Page 14 of Sliding Home

14

B rooks

Shit.

She didn’t want a savior, but the more she revealed, the more I wanted to be something for her. A steady place to land, someone she could trust to just be there without taking over.

She didn’t look ashamed when she talked about her family. I had expected her to be—so many people carried their pasts like scars they wanted to hide.

But Michelle? She looked angry. She looked sad. And more than anything, she looked determined. Like her past wasn’t just something she had survived. It was fuel.

I wanted to pull her into me, tuck her against my chest and tell her she didn’t have to fight so hard all the time. But I knew that would only make her push me away faster.

So instead, I smiled. I held her hand. I focused on the better parts of her confessions.

“Gray, huh?” I teased, keeping my tone light. “Like Fifty Shades of?”

She rolled her eyes. “Gray is the new black.”

“No, it’s not.”

She snorted, and the sound hit me harder than it should have. I didn’t just like hearing her laugh. I liked knowing I was the reason for it. I wanted to hear it again and again.

“What kind of dogs would you get?” she asked, still smiling, her voice softer now.

I studied her, a slow grin forming. “You’re too good at moving attention off yourself. It’s a real talent.”

She shrugged, unbothered. “Well? The dogs?”

“Black labs. Preferably siblings. They’re great with kids and stupidly loyal.”

Something flickered across her face—too quick for me to catch—but I saw it. I pretended not to.

“We had one when I was a kid,” I continued, keeping my voice casual. “Mattie. She was overweight and always managed to steal my mom’s dinner rolls, but she was the best.”

Her lips curled at the affection in my voice. “A dog sounds wonderful. I’ve never had one and my life has been too inconsistent to try…but yeah, it’d be nice, I think.”

“You’ll make it work one day,” I said, watching the tips of her ears turn pink. “That’s what you do. You go after what you want and work hard for it. It’s admirable.”

She swallowed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear like she wasn’t used to taking compliments.

I let it slide. “Alright, back to you,” I said. “What got you into heavy metal?”

A laugh escaped her, like she wasn’t expecting the question. “A stupid boy in high school. He had these scratched-up CDs and played them way too loud in his shitty car.”

She twirled her straw between her fingers, her expression shifting slightly.

“And I loved it. It was obnoxious and loud, and for a couple of minutes, it drowned out everything happening at home.” Her voice dipped, just barely. “The hoarse voices, the banging bass, the way it made my ears ring—it calmed me.”

I watched her closely, taking in the flicker of something raw in her eyes.

“Our likes don’t have to make sense,” I murmured. “There’s a One Direction song that gets me every damn time.”

Her mouth fell open slightly. “You?

I smirked. “Me.”

She let out a real, unguarded giggle, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Okay, I dare you to make your walk-up song one of them.”

“Michelle, honey,” I scoffed, amused and charmed at her dare. “Please. That’s the easiest dare imaginable. Done and done. But, you have to come watch some of the games though. That’s the deal.”

She grinned, almost like she couldn’t believe it’d be that easy, but I’d literally do everything she asked.

“I’ll come to one game.” She pursed her lips with a glint to her eyes. “Maybe.”

A blip of hope ballooned in my chest at her making future plans to see me. That had to be good news but I couldn’t spook her. I pushed her loose strand of hair behind her ear, smiling at how good her skin felt on mine.

She cleared her throat, a light blush dusting her neck. ”You said you could eat the same meal every day,” she said. “What’s the meal?”

Changed the subject, I see. Noted.

“Steak and eggs. Hands down.”

She hummed, pretending to consider it. “Milkshakes. I could have them every day for the rest of my life. That’d be my answer. They are sweet and fill you up and milk is healthy, yeah?”

I leaned in again, letting the air shift between us.

“We could order a couple from room service.” My voice dropped, and she noticed.

Her breath hitched and I moved closer.

“Enjoy them in my room.”

“Naked?” she whispered, her gaze moving toward my mouth.

“Obviously. I have a no-clothes rule.”

“Surprising no one,” she said, but her smile stayed. The kind of smile that knocked the wind out of me.

“That sounds perfect,” she murmured.

I swallowed, then nodded. “Let’s do it. We gotta say goodbye first.”

We found Fiona and Gideon, both of them way past tipsy, and they spent thirty seconds hugging each of us. I met Michelle’s gaze over Gideon’s shoulder and winked. She patted her friend’s back and promised to call soon, and I held out my hand, waiting for her to take it.

She did.

Her hand slid into mine, her fingers threading between my own, and I knew I was done for.

I had been fighting a hard-on since the limo, but now? Now, knowing I had her for the entire night, knowing she was choosing to leave with me despite every instinct telling her to keep her distance.

It made my restraint snap like a live wire.

