Redemption (Tattoos & Tears - Brody Book 1) Read online

  Cole laughs heartily.

  “You've got twice the horsepower in your car, I'm sure you could lose a Prius! Just make sure the lady has got her seat belt on."

  Sam looks briefly towards me, his emerald, green eyes filled with concern.

  "You got your seat belt on, sweetheart?" he rasps.

  I make sure it's clipped on and nod.

  "Yeah, she's all good, mate. Fuck, please don't tell the wife about this," Sam states nervously and Cole snickers.

  “Tell her what? It’s all good, man, you don’t need to worry, she’s gone into work. Seb’s been called over to New York… some emergency at his new shop. He’s asked Peyton to hold down the fort while he’s gone, the boys are with Amy and, she’s working from home today. Right, I’ve tracked your GPS, I’ve got your location, you need to lead those sons of bitches on a wild goose chase, think you can do that, Sam?”

  Sam laughs, his eyes filled with mischief, as he smoothly changes gear and presses his foot harder on the accelerator.

  “Of course! This ain’t my first rodeo, mate! Although the last time didn’t end too well,” Sam says with more than a hint of shame to his deep, husky voice.

  “The less said about that one, the better,” Cole says drily, and I smile warmly at the camaraderie between the two of them.

  “Fuck me, are they that desperate for a story?” I ask curiously and with more than a little frustration to my voice.

  “Unfortunately, they are, they’re like a pack of hungry wolves. We’ll be front page news tomorrow. I’ll have left Peyton and you’ll have broken off your romance with Brody to be with me!”

  We both laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. Is this really what a relationship with Brody would be like? Wow.

  Brody

  I find myself in the last place I expected to be. When I got on my bike, I rode there almost on autopilot. Now, I am standing outside her house, in the pouring rain. I tap the door softly and as the light flicks on, I’m met with a feeling of guilt. What about Raleigh, you prick? I try desperately to push her to the back of my mind and focus on the only woman who I said ‘I love you’ to. As I wait for her to open the door, I am instantly transported back to the day I told her I loved her.

  Eighteen Months Ago

  I managed to get away from the boys, it was like a covert military operation, but I managed to check into a hotel, under the name ‘Jack Hammer’. Original I know! I haven’t seen her for almost seven fucking weeks and I need her like I need my next breath. I’m pacing the hotel floor awaiting her arrival and with each measured pace, I find myself getting more and more antsy. What if she doesn’t show up? What if she’s realised you’re not worth it? What if she’s realised she’d much rather have her wife-beating, scum bag husbands cock in her than yours, you sad pathetic fuck. I shake my head, desperate to push those thoughts to the back of my mind. Dude, just chill the fuck out, she’ll be here. I try to reassure myself, as I lean down to open the minibar and grab a small bottle of Jack Daniels, unscrew the lid and chug it down neat. The burn as it slides down my throat calms me somewhat. I’m a little calmer as the door taps softly. I take a look at my reflection in the mirror and take a deep breath.

  I walk over to the door and the sight that greets me knocks me off balance. Fuck me, she looks even more beautiful than the last time I saw her, if that’s even possible. I take in every inch of her and commit it to memory. Her skin looks absolutely flawless and the tender look in her aquamarine eyes, makes my knees weak. Her long red hair is pulled up into a neat bun and her legs go on for miles. She is wearing a knee length black mac belted around her waist and she is wearing sky high, black patent, knee boots.

  “Hey gorgeous,” she greets me softly in her Northern twang.

  “Hey yourself, fuck, you look…”

  My words die on my lips, as she backs me into the room, kicking the door shut behind her. She unbelts her mac and underneath she is wearing a black lace bra, black lacy thongs, stockings, and suspenders.

  “Am I worth the wait?”

  I swallow hard and nod, dumbstruck at how truly stunning she looks. She drops her mac to the floor.

  “I’ve thought of nothing else, sweetheart, it’s been seven weeks of pure fucking torture,” I admit honestly, I reach over and stroke her face. “God, I’ve missed you, so fucking much.”

  She shakes her head.

  “No talking, tonight is about us, I want to lose myself in you and I want nothing but sheets between us, Brody,” she whispers seductively, as she backs me towards the large Queen size bed.

  My legs collide with the mattress and she pushes me down. I’m at her mercy and more than happy to let her take control. My body is on high alert, humming and vibrating for her after seven weeks apart. She cups my erection, which is straining against the zipper of my jeans.

  “FUCK!” I grunt.

  “Clothes off, I can’t wait any longer, I need you inside me, Brody,” she pants desperately.

  I pull my t-shirt off in one swift movement. She unzips my jeans and slides her hand inside to stroke my already hard cock.

  “I’ve craved your cock for the past seven weeks; I’ve thought of nothing else. I’ve fingered myself to orgasm thinking of how you feel inside me.”

