A hand flew to her mouth, and she touched her lips. “It was ...”
Sasha’s speechlessness cheered Brandon. They’d both surrendered to the moment, and it had felt good. He moved toward her, and he was thankful when she didn’t retreat. “It was inevitable and quite frankly a long time coming. I’ve always wanted to kiss you, Sasha. And if you expect me to apologize, I won’t. I’m done hiding what’s been in front of our faces for years. So let’s just enjoy the night and see where it goes.”
“Okay, let’s do that.”
Sasha stood across from Brandon on the train to Brooklyn, but she couldn’t seem to make her lungs work the way they were supposed to. She felt dizzy all over again, like she had after that last kiss. Surely Brandon must feel as wrecked and torn inside out as she did. But, in her opinion, he looked entirely too calm.
Brandon had kissed her like he was a dying man and she alone could quench his thirst. He’d kissed her and she’d kissed him back, hungrily. Hotly. She should be appalled at how she’d behaved in public, but the moment had carried her away. Then when it turned to sexually charged, she’d been overwhelmed.
It had been intense.
Unstoppable.
Undeniable.
Now that she’d gotten a taste of Brandon, it unfurled a long-hidden need in her and Sasha felt a low ache in her belly. The pull of attraction had always been there, and now she felt powerless to resist it. She glanced sideways and found Brandon’s eyes on her.
Is he thinking about that last kiss too?
She trembled from head to toe when she recognized raw desire reflecting back in those dark brown eyes, a decadent mix of cocoa and coffee.
They arrived to Casey’s neighborhood well after ten p.m. and found parents and kids out on the streets setting off firecrackers and getting ready for the night ahead.
“Parents are letting their children play with fireworks?” Brandon said. “My parents would never have allowed it.”
“That’s how it is here, plus the parents are with them. They’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.”
As they ascended the steps to Casey’s two-story walk up, party music thumped through the closed windows. They rang the doorbell.
Casey opened the door to reveal herself in an animal print jumpsuit holding a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Her jet-black hair was on point in a sophisticated bob, and she wore flawless makeup. “Sasha, where the hell have you been? You were supposed to be here hours ago. It’s almost eleven. And what the hell are you wearing? This is an old-school party.”
“I’m sorry. I got sidetracked,” Sasha said, attempting to take the bottle out of her inebriated friend’s hand. “Let me take this.”
“Oh no.” Casey held the bottle to her chest. “This is mine. You can get your own.” She glanced at Brandon behind her friend. “And who is this? It certainly ain’t Kyle.”
“Casey Barnes, meet Brandon. Brandon, this is Casey.”
“Wait a minute.” Casey stumbled toward Brandon and poked him in the chest. “Your name sounds familiar. Is this the hottie you went to college with?”
Brandon turned to Sasha. “Hottie? So you talked about me?”
If Sasha could be swallowed up whole by an earthquake, she would take it in favor of the embarrassing blush that spread over her face. “I might have mentioned you in passing.”
He winked at Sasha. “I’m flattered.”
“C’mon on in,” Casey said. “The party is already jumping.”
Casey circled her arms around Sasha’s and Brandon’s waists and led them inside. All the furniture had been moved out of the living room and dining room to make room for a makeshift dance floor. The décor was simple, consisting of black and gold streamers and balloons along with a big, splashy “2021” sign. Along a back wall stood two long banquet tables overflowing with fried chicken, ribs, potato salad, veggies, and chips and dips of all varieties.
“Make yourself at home, Brandon,” Casey said and then promptly pulled Sasha toward the kitchen.
Sasha greeted Kendra, Casey’s sister, who was in the kitchen mixing different concoctions in a punch bowl.
“So? What gives?” Casey asked, folding her arms across her bosom. “I didn’t realize you and Brandon had something going on. I thought you were ya know, with Kyle.”
Sasha shrugged. “Kyle and I were bed bunnies, nothing more. My time with him wasn’t spent in gripping conversation. Whereas Brandon, well ...”
