Condemned (25 page)

“Play with your nipples,” Brett instructed when he noticed
her chest heaving with every breath. “Pinch them harder. That’s it.” He watched
her teasing her flushed flesh. “Push your boobs together for me,” he urged.
“Stick out your tongue. Farther! See if you can lick yourself.” She managed to
flick the very tip of her peak with the tip of her tongue. “Again!” he demanded
as he reached for her clit. Every time her tongue touched her breast, he rubbed
her bud.

When Andie cried out and arched toward him, Brett shifted.
He pumped harder and faster, changing the angle until his thrusts brushed her
swollen flesh. When Andie exploded again, frantically meeting his hips, Brett
felt his pleasure build. With a few deep plunges, he spewed into her, emptying
his hot cum with such force he pushed Andie over the brink with him. Brett
finally slowed, rolling to his side, pulling her with him so he could stay
embedded in her hot flesh. “Don’t pull away,” he commanded as he trapped her
against him. He’d deal with the condom in a minute. Now he needed to feel her
wrapped around him.

Andie clenched her muscles around him and grinned. “Good
because I want you right where you are.” She sighed almost sadly. “You’re
right. We need to be able to do this without condoms. I bet we taste good
together. Maybe you should see if you get hard faster in my mouth.”

“Patience.” Brett pushed his hips against her. “We’ll get to
that but I like where I am.”

“I wish you could stay forever,” she sighed against his
chest. “I think I’m addicted.”

Brett laughed. “I’ve heard that once you’re hooked, there’s
no way to learn to do without again.”

“Then I’ll have to make sure I pay attention to every detail
you teach me. I don’t want to miss something and disappoint you.”

“I don’t think you could ever disappoint me, wench.” Brett
hesitated, suddenly uncertain. He hid it by pulling away to dispose of the
condom.

Andie noticed his distress. “What are you thinking?”

“About Jesse.”

“You want to talk about Jesse now? We’re here like this and
I can’t wait for you to get hard again and you seriously want to say something
about him?”

“He told me how you kissed him, Andie.”

“Did he tell you why he let me?” Brett nodded, clearly not
comfortable with the explanation. “I felt like I was dying inside. I was so
crushed when he told me that you and Tish were getting married. It destroyed me
and Jesse knew it. I reached out to the only person who knew how I felt and did
the first thing that came to mind.”

“I know I have no right to be jealous, but…”

She giggled. “How can you even consider being jealous? Jesse
was a lifeline so I would see that I really wasn’t dead. It was a good kiss but
nothing like ours.”

“He said pretty much the same thing. For a while, I thought
it would be good for you two to hook up. When I was bent on destroying my life,
I thought he would be able to stop me from dragging you down with me. Yeah, I
will admit it now. I wanted you then but I was fighting against it any way I
could.”

“Sh.” Andie kissed him tenderly. “Jesse will always be our
friend. He never gave up on getting us together and, for that, I will always
treasure him. But you, Brett Hudson, my ferocious beast, are my life. I need
you more than I need to breathe so don’t waste any more time thinking about
something that never even existed.”

“You’re too good for me.”

“No, I’m perfect for you, just like you are for me. Roll to
your back. Let me see if I can make us both happy.”

Brett did as she asked and watched her face as she sheathed
him and then moved on top of him. “Go for it, wench. Tell me if you need me to
do anything.”

Andie rode him, adjusting her angle and pace as her
excitement grew. Soon, she was squirming wildly, out of control with passion.
“Oh wow,” she exclaimed, slumping on his chest.

“Wow is right,” he agreed, caressing her back. “You are
incredible.”

“But I didn’t make you come with me.” She frowned. “I didn’t
take care of you.”

“Wait. Listen carefully.” He raised her chin. “Seeing you
like that is the best thing in the world. Never apologize for feeling pleasure.
In case you haven’t noticed, you have the ability to come unlimited times
whereas I require some time to recuperate. I wouldn’t be much of a man if I
denied you any opportunity to enjoy yourself. I could watch you come all day,
wench. You’re so hot when you let go. Such a tremendous contrast to your usual
calm demeanor. And I’m the only one who knows your secret. I’m the only one who
can take you higher than you ever dreamed of. You’re the only one who makes me
this hard and forceful. The more often I feel you come around my cock, the more
I want to find new ways to take you. Do it again, wench. Let me see you work
yourself into a frenzy while you ride me. I’m hard and ready to satisfy you.”

