Last chapter.

Brody parked the car in the garage. He really didn't know what had set Starr off at the gallery. He made his way to his room to drop his keys, wallet, and jacket. He scrubbed his hands over his face - whatever happened tonight had to be discussed. He cared about her and wanted to move forward, but if she was only interested in playing games then this, whatever this was, was over. He headed upstairs towards her rooms.

He stopped for a second to look in on Hope. He had loved her since she was born. He thought of Jessica and Nash and wished them the best. If he and Jessica had been meant to be, he knew so many things would have been different, including that he wouldn't have been tempted to sleep with her sister. The need to protect "his" little girl had been overwhelming when he discovered her and Starr in Ireland. The little girl had his heart completely wrapped around her little finger. It seemed her mother had any part of his body she wanted wrapped around whatever she wanted. A few years ago that would have been enough, but now he needed more and needed to find out if she felt the same way. He kissed Hope's forehead and went back to the hallway.

He paused before he knocked on Starr's door. The door was slightly open. He peered in, and wasn't prepared for the view. Somehow the mirror over the dresser reflected the mirror in the bathroom, so that Brody had a perfect view of Starr dropping her robe and slipping into the bubble bath. His first instinct was to walk into the bathroom and join Starr in the oversized tub. His second was to take a cold shower in his bathroom. He reminded himself that SEALS did not run and hide. He knocked on the door.

"Who's there?"

"It's Brody."

"Come in."

Brody swallowed a feeling of dread and entered the room. "Are you coming out?"

"I just got into this incredible bubble bath. Come on in."

"What?"

"There are so many bubbles here that it should be okay. Besides, the water is so nice that I don't want to get out."

Brody walked into the bathroom. What was she doing? If this was a game, he didn't know what he would do. "Really? This is where you want to discuss why you left me standing at the party?"

"Why not? It doesn't make a difference to you, does it?"

"What?"

"It doesn't matter to you if I'm dressed or not. I'm just the cute little kid you got stuck entertaining lately."

"Why would you say that?" Brody was trying to figure out why she said something so far from the truth.

"Because-" Starr stood in one smooth motion.

Brody spun around slamming his eyes shut.

Starr scoffed, "You really know how to flatter a woman, Lovett. You really can't even look at me?

Brody blew out a breath as he spun around, "If I look at you, this will happen." He grabbed Starr and let his hands have free rein as he sat her down on the vanity. He moved to stand between her open legs. He wanted to punish Starr for playing with fire tonight. He knew she was trying to recover from Cole's abuse, but he wasn't a toy. He froze when he realized that Starr had just unbuckled his belt and jeans. She reached for his zipper. Brody grabbed her hand, "What do you think you are doing?"

"Letting you know that I'm on board with what is happening?" Starr placed an open mouthed kiss on his neck.

"What is happening?" Brody tried to keep his eyes on her face.

"I'm not sure, but I want to find out," Starr pulled his shirt off and leaned forward to kiss his shoulder.

"I do too, but are you sure?" Brody leaned his forehead against hers. "Is this about proving to yourself that you are over Cole?"

"Let's see - the strongest, most capable, most gorgeous,, most gentle man that my daughter adores appears to want me as much as I want him. I was done with Cole emotionally long before we actually broke up. Yes, I had a, like, forty eight hour relapse, but it's over. " Starr wrapped her legs around his waist. She had intended to convince him that she was sure about the decision she was making, however as their bodies met, a shiver ran through her body that shut all thoughts down.

Brody squeezed his eyes shut and tried to remember that at one point he thought Hell Week was torture. It appeared his earlier fantasies were coming to life. Seeking out her mouth again, he used his tongue to explore hers. Without stopping, he picked her up and headed for the bed. He placed her down as gently as he could before sitting back to take in the view spread out in front of him.

Starr propped herself up on her elbows, "Are you sure? You aren't going to run out on me again?"

"Who ran out on who?"

"We were kissing, and then I was standing by myself on the dance floor? Does that ring any bells?"

"We were kissing, and I backed off before I dragged you into the coat check and did something we would both regret?"

"Why would we regret it?"

"Um, you should be sure of the choice you are making, and possibly it should be in a bed?" Brody shrugged and smiled, "At least, the first time?"

"I could agree with the bed the first time, but who says I wasn't sure what I was doing?"

"You're just getting out of a relationship. You want to have fun. I've been there. I want more." Brody felt he had to say the words.

"I haven't been in a relationship since James and I broke up. I do want to have fun. Fun and a future with Hope and you." Starr sat up and wrapped her arms around Brody placing her forehead against his. She took a deep breath, enjoying that his scent seemed to launch the butterflies in her stomach. She kissed him again, and hoped he would take the jump with her.

She only had to wait half a second. Brody took control of the kiss and deepened it. He moved forward, laying Starr back on the bed. Finally, the need for air forced them to break apart. Brody moved to stand next to the bed. Starr closed her eyes and hit her head against the pillow. Really, he was going to stop now? Then she heard the sound of a zipper unzipping. She opened her eyes and grinned at her first look at all of Brody. "Wow!"

"Wow?"

"Yeah, if I had known you looked like that beneath the LPD uniform, I would have..." her voice trailed off as he ran his had up her leg.

"Would have, what?" Brody's fingers reached their goal. He leaned forward to kiss her again.

Starr had lost the ability to talk coherently. She dug her heels into his thighs and urged him closer. The only thing she could think was that they needed to be closer. Brody evidently agreed. There was no more talking for quite awhile.

Eventually coherent thoughts started forming in Brody's mind. He realized that Starr was grinning at him with her chin on his shoulder. "Hi."

"Hi," she giggled.

"So, that future you were talking about, does that include this happening again?" Brody shifted his legs under the sheets to rub against Starr's much smoother ones.

Starr took a deep breath, "I see me going to school in London, taking an art class with you, the two of us taking Hope to the park and holding hands while she plays. We come home, watch TV, and play "Horsey," then after she goes to bed we definitely do this again." Starr paused and peeked up at Brody through her lashes.

Brody hugged and rolled Starr so that she was sprawled across his chest, "I can't imagine anything I would like more." He moved to kiss her cheek, "I do think we need to be sure that this is something we both enjoy again." He flipped their position. As he started kissing Starr again, he realized that the future Starr had described was all that he had ever imagined coming home to every day.

The End

I hope you enjoyed the story. Your reviews have encouraged me throughout this.