Chapter 22

When Lex woke up the next morning, for a moment he wasn't sure where he was. Then the memory of what had transpired the night before came rushing back to him. When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of Brie's bare chest. He had seen her naked the night before and it hadn't really sunk in. But now he stared at Brie's sleeping form, his eyes glued to her round, soft breasts, and he was completely stunned.

Brie was still fast asleep. She laid half on her back with one arm resting on her hip and the other was wrapped around his shoulders. Her chest rose with each slow, rhythmic breath she took and she snored ever so slightly. Lex was flabbergasted as he stared at her, admiring the subtle curves that he hadn't noticed properly when she was clothed. He was fascinated by her soft, tan skin and couldn't resist touching her.

Brie felt something cupping her breast and she opened her eyes to find Lex running his hand over her with his head bowed.

"Lex?"

"I didn't even comprehend that you were naked last night," he whispered. "I was too hung up on my own emotions to realize."

"Lex..." Brie replied sleepily, and she tipped his chin up so he was forced to look at her. "You think too much."

Lex laughed, and Brie smiled as she closed her eyes and leaned in to kiss him. Her lips were like velvet, and Lex felt a familiar stir of desire deep in the pit of his stomach as he kissed her back. He could feel her fingers winding their way through his hair and he trailed his lips along the curve of her jaw while lightly brushing his thumb across her nipple.

Brie could feel his manhood against her thigh and she was surprised that he was hard.

"Lex..."

Lex ignored her and silently rolled Brie onto her back while planting soft kisses down her chest.

"Lex," Brie said more firmly.

She watched as Lex pressed his lips against one breast while his hand massaged the other and she felt a flush of desire wash over her.

"Lex, we don't have to do this."

"I want to," Lex mumbled against her skin.

Brie shivered and ran her hands through his hair. Lex shifted his body so he was between her legs and he ran his hands along her thighs while he trailed his kisses further down her belly. Brie sucked in a deep breath and shivered as his fingers grazed dangerously close to her womanhood.

"You're a tease, Lex," Brie whined softly, and she laughed when Lex paused and looked up at her with a wicked grin.

"I feel like I need to savor this moment," Lex retorted in a husky tone.

Brie's tummy trembled as she watched Lex stare down at her with a stormy expression. For a moment he lost himself in his own thoughts as he lightly rubbed her thighs. Brie internally groaned and then grabbed his neck, pulling him down into a heated kiss.

"Stop thinking," she told him in between kisses.

"Okay, okay," Lex mumbled back.

Lex bowed his head and rolled his hips, guiding his cock towards the warmth between Brie's thighs. Brie gripped his shoulders hard and urged him on with sweet whispers in his ears and her whole body shivered in anticipation as she felt him gently press against her.

"Mm Lex," she moaned softly.

"Gods," Lex gasped.

He was nearly delirious with pleasure as he slowly thrust his hips. Brie clung to him, her nails digging into his back as he dropped down onto his elbows and thrust again. The feeling of her wrapped around him was like molten lava and he almost passed out from the feeling alone.

"K-Keep going," Brie whispered breathlessly, and she clenched her thighs around his waist.

Lex needed no more encouragement. He felt like he was drowning in the feeling of their lovemaking as he started thrusting more rhythmically, their sweaty body's pressed against one another as they made love.

All too soon Lex came. His legs gave out and he weakly thrust one last time as he cried out Brie's name and emptied every drop of his seed deep inside of her. Brie rubbed his back, and she moaned nonsensical words as he gasped for air and collapsed on top of her.

For a long time, they simply lay there. Their small gasps were the only sound. Lex's eyes were closed and the weight of his body was quite heavy on Brie but she didn't mind. She stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom and took a deep breath, feeling quite content despite the fact she did not reach an orgasm as well.

It's fine, she thought to herself with a small smile. Patience.

She lightly rubbed Lex's scarred back and she made a mental note to ask him about it later when the timing was more appropriate.

"Wow," Lex sighed, and he weakly lifted his head up to look at Brie.

Brie chuckled as she brushed a few strands of his hair away from his sweaty forehead and lightly rubbed her calf along his thick thigh.

"That good?"

"More than good," Lex replied. "I can't believe I went this long without... without..."

"It's okay," Brie smiled. "You weren't ready. It probably wouldn't have been a good experience."

Lex thought about what she said for a moment and she had to admit she was right.

"You're probably right."

Then his cheeks blushed bright pink as he realized he was still inside of her. He slowly pulled his hips back and slid onto his side so he was lying next to Brie.

"I'm sorry I... I didn't last very long."

Brie's eyes widened and she turned her head towards him with furrowed brows.

"Why in the world would you ever be sorry about something like that?"

"I... oh-"

"Lex," Brie cut in and shifted her body so she was leaning over him. "Don't ever apologize again."

