by Nia Arthurs
I tilt my head.
Her expression softens. “Making Kayla happy.”
I stop. Stare at her face.
There’s no hint of mischief in her gaze now. Just pure sisterly affection.
“I caught her humming yesterday.”
I blink.
Venus stares pointedly at me like that should mean something. “She actually smiled when I asked if she was getting it good last night. Freaking smiled.”
Oh.
“It’s been four years of watching her slowly deteriorate into this robot version. I’ve been waiting for this day. You have no idea. I’d shake your hand, but I know where it’s been.” She winks.
I laugh.
She’s… something else.
Exactly as Kayla described.
Venus points down the hall. “Your woman is that way. And word of advice, the desks here aren’t worth crap so I’d go for the wall. Or the window if you’re feeling especially risqué. Avoid the cabinets. The little handles on them kind of jab—” She rubs her back.
“Appreciate the advice.”
“Anything for a friend.” She flings her hair over her shoulder. “Kayla’s gotta make up for lost time.” The mischief is back in her eyes. “See you around, Mr. Humes.”
I nod and head in the opposite direction, chuckling softly under my breath. But when I’m standing in front of Kayla’s front door, the amusement dies.
Replaced by nerves.
Not that she’ll reject me.
I doubt that she will.
But I’m about to fulfill my mother’s dying wish.
The moment she sees Kayla, I have to be prepared to let my mother go.
Twenty-Eight
Kayla
There’s a knock on my door.
“Come in,” I call.
I’m peering at my laptop with my glasses on the end of my nose so I don’t immediately look up when I hear the door creak.
There’s a thud.
Followed by silence.
And then…
“I heard this is the place to find my future wife?”
That voice.
I glance up and a wide grin spreads on my face when I see Brendon looking devastatingly handsome in the doorway. His white shirt is pressed and immaculate, but he wears it with casual elegance. Black jeans taper down to expensive sneakers.
He presses his shoulder into the doorway. Arches an eyebrow. Smirks in that I want you naked way.
My eyes soak him in.
My chest fills—as it seems to do lately whenever I see Brendon or think of him or touch him…
Lord, when I touch him.
It’s like I’m scraping my fingers against heaven.
Cheesy as that sounds.
And when he touches me back…
There’s no level of flame hot enough to describe it.
I grin. “Future wife? Is that your way of proposing or breaking up with me?”
“Which one are you hoping for?” He strides forward.
The door falls closed.
We’re alone.
My heart thuds.
My fingers itch to feel his skin.
My lips tingle with need.
I have no idea where this Kayla has been hiding the past four years, but Brendon has stroked her all the way to the surface.
I’ve completely surrendered to the addiction.
Can’t even hide how much I want him anymore.
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Whether or not this counts as a Cinderella story.”
He chuckles. “Are you busy?”
I set my glasses on the desk and meet him halfway. My arms naturally fall around his neck. My elbows on his shoulders. My chest against his. My hips, my thighs…
“Not right now.”
“Good.” He nuzzles my nose. His eyelashes press together.
His hands graze my shoulder.
Down to my elbow.
Back up.
A slow, desperate caress.
He sucks in a deep breath. Like he’s trying to inhale me. Like he’s trying to pull me into himself.
It reminds me of the night he found out his mother was dying.
I wonder what’s wrong, but I hesitate to bring it up first.
He tips my head down.
Kisses my forehead.
Brendon’s lips are hard against my skin. He murmurs, “I’m in trouble.”
“Why?” My fingers coil in his shirt.
I twist the soft fabric until it’s taunt, just like my insides are right now.
Everywhere is aching.
Yearning.
I want him so much.
Is the door locked?
Mercy, what am I thinking?
I’m at work.
“I can’t get enough of you,” Brendon murmurs.
Same here, buddy.
I clear my throat. Pull back. Study him. “Something’s wrong.” I tilt my head. “Is it your mother?”
He sighs. “Yeah, but it’s not what you’re thinking.”
I shoot him a look what then?
“She wants to meet you.”
“Meet me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “To grill you about your fertility, probably.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
My face warms. “You told her?”
“About your fertility?”
I shoot him a really? look. “That we’re together.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Is that surprising?”
“A little.”
“Shouldn’t be. You’re important to me.” His thumb rubs the fabric over my shoulder blade. I find myself wishing I hadn’t worn this particular blazer with the shoulder pads.
I find myself wishing I wasn’t wearing clothes in general.
“You know that right?” He smirks as if he knows what I’m thinking.
As if he wants it too.
“Telling the parents is a big step. I haven’t mentioned you to mine yet.”
“Then I guess I win.”
I laugh, soft and low.
He makes me do that.
He makes me so happy I turn into a school girl with her first crush. “It’s not a competition.”
“I still win,” he whispers.
