I warred with myself internally for a few minutes, gathering my courage to ask, “Brock?”
“Hmmm?”
“How would you classify what we’re doing?”
“What do you mean?”
I sighed heavily, wishing he could just read my mind and make this easier for me.
“Well, when I initially gave you your fifteen minutes, you said you were looking for fun, that you wanted to explore our chemistry. Now I’m eating dinner with your brothers, and essentially spending the weekend with you. I don’t know if I’m making assumptions, but it seems to me that things have changed.”
I closed my eyes tightly as I waited for his response, half expecting him to throw me out of his bed, but I felt his hand come to my chin and lift my face toward his, so I slowly opened my eyes.
His green eyes bore down on me, his expression unlike any other I’d seen on his face before.
“I’d say we’ve moved past a no-strings type of relationship, wouldn’t you?” he replied, and I felt some of my fears begin to ease. “The more time I spend with you, the more I want to. If you need me to define things more clearly, I want you with me, and only with me. If you’re not in my bed, then I’m in yours. I know I’m not what you initially planned for yourself, but sometimes reality is much better than any fantasy. I think we’re good together, and I’d like to explore our relationship further. See where it goes. Is that along the same line as what you were thinking?”
Brock’s eyes were intense, and I didn’t realize how much my affirmation meant to him until I said, “Yes, that sounds perfect. I’d like to be in an exclusive committed relationship with you and see what happens,” and he let out the breath he’d been holding. Then he surprised me by starting to laugh.
He laughed so long, and so loud, that my entire body shook.
When he calmed down, Brock caressed my cheek and chuckled, “You sure have a way with words, Tori.” He laughed softly to himself again, then settled back into his comfortable position and closed his eyes. I burrowed back in, smiling to myself as I thought that I’d never been happier than I was in that moment.
As I drifted off to sleep I heard him say, “Whoever said opposites attract, sure had that shit right!”
Chapter 15 ~ Brock
I’d abided by Victoria’s wishes, and had forced myself to refrain from initiating anything that would lead to us having sex. It had been extremely hard. Especially this morning when I woke up to her snuggled into me, her long, bare legs tangled with mine. Her dark hair had half covered her face, which looked sweet and peaceful as she slept. Waking up with a raging hard-on didn’t make things any easier.
This was why, even though I was about to spend the day in the mud, I had been standing under the shower for the past twenty minutes, willing my body to calm down. I could have taken care of myself more quickly by rubbing one out in the shower, but when I had a warm, beautiful woman just a few feet away in my bed, the last thing I wanted to do was jack off. I wanted to say to hell with her request, and jump back into bed and persuade her. I had no doubt that I could … And thinking along those lines is why I was still standing in the shower. Every time I began to get control, my mind would begin to spin fantasies, and my cock would stiffen right back up.
“Brock?” Victoria’s voice came from the bathroom door, the soft, sleepy tenure of it causing me to groan.
“Yeah,” I managed to strangle out.
“I brought you a cup of coffee. Brendan made a pot before he headed over to Brady’s to load up, and he gave me some clothes. They should fit.”
I opened the shower door and peeked my head out to see Victoria looking rumpled and positively edible, a steaming mug in her hand.
“He’s gone?” I asked briskly.
At her nod, I turned off the nozzle and stepped out of the shower. I stalked toward her, not caring that I was dripping water in pools as I moved. Her eyes rounded as she looked me over from head to toe. Her mouth opened slightly, and she began to back out of the room as I got closer.
“What are you doing?” she asked quietly as I took the cup from her hand and set it on the dresser.
“We’re all alone,” I replied before swooping down on her.
She squeaked when my arms wrapped around her and my lips found hers, and I chuckled against her mouth, deepening the kiss. Her arms slid up and down, slippery on my back, and she pressed her body in closer to mine. I lifted my T-shirt over her head, breaking contact from her mouth and bending to suckle on her exposed breasts. Victoria fisted her hands in my wet hair and groaned, holding me close as my lips and tongue feasted on her supple flesh. As my mouth teased and nipped, my hands glided down her sides to her hips. I dipped my hands under her panties and palmed her firm ass, squeezing as I pulled her closer to thrust against my straining cock.