  I groan at her words, she’s very vocal about what she wants in the bedroom, I’ve never met anyone like her. She pulls off my jeans and my boxers impatiently until I’m completely naked. She climbs onto my lap and crashes her lips feverishly to mine. I wrap my one arm around her to steady her, relishing in the feel of her warm skin against mine. I slip my other hand into the cup of her bra, softly stroking her sensitive, erect nipple. She runs her hands over my chest and my shoulders. She moans softly into my mouth, as she shifts her thong to the side to play with her pussy.

  “Fuck, that’s so hot, I love to watch you play with yourself, beautiful girl.”

  She throws her head back in ecstasy.

  “Oh God, Brody!” she pants out my name.

  "Don't come, I want to be inside you when you come, your orgasm is mine tonight,” I command as she climbs off my lap, pushes me down on the bed and straddles me.

  She takes off her bra and her pert boobs spring free. She moves her thong to the side and impales herself on my already hard cock. It feels so fucking good to be inside her after all this time. She whimpers softly, allowing her to adjust to my length.

  "Oh Jesus, fuckin’ Christ, you feel like heaven."

  She picks up her pace riding me, as I move in and out of her slick heat. I move my hand to play with her pussy, as her pace quickens.

  “Jesus! Lorna.”

  She bounces up and down on my cock, I feel the delicious friction of my piercing bumping against her cervix.

  “OH FUCK! BRODY! I’m coming, fuck, I'm coming," she screams, and my orgasm is right behind hers as I feel my hot seed spurt inside her slick channel, causing a second orgasm to ignite within her.

  As we come down from our orgasms, the hotel room is deathly silent. The only sound is our breathless post coital pants. She climbs off me and comes to lie next to me. I wrap my arm around her, and she snuggles deep into me. I can’t hide my feelings for her any longer, all I’ve thought about over the past seven weeks is her. I’ve fallen in love with her, even though I promised myself in the beginning that I wouldn’t do anything as stupid as fall in love with the woman I’m just fucking. But she made it too easy for me to fall hook, line, and sinker for her.

  “What’cha thinking about, babe?” she asks with a soft chuckle.

  “I…” I stutter. I’ve been away from her for seven weeks and I can’t even manage to string a fucking sentence together. Get your shit together, Hart. “Fuck, all I’ve thought about while we’ve been on tour is you, I’ve been counting down the hours until I could see you again. I know I promised I wouldn’t…”

  She shakes her head, as if she knows what I’m about to say. “Brody, don’t, don’t spoil it by saying things you don’t mean.”

  I
lift her up and she sits up, facing me. I cup her face in my hands and press my forehead lovingly to hers.

  “I love you, Lorna Lavelle, I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone, this goes beyond anything I’ve ever felt before. You’re…fuck…you’re everything, I need you more than my next fix, I don’t crave the drugs when I’m with you, I just crave you,” I admit shamelessly and sincerely.

  She squeezes her eyes shut briefly and when she opens them they’re glazed over.

  “This can’t happen between us, Brody, I’m with Stefan, I love Stefan. This was only meant to be a bit of no-strings fun. You were never meant to fall in love with me, you deserve someone who isn’t afraid to admit they love you back. You deserve someone who’s biggest fear is losing you. I know you’re not perfect and neither am I, that’s why this thing between us has worked for so long. I thought we were on the same page?”

  Hearing her say those words out loud crushes me to my very core. They say love hurts, but I disagree. Rejection hurts like a motherfucker.

  “You don’t mean that Lorna, we’ve been sleeping together for over two fucking years! Tell me you don’t feel the same and I’ll walk away right now?”

  She opens and closes her mouth as if she’s desperate to say something, but she just shakes her head.

  “You love me just as much as I love you, Lorna! You’re a coward! JUST FUCKING ADMIT IT! Call me selfish, but I’m done sharing you with that piece of shit husband of yours! Choose me, I’m asking you to choose me!” I beg.

  This is new territory for me, I’ve never begged a woman in my life.

  “Choose me, Lorna, be mine. I’m begging you, choose me.”

  I’m aware I sound desperate, but she brings out something in me. She makes me want to try; she makes me want more. A tear rolls down her cheek.

  “I’m sorry, Brody, I…I can’t, I can’t do this, I can’t choose you. I’m so sorry.”

  She sobs and I can’t look at her, I’ll break if I look her in the eye.

  “You’re breaking my fucking heart.”

  My voice trembles.

  “I’m laying myself bare for you, I’m putting everything on the line for you, my cards are on the table. I love you, why isn’t that enough for you?” I say through clenched teeth, willing myself not to break down and she swipes away her tears.

  “Because this isn’t real, Brody! None of this is real! We both went into this for a bit of fun, to scratch an itch, to distract each other from our shitty lives! If I choose you, then it will be real, you’ll get bored! You’re a rock star, there’s a girl in every city, right? Can you honestly tell me over the past seven weeks there hasn’t been anyone else?”

  Truthfully, there hasn’t been anyone else because all I’ve thought about is her. I’ve had every opportunity to lose myself in a random groupie, but I chose not to because I was saving myself for her. Listening to her excuses is shredding me and all I want to do is get so high I don’t remember how this fucking cruel rejection feels.

