Ask Me Why: An Enemies to Lovers Standalone Romance

by Harloe Rae

  He dives in and begins his assault. The attack is a brutal lashing that frays my control. I’m slipping off the edge already. Sparks shoot from my lower belly, spreading from head to toe. I’m going to come embarrassingly fast. That’ll stroke Brance’s ego. He’ll take that as a compliment, and I have no problem giving it. This man deserves a standing ovation for these skills. A spike of arousal hits me just considering what Brance can do with his dick. Hell, I’m likely to spontaneously climax from the sight alone.

  Thoughts of what he’s packing down below evaporate when his speed kicks up another notch. Brance’s tongue is a tornado swirling around my clit. Faster and harder until my mind is spinning. My tether to the ground is unraveling at a rapid rate. The grip on his hair isn’t enough. I reach for his shoulders and hold on. He hits a particularly sensitive spot, and I let my jaw go slack.

  “Oh, oh, yes. There, more. P-please don’t stop.” My babbling is just a murmur, but Brance groans and delves in deeper.

  When he plunges a finger into me, I detonate instantly. A wash of color blasts behind my clenched eyelids. I chase the rainbow, soaring on its vibrant hues.

  Holy fucking shit. How do I recover from this?

  Brance brings me down gently, alternating between soft laps and delicate kisses. Meanwhile, I’m a trembling puddle in his capable grip. This guy is the master of oral sex.

  As the pleasure ebbs from my veins, I glance down at him. He’s still perched on his soles below me. I attempt to brace for his reaction, but my muscles won’t cooperate. My shield is down, and I’m an easy target.

  He lifts himself off the floor in one effortless move. His gaze never leaves mine. Brance is watching me, a sexy smirk lifting his glistening lips. Good Lord, he’s coated in me. Why’s that so hot?

  I clear the dust from my throat. “If that’s how you celebrate, sign me up for all the parties.”

  His husky chuckle sends aftershocks through my core. “Consider yourself lucky.”

  “Oh, I do. Trust me on that.”

  He licks me off his mouth. “You’re too fucking sweet.”

  “Really?” I almost ask him to kiss me. “Hit the spot?”

  Blue fire crackles at me. “Hardly. That wasn’t nearly enough.”

  “It wasn’t?” My voice is more hoarse than I like.

  “Not even close.”

  I curl my fingers into a fist. “Can I, uh, return the favor?”

  Brance lowers his brow. “No.”

  The breath stalls in my lungs. “What? Why?”

  “Fuck getting just a taste. I want the five-course meal. I want you naked and spread out, no damn clothes in my way.” He tugs on my tee.

  “O-okay?”

  “I won’t be your pity fuck,” he growls.

  The idea is laughable. “If anyone’s being pitied, it’ll be me.”

  He snorts. “Pity is the furthest thing I feel for you.”

  “Good, we’re still even.”

  Brance dips his chin. “You using me to forget?”

  I huff. “That’s not possible. Are you doing this out of guilt?”

  “As fucking if.”

  “Sounds settled to me.”

  “The sooner you’re naked beneath me, the better.”

  “When?” I slide one finger over another, hoping for right this second.

  “Now.”

  A chorus of applause erupts inside my chest. I wrack my brain for possible options. “There’s a recliner in the storage room.”

  Brance grunts. “We’ll need a bed. Where do you live?”

  I point toward the street. “About ten minutes away.”

  His grin speaks of secrets between the sheets. “Take me to your house. We’re gonna test your mattress springs.”

  I wink at him, but say nothing. It’ll be a fun surprise for him to discover the memory foam.

  Brance

  Pitch

  Braelyn’s blinker is a glowing beacon in the pitch-black nothingness. There are no street lamps lining this road. A sense of our location finally kicks in when she hits the brakes. I’ve been dutifully following her for miles, and we’re finally getting somewhere. The lack of control was allowing reality to settle, but the slightest spark reignites my hunger.

  I slow down as Braelyn turns her car into the driveway. The garage door lifts, and she pulls inside. Exterior lights flicker on, illuminating her house. I park along the curb in front of her mailbox. Maintaining some semblance of distance seems necessary in this moment. Getting too close or comfortable is a hell no. I cut the engine and sink into my leather seat. A final blast of cool air streams from the vent. It doesn’t alleviate the fire in my blood.