"Okay," Lex whispered, and he peered up into her hazel eyes with a meek expression.

Brie smiled and leaned down. She pressed her lips against his forehead and Lex closed his eyes. He let out a soft sigh and when Brie straightened up, he was also smiling.

"I'm famished," Brie continued loudly, and she tossed the covers back while she shuffled to the edge of the bed. "Yikes, you're messy."

Lex laughed, but the blush on his cheeks darkened as he realized what she was talking about. He glanced over at her, and for the first time, he saw the scars that he knew were inflicted by her stepfather. His eyes widened and he quickly sat up and slid towards her.

"Brie..."

"Hmm?"

Brie craned her neck to look back at Lex and she could feel his fingertips on her skin.

"Oh," she said with a small shrug. "You never told me you had scars as well."

"I know."

Lex leaned down and kissed her scarred shoulder blade. Brie was touched by the gesture and she spun around to plant a kiss on his lips.

"Let's have a bath, we're gonna have to go out to eat."

"You don't have anything here?"

"No," Brie replied meekly, and she slowly stood up from the bed.

Lex watched as she stretched her long arms above her head until her joints cracked.

"You know me, it just goes to waste."

Brie didn't feel the need to cover up anymore. Truthfully, she preferred to wear as little clothing as possible at all times. Traveling with Lex had been a painful affair. She hated wearing any form of clothes to bed but had been forced to wear something since they shared a bed the entire duration of their trip. But now she had more freedom and so she didn't bother putting anything on as she shot Lex a sly grin and left her bedroom.

Lex laughed and flopped back on the bed for a moment. He felt lighter than it had in months and he was almost giddy with the knowledge that he and Brie had just had sex. The emotions were indescribable and after a long moment, he sprang up from the bed and rushed downstairs completely buck naked.

Brie eyed him with an amused expression as she watched him come down the stairs. She took another bite of her apple and then clenched it in her mouth while she hoisted a heavy pot of water over to the fireplace.

"Can you get it going again?" She asked.

Lex wandered up to her and snatched the apple from her hands. He took a big bite out of the fruit before handing it back to her and then he went over to the hearth and busied himself with starting the fire again. Brie chuckled and leaned with her butt against the edge of her tub as she admired his backside while he worked.

Long red scars dashed across his pale skin. They looked old, but it still formed a lump in Brie's throat as she thought about the fact he had clearly suffered abuse at some point and had never disclosed it to her.

While they waited for the water to heat, they chatted lightly while they lounged in the reading chair. Brie sat with her butt perched against the armrest and her arm was slung across his shoulders as she leaned into him.

"I don't really know where to go with the investigations," Lex sighed.

"I did a bit of snooping but not much. I feel like I could do more."

"I really don't want you doing that," Lex argued.

"I know you don't," Brie responded curtly, and she squeezed his shoulder. "But that's never stopped me before."

"Brie..."

"Oh look, I think the water's ready," Brie sang, and she stood up.

Lex gazed at Brie's naked form as she picked up the pot of water and dumped it into her tub. He still felt a bit dazed, like he was in a waking dream.

It's hard to believe that she's really there, that I can reach out and touch her breasts... her legs... her butt... that we just made love...

"Lex," Brie called out again, and she laughed when he jumped and finally looked her in the eyes. "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere," Lex replied, and he hastily stood up. "I'm right here."

Brie wrapped her arms around his waist and stared up at him with a smile that made his heart flutter.

"Are you sure about that? I feel like we moved too quickly."

"I'm sure," Lex replied firmly, and he reached up to cup Brie's cheek. "I needed a good push. It's not like I haven't thought about wanting you for a long time..."

Brie's brows shot up in surprise.

"Oh?" She replied slyly. "Is that so?"

"Yes," Lex muttered, and he felt his cheeks grow warm. "I've been attracted to you for a long time, Brie."

"I know, I'm just teasing."

When there was enough water in the tub to be comfortable, they both climbed into the steaming liquid with sighs of content. They leaned against either side with their arms slung against the edge of the tub and Brie stretched her legs out before her so they were resting on Lex's thick thighs.

"I'm curious, Captain," Brie started, and Lex rolled his eyes. "When did you first start feeling any sort of attraction to me."

"When?" Lex repeated, and he pursed his lips together for a moment. "Oh, I guess since... well, since the beginning."

"Beginning?"

"Don't you remember? You kissed me when I tried to arrest you that night."

"Oh!" Brie replied, and she laughed. "Was it really that long ago?"

"You don't understand, it took me completely by surprise."

"So maybe that's why you didn't arrest me the next day when we met," Brie mused, and she thoughtfully rubbed her chin.

"Perhaps," Lex replied, and he flicked some water in her direction. "What about you?"