Brett’s words had the desired effect as they wound through
her mind. When he shifted beneath her, Andie seemed about explode from that one
tiny movement. She threw her head back, pushing her breasts forward. When his
hands covered her, Andie clutched his arms for support. Feeling daring, she
urged one hand lower until he found her clit. She guided his fingers to rub
her, stimulating her beyond belief as he took her over the edge again.

“More,” Brett demanded, pumping upward. “I have to see that
again.”

Andie’s hand found her breasts as Brett’s hands settled on
her thighs. His thumbs opened her, brushing her hardened flesh each time she
moved over him. He lifted her faster until Andie was thrashing on top of him.
“I can’t,” she gasped.

“You can.” He demanded more, making her continue until she
was sobbing with pleasure. When he knew she was beyond control, Brett slammed
her against him and held her motionless. “Don’t move,” he commanded as her
muscles clenched ceaselessly, squeezing his shaft intensely, forcing his body to
climax with hers. When Brett finally remembered to breathe, Andie lay panting
on his chest. Somehow, he managed to deal with the condom and cover their
sweat-drenched bodies before they chilled completely.

Andie snuggled as she hugged Brett tightly. “I don’t know
what to say,” she whispered.

“Me either.” He never wanted to let her go. “My God, Andie,
that was unbelievable.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“I told myself I was never going to bring it up but I know
you’ve done this plenty of times. I was serious when I told you I don’t have
much experience. If I don’t do something right, I want you to tell me so I do
better next time.”

“Stop.” Brett tightened his arms even more. “Do you trust
me?” She nodded. “Do you believe that I won’t lie to you just like I believe
you?” Another nod. “You’re right, I am experienced. A few weeks ago I would
have told you that I’ve had some great sex. I would have thought I was being
truthful too. But I assure you, Andrea Sloan, you, in your uniquely wanton yet
innocent way, have already taken me higher and given me more pleasure than I
ever found with anyone else.

“I really thought that what I did was good before. I thought
I was a considerate lover. I thought most of my partners would agree that I
gave freely before I took for myself. But my God, wench, you give new meaning
to the word pleasure. No one I was ever with is even close to your league and,
as of the first time I touched you in my kitchen, all others ceased to exist
for me. I thought we were better than good that night but adding love to the
mix takes this to a new level. I know now that all my previous experiences were
only meant to provide us with a starting point. I will draw on them to guide us
until our bodies take over and lead us where we’re meant to be.”

“You’re not just saying that to make me feel adequate, are
you? I know you won’t lie to me but I also think you’d try to keep from hurting
my feelings if you can.”

“I would try to find a way to spare your feelings as much as
possible but I won’t ever lie even to do that when something is as important as
this is. Think about what we just did. I’ve never done exactly that before. I
didn’t even know I could be perfectly still and reach completion like we just
did.”

A tear slid down Andie’s cheek. “I was so scared you’d think
I was boring because I don’t know much.”

“Somehow, I don’t think you, sex, and boring will ever be
included in the same sentence. Follow your body and do what feels good. Take
what feels good. Tell me if you want something, from either of us. That night,
in the shower, you were curious and wanted to explore. It may have been the
first time you touched anyone like that but you excited me. Tearing your
clothes turned me on instantly. I never wanted a woman badly enough to do that
before either. I can guarantee I’ll be doing that again so if there’s something
you’re particularly attached to, make sure you tell me. I’m insatiable around
you already and we’re just getting to know each other. I want to explore so
many things with you that I don’t know where to start. I want to lock us away
and indulge every fantasy we can imagine.”

“Me too.” She giggled.

“So you have fantasies other than having my hands on you?”

“Oh yeah.” She blushed.

“Don’t be shy with me, wench. We have a lifetime to play and
I intend to play with you as often as you let me. Tell me one.”

“I can’t.” She squirmed but he held her where she was.

“Stay here. I won’t force you. Just remember that when
you’re ready, all you have to do is say so. Until then, I have plenty of games
to keep us entertained.”

“Will this always be a game?”

“Doesn’t have to be. I’m sure we’ll meet, naked, in our bed
and make love like average people do sometimes. After we have kids we’ll sneak
off while they’re at ball practice and have lusty sex in the middle of the
afternoon because we’ve both been too busy or too tired to find time for each
other. We’ll come home at lunch for a quickie because we’re so hot that we
won’t be able to resist. We’ll call in sick and spend the entire day in bed,
fondling each other with lazy hands that keep our bodies humming with
anticipation. But, my adventurous wench, we will always possess the ability to
step into a role and experience new heights together. Even when we’re old and
tired and our bodies are wrinkled and slow, we’ll still be able to ignite a
fire in each other that only our shared passion can quench.”

