Brooks' POV
There were many mornings in my life I wishedI could stuff myself deep into my comforter and become embedded into the mattress. Not even for sleep but to simply evade what was coming that day. Today proved to be one of those days from this hangover that was evident from my own karmic actions. But it wasn’t the thunderous pull of my head turning against me that made me want to shuffle myself into oblivion, but for the thirteen drafts of an embarrassing email I thankfully had enough sense to keep from actually sending. Although I couldn’t piece together the details of a single one without the words becoming a haze of desperation and broken pride, I knew it was enough to know I couldn’t face her. I was thankful I kept her at a distance and made an ass of myself. It meant that the notifications on my phone wouldn’t be a reason to worsen my headache-
<Virginia’s POV “I need to get me a hot single dad to move me into his condo.” Aimee teased as I set my phone on the pillow of my new bed while I began tucking my few clothes away for safekeeping. “You literally have more money in your bank account than he does, I’m sure. And don’t you have that guy you’ve been talking to?” “He’s a boy compared to Brooks Callahan. Besides from the way you describe him, the whole brooding thing does it for you.” I quickly quieted her voice and looked over my shoulder to the open bedroom door. For the last few hours as I began to ‘make myself at home’ as he muttered to do since we both came inside, I could hear him throughout the house. It was infuriating in the sam
Brooks’ POVThose goddamn lace panties were my fucking ruin. She wasn’t even under my roof for twenty-four hours and I beat my cock twice at the thought of her inside, or outside, of them. The first time had been in the shower after I managed to stare at her over emails, creating a scenario in my mind that I would be able to peel them off of her. I left with a blank expression, rushing myself bare enough for access, and came so hard on the shower wall that I nearly blacked out. The second time was in my office after standing across from her in that hallway with that little attitude. I thought about snapping the fabric of those panties clean off of her hips and reddening the skin beneath with my handprint before taking her until she learned to keep her smart mouth shut. The more erotic vision of how I’d silence her with my aching cock is what led to that self care session after they’d both fallen asleep. But for just a second I thought I heard her. My vision wa
Virginia's POV Shouldn’t you have butterflies on a first date? The nervousness of wanting to make a good first impression as you hoped it was the stepping stone for what could be your forever one day? This was what I fixated on as I applied the final details to my aesthetic. Soft curls pulled into a tight bun with tendrils falling around the curvature of my cheeks. A subtle lip but dramatic eyes were perfected after two tries, and Aimee’s virtual help, as I used what was left of the perfume she had given me for my last birthday on my pulse points. But I was anything but excited. He seemed like a nice guy, checking in on me and Landon since the incident nearly two weeks ago. But I couldn’t find even a flicker of excitement in my body. I would rather have slipped out of the dress, run a bath, and submerged myself beneath the bubbles while escaping t
Brooks’ POV “I take it you didn’t tell her?” Will sighed on the other end of the phone as I lingered in the parking lot of my law firm, watching her on the security camera app on my laptop. She checked on Landon every half an hour so far and all it did was worsen my guilt. I was thirty-two years old, acting like an obsessed alpha male for a woman, practically a girl, who wasn’t even mine. “What’s there to tell her?” “That you want to be a cliche and get into your nanny’s pants.” He teased. Even though I couldn’t see him, I could imagine that smirk across his damn face. “I just need to get her out of my system..” “You’re better than that. If you want to hook up with someone because you need to scratch some itc
Virginia’s POVReliving the details to Aimee made me want to drink. As more of a wine cooler connoisseur, I was suddenly craving something from Brooks' top shelf. But I didn't want alcohol to affect my emotions because I was a glutton for punishment. I didn't want the haze of inebriation to erase the way he felt so close against me or forget just how his scent lingered somewhere between clean laundry, sandalwood, and what I think was a hint of whiskey. But I needed to find a way to end my naivety when it came to him.“So now I have to plot.” As the air finally silenced to all of my thoughts being voiced, I noticed how Aimee was shifty. Her robe and disheveled hair gave away the reason along with the consistent look she made in the direction of the bedroom door.She wasn't alone…“Oh God! Why didn't you stop me?!”“Because you needed someone to talk to.”“It could have waited!” I whined as she shrugged and took m
