Braxton dropped to his knees, still holding her dress and slid his tongue from her inner thigh to her core, then dragged her panties down and off. “I broke every speed limit to get to you,” he said, his voice hoarse with need.
Any coherent thought she might have had left her mind and she couldn’t answer him if her life depended on it. Londyn cried out when his mouth clamped down on her core. The hot stroke of his tongue over her clit sent jolts of pleasure coursing through her body and she trembled. He stroked her deeper and feasted like a man indulging in his favorite treat. She moaned and gripped his head to keep him in place as her hips rocked against his mouth. “Braxton,” she said, gasping for breath. Her thighs involuntarily locked around his head, but he held them apart, bringing her to a blinding orgasm that had her shaking uncontrollably and screaming his name.
Braxton rose to his feet, dropped his pants and rolled a condom over his thick erection. He grasped her buttocks and lifted her in his arms. Bracing her against the door, he entered her with one long thrust.
She closed her eyes as she reveled in the sensation of him inside her. He didn’t move for several seconds and she opened her eyes.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you, Londyn.”
Her heart pounded faster and harder. “What did you say?” she whispered, not believing she’d heard him correctly.
“I said I love you.”
“I love you, too.” As if that was what he’d been waiting for, he began moving, plunging deep and retreating in a slow, erotic cadence that sent heat spiraling through her. She moaned. His thrusts came faster and faster and their passionate cries bounced off the walls. Londyn gripped his shoulders. Each well-placed thrust went deeper and deeper, and touched a part of her that no man had ever reached. Then she was crying and coming in a dizzying explosion of pleasure.
Braxton withdrew and carried her over to her desk. He placed her on her feet and turned her around, then unzipped her dress and removed it, leaving her clad in just her purple lace bra. “Now, I’m going to do you from behind.”
She braced her hands on the desk as he surged back inside. Londyn screamed his name again. He leaned down and rained kisses along her spine.
I’m going to work your body in every way and give you everything you want,” he said in a heated rush.
His words and the scorching heat of his tongue sent pinpoints of pleasure down her nerve endings. “Don’t stop.”
“I won’t stop until you ask me to, until I do you in every way you want. Until you can’t handle any more.”
Londyn gasped. He whispered a mixture of tender endearments and erotic promises that made her desire climb even higher. Their breathing grew louder as he gripped her tighter and drove into her harder. The pressure built inside her with an intensity she’d never felt, and she convulsed and screamed his name as waves of ecstasy crashed through her so violently she thought she might pass out.
Braxton thrust, once, twice, then stiffened and exploded inside her with a harsh groan of male satisfaction. He collapsed on top of her, one hand on the desk, so as not to put all of his weight on her.
Straightening, he turned her to face him and kissed her tenderly. Her heart felt so full she thought it would burst.
“More?”
Chuckling tiredly, she said, “I don’t think I can handle any more.” I can’t believe I just had sex in my office. But she felt no remorse. Just pure satisfaction.
He smiled. “Don’t you want me to touch you, kiss you, give you pleasure, make you come, then do you all over again?” he murmured while caressing her breasts and skating his tongue along her neck.
A shudder raced through her. “Yes. Follow me home.”
“All you ever have to do is ask.”
Londyn cleaned up her desk and walked to the back of the building. She pressed several buttons on a panel near the rear door and activated the silent alarm before locking the door.
Braxton escorted her to her car. “I’ll be right behind you.”
She tossed him a bold wink. “I’m counting on it.” She wanted him to do her for the rest of her life.
“Well look who’s here,” Dani said when Braxton walked into the Double Trouble Friday evening. “You’re all dressed up and looking good. Hot date?”
“Something like that.”
”I guess you took my advice about relaxing your exacting standards.”
Braxton smiled. “Actually, I didn’t. Londyn isn’t perfect, but she’s as close to it as a person can get. Even more, she’s the perfect woman for me.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “Aw, give me a hug. I’m so happy for you, for all three of you.”
“Thanks, Dani.” He walked to the other side of the bar where Cole and Axel sat. He’d asked them to meet him for a few minutes. “What’s up?” They did a fist bump.
“That’s what I want to know,” Axel said. He glanced down at his watch.
“I know you and Naphressa have plans, so this won’t take long.”
“We’re going to have to find another night to hook up, since Fridays seem to be out these days,” Cole said.
“Probably. Anyway, I wanted you to know that I’m going to propose to Londyn.”
Wide grins filled his friends faces and Cole said, “Congrats, man. That was quick.”
He laughed and spread his hands. “Hey, I can’t help it if she finds me irresistible.”
Axel slapped him on the back. “Congratulations. When do you plan to do it?”
“Hopefully, tonight.” Braxton would be picking her up in half an hour for their dinner date. Unconsciously, he touched his pocket where he’d placed the small velvet box.
“We need to toast.” Cole signaled a bartender. Once they each had drinks, he lifted his glass. “Here’s to becoming an irresistible husband.”
They touched glasses and tossed back the amber liquid. “I’ll see you later. Oh, and, Cole, don’t say anything to Dani.”
