Remember This (Virgin River)

Entangled In You

As soon as we stepped off the bike, his dark eyes searched for the desired closeness he had wanted dancing in the bar. The side of his mouth twitched into that boyish grin I had fallen for the first time we met. His thumb rubbed down the muscle of my hand until our fingers intertwined. While one hand intertwined with mine, the other maneuvered the front door open then locked it behind us as we moved further into the house. Our bodies danced rhythmically towards the couch tong enough to trail clothes and start a blazing fire behind us, finally stilling underneath the blankets to the crackling flames.

"I was not expecting this." Brady broke the peaceful silence as I traced small circles in the center of his chest with my index finger. I had to admit it was good to be close to someone, to take back what I had lost when I left Sacramento. I wasn't quite ready to talk about it with anyone, yet still wanted to revel in the respite of living in a new town.

"What did you expect?"

"That you wouldn't return my text."

"Yeah, sorry about the other night. I just had to get out of there." My mind flashed back to my fleeting figure, his confused expression as I gazed at him through the car window. "It had nothing to do with you. Then I was gonna call, and then it just felt awkward, and,"

"Hey. You don't need to explain yourself." His words were gentle, so sincere I thought this couldn't be real. I had never witnessed a guy who was willing to accept me for who I was. "It's cool. I'm just glad we got together." One hand cradling my head, we closed the gap between us until we had no choice but to come up for air.

"Um, can I ask you a question?" I asked playfully, his face dangerously close to mine, wisps of breath tickling at my chin as his lips parted into an eager smile.

"Shoot."

"I didn't picture you as the suit-and-tie kind of guy." Grabbing the tie still attached to his shirt hanging over the back of the couch, I swung the fabric back and forth a few times before letting go and propping my hand against my cheek as if he were about to tell me a really good story.

"Yeah. I had a meeting with a loan officer. It was for my company."

"Oh. How'd it go?"

"Not great." Inhaling deeply like the whole thing was weighing down on his shoulders, he went from insanely happy to serious in a matter of seconds. "I have a bunch of trees that can't be logged, so I need to make up for the loss. But apparently, I don't have the capital to secure a loan."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Instead of looking directly at me, he laced his fingers through mine, as if he was trying to keep the closeness between us. "They said I should look for a co-signer, but that's easier said than done." I had the sneaking suspicion he had a past with a lot of people, making him feel less than welcome in town.

"Well, if I had the money, I would cosign you."

"You would?"

"Yeah." Chuckling at his disbelief, he let go of my hand. I didn't know him well, but he seemed dead set on saving his business. If I could have, I would have saved my own by working in a better environment.

"And this is based on what information?"

"Well, I mean you seem like a good guy."

"Uh-huh." He was listening very intently to what I had to say. I had to admit it was too easy getting a rise out of him. Brady had this bad boy vibe, yet inside he was this boy at heart which made him very easy to talk to.

"And you're very competent in bed."

"Whoa, back up." Holding up one finger to stop me from saying anything else, I laid squashed beside him on the couch. "Competent? Is that your attempt at a compliment?"

"Okay, I'm sorry." I apologized, burying my face into the pillow, not being able to contain my laughter any longer. "How about, um, proficient? Or capable. And you have excellent abs."

"Remind me to never use you as a reference." His words vibrated happily against my lips, drawing a breath as he gazed up at me. "Speaking of being good in bed, I have a great idea."

"Hmm. I'm all ears."

"Why don't you and I take this conversation to the bedroom?" Gesturing up towards the wooden stairs beyond the darkened hallway, he looked like he was considering making a mad dash for them at the drop of a hat. "I can show you how proficient and capable I can be."

"I still have a little while. I would love to see a demonstration of what else you can do before then." It took him a few seconds to react, a wicked smile appeared as his hands snaked around my lower back and bolted upstairs with me in his arms. "Okay, not like this. Brady! I let out a yelp of laughter as we bounced down the hallway. I let out a yelp of laughter as he straddled me on the bed.

"Let me show you what I can do." Hand delicately brushing against my cheek, he moved to push a strand of fallen hair near the corner of my eye delicately behind my ear. His fingers drifted down my neck, each touch delicate and sending shivers up and down my spine. "Have I mentioned how happy I am you came?"

"Maybe a time or two." Lips now trailing down my neck to the crook of my shoulder sent waves of euphoria racing through my body, my breath hitching as he paused against my skin.

"That's all, huh? I could tell you a million times and it still wouldn't be enough to express how glad I am you're with me."

"Then shut up and kiss me already."

"Gladly."