Page 21 of Brodie

“Jesus Christ, Ree.” Snapping out of my runaway thoughts, Ilift my gaze to his, and the world feels like it shifts under my feet when Isee the look in his eyes. “You look…” He takes a step toward me, and I hold myground. “You look beautiful.” His eyes wander slowly down my dress to my heels.“I didn’t think you could look any more beautiful than you do every single day,but you proved me wrong.” Oh, God. My heart is going to pound out of my chest.Either that, or I’m going to faint. “That dress.” I swear I hear him growl orgroan and see his hands fist at his sides. “It’s perfect. You look perfect.”

“Thank you,” I finally get out, and his heated gaze meetsmine.

Kiss me. The thought slams into my head so hard itcatches me off guard. But I want it. I want him to kiss me. Like he knowsexactly what I’m thinking, he takes another step toward me and wraps his largepalm around my hip. His other hand goes to the side of my throat, then with histhumb on my chin, his lips lower to my…cheek. My eyes slide closed indisappointment. When I open them, his face is an inch from mine.

“Are you ready?”

So close. He’s so close I could kiss him if I werebrave enough to just press my mouth to his. Am I? Could I do it? Should I? Ilike him a lot, and I like the easy connection we have. I like being hisfriend. But some part of me wants more. I don’t know when I decided that, butit’s true. I want more from him.

“Ree.” His thumb runs along my jaw, and I drop my gaze tohis mouth. “Fuck,” he groans. I don’t know where I find the courage, but I liftonto my toes and press my mouth to his.

Just like that, something breaks between us, and whatever hehad been using to hold himself back snaps. He doesn’t kiss me back; hecompletely takes over the kiss, holding my jaw, tilting my head, and touchinghis tongue to my bottom lip. I open for him instinctively and follow his lead.My heart pounds, my skin feels tight, and every part of me presses closer tohim, wanting more. I’ve never experienced this kind of moment, and I feelgreedy. Greedy and desperate for more. If my dress weren’t so tight, I wouldattempt to climb him, try to wrap my legs around his waist to get closer to thehard length of him pressing into my belly. When he nips my bottom lip and palmsmy ass, I whimper in need.

“Christ.” He licks into my mouth, then his lips and teethjoin in, and his tongue works its way down my throat.

“Oh, God.” My head falls back when he nips the top of mybreast.

“Fuck, Ree.”

“Please, touch me,” I beg, and he groans as my nails diginto his scalp.

“I will, but not now.” He kisses me again, deep and wet,before slowing the kiss and pulling away, breathing heavily. “The car iswaiting for us downstairs.” He presses one more kiss to my lips, and my lashesflutter open. Damn… Right. I forgot we were supposed to be leaving, not makingout in my hotel room.

“I fucking love that you look disappointed.” He smiles,running his thumb under my bottom lip. “And I fucking hate that we have toleave.” He swipes his thumb under my bottom lip once more. “Are you ready?”

“I just…” I lick my lips, which now taste like him and mint.“I just need to check and make sure my makeup is okay.”

“You look perfect, but I’ll wait.” He seems reluctant to letme go but does it anyway. While he waits, I walk into the bathroom and makesure my lipstick is still in place. By some miracle it is, which is a testamentto the quality, and probably why it costs sixty dollars. I do, however, have tofix my hair. So, I do that and then walk back into the room, picking up my bagfrom the bed to finish putting my stuff inside. When I’m done, I meet him atthe door, and he takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine. He doesn’tlet it go until he has to so we can both get into the car waiting for us.

Chapter 11

Brodie

I’ve been around beautiful women my entire career. I’vefucked them, had them use me, and used them, too. I’ve fallen in love withthem, and was loved back more than once, but I’ve never felt prouder than I dowhen I take Reese’s hand and help her out of the car. It’s not because shelooks absolutely stunning—although, she does—it’s just her. Her brain, herability to make me laugh, and how fucking happy I am just being in herpresence. As soon as she’s got both feet on the pavement, and before we even reachthe red carpet leading into the hotel, cameras begin going off, startling her.Wrapping my arm around her waist, I smile and wave when my name is called, butI don’t stop to talk to the press.

“I think you forgot to tell me about the camera thing,” shewhispers, leaning into me when we get inside. I look down at her.

“Sorry. I should have thought about it. I’m just so used toit.”

“It’s okay, I was just caught off guard.” She takes her eyesoff mine and looks around, then her eyes widen. “Is that the famous basketballplayer who is in all those Papa John’s pizza commercials?”

“Probably.” I don’t bother taking my eyes off her to lookover and confirm. “There are lots of players from all different sports heretonight.” She looks up at me. “This event helps raise money for youth sports inbig cities that don’t get the funding they need for gear and travel expenses.”

“That’s cool.”

“Do you want to walk around and see what’s up for auction?”

“Sure.” She takes my hand, and the two of us walk into theballroom, where tables are lined up with different items up for grabs, fromsports memorabilia to an entire island available for a week, including a chefand staff. As she looks at a pair of earrings, I turn my head when I feel eyeson us, and frown at the guy standing a few feet away staring at Reese in afamiliar way that sets my teeth on edge. He’s tall with broad shoulders andlooks familiar, but I can’t place him. Resting my hand on Ree’s lower back, Iwatch his eyes travel from my hand up to my arm. When his gaze meets mine, helooks shocked.

What the fuck is that about?

“Ree.”

“Yeah?” She tips her head back, and I bend my neck towhisper in her ear.

“Do you know that guy?”

She pulls back to look me in the eye, then, with her browstogether, glances around. I feel her muscles under my palm bunch when her eyesland on the guy still staring.

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