Braxton cups my head in his hands and looks deeply into my eyes, setting my heart fluttering and my pulse racing. A small, slow smile touches his lips, and he looks at me like I’m a goddess come to life or the most exquisite piece of art he’s ever seen.
“I love you. I love you with everything in me. And I have for a long time now,” he declares. “I don’t care if you’re not there yet – I just wanted you to know where I’m at. I think we have something special between us, and I want to continue growing it with you.”
His words are so unexpected, I feel like the breath has been driven from my lungs, and I can’t formulate a response for a long moment. But when I’m finally able to draw a breath again, a warm flood of emotions washes through me along with it. I look up at him, and I’m overwhelmed by the feelings this man inspires within me.
“I – I love you too, Braxton,” I respond. “And I don’t think we have to make a decision to do anything one way or the other tonight.”
“I agree,” he says and then flashes me a devious grin. “Just remember who said it first.”
“You’re such a brat.”
I slap him playfully on the chest, and he laughs. Braxton’s smile is beautiful and is filled with a profound sense of relief. I know being that far out on a limb with no idea whether it was going to break or not was a big roll of the dice for him. Braxton and I are a lot alike in that way – we like to have a general lay of the land before we’re comfortable making a move.
Standing up on my tip toes, I kiss Braxton lightly at first. But when he wraps those strong, thick arms around me and pulls me to him, our kiss deepens, our tongues sliding and dashing against one another. He runs his fingers through my hair, gently tugging on it as he lowers his mouth to kiss my neck. I shudder as he runs the tip of his tongue down and nips at my collarbone.
I groan as he slides his hands up my back and brings them around, kneading my breasts through the fabric of my sundress and teasing my stiff nipples with his thumbs. He plants a line of kisses down my shoulder, pushing the straps of my dress down, then slides his tongue down my cleavage. As my breasts spill free of my dress, his mouth finds them, and I moan as he flicks his tongue over one of my nipples. As he continues to suck and gently bite my nipples, I grip the back of his head and pull his hair.
As Braxton kneads my breasts and bites on my nipples, I feel his hand slide under the hem of my sundress. When he touches me through my panties, it feels like a white-hot bolt of lightning shoots through me, stretching from my pussy to the tip of my nose. I moan and grind myself down on his hand as he pulls my panties to the side and slides two fingers into my dripping wet center.
Our mouths crash together, his kiss aggressive as he forces his tongue against mine, and he pumps his fingers into me with strong, powerful strokes. Braxton pushes me against the tree trunk behind me; the weight of his body pinning me to it as he thrusts his fingers into me harder. He draws in a sharp breath as I dig my nails into his back, then lean forward and bite his shoulder. Braxton slips a third finger in and thrusts even faster, his digits gliding in and out of my wetness, filling me up and stretching me open.
My skin feels like it’s on fire, and my pussy is throbbing as he drives his fingers into me. His thick cock is pressed hard against me as I reach down and grip him through his pants. His chest rumbles with a sensual growl as I squeeze his dick tight while he picks up the pace with his fingers, slamming them into me.
My entire body is tight, and the pressure in me is building. Reaching down, I make quick work of his belt and button and thrust my hand down into his pants, wrapping my fingers around this thick shaft. He swallows my moans with a kiss as I start to move my hand up and down on his organ, jerking him off while he bangs me.
All at once, I feel my body let go. I cry out, and my voice echoes around the forest and out over the lake as I come hard. My entire body shakes so hard; I’m afraid something’s going to come loose as my orgasm crashes down over me.
My breathing is ragged, and my heart feels like it’s about to beat its way out of my chest, but a feeling of warm ecstasy wraps itself around me. Braxton picks me up and props me up on the tree, cupping my ass with his hands to keep me from sliding down. I part my thighs as he steps forward, and he pushes my sundress up around my waist. I grab hold of his cock, squeezing it hard at the base and give him a few firm strokes. His mouth opens, and a low, rumbling moan drifts out into the night.