I shoved her panties down as far as I could, then she shimmied them the rest of the way off. As I continued to feast on her pert, pink nipples, I ran my hand down her ass, curving my fingers up as I explored, so when I found her slick and wet I was able to enter her swiftly.
Victoria threw her head back, moaning as she moved her hands to my biceps to hold on. My mouth and hands worked her over and she dropped her forehead to my shoulder, her soft pants in my ear causing a liquid fire to burn through me. I added another finger and began pumping in and out as my thumb caressed her tight little clit. She began moving her hips, fucking my hand as her orgasm built.
I knew she was close, so I flipped her and bent her over the bed. She braced herself on her elbows, so I put a hand on either side of her hips and thrust in swiftly, pausing when I was as deep as I could go. I closed my eyes and allowed myself a moment to experience immense pleasure, before I pulled my hips back, stopping to allow the head of my dick to bob in and out, then thrusting back in.
Victoria’s whimpers broke through my lust-filled haze, and I remembered that she still hadn’t come, so I held on with one hand as I pumped my hips and brought the other one around to ease her frustration. After just a few flicks of her sensitive nub, her orgasm began to rock through her, causing her walls to pulse around me as I thrust inside her. It was fucking heaven. As she rode out her pleasure, I felt my release begin to build. I brought my hands back to her hips and thrust hard and fast until I came, then I slowed my movements, milking that feeling until the last possible second.
When my vision cleared, I leaned over and kissed the back of Victoria’s damp neck.
“You good?” I managed to mumble in her ear.
“Perfect,” she said on a sigh.
“Yeah,” I replied with a satisfied grin, then I stood up, slapping her lightly on the ass, and said, “We’d better get a move on. The boys will be waiting.”
I laughed as Victoria jumped up, a look of horror on her face as she looked around the room, as if expecting my brothers to be waiting on the sidelines.
“It’s cool, Tori, get yourself cleaned up. We’re meeting them at Brady’s. Don’t worry about getting dolled up, you’re just gonna get dirty.”
She nodded and ran into the bathroom. I picked up my coffee cup and wandered out to the kitchen to see if Brendan had left any grub. I didn’t worry about putting clothes on; we were the only ones home, and even if my brothers did walk in, they wouldn’t get embarrassed about seeing my dick.
He’d left a note on the counter that simply said, Microwave.
I opened the door to see a wrapped plate with three breakfast burritos. I fucking loved my brother.
I touched the top and felt that they were still slightly warm, which was good enough for me, so I leaned back against the counter and ate one, then another, as I sipped my coffee.
I turned my head when I heard Victoria gasp, then watched as she covered her mouth and giggled.
“What’s up?” I asked with a smile. She looked cute in Brendan’s Sleeping with Sirens T-shirt, black jeans that were to long they covered her feet, and her hair pulled up into a wet bun on top of her head. Her face was devoid of makeup. It wa
s a good look.
“Are you going to get dressed?” She giggled again as she walked closer, her eyes roving, until suddenly the smile was gone and her face took on a whole different look.
“No time for that.” I grinned as her hooded eyes found their way to my face. “Eat a burrito. I’ll go get dressed and we’ll head out. Okay?”
I snaked my hand out and pulled her flush against me, lowering my head and taking her lips. When I felt her hands come around and squeeze my bare ass, I chuckled against her mouth.
“Be right back.”
A few minutes later I was ready to go. I threw an old ball cap on and joined Victoria in the kitchen. She was popping the last bit of burrito in her mouth. She turned to me and said, “Wow, that was delicious.”
“Brendan has a gift,” I said with a smile, then put my arm out, indicating she should walk in front of me. I brought my hand to her lower back and guided her to the front door. “You got everything?”
