Page 28 of Finding Silence
“Thank you.”
Brant darts a glance my way and the tiniest of smiles pulls at his mouth.
“For what?” He wants to know.
“The distraction, looking out for me, taking me shopping, take your pick. But most of all, Diesel,” I add.
“I should be thanking you,” he counters. “Buck was geared up to dump that oversized bag of bones on my doorstep, so you’re doing me a favor.”
“Don’t be calling him a bag of bones,” I scold him playfully. “I’ll have that beautiful boy fattened up in no time.”
That earns me a full smile, teeth and all, and my stomach does a little flip at the sheer beauty of it. I was never one for pink hearts and butterflies—my ballads were always of the heartbreak variety—but I swear this man has me indulge in flights of fancy with the two of us in leading roles.
I suddenly find myself wanting to know his motivations for spending time with me, before I start believing in those fantasies.
“Why are you doing all this?” I gesture between him and me. “Is it because you feel somehow responsible for me? Did Savvy ask you to keep an eye out?”
He pulls up an eyebrow but doesn’t turn to look at me.
“You were there when I kissed you yesterday, yeah?” His voice is deceptively soft but there is no denying the tension simmering in his words. “Because I don’t need even a single full hand to count the women I’ve kissed since Marie died, but more importantly, neither of them had me show up on their doorstep the next day, craving another taste.”
Then with a quick flash of his eyes on me, he adds, “Does that answer your question?”
Yes. Yes, it does.
His right hand is resting on the gearshift and I slide my left one underneath, so we’re palm to palm. as I slip my fingers between his. Then I keep my eyes peeled for a rest stop or a turnoff.
“Do me a favor,” I ask him when I see the sign for a place called Bear Lake Regional Park. “Could you pull off there?”
“The park is closed,” he points out, referring to the orange banner at the bottom of the sign stating as much.
“I know, even better.”
I keep my eyes on the road and my face straight, but I sense the scrutiny of his stare. It’s not until I feel the truck slow down and he turns us onto the park road, I let my smile out.
“Parking lot over there.”
He’s clearly seen it, and pulls into the farthest spot from the road, tucked under the trees. No one is here, but even if someone should drive up, we’re fairly hidden from sight back here. The moment he turns off the engine, I flip up the center console so I have room to climb on his lap.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” I fire back, smiling as I settle myself right over where I can feel his cock hardening.
Taking off his hat, I fling it to the passenger side, and run my fingers through his short hair. One of his hands has already found purchase on my ass, while the other curls around my neck.
“Didn’t you say you were craving my taste?” I taunt him.
His response is a growl before he pulls me down to his mouth.
The kiss is hungry and feral, teeth clanging and lips bruising, but I love every second of it. It’s a powerful feeling, knowing I have the ability to make a man like Brant lose control. I had a hunch we’d be explosive together, but I didn’t expect this almost desperate passion.
He doesn’t hold back, rocking his hips to grind his erection unapologetically up against my core, his fingers digging into my flesh while his mouth plunders.
We are so lost in each other; it takes a moment to register the sharp rap on the passenger side window. I don’t get a chance to look because Brant’s large hand presses my head down into his shoulder.
“Fuck,” he mumbles by my ear.
It’s the first time I’ve heard him utter an actual profanity and, despite the circumstances, it puts a smile on my lips. I think I may have cracked his hard shell beyond repair…and wouldn’t that be something?