Pulls me in.
Closes the distance.
He kisses me, long and slow.
The I’m going to make you wild kind of kiss. The you’re not prepared for what I’m about to do to you kind of kiss.
I press myself into him.
Dig my nails into his hair.
Tug gently.
His lips command mine.
Taking.
And then giving more.
So much I’m overflowing.
His hands graze my waist. The hem of my skirt.
Tingles dance up my thighs. Straight to my core.
I’m trembling.
Drunk on his taste.
Basking in the pleasure of his touch and his tenderness and his trust.
Because this is more than a kiss.
This is his comfort.
And I delight in being the one he chooses to provide it to him.
Brendon groans. Curses under his breath. We break apart, only so far that he can talk. Our foreheads are still touching. My hands are still tangled in his hair.
“You have anything important on that desk?” he asks. His fingers skim down my arm. Draws a line over the blouse tucked into my purple skirt.
I lose myself in the caress. “Um, just my laptop.”
Brendon frowns. Steps determinedly away from me.
My hands fall bleakly in the air. Down to my side. Flat against my thigh.
He shakes his head. “We should go.”
“We should.”
“I don’t want to keep my mom waiting.”
“That would be horrible,” I agree.
He stops. I watch the desire parade through his ey
es. Watch his lips tightening. His eyes traveling over my body.
My heart bucks with anticipation.
Desire is coursing through my veins.
I want those lips on mine.
I want him buried inside me.
So freaking bad.
My hands tremble.
A junkie eager for her next hit.
I slide past him. Let my fingers graze his elbow, his wrist, his thumb before sauntering away.
Four steps.
My hand reaches out.
Thumb and forefinger over the door’s lock.
I turn.
Hear the click.
Watch Brendon’s eyes narrow.
Watch the little tick in his throat as it pulses.
For me.
My body sizzles with feminine power.
Knowing I have this much of an effect on him…
It does things to me.
I arch an eyebrow.
Smirk. What’ll you do now?
He juts his chin to the left.
In the direction of the table.
His deep, dark voice whips through the silence. “Kayla.”
“Yes?”
“Get your laptop off the desk.”
I let Brendon leave first.
I’m way too embarrassed to walk out with him.
Heaven forbid I run into Venus along the way.
She’ll take one look at us both and know.
Well, maybe Brendon won’t give it away, but I definitely will.
I’ve never been inappropriate in the office.
Ever.
There’s not a rule I haven’t followed since I’ve been at Make It Marriage.
But I just screwed those rules.
It’s a little too out-of-character for me and now that I’m not dripping in a haze of lust, common sense is starting to settle.
Brendon smirks when I shoo him out, but he doesn’t tease me or point out how neurotic I’m being.
Smart man.
I wait a few minutes.
The watch on my wrist ticks loudly.
I adjust my skirt. Twist my laptop so it’s resting nicely in the middle of my desk.
My thighs press together.
Taking the expensive computer off the table was a good call.
“Alright,” I whisper. “I think this is enough time.”
Satisfied, I tiptoe through the door with my purse slung over my shoulder.
My body is still fine-tuned to Brendon’s frequency.
Everything in the office looks brighter, smells nicer, feels better.
The world’s shifted.
Rose-colored glasses? Love-colored glasses? Just Got Taken Against A Desk glasses?
Who cares?
I don’t.
All I care about is Brendon.
My fingers tighten on the strap of my purse.
I just had him, but I want him again.
His groans in my ear.
The need in his eyes.
The way he—
Crap. What am I thinking?
I’m going to meet his mom.
Thoughts meet gutter. I need a fishing pole and some holy water.
And maybe a stint in Brendon-Humes rehab.
A few of my co-workers pass me in the hallway.
They smile.
I smile back.
But inside, I’m trembling.
They can’t possibly know right?
We were quiet.
I wince.
Or maybe not…
I rush ahead, hoping to avoid small talk.
Almost there.
Almost…
When I get to the foyer, Venus is standing by the door. She tosses her head up.
Her eyes catch mine.
Her lips arch into a knowing smile.
My face dials to about three hundred and fifty degrees.
Twenty bucks says my cheeks are fire-red.
She pushes off the wall. Glides toward me.
I stare at the ceiling. The pictures on the wall. My shoes. Anything but her.
“Hey, Kayla,” Venus says.
I nod in greeting. Try to walk past her.
“Did you find Brendon?”
“Yeah.” I take another step.
“He’s hotter than I remember.”
She has no idea.
“I really need to go.” I shuffle forward.
“The desk, huh.”
I freeze, the breath leaving my body just as all the blood rushes to my face.
Venus chuckles. “Good choice.”
I bite down hard on my bottom lip and rush through the door.