  “There’s been no one else, all I’ve thought about is you, whether you choose to believe me is totally up to you, but I can honestly say there’s been no one, just you, Lorna, just you. I swear it,” I whisper earnestly, as I reach over to stroke her face.

  “Don’t do this, Brody, please, don’t ruin what we’ve got,” she says seductively as she climbs on top of me again, halting our conversation, and I’m too fucking weak to stop her.

  ***

  I’m jolted back to the here and now when a shadow appears in the doorway and the door swings open. Every time I see her, she takes my fucking breath away. She is standing there, in a white floral kimono and a long, billowing black skirt, looking so innocent and bohemian. Fuck me, she is still beautiful. She seems genuinely surprised to see me, as she folds her arms defensively across her chest.

  “What are you doing here, Brody?” Her tone terse, in her soft Northern twang.

  “I really don’t fucking know why I’m here, Lorna,” I admit honestly, and her face softens.

  The truth is, after my disagreement with Raleigh, it seemed like a good idea. We all know where good ideas get you, Hart. Fucked up, in trouble, or back in rehab.

  “Come inside, you’re all wet.”

  I step inside the warmth of her house and she closes the door. I follow her into the kitchen, and she spins around to face me.

  “I didn’t believe it when I heard you were out of rehab and clean, you look-good.”

  She gives me the once over and licks her lips. I smirk.

  “Good to know, babe.”

  She shifts her eyes to the floor and a blush creeps slowly up her neck. I step closer to her and lift her chin up. Her eyes lock with mine and she smashes her lips angrily to mine. Her scent invades my nostrils, as she moans into my mouth and my tongue softly caresses hers. I feel my cock hardening in my pants, and I forgot how… right it felt with her. All of a sudden, she realises what’s happening and pulls away. She puts some distance between us and scrubs her lips with the back of her hand. She’s panting now, and I smile cockily.

  “You really shouldn’t be here, Brody. I told you before, this can’t happen again.”

  Her voice is weak, and I know she doesn’t mean a word she just said.

  “I’m trying to play fair, but you’re not playing by my rules, sweetheart,” I say gruffly and nip her earlobe between my teeth, enveloped in her scent.

  Fuck, she smells so good. She gasps audibly and I see her nipples harden through the thin material of her kimono.

  “Admit you still want me, L. It will be so much easier for both of us.”

  Her eyes lock with mine and she doesn’t drop her gaze.

  “Brody,” she says breathlessly, and I chuckle softly at her reaction to me.

  I thrust my hips into her, pressing the evidence of my arousal in between her delicious thighs and she moans aloud.

  “What do you want? Tell me, beautiful girl, do you want me to relieve you of that ache between your delectable thighs?”

  She bites her lip, as if she is having some sort of internal war with herself. I push the shoulder of her kimono aside, to expose her bare skin and kiss along her collarbone. I flick my split tongue up her neck, teasing her with soft licks. She moans softly, and I know she is going to give in. I'm that fucking confident.

  “Imagine how my tongue would feel on your pussy, how quickly I can bring you to orgasm, how I can give you such intense pleasure, it will make you fucking weep. I’ll never forget how you look when you come.”

  I can feel my control slipping and I don’t know how much fucking longer I can hold myself back. God, I’ve fucking missed her.

  “Give yourself to me again, Lorna; let yourself feel just an ounce of what we used to feel for each other.”

  She shakes her head, and I can feel her trembling. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s scared of her feelings for me, or because she’s turned on.

  “I can’t do this, Brody, not again,” she whispers so softly; I barely hear her.

  I close my eyes briefly and laugh bitterly.

  “Is that all you could come up with, L? Really? You forget I know you; I can read you like a fucking book! You know where I’ve been today? DO YOU?” I bark.

  I want her to fucking hurt, the way I’m hurting right now. The way she hurt me all those months ago.

  “I was balls deep inside another woman that wasn’t you and I ran away like the fucking pathetic coward I am because she told me she loved me! She wants me to commit to her! How fucked up is that!” I confess resentfully.

  I know I’m being a complete fucking knob, but I can’t help myself. Not when I’m around her, she makes me fucking irrational. She makes me say things and do shit that I don’t fucking mean. Her eyes flash and her hand lands across my cheek.

  “HOW FUCKING DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU COME HERE AND SAY THAT TO ME!” she screams, her eyes full of fire. There’s my girl.

  “FINALLY! Something you actually fucking mean!”

 
; I raise my hands in exasperation and start to pace the kitchen floor, with the formidable need to get off my face. I come to an abrupt halt in front of her. Fuck me; she’s so beautiful, it’s devastating. She has a figure most women would kill for, curves in all the right places and I could get lost in those aquamarine eyes, which remind me of the clear ocean.

  “I’m reckless and irresponsible. Admit it, that’s why you were drawn to me in the first place, L. That’s why we work, we’re the same you and me, because you’re reckless and irresponsible too.”

  She doesn’t meet my gaze and I know it’s because she knows I’m right.