  My body is still humming, the possibilities spinning on an erotic loop. Even with time to get my shit sorted, I’m sporting a semi. Braelyn’s effect on me is too intense. There’re countless feet of space between us, but I can feel her against me. That level of chemistry is an intoxicating trip. I curse a blue streak into my palms. Enough fucking stalling.

  I grab a foil packet from the center console, snatching a second one just in case. Nothing is safe when living with a nosey kid. He sniffs out anything of interest with the nose of a bloodhound. I shove out of my car and stride toward her.

  The groan of the garage closing breaks into the otherwise quiet night. Braelyn is waiting for me on the cobbled path, gaze averted and feet shuffling. My heavy steps boom across the concrete. She takes notice, lifting her eyes to meet mine. Her slight figure appears angelic under the lamp’s gleaming brightness. There’s fiery turbulence in her green pools, too much left unspoken. But the heat wafting off her is undeniable. Without a word, Braelyn turns and strolls to her front door.

  I’m being selfish. Making the decision to fuck Braelyn is reckless. I’ve plowed forward without taking her feelings into consideration. But she assured me this was okay. Her argument was convincing. She made a solid case for why this is a fantastic idea. And here I stand.

  Why the fuck am I trying to find reasons opposing this? I need to drop the whiny bitch act.

  But Braelyn isn’t some random woman I met in a bar. This choice involves more than the two of us. I need to be absolutely certain that these lines remain drawn. That’s important to me, for my son’s sake. The guarantee of her word takes far higher priority than a quick fuck.

  I pause on her porch, one step away from crossing the threshold. “Can you keep this,” I motion between us, “separate from your relationship with Ollie?”

  Braelyn’s expression cools slightly. “We’ve already addressed this.”

  I return her annoyance. “I’m aware. But it’s not too late for us to stop.”

  “I have zero expectations beyond tonight.”

  Can she actually be so chill about this? I haven’t given her nearly enough credit. “My intentions were decent. But I can’t deny my desire for you. Tell me you want this.”

  “I do. Pretty sure we’ve already crossed that line.”

  “Sex is a totally different ballgame.”

  “Ah, we’re rounding bases.”

  I shrug. “It’s kinda my thing.”

  She pops out a hip and crosses her arms. “You’re used to this arrangement, I get it. I’m not kidding myself into believing this is special.”

  I smirk. Snarky Braelyn is much easier to handle. “Baseball. I used to play.”

  The tension in her shoulders melts. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. Thanks for attacking my character.”

  “Don’t pretend to be offended. I’m sure you have a reputation to uphold.”

  The pressurized balloon in my gut deflates. I’m the foolish one in this scenario. “I’ve been known to swing for the fences.”

  Braelyn blinks at me. I laugh at her blank stare.

  “Getting a home run,” I supply.

  She tilts her head. “I like this playful side of you. Dare I say, you’re a bit charming.”

  The cheesy comment doesn’t bother me. I’m over the stupidity hump. Not much can deter me at this
point. The prospect of fucking her is enough to keep me immune to typical annoyances. But if I’m being honest, letting her smooth some sharp edges doesn’t seem terribly unreasonable. I could probably benefit from reining in the shit.

  She twirls her keys around a finger. “Ready?”

  I nod and she unlocks the deadbolt. With the weight lifted off my chest, I follow her inside.

  I kick off my shoes and tuck them along the entryway wall. There’s a small closet propped open. I shuck out of my jacket and hang it up. A quick glance around shows me an open floor plan. The space is modest and neat. But fuck the interior decorating.

  Braelyn moves down the hall. “Do you want something to drink?”

  I’m hot on her heels, hypnotized by the gentle sway of her hips. “I have a nightcap planned.”

  She peeks back at me and bites her lip. “Straight to it?”

  “Why wait?” Lord knows I’ve done enough pussy-footing for the both of us.

  She reaches an open doorway and trails inside. The room is dark but smells of lavender and sugar. My mouth is already watering for another taste. But that can come after. The tent in my pants is far more demanding.