Twenty-Nine
Kayla
Victoria Humes is as pale as her son. Blue eyes. Thin lips. But even in a hospital gown, sans-makeup, she emits ‘powerful matriarch of a global corporation’ vibes.
“Brendon, take Ariya to the café,” Victoria says the moment I walk in.
My heart trips with nervousness.
No, Brendon. Don’t leave me.
He tries to take a stand. “Mom, I—”
“Did I stutter?” She arches an eyebrow. Delivers a look so full of authority I almost run for cover.
I recognize Victoria’s expression.
It’s one Ariya wears naturally.
I see where the kid gets her queen-like manners.
Brendon glances at me. You okay?
I nod. I’ll be fine.
But that’s just my bravado talking. I know how important this moment is for Brendon. For both of us.
Even if I’m about to piss my pants, I’ll have to find a way to keep my cool.
“Come on, Ari.” Brendon escorts his little sister out of the massive hospital room. He stops at the door, slants one last, apologetic look at me and then he leaves.
Victoria points to the chair Ariya vacated. “Do you mind? I’d have this chat in the salon, but I’ve been feeling tired lately…”
“No problem at all.” I slide into the seat next to her bed.
Victoria appraises me for a long moment.
I try not to squirm.
Try to think of something to say.
I finally settle on, “You look good.”
“For someone on her deathbed?” she asks with a teasing lilt.
I blink rapidly. “N-no. Of course not.”
“It’s funny, right? My body’s self-destructing, but no one would know by looking at me.”
“I wouldn’t call it funny.”
“At this point, it’s either I laugh or cry. My kids are crying enough on my behalf.”
“Brendon?”
“He cries. Ariya, not so much.” She blows out a breath. “I thought it would be the other way around, but I think Brendon’s processing in a much healthier way.” Blue eyes fasten on me. “Thanks to you.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Kayla.”
I hold her gaze. “And I’m glad I got to meet you. Before…”
“It’s alright. You can say it.”
I pull my fingers together. “Brendon really loves you.”
“I can say the same for you. He’s not the type to bring any woman home. From the way he looks at you, I can tell he’s not giving you a lot of space to breathe.”
“I mean…”
“Oh please. Don’t try to pretty it up. That boy has been clingy since the day he was born. I’m sure he’s still got his old teddy bear somewhere around in his house.”
“Are you saying Brendon sleeps with a teddy bear?”
“I’m saying once he holds on, he doesn’t let go.”
“It’s strange, but I like that about him.”
She chuckles. “Do you now?”
“Honestly,” I suck in a deep breath, “I had a hard time trusting people. Trusting relationships.”
An eyebrow arches. “In your line of work?”
“People are flawed. Relationships fail. Even ones set up by experts.”
“True.” She nods thoughtful
ly.
Is she thinking about her own past?
Her husband’s indiscretions?
“But love still exists. I believe that.”
I smile softly. “Your son takes after you.”
“Why?”
“Because he convinced me to believe it too.”
She laughs. “He can be convincing when he wants to be.”
“By the time I realized how fast I was falling, it was too late. The rules I’d put in place had already been broken.”
She leans into her pillows and plants pale hands—fingers painted a soft coral shade—over her torso. “That feels good.”
“What does?”
“Knowing my son picked someone sensible.” She juts her chin over to a stuffed envelope partially hidden in the folds of her blanket. “I was half-afraid you were some vapid gold-digger out for the family fortune.”
My eyes bug. “Is that money?”
“I would have thrown it at you.”
I burst out laughing. “What?”
She chuckles along. “Saw it in a soap once and always wanted to try it.” Victoria sighs heavily. “Guess I won’t have the chance now.”
“You can still throw it if you want. Just get Brendon to clean it up.”
Victoria giggles. “I like you.”
“I like you too.”
“Good. Now that we’re on the same page…” she grins, “when was your last period and how do you feel about kids?”
“What did you tell her?” Brendon demands.
We’re walking down the hallway, far from Victoria’s room.
Three minutes ago, she’d given me a hug and a kiss and then slanted Brendon a mischievous look while mumbling about how excited she was to have grandkids soon.
“Your mom was just playing.” I press the button for the elevator.
“Still.” He moves in front of me. The fire in his eyes sizzles through those square glasses.
If we weren’t in public, I’d plaster myself to him like chewing gum on a shoe.
My womb and its ability to carry children was only a small portion of my conversation with Victoria. She made sure to pull out her IPhone and swipe through every one of Brendon’s baby photos and home videos.
It feels like I got to know him a lot better—not just the man he is now, but the little boy who grabbed a mike and danced to Michael Jackson in his Superman boxers. The one who gave away his Christmas presents when he found out little kids in his school came from poor families who couldn’t afford them.
The one who dumped his date at Prom.
Yeah, I’m side-eying him hard for that.