I slapped his back. "You're funny."

"You're mine, Kat. You're finally all mine."

And I was, utterly and completely his. My mind, body and soul belonged to this man.

Chapter 44.

Though it was a bit embarra.s.sing, I managed to go downstairs for breakfast the next morning when they called up the stairs that it was ready. It was also a must when we found that B was already out of bed and had been changed from her pajamas that were folded on top of her pillow. Brooks walked around in his underwear, as if he still lived there, while I rummaged through my old dresser drawers to find a real pair of pajama pants.

He didn't have to force me to put on one of his army shirts. I got a kick out of wearing them around, knowing that they were his. Brooks put on a pair of shorts before walking downstairs, pulling me behind him.

Two adults were at the table smiling when we walked into the room. B saw us, but she was too busy shoveling food into her mouth to say anything. We both headed for the coffee pot and I watched as Brooks poured me a cup and made them both the same. Cream and one sugar was the perfect blend. He handed me mine and winked. "Just how you like it."

I took a sip before walking over to the table and sitting down.

"Did you two sleep well?"

Brooks sat his cup down and started filling his plate with food that had been set out on the table. He didn't look up at either of them when he replied. "Go ahead and ask the burning question. I'm sure you all heard Kat. Apparently we need to watch giving her wine, because she takes all of her clothes off and hides in my closet."

They started to laugh.

"Oh, it gets better. She put on my boots and jacket and thought that she was going to be s.e.xy. After two steps she fell down face first. After that, we slept pretty good, right Kat?"

Even though he'd told them about my embarra.s.sing attempt at being s.e.xy, it had eluded them from thinking that what they heard was us having s.e.x. They weren't stupid and obviously we were plenty old enough, but I still didn't want them thinking that we'd disrespect them, even if that's sort of what we did, or what I did.

I smiled and covered my face with my coffee. "I'm okay, if anyone is concerned."

After that they seemed to not even care about the loud moaning coming from Brooks' room. Instead, they wanted to let us know that they'd already gone ahead and contacted Branch.

"So I sent Branch and email this morning asking them to come to dinner Friday night. I'm waiting to hear back, but they both get off early during the week, since they live on the other side of the bridge, but work over here. The traffic gets so bad on the weekends that sometimes they get stuck in it for hours. I let them know that there is plenty of room for them to stay the night and go home on Sat.u.r.day." Walt seemed excited, as did Danica, me not so much.

Brooks, who was busy sticking his tongue through a hole in a pancake to make B laugh, didn't even act like he heard his father talking. He was too amused with teaching our child everything she shouldn't do at the table.

"Brooks Michael, don't teach her that!" I had to laugh when Danica brought out the middle name, like we were kids and he was in for it.

"I've decided that since I'm a parent now I can make my own rules. If B wants to play with her food she can, as long as she still eats it."

I rolled my eyes and started making my plate.

"So, we were talking last night, and Mom and I want to know if the two of you have any plans yet? Are you going to finally get married?"

They thought we were already living together, and I guess at this point we sort of were. We'd been together every night since I'd left Bobby and I planned on him moving in with me when we got back, as long as the protective order was issued and I could feel safe taking B there. The last thing I wanted was Brooks walking around with military issued weapons. That didn't sit well with having a toddler running around.

"We're not in a hurry to do it." Brooks began. "I mean, I've been gone a long time. We've just found each other again. We're happy the way things are, and when the time is right, I suppose we'll get that piece of paper. For now I've got everything I want already."

The Valentines weren't old fashioned, but they knew me. They knew I'd always wanted a big wedding.

Thankfully they never mentioned it.

After breakfast, Danica and Walt asked us if they could take B to meet a couple of their friends. I was nervous about her going somewhere, since we didn't live near a big city, but knew they'd take care of her.

As soon as they left, Brooks had ideas to occupy ourselves. "Get your suit on and meet me out back."

"It's ten in the morning. You want to go swimming now?"

"We're home alone and there's a pool outside. If you don't feel like changing then take off your clothes and come as you are. The choice is yours."

I flashed him a dirty look. "We have neighbors."

"Actually, my beautiful lady, there's n.o.body living in your old house. Dad told me last night. Since the pool is on that side, you're out of excuses." He pulled me close, removing the distance between us. While his lips teased mine, he reached his hand down the front of my pants and started rubbing me between my legs. Immediately, I closed my eyes, becoming a victim to my own self need.