“Oh man, are you good,” she sighed.

“That’s not just some line. I mean every word of it. Don’t
you believe me?”

“I want to. With all my heart, I want that to be true.”

“But?”

“But I’m not sure
happily ever after
really exists.”

“I wasn’t either until you called Jordan’s tonight. He and
Kiley seem to have found it. Same with Shane and Alyssa. I admit I had my
doubts even after they got together. You make me believe that anything is
possible. Are you going to marry me?”

“Wh-what did you just say?” Her eyes were huge. “You didn’t
just ask me to marry you?”

“Actually, that’s exactly what I did. I love you. You love
me. I can’t picture life without you anymore. It feels right when I think of
you as my wife.

“Brett.” She slipped away from him when his arms loosened.

“You’re scaring me.” He watched her wrap a quilt around her
body as she faced away from him. “Andie?”

“Um, I think I’ll get cleaned up and find us something to eat.”
She pulled on the door, forgetting that it was locked.

“Andie.” Brett stood behind her and rested his hands on her
shoulders. “I’m sorry if I’m moving too fast. I didn’t mean to rush you. I’d
hoped you wanted the same thing. Talk to me.”

“I can’t open the door,” she sobbed, still tugging on it.

Brett snagged the key and reached around her to put it in
the lock. He stepped back, sensing she needed space even though his first
reaction was to keep her locked in until she explained why she was so upset that
he’d asked her to marry him.

Chapter Thirty-One

Brett grabbed a quick shower in the guest bathroom, giving
Andie privacy. He left a pair of sweats and a T-shirt on the bed where she
would see them as soon as she opened the door and went to the kitchen.

Andie found him staring out the window with his back to the
door. “Um, hi,” she said timidly.

“Hi,” Brett turned, taking note that she was wearing his
well-worn, soft flannel shirt instead of what he’d left for her.

“I hope you don’t mind.” She glanced down.

“Not at all. I made some sandwiches. What would you like to
drink?”

“Anything is fine.” She took half a sandwich and perched on
the window seat instead of sitting at the table.

Brett joined her after pouring two glasses of juice. He ate
silently, waiting for her to speak.

“I guess I should say something,” she began.

“If you want to.” He shrugged, trying to appear relaxed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry about what? I’m a little confused here.”

“You really surprised me, bringing up marriage like that.”

“Obviously.”

“It’s all too much for me at the moment.” Andie finally met
his eyes. “I had a dream the night I met you. In it, we were married and had a
family and were very happy. It was so perfect. I thought it would always be
just a dream. When you were talking about our kids being at ball practice and
growing old together, my head started to spin. When you asked if I would marry
you, I thought I’d wake up and this would all be just a dream again.”

“So you didn’t pull away from me because you don’t want me?”

“No! That’s not it at all. I heard you, making all my dreams
come true and I almost ran because I was afraid to believe that you were
serious. My life was always plain, uneventful. Since I came to stay with Sadie
it’s become almost surreal. I feel like I’m a stranger, living in someone
else’s body.

“Think about it. I don’t send anonymous emails, hoping to
get someone to notice me. I don’t wake up in the middle of the night, hot and
bothered from the dreams I started having about some man who wants nothing to
do with me. I don’t turn to mush when anyone speaks to me. I don’t try to buy
someone’s company so he’s forced to spend some time with me. I don’t pretend to
be asleep so I can flash my panties at anyone especially when they’re just
being nice. I don’t force my way into houses and beg for engaged men to use my
body. Handsome men do not plan elaborate schemes to get me to talk to them. No
one ever even considers giving me anything remotely valuable let alone an
entire life’s work. I don’t have amazingly hot, wild sex with multiple orgasms.
I don’t have incredible men proclaim to love me and say they want me in their
lives permanently. None of this stuff happens to someone like me and I don’t
think I can handle it.”

Brett fought back his laughter. She was so adorable and
didn’t have a clue. She really believed that the things she’d listed shouldn’t
be happening to her. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. Why shouldn’t your life
include the things you just mentioned?”

“Because I’m not like that.”

“Like what?”

“Exciting. Interesting. Adventurous. Oh, I don’t know how to
explain this to you,” she groaned in frustration.