Cole laughed. “I won’t. Let us know how it turns out.”
“I will.” Smiling, Braxton threw up a wave to Dani on his way out.”
His smile was still in place when he arrived to pick up Londyn. She opened the door wearing another dress that hugged her curves. “You’re killing me with these dresses.”
“It’s only fair because you’ve been killing me since I saw you on that dance floor moving this sexy body.” Londyn slid her arms up his chest and wound them around his neck.
He groaned when she pressed her body close against his. “Baby, I need you to stop tempting me. We have reservations and I intend to keep them.” He gently removed her arms and took a step back.
She laughed softly. “Still having problems with that spontaneity thing, huh?”
Braxton lifted a brow. “You’re saying that after what happened last night?” He had never done anything as impulsive as he’d done last night. When she’d sent that text, it had been all he could do to keep his sanity long enough to get to her office. He’d been in such a hurry he was halfway down the block before he remembered the condoms. He hadn’t lied about breaking speed limits and was lucky that the cops hadn’t spotted him. As far as spontaneity went, Braxton had never, ever had sex in an office.
“Okay, okay, I’ll let you off the hook for now.”
He smiled. “You can tempt me later.”
“You’ve got a deal, love.”
Every time she used an endearment made his heart shout for joy. Braxton knew he was probably grinning like an idiot, but he didn’t care. Once in his car, he got them underway and ended at another expensive steakhouse.
They continued laughing and talking after being seated and their orders taken. It was as if their declarations of love had freed them. It had certainly freed him in ways he had yet to understand. Her eyes met his and revealed passion and something he’d never seen before—love. Braxton had a hard time concentrating on his meal because the hunger he felt had nothing to do with food and everything to do with the beautiful woman sitting
across from him.
“My parents want to meet you,” Londyn said, halfway through dinner.
“Okay.” He figured it was probably time for him to meet them anyway.
She eyed him. “You’re okay with that?”
He shrugged. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be? Besides, you’ve met mine already, so it’s only fair.” He chuckled at the confused look on her face. Reaching for her hand, he said, “Londyn, I love you, and I’m in this for the long haul. It’s time your parents knew this, too. See what their schedule is like for next weekend. Maybe we can all go out to breakfast. My treat.”
She squeezed his hand. “My mom is going to lose her mind over you.”
Laughter poured out of him. “I hope so.”
Shaking her head, Londyn went back to her dinner.
When they finished, Braxton took a deep breath and grasped her hand again. “Londyn, I—” Londyn gasped, her eyes widening as if she’d seen a ghost. Her hand trembled in his and she bore an expression he’d never seen. Frowning, he glimpsed over his shoulder and saw a man of average height approaching.
“Well, if it isn’t my long-lost fiancée.”
Fiancée? Braxton whipped his head around and stared at Londyn.
She shot the man an angry glare. “I’m not your anything!” she snapped. “Get away from me.”
The man took a step closer and Braxton came to his feet, towering over him by a good five or six inches. “You heard the lady. Leave!”
He looked Braxton up and down and an evil grin curved his lips. “Did she tell you about her little problem in the bedroom? That she can’t please a man?”
Londyn looked stricken.
“Don’t say another word to her,” Braxton whispered harshly. “You have one second to leave this table, or I’m going to kick your ass!”
“Yeah, right.”
The words were barely out of the man’s mouth when Braxton snatched him by the throat and said with lethal calmness, “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear. You are leaving this restaurant now. Walking or carried out, your choice. My temper’s not real good right now, so I don’t think you want to test me.” Braxton tossed him aside—none—too gently and the man stumbled backward, crashing into a diner at a nearby table. Every person in the room was focused on them, and he saw a manager rushing toward the table. Braxton apologized for the disruption and took his seat. He could count on one hand the number of times he’d lost his temper and each of the instances had to do with someone threatening someone he loved. He dragged a hand down his face. “I’m sorry for embarrassing you, Londyn.” That was his only regret.
Londyn, stared at him, her expression the same. “I…I…”
He caressed her hand. “Sweetheart, are you okay? He’s gone.” He had about a million questions running through his head, but Londyn was his only concern at the moment.
“Take me home, Braxton,” she said with tears filling her eyes, her voice barely audible. “Please.”
“Of course, baby.” He led her to the front, caught the attention of their server and gestured for the bill. The young woman seemed to understand their plight and quickly brought it over. Braxton paid it, leaving a generous tip, then escorted Londyn to the car. She sat almost curled up and so close to the door that if it opened she’d fall out, and didn’t say a word. She wouldn’t even look at him. He could feel her withdrawing from him minute by minute and it broke his heart. By the time they made it to her house, she still hadn’t said anything.
Londyn dropped down on one corner of her sofa without removing her coat and curled up in a ball.
Braxton squatted in front of her and stroked her cheek. “What do you need me to do for you, Londyn? Tell me how I can help you.”
“Please leave.”
Icy tentacles of fear slid down his spine. “I can’t do that. I’m not leaving you like this. I don’t know why he said those things to you, but their lies, honey.”