I pulled her in without thinking, my hand creeping lower, finding the curve of her ass as I squeezed.

She let out a quiet gasp, her body melting into mine, and my fingers flexed, kneading, memorizing.

The elevator doors hadn’t even opened yet, and I was already wrecked for her.

I tipped my head down, brushing my lips against her exposed shoulder, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to her skin before dragging my teeth against the sensitive spot near her neck.

Her breath hitched, and she tipped her head, giving me more.

“Brooks,” she murmured, her voice a warning and a plea all at once.

“Tell me to stop,” I whispered against her skin, but I knew she wouldn’t.

Instead, she sighed, her fingers gripping my jacket as she arched into me.

Then the elevator doors slid open.

The small, private space felt like fate, and I barely got us inside before Michelle launched herself at me, wrapping her legs around my waist and crushing her mouth against mine.

Fuck.

I stumbled back against the mirrored wall, my hands gripping her tight, holding her in place as she devoured me.

It was hot as hell. It was messy and desperate, all teeth and tongue and pent-up energy finally breaking free.

I groaned against her lips as she sucked my tongue into her mouth, her fingers tangling in my hair, tugging, controlling, taking.

Jesus, I’d missed this.

Missed her.

The way she gave herself over completely when she wanted something. The way she didn’t hold back when she let herself feel.

Our gazes met, and something inside me snapped.

Because it wasn’t just lust in her eyes.

It was something more. Something deeper, something unspoken.

I kissed her harder, my fingers digging into her hips as I ground against her, letting her feel exactly what she did to me.

She gasped into my mouth, and I swallowed the sound, groaning when she rolled her hips, rubbing against me like she needed this just as badly. Knowing she wasn’t wearing panties killed me. I could feel her heart on me.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, but neither of us moved.

Not until I forced myself to break the kiss, panting against her mouth.

“Room,” I muttered. “Now.”

She laughed breathlessly, letting her legs slide down my body, but before she could step away, I grabbed her hips and pulled her back against me.

Close.

So fucking close.

“Grab my wallet,” I ordered, my voice rough.

She did.

“Find the key,” I murmured, my hands already sliding down her sides, gripping her waist, spreading across the outside of her dress. “My hands are busy.”

I squeezed her ass again, my fingers digging in, kneading, memorizing.

Her breath hitched, her fingers fumbling in my pocket as she tried to grab the keycard.

“Brooks,” she whined, her head tipping back when I dipped my head and bit down lightly on the swell of her breast.

The fabric of her dress was thin, but not thin enough.

I needed it off.

I sucked the pebbled tip of her nipple into my mouth, rolling it between my lips, soaking through the fabric, and she gasped, gripping my shoulders for balance.

“I can’t focus with you all over me,” she muttered.

I smirked against her now-wet dress, kissing my way back up to her throat. “Multitask,” I murmured, dragging my teeth along the column of her neck, feeling her tremble.

“Bossy,” she breathed.

“You love it.”

She found the key just as I sucked another mark into her skin, and when she finally got the door open, I didn’t hesitate.

I took four steps before throwing her on the bed.

She bounced slightly, her hair splayed out over the pillows, her eyes dark with pure want as she looked up at me.

That look.

That fucking look.

I pounced, covering her body with mine as she tugged at the buttons of my shirt, fumbled with my belt, laughing softly when it got stuck.

I kissed her again, deeper this time, my hands smoothing down her sides, memorizing every inch.

I wasn’t going to rush this.

Not yet.

Not when I finally had her back in my arms.

I tried taking my belt off but it kept getting stuck and I cursed.

"Hold on, B. I’ll get it."

Michelle scooted to the edge of the bed, her fingers deftly working my belt. Her face was inches from my cock, and when she ran her tongue over her lips so slowly, so intentionally, my abs tensed.

I sucked in a breath, barely keeping myself grounded. But she didn’t stop there.

She undid my zipper with agonizing precision, dragging the fabric down slowly, like she was unwrapping a gift, her nails grazing my hips as she tugged my briefs down.

I throbbed—fully exposed, fully at her mercy—and she hummed, tilting her head as she studied me.

"It’s been a while, friend."

I blinked, then half-laughed, half-groaned. “Are you talking to my penis?”

“Yes,” she mused, eyes dancing with mischief. “Now, shh. I’m getting reacquainted.”

My muscles locked as she wrapped her fingers around me, slow, firm, her palm warm against my skin.

She stroked me once, twice, dragging her thumb over the sensitive head, watching the way I twitched in her grip.

Then she parted her lips and sucked me in.

Fuck.

My head dropped back, a guttural sound escaping my throat as her mouth wrapped around me—hot, wet, perfect.

