Page 23

23

M ichelle

There had to be a special place in hell for daughters who smiled when their fathers were shoved into the back of a police car, but I couldn’t stop the satisfaction from curling in my chest. His lethal glare didn’t shake me the way it used to. He could still try to scare me, still think he had power over me, but he had nothing.

Not anymore.

This time, I was ready.

Sure, he’d probably find a way to come after me again when he got out, but that wouldn’t be for a long time. And when that day came, I wouldn’t be caught off guard. I’d memorize every court date, every appeal, every parole hearing. He wouldn’t sneak up on me again.

Victor, though…

I wasn’t happy to see him cuffed, but I wasn’t sad either. A part of me still wished he’d get clean, get his life together, and if he ever did—maybe, just maybe, I’d be willing to speak to him again. But he’d made his choices, and I had made mine.

I glanced across the lot, where Brooks was talking to the cops, his hands gesturing wildly as he explained what happened. My stomach twisted as I watched him, as I thought about what I had almost lost, what I had convinced myself I didn’t deserve.

He turned slightly, and his gaze found mine, locking onto me like he had been looking for me this whole time. For a second, I forgot about everything—the cops, the flashing lights, the fact that my past had tried to steal away the only good thing in my life.

There was love in his eyes. Love, guilt, warmth, and something new—something like understanding.

And for the first time in my life, I let myself hope.

Hope that I could have this.

Hope that I could have him.

Hope that I deserved to be loved and to love in return.

“You’re not mad at me, are you?” Brigham’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He came up beside me, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “I had to tell him. He was a mess. Worse than you, actually.”

A mess? Worse than me? I bit my lip, trying not to smile. It was a relief to know I hadn’t been the only one struggling.

I let him stew in the silence for a moment before rolling my eyes. “Surprisingly… no. I should be mad at you, but look how it turned out.”

“I couldn’t stand by while you were miserable and he was being a dumbass.”

I laughed softly, running my hands up and down my arms. My adrenaline was crashing hard, the exhaustion settling in my bones. The shivers started, and Brigham, being annoyingly observant, rubbed my arm.

“You’re a decent human being, Brigham,” I admitted. “I’ll give you that.”

“Wow, that’s practically an I love you coming from you.” He grinned. “I’ll take it.”

I snorted and slipped out from under his arm, already moving toward Brooks.

Tall, broad, kind. The man who made my toes curl when he kissed me and turned my world upside down when he looked at me like I was his entire universe.

I had known it two years ago. I knew it now.

Brooks was dangerous for my heart. But this time, I was ready for it.

He was thanking the officer when his eyes landed on me. In two large strides, he was on me, wrapping me up in his arms, lifting me off the ground like he needed to feel all of me at once.

“Uh, hi?” I mumbled into his chest, my voice muffled against his shirt.

“Jesus,” he breathed, his grip tightening, his nose running along my neck like he had to breathe me in. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I’m so glad you’re safe, and they are going to jail.”

I pressed my hands against his chest, forcing him to let me go so I could look up at him. “I’m sorry too.”

His jaw clenched, his gray eyes dark with emotion. “No, you were—” He exhaled, his fingers flexing against my waist like he needed to hold onto something. “You were trying to protect me, and I chose to assume the worst. I should’ve known. I should’ve tried harder.”

His voice shook, and my chest ached at the rawness in it.

“Brooks, I wanted you to believe me.” A small, tired smile played on my lips. “Instead of apologizing, let’s just agree I’m a great actress.”

He let out a strained laugh, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Do you have to stay here at work? Or can we go home?” His voice dropped lower, like he wasn’t sure if I’d say yes. “I want to respect your rules, but I want nothing more than to sleep next to you.”

Home.

With him.

The words settled somewhere deep inside me.

“I’m sure I can take off for the night. The place will survive without me for one night.” I smirked. “I wouldn’t say no to another visit to that bathtub.”

His grip on my waist tightened. “Literally, anything you want.”

Brooks didn’t stop touching me, even as we said goodbye to the officers, Brigham, and the staff at the diner. Logan came up to us, stretching like he was ready to collapse.

“I can catch an Uber. You two go,” he said, waving us off with a knowing grin. “I’m glad you’re safe, Michelle. This ass was a mess the past week, so take care of him, okay?”

I grinned, but his words warmed something inside me. “We’ll see,” I teased, nudging Brooks. “Thanks for tagging along. Sorry you got dragged into my family drama.”

