Page 83 of The Check Down
Tucker stands and rounds the table, patting Brynn’s shoulder as he goes. “I’ll make sure to knock on all doors while you’re here.”
Her eyes and lips both list to the side. “Thanks so much.”
He laughs at her tone. “No prob,sis.” He tosses her a wink and smacks a loud kiss on Mom’s cheek, and then he’s gone.
Once the roar of his motorcycle has faded, I grab my woman’s hand, and we bid my parents good night.
Other than a new comforter for the queen-size bed and the removal of my Jessica Alba and Katy Perry posters, Mom’s kept my childhood bedroom much the same as it was when I left for college. The shelves above the wooden desk are crammed with every sports trophy, plaque, medal, and tournament ring I won starting in peewee sports all the way through high school. The dresser top is covered with the same.
I sit on the end of the bed, watching Brynn as she takes a slow trip down memory lane. She reads every award and searches for me in every team photo.
“Back row, third from left?” She glances over her shoulder to confirm. The proud smile she shines on me after each correct guess fills my chest with a tender ache. I track her every move and note every head tilt and squint and sigh.
Before long, she grows a little hesitant, her moves becoming less confident. She spins around from the dresser. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
I lift my chin, a silent invitation, and she reads my body language like she wrote the manual. When she steps between my spread knees, I wrap my arms around her, pull her close, and restmy cheek against her abdomen. Stroking my hair, she releases a satisfied sigh.
“I have a gorgeous woman in my childhood bedroom. It’s like all my adolescent fantasies come to life.”
She huffs a laugh. “Don’t get any ideas, mister.”
I rest my chin on her stomach and blink up at her. “Too late, professor.”
“We can’t have sex in your parents’ house,” she hisses. “In yourchildhood bed.”
“We sure as fuck can.”
She scrunches her eyes shut. “Griff—”
“Brynn. Baby. Give me those eyes.”
She lifts her lashes, but the frown she gives me is full of trepidation.
“They’re adults. We’re adults. Adults have sex. My mom practically gave us her blessing earlier.” I grip her hips and give them a squeeze. “My parents’ bedroom is downstairs and on the opposite side of the house. Plus, my dad can’t hear for shit, and my mom sleeps like the dead. How do you think the three of us snuck out so often in high school?”
Head hung, she slumps. “Your poor mother. She’s a saint for putting up with the three of you.”
A chuckle rumbles deep in my chest. “No doubt about that.”
I jostle her and exhale my disappointment. After last night, I’m insatiable. And now, it looks like I’m returning to blue ball territory for the weekend.
I hate it there.
But the last thing I want is for Brynn to feel obligated or coerced into being intimate.
“I’m sorry, baby.” I release her and straighten on the edge of the bed. “I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself if you don’t want to—”
“I never said I didn’t want to.”
A little flicker of hope ignites inside me. Even so, I give her my most convincing sad-dog eyes.
She frames my face with her soft hands. “Gah, this face. How will I ever be able to say no to this face?” She kisses the top of my head and swipes up her overnight bag. “I’m going to get ready for bed.”
“Bathroom’s right next door.”
While she does her nighttime stuff, I strip down to my boxers—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesthis time—and recline on the bed.
The door creaks open, and all of me sits up at attention. And I mean,allof me.