Page 42 of Broken Roads (Hard to Handle #1)

Bradley

T he weight of Hailey's confession settles between us like nightfall across the valley—inevitable, transformative, and so fucking beautiful in its honesty.

Her tears glisten in the dim light, and something deep inside me breaks free.

I've spent years building walls, keeping people at a careful distance, but watching her bare her soul to me, trusting me with her darkest moments shatters something fundamental.

Cupping her face, I brush away the wetness on her cheeks, and what I feel in this moment is so much bigger than desire.

It's reverence.

"Bradley," she whispers, her voice wavering slightly.

I don't have words adequate enough to respond.

Instead, I slide my fingers to the nape of her neck, thread them through the silky strands of her hair, and pull her mouth to mine.

The kiss starts soft, an acknowledgment of the fragility of this moment, of the courage it took for her to lay herself bare before me.

It's the gentlest kiss we've shared, and somehow the most devastating.

But gentleness can only sustain us for so long.

Something ignites between us, that ever-present spark finally catching flame.

Her lips part on a sigh, and I deepen the kiss, my tongue sliding against hers in a slow, deliberate exploration that makes her whimper against my mouth.

The sound is needy, so beautiful it travels straight to my cock, hardening me instantly.

"I fucking want you," I murmur against her lips. "All of you."

She fists my shirt, pulling me closer. "You have me."

Those three words snap what remains of my restraint.

I slide my hands down to her waist and lift her effortlessly onto my lap, relishing in her little gasp of surprise.

She settles with her thighs spread across mine, her body instinctively finding the perfect position.

And the weight of her against my dick sends heat spiraling through me.

"Feel what you do to me?" I ask, rocking up against her.

"Yes," she breathes, pressing down in response.

I find the hem of her shirt, fingers sliding underneath to explore the warm, soft skin of her back. She shivers at my touch, goosebumps rising beneath my fingertips. I trace the dip of her spine, the curve of her waist, the soft flare of her hips, mapping her body with hands that can't get enough.

Sliding my palms higher, I brush the underside of her breasts through her bra.

She arches into my touch, her head falling back slightly to expose the elegant line of her throat. I can't resist leaning forward to press my mouth against her pulse point, feeling it flutter wildly under my lips.

"More," she gasps as I gently scrape my teeth against her skin. "I need more."

Smiling against her neck, I trail kisses up to her ear. "Patience, sunshine."

"I've been patient," she argues, grinding down harder against me. "So very patient."

"Fuck," I groan.

"Yes, please." Her fingers tangle in my hair, and she guides my mouth back to hers for another burning kiss.

Her words send a fresh surge of heat through me. I stand suddenly, hands gripping her ass to keep her steady. She squeals in surprise, arms tightening around my neck and those gorgeous legs wrapping around waist.

"What are you doing?" she laughs against my mouth.

"Taking you to bed," I reply, carrying her the short distance to the blankets I'd spread out earlier. "Or the closest thing we've got out here."

Lowering her gently onto the soft pile of blankets, I brace myself above her. A strand of hair falls across her cheek, and I brush it back, fingers lingering on her impossibly soft skin.

"You're so fucking beautiful," I tell her, my voice rough with emotion.

Her lips part, but whatever she meant to say is lost as I lower my mouth to hers again. This kiss is deeper, hungrier, my control slipping with each passing second. Her hands slide under my shirt, nails scraping lightly against my back.

"Off," she demands.

I sit back on my heels and reach over my head to pull my shirt off in one fluid motion. Eyes widening appreciatively, she takes in my bare chest and traces the ridges of muscle across my abdomen.

"Your turn," I say, reaching for the bottom of her shirt.

She lifts her arms obligingly, letting me tug the fabric up and over her head. The sight of her in a simple black bra steals my breath.

"Holy fuck, look at you," I murmur, leaning down to press a kiss to her collarbone. "So perfect."

Her fingers dig into my shoulders as I trail kisses down to the edge of her bra.

I trace the lace with my tongue, tasting her skin and breathing in her scent.

Sliding my hands beneath her, I find the clasp of her bra and unhook it.

Slowly drawing the straps down her arms, I toss the garment aside.

The sight of her bare tits in the moonlight makes my mouth go dry.

They're full and perfect, nipples already hardened to tight peaks that beg for my attention.

