her, I remember I need a condom. I might not be having a lot of sex lately, but I'm always prepared. I pick my pants back up and her eyes drop, the lust in her eyes clearing as she turns her head and stares off into the distance. What, did the sight of the foil package momentarily bring her back to reality and remind her that I'm simply a fuck toy? But that's all she wants, right? Hell, it's what I want, too.

Don't forget that you can't be anything more to her, dude.

At that painful reminder, I rip into the foil and lust returns to her eyes as I sheathe myself and climb back onto the bed. I fall over her and tug down on her lacy top to expose her perfect pink nipples. Hard and pert and waiting for my mouth. I admire her for a moment the same way she admired my cock and wet my lips before murmuring, "So pretty."

Her arms snake around my body, and her fingers explore my back as I lick on a bud and pull it into my mouth to savor the sweet taste and texture. So fucking good. She arches into my mouth as I move my body, settling my dick between her legs. I rock against her, rubbing up against her wet heat.

"Brady, please," she whimpers, and I tear my mouth from her breast and press them to her mouth for a ferocious kiss as I shift until my cock is at her opening. Our eyes meet and lock and I soften the kiss, our lips barely touching as I move my hips and slide all the way inside her. Our groans mingle, and despite the need hitting like a runaway puck, I go still, basking in the way her muscles tighten around my dick. I slide my arms under her, holding her tight as I sink into her body, wanting to curl up in it and live there forever. But she has other plans. She begins to move, bucking against me, and I go up on my elbows so I can piston into her.

I pull out and slide back in, and a garbled noise catches in my throat as I briefly close my eyes as intense pleasure builds inside me. "Jesus, you are so hot and tight."

"More. Harder."

I grip the back of her shoulders, and give her what she wants, despite the fact that I'm so fucking close to the edge. I pound into her body, hammer her with my cock, my brain completely shutting down, nothing mattering but this woman and the pleasure I want to give her.

"Brady, God…Brady."

"I know," I breathe out, and capture her mouth with mine again, swallowing her cries of pleasure so they can live inside me. We move together, each giving and taking until her sweet pussy tightens around my cock, and the second her hot juices sear me, I throw my head back and let go, pumping seed into the condom, and oddly enough, wishing we didn't have the barrier.

I stay inside her as I flop down on top of her body, shifting so I don't crush her with my weight. She runs her fingers lightly over my back, and it tickles but I like it. After a long moment she breaks the quiet.

"I really needed that." I lift my head and she smiles at me. "Thank you."

I laugh. "I don't think anyone has ever thanked me for sex before."

Surprise lights her face. "Really, never? I mean, you've been with…"

Her words fall off and that familiar troubled look is back.

"No, never, and I should be the one thanking you," I say, working to keep things light.

"Now that's a first for me, too."

I don't ask her how many men she's been with, but I'm so curious about her. She said she doesn't date, but has she ever been in a serious relationship? If so, how long ago and is that the reason she doesn't date anymore? But those are questions for people trying to get to know each other and that's not really what's happening here. I might have thought about letting her see the real me earlier, but that would have been a mistake. I must have been concussing our something. When it comes right down to it, I can't offer her anything. I can't commit. Jesus, I have enough responsibility on my shoulders as it is; it's weighing on me so heavily, it's a surprise I can breathe sometimes.

Yeah, I just can't take on anymore, because fuck, what if she needed me and I couldn't be there? What if I failed her, like I failed others? My mind goes back to the accident I had at sixteen, and I push it back fast. Now is not the time to let painful thoughts rise to the surface. Now is the time to flee from the bed like I always do.

Okay, so why the hell aren't I moving?