“I think so,” she replied, looking down at herself, then back up at me, her expression conveying her nerves.
I dipped my head low, bringing my face closer to hers, and said, “You’ll be fine. If you try it out and don’t like it, we can hang out and watch the guys, or we can cut it early and come home. No worries.”
She nodded slowly, and I brought my thumb up to trace her lower lip, until it curved up in to a small smile.
“That’s better,” I said, then kissed the tip of her nose before ushering her outside.
I shot Brady a text that we were on our way. They’d loaded the trailer and attached it to his work truck, and would be following us out to the site. I figured it was better to ride separately, just in case Victoria hated it. I hoped she didn’t, but her reaction to riding on the motorcycle did not bode well for the four-wheeler.
When we drove down the street to Brady’s, the guys were already in his truck, coffee mugs in hand, ready to go. I gave them a thumbs up as I drove past, and they pulled out behind me.
As we neared our location, I noticed Victoria wringing her hands in her lap as she looked out the window.
“Have you ever been on a four-wheeler before?” I asked, hoping to calm her some by talking her through it.
“No,” she replied with a shake of her head as she turned her face toward me. “Is it hard?”
I lowered the volume on the radio and shook my head as I watched for our turn.
“No, not at all. It doesn’t take long to figure it out, and once you get the hang of it, I know you’ll be cruising around like a pro. It’s a lot of fun and gives you a rush of adrenaline. I think you’ll enjoy it. I’m guessing the biggest reason you didn’t like being on the back of my bike, was because you weren’t in control. Since you’ll be driving this, I think you’ll be able to relax and get into it.”
I chuckled when her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened with shock.
“I’m going to be driving?”
“Yup.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea … since I’ve never done anything like this?”
I took a hand off the wheel and brought it to her thigh, squeezing it encouragingly as I responded, “Tori, I promise, this is no big deal. Trust me?”
I looked briefly at her before focusing back on the road and veering off toward our exit.
“Okay,” Victoria replied, her voice small.
I pulled into the lot and turned to her with a smile. “Ready?”
She gave me a brave little nod, fumbling for the door handle and opening the door. I jumped down and rounded the truck, waiting as Brady pulled his truck in next to mine, so we could unload the four-wheelers. We’d brought two, that way two people could ride at a time.
Brendan and I lowered the ramp, then hopped up to ride the four-wheelers down.
“You’re riding bitch,” Brendan joked with Brady, who scowled at him.
“You’ll ride behind me out to the site, then I’ll show you the ropes and let you take off, okay?” I said to Victoria, who was standing next to me, eyeing the ATVs warily.
She climbed on behind me, securing her arms snuggly around me and hiding her head in my back. I choked back a chuckle, then took off toward our regular site. It wasn’t far, just a ten-minute ride.
I looked around as we rode up. There had been quite a bit of rain, so there was plenty of mud in sight. As well as some pretty wicked-looking puddles. The rush hit me as we drove in, and I couldn’t stop the wild grin that I knew had overtaken my face.
A day mudding with my brothers and a beautiful woman … I loved this shit!
We pulled to a stop and I climbed off the ATV, indicating that Victoria should scoot up and take the lead. I laughed as Brady jumped off the back of the other machine like his ass was on fire, and Brendan took off immediately for the closest mud puddle.
Victoria watched, her face alight with horror, as Brendan’s tires hit and the mud and water went flying everywhere. His shouts of glee almost drowned out her sharp intake of breath, but I was close enough to hear it. I wrapped my arms around her, leaning her a little off the bike so she could feel my presence.
“All I ask is that you give it a try,” I bent down to implore.
I felt her body go rigid, and I knew she was preparing to hate it, but she gave me a look of determination and a swift nod.
My brave girl.
I went over the simple instructions of how to work the ATV. Turn it on, peddle placement, maneuvering, etc. … It really was simple as hell, so it only took a few moments before I told her to give it a try.
