“The Rented Husband”

2012 © All Rights Reserved

Chapter 30

     The air was warm and balmy feeling when they walked out of the hotel.  Brody holding onto Olivia’s hand, reveling in the softness of her skin as he led her through the parking lot and down to the path that would lead them to the beach.  Walking in companionable silence, side by side Brody couldn’t help but to think about how right all of this felt; her hand in his, walking together.  It just seemed like it was meant to be. .

     As they strolled along, he peeked over at her out of the corner of his eye and smiled.  Her head was tilted upwards, towards the sky.  The sea breeze had her blond tendrils dancing around her face.  There was almost a fairy like quality about her.  It made her seem softer, sweeter.  This was a side of her that he didn’t get to see very often and even though he didn't he found that he liked it- liked it a lot. 

     Olivia, feeling his gaze on her, knew he was watching her and the woman in her took pride in that fact.  She was no longer able to deny the incredible attraction she had for this man.  He was everything a woman could want in a man. Smart, handsome, funny and when he kissed her it lite a passion in here like no one ever had done before.  The problem she had was that when he wasn’t kissing the breath out of her, her thoughts centered on how badly she wanted to strangle him.

     They were just too much alike in their stubbornness and their pride to ever be a compatible match.  To her they would always be just co-workers and nothing more.  She knew this was all just a show, an agreement that benefited him as much as it benefited her. 

     “Hey Beautiful, what are you thinking about?”  Brody asked her as he pulled her to a stop at the edge of the beach.  The only thing that separated them from the majestic blue sea was the sparkling crystalline white sands that spread for miles either way.

     Catching his smile as she turned to him.  “Nothing much,”  she replied, shadowing her eyes with her hand to see him.  He gave her that look, the one that she was becoming all too familiar with, the one that seemed to say, 'yeah right, who do you think your kidding?'

     “Okay,” she conceded, nibbling on her bottom lip, “Put it this way, It’s nothing that I want to talk about right now, let's just enjoy this for what it is.”

     “If you say so,” he said,  thoughtfully studying her.  His gaze was intense and un-nerving at the same time.

     Quickly she turned away from him, not wanting to reveal what she was thinking by the expression on her face.  Sitting down on the ground, she slowly pulled her shoes off one at a time and very meticulously sat them off to the side of her.

      Looking out at the ocean, she took some peace in the rhythmic way that the waves repeatedly crashed against the shore.  Maybe they weren't really married and maybe this was all for show but since they were here, In this tropical paradise, she could definitely see herself making some lasting memories to tuck away in her subconscious to remember on those lonely nights when she longed for the touch of a man.  Special moments that no one would ever know about except for him and her. 

     She turned up to see Brody still watching her.  Her body warmed under his close scrutiny.  Staring up at his statuesque profile, she decided, yes, she could see herself making  some memories to last her a life time with this guy.  Determined in her new resolve, she jerked her head towards the ocean and did something that the old Olivia Murray would never have done.  She took a chance and she hoped she wouldn't regret asking.  "Do you want to take a walk on the beach with me?"   

     His eyes narrowed, even darkening a hue.  There was something that passed between them, an understanding of sorts.  Brody sat down beside her, his thigh rubbing against hers.  She could smell his spicy cologne and it awakened a passion within her that made her feminine parts long to be caressed and ravaged.  "Are you sure that is what you want to do Liv?" 

     They both knew there was an underlying meaning to this conversation.  That indisputable attraction between them was crackling in the air, sparking arc after arc of electricity.  She turned back to the ocean again, looking pensive.  Brody watched as every inhale she took made her breast move up and every exhale made them lower.  Lifting his eyes from her breast he watched her tiny pink tongue as it slid out of her mouth and ran across her bottom lip, making his manly man parts rise and salute the occasion.  

     Just when he thought he could take no more, she swung her head around, those deep brown eyes locking with his own.  "Yes," she bobbed her head once, "I do." Her statement full of superior feminine confidence.

     His lips were slow to curl.  "Alright," he lazily drawled.  He brought his leg up, took off one shoe just as she did, then the other.  With that done, he started to roll up the bottom of his pants so that they would stay dry from the tumbling surf.  What he was trying to do was keep his mind focused on the tasks that he was executing instead of the exotically enticing woman sitting next to him.