  Braelyn flips a switch and the area is bathed in low light. My gaze latches on the massive bed in front of us. Fucking score. We can sprawl out and still have room to roll around.

  The clink of my belt buckle echoes across the silent space. Braelyn watches as I loosen the leather from around my waist. I drop my pants, letting the soft material pool around my ankles. I step forward, and she meets me halfway.

  Braelyn grips the tails of my shirt. “Can I?”

  I quirk a brow. “Sure.”

  Buttons scatter in every direction, pinging off the walls and floor.

  Her palms drift up my chest and around my shoulders. She pushes the soft material off me with one fluid sweep. Her hands fall to the hem of my undershirt, dipping beneath. I flex when she touches the bare skin of my torso. Braelyn’s eyes lift to mine while she drags the white cotton up my abs. I stand perfectly still, more than willing to have her disrobe me. When she lifts the tee around my neck, I obediently raise my arms.

  A hitch snags her inhale. Braelyn carefully traces the letters scrawling across my left pec. Oliver James is spelled out in his barely legible chicken scratch. Nothing is more permanent than a child. The tattoo is one of the best decisions I’ve made. Stopping in Thicket earlier is quickly climbing that list.

  I reach behind Braelyn, lowering the zipper of her skirt. She shifts, and the faded denim slips down her legs. Thanks to my earlier destruction, her panties are nowhere in sight. Next comes her tank top. With a whoosh, it joins the growing pile around our feet. Her chest rises and falls with rapid breaths. I stare at the lace covering her tits.

  Braelyn unclasps her bra and the obstructing garment loosens. Nerves make her fingers tremble when she lowers the straps. She doesn’t shy away, letting it slide off her body. Her teardrop tits make me harder than marble. With a couple steps backward, Braelyn reveals all of herself to me.

  Good Christ, she’s magnificent. Blessedly naked and on display for me. Every inch of her is smooth and flawless. Desire burns in her eyes, matching the arousal clouding mine. I only see her. All slight curves and tan skin and temptation personified. This woman is mine for the having. I squeeze the base of my cock through the thin barrier of my briefs.

  “Get on the bed,” I order.

  Braelyn doesn’t hesitate, lifting herself up and scooting into the center. Her blonde hair spills over the navy sheets. She scissors her legs, settling on spreading them open. This girl.

  I tug at the waistband of my shorts, stripping down with her gaze securely fastened on my dick. Braelyn’s jaw unhinges on a gasp. The smirk I give her is a thousand dirty promises. I’m big and damn proud of it. She fists the blanket in a tight grip, restless movements shifting her limbs. I give a few cursory strokes just to watch her squirm.

  “Don’t make me wait, Brance. Please.”

  When the plea drops off her lips, a surge of need propels me forward. I grab a condom from my discarded pants. With calculated precision, I rip open the foil and roll the rubber down my shaft. I climb onto the mattress and move between her parted thighs. Leaning on an elbow, I lower myself until we’re aligned together. My cock nudges her entrance. Braelyn loops her arms around me. She’s about to let me conquer the deepest parts of her body. I line up with her center and push inside.

  Her hips lift and tilt, welcoming me further. I sink to the hilt. We share a groan.

  Braelyn’s nails dig into my back. “B-Brance, holy shit. You fit just right.”

  I brush my mouth against hers. “So fucking good.”

  She glides her tongue along mine, and I angle us closer. Her core clenches, reminding me to move. I begin a steady rhythm, sliding in and dragging out. Braelyn tolerates this for several rounds, but soon rocks into me.

  Her ankles cross against my ass, those movements picking up in pace. “Faster. I need more of you.”

  “Yeah?” I grind down, locking us closer. She’s so damn tight. I pinch her nipple, and she bows into my touch.

  “Yes, that. Oh, oh, more.”

  I punch my hips harder, thrusting in and out on a smooth cycle. My mouth latches onto her nipple, drawing the peak in between my teeth. Braelyn scratches along my scalp, and I growl against her supple flesh. Blood rushes south when I begin pounding into her.

