Radiance (42 page)

Kissing one hip, he trailed his lips across his lower abdomen and kissed the other.  The underside of his chin brushed the head of Harper’s cock and made him gasp.  His hands massaged the muscles of his thighs, around to the taut cheeks of his ass.

“Then you brought me a violin.  I don’t know why I never thought to replace the one my father destroyed.  I didn’t know you knew I played.  The look on your face…that’s when I knew what love was, Harper.  That’s when I knew I was meant to love you.” 

He sucked the head of Harper’s cock between his lips and he cried out, curling his fist in his hair and gripping the bedding. 

“Elijah…I’m not strong enough, it’s been too long.” 

Releasing him, he rubbed his face over the bend in his hip, “Hold back.  You’re strong enough.  Let me suck you.” 

He took him deep and swallowed around a cock he’d learned better than his own over the years they’d spent together. 

The first ten years, they’d
hungered
for one another.  It was after Danielle’s death that they began to drift apart. 

That was when the rotation of random women in and out of his bed truly started to become a problem.  More often than he liked, he was requested as a third.  Looking back, he realized Harper needed
help
. 

Brie would have
known
how to help him.  Elijah hadn’t. 

Now they needed to find their way back to each other, to the love they’d always shared. 

Sucking him slow and deep, he took in the way Harper’s hands shook as they touched his hair, the pressing of his thighs against his shoulders, and the groans he made from deep in his chest.  Breath sawed in and out of his lungs.

Accustomed to Brie and her need for touch, Elijah ran his hands over the first skin he’d ever wanted against him.  He worshipped a man he’d loved long before a sexual element was part of their relationship. 

Higher and higher, he pushed Harper through pleasure that made his entire body tighten, his balls draw close to his body, and his fingers fist in his hair. 

Gripping the length, he said against the head, “Come for me, Harper.  Let me drink you down.” 

Jaw clenched, he breathed out Elijah’s name as he let go of the control he’d fought to maintain.  Jets of hot come hit the back of his throat and he wrapped his arms under Harper’s body to hold him close.  Hugging him as he took him deeper still. 

Only when he had nothing left did Elijah release him and rest his face on his thigh.  Harper raked his fingers through his hair as he struggled to settle his system.

“I love you, Elijah.  I will always love you.” 

Crawling up his body, he stretched out beside him and held him to his chest.  “I love you, Harper.  Until death.” 

They laid like that, stroking over each other’s skin, for a long time.  When Harper fell asleep, Elijah raked his fingers through his hair and stared at a face he’d always found beautiful.  Kissing his temple, he pulled the blankets up and held him closer.

Only with Brie had he ever slept so deeply. 

End-January 2016

Brie spent the first six weeks in a pretty villa on the coast of Croatia trying to reconcile her grief over the loss of her baby. 

A child would have complicated things in regards to her broken heart.  It would have been difficult seeing Harper and Elijah, being unable to touch them. 

Still, she had no doubt Harper would have taken an active role as a father.  For herself, once she discovered the pregnancy, she loved the child. 

Her doctors warned her from the start that there were great risks due to the powerful medications and that her blood didn’t clot correctly. 

Again, though she’d known the risks, Brie
hoped
.  The loss of the little boy she’d so looked forward to bringing into the world cut her to her core. 

For her, in all ways, the conception was one of love.

While she was still in the hospital, Natalia booked the place and had it stocked with things she knew she would need.  The blonde had Tawny set up a secure system so she could work.

It was Hudson who staffed it. 

The woman who acted as her personal driver, chef, and assistant struck her as the type to know hand-to-hand combat and probably had the ability to disassemble a weapon in ten seconds or less.

Obviously, her friends felt she needed a bodyguard.  Brie thought maybe she needed one for her heart. 

The calls to and from her parents, her friends, her staff, and her sister were filled with unasked or unanswered questions. 

Hudson and Natalia called her every couple of days.  She always picked up the phone.  She tried to be strong.  Every conversation ended with her reassuring them that she was getting better. 

Many of her days were spent in memory, in reflection.  Those days were harder to bear and she hated the tears she wasn’t able to stop crying. 

She worked on healing from two years of chaos, injury, and loss.  She stared out at the water and tried to decide what she was going to do with the rest of her life. 

Sometimes, she would press her hands to her stomach, remembering the first and only time she felt her baby move. 

During those moments, it felt as if she was broken in two.

