“People die or leave all the time. It’s life. At least this way, I can control what’s going on around me.”
“So, it’s a control issue. Why do you need to be in control?”
“My goooooooooood Brody. Is this a therapy session? I thought we were going eat and screw. Maybe I should have taken dinner in my room.”
I started to stand, but he stopped me. “Gina. Look.” He ran his fingers through his hair. If he hadn’t pissed me off, I would have wanted to do that for him.
“I’m not trying to run you off. I just want to talk. I saw something in you today, and it’s been calling to me ever since. We’ve got the physical chemistry down, but maybe I want to see if we could have a little more than just fantastic sex. You and I both know it’ll be good, but maybe I want explosive.”
Slowly, I sat back down. “If you haven’t figured it out, I’m not very good at the interpersonal part of relationships.”
“No, I can’t say you are. How about I pull up just a bit. Tell me about your family? What was it like being Gina Lee-Xiou?”
I stared into the fire. “Explaining that is almost as difficult as explaining to an almost virtual stranger about an organization that may or may not exist.”
“Really? Talking about your family is difficult for you? Rough childhood?”
“How about no childhood. I was raised by a nanny who was really my mother until my father had her killed. My twin, also killed by daddy dearest.” I snapped my finger. “Oh . . . wait a minute. He didn’t actually kill her, he just thought he did. Dead sister has risen from the grave. Hallelujah!” I put my hands in the air as if in celebratory praise. “Only she faked her death to get away from him AND me. She calls both of us monsters. The funny thing is she’s the only person I would have gladly given my life for. In some ways I did. Anyway, she’s back after fifteen years wanting half of my father’s estate. You’d think maybe she’d want to rekindle her relationship with me or her daughter, that I’ve tried so hard to protect all these years—but no. She’s back for money.
“I’m fighting her, and I’m fighting members of The Family to take my rightful place. So, when you asked me earlier who was trying to kill me? Hell, it could be anybody that I know.”
Silence. He didn’t say a damn word. I suppose if someone went on a diarrhea-of-the-mouth rant about things you only read about in books, you probably wouldn’t have very much to say either.
After several quiet moments, Brody pushed my hair back behind my ear. I stiffened at his touch and only relaxed slightly when he kissed the tender flesh on the side of my neck. He whispered into my ear. “I get it. It all makes perfect sense.”
I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath. My voice cracked just a little. “W–what does that even mean?” Never had I ever been this open with anyone, and I wasn’t exactly sure why I’d chosen him.
Brody pulled me into the crook of his arm. “It means you’re a complicated woman. I see the many layers in you, and I just might want to spend some time peeling them back. My instincts, for the most part, have always been right on. I don’t think this time is any exception.”
Chapter 16
I woke up in bed naked with a heavy arm draped just underneath my breasts. Instantly, my nipples hardened the moment I realized that Brody’s body was pressed up against mine. We were in a spooning position. The skin on skin contact was a delicious feeling, and the way our bodies melded together was perfect. I closed my eyes to bask in the feel of him for just a moment.
Sex. I knew how that could make me feel. But mind-blowing sex mixed with something more than just the act of getting a release—that was new to me. Even with Alexandro, I had to pretend to be someone I was not. As good as we were together, it was never explosive, but that’s what Brody promised. He said it would be good between us, but he wanted explosive. If the semi-hardened state of his manhood was any indication, I would not have been disappointed by either.
The clock on the nightstand said 2:03 AM. My body was screaming for a release. I pressed my thighs together in an attempt to calm the dull ache between them. There was no way I was going to make it until morning without getting the release I craved. I pressed my ass against him then rolled my hips just a little. The next thing I knew lips touched the heated flesh of my shoulder.
“Mmmm…that feels good.” I moaned and whispered into the darkness. “How did we get here?”
His lips grazed the side of my neck. “You fell asleep in my arms, and I carried you to bed.”
“Interesting you chose your bed instead of mine.”
“I knew this was where you really wanted to be.”
The tips of his fingers caressed me from my shoulder all the way down to the bone just above my hip. He pressed his massive cock into the crease of my ass. It felt so delicious that I bit my bottom lip anticipating being filled up and stretched to my limits.
My voice was thick with sexual
