Chapter 19: Strings Attached

“I’m not following,” I said, confusion lacing my words. “What are you talking about?”

“You were saying my name.” He paused, letting the words hang in the air. “I couldn’t sleep. I heard you.”

Feeling a rush of embarrassment, I shook my head and stood up, eager to escape the room and his apartment.

“Hold on,” Brennan interjected. “Don’t run away from this.”

~Run away from what?~ I wasn’t running from anything.

“We slept together, Brennan. You’re used to one-night stands and that’s fine, that’s your choice… But I’m not and my mind is struggling to make sense of it.”

I glanced at him, standing in the middle of the living room in my t-shirt and panties. Brennan rose and walked over to me. He slipped his hand in mine and gently guided me to the couch.

We sat down, this time a little closer.

“What if it wasn’t a one-night stand?” he asked, his hand still holding mine. He gave my hand a squeeze and then closed the gap between us.

“Huh?” was all I could muster. My mind and body weren’t in sync.

“What if it happened again?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I was barely hanging on; my stomach was doing flips. Part of me wanted to bolt, despite my earlier denial of running.

But another part of me, maybe even a bigger part, wanted to stay, driven by curiosity and nothing more.

“You mean, like a…friends with benefits situation,” I suggested.

Brennan’s grip on my hand relaxed. He lifted his other hand to my chin and tilted my head up until our eyes met.

“What were you thinking about when you were saying my name?”

I felt my cheeks heat up again, but the embarrassment quickly faded with the realization that we were both on edge, for whatever reason.

“The hot tub,” I murmured. “I dreamed about us in the hot tub.”

Brennan’s eyes softened and his lips curved into a gentle smile. He moved his fingers from my chin to my cheek.

“I wanted you in there too,” he whispered back before leaning in, his lips just above mine. “Can I kiss you?”

I nodded, unable to form words with him so close. When our lips met, I forgot everything else. The world could have disappeared and I wouldn’t have noticed. He pulled back for a moment.

“Are you sure you want this?”

My body craved it, even if the idea of messing around wasn’t something my heart was on board with. I wanted Brennan. My body wanted Brennan.

“Yes, I want this. I want you.”

Brennan’s arm wrapped around my waist. He lifted me up and over his thighs until I was straddling him. I moved against him, like I had in my dream, and I felt him against me, like I had in my dream.

The sensation was mesmerizing and intoxicating.

In one swift motion Brennan removed my t-shirt, tossing it somewhere in the dark. His mouth found my collarbone, kissing the sensitive skin, causing me to arch back.

He trailed kisses down until he took my nipple in his mouth, rolling it back and forth with his tongue at a pace that left me breathless and out of control.

He kissed down the valley of my breast and across to the other one, giving it the same attention. He looked up at me, and even in the dim light of the room, I could see the desire in his eyes.

He wanted me as much as I wanted him—maybe only for this moment, but right now I didn’t care.

Brennan quickly pulled his pants down, until he was naked beneath me, the thin fabric of my panties the only barrier between us. He was hot and ready, making me melt from the inside out.

I reached down and moved my panties to the side, allowing him to enter.

“I don’t have a…” He sounded concerned, but he moved with me anyway.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “I’m on the shot, and you’re always safe, right?”

“Always,” he whispered. His arms slid up my bare back, and we kissed as we moved together, our pace quickening with the intense sparks that were starting to ignite in my core.

“Brennan,” I whispered. The butterflies and ecstasy were starting to take over, and I was barely holding it together. “I need…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence. My climax tore through me, blinding me to everything else. All that existed was him and me and this couch.

I called his name again, my voice hoarse and desperate. I felt Brennan shudder beneath me, my name escaping his lips as he leaned into my chest.

After a moment, a strange feeling washed over me. I wasn’t sure if it was regret or fear of what was to come. I needed some space, and I needed to clean up.

I jumped off Brennan, picked up my shirt from the floor, and pulled it over my head.

I felt Brennan’s hand on mine. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “I’ll be back,” I managed to say.

I cleaned up in the guest bathroom and then walked back to the living room where Brennan was still sitting.

I sat next to him and tried to ignore the awkwardness that was starting to creep in.

“Come here,” Brennan cooed, his hand enveloping mine. He tugged gently, and I moved closer, my body leaning into his, and the awkwardness faded away.

We lay down on the couch, and Brennan pulled the black throw over us.

“Are you really okay?” Brennan asked, his arms wrapping around my waist.

“I’m really okay, B,” I replied, closing my eyes.

***

I woke up to the morning light without even realizing I’d fallen asleep. Brennan was still sleeping, so I slipped out of his arms and headed to the kitchen.