Vi would bring a glass of infused water and stand guard at the rear door leading to the expansive second floor balcony with a view of the Mediterranean. 

She never spoke but Brie felt better with her presence.

Vi wasn’t chatty so Brie figured she probably drove the poor woman nuts.  Sometimes, she watched her with a tilt of her head as if confused.  She listened the way Hudson did.  Absolutely still with every ounce of focus. 

During the day, Vi prepared shakes and meals meant to put her charge’s system back in balance.  Brie cooked for them at night and always insisted the woman join her when she ate. 

A local woman did their shopping and light cleaning.  She wasn’t ready to leave the house and her hired protector insured she didn’t have to.

One day while cooking, Brie slipped and cut her hand.  It bled profusely.  Without an instant of hesitation, Vi removed a medical bag from the cabinet, covered the wound with a powdered clotting agent, then cleaned and bandaged it.

“Thank you.  I usually end up going to the hospital.”

“I’d like to avoid that if possible.  Your blood is still too thin.  We need to make a few changes to your diet.”  The woman gave her a careful smile.

“Whatever you think.”  A few minutes later, she plated food and they sat quietly.  “Vi, can I do anything for you?” 

“Explain.” 

The way she said it reminded her of Hudson and made her smile.  “I bet you lead an exciting life.  Am I keeping you from things you enjoy?  This seems pretty boring.” 

“I needed a change of pace.”  The woman looked at her intently.  “Perhaps you did as well.”  Brie nodded and stared out the window.  “Is there anything I can do for you?” 

“You’re doing it.  I wanted to be alone but having you here keeps me from being
too
alone.”  One shoulder lifted in a shrug.  “It helps.  I’m kind of embarrassed to be around my friends right now.  I’ve made a lot of mistakes.”   

“Mistakes don’t define you.  How you deal with them does.” 

“I don’t know how I deal with them.”  One side of her mouth lifted.  “I haven’t gotten much of a break between mistakes.” 

“Then this change will help you in many ways.” 

Looking into pretty light blue eyes, Brie nodded.  “You say a lot with few words.  You remind me of my best friend.” 

“The man who hired me?”

“Yes.” 

“You consider him your best friend?” 

“The very best.  Hudson changed my life.” 

Vi nodded but Brie could tell she wasn’t sure what to make of her relationship.  It certainly wasn’t a unique reaction. 

They cleaned up and Brie went out on the second floor balcony with a glass of wine.  Lifting her face to the setting sun, she sent positive vibes out to Elijah and Harper, wherever they happened to be. 

Vi stood a step behind her and to the side. 

“I should get a treadmill or something.  I was starting to walk again.  I wonder if I could take up running someday.”

“Why don’t you try something that will strengthen your core but not stress bones and muscles that sustained so much trauma?”  The bodyguard came alongside her and stepped close.  Her muscle tone was incredible.  “Come.”

Brie turned to face her and felt shorter than usual.  Vi was as tall as Natalia in heels.  She took her glass. 

“Let’s try some simple movements.  See how you feel.”

Already wearing leggings and a t-shirt, Brie used the tie on her wrist to secure her hair.  The blonde worked with her for half an hour in the fresh breeze off the water. 

Though she wasn’t jostled or jumping around, Brie’s skin was damp and she was surprised at the effect of the isolated movements.  She liked the way it made her feel. 

“You have excellent balance.  Stick with tai chi and yoga.  Build your inner core without wear and tear on your joints.”

“Thank you, Vi.”

“You’re welcome, Gabriella.”

* * *

Mid-February 2016

Every day, they worked out together and then the bodyguard would send her to shower while she blended her a protein shake.  One morning, she came out and sat at the counter to watch the other woman chop fruit.

“I bet most clients don’t require you to be so gentle.  Thank you for helping me.”

“You’re a unique experience for me.  You’ve been restless.”

“I used to walk
everywhere
if I could.  I loved the freedom of just tearing up the miles.  After the accident, being still was the hardest part.  For a couple of months, I couldn’t even sketch.  I’d say that was the closest I ever got to true insanity.” 

“You were immobile for a long time.” 

“It could have been worse.  The wheelchair made me feel trapped.  The walker made me feel old.  The cane made me feel ridiculous because I was
almost
there…but not quite.”  She smiled.  “I worked hard to get back on my feet again.”

“The man who hit you, do you hate him?”