From the way he was taunting me with his perfect lips, I didn't want to move from that exact spot. I lifted my arm and ran my fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes and I pulled him into another kiss. When I backed away, he opened them once again, with a motive that was apparent in his gaze. I bit down on my lip and started tugging us back against the wall. Once my body came to a halt, I started ripping down his shorts. Brooks said nothing when I dropped to my knees and freed his erection. He leaned against the wall as I began pleasing him, right in the middle of the kitchen. I looked up, seeing him trying to watch me, but failing when he couldn't keep his eyes open.

The faster I glided my lips over his smooth shaft, the more noises escaped his lips.

I wanted to please him; to be able to satisfy him like I'd never done before. He needed to know that I was willing to do anything, s.e.xually and otherwise to make up for everything that I'd put him through.

He was getting close, and it was apparent from the way his body was reacting to what I was doing. Brooks took a chunk of my hair in one of his hands and pulled me off of him. "Hold up, Kat. Let's go upstairs."

I stood up and flipped us around, pressing Brooks against the wall. "I have a better idea." I pulled him along by his hand until we were standing outside at the bottom of the ladder that led to the tree house. Brooks smacked my b.u.t.t, letting me know it was okay to climb up. He followed behind me, one step at a time, until we climbed inside.

Like I'd remembered, the tree house was the exact way we'd all left it.

Brooks spun me around, taking little time to re-familiarize himself with our surroundings. His lips were on mine while his hands were quickly undressing me. With little fueling me except for desire, I unb.u.t.toned his shorts and let them fall to the floor. His boxer briefs needed a few tugs before they fell to his ankles. I knew we weren't, but I felt like a kid again, sneaking off for alone time with my heartthrob boyfriend.

Brooks was far from being a kid. He'd changed into a handsome grown man that knew his way around my body, as if I'd been made for only him. At the same time, we sank down to the floor, sitting straddled together. His hands held my a.s.s, pulling me right up into his lap. I could feel him, ready and in position to enter me. My breathing was heavy and I was getting carried away in the moment.

It was hot, like the small room was on fire. Sweat poured down our bodies, making them glisten as the sunlight shone through the small windows. I licked Brooks' neck, tasting salt on his skin. He lifted me again, teasing me with his erection and knowing that at any time he could have whatever he wanted.

He pushed me back far enough to savor one of my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. His eyes were on mine as he sucked my nipple hard, sending thrills to every part of my body. I lifted myself wanting to feel the motions of what it would be like once he was inside of me. My body grinded against his and I could feel his fingernails digging into the skin on my a.s.s cheeks. "Please, Brooks."

"Please, what? Tell me, Kat. I want to hear you say it."

"I want you so bad," I cried out.

He reached his fingers down and slid them inside me. I felt his thumb playing with my c.l.i.toris and bucked when the friction became evident. "I can't get enough of this p.u.s.s.y. Tell me it's mine. Say it, Kat."

It was so dirty, saying something like that out loud. I secretly wondered if he'd heard it on a p.o.r.no flick and wanted to experience it himself. Imagining that got me hotter, picturing myself turning him on even more than he already was. I bit down on my lip and closed my eyes as the words started coming out of my mouth. "This p.u.s.s.y is yours, Brooks. I'm yours."

He rubbed harder, causing me to cry out again, this time because my whole entire body was going into a euphoric frenzy. Even after I'd started to gain composure, he rubbed it again, causing me to buck my body against his. "Oh yeah, that's it."

Then he lifted me. When he sat me down, I could feel it sliding inside of me, filling me completely. I bit down on his shoulder while feeling him stretching me. I pushed off of him and rocked myself up and down, watching it gliding in and out. Brooks took hold of my a.s.s, making the friction more apparent. Our lips met for a kiss that took my breath away.

He slowed down his pace, finally coming to a stop. "Stand up and turn around."

I stood up, almost having to hold onto him after losing my footing. My knees were already weak, and he wasn't close to being done. Brooks turned me around so that I was facing the window. He lifted my hands up above my head and placed them on the top of it. In a yard behind ours, a man was mowing the lawn. I watched him walking back and forth while Brooks started to ma.s.sage my skin. He took his fingers and slid them between my legs, spreading me open. My legs separated and when I looked down, I could see him crouching to be able to exactly place himself where he needed to get.

He entered me again, this time pressing my naked b.r.e.a.s.t.s against the tiny framed out plastic windows. They immediately started to fog where my hot, sweaty skin made contact. My nipples slid up and down with each one of his thrusts. I cried out again, getting off on knowing that at any second that neighbor could see everything I owned.