My stomach growled so loudly I glanced over the couch to make sure I hadn’t woken Brennan. He didn’t stir, so I opened the pantry and rummaged through what he had.

Surprisingly, he had a packet of waffle mix and maple syrup, so I started making breakfast.

Brennan woke up slowly. He looked over at me in the kitchen and gave me a sleepy smile.

“Is it sexist if I admire you in my kitchen?” he joked.

“If that’s where you think I belong, along with all women,” I shot back, my eyes narrowed at him.

“No, I don’t believe that.” He sat up, his gaze intensifying. “But seeing you move around my kitchen in barely anything has me thinking things I can’t voice without making us both blush.”

I could feel my cheeks heat up as I poured the batter into the waffle maker.

“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?” I teased, my voice barely above a whisper.

Brennan didn’t respond, but I heard him rise from his seat. I switched on the coffee maker and headed back to the pantry to find the coffee pods.

Before I could get far, Brennan was behind me, his arms encircling my waist, his hands under my shirt, his fingers hooked into my underwear.

I could feel his readiness. He wanted me again.

“The waffles,” I murmured, my resolve already slipping away.

Brennan vanished for a moment, then returned and spun me around. His lips crashed onto mine as he pressed me against the pantry doors.

He hoisted me up until I was wrapped around him, and then, with little effort, he was inside me again. I let out a cry. He moved with urgency, pushing deeper. His lack of control mirrored my own.

“Brennan,” I whispered.

He halted, his eyes wide as he looked at me. I could see the concern in his gaze.

“Don’t stop,” I managed to gasp out.

Brennan nodded, resuming his movements. His lips found my neck, then my ear, his tongue tracing my earlobe, before he murmured, “You’re something else, Grace.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant, and I was too lost in the moment to try and figure it out. All too soon, I felt the familiar sensation building until I couldn’t hold back any longer.

I shattered in Brennan’s arms, and he followed shortly after.

He leaned against me, slowly lowering my legs back to the ground.

I took a quick shower, changing into my jeans and t-shirt from the weekend. I frowned. I needed to go shopping.

I returned to the kitchen to find Brennan setting the table. He placed a cup of coffee down and pulled out a chair.

“Hopefully I didn’t ruin the waffles.” He chuckled as he returned to the table with a plate. He set it down in front of me.

The waffles looked mouthwatering. I put a pat of butter on each and drizzled maple syrup over them.

“They look great,” I murmured, cutting off a corner of one with my knife and popping it into my mouth. I was famished, my body crying out for fuel. “Delicious.”

Brennan grinned and sat down with his own plate of food and a cup of coffee. We ate in silence for a while, but this time, the quiet between us was comfortable.

Once we finished, I stood up and cleared the dishes while Brennan disappeared down the hallway. He returned as I was finishing up, dressed in his usual work clothes.

“Do you have any plans for today?” he asked as he walked over to the kitchen counter and picked up his car keys.

“I was thinking about going shopping for some clothes. I’m kind of living out of my weekend suitcase,” I replied.

“I can give you a lift if you want. Maybe we could meet up for lunch?”

My heart started to pound harder, and I wasn’t sure why. I knew I was getting swept up in this fantasy.

We’d slept together, but that was all. Brennan was offering a ride and lunch as a friend.

I nodded and left the kitchen. I grabbed my purse from the table and followed Brennan out of the apartment.

“This is going to sound strange,” Brennan said as we exited the elevator and walked into the parking garage, “but I need you to hear me out.”

My heart pounded again, and I braced myself for what was coming.

“If I pay for it, would you buy a whole new wardrobe?” He paused as we reached his car. “I mean, I know my parents probably won’t notice, but if they did… the absence of your things in my apartment might seem odd.”

Relieved, I nodded. I could return anything I didn’t wear, and Brennan wouldn’t lose any money.

“Perfect.” He opened his wallet, pulled out his credit card, and handed it to me. I took it hesitantly and put it in my purse. We headed to the office.

When Brennan parked in the office parking lot, I almost instinctively walked toward the building entrance. But I wasn’t working today, or any day.

I ignored the strange feeling in my stomach, ignored the fact that I actually missed working—and being near Brennan.

“Lunch at noon?” Brennan called over to me.

I nodded. “I’ll meet you out front.”

Brennan disappeared into the elevator, and I walked out of the parking garage entrance. I’d never been much of a shopper; in fact, during my time at Wolf Industries, I’d bought more work clothes than anything else.

A wave of anxiety washed over me as I stared at the street lined with clothing stores. I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Belle.