“Just take a circle around the lot here. Get a feel for it.”
I was watching intently, looking for signs of distress or loss of control, so I saw Victoria’s lips go from tight, to tremulous, to full-on, mega-watt smiling. By the time she got back to me, she was much more relaxed, and I could tell she was going to be just fine.
Still, I asked, “You good?”
“Yes,” she replied, her cheeks rosy.
“Alright, then, go after Brendan.”
At my words she looked over in the distance to where my brother was riding hard and fast through mud, ditches, and puddles. Her face lost some of its confidence, but she gave me a quick nod, and took off toward the mud. At the first spray of mud, Victoria flinched visibly and quickly closed her mouth, learning one of the most important lessons of mudding right away … Keep your mouth shut, or it will be full of mud. But instead of turning around at the first splatter, she kept going, heading straight for a large puddle in the center of the lot.
Brady walked over to me, chuckling as he watched Victoria’s progression.
“Twenty bucks says she screams and starts crying when she hits that water,” he challenged.
“You’re on,” I replied, absently slapping his hand in agreement.
I saw Brendan pause as he watched Victoria barreling toward him. He was covered head to toe in mud, as was his four-wheeler.
We all watched as Victoria, not slowing down a bit, splashed through the puddle, water spewing up both sides in waves, coating her hair and face completely. I could hear sound coming from her direction, and strained to figure out what her reaction was.
Brady was smiling at me, certain that he’d won, when the unmistakable sound of laughter drifted toward us. Victoria stopped on the other side of the puddle, bent over the front of the ATV with laughter. I was grinning in triumph when her head came up and turned to find me. She raised her arm, giving me a big thumbs up, as she yelled, “Woo hoo!”
Victoria took off then, following the route that Brendan had, as she rode toward him. I watched her drive away. My uptight, perfectly groomed and manicured girl, plastered with mud, shouting gleefully to my brother, but too far away for me to understand her words, and something inside me shifted.
“You got it bad, bro,” Brady said as he shoved a twenty in my hand.
Yeah, I thought, watching my girl race toward my brother, I’m totally fucked.
Chapter 16 ~ Victoria
I?
??d thought I was nervous before dinner with Brock’s brothers, but that was nothing compared to the avalanche of emotion at the thought of attending Shelly’s baby shower.
I’d never had a good relationship with anyone who was going to be at the party, except for Scott, and that didn’t end well.
These people hated me.
Now, I was standing at the front door, near frozen in panic, and contemplating a quick getaway, when I felt Brock’s large, warm hand clasp mine, and his breath hit my ear. “Everything’s going to be fine. And if it isn’t, we’ll leave. Easy as that.”
I nodded at his comforting words, and gave him a shaky smile. He lifted his hand and knocked, causing my already tumultuous stomach to drop to the concrete at my feet.
I stopped breathing as the door began to open, revealing Gaby on the other side, wearing a welcoming grin.
Shit.
I guess it was better to get the awkwardness out of the way. What did you say to the girl who had once dated the guy you were currently with, but was now in a relationship with your ex-fiancé?
“Hello?” I blurted out on my quick exhale.
Brock chuckled next to me, and leaned in to give Gaby a kiss on the cheek, obviously not uncomfortable in the least.
“How’s it going, sweet girl?” Brock asked as he pulled away.
My stomach knotted at his endearment, surprising me a bit.
“Great,” Gaby returned with a smile, then she included me in her greeting and added, “I’m so glad you both could make it.”
Weird.
I tried unsuccessfully to loosen my tight smile. Not because Gaby’s greeting didn’t seem genuine, it did … but because I knew that she was only one of many, and I wasn’t sure that all reactions would be as pleasant.
Brock dropped his hand to the small of my back, leading me into the house as we followed Gaby.
The living room was decked out in pale green and yellow, with decorations everywhere. Men and women were spread throughout the living room and kitchen, and although the room was filled with chatter, the gentle sound of music could be heard in the background.