“Are you going to stand there all night and ogle my ass, or are you going to join me for dinner?” Brody half-turned around.
“If I weren’t so hungry maybe I would. I’m not quite sure.”
“Hmm. You’re late. It’s been twenty minutes. I thought we agreed on ten?”
“Now that you’ve ruined my grand entrance I guess I could have come down in ten.”
“Is that what you were doing? Because it looks to me like you were staring at my ass.”
I walked further into the room. “Let’s get one thing straight, Brody. Whatever my intentions, I never pussyfoot around them. I’m always crystal clear.”
“Then that makes two of us. I thought we’d eat here in front of the fire.”
“On the floor?”
“Does that expression on your face mean you’re too good to eat on the floor?”
“I am too good to eat on the floor. Although, it does look like you went through a lot of trouble to create this romantic environment.”
“I think you started it by trying to get me naked. Come on . . . have a seat.” He sat down then reached his hand up to me. I grabbed it and sat down next to him. “Here, have a glass of wine.”
“Let’s not pretend you aren’t game. You wanted to be naked, Mr. Windham.”
Brody spread warm hummus over shawarma and brought it to my lips. “So, have you already decided how this night is going to end?”
Rather than answering, I put my wine glass down, stared into his eyes as I opened my mouth to accept the food he was offering. I could have just taken it from him but decided to pull his fingers deeply inside the hot cove of my mouth until they disappeared. As I pulled back, slowly, I sucked off every bit not leaving anything behind.
Those crystal blue eyes quickly darkened.
“I haven’t quite decided yet.” I knew the sensuous display I put on as I swallowed the food hit the mark. I wasn’t going anywhere for the next couple of days.
His eyes followed the movement as it slid down my throat. “What if I haven’t decided yet?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “Then I’ll just have to change your mind. If, that’s the path I want to travel. For now, I’m starving for food.”
When Brody reached out and pulled me by the lapels of my robe barely inches from his lips, I lost my breath. His eyes bore into mine as his lips crushed mine—hard. In my surprise, he slipped his tongue inside the small opening into my mouth.
The kiss was wild and hungry. Each of us warring with the other trying to establish dominance. My eyes closed as I felt myself being lowered onto the floor. I let a moan escape. His kiss was like a powerful drug. I liked being in control, but I didn’t have any control over this, or the wetness forming between my thighs.
Just as suddenly as the kiss started, it ended. Brody pulled back from me. Our breathing was heavy, labored. I leaned into him as he caressed my cheek. I loved the feel of his skin against my skin.
“I haven’t decided what I want yet. I’m sure we’ll end up in bed but will it be something other than a good fuck or will it be something more. Until I’ve made up my mind, I think we should have dinner and talk.”
Chapter 15
I was still reeling from the way his kiss made me feel as we sat side by side in front of the fire. If a kiss alone could do the magical things that were happening inside of me, then I’d be happy with just a good fuck.
Brody fed me another piece of chicken. This time, I behaved. Through chews, I answered. “What do you want to know that you haven’t found out already?”
“Who is the woman behind the tough exterior?”
That was an excellent question. I picked up my wine and took a small sip. “I–I have to be tough. Otherwise, no one takes me seriously. You, you were born a man—a white man. There is a privilege that comes along with you being born in the body you’re in. That affords you certain luxuries that I will never have.”
He nodded. “I don’t necessarily disagree with you. But why is being head of The Family so important to you?”
He caught me off guard with that question. I almost choked on the wine and spilled the glass on the floor. My words were quiet. “You know about that?”
“Yes.”
I narrowed my eyes and hardened my voice. “You’re trying to play me. You knew who I was all along.”
“I’m not trying to play you. I’m trying to understand you. I just found out about your connection to them a couple of hours ago.”
“Uh - uh. I don’t believe that.” I shook my head side to side. “What exactly do you want from me?”
Brody put his glass of wine down on the floor. “I’m attracted to you like I’ve never been attracted to anyone, which is strange because you’re the most closed off woman I’ve ever met. I want to understand this and get to know you better.”
“If you know that my intentions are to be the head of The Family, why would you want to get to know me at all? People like me don’t fall in love. It’s a weakness I can’t afford.”
“Why do