I barely had time to process the pleasure before she took me deeper, her tongue swirling, teasing, working me into insanity.

I fisted her hair, trying to keep myself anchored, but she had no interest in letting me keep control. She dug her nails into my ass, pulling me forward, forcing me deeper down her throat, and I nearly lost my fucking mind.

"God, Michelle," I groaned, my fingers tangling in her hair as she hollowed her cheeks, sucked harder, took more.

She flicked her eyes up, locking onto mine, and the sight alone—the wicked, teasing glint in her gaze, the way her lips stretched around my cock—sent heat rushing through every cell in my body.

I was so close. Too close.

"Michelle," I gritted out, pulling her off me before I could lose it completely.

She let out a low, satisfied hum, her lips wet, swollen, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth.

"Get on the bed," I ordered, my voice barely human.

Her smile turned devious. "I love bossy Brooks."

"Good," I rasped. "Then get naked."

She held my gaze as she wiggled her dress over her head.

And then she was bare.

Flushed, perfect, glistening with need.

And mine. For the night.

Fuck.

I let out a harsh breath, my restraint hanging by a thread. "Can I take you bare?" I asked, my voice low, rough. "I’ve been tested. I’m good."

She nodded, her pupils blown wide. "Me too. I’m on birth control. Don’t worry."

I shuddered, the thought of not having anything between us causing my heart to do weird, strange things.

She raised an eyebrow, taunting. "Well, come on, big guy. Take me."

I covered her body with mine, settling between her thighs, rubbing my cock along her slick heat. She was so wet, so ready, her body already pulsing with anticipation.

I groaned against her neck, dragging my teeth along her pulse. "You feel how much I want you?"

She whimpered, arching against me, her hands gripping my back, my arms, my hair. Anywhere she could touch, claim, demand.

I nudged forward, just enough to tease.

She growled, an actual fucking growl, her nails digging into my skin. “Brooks, don’t?—”

I thrust in, sinking deep, her heat clenching around me, gripping me tight. Fucking hell.

A strangled moan left her lips, her body arching, her thighs tightening around me as I filled her. She was so goddamn tight, so hot and perfect, and I had to breathe through the need to take her too fast.

"This will be quick," I rasped, my forehead pressing against hers. "But I'll make it up to you."

She nodded breathlessly, her lips brushing mine. "Fine by me."

I lifted her legs, hooking them over my shoulders, opening her up completely, and pushed deeper.

She cried out, her back arching, her nails digging into the bedsheets.

“Yes, yes, Brooks.”

I groaned, gripping her ass, thrusting harder, needing to feel every inch of her, needing to make her lose herself completely. Sweat pooled between us, the heat, the friction, the urgency consuming us.

But I wanted more. I wanted her to break for me.

I reached between us, found her clit, circled it with my thumb, keeping the rhythm of my thrusts steady, precise.

Her moans changed—higher, sharper, desperate.

I felt her tensing, felt her losing herself.

“You’re fucking perfect,” I gritted out, feeling her pulse around me, feeling her tighten, tremble, fall apart.

She cried out, her body shuddering, her legs shaking around me, her release crashing over her in waves.

That was all I needed.

My body tensed, heat spreading from my spine, my legs, my stomach before it hit me like an explosion, pleasure rocking through me so hard I saw stars.

So hard everything else disappeared.

It was just us, our breaths ragged, our hearts racing, our bodies sticky and tangled. For a long moment, neither of us moved.

Then Michelle let out a breathless laugh, her chest still rising and falling. "Holy shit," she whispered. "My body doesn’t know what to do with how good I feel."

I let out a lazy, satisfied hum, pressing kisses to her jaw, her collarbone, her lips.

"Good," I murmured. "That was the plan."

She propped herself on her elbow, grinning at me like she knew exactly what she did to me. "I forgot how big you are."

I smirked, catching her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "I missed your body."

"Yeah," she admitted, eyeing me lazily. "She seemed to miss yours too."

She sighed, tracing a slow, aimless path over my chest. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but we both like sex. We know this. But this…?”

She exhaled, something unspoken hanging in the air. “This attraction I have for you… it’s unmatched.”

My stomach clenched.

I could’ve said a lot of things. Could’ve told her I felt the same, that she was already too deep under my skin, that she made me think about things I wasn’t ready to name.

But I knew her. I knew she wasn’t ready to hear it.

So I smirked instead.

“Yeah?” I murmured, running my fingers down her neck, her collarbone, lower. “I could probably say the same.”

Her lips curled.

Then she blinked, her eyes flicking to the nightstand phone then back to me. “So uh… about those milkshakes?”

I laughed, shaking my head as I rolled onto my back.

Jesus.

She was gonna destroy me.

And the worst part? I was gonna let her.