Page 47 of Fighting for Brielle
After commenting on the succulent meat, Brielle continued, “I’ve got great news, Justice. You and I are attending Vivian Gage’s birthday party next Saturday on the yacht.”
His face brightened. “Perfect. I knew you could do it.”
“Well, actually it was their daughter Shawna’s idea, but Vivian approved and added me plus one to the guest list.”
Justice swallowed a bite of salad. “Plus one, huh? Get that life preserver ready, Bri. The mayor already gave me hell about last night.”
She warmed to his use of a nickname for her. It was her mother’s too. “I told you I’d save you,” she reminded him in a teasing tone of voice. “There’s more, though.”
While they ate, Brielle shared her research on the principal players in their mystery. Impressed by her thoroughness, Justice fired questions at her, and they discussed possible theories based on their new information. A terrifying picture formed of what might be happening, but they lacked proof.
“And you couldn’t get any information from your brother?” Justice inquired as their discussion drew to a close.
“No. Closemouthed as ever.” Brielle cleared the table and cut slices of the delectable cheesecake.
Justice closed his eyes as he savored the first bite. “Mmm. This is really good.”
He looked so damn sexy as he licked his lips just then that Brielle felt her stomach tighten with desire. God, she wanted him so much!
“I love your house,” she commented randomly to get her mind off sex. “It’s a lot of room for just one person, though, since you don’t have a large fam…”
Brielle clapped a hand over her mouth as color shot into Justice’s face. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
He waved his hand. “Don’t apologize. My dad made the same remark.” His eyes bored into hers. “The truth is, I rented the house because of you.”
She frowned in confusion. “What? I don’t understand.”
“I saw you running on the beach as Mrs. Bosco, the realtor, was showing us the house. When I realized you lived a few hundred yards down from it, I snatched at renting the place,” Justice confessed.
She smiled. “I see.”
His eyes grew deep and unfathomable like the ocean. He cleared his throat. “I’m ready to settle down,” he began in a soft voice. “I want a real home and a family. I had a great career in the Navy, and now I have a second one in law enforcement, and I’m tired of being alone. I want to share my life with someone. Someone who shares my values. Someone who’s loving, kind, compassionate, funny, and smart.” Justice continued to hold her gaze. “But more importantly, someone who’s strong and independent. Not afraid to speak her mind or set me straight when I need it. Someone who loves kids. Last night reminded me that I’m pretty good with them. Rosie Dewitt likes me and trusts me. So, I…” his voice trailed away.
While he’d been speaking, Brielle’s heart melted, drawn into the future he described. She’d never heard sweeter words. “Go on,” she encouraged him.
“Well, I… I think I want to adopt her,” Justice blurted. “And I guess… I need to know if…if that’s okay with you. And if you’re in this with me for the long haul. I mean, I’m all in with you. And I just wonder if…if you think I’m a man worth having…worth loving…”
At the stunned expression on her face, he broke off and groaned. “Oh, God! I just blew it, didn’t I? I blew it! I spoke too soon about what I want, and I’ve scared you off. Oh, man, I’m such an idiot.”
Brielle’s mind whirled, making coherent thought impossible. Her heart slammed into her chest as pure longing curled in her stomach. She rose to her feet on shaky legs and planted herself in his lap. He sat stiffly, probably unsure of what she planned to do, like slap him silly, for instance. She cupped his scruffy face and molded her mouth against his in a gentle kiss. It lasted mere moments before she rained butterfly kisses on his cheeks, his nose, and his forehead. She encircled his ear with her delicate tongue and blew her breath into it. She took his mouth again, then began to travel a path down his neck, nipping and lightly sucking. Brielle inhaled deeply of his scent?a combination of earthy spices.
Wanting to feel his warm skin beneath her fingers, she pulled his T-shirt over his head and ran her hands up and down his bare chest devoid of any tattoos. Her mouth followed her hands. When her tongue flicked across his nipples, Justice drew in a sharp breath, and she felt his full arousal beneath her.
“Bri,” he muttered. “What?what are you doing?”
Her hand dipped lower and rested on the waistband of his jeans for a moment. He sucked in his gut as she unfastened his Levi’s and slipped her hand inside to caress him. His breath came hard and fast.
“What does itfeellike I’m doing?” Brielle countered.
Justice gritted his teeth as she continued to stroke him and press kisses against his chest. “Um, uh, it feels like you’re making love to me.” He groaned. “Ahh…God, Brielle!”
She captured his mouth with hers, and when his lips parted in an open invitation, she slid her tongue inside and swirled it around his in an erotic dance. He grew rock hard under her ministrations. Brielle took his hands and placed them on her rib cage just below her breasts. Though he kissed her deeply and hungrily, his hands remained still instead of roaming over her body as she desired.
Lifting her head, she murmured, “Yes, I’m making love to you.” She paused. “I love the fact that you’re an old-fashioned gentleman, but I swear to God, Justice, if you don’t touchme, the woman who may bear your children someday, I will leave.”
His eyes widened a moment before her threat galvanized him into action. His hands slipped beneath her blouse and teased her nipples, already hard and throbbing and pressing against the flimsy material of her bra.
And then he took control of their lovemaking. He rose to his feet with her in his arms and started to move quickly toward the stairs.