Brooks' POV It couldn't have been any more than six months since the last time I saw her, and yet, the effervescent glimmer in her eye that was comprised of mischief and audacious sexuality expressed why she was here long before she even parted those lips painted three shades too red to compliment her stark light skin. Of course, she wasn't here to bond with Landon or even visit him. She was here for the only reason she held any interest in me to begin with. Money. "Not exactly what I would have chosen to do with it, but it's...cute..." She explained while looking at the condo that was everything she wasn't. Calm. Collected. Present. Even if she hid it well beneath her designer clothes and confidence, she was here because she was desperate, which made me want to pull Virginia closer into my side-embed her into my skin as she gave a comfort I couldn't even begin to understand. "Landon is asleep." Virginia offered, sensing my discomfor
Virginia's POV I could never be friends with someone who I think about as much as I do to you. His words were an echo in my mind even in a state of unconsciousness. Of course, the second my eyes closed the words were then established behind actions we didn't take part in. Kisses we didn't share. A specific relinquishment of virtue I still painfully had intact. It was a cause to wake up a bit restless as I wondered what would have happened if I had said what was on the tip of my tongue or acted on the way my skin needed to touch his. It made me understand that although this may not be some grand romance that ends in a white dress or even a white picket fence, there were feelings aside from resentment. Just how deep it went, I didn't know. But I could be civil. Even if my mind, body, and the sensitive, and currently damp, valley between my thighs didn't seem to get the memo.
Brooks' POV If I hadn't wound and pulled this very tie nearly every single day for the past decade then I would have tripped over my own feet at the sight awaiting me in the kitchen. It was rarely used up until a month ago and was now always beaming with life. If not from Landon doing school on the kitchen counter instead of being isolated in his room, then it was for Virginia trying to follow a new recipe. Most of them were either undercooked or overdone, most edible but not flavorful, and yet the way she was so proud of herself became a secret tolerance between my son and I. But this one smelled incredible and she was devoted enough to the ingredients inside the oven to keep from noticing how I stopped and stared at her. Because I could have had an entire condo filled with supermodels willing to give favors on their knees and I'd still prefer the sight of her nervously working over dinner for the sake of being domestic. "Did you forget how to tie it?" Landon'
Brooks' POV I could see the weak resemblance now. Only when looking between them could you see the true similarities. The shape of the eyes, the bend of the cupid's bow, and the way either of them could lift a brow before they would disagree with you. But right now for sharing blood, Virginia almost seemed stunned to see the woman. I couldn't blame her but it didn't beg the question why she was here and how in the hell she was my client. "I just want five goddamn minutes!" She barked and after this latest outburst, Virginia lowered the steps and stood across her mom. She studied her and I realized it must have been because she was sober. There was evidence of use from the sallow skin and sunken eyes but it was clear she hadn't used anything hard for quite some time. "D
Virginia's POVThere's something I've noticed about my burgeoning sexuality. The more I experience, the more I want. Not in a consuming way like a genuine addiction, but in the way that I trust my partner enough to explore every avenue that fascinates us both. It shows in the silent moments between us with those loaded smiles and quiet conversations behind our eyes. It is complete trust and admiration between two people with formerly broken perceptions of desire and misguided affection. I think we were fixing each other more and more with every little touch and every little moment. "Good morning..." He almost purred against my neck as Landon was turned around watching television as I packed his lunch for the day. Whatever food item I was on has become forgotten to the lips suddenly on my skin as it took everything I had not to moan to the warmth. "Do you think it's too early to convince you to sleep in my bed?" I chuckled and he playfully bit me. "I'm