     When he was done, he blew out a heavy breath and held out his hand.  "Ready?"

     She glanced at his hand then took it, curling her fingers around his.  "Ready," she confirmed.

     He stood up, pulling her up with him.  Being this close to her, he could smell the scent of violets swirling around her.  Her hand was warm in his and as they started towards the beckoning sea, all he could thing about was how she would taste.  Would she taste like strawberries and mangoes from the juice that was served at the rehearsal?  Or would she taste more earthly, more sensual? 

     "Brody, can I ask you a question?" 

     Sea foam was rolling over his toes, tickling his already heightened senses.  She squeezed his hand a little.  "Sure," he replied and made an attempt to clear his throat when the sound came out hoarse.  "Shoot."

     This time is was Olivia that pulled them to a stop.  The back drop seemed perfect.   They had the beach to themselves as far as they could see, the sun was high in the sky, the smell of tropical flowers and sea salt laced the air.  "Why did you stay?"  She asked as she stared down at their joined hands.  "I mean after dad punched you- you could have left, but yet, you stayed?"

     Brody grinned, raising his hand to scratch his head. That was the last question that he expected from her.  "Mmm," he murmured almost to himself, how could he answer that?  "Several reasons," he said, bringing his attention back to her. 

     "Several?" She repeated curiously.

     "Yeah, several," he said moving in closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.  "First off a deal is a deal and I never back out."

     "But getting hit-"

     He placed his finger to her lips.  "Let me finish," he broke in.  She sucked her lips into her mouth and his eyes went straight to the action.  Unable to stop himself, he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on those pink pouty lips.  "Secondly," he continued, lifting his head away from temptation, "After seeing how bad your family really was, I couldn't have in good conscious, left you alone with them." 

     Olivia gasped. "They aren't that bad," she weakly protested.  He stared back at her without saying a word..  "Okay," she held up her hands in surrender, "Even with all of the hell that they put me through;  I know they only do it because they love me."

     He laughed lightly.  "Yes, they do.  That much I can see.  Now that father of yours though- he seriously needs some anger management classes."

     Olivia didn't respond to that.  Instead, she rested her head against his chest, listening to the systematic beating of his heart.  "Is that all?"

     He eased his chin on the top of her head, tightening his hold on her.  "No," he said quietly.  He waited a moment, almost second guessing what he was about to say.  

     "What?"

     He sighed before he spoke. "I wasn't ready to leave  you."  Once again she was left speechless, unable to form a word.  Several seconds, maybe even minutes passed by before he said anything else.  Going out on a limb, he figured it was now or never.  "Olivia," he swallowed, 'I...I want you."

     He felt her muscles tense underneath his hold and silently cursed himself in three different languages.  She wasn't ready, he spoke to soon.  "Brody," she started and he could hear the hesitancy in her voice.  "Never mind, forget that I said anything," he scowled.  He wasn't upset with her reaction, he was more irritated with himself because he seemed to lose all his senses when she was around and that was not like him.

     With her small, slender hand, she reached up and touched his cheek.  "Brody." she said again, this time a hint of amusement was there.  He shook his head back and forth, still mad with himself over his abrupt declaration.  "Brody!" She called out again, much more forcefully this time.

     He stopped moving his head and peered down at her, questions in his eyes.  When she was certain that she had his full attention, she spoke slowly and with precision.  "I want you too."

     His tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth.  He blinked his eyes, not  at all sure if he heard her correctly.  "Brody," she stroked the cheek that she was holding, "Did you hear me?"

     Oh yeah, he heard her alright, it was the believing what he heard that he was still trying to decipher.  Then she said it again, "I want you more then you could imagine."  She batted her lashes giving her a sinfully sexy look.  Choking on his words, he proceeded to do what any hot blooded man would do.  He lifted her to him and slanted his mouth over her lips.  This time It wasn't like the soft easy kisses they shared only moments earlier.  This time it was hot, demanding, an intent to claim.  Their lips moved together in a dance as old as time itself.  

