This was one of the many reasons she had a small social circle and avoided relationships like the plague. Not that she and Curly were in a relationship, but they were…something more than fuck buddies. Even she could admit that terrifying fact. Evan had messed with her head, and who knew if it’d ever be screwed on exactly right again?
“Prick knows your face.”
Curly’s voice came from only a few feet behind her, calm and steady. Harley scampered around her feet then shot off to investigate a rustling in the bushes.
“I know,” she said as she turned. He wasn’t far, standing with his hands in his back pockets and a patient expression.
“He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you. It’s the same reason I’m not going in. I’m too recognizable. I need the guys in there focused on recon, not worrying about you or me getting noticed and needing backup.”
Meeting his gaze was difficult as shame for how she’d yelled at him washed over her. “I know.”
“But I’m sorry for the way I just demanded you not go. I know it’s a trigger for you.”
“Stop,” she whispered. Why the hell did she feel like she was about to burst into tears? He was such a good man. Caring and patient with her even when she didn’t deserve it. So different from her husband. So tempting to want to pull him close and never let go. “I’m the one who should apologize. I didn’t even give you a chance to explain before I lost my shit. I’m embarrassed. Please don’t say you’re sorry.”
He held out his arms, and she walked into them, burying her face against his muscular, warm chest. As soon as his arms closed around her, she sighed and melted into a man’s comfort in a way she’d promised herself she never would.
“Babe, I’m a grown-ass man. Not some spoiled, piece-of-shit mama’s boy who can’t admit when I fuck shit up. I know your triggers. Next time I’ll go straight to the explanation and skip the barked orders.”
Her husband had never apologized. The man didn’t know how. He’d never thought he’d done anything he had to apologize for.
Pompous jackass.
“Well, I didn’t help anything by flipping out. The guys must think I’m crazy.”
He snorted. “Are you kidding? Pretty sure any one of them would get on a knee and propose to you tomorrow if you wanted it.”
Brooke laughed. “Now that’s a scary thought.”
“But it made you laugh,” he whispered. “See, I know you.”
He did know her. He knew exactly what to say to talk her off the ledge. It unnerved her because, first, he wasn’t supposed to be anything more than someone helping with a problem. And second, he also wasn’t supposed to be anything more than some physical stress relief. Now he was holding her and guaranteeing things for next time.
“I promise we’ll stop him, Brooke. And I promise we won’t leave you in the dark. But I need you to trust me. Depending on how ugly this gets, at some point, I may have to shout an order at you. If I can avoid it, I will. I’ll always try to approach you with an explanation first, but I need you to know that I’ll only tell you what to do if I have no choice.”
His big hands moved from her back to her head. He drew her back, framing her face and forcing her gaze on his.
“It’s not because I don’t think you’re smart, or capable, or amazing. You’re all those things and so much more, Brooke. Remember that and do not apologize for it. I’m asking you to stay away from the dog fight because I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you. Put your trust in my guys and me. Can you do that?”
Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at the sincerity in his eyes. If she were a smarter woman, she’d tell him yes, kiss his cheek, and head back to her house. But standing there under the twinkling lights of the stars, she was anything but intelligent. Telling him she trusted him seemed insufficient. Showing him became imperative. She let her emotions and her body overrule her brain and slowly sank to her knees in front of him.
“Brooke,” he rumbled. “You don’t need to—shit.”
She popped the button on his jeans then slid the zipper down.
“This isn’t what I—oh fuck.”
Brooke snickered. She’d tugged his jeans and boxer briefs down at the same time. She’d given plenty of blowjobs to her husband. It was something he’d loved and frequently demanded though he always had a critical comment or ten about her performance. After a while, it had become a chore she never looked forward to, but right then and there, face to face with Curly’s erection, her mouth watered.
It salivated at the thought of tasting him and feeling all that hardness against her tongue. Maybe it was the way his eyes burned with lust or the fact he hadn’t expected it, but she couldn’t wait to drive him out of his mind.