Page 27

LINDA

S tretching out on the bed, Linda felt pampered as Brutus picked up the bottle of massage oil, uncapping it and inhaling the scent. "This'll do."

"You know what you're doing?" she asked him.

Brutus smiled.

"Really?"

"I've been getting sports massages since I was thirteen years old," Brutus said, "and the team has two therapists on staff in addition to beds and massage chairs. But this isn't one of those. I promise."

She nodded, laying her head back on the pillow as Brutus climbed onto the bed. He was stripped to the waist, wearing just his boxers as he picked up her foot and started his massage.

His touch was electric, yet soothing at the same time. Feeling his thumbs work on the arch of her foot, she sighed in pleasure, tension she didn't even know she had pouring out of her as he worked her foot.

"I like that smile," Brutus said softly as his hand moved up to her calf. His fingers kneaded, not hard enough to cause pain but enough to slowly lengthen her muscle and leave her leg feeling soft and supple.

"You make me smile a lot," Linda admitted as he switched feet, working his way up to her other knee.

Only then did he start on her thighs, using the heels of his palms to work the oil into her skin.

She could feel her own arousal growing as he reached her hips, the desire evident in his eyes and the bulge in his boxers.

Yet, he remained patient, respecting her boundaries even as her body responded to his touch.

The warmth of his hands against her skin sent waves of anticipation through her, and she found herself yearning for more.

"It's amazing," Brutus said softly as he lifted his hands from her hips to instead lift her left arm up, "how strong you are. I can feel the muscle and strength underneath my touch, but it doesn't show on your figure when you're moving."

"Except for my backside," Linda said softly, smiling. "I definitely suffer from the disease of no-ass-at-all."

Brutus huffed in good humor, running his hands in a tube up and down her biceps and triceps, working on them before focusing on her forearms.

"Not from what I've seen. I like the curves of your backside."

Brutus continued his massage, each stroke of his hands soothing her body while at the same time adding to the heat building inside her. Brutus knew it too, ignoring her sensitive areas for everything else until finally the fingers of his hands found her chest.

"Yesssss," Linda hissed, her back arching as he stroked her skin.

He wasn't even touching her nipple, just running his fingers over the softer skin of her breast while working her chest muscles.

"Shhh," Brutus whispered, his eyes fixed on hers. "Linda, I'm not... ohhhh."

She smiled, looking up at him as he felt her hand wrapped around his shaft. She stroked him slowly, their hands working together as Brutus massaged her chest. He was especially tender around her bruise, a reminder of their recent ordeal, but his touch brought her a comforting sense of peace.

His fingers closed around her stiff nipple and she gasped, her hand stroking him faster as he tugged on her nipples until she squirmed. When he let go she pulled him up higher until his hardness was even with her mouth and she turned on her side, taking him between her lips.

Brutus groaned, his hand guiding her head gently as she pleased him. It had taken a while for her to get used to his size, but the tenderness in his responses made learning to pleasure her boyfriend an eagerly embraced journey.

His taste was surprisingly sweet and tangy on her tongue. She didn't know what it was about his diet, maybe just that so much of it was healthy, organic foods, maybe it was that he balanced his vitamins perfectly, or maybe it was just him.

"Mmmm, that's it baby," he growled lightly, reaching down with a free hand to the juncture between her thighs.

She was already ready for him, and as he slid two fingers inside her, he groaned in desire.

"God you're so wet and ready."

Linda pulled back, nodding. "I've wanted you since we first shared that quiet moment in the bath after everything that happened."

Brutus smiled and pulled back, lifting Linda's leg and getting between her thighs. As soon as she nodded he joined their bodies, the two of them gasping as they connected.

"So full," Linda purred, reaching up and stroking the back of his neck as he pushed further into him. "So good."

"You're the best." Brutus pulled back and moved forward again.

As they moved together, the world around them seemed to fade, their connection deepening with each shared breath. The cabin filled with the sounds of their passion, the wooden bed frame creaking softly beneath them.

They'd made love so many times, Linda couldn't believe it. She hadn't had a lot of lovers in her time, and none for more than two or three occasions.

But she was never, ever tired of Brutus. The power of his movements, the intensity in his eyes, the strength and assurance he had as he brought her body to the quivering edge of release was good each and every time.

"Yes yes yes," Linda gasped, clutching him tightly with her hands as he sped up.

The bed rocked against the wall of the cabin and she locked her legs around his body, her entire being consumed by the sensations coursing through her. Her spine coursed like a raging river of joy, her body washed away in the tidal wave that was Brutus's passion.

"Linda!" Brutus called out, his body tensing.

She cried out, her climax cresting as he found his release inside her, their shared pleasure making the moment all the sweeter.

She had her man. She had joy.

She had all she needed.

Afterwards, they lay side by side, Brutus cradling her in his arms. He never crushed her underneath his weight, never hurt her.

Instead his strength was all for her, for making her feel safe and secure.

Sweat glistened on Linda's chest as she lay in the moonlight that poured through the filmy curtain, her chest still shaking with the aftershocks of her climax.

For the first time since getting shot, her chest didn't hurt, that was for sure.

Sex endorphins were a hell of a thing.

"Can I tell you something?" Linda caught her breath. "When you walked out tonight, it scared the hell out of me. I nearly got out of the bath to chase after you."

"Why?" Brutus asked, his own body bathed in sweat. "Like I said, I just needed to calm down. There's no need for you ever to chase after me, Linda. I'm here for you. I just don't want to show you the ugly side of me that often."

"I know but... I was worried that we'd come to a point where you couldn't handle who I am any longer," Linda said.

"And I was scared that it'd happen at the same time I realized something.

Because Brutus, I didn't just shrug off getting shot.

Sure, in the second I did. I reacted, I fought, and I did what I've been trained to do.

But as we left the zone and got on the plane, I remember sitting in my seat, trembling with fear, not just from the mission but from the thought that I might not make it back to you. "

"Trembling?" Brutus asked.

Linda nodded.

"Why? Fear?"

"I was shaking because all I could think of was you.

And yes, fear. Because the realization hit me that I nearly didn't come home.

Before it wouldn't have really mattered to me, not beyond a pure instinctual level.

I was so scared afterwards though because I wouldn't get to see you again.

And it hit me. Now, you don't have to say anything.

But I need to say it, to get this out of me. "

She took a deep breath, her eyes finding his in the dim light.

"I love you, Brutus. I'm in love with you, and that scares the hell out of me as much as it does thrill me. Because for the first time since I joined the Army, I'm scared of not being able to come back."

Brutus nodded, and turned onto his side.

"I don't want to sound trite or forced, but Linda... I love you too. I've spent the past few days sick because you not being in my life would be more pain than all my years in football lumped together and more. So here's what we'll do."

"What's that?" she asked, turning to look at him and his smile, her heart blooming in her chest.

He said it so naturally, so easily, that she knew it was true. The way his eyes were lit up with joy told her that it was true.

Brutus Townsend was in love with her.

"More sex?" she asked, seeing the light dance in his eyes at her soft joke.

"Oh for sure," he said with a chuckle. "But also, I'm going to tell you I love you again, and again, and again.

I'll say it as many times as you want to hear it.

Not just when we're in bed, but when we're eating breakfast, when we're walking together, when we're relaxing.

.. whenever I feel like you want to hear it.

And for the rest of the weekend, I'm going to celebrate you for the beautiful woman you are. "

Linda purred happily, and leaned in to kiss him. He was so many things... but the man was a full romantic.

"But more sex too?"

Brutus laughed, and pulled her on top of him. "And more sex too."