    "Room", Olivia, breathed between hot, wet kisses.  "We need ...to... to .... get to the room."

     A guttural sound spilled from his lips.  "Room," he grunted, sounding all cave man, "Right."  Without breaking the kiss, he picked her up, bridal style.  Slowly and awkwardly, they moved back up the beach, towards the hotel.  Olivia's was on fire, her body begging for his touch.  Brody wasn't sure they would even make it back to the room but he was giving it one helluva go.  He didn't want their first time to be on a public beach where voyeur eyes could see.

     Stumbling up the steps, Brody ripped his mouth from hers, sucking in deep gulps of air.  "Almost there," he panted between ragged breaths. 

     She pressed her face into his chest, not wanting anyone to see her swollen lips and flushed face.  She had never been so turned on in her life and prayed that she could last until they got back to the room.

     She knew they were back in the hotel when she heard the sound of the automatic doors opening and felt the cool air from the air-conditioner graze her legs.  They stopped again and she assumed they were back at the elevator.   She was jostled a bit while Brody moved to push the button.  She could feel him practically bouncing with impatience and smiled into his shirt when she heard him mutter, "Come on, come on."

     The door opened and she felt the sway of their bodies as he moved inside  She knew exactly what he was doing when he went to push the button to close the elevator and his body pitched forward.

     "Hold the door please!"  Brody made a low sound of frustration as she looked up.  His face was drawn tight as he forced a smile and held the door.   A security guard stepped on the elevator and he seemed to look vaguely familiar to Olivia but she couldn't quite place where she had seen him before.   "Thank you sir," he grinned at Brody, then smiled down at her.

      She felt the high color in her cheeks and turned to bury her head back in Brody's chest.  The security guard chuckled, "Can you press floor three please."

     Brody snorted.  "Sure," and kept his eyes on the lights as they tortuously moved up ever so slowly.  Elevator music played lightly in the background while the security guard whistled along with the tune.  The box they were in dipped, coming to a stop on floor three.  The doors opened and she turned her head to watch him leave. 

     "You two have a good afternoon," he said exiting the elevator.  Just as he stepped off, he grabbed the door and turned around, merriment highlighting his eyes. "And by all that is holy, can you make sure you have the right floor and room this time?" The security guard said as he walked away laughing.

     Olivia tried to sit up straighter in Brody's arms. "What do you mean right floor and room?"  Her forehead creased into a perplexed frown.

     "We will," Brody cut in and repeatedly smashed the button with more force than necessary as he tried to make the elevator door close.  

      "What is he talking about?" She asked Brody when the doors shut again.  Brody did his best to avoid the question and shrugged his shoulders.  "I haven't got a clue."

     She narrowed her eyes on him.  "Yes you do, now tell me," she demanded.

     Brody stared down at her face, thinking to himself that this has to be the longest elevator ride in the history of man kind.  His eyes touched her lips and the temptation was just too strong.  Lowering his head, he whispered, "It doesn't matter."  A second later, he effectively quieted her protests by capturing her lips in a slow seductive kiss filled with sweet  promises of all the things to come. 

     ***************************************************************

          She stood there at her window, seething.  Binoculars in hand, she watched as they took a romantic walk along the beach, her temper slowly starting to get the best of her.  It wasn't until they started to kiss that she finally lost it. 

     She narrowed her eyes as she continued to watch the two make out on the beach.  When he lifted her into his arms, a move so intimate, she screamed at the top of her lungs.  "That's supposed to be me dammit!" Tears rolled down her face as she watched them retreat.  Rage and fury burning inside of her, deadly close to boiling over.  She banged her fist angrily against the window, rattling the hard panes. "That's supposed to be me, dammit to hell, I am going to kill you..............YOU BITCH!"

     The way that he held her so close to his body, pushed her over the edge, sealing Olivia Murray's death sentence.  She didn't care who her father was, who her brother's were or even who that nosey brother-in-law of hers was.  She'd kill all of them if she had to.  Brody belonged to her, only her and she wasn't about to let anyone or anything get in her way.  Not now, not ever.  The bitch's clock was ticking down and her time had officially run out.