Free Brody by Victoria H. Smith Page B

guide me away. We went into the pit, but by the time we did, a slow song had started. It was almost as if the deejay knew my silent plea.
    Brody brought me in, taking me by the hand. His other hand to my waist, he tugged me, close, and I pressed my body against his, his chest hard and unyielding. I rested my cheek there, loving the way he smelled and the feeling of his hair at the nape of his neck. I worried I was getting too personal, moving my fingers there, but he was doing it, too. His cheek to the side of my hair, he played with my short strands sending small charges throughout my entire body. He wasn’t doing anything I wasn’t doing myself and the feeling both thrilled me and scared me. We didn’t have a lot of time together.
    What we had was borrowed, but in those moments, that didn’t seem to matter. He played with my hair and I played with his and we both allowed ourselves to forget. I guess they called that living in bliss. I brushed my lips against the collar of his t-shirt, that place right before shirt met skin. He breathed in and I knew I hadn’t done so discreetly. His hand bunched the back of my shirt, bringing me closer. I believed he didn’t want me to stop, so I didn’t, pressing my lips harder. Eventually, I touched skin, his, and the feeling warmed me down to my toes.
    His head rubbed against mine and I continued, kissing him, breathing him in, and with every kiss, I just wished he’d take me away. He made things so much better. He made me feel… safe . I didn’t deserve that. I didn’t deserve him because I was selfish. I knew because my selfishness was what had kept me away from home so long, my stubbornness.
    “Hey, buddy. Quit hogging her. Why don’t you give the rest of us assholes a chance?”
    The voice immediately sent my back up and when Brody swiveled us around, it stayed there. A guy in a dark Stetson hat stood to our side and he smelled so strong of whisky, my nose burned. He appraised me, a smile on his lips, and his swaying let me know I wasn’t far off about the alcohol in his system.
    Brody brought me back to him, ignoring the guy. He attempted to dance us away without confrontation, but the drunk’s hand touched his arm. Brody’s hand left my waist and I immediately wanted it back. He stepped in front of me. “I think you should take a step back.”
    The guy got into Brody’s face and I seized up, gripping Brody’s waist. The guy lifted a finger at Brody. “And I think you should chill out. I just want to dance with her.”
    He slurred every word and Brody wouldn’t relent. He gestured to the side, calmly, but I didn’t know how much of that was an act. I’d seen him obliterate a guy. He’d done so for me.
    “Imma need you to take seat,” he said. “I won’t say it again.”
    “And I will. After I get a dance with the lady.” He stared around him at me. “Hey, baby girl. You wanna dance—?”
    Brody initiated the first shove, but he didn’t step back. Not this time. Moving me to the side, he looked to charge right into the guy on the crowded floor.
    “Brody!”
    And he stopped. Just like that. Turning, he glanced my way briefly before facing the guy again. His face red, Stetson hat snorted like a bull.
    “Just fuckin’ let me dance with her,” he growled, his jaw clenched.
    Brody shook his head. “She doesn’t want to dance with you.”
    “But you haven’t even fuckin’ asked her! You speak for her or something?”
    His hands shaking, Brody brought them together, cracking his knuckles, and I knew what would happen next. I’d seen him in action first hand. If I didn’t do something, he would and I had a feeling if it weren’t the right something, Stetson hat would instead. He was clearly drunk, a loose canon…
    I put my hand on Brody’s arm, not wanting to take the risk. “I want to dance with him.”
    Like before, he came to a full stop. He stared over his shoulder, his own face red now. He pushed a hand through his hair. “You,