I hear a branch snap somewhere in the darkness of the woods around us and feel a bolt of nervous energy lance through me. Heat flares in my cheeks as I giggle awkwardly. Having sex in public wasn’t something I ever thought about – it wasn’t exactly on my bucket list – but I’m so fucking wet and ready, I can’t think of anything but having him inside of me, and if somebody out there hears us, oh well.
“Fuck me, Braxton,” I whisper. “Give it to me.”
A sultry smile crosses his face as I guide his thick shaft to my warm, wet opening. I nestle the head between my velvety soft lips and cry out as he rolls his hips, thrusting that delicious cock deep into me. The feeling of him filling me up so completely sets my every nerve ending on fire.
I clasp my hands behind his neck, and Braxton slides his tongue into my mouth as he starts to piston his cock into me. My juices have made me so slick, Braxton’s staff glides in and out of me with ease, and he drives himself deep into me, hitting that spot deep inside of me that touches off an explosion of sensation and rocks me from head to toe.
“Oh God yes, baby,” I moan. “Fuck me harder.”
Braxton’s moan is a low rumble I feel throughout my entire body. He picks up his pace, slamming his staff into me with even more force, hitting that spot harder, and driving me absolutely insane with desire.
I push Braxton away and give him a devilish grin as I slide my legs down and turn around. Looking at him over my shoulder, I reach behind me and grab hold of his cock that’s slick with my juices and give it a few strokes. Braxton grins and bends me over, and I brace myself against the trunk. My eyes still on his, he steps forward and slides the head of his cock along my pussy that’s aching with need.
Braxton thrusts his hips forward. My eyes grow wide as he pierces my molten core with his throbbing length. I stutter and try to catch my breath as he pushes himself as deep into me as he can go. I yelp as he slaps my ass, the crack of flesh meeting flesh echoing through the darkness around us.
Braxton growls as he slaps my ass again, thrusting his cock into me in a hard, steady rhythm. I feel his hands in my hair, and he pulls my head backward a moment before I feel him grab hold of my throat. He squeezes me tightly as he pounds me from behind, the steady slap-slap-slap of our bodies slamming together ringing in my ears.
I press myself backward, desperate to have him deeper inside of me, the feel of his thick staff pounding me hard pushing me to the brink of ecstasy. Braxton’s grip on my hair and on my throat tighten as his breathing grows ragged and his body tightens up.
“Jesus, Chloe,” he growls.
His rhythm slows, but he drives himself deeper, holding himself there, pressed against that spot inside of me. The sensation is so intense that I almost can’t take it. I cry out so loud I wouldn’t be surprised if they could hear me all the way back by lake. A moment later, he squeezes my throat tighter, and my body is rocked by an explosion of pleasure. I call his name as I come hard, my pussy spasming around Braxton’s cock.
His fingers press harder into my neck, and his grip on my hair tightens as he slams himself into me, fucking me through my orgasm. My gasps are loud and stuttering as Braxton keeps driving into me.
As I flex the muscles inside of me, I squeeze his cock, milking him until he throws his head back and lets out a deep and bear-like growl. Braxton pulls his cock out of me, gripping it tightly, and I feel his warm, sticky seed spurting onto my ass.
As his cock pulses and he sprays every last ounce of his come onto my backside, his grip on my throat loosens. I stand up and lean back against him,
relishing the feel of his large, strong arms wrapped around me and the warmth of his body.
An owl hoots somewhere nearby, making me jump. A nervous laugh escapes me, and Braxton just holds me tighter.
“That was incredible,” he murmurs in my ear.
“It always is,” I respond, leaning my head back against his shoulder.
We pull our clothes back into place and stroll back to the path until we can see the moonlight shimmering upon the lake, and I feel nothing but contentment in this moment. All of the stresses and concerns I’ve been carrying around with me are gone, and I’m left with nothing more than a sense of peace and love I’ve never known. Suddenly, the idea of spending the rest of my life with him doesn’t seem so strange or outlandish anymore. In fact, it suddenly seems more real and more – welcome.
