Which she was as he teased his mouth down and back up again, his tongue sliding over her perineum, shocking her eyes open again. He moved one hand and teased his thumb over her back passage. That was so . . . she swallowed, experimenting with it . . . Forbidden. Dark. Taboo.

He sucked her clit between his lips, and her breath gusted from her mouth, right as he pressed his thumb just slightly inside.

Ribbons of light decorated her vision as she came, hard and swift. Her fingers tightened in his hair as she pulled him closer, even as she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

Brody kissed her belly again and lay on his side next to her. “Now you’re nice and ready to be f**ked. My favorite.” She cracked an eye open and caught the light in his eyes as they raked over her body. “Let’s try something new.”

“Hope you don’t want to try something acrobatic. I don’t think I’ve got the stamina for that after what you just did to me.”

He laughed. “That’s a fine compliment. And no, Shorty, all you have to do is stay on your back, put one leg up and over my hip and the other can go between my thighs. I’ll do all the work from there.”

She scooted over, moving one leg up and the other between his thighs, and then he thrust, entering her easily because she was so wet.

“So good. I like it this way because you’re so lovely to look at.” His pace was leisurely.

“So far, I’ve had zero complaints about your prowess. There must be jealous women all over town because I’m hogging you. By the way, I have no plans to share anytime soon.”

“Good. I like keeping my prowess right here between your thighs. God, your skin is so pretty by candlelight. Your body is so lovely, lithe, strong. Just exactly right.”

“I ate a hell of a lot of cookie dough earlier. I’m surprised I don’t have a pooch.”

His fingertips danced down her belly and over her thighs. “Mmm hmm. Not looking so round here. Not to me. You eat pretty well, but you can when you exercise hours a day the way you do.”

She laughed and ended up writhing because he hauled her even closer, getting deeper. “I went a little crazy when I was rehabbing for the leg. First I was immobile, which I rarely am, and you don’t want to hear all this detail.”

“I do. I like hearing about your life. But for now? You’re so tight and hot. I love this, Elise. You and me, candlelight and quiet. I feel settled and very happy.”

“You’re going to make me cry again,” she mumbled, trying to turn her face away from the intensity in his eyes. He made her crave those things she knew she couldn’t have.

“Why? I don’t understand.” He continued to slowly and completely devastate her with those deep thrusts as he spoke. “I’m just strung too tight.”

“You’re full of shit.” His next thrust was harder. “I know you, Elise. Something is making you upset. Is it Raven?”

“Why are you talking about her while your dick is in me?” Horrified, she tried to move away, but he held her in place.

“You’re right, sorry. This first. This always. Then we can talk.”

“Now you’re talking.”

His strokes became more urgent, his eyes darkened, one curl fell over his forehead and sent a rush of tenderness through her. He’d come here, tired and overwhelmed by his day; he’d come to her, and that meant something.

“I think you’re ready to come again. Show me.”

She kept her eyes on his face as she moved her hand down, snaking it between their bodies until she found her clit, still slippery and sensitive. It wasn’t necessary to move her hand at all, his thrusts moved her body instead, bringing the friction she needed.

She simply let it happen, let climax rise within and break over her with a slow inhale. The muscles on his neck corded as he went deeper and deeper, until he slammed home one last time with a low, nearly feral growl.

Brody gathered her to him, holding her tight, breathing her in. He hated to see her so upset. No other woman’s tears had ever made him feel so frantic to fix whatever was wrong. Seeing her that way made him want to punch someone. He wasn’t a violent man, but she brought out all his protective instincts in a way he’d never experienced other than in defense of Adrian or Erin.

“I’m glad you came over.” He felt the curve of her smile as she pressed against his chest.

“Me too. It’s going to suck to have to leave.” He wanted to sleep with her every night.

She’d taken care of him from the moment he walked through her door. Feeding him, listening to him vent, massaging him and understanding him. She got him, which felt like a gift. He didn’t have to be anything with her. Just who he was and what he felt like at any given time. They all fit; he already considered her and Rennie family.

It had amused him, not that he’d ever say so out loud, to see her get so pissy when he brought Raven up. Jealous even. It also helped him to know Raven hadn’t said anything to her. Not yet.

“Why Rennie? Why not Reenie?”

She lazily poked her head up and then let it rest on his biceps. “When she was an infant, my mom would come into the city to help during the week so I could go to rehearsal and get back into shape. Anyway, one of the costumers started calling her Baby Rennie and it stuck. My mother was not pleased”—she laughed—“but she’s been Rennie ever since.”

“Tell me about after the attack. You what? Ate a junior bag of Doritos and wept?” He liked teasing her.