Keeping Her Close: A Slow Burn Standalone

by Casey Diam

  “How much longer will you be here?” Brandon asked.

  “Depends . . . I’m shooting in two more outfits,” Jordan said, turning her head for Laura. “Maybe an hour?”

  “One second,” Brandon said, giving Laura one of his irresistible smiles before hauling Jordan into his arms and kissing her cheek. “Okay, have at her.”

  “You are so silly.” Jordan smiled, closing her eyes as Laura dusted her face.

  “You should come hang out with me at the eastern central office.”

  “I can stop by for a second, but I still have so much to figure out at the store.”

  “I’ll help you figure it out, but I need you at my office.”

  Jordan opened her eyes to see the darkness expanding in his green eyes as he puckered his lips and kissed at her from where he stood before mouthing I love you.

  Two days later, Sarah and Andrew wanted to hang out, so the four of them decided to kick back on Brandon’s sectional sofa and binge-watch How I Met Your Mother. They’d started around eleven in the morning, and at this point Jordan had lost track of exactly what time it was.

  “Hey, your mom just posted some pictures of you and Jordan,” Sarah told Brandon after at least a full ten episodes of the show.

  He leaned forward, his phone in hand. “Oh, shit, check us out.”

  Jordan sat up and stretched one of her legs behind Brandon and the other across his lap. She grazed her fingers across his shirtless back as she peeked at his phone. It was a picture of them at the charity event, staring into each other’s eyes on the dance floor. He swiped the screen and another photo came up. It was the first time he’d kissed her that night.

  “It’s so cute; I love it,” she cooed.

  “I know. It looks like a fairy tale. It’s not fair,” Sarah complained. “Why do you always get the good pictures, Kuvat?”

  “You guys should have been there instead of at Andrew’s lame office party.” Brandon grinned. “Baby, your mom just commented.”

  “Let me see.” Jordan retrieved the phone. They are so cute, her mom had written. Returning Brandon’s phone, she squeezed at the single pimple flawing his shoulder.

  “What are you doing?” He winced.

  “Wow, cuteness overload,” Sarah said, leaning against Andrew at the other end of the sectional. “It feels so good to know I made this happen.”

  “Well, don’t take all the credit,” Brandon countered. “We were seeing each other way before you.”

  “I knew it. I fucking knew it,” Andrew exclaimed. “The sock on the couch in Utah! That’s when it happened, wasn’t it?”

  Jordan and Brandon smiled.

  “Andrew, not this again,” Brandon said. “Forget about the sock, dude.”

  He flinched under Jordan’s fingers.

  “There’s a pimple,” she explained.

  “Leave it,” he ordered.

  “I can’t. It’s just there.”

  Andrew laughed. “Dude, you can never tease me again, because seeing you like this is priceless.”

  “Seeing me like what?” Brandon asked, reading an email.

  Jordan hadn’t noticed how much Brandon worked until she’d started spending more time with him. The man was a born multitasker because somehow, he still made sure she was getting most of his attention.

  “Utterly whipped,” Sarah remarked.

  “Did he just roll his eyes?” Jordan asked, playfully wrapping an elbow around Brandon’s neck. “I’ll end you right now, Kuvat.”

  Sarah and Andrew laughed. “Yup, I think he definitely rolled his eyes.”

  Brandon glared at Andrew and Sarah, and Sarah added, “Yup, he did it again.”

  Jordan yanked Brandon against her chest as she dropped her body back on the sofa, his back to her front.

  Brandon lowered his phone to the floor. “You two get off on making me feel like a bitch, don’t you?”

  “Oh yeah, you have no idea what’s in store, buddy.” Andrew laughed, pulling Sarah up to standing. “Let’s go, sweetie. I’m almost sure this is some disgusting form of foreplay for them.”

  “I always knew he needed someone who could manhandle him,” Sarah said, walking with Andrew to the foyer.

  Andrew chuckled. “Don’t forget you owe me a hundred bucks. I called it first.”

  “I heard that,” Jordan shouted. “You guys made bets about us? That’s really low.”

  “Yeah, and you just took my man card in front of them,” Brandon mumbled as the front door closed.

  “Aw, I did?” Keeping one arm around his neck, she slid the other into the waistband of his pants. “Kind of feels like you may like that kind of thing.”

  “Hmm, is that what it feels like?” He turned and pressed himself between her thighs. “Interesting, but I’m not worried, because you already know who owns who.”

  “Oh, do I?” she teased, touching his face and peering into his vivid green eyes. “Do you know how much I love you?”