Brooks' POV Although I tried to keep my exterior as calm as possible, every inch of my skin was vibrating for what was about to happen. Watching her fingers begin to peel apart my belt from its buckle, I could already feel precum leak from my head to imagine her taking me down past those innocent lips nobody knew pleasure from before. As she pulled the leather slowly towards her until it slid through the final loop, I had to will my hips to remain as still as possible to keep from frightening her with my gnawing desperation. "Virginia?" I rasped, my confidence slipping at the circumstances no longer being only a fantasy. She answered by looking up at me with wondrous eyes I was about to make water if she'd let me and I almost had to force her back to her feet just to keep a train of thought. "This is a first for
Virginia’s POV Reciprocation. It was all I could think about since last night. My only knowledge of it came from the handful of erotic romance novels I had the scarce time to read. The details were always more for entertainment than a method of teaching, which left me searching "tips and tricks" on my phone on and off throughout the day. But each time there had been the same comments that all circled back to communication. So that was where I started. But with the way he was looking at me, I wish I wouldn't have said anything. "Brooks?" I finally managed as he seemed frozen in time by my comment. I intended for it to
Brooks' POV "Go away, dad!" Landon sniffled from his side of the door. I still pushed through, finding a pillow at my face, before he threw his body back down on the bed as he continued to cry. "Do you want to talk about it?" "No!" He shouted beneath the muffling of his comforter. I sat at the foot of the bed and tried to apply comfort by my hand on his back and he moved away from me, almost sandwiching himself between the mattress and the wall. "I didn't know you had a crush on Virginia, Landon." "I love her!" I didn't blame him. She had a way of infecting your heart, the darker and more abandoned and the more she seemed to find a home there. Slowly fixing the fissures until all that was left was the warmth applied to f
Virginia's POVLaying all of the ingredients on the kitchen island, I tried to make sense of the recipe. As it seemed like an excess for what I theorized would be a quick preparation, I used Google to learn it was a pasta dish guaranteed to have a bit of a kick to it. I was excited to be beside him to help achieve the final result while one detail made me nibble at my already uneven nails for his reaction.The picture I'd sent him earlier in the day was from bravery that faded the second our conversation ended. After slipping on a new pair of panties, I carried on with my chores as Landon was due home later tonight. Now, I was waiting for the front door to come open with him discovering I disobeyed him. I was curious what he would do to punish me-if he was into that sort of thing.When he came through the door
Brooks' POV "You told me it wasn't over..." She pouted as I kissed away at the plump bottom lip. "I can't control myself around you-" I began, her face shifting from nervousness to a subtle confidence that blossomed her beauty into something like a goddess. "Then don't." Goddamn, this woman. I looked over her shoulder and to the four poster bed before imagining what would transpire. A quick shedding of clothes. Heavy petting. French kisses until breathless. Pulling her thighs apart and then those lower lips until I had her soaking my tongue one more time. Maybe two. When wet, I'd shove my angry cock inside of her with merc
Virginia's POV I expected an argument, not this. Not the feeling of his lips gently guiding mine apart until he could slip his tongue into a slow coaxing of my own. The first kiss had been enough to surprise me but this one was overwhelming. All because it was quietly demanding in a way his hands took stock in my hips until pushing me against the glass, his knee rose to the apex between my legs, and his mouth was a slow assurance from my mouth to my jaw, and gradual to my neck. The smirk against my skin made me moan enough to motivate him further, and before I could remember why I was mad or the fact I was leaving, he was lifting me against the glass until I was reliant on his strength. I gasped to the surprise lift and he grinned up at me. "I'll ne
Brooks' POV I quit. I'd imagined letting her go at least a hundred times from unrelenting lust and pure spite alone. But hearing the end come from her lips took the ability to breathe completely away from me. Although it had only been approximately three months, I couldn't imagine her no longer a part of our routine. The mere idea of her no longer sitting at our breakfast table with burnt bacon and undercooked pancakes resituated my heart deep into my gut to such a depth that it weighed there with nausea. Thinking of her no longer being the first or last face Landon and I saw before the end of our day and beginning the next cinched my chest in on itself as if being pulled by invisible stri