Road to Recovery (13 page)

Placing both hands on her ankles, he
slid his hands up her calves, over her knees, settled them on her
inner thighs, spreading them apart.

Brooke was twisting on the bed and had
grabbed the comforter in her fists, her head moving side to side.
“Please, Lucas, touch me now.”

Her begging almost broke him. But he
wouldn’t be deterred, not until he had his fill. He wanted her to
come first. He wanted to feel her spasm on his lips and taste her
on his tongue before he slid deep inside of her.

His breath hovered above her most
sensitive bud. She raised her hips to meet him and then moaned when
his tongue touched her. He teased her, slowly using the tip of his
tongue to circle around her, then pulled her into his mouth,
sucking, teasing, and wringing moans from her. Then he stopped,
heard her beg for more, and started all over again. Drew her right
to the edge.

Knowing she was more than ready, he
slid one finger inside of her. She was soaking wet, and he couldn’t
resist sliding a second in. She was so tight he hoped that she was
able to accept him when it was time.

Feeling her muscles squeeze his
fingers, he decided it was time to send her over that edge. He
placed his lips against her again, knew how much she enjoyed it
before, then pumped his fingers in and out. Harder and faster, as
her hands now gripped his head, holding him in place.

Her muscles clutched and pulsed around
his fingers as she let out a scream. Let go completely. The spasms
going on and on, while he continued to taste and slide his fingers
in and out, prolonging her pleasure.

When her hands fell limply at her
sides, he stood up quickly and practically ripped his shirt off,
cursing all the buttons. Pushed down his pants and underwear,
discarded his shoes, grabbed the condom out of his pocket and made
quick work of rolling it on.

Standing where he was, he grabbed her
legs that still dangled off the edge of the bed and wrapped them
around his waist as he positioned himself at her entrance. She was
slick and tight at the same time, and he felt like he was going to
heaven as he slowly entered her inch by inch.

Holding himself there, marveling at her
warmth, he brought his thumb back to her bud and started to rub
circles while he placed his other hand on the bed to brace himself.
He had to touch all of her at once. Leaning forward, he found her
breast with his mouth, drew her nipple in.

Her hips started rising against him the
faster he moved his thumb, the deeper he pulled her into his mouth,
all the while holding himself completely still within
her.

Testing, he slowly moved his hips back
and forth. Sliding out almost completely and then sinking back in
just as slowly. Again and again, all the way out to his tip, and
sliding back, filling her completely. Moving to a beat in his head.
Increasing the tempo at his pace.

When her legs tightened around his
hips, he started to lose his finesse and found himself moving
faster. The beat was gone, and there was no chance of finding it
again.

He pulled his mouth away from her
breast, stood up, grabbed her hips with both his hands, and lifted
her higher off the bed, causing her to arch her back. In and out,
again and again, racing to the end, until he heard her cry out,
echoing with his own groan as he emptied inside of her.

Once the shudders subsided from his
body, he lowered her legs back to the floor, and quickly took care
of the condom.

Walking back into the room, he saw
Brooke continued to lie in the same position. Her back on the bed
and her legs dangling off the edge, looking as shattered as he
felt.

Lying down next to her on his back, he
pulled her partially on top of him, so that she was resting her
head on his chest. “You OK?” He started to run his hand up and down
her back.

“
Mmm, yeah. Oh, yeah. You?”
she breathed out.

Somehow he managed a chuckle. “Most
definitely. I think you just killed me.”

Her only response was another.
“Mmm.”

Just then his stomach rumbled. Brooke
sat up, her grin matching his. “Guess you’re hungry.”

“
As much as I would love to
lie here and start all over again, even I have my limits. And right
now, I think we could both use the nourishment.” He playfully
grabbed her butt, gave her a little hug. “Give us some energy for
later, because I’m not nearly done with you tonight.”

Later that night Lucas woke chilled. It
took him a moment to realize he wasn’t in his own bed, and that he
was completely uncovered.

There was enough moonlight coming
through the window that he could see Brooke’s huddled form on the
other side of the bed. Even though her face was relaxed in sleep,
she was completely wrapped up in all the covers, like she was
protecting herself. Shielding her soul from the world. From
him.

Uncontrolled feelings of hurt arose
within him. He knew he was overthinking everything. Even after
their first round of lovemaking, he could feel her wanting to pull
away once her body calmed down. Like she was scared she let too
much of herself go and needed to regain control.

When they had finally gotten around to
dinner it had been relaxing and easy. They worked together as one,
grilling the steaks and then cleaning up after. Conversation was
fun and light. Yet he knew she still felt uneasy around him, even
after they made it back to the bedroom for round two.

When she was all worked up and hot, she
acted. He could see she didn’t stop to think—she wasn’t as
controlled. She definitely made him lose his control. Especially
when she paid him back for all the teasing he did to her the first
time.

But once it was over, and her breathing
was back to normal, he could almost hear the thoughts forming in
her head. He held her a few minutes, hoping she wouldn’t be so
stiff next to him, but he fell asleep wishing.

He never felt her pull away and curl up
on the other side. Where she still remained.

Not wanting to wake her, he gently
pulled some of the covers back to his side. The minute he was
covered, she rolled over in her sleep and he was left looking at
her back.

It had been more than two weeks since
their first night together. They seemed to be making it work. By
all appearances, no one could look at them and see anything other
than two professionals working together during the days. At night
and on the weekends was another story. It was a good
balance.

They usually had dinner together one to
two times a week, dessert following in the bedroom. Shortly
thereafter, he would make the roughly one-hour trip home alone. On
the weekend, when he stayed at Brooke’s, it was kept to a single
night at a time.