Logan shrugged, completely unbothered. “All families have drama. Some are just louder than others.” He yawned and waved as he walked back into the diner. “Have a good night.”

That left just me and Brooks.

Alone.

We had so much to talk about.

I knew that. He knew that. But right now, all I wanted was to be close to him.

I ran my hands over his chest, his strong neck, the soft strands of his hair, watching as his eyes darkened with something familiar, something that made my entire body hum.

“Let’s go,” I whispered.

His hand found mine, threading our fingers together as we walked to his car. He opened my door, his touch lingering, and I let him. I let myself feel all of it.

When he slid into the driver’s seat, he took my hand, setting it on his lap, holding it like he was afraid to let go. The air between us was heavy, filled with everything we still needed to say. But for the first time, I didn’t feel anxious.

I felt calm. Happy. Excited for the future.

He must have felt it too because his grip on my hand tightened slightly. “You just let out a cute sigh. What’s on your mind?”

I smiled, watching the city lights blur past the window. “Before all this, I would’ve been sitting here, overthinking, trying to figure out the right thing to say. But now… I’m not worried. It’s liberating.”

His thumb brushed slow circles against my palm. “How’s that?”

I let out another breath, this one filled with something lighter.

“Because I’m more secure with how I feel about you,” I admitted. “And I don’t have the urge to run away.”

He hummed in response but didn’t push, didn’t ask for more.

And that—more than anything—made me happy.

As we pulled into his garage, he sighed, rubbing a hand along my thigh. “We should probably talk about everything that happened.” His voice was rough, weighed down with exhaustion.

“But can it wait until later?”

He smiled, kissing the back of my hand. “Yeah, baby. It can wait.”

The second the car was in park, I slid across the middle console, not caring that my dress hiked up my thighs or that a bed was less than a minute away. Right now, I only cared about him. His hands were already on me, sliding up my thighs, gripping my ass as I settled over his lap.

“It was only four days,” I murmured, pressing my lips to his jaw, feeling the scratch of his stubble against my skin. “But I missed you.”

“Yeah?” His voice was rough, his breath hot against my ear. He nipped at my earlobe, his hands squeezing me tighter. “Mutual feeling, Mitch. Fuck, I missed the hell out of you.”

The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t just lust, wasn’t just need—it was something deeper, something I hadn’t let myself feel until now.

I rocked my hips against his growing erection, swallowing the moan that tried to escape my throat. But before I could get too lost in him, he suddenly gripped my waist and stood, hauling me out of the car like I weighed nothing.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I half-laughed, half-gasped, clutching his shoulders.

“I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to touch you again,” he said, voice hoarse as he kicked the car door shut. His lips were on me before I could answer, his hands gripping my thighs as he pressed me against the hallway wall.

His kiss was desperate, hungry, wild. There was no teasing, no hesitation—just pure, unfiltered need. His scruff scratched against my lips, his tongue claiming mine, and God, I could drown in this.

“Fuck, you taste perfect,” he groaned, his forehead pressing to mine, both of us panting, clinging to each other. “I love it.”

“Shirt off,” I demanded, still breathless, tugging at the hem.

He chuckled darkly, pressing his body harder against mine as I dragged the fabric over his shoulders and tossed it to the floor. His body was all heat and hard muscle, his skin burning under my fingertips.

“Your body makes me do stupid, stupid things,” I whispered, trailing my fingers down the ridges of his abs, memorizing every inch of him.

“Yeah?” His voice was low, rough. He slid his hands up my thighs, pushing my dress up until it pooled at my hips, leaving me in nothing but my black lace bra and panties. “What kinda things?”

“Like letting you fuck me against a wall,” I breathed, arching into him, silently begging for more.

But instead of giving me what I wanted, he bit down on my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth, teasing me with his tongue.

“Ugh,” I groaned, gripping his biceps as frustration curled low in my stomach. “You make me forget my name.”

“Good,” he murmured, but then he stopped. He pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes wild, dark, full of every emotion I had been too afraid to name.

“You’re perfect for me in every way,” he whispered.

My breath hitched. For a second, I thought I might actually say it. The words were right there, bubbling up inside me. But I wasn’t ready, not yet. So instead, I kissed him.

Slow and playful. Teasing. Pulling back when he tried to deepen it, making him chase me.

I had never let a kiss be this much before. I poured myself into it, into the way our tongues tangled, into the way my nails dragged down his chest, into the way his hands tightened on my hips like he never wanted to let go.