  “Well, you should love me. I’m a genius,” he whispered, kissing her neck. “But I know what you mean. You love me about as much as I would love to bury my cock inside of you right now. Seriously glad you’re not allergic to these nuts.”

  Jordan laughed. “You are so horrible at this.”

  Brandon propped up on his elbow and gazed into her eyes. “Stop taking the birth control.”

  Her heart thumped. “What?”

  “You heard me. As you said, it makes you moody. And as I lie here on top of you, I can’t help but think about how I wish that pregnancy test had been positive. I wish there was a baby Kuvat growing inside of you this second.” He smiled. “That’s how much I love you.”

  Okay, maybe he’s too good at this. “You can’t just—we can’t just—”

  He kissed her lips, stopping her. Her emotions were conflicted. How could she be happy and sad at the same time?

  “Why not?” Brandon asked, easing off her to sit on the ottoman. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. And I can see it in your eyes. You’re scared, Jordan. I saw the same look in your eyes when you found out you weren’t pregnant. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve waited so long to find you, and now that you’re here with me, I almost have everything I thought I never would. With this taste of what my future could be like, I can’t not have it now. Jordan, I want everything, and I want it with you.” Brandon moved to his knees and positioned a ring before her. “Will you marry me?”

  She gasped, shivered, and sat up straight, her eyes widening at the white-gold diamond ring sparkling in Brandon’s fingers.

  “But when—how?”

  Brandon smiled and let out a breath. “I knew you needed to be Mrs. Kuvat the first time I joked around and called you Mrs. Kuvat. I knew I wanted to marry you at Andrew’s engagement party. I knew I was going to propose to you when the pregnancy test came back negative, because I wanted you to know it had nothing to do with that.”

  He seemed even more nervous as he continued.

  “Remember at the charity event when I told you I needed to keep you around for a very long time? I wasn’t joking. I want you in my life, Jordan, and if you take this next step with me, I promise to spend the rest of our days together making you happy. Anything you want, beautiful—though I’ll still give you everything, even if you don’t want to marry me. Please. Say something . . .”

  Her eyes watering, she whispered, “Yes. Yes! Of course.”

  His shoulders visibly relaxed as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Leaning in, his lips met hers, his tongue met hers, and his words matched hers as she mumbled, “I love you.”

  Then he took her on the ride of her life—not as expected, but so much better.

  Jordan sat in the cockpit of Brandon’s jet two hours later, trying to calm the tension sitting on her spine. “Are you sure you’re good at this?” she asked.

  He winked and blew her a kiss, which was all it took to disperse her concerns as the jet settled into position at the beginning of the runway.

&nbs
p; “Have you no trust in your future husband’s abilities?”

  She wouldn’t have been here if she didn’t trust him, but he knew that. Shaking her head, she smiled, keeping her eyes on him even as he looked ahead. The aircraft accelerated down the runway and took off. As the plane lifted, adrenaline rushed through her before dropping into a deep, carnal desire.

  Brandon stole a peek at her as he brought them up to cruising altitude. “Hmm, look at those eyes. You can’t distract me like that up here.”

  Jordan smiled, bit her lower lip, and let it slowly slip from between her teeth. “Seeing you so focused and in control like this?” She inhaled. “Captain Kuvat, you are the sexiest man alive right now.”

  “Damn,” he rasped. “Consider this your official invitation to the Mile-High Club. I have an exclusive membership package for you, future Mrs. Kuvat.”

  Her stomach weakened at his words. He slid his seat back, the mere inches it went, and looked at his lap and then her face. “Or we could get started early. Just kidding, but not really.”

  Jordan laughed, running a hand down his arm. “I don’t think I’ll ever tire of you.”

  Brandon took her hand and kissed the center of her palm. “I had the airport schedule a pilot to fly us back from Seattle this evening, so you’d better not tire anytime soon. There is a certain mileage requirement for that exclusive membership.”

  She laced her fingers through his. “I’m sure there is, if your genius brain has anything to do with it.”

  Brandon glowered. “Keep being a smartass and I’ll deny you the package I’m offering.”

  “Oh, you wish you could.”

  “Okay, smartass. You know what I’m going to do to you?” He wagged his eyebrows. “I’m going to come inside of you, every time, until I’m sure there’s a baby Kuvat, and every time after because by then I’ll be too dedicated to quit. Too addicted to quit.”

  “You’re so gross.”

  “But you love me.”

