the jar. He takes it from my hold, making sure to graze my wrist with his fingertips. A shiver runs through me.
I wrap my middle again as he moves to shake the pink and white contents of the jar into the tub. When the scent of vanilla and strawberry reaches my nose and bubbles begin to form, I realize it’s bubble bath. Brick closes the jar and turns off the water by pressing more buttons.
He moves to return the bubble bath to where he got it. This time I watch from under my lashes as his manhood points straight at me. He stops right in front of me and scoops me into his arms. I yelp and wrap my legs around his waist as he lifts me in the air like a small kid when I’m anything but.
He steps into the tub and sits us both down in the warm water. I suck in a breath and wince a little as my tender flesh meets the liquid. Brick slides his hands down my back and cups my ass. He kisses my nose and looks into my eyes.
“My childhood was fucked up,” he begins. “Your daddy saved my life. If it weren’t for Cage, I probably wouldn’t be alive and I damn sure wouldn’t be where I am.
“My family just ain’t shit, darlin’. My father beat the fuck out of me and in the trailer next door his sister allowed her boyfriends to do whatever they wanted to my cousin, Jemma.”
“Oh my God,” I breathe.
He nods tightly and continues. “When your daddy took me with him, I didn’t look back. Jemma was a bitch to me. I hadn’t known what was going on with her to know she had a reason for it.
“I found out when she showed up on my doorstep one summer after having the shit beat out of her. I handled shit for her and gave her a place to stay until she turned eighteen and took off on her own.” His eyes are distant as he speaks and massages his hands over my cheeks under the water.
“I sort of felt like it was my fault. I believed that shit for a long time. Jemma has used that against me again and again. The fact that I was right next door and did nothing, knew nothing. I was a kid too. Took me a long time to accept that as truth. There was nothing I could have done differently.
“We’re only a year apart, but the things Jemma has been through have damaged her deep and added years. When she returned to my doorstep with a friend and a sob story, I fell for it.”
“Mags?” I ask and furrow my brows.
He nods and his lips thin. “Jemma and Magdalena came to me with a tale that sucked me in. I was full of guilt, young, and dumb. Mags was a gorgeous girl in need, and they suckered me right into being her knight in shining armor.
“I had no idea Mags was already in a relationship with my crazy as fuck cousin. I didn’t know until after I’d been married to Mags for over a year. I came home to find my cousin, Jemma, fucking my wife.”
Brick frowns and shakes his head. “That shit fucked my head up. Jemma was eating the same pussy I’d been fucking for more than a year. I knew I wasn’t in love with Mags, but that shit still crushed my ego.
“I wasn’t even turned on by the shit because Jemma is my fucking cousin. The two came clean and told me they were always lovers. They just needed me to keep Magdalena out of Brazil for good.
“Sad part is, Jemma doesn’t realize Mags uses everyone until they’re of no use to her anymore. It’s only a matter of time before Jemma finds out who Magdalena really is. She’s manipulative…” He stops talking, realizing his voice has started to rise and his chest is heaving.
I dip my head and kiss his pec, then lift to kiss his lips gently. He glides his hands up my back, crushing my breasts to his chest. His mouth hovers within inches of mine, he flicks his tongue out to sample my bottom lip, disintegrating the tender kiss I just pressed to his.
He places his forehead to mine and starts talking again. “I did everything they asked of me back then, but Mags decided she wanted more. She fought me tooth and nail on the divorce even after I used