I grab hold of his forearms, which are wrapped around my shoulders and give them a squeeze.
“I love you, Braxton.”
He places a gentle kiss on the top of my head. “And I love you.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chloe
I’ve had to take the last couple of days off work because a few days after coming back from New York City, I’ve been feeling like garbage. It got so bad, Braxton sent me home and ordered me to see a doctor and not come back until I was one hundred percent. He said a flu had been going around and he didn’t want me infecting everybody in the office.
I hate the idea of taking time off work for personal reasons, but I can see the logic in it. With so many different projects going on and everything so busy at the moment, having half the office staff go down because I gave them my cooties would be a disaster. My team has all of my designs, plus I’m doing what I can from home, so I don’t hang them out to dry entirely.
“Hey, how are you feeling?” he asks.
I press the phone to my ear and walk over to my window. From my room, I can see into Braxton’s backyard and see him standing there on his phone. He waves to me and smiles. He’s wearing a dark suit that is expertly tailored and fits him exquisitely, with a white shirt under his jacket, and a metallic blue tie.
“I’m doing okay,” I respond. “You’re looking pretty handsome today. Kind of power yuppie chic, but handsome.”
“Well thanks,” he laughs. “And I’m sure you’re looking as great as ever.”
I scoff. “If pasty skin, dark bags around my eyes, and a raging case of bedhead is attractive, then I’m your girl.”
He laughs. “I doubt it’s possible for you to look anything but completely ravishing.”
I laugh. “Yeah well, you haven’t seen me in a couple of days. I’m not exactly supermodel quality right about now.”
“I’d come up and prove you wrong, but I’d rather not get the creeping crud if I can help it,” he laughs.
“Wise choice.”
“Your follow-up appointment is today, right?”
“Yup. At ten,” I croak.
“Good. Hopefully they can tell you what it is and give you some meds for it,” he says. “I’d like you to get you back on your feet sooner rather than later.”
“Don’t worry; I’m getting done what I can get done from home.”
I can see Braxton grin all the way from here. “It’s not that,” he explains. “I just miss you. I’d like to see you again sometime soon.”
“Well I guess that’s all the motivation I need to get better quickly.”
“Do that,” he says. “Call me later and let me know what the doctor says.”
“I will.”
He hesitates, his eyes locked on my window, and he smiles. “Love you.”
“Love you back.”
We disconnect the call, and Braxton goes back into his house to finish getting ready for work. I turn around and flop back down on the bed, feeling like absolute hell. Glancing at the clock, I see that I can try to sleep for another hour or so before I need to get up and get ready for my appointment.
Sighing deeply, I close my eyes and try to do just that.
I’m taken back to an examination room for my ten o’clock appointment at ten forty-five. I perch myself on the edge of the exam table as the nurse walks out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. The paper that lines the table crinkles under my butt, and the air in the room has a sharp antiseptic smell that always makes me feel a bit nauseous. I’m hoping to get this over with quickly so I can get outside and breathe some fresh air.
After another twenty minutes of waiting, the doctor finally comes in and shuts the door behind her.
“Good morning, Chloe,” she greets me.
“Good morning Dr. Woods.”
She flips through my chart for a long few moments, my irritation growing with every passing second. I’ve been waiting for an hour just to get a prescription for antibiotics or whatever will knock down this flu. This whole ordeal could have been done in five minutes or less.
Dr. Woods sits down on the small rolling stool and continues reading through my chart for another few moments before finally closing it and looking up at me with a wide smile on her face. I’m exhausted, my body aches, I feel like garbage, and I just want whatever medicine is going to make me feel better so I can go home and sleep it off.
“So your bloodwork has come back clean,” she begins. “We found no viral infections, so I can say with confidence that you’re not suffering from the flu.”