Without warning, she jumped up, almost knocking him over. “You have no idea what he did to me,” she shouted.
“No, I don’t,” he said, rising from the floor and trying to keep his voice soft and calm. “But if you tell me, maybe we can fix it together.” He reached for her and she slapped his hands away. She was the trained clinician, not him, but his baby was hurting and he had to do something.
Londyn rounded on him, her hazel eyes blazing in anger. “You can’t fix this. You can’t fix me.” She hit her palm against her chest.
“Londyn—”
“He wanted me to act like those women in the porn movies. Men always do.”
Braxton felt his eyes widen and his chest tighten. “Not all men are like that, sweetheart.”
“Are you going to stand there and tell me you’ve never watched pornography?”
“No,” he said slowly. “But—”
“I knew it. You’ll change just like the rest of them.” She marched over and snatched the door open. “Get out.”
Stunned, he couldn’t move. “Londyn, wait a minute.” He didn’t need a psychology degree to know she was having some sort of PTSD episode and he wondered if she had ever gone to counseling herself. “We don’t have to talk about this anymore tonight.”
“We aren’t going to talk about it ever.” Her face went blank. She had effectively shut him out.
Not knowing what else to do and afraid his staying would make it worse, he did as she asked. As soon as she closed the door, he heard her gut-wrenching sobs. He lifted his hand to knock, but instead placed his palm against it, the pieces of his heart shattering, and he had no idea what to do. Braxton’s steps were heavy as he walked into the waiting elevator car and rode down to the bottom floor.
When the doors opened, he started for the exit. Halfway through the lobby he froze. Everything came back to him in a rush. You can strip for me next time, he’d said that first time they’d made love, and she’d hesitated briefly. I’m working on it, she’d told him during their conversation during lunch at the deli when he asked if she’d been able to help her client. She was the woman, the reason she’d specialized in treating people with sex and pornography addictions. It all made sense now—the moments of vulnerability, the sadness.
Braxton spun around and took determined strides back to the elevator. He wasn’t leaving her. Not now. Not ever.
Chapter 11
As soon as the door closed, Londyn collapsed on the floor next to it and sobbed. I thought it was over. I thought I was okay. Seeing Antoine and hearing him spew those ugly words had ripped the scab off the wound she had desperately been trying to heal. She thought she had, but now Braxton would never see her the same again. And that he’d confessed to watching pornography had made it worse. What if he became like Antoine—demanding that they view the movies before sex and re-enacting the scenes, no matter how demeaning they were for her? She couldn’t put herself through that again. Londyn wanted to believe that Braxton wouldn’t change, that he loved her, but her mind was so jumbled.
She brought her knees up to her chest and dropped her head, the tears she had held back for two years coming in waves like a broken dam. She didn’t know how long she had been on the floor when the pounding on her door startled her.
“Londyn, open the door, baby. I’m not leaving you.”
“Go away, Braxton.”
“No. And unless you want your neighbors, the police and everybody else who’s going to show up because of all this noise to know what’s going on, I suggest you unlock the door.”
Londyn knew he was right. It wouldn’t take much for the people in the building to call the police. Management frowned on any type of disturbance. Reluctantly, she reached up and unlocked the door, but made no attempt to get up.
Braxton came in, closed the door behind him and joined her on the floor. “I love you Londyn, and I’m not walking away from us. I’ve waited too long to find you to just give up.” He grasped her hand and kissed the back. “You asked me if I’ve ever watched pornography and I answered truthfully. But that was more
than a decade and a half ago and I haven’t even thought about it since then. When you described the addiction to me, I admit that it made me think about some things.” He paused briefly, as if getting his thoughts together. “I remember never finding fulfilment in my sexual encounters and I wondered if I had subconsciously been looking for that same kind of excitement. I realize now that it was never the women, it was me.”
Londyn went still. He must have felt it because he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and placed a soft kiss on her temple.
He shifted to face her. “I wasn’t addicted by any part of the definition and I have never asked a woman to do any of those things you described. I don’t plan to start. You have given me more pleasure than I thought possible and I don’t need any other outside stimulation. Just you. I can’t undo all the things he did to you, but I can love you. If you want us to go talk to someone, I’m down. If you want it to be just you, I’m down for that, too. I promise to take you there and wait, so you’ll know that you’re not alone. That you’re loved, cherished and supported. I’ll do all of it for you.”
A tear slid down her cheek. This man had just bared his soul to her and promised to be there for whatever she needed, including counseling and he wasn’t even the cause of her problems. She could do no less. Gathering herself, Londyn haltingly and painstakingly shared how her relationship changed with Antoine after they became engaged, from his initial insistence that they watch pornography together to demanding she “perform” like the actresses on the screen. “I suggested he go to counseling, but he told me he didn’t have a problem and promised it wouldn’t happen again, that he’d stop watching porn. But he didn’t.” She found out he’d been missing work, and every time they were together after that point, he had his phone out searching online for porn sites. His false vow had barely lasted a week. “He asked me to stop by his place because he said he had a special surprise for me and…” Her voice faltered.
Do Me (Irresistible Husband) Page 11