Page 26 of Verse Two
Everything about the week had been perfect, and I didn’t want to be rid of this feeling. I wasn’t trying to rush things with Brick and me, but I couldn’t lie. This had forever written all over it. He had me considering real changes in my life, and as scary as that should have been, I was getting more confident in my bold thoughts.
I had been on autopilot for so long, catering to Maria’s every desire, because it was my job and what I was used to, but . . . I was so much better than the work I was doing. When Brick and I did our vision board, my goal was to inspire him to stop giving his words away. I think I succeeded in that,butI also got inspired myself.
My board turned into more of a blueprint than a dream board, but what I came up with made me see the vision clearer than I had in years. Creating a plan, with Brixton in my ear uplifting and encouraging me,had me feeling like I didn’t need Maria anymore.
Brixton wasn’t the only one who wanted me to quit. My parents and Wilder had been begging me to leave Maria for the last two years. They always believed that I could start my own thing. Now, for the first time ever, I was beginning to wonder . . .
What if I just . . .did? What if, instead of choosing what was best for Maria Striten’s career, I chose what was best for mine? What if I chose myself for once?
Shuffling behind me snapped me from my thoughts.
“You look damn good this mornin’, Doll.”
I turned toward Brick’s voice. He was shirtless but wore a pair of army green joggers that slung low on his hips and gave me a glimpse of his boxers. If I looked good, he looked heavenly.He was holding a coffee cup, and once our eyes met, he started toward me with it.
My smile grew as he handed it to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. On our first day back to Jai, when he left me to spend time at my parents’ house, he ran errands that included buying a coffee machine—and everything needed to makemyperfect cup—from the store. Our first morning at his house, he watched me intently as I made my coffee. The next morning, he woke me up with my coffee already prepared, and he had done it again today. I was loving every moment of being spoiled by this man.
“Thanks,” I said softly.
He kissed my lips. “You’re welcome. I’m surprised you’re up this morning,” he said, making me laugh. I wasn’t a morning person at all, but his lack of blackout curtains and this luxury home he lived in made it impossible for me to stay in bed too long. I wasn’t really mad at it, though.
“Your penthouse is making me a morning person,” I said with a pout.
“Oh yeah?” he asked, but gave me no time to respond, because a second later, his lips were on mine again. The kiss was soft at first, but then he deepened it. I moaned into his mouth as his hand slid beneath the hoodie I wore, and time slowed after that. With his free hand, he removed the coffee cup from mine before backing toward the bed. Never releasing me, he set the mug on his nightstand and gripped my hips as he shifted our positions and lowered me onto his soft mattress.
“Damn, I can’t get enough of you, Doll,” he said, lifting his head briefly. I moaned in response as his lips found my neck. I couldn’t muster up a reply, and he didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. As his mouth explored the rest of my body, I basked in the pleasure with one thought on repeat in my mind:
If this is what choosing myself feels like, why did I wait so long?
A couple of hours later, I sat, fully dressed, at his kitchen bar. I was watching Brick wash the dishes we made after cooking breakfast. I couldn’t help but blush as I thought about how he insisted I sit my “pretty ass” right here while he tidied up.
I was doing just that, sipping my coffee while admiring Brick from behind as the muscles in his back flexed underneath the fitted T-shirt he wore.
The fact that we didn’tneedto talk in order to be comfortable in each other’s space also had me feeling giddy as hell. We vibed effortlessly, and the peaceful morning we were sharing was an experience I’d love more of.
I wanted to bottle this moment.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
My eyes rolled upward as I grabbed my phone because the ringing interrupted my reverie. When I checked the screen to see who was calling, though, I wanted to throw the phone across the room.
I am not in the mood for this.
Likely wondering why I hadn’t answered the phone yet, Brixton turned away from the sink and eyed me with a frown.
“What’s wrong? Who is it?” he asked, his eyes covering every inch of my countenance.
I sighed. “It’s Maria.”
I noticed his jaw tense before he asked, “You wanna talk to her?”
I laughed sarcastically.Wantto? Hell no, but I guess I should. I’d been kind of dodging her calls since the snowstorm.
Brick ran a hand over his head before crossing his arms. It was clear that he didn’t want me to answer the phone, and I knew it was because of all the things I had told him about my job and my boss.
Just like my parents and Wilder, Brick wanted better for me. Unfortunately, I still worked for Maria. Until I mustered up the courage to quit, this was my reality.
Sliding off the barstool, I answered the call. Before I could say “hello” Maria was already on my ass.