"Gorgeous," I whisper, cupping the weight of one breast in my palm before I brush my thumb across her nipple. “So fucking gorgeous.” Lowering my head, I replace my thumb with my mouth, drawing the sensitive peak between my lips.

Hailey cries out, her back arching off the blankets as I first suck gently, then with more pressure.

My free hand kneads her other breast, thumb circling her nipple in time with the movements of my tongue.

The sounds she makes—little gasps and moans that she doesn't try to muffle out here where no one can hear us—drive me wild.

I switch to her other breast, lavishing it with the same attention while my hand continues to caress the first. Her fingers tangle in my hair, alternately between pulling me closer and pushing me away when the sensation becomes too intense.

"Bradley," she pants, her hips lifting restlessly against mine. "I need..."

"Shh," I murmur against her skin, trailing kisses between her breasts down to her stomach. "Gonna take care of you, sunshine."

I find the button of her jeans, popping it open with a flick of my fingers before easing the zipper down slowly.

When I toss the fabric aside, she's left in just a pair of black panties that match the discarded bra. The thin scrap of lace does little to hide how much she wants this, wants me. And fuck, if that doesn’t turn me on even more.

"Your turn," she says, reaching for my belt buckle.

I let her work it open, her fingers brushing against my dick as she tugs at the leather. The slight pressure makes me groan, my hips instinctively pressing forward. She smiles, clearly pleased with her effect on me, and pops the button of my jeans open.

"Someone's eager," she teases, sliding the zipper down with the deliberate slowness I used earlier.

"You have no fucking idea," I growl, helping her push my jeans down my legs.

When I kick them off, I'm left in just my boxer briefs. Hailey's gaze flicks down and her tongue darts out to wet her lips. The sight makes my cock fucking throb.

"Like what you see?" I ask, my voice rough with need.

"Very much," she admits, reaching out to trace the outline of my erection through the fabric.

I hiss through my teeth at her touch. "Careful, sunshine. I want this to last."

Gently, I push her back onto the blankets and settle between her thighs. The heat of her against me, even through two layers of fabric, is maddening. I rock against her once, making her gasp, before sliding down her body.

Using my mouth, I trace a path from her neck to her breasts, lingering there to tease and torment before continuing down her stomach. When I reach the edge of her panties, I press a kiss just above the waistband, feeling her muscles jump beneath my lips.

"Bradley," she whimpers.

"Patience," I remind her, hooking my fingers into the sides to pull the garment down and reveal her to my hungry gaze. The sight of her pretty pussy bare and wet for me is enough to make my mouth water.

"Beautiful," I murmur, settling between her thighs, pressing kisses to the soft skin there.

She shivers at my words, her thighs falling open wider in invitation. The trust she's showing me, the way she's offering herself so completely after baring her soul, it's almost too much. I press another kiss to her inner thigh, then another, working my way closer to where she needs me most.

"Please," she whispers, her hands fisting in the blankets.

I don't make her wait any longer, leaning down to drag my tongue through her wetness in one long, slow stroke. She tastes fucking incredible—sweet and salty and so fucking addictive I know I'll never get enough.

"Fuck, you taste so good," I murmur, before diving back in with single-minded focus.

I explore every inch of her with my tongue, learning what makes her gasp, what makes her moan, what makes her thighs tremble around my head. When I circle her clit with the tip of my tongue, she nearly comes off the blankets.

"So responsive," I groan as I focus my attention on that sensitive bundle of nerves, alternating between gentle flicks and firmer pressure. Her hands find my hair, fingers digging into my scalp as she holds me exactly where she wants me. The slight pain only spurs me on.

I slide one finger inside her while my mouth continues its assault on her clit. She's so wet, so ready for me, and the way her inner walls clench around my finger makes my cock ache with need.

"More," she demands breathlessly. "I need more."

I add a second finger, stretching her carefully while my tongue maintains its relentless rhythm. Her breathing becomes ragged, little whimpers escaping her throat that drive me absolutely wild. I can feel her getting closer, can feel her body tensing.

"Come for me, sunshine," I command against her pussy. "Let me taste it."

My fingers pump in and out of her while my mouth works her clit with devastating precision. She's so close I can taste it, feel it in the way her thighs shake around my head.

"Bradley," she gasps, and then she's falling apart beneath me.