“Let me see if I can help. You think you’re not someone who
should have good things in her life. You don’t deserve to be truly happy and
were willing to settle for whatever quasi-life you can find instead of really
living. You don’t take chances and go after what you want because it’s such a
long shot that it will work out that it’s better not to bother trying. You’re a
sub-person who won’t ever have the best life can offer. Or, if you do manage to
get the premium life, you won’t be able to hold on to it anyway. Am I getting
close?”

Andie nodded, clearly miserable and embarrassed.

Brett raised her chin before he said any more. “Who made you
believe this nonsense? Who made you feel like you’re less than other people?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I always thought like
this.”

Brett could practically feel her drawing within herself.
Something Sadie said to him once popped into his head. “Sadie was right. I didn’t
believe her but damn if she wasn’t entirely correct.”

“What?” Andie was clearly confused.

“About a year after we met, we were having one of our usual
disagreements, you know, you’ve heard us. She was expounding on my less than
settled lifestyle and I was being defensive even though she was accurate and
she made a comment that I didn’t quite get at the time.

“She said I should watch out for the way I perceive myself
or I might actually start to believe the illusion I lived in. She mentioned
that her husband’s family was a prime example of a mask that was so firmly in
place, saying she doubted her dearest little grandniece would even recognize
her true self if the girl smacked herself in the face. She said it was bad
enough to be forced to stand by and watch her sister-in-law and niece do a
number on her. If I was enough of a fool to forget who I truly was behind the
pretty picture I painted for the world, she was going to be embarrassed to
admit she knew me. She was going to lose faith in her ability to judge
character and stop wasting her time with idiots who didn’t deserve the benefit
of her wisdom.” Brett paused to study her face. “Andie, why did you come here?”

She didn’t respond for so long that Brett thought she wasn’t
going to. “My mom blew up at me after the last time I refused to go to graduate
school. She wanted me to focus on performing and I wanted to teach children. My
grandmother came to talk some sense into me when mom couldn’t make me give in.
I was ironing in the basement so I could hide from them for a few minutes.

“I didn’t even know Dad was home when he opened the door to
his workshop and waved me in. He said he was proud of me for finally standing
up to them. He apologized for never being able to do it himself. Then he had me
call Aunt Sadie and invite myself to stay with her until I had a chance to see
what I wanted for my life without Mom looming over me. He’d made me call right
away and then he went up and told them it was all settled.

“I’ve never seen them so furious. Grandmother said all sorts
of awful things about how she’d always known it was a mistake for Mom to marry
him and how much of a disappointment he’d finally proven himself to be. He just
stood there and let both of them go on and on, without defending himself. But
he refused to let them stop me. That’s the only time I remember Dad not doing
what he was told or finding an excuse to go back to work to escape from one of
their tirades.

“Mom harped on at me nonstop until I drove away. She said
I’d be sorry for not following her advice. She told me I’d be back in no time
once I realized what a thankless job it was, teaching sniveling brats who
wouldn’t appreciate the talent I was throwing away on them. She hoped I came to
my senses quickly, before she gave up on me entirely and withdrew her offer to
help. She said I needed all the advantages my music could give me since I
lacked the charisma to attract the right sort of people. She told me I was
deluding myself if I thought I could get the finer things in life without her
guidance.”

Andie was sobbing but didn’t quit. “She called me plain and
boring and said if I was stupid enough to trap myself in the dull life I would
find as a teacher I shouldn’t expect her to come to my rescue. She said if I
defied her it would serve me right when I wound up married to a
good-for-nothing, blue-collar moron who would never provide the kind of life
she was offering to secure for me.”

Brett took the sandwich that she’d mashed while she spoke
and pulled her into his arms, stroking her back and whispering soothing words.
“First thing tomorrow I’m calling your father to thank him. Sadie too. Andie,
you can’t believe her entirely or you wouldn’t have come here. I’m sure your
mother means well but she is seriously misguided if she sees you as less than perfect.”

“She’s my mother.”

“Yes, she is but that doesn’t necessarily make her right
about you. You deserve to choose how you spend your life and what makes you
happy, just like everyone else in the world. I guess your mom never saw you
with a child who enjoys playing. If she had, she could never have thought you
lack charisma or called teaching thankless.”

“But…”

“But nothing! May I ask you something? Do you like to
perform?”

“I don’t mind it but I don’t miss it.”

“If you never saw another smile like Charlie’s that day,
would it make you sad? Would you miss hearing Kiley’s enthusiasm?”

“Yes.”

