"Elise is getting the tour and then she and I are headed out to lunch." He steered Elise around Raven and hoped Raven didn't say anything else.

"See you later," Elise said, but it wasn't with the same warmth she had with other people.

"This is my office." He flipped on the light and showed her the small s.p.a.ce where he slept many a night. Luckily now he just did his weekly scheduling and the books in there.

She walked ahead of him. "Look at you guys!" She homed in on a picture of Adrian and Erin when they'd signed their first record contract. Brody stood between them, grinning like a fool. He loved that picture. How much youthful hope they'd all displayed then.

"Seems like only yesterday." He shut and locked the door. "On the desk, legs wide. I need to f.u.c.k you right now."

"I knew I should have worn a skirt," she said, toeing her shoes off and stripping from her jeans and panties quickly. d.a.m.n, how disarming was it that she'd just moved to obey like that? That she wanted him as much as he wanted her? "But I'm not wearing a bra."

As if he wasn't already hard enough.

One-handed, he reached for her, his hand palming the back of her neck to hold her the way he wanted, the way he needed to, to taste her lips. The other hand unb.u.t.toned and unzipped his jeans, freeing his c.o.c.k.

"Are you wet, baby?" He kissed her pretty nipples after shoving the sweater up.

"Yes. Please, inside me, please."

He drew his knuckles through her c.u.n.t, so wet and hot he had to close his eyes to get control. Control that slipped from him like sand every time she got near. "Christ, you're on fire."

"Since you called me earlier. I . . ." She grabbed his c.o.c.k and guided it to her gate, letting that finish her sentence.

One movement of his hips and he slipped into her body as he exhaled. So good. Her body around his was so good. They'd taken the appropriate steps and he never wanted to f.u.c.k her with a condom again.

He braced his hands next to her on the desktop and she braced her feet on the chair arms as he began to f.u.c.k her in earnest. The sounds on the other side of the door floated away; the scent of his shop, so familiar after so long, floated away. All he heard was flesh slapping flesh, sighs and gasps, all he smelled was the sweetness of her shampoo and the tang of her arousal.

She arched her back, wanting more, wanting him deeper. She was having s.e.x at his job. On his desk while anyone could hear.

"What's that smile for?" He nipped her neck.

"What's not to smile about? I'm here with you, you're doing that thing you do when you hit that spot inside me and everything feels electric. Of course I'm smiling."

"You deserve to come for that compliment."

"I totally agree."

He laughed. "Lean back a bit."

She did and realized how clean the top of his desk was. "Did you clear off your desk or is it always this way?"

His fingertips squeezed her c.l.i.t and her whole system came to attention.

"Busted. I cleared it off after I spoke to you. I've imagined this since the first time we were together. No, since before that. I'm going to like doing my books when I can have this memory in my head. We'll probably need to do it a lot so I can keep the memory fresh. It's for my business after all."

Surprised laughter danced from her lips. "I'm so easy you knew you'd have me on my back with my legs open ten minutes after I walked through the door? Oh c.r.a.p, that's nice." She moved to get more friction against his hand, his c.o.c.k filling her.

He loomed above her, impressively male. Big and ferocious as he took what he wanted and gave it to her too.

He knew just what she liked and o.r.g.a.s.m was lightning-quick and hard as it flashed through her. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out.

"Should have made you wait, that felt so good around me." He licked his fingers and she moaned quietly, licking her lips in antic.i.p.ation before he swooped down to kiss her. Her taste lay on his mouth, mixed with his as he kissed her as hard as he f.u.c.ked her.

She drowned in him, but she no longer tried to swim against it. She let herself go, trusting him to keep her anch.o.r.ed.

"So good. So hot and wet and made for me," he panted as his thrusts increased in speed and intensity.

She was helpless against it when he said stuff like that. It wasn't something that could go in a greeting card, but it was so s.e.xy and raw it always struck deep.

