Page 60 of Fighting for Brielle
“Come here, Nancy Drew.”
Justice tugged her into his arms. He reached behind her and unzipped her dress. Her body melded into his.
He molded his mouth to hers, his tongue sliding between her parted lips. The simple contact of their tongues seeking and exploring exploded into fiery passion. Brielle’s fingers frantically finished unbuttoning his black dress shirt. He’d been amused watching her amber eyes slide over his almost bare chest while they’d been talking. And as far as he was concerned, her cleavage had enticed him all evening.
Their clothing landed on the floor as they fell as one upon the multi-sectional sofa. Arms and legs entwined, Justice eased into Brielle, groaning his pleasure as her wet warmth enveloped him. They moved rhythmically together, in sync, in harmony, in tune with their bodies. Making love, making music, what was the difference?
Sated, their desire spent, they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, unmoving, until they fell asleep.
After Sunday morning breakfast on Brielle’s deck, they headed to the Main Street Gym for a final training session.
Facing each other in the ring, Justice began, “You’ve got this, Bri. You’re in superb physical shape, and you’ve got the heart of a warrior.” He touched her chest and felt her heart pounding beneath his palm. “Now all we have to do is get your mind in sync with your body and heart.”
“Meaning?” she questioned in a soft voice.
“Take me down.”
Unlike their other sessions Justice didn’t coach her. He attacked her with the ferocity of a deranged, desperate criminal, determined that she use the skills he taught her to stop him.
Justice watched her center herself as she parried each one of his strikes. He wanted to give her verbal encouragement, tell her exactly how to gain the advantage, but he kept quiet. And then she executed a move that took him by surprise. She dropped her left shoulder instead of her right one, spun around behind him, grabbed his waist, and swept his legs from under him. His forward momentum took them both down, but Brielle quickly leapt up again. She bounced up and down on the balls of her feet, breathing heavily from physical exertion and excitement over her victory.
Justice flipped over onto his back and gazed up at her, a silly grin on his face. And then he burst into hearty laughter. “You did it!” he gasped, rising to his feet. “You did it! I knew it! I knew you could do it!”
He picked her up, spun her around, and kissed her soundly. Laughing, she wrapped her legs around him and hugged him.
“Oh, my God, Justice! You were right! I just needed to get my head in the game.”
“Come on, Tiger Eyes. Let’s get something to eat. I’ve worked up an appetite.”
They went to Vinny’s again, who was thrilled to see them.
“You two look really happy,” Vinny commented.
Justice met Brielle’s eyes aglow with a mysterious light and felt his heart thump against his chest. He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. “We are.”
A huge smile crossed his face. “Well, that makes me happy for you. How about pulled pork today? I smoked it for hours.”
“Sounds great,” Justice replied, still caressing Brielle’s hand. His eyes never left hers. She held him spellbound. Trapped in a golden net.
When they returned home, they strolled leisurely on the beach, holding hands. As they spoke quietly, Justice expressed his concern for Rosie. Brielle urged him to call Cynthia to check on her.
“She’s struggling,” Cynthia told him. “But she’s a fighter. She’ll make it through this.”
“Has she asked about me?” Justice wondered.
“No. I’m sorry, Justice. Give her time. Be patient.”
Justice shook his head as he pressed the END button on his cell phone. “I don’t think Rosie is ever going to forgive or forget my part in killing her brother.” His heart ached.
Brielle wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his chest. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “Don’t despair, Justice. I know in my heart Rosie will forgive you.”
“I honestly don’t know how I got so lucky to have you in my life, Bri,” he replied, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I?I’m in awe of you.”
She offered her mouth for a sweet kiss. Without a word they turned toward her house where they spent the remainder of the day in bed.
The following morning Justice urged Brielle to sleep as long as possible and offered last-minute advice.
“Don’t give yourself away too soon, Bri. You know all their moves, and they think they know yours. Let them. You’ll know when the moment is right to turn the tables on them.”
