I wave a good night to the room and let him manhandle me. I’m nearly laughing by the time we get through the kitchen and reach the rear stairs. As soon as we’re in the stairwell, Brody flattens me to the wall and kisses me like our lives depend on it.
I slide under his spell in seconds. His lips are wicked. They cause my brain to turn to mush and my legs to go weak. When he finally releases my mouth, I’m panting.
He bends at the waist, wraps an arm around my torso, and lifts me off the step. Holding me, he takes the stairs two at a time. It’s impressive, and I’m giggling by the time we get to our room. The snick of the door shutting, followed by the lock turning, has me squirming. Though I was already fidgeting from the kiss.
Brody carries me through to the attached bathroom before setting me on my feet. “Naked, teeth, pee, bed,” he orders.
“So bossy.” I shove at him to get him out of the bathroom. “How about I pee first, and you wait in the bedroom.”
He grabs my face and kisses me again. “Fine, but the clock is ticking on that modest side of you. Don’t expect me to let you shut this bathroom door for much longer.”
I push him out, shut the door, and hurry to pee. There’s no guarantee he won’t decide my time is up and reenter. Such a dominant man.
After I wash my hands, I let him back in. He’s already changed into cotton shorts, and he smirks as he strolls to the toilet and pulls the front of his shorts down.
I don’t look. It’s too weird. Too intimate. I could have easily gone my entire life without peeing in front of my husband or vice versa. And yet, that was before I met this overbearing man.
As soon as I finish brushing my teeth, I wash my face and apply lotion. I’m sharing a bathroom with a man. It’s surreal. It’s not my cottage. I’m in the freaking Wilde mansion. With a man. Sharing a bathroom. With a man. I’m going to sleep in his bed. With a man. My brain can’t compute. It’s rambling at me.
It doesn’t matter that this isn’t our first night together. It is our first night sleeping in the mansion. And it’s going to be weird for a lot of nights. I have no idea how long it will take me to get used to having someone all up in my space.
Do I live here now? It’s possible these three rooms will be my home for a decade or longer. I can’t process that. It’s like I’m not even in my body. I’m floating around just watching everything happen.
Chapter 19
Melody
* * *
I don’t realize I’m still standing in the same spot, staring at myself in the mirror, until Brody wraps his strong arms around me from behind and bends enough to set his chin on my shoulder. Our gazes meet in the reflection.
“You okay, baby?” he asks in such a soft voice it almost brings me to tears.
I’m tired. Worn out. Mentally exhausted from spending three days with another human and dealing with the fact that someone vandalized my home. Someone who almost certainly knows who I am.
What do they intend to do with that information? Blackmail me?
“I think so,” I whisper.
“I’m here with you, little pixie. Always.”
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I know. It’s like we got sucked up into a tornado and there’s no way out. All we can do is ride it.”
“What if it drops us in different places?”
“It won’t because I’m not going to let go of you, no matter what.” He holds me against him tightly.
I believe him. I trust him. His touch calms me.
He eases his grip to slowly lift my dress over my head, leaving me in nothing but my panties. After brushing my hair to one side, he kisses his way down my spine. When he reaches my hips, he lowers the last scrap of clothing from my body.
I’m not used to being naked. Even though he’s seen me like this several times now, it’s still unnerving.
He kisses a path up to my shoulder. “You are so fucking sexy, Melody.”
I whimper as I lean into him. Suddenly, I’m not quite as tired. He makes my blood pump. “Brody…”