He groaned as his muscles froze under her hands. His c.o.c.k moved within her, filling her as he came.

And then his lips were on hers and it was . . . different than it had been. So intense and tender she felt it in her toes, and in her heart. She tumbled like a rock in a fast-moving river, disoriented, owned by the intensity of the current, of the moment when he rushed into her heart and soul.

18.

Brody knew it had been different too.

Since that day, he'd been unable to get it out of his head. Each time he saw her, he felt a deeper draw to her. It had gone from a few days a week to every day, even if it was just for five minutes. He needed her and he gave in to that need.

Right then, he watched her with the kids, setting up the balloons for the games they planned to play. Her face was lit with a big smile and he realized, not for the first time, that she was a whiz with kids.

Three of the group had birthdays in the same week, Arvin, Maggie and Adrian. They always celebrated in some way, but this year, since the weather had been so nice for late winter, they'd blocked off the street at both ends and set up barbecues, tables and games, and it had turned into a big neighborhood event.

"Your girlfriend is like model-perfect." Raven approached and handed him a soda.

"Is that why you're always needling her?" Adrian asked.

"I don't needle her. I don't anything her. I say h.e.l.lo, I try to talk to her, but she's always offended." She shrugged.

Adrian glared at Raven, who exhaled hard. "Just how you like it. You really need to buy a clue. It's not always everyone else. It's you. You cruise around through life, bulldozing over people and calling it being free-spirited free-spirited. It's not free-spirited, it's f.u.c.king selfish bulls.h.i.t, and apparently I'm the only one who will call you on it. But here I am, calling you on it because I like Elise a whole h.e.l.l of a lot. She's strong and kind, and no, she's not as hard as you are, so you think it's fun to play with her like a f.u.c.king cat plays with a mouse. She's stronger than you think, but I don't like you messing with her for sport. You had your chance with Brody. He's with Elise now. Don't f.u.c.k it up because you couldn't appreciate what you had. You're jealous. Happens to everyone. Get over it."

Brody didn't know what to say. This was the most Adrian had said about how he felt about Raven in several years, and Brody hadn't realized it went that deep. While he'd noticed the tension between Raven and Elise, he hadn't realized Raven had been f.u.c.king with her. More than her usual behavior, which admittedly Brody was used to, so he didn't think much on it. Adrian wouldn't have made the comment if it hadn't been an issue. d.a.m.n it. He'd need to be extra watchful for it now.

"Is that what I've done?" Raven asked Brody.

He took his eyes from Elise, really not wanting to engage in this years-old dead-horse discussion, but it had to be done.

"You and I are square. I accept what you are. But I'm not going to let you hurt Elise. You f.u.c.k with her and I'll step in. Don't make me do that. She means something to me. A lot. f.u.c.k f.u.c.k. Pretty much everything, so don't make me choose."

Raven physically jerked back, pausing before speaking. "You've changed since she came around. Like a domesticated animal or something. You used to be free. And now? Not. You look to her every time you answer a question, like you can't speak for yourself."

"I am different, yes, in a good way. And f.u.c.k you on the lookingat-her-before-speaking thing. You've barely been around us as a couple, how the h.e.l.l would you know?"

"I guess I don't think I want to like her. I don't want to be jealous of the way you look at her. Because you looked at me like that and I never appreciated it."

His anger wisped away at the sadness in her tone. Raven was a lost soul. He'd never be her lover again, but he still cared about her. Despite her flaws, she'd helped him when he'd needed it most. He'd never forget that. He smiled, wishing deep down that she'd get her s.h.i.t together and let herself be loved. She'd been wrong on one thing, though it wasn't necessary to point it out. He'd never looked at her the way he looked at Elise. He knew Elise was different from anyone else in his life. Special in a way no woman had ever been before.

"There's no reason not to like her. She's pretty awesome, actually. But you're still my friend, and that's not going to change unless you you change it." change it."