He lifted me from the wall, still devouring my mouth, and carried me to his bedroom. When my back hit the mattress, he was already stripping me down, his fingers dragging my panties down my legs, his mouth following the path, teasing, tasting, claiming.

“Shit, Brooks!” I gasped as his tongue flicked against my clit, my back arching off the bed.

“You’re already so wet.” His voice was pure sin, his grin smug as he kissed his way back up my body. “I wanted a taste.”

His lips brushed mine, his weight settling over me, and then he was unbuttoning his pants, shoving them off, along with his boxers.

I swallowed hard, staring at him. God, he was beautiful.

He hovered over me, his fingers skimming my jaw, my collarbone, my chest. “You are everything,” he whispered, his lips following his touch.

I moaned when he slid two fingers inside me, stretching me, preparing me, teasing me just to the point of bliss before he pulled back.

“Brooks, please.”

He nudged the tip of his cock against my entrance, his eyes locked onto mine.

“We’re coming together, baby.” His voice wasn’t just rough—it was reverent. He pressed forward, pushing into me inch by inch, his low groan vibrating through me.

I wanted to memorize that sound.

“Fuck, tighten your legs around me.”

I did.

He slid his arm around my back, lifting me into him, holding me so close, so tight, like he was afraid I would disappear. His hips moved in slow, torturous thrusts, stretching me, filling me, dragging me to the edge before pulling me back.

No one had ever made love to me before. Not like this. Never this slow. Never this deep.

I dug my nails into his back as he lifted my hips, hitting just the right spot.

“Brooks!”

“Scream my name, baby,” he rasped, his muscles tensing under my hands. He was holding back, savoring this, savoring me.

And for the first time, I didn’t want fast, hard, or rough. I wanted this. A connection. Something real.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck.

His face softened, something flickering in his eyes, something deep and raw. He kissed me—slow, lingering, full of all the words we hadn’t said yet.

He picked up his pace, our bodies moving in sync, together, building something bigger than both of us.

“Mitch… Fuck!”

His body tensed, his release hitting him hard, and I followed, my climax crashing through me, leaving me boneless beneath him.

He pressed a kiss to my damp skin, resting his forehead against mine.

“Never like this with anyone but you.” His voice was hoarse, wrecked, full of truth.

“I know.” I kissed his jaw, his cheek, his chest. “I know.”

His arms tightened around me, and for a moment, we just stayed like that.

When he finally moved, he didn’t go far, pulling me into the bathroom, drawing the bath like it was the most natural thing in the world.

He helped me in first, sliding in behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist, his lips brushing the back of my neck.

We sat there in silence, the heat of the water soaking away the last traces of everything bad.

Brooks ran his fingers up and down my arms, slow, lazy strokes, over my collarbone, my shoulders, like he was mapping me out, committing me to memory.

The sex was incredible, but this?

This meant more.

And because of the way I felt in his arms, because of the way he felt like home, I had to be the first to say it. There had to be a moment in life when everything shifted, when the past finally let go of its hold and the future took its rightful place. This was mine.

I turned my head slightly, feeling the warmth of Brooks’ breath against my damp skin. His arms wrapped around me like a promise, like a vow, and for the first time in my life, I believed someone would actually keep one.

Taking a deep breath, I finally said the words I had been holding inside.

“I’m sorry I lied to you about so many things.” My voice was quiet, but it didn’t waver. “My father always scared me as a child, and when he threatened you, I was right back in that place again. That helpless, terrified nine-year-old girl who couldn’t do anything but watch as he destroyed my favorite toys, sabotaged my friendships, and made sure I never felt safe.” I swallowed, my fingers tracing lazy patterns against his arm. “I did what I thought was best. I convinced myself it was the only way to protect you. But by the time I realized that I’m not that girl anymore… the damage was done.”

Brooks tightened his grip around me, pressing a lingering kiss to my neck, his hold steady and sure. “Christ, Mitch.” His voice cracked, and I squeezed my eyes shut at the emotion bleeding into every syllable.

But he didn’t let me sit in my guilt for long. “You have no need to apologize. I should. I… I thought the worst of you when you lied, and?—”

“I wanted you to.”

That made him still, his chest rising and falling beneath my cheek.

“But I should’ve trusted you,” he murmured after a moment, regret thick in his voice. “Or fought harder. I think about it now and can see the signs, see the lies for what they were.”

“Maybe,” I said softly, because part of me knew it wouldn’t have mattered. “Maybe not.”