“Well ... what?” Casey quirked a brow.
“He’s the whole package, Casey. He’s smart and funny, kind and giving. And did I mention hella sexy?”
“You haven’t talked about him in years.”
“Because we fell out of touch,” Sasha said. “Then lo and behold I see a flyer today about his book signing and I just had to go.” She watched Kendra pour more liquor into the punch bowl and give it a stir.
“And? Has he put the moves on you?”
Kendra handed her a Silo cup of the unknown punch, and Sasha accepted, taking a sip. It packed a mighty powerful punch.
“It’s good, huh?” Kendra asked with a smirk.
“Oh yeah.” Sasha laughed. “But if I drink too many of these I might not remember the next morning.” She desperately wanted to recall everything about this magical night with Brandon. “As far as moves, I can tell you that Brandon has those in spades. When he kissed me earlier, I saw fucking stars.”
“Get out!”
“Girl, it’s true.” Sasha blushed. “I haven’t been kissed like this since – well since never.”
“Oh yes!” Casey rubbed her hands together. “Sounds like Brandon has a lot of bottled up sexual frustration and he’s about to put your back OUT!” she yelled.
Sasha glanced at the kitchen doorway. “For God’s sake, lower your voice. What if he heard you?”
Casey grinned unabashedly. “Then he would know what he’s got to do to you tonight.”
Sasha couldn’t resist a loud belly laugh. Her best friend wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. It was one of the things she loved about her. Sasha kept her feelings close to her chest, but tonight with Brandon, she felt as if she could truly be free to be her complicated self.
“I’m going back out there,” Sasha said. She glanced in Kendra’s direction. “Give me another one of the cups for the road. Brandon definitely needs to have some of this.”
But Sasha doubted either of them would need any liquid courage. They’d been doing just fine on their own. She, for one, had definitely gone up in flames after those hot kisses.
Chapter 4
Brandon watched as Sasha sashayed toward him in the hall. She’d removed her leather jacket. Now, the ruched top only accented her small but round breasts while the layered miniskirt added to her curves. She looked every bit the posh artist he knew she aspired to be. She just had to believe in herself, and if he had any role in her life beyond tonight, it would be to show Sasha how much more she could be.
“Here you are,” she said loudly over the blare of old-school nineties R & B music before handing him a bright red Solo cup with a flourish. “Drink up, but I warn you it packs a punch.”
“I can handle it.”
Famous last words.
Because no sooner than he’d taken an enormous gulp, Brandon began hacking up a lung, which made Sasha howl with laughter.
“Hey, I don’t feel the love,” he said once he sufficiently recovered.
“I warned you, didn’t I? You should have listened.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He sat the drink down and then removed his coat and cardigan, tossing them both on a living room sofa against the wall. “Care to dance.” He inclined his head to the floor filled with couples jumping up and down to “Hip Hop Hooray” by Naughty by Nature.
“Sure.” Sasha gulped down the remainder of her drink and took his hand.
/> Brandon carved out a spot for them by elbowing his way through the crowd to the center. Once there, they joined in the fun. The old songs continued with “This Is How We Do It,” “Hot in Herre,” “In da Club,” “Yeah!” and “Where the Party At.” Eventually, the tempo slowed and Brandon found himself and Sasha moving closer to bump and grind to Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” Prince’s “Do Me, Baby,” and Ginuwine’s “Pony.”
The floor was packed, which made Sasha move closer until her face was so close and her lips were inches away from Brandon’s. When he kissed her earlier, it had been completely spontaneous because he’d been caught up in the moment; but if he kissed her now, it wouldn’t be random.
He could feel the stiff points of her nipples against him begging for his attention. And her scent wrapped around him, hurtling Brandon back to that subway platform when all he’d heard was the beat of his own thumping heart instead of the steel drums. He was ready to put himself and Sasha out of their misery when fate interrupted the moment.