Brooks reached around and held onto my nipple, pinching it. I put my forehead against the plastic and closed my eyes, feeling him going in and out. His body continued smacking against my a.s.s with each thrust, creating a loud sound each time. I felt him biting on my shoulder and dragging his teeth over my skin. My nipples tingled and a hot fire ignited between my legs. My natural muscles tightened and he could feel it too. "That's it, Kat. Smother me with that p.u.s.s.y."

I screamed, so loud that I knew if that mower wasn't running, I would have had an audience. Brooks went into a spasm like bout of movement. He cried out and then held me still. I let my hand fall down to my sides while his lips left tiny kisses on the back of my neck. Our skin was soaked in sweat and it glistened on his chest when I turned around to face him. His dog tags were stuck against it sideways and I pulled them away, allowing them to hang loose.

He found my lips and shoved his against them rather forcefully. Then he picked me up and just as quick as he turned me around, he was filling me again. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held onto his neck. We were going at it like wild animals, sweating off years of regret. Our s.e.x was incredible and being with him made everything else that was bad in my life just disappear.

Finally, when he could barely stand up straight, he let me down. His head fell into my neck and I ran my hand through his soaked hair. "G.o.d, I love you."

I closed my eyes as the words repeated in my mind. "I love you, too."

Chapter 45.

Our week home just kept getting better, at least until Friday, when we had to bury the hatchet with Branch and Melissa. Brooks was so happy between having me back, and falling in love with his daughter, that nothing could get him down. From what I could tell, he was practically dying to let Branch meet Brooklyn. For me, it was more in spite. After everything I'd learned about him trying to keep us apart, I wanted Branch to reap in the relationship that Brooks and I had found. No matter how long we'd been apart, he'd failed at what he'd set out to do.

Then there was the fact that he'd known he couldn't ever have children and had neglected to tell me. I wanted to grab his b.a.l.l.s and pull them off of his body.

Brooks noticed how anxious I was about ten minutes before they showed up. We'd been so busy, catching up, falling more in love, and being parents that Branch wasn't a priority. My other big concern was seeing Melissa. I'd trusted her and wanted to know when she fell in love with Branch. I wasn't jealous. I could have cared less who Branch ended up with, but I still felt betrayed. She'd hit on Brooks and even planned to sleep with him. Being that he and Branch were identical, I wondered how long she'd wanted him too.

"Kat, how long are you going to sit there? That bathing suit isn't going to put itself on, and if I have to stare at you in that towel for much longer, we're going to have a bigger and much harder problem." He pointed to his genitals as he walked over and kissed my head. "Look, I know you're nervous. It's one night and then they'll be gone."

"Am I allowed to hurt him?"

He laughed, while grabbing the top to my two-piece and started putting it on me. "For the sake of my parents, let's try to be on our best behavior. When they go to leave tomorrow, you can run out and do whatever you want to both of them. I'll cover you."

I gave him a serious, but amused look. "I don't know what I'd do without you. In one week you've changed my whole life. How is this even possible?"

He adjusted the cups and put both hands on either of my shoulders. "You weren't the only one who was miserable. If you'd seen the things that I've seen, you wouldn't want to live in the past either. Kat, we have a daughter now. I'm trying not to lose my man-card here, but I want us to work. When we go home, we're together. We'll have a lot to deal with, but we'll do it as a team. People aren't going to understand. They're not going to like that you're kicking your husband out and moving me in, but that's exactly what's going to happen. I'm not letting either of you out of my sight. The moment he laid a hand on you was when I lost respect for him. My daughter will not go anywhere near him and he can thank himself for that."

Brooks was so serious, and I respected his decision. After all, he was her father. As much as I wanted to feel bad for Bobby, I knew he'd made his own choices and burned bridges. No judge in the world would give him visitation of a child that wasn't his, especially now that he had a record.

"It's still hard to believe."

Brooks got on his knees and waited for me to step into my bottoms. "No, it's not. Tell me this - when I came back the first time for the wedding, how long did it take you to realize that you were with the wrong brother?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You know the answer."

"Humor me, woman."

"I supposed I knew it even before I saw you. I remember standing there watching for you to get out of a cab in your fatigues. My heart was racing and I couldn't calm myself down. Then when I saw you for the first time, it was like the whole room disappeared except for me and you. Fighting those feelings was impossible for me. I knew I was making a mistake, but I couldn't figure a way out of it."