He looked back up and saw a man in a suit approach Elise, hand her an envelope and walk away. Alarmed at the drastic change of body language and the look on her face as she opened the envelope, Brody began walking toward her, but it seemed to take forever as people kept stopping him for something or other.

Her face paled and she crumpled the sheaf of papers to her chest. Concerned, he moved toward Elise, now ignoring anyone who tried to stop him.

Her mother approached, but Elise shook her head, instead calling Rennie's name. Rennie, caught up in some game with her friends, didn't want to leave. Elise sharpened her voice in a way he'd never heard her use with her daughter. Apparently she didn't very often, because Rennie came over immediately.

Elise hugged Rennie tight, fighting the panic and the tears. Not again! She'd gotten complacent. They would not take her baby, d.a.m.n it. She scanned the crowd, looking for Brody, needing the rea.s.surance of his presence, and discovered him standing right next to her. Comfort and safety rushed through her, allowing her to swim past the panic and get hold of herself.

"What's going on?" he asked her quietly when he bussed her cheek.

"Mom, can I please go back and play? I'm winning!"

She couldn't seem to stop her hands shaking, so she held tight to those d.a.m.nable papers and took a deep breath. "Don't leave my sight. Don't leave with anyone anyone but me, Pops or Gran. Understand? If anyone you don't know approaches you, I want you to get away from them and tell me immediately." but me, Pops or Gran. Understand? If anyone you don't know approaches you, I want you to get away from them and tell me immediately."

Rennie's eyes widened. "Are you all right, Momma?"

Christ, what a horrible mother she was, scaring her child this way. She forced the tears away and brushed some potato chips from the front of Rennie's hoodie, the touch rea.s.suring them both. "I'm fine, Noodle. I'm sorry I scared you. Go on and play."

"I'll go over near her, to keep an eye. You will will tell Daddy what is going on. Right this instant." Her mother gave her the glare of immediate compliance and headed over to cheer the kids on and keep an eye on Rennie. tell Daddy what is going on. Right this instant." Her mother gave her the glare of immediate compliance and headed over to cheer the kids on and keep an eye on Rennie.

She couldn't help it, she grabbed Brody's arm and squeezed. Needing to feel him there.

"Tell me what the h.e.l.l has you looking like you're about to freak the f.u.c.k out," he ordered in a low but commanding voice, his gaze roving over her face.

"I can't right now."

She knew she looked bad, but she couldn't seem to stop shaking. Her teeth had begun to chatter, so she clenched her jaws. She didn't want to run to him with her problems. He was her friend, they had s.e.x, but she didn't want to be a burden or a responsibility to this man who'd shouldered more responsibility by the time he was thirty than most had. She couldn't bear the thought of him seeing her as yet another thing he had to fix or deal with.

He took her arm and guided her, gently but firmly, toward her front porch. She wasn't getting away from him when he was that intent, and it began to push her b.u.t.tons. "You'll tell me what has you looking like you're about to pa.s.s out."

"Let. Go." She dug her heels in, starting to sweat, her heart racing.

He turned to look at her and his face fell from angry to sorrowful in the span of seconds. "Holy c.r.a.p. What did he do to you? I'm sorry I'm sorry. I just wanted to take you away from the crowd so I could hear you and talk to you. I didn't mean to scare you."

"I know you didn't. You just pushed some b.u.t.tons." She swallowed hard and groaned aloud when her father came stalking over, looking like midnight and doom.

Of course Brody, seeing his fellow caveman in her father, smiled somewhat grimly and the two exchanged a look of understanding. c.r.a.p, they were going to double-team her.

"I'm fine. Both of you, I'm all right, and this is already catching attention, so can we just drop it?"

"No." Paul crossed his arms and glared, and to Brody's surprise, Elise glared right back.

"Elise, we just want to help. It's clear you're upset." Brody slid a hand up and down her spine and she relaxed a bit.