Sasha’s friend yelled out, “It’s almost time.” She lowered the music and turned on the television so they could watch the ball drop in Times Square.
The announcer started the countdown. Brandon turned to Sasha so they could yell in unison. “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 ...”
Brandon and Sasha didn’t make it to number 1. Instead, their mouths fused just before the stroke of midnight. An all-consuming heat entered Brandon as Sasha matched him, pressing her body close. Brandon’s tongue swept inside and sought hers, hot and demanding, and she responded willingly. Sasha clutched at his shirt as if she too was greedy and never wanted the kiss to end. Their bodies cleaved together chest to chest, hip to hip, thigh to thigh. She felt incredibly soft, and this reminded him of how delicate she was.
They both drew back at the same moment, each of them breathing fast and hard. Brandon gazed at Sasha and found he couldn’t look away. This incredible woman enthralled and mesmerized him. He huffed out a tortured laugh because surely their desire for each other was glaringly obvious to everyone. However, no one seemed to be paying them much attention because they were equally involved with their own partners.
“I want you, Sasha. Now.”
“Let’s go.”
After grabbing their coats, they said their goodbyes and thanked Casey for the hospitality although they’d only been there about an hour. They were eager to leave because now that Pandora’s box had been opened, they couldn’t close it. Tonight had come to its natural conclusion.
Brandon helped Sasha into her leather jacket, and quickly, they rushed from the house. A limo was waiting with a chauffeur holding the door open, and Brandon walked toward it.
“Brandon, what are you doing?” Sasha asked, staying on the sidewalk. “We have to take the subway.” She motioned down the road.
He turned back to her. “No we don’t. This is my limo.”
“Have you had one this entire time?” Sasha folded her arms across her chest as if she were upset with him when Brandon knew for a fact she wanted to be alone and naked with him as soon as possible.
“Yes, I have. My agent wanted to be sure I could get around. Now c’mon.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the limo. “Get in.”
She turned to glare at him but did as he asked and entered the vehicle. Once the door shut, Sasha started to speak, but Brandon was tired of talking. He reached for her curly tresses and hauled her onto his lap.
Brandon framed her head in his hands. “I want you, Sasha. You want this too, right?”
She nodded. “Badly.”
So he kissed her mouth in a way that spoke of their mutual desire. His lips were firm, insistent, and hungry. Now that they were alone and away from prying eyes, he could do what he’d always wanted to do and that was to put his hands all over her. They traced her curves from the swell of her breasts to her slender waist, hips, and lower. When he came to her skirt, he slowly inched the material upward so he could glide his hands over the smooth, warm skin not covered by her knee-high boots.
“Brandon ...,” she softly whispered his name when his mouth moved from her lips to the side of her neck. His tongue trailed a path of hot kisses along her sensitive flesh. When he reached her earlobe, he gently nibbled on it. Sasha nearly bolted off his lap.
Brandon smiled because he’d learned one of her erogenous zones, but it wouldn’t be enough.
He wanted all of her.
Sasha shifted restlessly against Brandon’s lap as she began to throb at the apex of her thighs. It was nearly incomprehensible that she was making out with Brandon in the back seat of a limo. She was subliminally aware of her growing physical excitement and the feather-soft touch of his fingers on her heated flesh. She needed him to touch her there, but he was teasing her by caressing her thighs, gliding his fingers along the edge of her thong.
When he finally pushed aside the thong and dipped one finger inside her, Sasha lit up like a forest fire. Her nerve endings jumped up and down. Brandon caressed her intimately, and his clever fingers toyed with her moist folds as he kissed her mouth tenderly. She opened like a blossoming flower, allowing Brandon to stroke her over the edge until she free-fell over the abyss, crying out his name.
Sasha opened her eyes and found she was still in his arms and Brandon was smiling down at her. “Are you okay?”