There had been too much history, too much weight between us. He had his own walls, just like I had mine, and it had taken both of us too long to break through them.

“My past isn’t stellar,” I admitted, suddenly feeling too exposed, too raw under the weight of his understanding. “And this thing between us is new.” I hesitated before adding, “But everything is out in the open now. My family. My past. And, I think… my feelings for you.”

Brooks hummed, a teasing note in his voice. “Are they out in the open?”

I could hear the smile in his tone, could feel it against my skin. “Because I can’t hear them.”

I huffed out a small laugh, but my heart was pounding. The words were right there, sitting on my tongue, waiting.

“This is real for me,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out. “More than anything I’ve ever experienced. And while it is terrifying to put this much trust into another person, I realized that I want it. You have the complete power to destroy me, Brooks Madsen.”

I barely had time to blink before he was moving, picking me up, spinning me around in the tub like I weighed nothing. Water sloshed over the edge, but I didn’t care. I was too busy clutching onto him, laughing through the sheer shock of it.

“Brooks—”

But he just smiled, holding me tight, waiting until I cracked an eye open.

“You have a thoughtful look on your face, B,” I teased, my own heart racing now. “One that might make me catch feelings.”

“Tough shit. Open your eyes.”

I did. And there it was.

That look. The one that made me forget to breathe. He exhaled slowly, his voice deep, rough, steady. “I love you.”

I froze. Inhaled. Exhaled.

The words settled deep inside me, filling every space that had been left empty for so long.

Brooks laughed softly, pressing his forehead to mine. “Why do you—what’s funny?”

“Your expression,” he murmured, grinning as he brushed his fingers against my cheek. “I tell you I love you, and you look constipated.”

I let out a half-snort, half-laugh, shaking my head. “Well, no one has ever said those words to me before. I wasn’t sure what would happen. Would my heart explode? Birds chirp? Rainbows appear?”

His expression shifted instantly, his smile fading just slightly.

“You’ve never heard them before?” His voice was softer now, almost careful. “Not from family?”

I shrugged, hoping the movement would hide the sting in my chest. “Nope.”

Brooks let out a slow breath, then cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs tracing slow, soothing circles against my skin.

“Then I’ll make sure to tell you enough times that it becomes boring,” he said firmly. “Because it’s true. I don’t care that it hasn’t been that long. Fuck anyone who says you can’t fall in love fast. I did. Maybe even a little bit two years ago.”

My chest fluttered so hard it ached. I looked at him, really looked at him, and I knew.

I was safe.

I was loved. And, for the first time, I was ready.

“I’m ready,” I whispered.

Brooks smirked, tilting his head. “Hm?”

“For all of it,” I said, my voice stronger now. “Relationship. Brunching. Matching sweaters.”

He arched a gorgeous eyebrow, smirking. “Is that what you think relationships are?”

“Yes.”

He laughed, hard, shaking his head with a look of absolute fondness. “I’m all for brunch because, honestly, I love avocado toast. And I don’t give a fuck if that makes me a millennial. But matching sweaters?” He mock-shuddered. “Might be too much for me.”

“Thank God,” I breathed out, grinning. “I really didn’t want to do that. You have shoulders for sweaters. I do not.”

Brooks chuckled, pulling me into him, letting my head rest under his chin. “It’s me and you, Mitch. It was always you for me. But I’m glad we get this second chance.”

“Me too,” I murmured, running my fingers through the light dusting of hair on his chest.

My lips curved upward as warmth spread through my entire body. “God, I can’t believe we actually defined the relationship. We’re officially dating.”

“Yes.” He laughed and pulled me in for a slow, deep kiss. “And I can’t believe you said the word out loud.”

“Which one?” I whispered, teasing.

“Relationship.”

I scrunched my nose, pretending to cringe. “Don’t make me say it again.”

Brooks just smirked. “Too bad, Mitch. You’re my girlfriend now. And I’m definitely a relationship guy. That means telling you I love you a lot, calling you every single day, naked sleepovers, and at least one drawer at your place.”

My heart skipped a beat.

It wasn’t just what he said. It was the ease in his voice, the absolute certainty, the way he already knew this was forever.

“Okay,” I whispered, nodding. “Yes. I’m in.”

His entire face lit up, and he pulled me closer, his hands splaying across my back.

“About fucking time.”

I grabbed his beautiful, stupid face and kissed him so hard, so deep that he groaned into my mouth.

We stayed like that, wrapped around each other, until the water went cold.

And, for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel the urge to run.

Because this? This was home.