"Me? Oh, Captain..."

"That's another thing," Lex cut in, his voice stern as he snatched up the soap. "You have to stop calling me Captain like that when we're at work."

"Fine," Brie huffed, and she pouted her bottom lip. "You're no fun. But to answer your question, Lex... I've always found you incredibly handsome."

Lex's brows furrowed together and he stared down at the soap in his hands for a moment.

"The first time I saw you in something other than that stupid armor I was smitten," Brie continued with a wistful sigh. "Your butt was so sexy in those leather breeches I almost gave them a squeeze right then and there."

"You're impossible," Lex groaned, but he couldn't contain his smile.

"Impossibly cute," Brie retorted, and she wiggled her toes against his thighs.

"Yes, impossibly cute."

"Glad we can agree on something."

Lex let out a small sigh and slid down a little further into the water, but there was a smile on his lips. Brie also leaned back, and she closed her eyes for a little while as they soaked in the bath. The silence was comfortable, and after a while, Brie snatched up her bar of soap and slowly lathered into her hair. She took her time washing, and Lex watched her work through half closed eyes and the hint of a smile on his lips. He had to admit though, that being intimate with Brie had opened up a whole plethora of emotions and feelings he had suppressed for a very long time. Even thinking about what had transpired just a short while ago upstairs made Lex shiver, and he couldn't help but feel desire wash over him yet again.

I guess it's to be expected, he thought quietly to himself as he watched Brie finish rinsing her hair and she stood up from the tub. I feel like I've been awoken from a deep slumber and I'm starving for intimacy. It doesn't help that Brie's just so damn beautiful I want to make love to her right here on the kitchen table...

"Lex?"

Lex blinked, and he craned his neck up to look at Brie, who stood behind him. She stared down at Lex with an amused and slightly confused expression. She had wrapped a towel around her body and ran a comb through her hair and the entire time Lex had stared down at the soapy bath water with a faraway look on his face.

"Where do you keep going?" She teased.

"Nowhere," Lex replied, and he shrugged his shoulders. "Just thinking."

"About what?" Brie asked, her voice light and soft.

Brie knelt down behind Lex and urged him to sit forward. She began to cup handfuls of water and trickle them down his hair until it was wet enough for her to lather the soap into. She worked slowly, her fingers softly massaging Lex's scalp while she worked.

"I... about us," Lex murmured, and he felt a tightness in his chest he couldn't quite explain.

"Okay, hope it's good."

Something about the simple act of washing his hair made him feel emotional, and Lex was silent again. Brie didn't try to pressure him and focused on making sure each strand of his thick brown locks was thoroughly scrubbed. She hummed lightly as she rubbed his hair between her palms and after a few minutes she dunked her hands into the water and stood up from the floor.

"You can rinse now."

"Thank you."

After Lex had finished washing the rest of his body, he rinsed his hair and got out from the tub. Brie handed him a towel and then they both returned to her bedroom to get dressed.

"Perhaps you should leave a set of clothes here," Brie ventured as she tossed a tunic over her head. "So you don't have to wear the same clothes home the next day."

"Oh," Lex replied as he tied the string of his breeches. "I didn't think about that."

"It's okay, listen... Lex."

Brie couldn't help but feel like Lex was feeling overwhelmed by everything had happened. The atmosphere between them had changed slightly during the middle of their bath and if he was feeling some remorse she wanted to address it and apologize properly.

Lex stared into Brie's eyes as she gently took both of his hands and peered up at him. Her voice was beyond tender as she spoke.

"Are you sure you're alright with all of this? I can't help but feel like I pushed you last night."

"Brie," Lex replied, and he reached up to cup her cheek. "I promise you, I am alright. I'm not going to lie to you, I still have some... some feelings to sort through. But I have zero regrets."

Brie was silent for a moment as she eyed him, her eyes darting back and forth between his. Then she leaned in and planted a firm kiss against his lips. When she pulled away, she was smiling.

"Alright. I'll take your word for it. I was always shit at communicating in the past... I just don't want to mess up again with you."

"You're so sweet," Lex murmured in a husky growl, and he swept Brie into his arms.

Brie giggled and wrapped her arms around Lex's neck as he dipped his head and kissed her with great enthusiasm. His hands roamed across her waist and hips, squeezing gently, and he couldn't resist moving them lower to gently cup her little round butt.

"We really should... go out and eat," Brie mumbled between kisses. "Gotta... keep our... our energy up..."

"Right," Lex replied breathlessly, but he made no move to stop. "Lunch."

A few moments later Brie finally pulled away and laughed as Lex looked at her with the most pitiful expression she'd ever seen on his face.

"Come on," she whined softly, and she tugged him towards the door. "I'm starving, Captain. Let's go. The bed will still be here when we get back."