Page 71 of Mayhem

“Nah. She sleeps like the dead once she’s out,” he says, getting up with me and tucking the blanket around Charlie’s small frame. “Just keep the TV on low in case she wakes up, so she doesn’t forget where she is. She’s kind of used to traveling and waking up in weird places, so it’s cool.”

I’m not sure if I should be impressed at Charlie’s ability to sleep anywhere, but I think I am. I have trouble sleeping in strange hotels when I travel for work, and I’m not looking forward to the upcoming tour and the lack of sleep that will come from it. Actually, I haven’t thought much about the tour…or the sleeping arrangements…

“Does this mean I get the bed…? With you?” Brad asks, arching a sly brow and sliding a hand around my back.

“It does…” I smile, grabbing that hand and leading him down the hall to the bedroom.

Once inside, Brad closes the door, but then pulls it barely open so not even a sliver of light peeks through.

“We’ll have to be quiet, though,” he says, stepping up to me and resting his hands on my hips. Just his closeness is enough to turn me on. Never mind the muscles, the tattoos, the cologne, the hair, the face…the everything about the man in front of me. “Can you be quiet?”

I can’t help the shiver that lets loose.

“I can be quiet.”

“Oh yeah? What about when I do this?” He pulls on my hips and grinds into me, his erection pressing in just the right place to make me gasp. “Now, now. You said you’d be quiet.”

“Sorry,” I breathe, my skin coming alive under his touch as his hands run up my back, undoing my bra. His calloused fingers play expertly with my nipples. He trails hot kisses down my neck and along my collarbone and my breath inhales sharply again as electricity shoots through my core.

I can feel him smile against my shoulder, and can picture how deliciously wicked it is, and it revs me up more.

“What about you?” I whisper, dragging my tongue lightly along the hollow of his throat. “Can you be quiet?” I slide my hand between us and into the front of his jeans. His hard length twitches as I wrap my fingers around it firmly.

He lets out a low groan, pushing into my hand. My back arches instinctively at the sound, my body hungry for him.

“Careful…we need to be quiet, remember?” I tease, pumping him slowly. My own grin wicked.

I’ve never been intimate with someone when a child was just in the other room, and something about it makes it feel naughty, or off-limits. Like we’re about to do something really taboo, even though it’s totally not.

He quickly pulls my hand from his cock and walks me backward. The moonlight from the bedroom window silhouettes his lithe body as he lowers me gently to the bed, then slides in next to me.

This is where we shine. Giving each other pleasure. And every time we’re together like this is like a rediscovery of the other’s body. But at the same time, it’s instinctively familiar. Something about this feels different, though. This feels more important now. Sweeter and deeper somehow that I can’t explain.

His fingers running gently along my bare skin feels reverent, as if he’s worshipping my body. Goosebumps rise in his wake with every caress, every kiss.

And when he glides into me smoothly, my leg over his hip, we’re side by side, and eye to eye. Completely connected in every way. I’m almost overcome with emotion yet again because I can see every one of his.

His sorrow, his relief, his joy…his love. It’s all there on full display for me to bear witness to.

“I love you, Tess,” he whispers, and the awe in his voice nearly pushes me over the edge. I had no idea that true love would make this even better than before. Because before was pretty fucking great.

I can’t form words, and as we rock together slowly, both of us building to an ultimate climax of earth-shattering proportions, I kiss him. With every fiber of my being, I pour all of my love and passion into him. Eager to show him just how much I love him right back.

Each movement of our bodies is perfection, our skin slick with sweat from the heat and tension between us. And as we crescendo into pulsing ecstasy, we both break the kiss, gasping for air.

“Shhh,” he chuckles, burying his face into my pillow.

“Hush yourself,” I giggle softly, pulling him closer to me as he continues to thrust slowly, driving me crazy.

The fact that we can go from inferno-hot teasing, to emotionally loaded lovemaking, to now giggling about making too much noise is exactly what I love about this man. He’s not just one thing. He’s many. And I love all of them. All of him.

I absolutely love every single bit of him.

EPILOGUE

I ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU

BRAD – TWO MONTHS LATER

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