  Braelyn bucks into me, meeting my strokes with her own. “Break me. I wanna soar. Make me fly, Brance.”

  She’s incredible, and I want to feel everything. The instinct to rip off this condom propels through me. Fucking her raw would be out of this damn universe. I’d bust in a second. It’d no doubt be the greatest climax of my life. That’s a risk I’ll never take, but she’s the first to actually tempt me.

  “You’re so hot.”

  “Mm-hmm,” I bury my face between her tits. “You’re so sexy.”

  I ghost my lips up the column of her throat. Braelyn arches her neck, granting me greater access. I gently bite along her jaw. An animalistic rumble rises off my chest. I lick a path to her ear, sucking the lobe into my mouth.

  “You’re delicious.” I pump my hips faster, pushing her harder against me.

  “Y-you feel so amazing. I never want you to stop.”

  “Jesus, Brae. Gonna make me come if you keep talking like that.”

  “I want it. Please. Give it to me.”

  Braelyn is vocal in the sack, and that turns me on more than I realized.

  “What do you need?” I drag my fingers up and down her ribs, following the trail of subtle dips. Her skin is satiny soft.

  She grips my wrist and shoves my hand down between us. I find her clit and get to work. When I hit the spot, Braelyn trembles.

  She swivels into me. “Yes, there. Just keep going.”

  And I do. Harder and faster, plunging in and out. A pure shot of pleasure rushes into my veins. The grip on my control is fraying. Braelyn tightens around me, a noose strangling the breath from my lungs. All I feel is her squeezing and yanking me under. The sensation heightens and black spots dot my vision. This is it. What a fucking way to meet the end.

  The cusp of release gathers in my balls. I circle her clit with rapid spirals until she’s spasming around me.

  “Holy shit, I-I’m there.” Her muscles tense, triggering my own climax. We tumble over the edge with a mutual groan. I capture her next moan with my mouth. The waves crash, and I keep going. When I’m spent, my body collapses onto hers. I swallow her panting breaths, sharing every drop of my ecstasy.

  Braelyn relaxes, and I break away from her lips. The smile she’s wearing screams louder than anything else. I already know once won’t be enough. The question forms without a doubt.

  “Are we going extra innings?”

  “You got more in the tank?”

  “For you? Absolutely.”

  She slaps my ass. “Batter up.”

  Braelyn

  Fr
agments

  The early evening sun pours through the front windows. My stocking station is in direct impact of the scorching rays. As if I wasn’t warm enough already. The temperature skyrocketed when a certain someone strolled through Thicket’s door. This should have been taken into consideration when I assigned tasks.

  Brance and his sinful smirk were too distracting. When he flashed those dimples at me, I had to wipe drool off my chin. It was a triumphant accomplishment that I was able to string a few sentences together.

  I fan my clammy face. I’m tempted to crank the air conditioning. Would that be too obvious? Do I actually care?

  I’ve been organizing a display of party supplies and swag for what seems like an hour. This would usually take ten minutes. A plastic tumbler spackled with glitter slips from my grip. I snatch it up with a huff. Where’s a cold shower when I need one?

  I feel Brance’s overwhelming presence behind me. It’s impossible not to. He’s careful not to touch me. The sparks zipping through me scream that he might as well be. His broad chest is an inch away from my back when he boxes me in.

  “Where does this belong?” His raspy whisper strokes my balmy skin.

  I glance over to the toy corner. Ollie is preoccupied with piles of blocks, his back toward us. I grant myself permission to sag against Brance’s solid form. I look down at what he’s holding out in front of me. A laugh bubbles from my throat. The latest racy romance from my favorite author greets me. I blush, biting my lip. The scantily clad couple on the cover resembles us a few nights ago.

  I blindly gesture to the designated row. “I keep a few books in stock over there.”

  “Do you like this sort of literature?”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  “Should I read you an excerpt?”

  I choke on my shock. At my silence, he flips through the pages. I slam the book closed. The idea of him narrating an erotic passage is too much.

  “You’re being bold.” I wave a frantic hand at his son not too far from us.

  “I’m not touching you.”

  “Trust me, that’s not necessary in this case.”