He usually brought a change of clothes
with him on Friday, they’d spend Saturday together, and then he
would head back to his house on the lake.

Both of them using Sunday to unwind and
catch up, then seeing each other at work on Monday. Going through
the same routine again, never really being able to let go, for fear
of someone catching on to the two of them. At least that was
Brooke’s fear.

He was more than happy to let people
know. He didn’t understand the reason for the secrecy, but for the
moment he continued to let her call the shots on that
front.

He wanted more, needed more.

It was Wednesday morning and Lucas was
finishing up his weekly staff meeting when his phone rang. Waving
to everyone, signaling the end of the meeting, he stood facing the
windows, his back to the table to answer the call. “Hi,
Mom.”

“
Hi, Lucas. I’ve only got a
second before I need to get back to class, but I wanted to catch
you quickly. Your father and I decided to have a cookout Memorial
Day weekend. Not too big, your brother and Mandi, a few neighbors
and a few staff from the firm. We expect you there too.” He could
hear the bell ringing in the background. “I need to run now. I’ll
text you with the details as we get closer.”

“
OK, oh and Mom, I’ll be
bringing someone with me, too. No, I’m not saying. Get to class.
You can meet her then.” He cut her off before she could ask, heard
her chuckle, so much like his own. “Love you, too,” he replied back
to her and ended the call.

He didn’t realize his staff was still
sitting at the table when he turned around. “What?” he asked as
they all stared at him. No one answered. They gathered their stuff
with knowing grins on their faces before they walked out. But his
executive assistant remained.

Rhonda had been the Department Head
Executive Assistant long before Lucas was even born. She often
looked at him as one of her kids. And when no one else was around,
she treated him as such.

After gathering her tablet and papers,
she paused for a moment. “She’s a good girl. Under that entire calm
and cool exterior is one tender heart. Go gently.”

“
Who?” he answered
coyly.

“
Don’t play dumb with me.
I’ve known you for years. I have eyes in my head. Brooke’s and your
secret is safe with me.” She held her hand up. “And no, I’ve not
heard any whispering about it. Yet. But you don’t hide your
feelings well. Now everyone here knows there’s someone. So you can
bet there will be speculation.”

He walked to the doorway with her, took
notice no one was around, then leaned in and gave her a quick peck
on the cheek. “Thanks for the warning. And the advice.” He turned
toward his office.

“
Mathews!” Lucas heard his
name shouted before he could close his office door. He turned and
saw Mike Lester strutting toward him, all five foot six inches of
him, chest puffed out, overly white teeth gleaming. “Do you have a
quick minute?”

“
Don’t forget your meeting
with Brooke at three, Lucas.” Nodding his head to Rhonda, Lucas
acknowledged her statement, and continued into his office with Mike
on his heels.

“
Brooke? That nice piece of
ass in HR?”

Lucas saw red, but before he could
respond Mike kept talking, oblivious to the warning signs in front
of him. “Too bad she’s so frigid. But hey, you know what they say
about that, right? The colder they are, the hotter they
burn.”

“
What do you want, Mike?”
Lucas growled. He wanted to defend her—it was his nature to do so,
but he knew that would only draw more questions. For Brooke’s sake
he kept quiet, as much as it pained him to do so.

Twenties minutes later, with Rhonda’s
words still in his head, and a pounding headache caused by
restraining himself from reaching across the desk and gripping Mike
by the throat, he picked up his phone and placed a call. Time to
push, gently per Rhonda’s advice. But push just the
same.

***

Brooke was typing another policy
revision when she heard, rather than saw, a movement in her
doorway. Glancing up, she noticed the receptionist holding a vase
filled with what looked like a mixture of white, pink, and red
roses. “These were delivered for you.”

Pushing back from her desk, she stood
up to collect them. “Oh, thank you.”

Seated back in her chair,
she waited until she was alone to pull the little card out of the
envelope.
Soft and feminine, just like
you
.

Brooke felt the tingle in her stomach
and the grin spread across her face. Those words were having the
same effect on her now as they did this weekend when Lucas was
rubbing the soft floral body wash all over her in the shower. It
was the most relaxing and sensual shower she’d ever had. And
definitely the most thorough.

Conflicting emotions raced through her.
Giddiness from the flowers. Who didn’t like getting flowers at
work? Or sexy messages meant to warm her up?

And trepidation. Because now there
would be talk and speculation about her personal life. She’d always
kept her personal life private. As far as anyone knew, she was
single, and it wasn’t anyone’s business if that changed.

She still didn’t know exactly what she
and Lucas had. She was enjoying it, taking it day by day. But she
wasn’t looking for any more than that right now. For once in her in
life she was trying not to plan ahead. Just enjoy the
moment.

Heeding her own advice—just enjoy the
moment—she pushed the trepidation away, stood up to shut the door,
then grabbed her cell phone and placed the call.

He answered on the first ring. “Did you
like them?” She could hear Lucas’s grin through the
phone.

“
Yes, yes, I did. But you
shouldn’t have.”

“
Shouldn’t have what? Sent
them at all, or sent them to work?” he hedged.

“
Well, both.” She leaned
forward, buried her face in the petals, and inhaled their
scent.

She heard his chair creak through the
phone, assumed he leaned back and placed his feet on the desk.
“What, I’m not allowed a bit of romance? And so what if I sent them
to work. I didn’t sign the card. Don’t I get points for that?” he
said with a chuckle.

“
I guess you do get a few
for that. But I’ve got the card tucked safely in my bag right now
since the message was a bit more than I’d want anyone to see in the
office. And speaking of that, I’m afraid that people will start
asking questions, or looking at me more carefully. Other than Cori,
no one else really knows about us. I would prefer to keep it that
way.”