"You can't. Okay? You can't. No one can right now. I need to go and watch Rennie."

Her father stepped in her way, taking care not to grab her. Christ, what the h.e.l.l had gone on to make her so fearful? Just imagining it made Brody sick with rage. Any man who'd harm a woman was a coward; any man who'd harm this woman made Brody want to pound him.

"Your mother is right there with her. Is Rennie in danger somehow? We can't help if we don't know the details. Don't do this, bebe bebe. Don't shut people out. You don't have to shoulder everything on your own. You're my daughter. I . . . I didn't protect you before. I didn't protect Matthias. Let me help."

Anguish marked her normally pretty features. "This isn't about Matty. He was a drug addict; he made his own disastrous path to h.e.l.l. It's not about you either. f.u.c.k. f.u.c.k! f.u.c.k. f.u.c.k!"

Brody had rarely heard her say anything worse than a mild curse. She shook, and sweat sheened on her forehead. Something was really wrong, and he wanted nothing more than to make it okay.

"Daddy, I'm hanging on here by my fingernails. I can't can't do this right now." Her voice broke and Paul hugged her briefly. do this right now." Her voice broke and Paul hugged her briefly.

He spoke very softly, and Brody's heart ached even as anger coursed through him for her and at her. Why the h.e.l.l wasn't she hugging him him? Why was she holding back?

She stepped back and worked to get herself together. Brody didn't leave her side. "Just don't let anyone take Rennie anywhere. Keep an eye. Anyone but our friends comes here and I want to know it."

Brody traced a fingertip down her temple. "No one will harm her. I swear to you."

She looked up at him, tears swimming in her eyes, and he hurt with her, for her.

"It's them, isn't it? Those f.u.c.king Sorensons." Paul snagged her attention again, and she looked back to her father.

A sigh came from her lips so deep Brody felt the exhaustion seep from her,. "Yes. They want to take her. They're trying to take her from me."

Take her? Take Rennie from Elise? Over his dead body.

Paul took her forearms and put his forehead to hers. "It won't happen. Bebe Bebe, it's going to be fine. You won't do this on your own."

d.a.m.n right she wouldn't.

"Mom! Are you sick?" Rennie came bounding up and Brody caught her, bringing her into a hug. She wrapped herself around him like a monkey and stayed, so he kept holding her. Liking the weight of her. Irene Sorenson had worked her way into his heart, and he wasn't going to let anyone take her anywhere.

Elise looked up at her daughter, faking a pretty good calm face. "I think I ate too much junk, Noodle. I'm all right. Pops was just giving me a hug to make me feel better."

Elise's entire face lit every time she looked at her daughter. Obviously from what she'd said to her father, this had something to do with custody. Brody knew Elise, knew she adored her child and was dedicated to her, as much as Rennie adored her mother right back. This must be killing her. h.e.l.l, it was killing him him and Rennie wasn't even his. and Rennie wasn't even his.

Rennie, still perched in Brody's arms, looked toward her mother. "I think Brody needs to give you a hug too. That always makes you happy. Your cheeks turn pink."

Just like they were right then. Brody didn't bother hiding a smile, and Paul shook his head, grinning at his granddaughter.

"Come with me. I see your gran over there near the ice cream. Have you had any yet?" Paul asked Rennie.

"Only one one scoop. That's not hardly nothing. I'm a growing girl and all." scoop. That's not hardly nothing. I'm a growing girl and all."

"Isn't hardly hardly anything anything. And no more ice cream. Don't give me that look, Irene. You puke when you eat too much. You know my stand on vomit," Elise said and shuddered.

"We don't invite the pukey sick in!" Rennie took Brody's cheeks between her hands and smooched him noisily, and he couldn't seem to remember a time when he didn't love this little girl. She hugged his neck one more time and scrambled down and into her mother's waiting arms.

"We don't, because Momma is a vomit-phobe," Elise spoke into Rennie's hair as she held her.