“Do I impress you as a sub-human moron who won’t spend my
life trying to make you smile? Someone who won’t try to provide you with
comforts in your life? Someone who would sneer at you for doing what you love
instead of what you were coerced to do by a mother who doesn’t really know her
own child? Do you think my friends are shallow and two-faced, nice to your face
but looking down their noses behind your back? And, if you’re so unworthy, why
does Jesse bother with you? Why would a smart kid like Flynn decide to trust
you enough to share a secret that could ruin his entire life? Andie, you have
to give yourself a little more credit. You’re spectacular and if you don’t want
to take my word on it, call Sadie and ask her opinion.”

Andie’s tears turned to laughter. “I never had anyone defend
me before. Especially not from me.”

“You need it.”

“Thank you.” Andie snuggled against his chest. “I know
you’re right. I’ve been trying to get over being hurt by Mom’s assessment of me
since I moved to Sadie’s. It’s hard to accept that my mother sees me as such a
huge failure. She’s only doing what she thinks is best for me. Grandmother
too.”

“She is but she hasn’t bothered to take a good look at you
so she couldn’t possibly know what that might be. I don’t want to sound like
I’m putting your mother down because she will always be your mom. I won’t deny
that I don’t like the way she treated you. I can’t promise not to defend you if
she criticizes you in front of me. I love you and I will protect you from
anything that might hurt you if I can, even if it is your family.”

“First my beast and now my hero.” Andie smiled at him.
“It’ll be okay. Mom just needs to get used to the idea that I’m not hers to
command anymore.”

“Nope. From now on, I’m the only one who gets to command
you.” He grinned wickedly.

“That’s right,” she replied. “About your question?”

“Why do you look like I’m not going to be thrilled with your
answer?”

“Just listen. Please? I do love you.”

“But?”

“It’s not really a but. Being with you is already too much
for me. You are my dream come true. I would love to marry you eventually. Just
not right away. I want to enjoy living with my lover first.”

“I’ll still be your lover after I’m your husband.”

“I know. It’s just, I don’t know how to say this right.”

“Don’t get upset. You already said the thing I wanted to
hear most.”

“What?”

“That you will marry me eventually. Knowing that makes me
happy in ways I didn’t know existed. I can wait for you to be ready as long as
you keep telling me that you will be ready someday.”

Andie sighed contentedly. “I would marry you now if you
demanded it.”

“You mean that? If I announced that we were going to Vegas
tomorrow to get married, you’d do it?”

“I’d be on my way to pack now, if you insisted. I wouldn’t
love you any differently either.”

“Now I’m really confused.”

“Don’t you get it? When I promised I would do anything for
you I meant anything. If you say we’re getting married tomorrow, then we will.
But I hope you don’t decide to dictate this part of our lives. I hope you’ll
give me some time to savor just being with you as me, the woman who you trust
enough to know that I love you and will be with you always, ceremony or not.”

“I do trust you. If you say you’re staying with me, you are.
If you say you’ll marry me someday, you will. I won’t take advantage of you and
demand that you make an honest man of me instead of keeping me as your boy toy.
Why are you laughing? Or am I wrong that I’m invited to live with you?”

“Of course we’re going to live together. Don’t you want me
here?”

“It’s up to you. This is your house, remember? If you don’t
let me stay, I’m homeless.”

“We have to talk about that. I can’t keep it. It was really
sweet of you to make that gesture but you didn’t really expect me to let you
give me everything you have.”

“But I did. I assure you, each of those papers is perfectly
legal. Everything is yours.”

“But you have to take it back.”

“Why?”

“You can’t just give me your house. I can’t afford a
mortgage like this.”

“No mortgage. I paid it off yesterday before I signed it
over to you.”

“You’re not serious!”

“Oh I am. I swear I paid the balance on the mortgage.
Jordan’s going to be pissed that I messed with my accounts and blew the tax
advantage but he’ll help you with it anyway.”

“I won’t let you do this.”

“It’s already done. I should probably mention that there’s a
clause on each document that prevents you from trying to sign any of it back
over to me without us being married. If you don’t want to keep it, you’ll have
to find someone else to sell it to or give it to.”

“Brett.” She stared, stunned.

“What’s wrong, wench? Didn’t you think I expected you to try
to refuse me? I needed a backup plan in case capturing you didn’t succeed in
getting you to talk to me. If you read the fine print, you’ll discover that the
only way for you attempt to convince me to take anything back is in person.
You’ll see that if we both agree, I will reclaim everything I gave you without
us being married. Well I won’t agree so you’re stuck with it. As of ten this
morning, my total net worth is twenty-five hundred dollars. I’m homeless and
unemployed unless you personally ask me to stay on at the station.”