Brooks stood back up and pulled me against him. "I was on the airplane with this old couple. They kept thanking me for risking my life for my country. About halfway through the old lady asked if I was married. I sat there with two strangers, who told them all about the girl I'd loved my whole life, and how she was marrying my twin brother." He shook his head and laughed. "I was so messed up in my head that day. I'd thought about what I wanted to say to you a million times. It was shocking when that old woman, who'd been married for more than half her life, told me I had to stop the wedding. She said I'd never forgive myself if I didn't tell you how I really felt. When I got out of the cab and saw you standing there, I knew I was going after you. Something inside of me snapped. There was no way I could let you go through with it without telling you everything. I didn't do it to get you into my bed. That part happened on its own. Obviously, in making love to you that night, we made the most beautiful little girl. I could tell you that we're together because of her, but it would be a lie. I wanted you back the minute I saw you on the army base, I just needed to be mad first. I felt so betrayed and hurt. For my whole life I'd thought Branch was keeping us apart. Then I found out you were married to someone else."

I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Can I be honest about something?"

He nodded.

"I could lie and tell you that I would have been faithful in my marriage, to be honorable. The thing is, the second I knew you were alive was when I knew for certain that I was fighting a losing battle with my heart. If you'd have come on to me in those first five seconds, with my husband standing right there, I don't think I could have pushed you away. I felt like it was a miracle; like you'd come back from the dead to save me from myself."

Brooks and I both shared a moment of silence. We hadn't meant for things to get deep, but there we were so caught up in each other. When the doorbell rang, we realized we'd been talking much longer than we antic.i.p.ated.

I pulled the cover-up over my head and held Brooks' hand as we headed downstairs.

B was coming at us, running full-force. Brooks picked her up and spun her around. My stomach was in knots knowing that I hadn't laid eyes on Branch since I'd left him at the altar. I almost wanted to smile knowing that I'd paid him back and not even known it was happening.

We sat down on the couch to wait for them to walk in the room. I could hear them being greeted by Walt and Danica. Brooks put his arm around me and leaned in for a kiss. I don't know what made me do it, but I climbed on his lap and kissed him like we were back in the tree house. He had to push me off, and when he did, I was all smiles. I saw his lips forming his own half amused smile. "You're being bad."

I couldn't answer, because I saw them coming toward us.

Branch was still wearing his sungla.s.ses, while Melissa clung to his arm as if he was dragging her. Brooks stood up, leaving me shielded behind him on the couch. He stuck out his hand for Branch. I was afraid to look at how he reacted and I was petrified to look him in the eye. There was also a fear that Brooks would just walk up and punch him.

Then B came running out from around the corner and everyone looked at her. She froze when she saw her father and then another man that looked just like him. That's when I looked at Branch for the first time. He pulled off his gla.s.ses and stared at my beautiful daughter. "You've got to be kidding me?" He looked at his brother and then back to B.

"Her name is Brooklyn, after her father." Okay, in my defense, I felt like it was necessary to immediately shove the fact that I'd had a child with Brooks, in his face.

Branch looked down and scratched his head. When he looked back at me, he held out his arms. "I think we're here to make amends, Katy."

I didn't move from beside Brooks. If he thought for one second I was going to hug him, he was dead wrong.

Then I looked at Melissa, who'd said nothing. Just knowing that she'd spent the past two years trying to be the perfect future daughter-in-law made me want to laugh. She'd never be me, no matter how sweet she acted, or how much they visited. Brooks shrugged as his parents came into the room. B went running toward Danica. "Mom mom, yook."

She pointed to her father's twin.

Danica scooped her up. "B, this is your uncle. His name is Branch. Can you say Branch?"

"Banch."

Branch laughed, and then he did something that I would have never expected. He held his arms out for her. "Hey, little cutie. Come here and say hi."

She peeked over Danica's shoulder to look at Brooks. He smiled and motioned that it was okay. I watched her, being taken into Branch's arms. He hugged her with more love and affection than I'd ever seen him have. Brooks put his arm around me and kissed me on the top of the head. His brother, who was still in awe over her, finally looked our way. "She's beautiful."

I felt guilty, after he'd said that. I couldn't put my finger on it, but Branch was different. He seemed so sincere. Melissa, started talking to B and I began to relax. Brooks was right about living in the past. We weren't going to make progress if we didn't move forward, so I walked over toward them and smiled. "It's been a long time, Mel."

She hugged me and I slowly let my arms reach around her back. "I missed you so much, Katy."

I pulled away and tried to be as nice as I could be. "I missed you, too. Obviously a lot has happened."

Branch handed B back to Brooks. She still seemed confused.