Not the flu. Being who I am, I automatically start thinking of all the other horrible things it could be. Meningitis? Do I have meningitis? Something worse? My mind is spinning, and I’m starting to freak myself out. I take a long breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm myself and focus my mind.
“Okay, if it’s not the flu, then what is it?” I ask. “I mean, I’m sore, exhausted all the time, I’ve been feeling like garbage –”
“You’re pregnant, Chloe,” she says simply.
I feel my eyes grow wider than dinner plates, and my mouth fall open. I’m also pretty sure my heart stopped dead in my chest because I can’t quite feel it beating right now. I give my head a little shake. I couldn’t have heard her correctly. I had to have misunderstood somehow.
“Can you repeat that?” I ask quietly.
“You’re pregnant.”
Her words hit me like a sledgehammer and drive the breath from my lungs. I sit there completely silent, completely still, barely even breathing as I let her words sink in and try to process them. I just don’t understand it. Braxton and I have always been careful. We’ve always used protection – well, except for the other night in the forest – but other than that, we’ve been safe about it every single time. I know, I know. Condoms aren’t one hundred percent guaranteed. But they’re pretty damn close to it. The fact that I’m pregnant, despite taking precautions, just goes to show how shitty my luck really is.
“A – are you sure?” I ask, desperately hoping she’s not.
“We ran the test twice to be sure, and bloodwork is pretty definitive,” she explains. “The chances of two false positives are relatively low.”
I cover my mouth with my hands as the twin forces of fear and horror wrap their cold, clammy tentacles around me. This can’t be happening. This just can’t be happening.
“Chloe, I know this is a lot to take in, and I can see that you’re scared,” Dr. Woods says softly. “We have resources that can help you through this and assist you in making a decis –”
“I have to go,” I cut her off, slipping off the examination table. “I have to get out of here.”
Dr. Woods is saying something behind me, but my head is spinning so hard, I can’t understand what she’s saying. I rush out of the office and down the hallway before I burst through the doors of the medical building and am hit by a wall of heat. The sun beats down on me as I hustle across the parking lot, my stomach churning, feeling like I’m about to throw up. And once I reach my car, that’s exactly what I do.
Hunching over, I empty my stomach entirely, an acrid, bitter taste filling my mouth. I straighten up
, but lean against my car, trying to collect myself before getting behind the wheel. When I feel steady – or at least, not as shaky – I climb in and start the car, quickly flipping on the air conditioning and letting the cool air wash over me.
I lean my back against the headrest and take long, deep breaths. It takes a few long minutes, but I finally manage to get myself back under control again. I grip the steering wheel tightly as I try to figure out what I’m going to do. Coming up empty, I fumble around in my purse and finally find my phone, pulling it out quickly. I punch in the only number I can think of and press the phone to my ear, silently praying that she’ll answer. And when she picks up the call, a tsunami of relief washes through me.
“Hey, it’s me,” I greet her, trying to keep myself under control. “Do you have time to talk? I could really use your advice.”
“Oh honey,” Amber says. “I’m floored. Are you okay?”
I give her a weak smile and a shrug. “I really don’t know.”
Amber had thankfully been able to carve out a little time for me. She’d already left her baby with a sitter and was on her way out when I called her, so we decided to meet at a small coffee house a few blocks away from the medical office. I pick up my cup and take a drink, trying to keep my head on straight, so I don’t burst into tears again and make a spectacle of myself. I tried to keep my freak out and sobbing limited to the car, but my eyes are red and puffy, and my face is splotchy as hell.
“I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do, Amber.”
“I think the first thing you need to do is tell Braxton.”
I nervously start tearing strips off my napkin just to keep from continuing to wring my hands in my lap. I know I have to tell Braxton. That’s a given. But I’m afraid to. I have no idea what he’s going to say or do – or what he even thinks about having kids. It’s not a conversation we’ve ever had.
“I’m terrified, Amber,” I say. “I mean, things are going so well between us but this – I have no idea what he’s going to think. I’m afraid it’s going to ruin everything.”
Boss Next Door Page 27