Brie shook her head and have a small shrug as tears filled her eyes.  “No.  He had his own demons.  I believed every word he said to me because I was so desperate for someone to love me, to be nice to me.  He was in trouble and I was naïve.  Neither of us escaped unscathed.  I hope he’ll be better now.” 

“The way you think…I don’t always understand it.  I would have killed him if he’d done that to me, Gabriella.”  She
meant
the words. 

Brie took a deep breath.  “The hurt was
always
worse than the anger.  I felt…dumb.  My sister always questioned things about him and I figured she was wondering how someone so good looking was with someone like me.  She was just worried.”

“What do you mean?” 

“Scott is
very
beautiful.  We didn’t really fit.  I-I don’t really fit in with most of the people in my life.  I’m kind of goofy and awkward.  I’m chubby among a bunch of lean, gorgeous types.  I tend to be scattered more often than not.”  She shrugged.  “I’m glad they overlook my oddities.” 

Vi blinked.  “Perhaps they don’t
overlook
them.  Perhaps they
love
them.  You’re very hard on yourself.”  She frowned.  “I think you’re lovely.” 

“There are a few people who have made me
feel
beautiful but…it never works out.  I think I’m better alone.” 

“I’m sorry about what happened to you.”

“I think...I
know
everything happens for a reason.  If Scott hadn’t gotten me wrapped up in what I thought he wanted, I’d have never met my friends.  His choices created a domino effect in my life.”  Staring out at the sea, she added softly, “So many good things happened because I went to New York.”

Vi handed her the protein shake.  “I’ve never met someone like you, Gabriella.  It’s…refreshing.”

“Hudson said that a lot in the beginning.  He and Natalia thought I was an interesting puzzle.”

“You’re
very
close to them.  I didn’t understand your relationship to them at first.”

“More than anyone else in my life, Hudson had the biggest influence.  He shook me out of my comfort zone.  Through him, I met people I can’t imagine my life without now.  Natalia is my best female friend.  I love the way she moves through the world.  Maybe I’ll be like her when I grow up.”  She grinned.  “I call Hudson a redwood. 
Deep roots.
”

There was a long pause.  “I’m his sister.”

Brie almost dropped her glass.  “What?”

“I’m Hudson’s sister…Scott’s twin.  When Hudson asked me to watch over you, I expected someone
very
different.” 

“Holy fuck.  No
wonder
you focus like a ninja.” 

Vi chuckled.  “You have
no
idea.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t see it.  You
look
like Scott.  Wow.”  Another thought came to mind.  “He was detained for eighteen months.  Hudson insisted and I agreed.  I was...afraid at first.”

Vi rested her palms wide on the counter.  “Had my little brother been charged, he’d have done much harder time and a lot more of it.”  She shook her head.  “You were far more lenient than I’d have been, Gabriella.  Thank you for showing mercy.  I would’ve been incapable of it.”

Brie stood up and walked around the counter.  “You grew up to be a badass.”  She hugged the bodyguard who hugged her back awkwardly.  Taking a step back, she smiled.  “I’m glad to meet you officially.  Thank you for agreeing to stay with me.” 

“I kept hearing your name from my brother, Natalia, and my mother.  I was curious.” 

“Your mom is awesome.” 

“Yes.  Gentle and easily hurt, much like you.  I understand my older brother’s protectiveness and Scott’s fascination.  Hudson wanted a woman guarding you.  He said you make men kind of stupid.  I see what he meant now.”

“I think…that’s a bad thing, huh?” 

“No.  That’s totally on the idiot men.  If they can’t think around you, that’s their fucking problem.  If they don’t know how to treat you, they can fuck off.” 

“You’re really strong.” 

“I’m also a bitch, Gabriella.  After a lot of years and a lot of men, there’s one I can’t shake from my psyche and it infuriates me like you wouldn’t believe.  I don’t tolerate shit from swinging dicks anymore.” 

Hands on her hips, she smiled.  “You don’t want to be like me but you do need to get a little, I don’t know…meaner?”  She winked.  “We’ll work on it.” 

Unable to stop her laughter, Brie said, “That would really come in handy.  I’m a wimp.” 

“Bullshit.  You attract really strong men who mow you over and leave you mangled in a fucking ditch filled with your own tears.” 

“Jesus…what an image.  Also…accurate.”  Tilting her head, she smiled slowly.  “Natalia talked to you.” 

“Yup.  She knows I’ll
fuck up
a man faster than I’ll
fuck
him.  She thought I’d be a good influence once you started healing.” 

“She’s damn good.”