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Brendan was leaning against the ’Vette, waiting for her in the alley. He took her bag from her and tossed it in the trunk.
“C’mere.”
Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Slow and deep. Tiny dots of snow falling all around them. Before this man, Katie only imagined what being this happy could feel like. She realized she hadn’t even come close.
Brendan brushed a melting snowflake from her nose and kissed it. “Let’s go home.”
Butterflies.
Yeah, he said that.
It was after midnight by the time they finished their Thanksgiving preparations and Katie stepped out of the en suite into Brendan’s bedroom. He lay there, eyes closed, hands clasped behind his head, until she got under the covers beside him. Two strong arms encircled her and tucked her against his chest. Warm lips skimmed her neck.
“It feels so good to have you here like this,” he whispered. “To hold you.”
Like a reflex to his voice, Katie felt the corners of her mouth pull up.
It did feel good. It felt better than good. Here, in Brendan’s arms, was right where she wanted to be. Where she was supposed to be. Katie felt it deep in her soul. Her head, her heart, and her body all on the same page.
She loved him.
It was as simple as that.
Katie turned her head and kissed the corner of his mouth. Those two arms squeezed her tighter and he kissed the top of her head. Then she felt his muscles relax and his breaths slowed to a steady, even rhythm.
He slept.
Now, while admittedly, a part of her, namely that part of her between her legs, wanted to wake him up and have too much fun, the rest of her was relieved to see him sleep. Not because she was nervous or afraid to have sex, though she was a little, but because she knew how much he needed it. He had to be exhausted. All the hours of work he put in, and not just at the club.
Katie knew all those days they had breakfast together, that he’d stayed up after a night at the club just to spend time with her before she went to work or school, only to go to the office afterward and work some more with his cousins. He’d get a few hours’ sleep after lunch and then he was back at the Red Door and the cycle would start all over again. How long could he keep that up?
Sweet dreams, baby.
Katie nestled against Brendan and closed her eyes, content to be cocooned under the covers with him. Surrounded by his hard, strong body. Breathing in bergamot and cedar as snowflakes gently tumbled from the sky.
It sounded like she imagined a bear might sound with its paw caught in a trap. Something between a roar and a whimper. A deep guttural sound came from beside her on the bed. Brendan wasn’t holding her anymore. His head thrashed on the pillow. He’d kicked off the covers. Goosebumps rose on her skin.
Obviously caught in the throes of a nightmare, Katie sat up and cautiously leaned over him. “Brendan.”
A gentle caress. “Wake up, baby.”
She combed sweat-dampened dark-auburn hair away from his face with her fingers. “Shh, it’s just a bad dream.”
The anguished sound ceased, the thrashing stopped, and his arms came around her. He just held her like that for a moment, the room quiet except for the sound of his heart beating rapidly in his chest. Then he lightly stroked her back with his fingertips.
She kissed the spot where his heart beat. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It was a dream, that’s all.” Brendan kissed her hair. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
“More like a nightmare, I’d say.” Katie pulled the blanket back over them and scooted up higher on his chest, fitting her face against his neck.
“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. She felt the movement of his shoulder. “I usually don’t remember much.”
“You get them often?”
“I don’t know.” He squeezed her. “Now and then.”
Taking Katie with him, Brendan sat up against the leather upholstered headboard. She straddled his lap, hands clasped behind his neck, her thumbs rubbing his skin. His blue eyes were hidden in the shadowed room, but she could feel them looking into hers. He leaned forward and softly kissed her lips.