“I – I ...” She looked at the limo floor. She hadn’t known it could be like this – not between them. Brandon had always been her friend, her confidant, and now he was about to become her lover. If her first orgasm was anything to go by, he promised to be one of her best.
“Look at me,” Brandon said, smoothing her perspiration-soaked curls away from her face. His eyes glowed with a raw passion. “Stop overthinking this.” Her eyes met his.
“I know, but—”
“No buts. Let’s just enjoy this night together. We can discuss tomorrow when it comes. Can you do that? Can you stay in the moment with me?”
She nodded. She tried to move out of his arms and into the leather seat beside him, but Brandon kept her in his embrace. He straightened her clothes and kept her in his lap for the entire ride into Manhattan to his hotel in Midtown.
The couple disembarked from the limo a few blocks from the InterContinental because New Year’s revelers still packed the streets. They were going to have to hoof it the rest of the way. Neither of them seemed to mind that too much. Their excitement to get to Brandon’s hotel room overshadowed any other feelings.
When they entered the lobby, neither paid much attention to the natural elements of marble floors or tree-lined walls. They headed straight for the elevators. Although they weren’t the only two occupants, Brandon still reached for Sasha’s hand, sliding it into his warm one.
Ding. Ding.
The bell chimed, indicating they’d reached his floor. They walked side by side to his room, and Sasha watched as Brandon produced a key card from his back pocket. He swiped it and allowed her to precede him inside. He flicked on the switch, flooding the room with light. The curtains were still open, and thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows in the sitting area, they had an impressive view of the Manhattan skyline. The city was very much alive, and that’s exactly how Sasha felt.
When she turned around, she found Brandon hadn’t moved. He was leaning against the wall and staring at her.
“What?” she asked, removing her leather jacket and tossing it onto the sitting room sofa.
“I was just admiring the view.” Then he stalked toward her, and before Sasha could say anything, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
This was fine with Sasha. The entire evening had felt like foreplay, and now she was ready to fully engage in the game. Brandon laid her down gently, almost reverently, before saying, “You have no idea how badly I want to be naked with you.” He growled, making her laugh as he rose onto his shins, and he quickly dispensed
with his cardigan. His T-shirt was next, but in his haste it caught on his elbow. He jerked it free, and it joined the cardigan in a pile on the floor.
Sasha’s breath caught in her throat when she saw his muscled, hairless chest and flat abdomen. He was even sexier than she could have ever imagined. She couldn’t wait to touch him, but he was already toeing off his shoes and reaching for the zipper on his jeans. He shed them and his underwear in one swift move.
She licked her lips at the sight of his dark, long, and thick arousal. Her nipples began to chafe in her demi-bra.
“It’s your turn,” he said. He reached for her knee-high boots and one by one unzipped them and tossed them to the floor.
Sasha wasn’t shy when he reached for the hem of her top and drew it over her shoulders. Reaching behind her, she unclasped her bra. It fell to the bed, exposing her breasts to his deepening gaze.
Brandon’s breathing became ragged as he looked at her. “You’re beautiful.”
“You don’t have to say that. I know my breasts are small.”
His breath hissed and then suddenly she was on her back and he was rolling her beneath him. “Oh no, Sasha. They are more than enough for me.” Then he lavished attention on each one, sucking her nipples and making them wet and tight with need.
In the back of her mind, Sasha had thought the first time with Brandon might be soft and sweet, but the reality was nothing like she had fantasized. Brandon touched her everywhere, and along the way, he praised her body in all its glory. Then he moved lower down the bed. “I need to taste you, Sasha,” he murmured.
His demand should have shocked her, but it didn’t. His hunger ignited her own. She liked that he was staking a claim and leaving no room for argument, timidity, or inhibitions. When he reached her thong, he eased it down, tossing it aside. Then he hitched her legs over his shoulders and, gripping her hips, brought her to his mouth. He was at the hot, wet seam of her body, and there was nowhere for Sasha to hide how much she wanted him.
Two Hot Kisses Page 3