  “I do,” she said, passing her gaze to the outside world for the first time since takeoff to see the setting sun. The skies were a fading blue, and in the distance, deep red, orange, and yellow splashed around a glowing center. The colors touched the frame of the windshield, the window. She tracked the warm colors down her body and over to a starry-eyed Brandon.

  He’d planned this.

  She cleared her throat. “What were you saying about that Mile-High Club again?”

  THE END

  Three years later

  Brandon glanced away from his computer screen for the first time in hours to press the speaker button on his ringing desk phone.

  “Mr. Kuvat, your wife is here,” the secretary informed him.

  “Send her in,” Brandon said, ending the call and anticipating some much-needed dirty office sex. His morning had been so jampacked with emails and going over contracts, he hadn’t even gotten to the lunch his secretary had set on his desk, but Jordan’s pussy was a much better option. His cock twitched just thinking about it.

  The door opened and Jordan walked inside, a long black cotton dress flowing around her ankles, and in her arms was their little bundle of joy. His heart flip-flopped and he grinned. “I’m guessing this isn’t a let’s-have-dirty-office-sex stop.”

  “Baby, language,” Jordan warned, pushing the door shut behind her.

  “What? He’s seven months. He doesn’t know what I’m saying or how much I mean it.” Brandon stood, adjusting his raging hard-on, not missing the moment Jordan’s eyes lowered.

  Her tongue slid across her lips. “Don’t do that.”

  He gripped his cock through his pants, shifting it from side to side. “Do what?”

  “Touch yourself.”

  Brandon wagged his eyebrows, and knowing how much it turned Jordan on, he let his hand slide over the thick bulge before moving closer and peering down at the bright green eyes peering up at Jordan.

  “Your mommy is gorgeous, isn’t she? I too would stare at her all day if I could.” Brandon leaned down and kissed a baby-soft chubby cheek before lifting his head and planting a steamy kiss on Jordan’s lips. He scooped a smiling Zack out of her arms and swayed the baby up, down, and around. “Guess what you’ll be doing as soon as you’re old enough? You’ll be flying planes with Daddy.” He brought Zack down for a quick kiss then lifted him up high. “All you have to do is say Dada. Say Dada.”

  Kicking and swinging his tiny arms and legs, the baby chuckled as Brandon brought him down to his face and repeated, “Dada.”

  Jordan sniffed. “He’s going to be a mommy’s boy. He’s not going to say—”

  “Da-da,” came Zack’s first word. It wasn’t clear, but he said it. Brandon’s heart swelled as he looked at Jordan, her mouth hanging open like his was.

  “No way!” Jordan said, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s not fair.”

  Brandon laughed. Their daughter had said “Dada” first too.

  “Maybe next time,” he grinned, nuzzling Zack’s tummy with his nose, “You love Daddy, don’t you? Daddy loves you too.” He looked over at Jordan as he cuddled Zack to his chest. “Where’s Isabella?”

  “She’s with my mom.” Jordan lowered the black leather diaper bag to a chair in front of Brandon’s desk. He leaned back onto his desk, feeling the love flow through him as little arms tapped his shoulder.

  A smile stretched across his face as he remembered Jordan’s words from less than three years ago.

  “You’d be the last person I’d make father of my child. As I said, you’re not my type.”

  Now he was laughing because not only was Jordan his wife but they had two kids together. A beautiful nine-month-old and a handsome seven-month-old.

  “What’s so funny?” Jordan asked, standing in front of him.

  “You.” Circling a hand around her neck, he pulled her in for a kiss. “And how you couldn’t stay away from my charm. And how much I love you for trying.”

  “Shut up,” Jordan giggled, resting her palm on his stomach and letting it skim down his white dress shirt until she was groping him.

  “Dada,” Zack burbled, and he closed his eyes, inhaling as the little guy in his arms and his sexy wife turned him into a huge pile of mush.

  Jordan unbuckled his pants, and he groaned as her hand slipped into his pants and gripped his throbbing cock. “What are you doing?”

  Jordan’s eyes glinted with mischief as she pulled out his shaft and pumped. “Giving you a taste of what’s to come later.” She got down onto her knees, and a whisper of her breath caressed the head of his cock.

  “Your mommy is so naughty . . . crap, don’t remember that,” Brandon said, bouncing Zack in his arms.

  “You are horrible,” Jordan admonished before her lips closed around him and sucked. “I’m horrible? Look at what you’re doing.”

  “I could stop.”

  “No, don’t,” Brandon sighed as pleasure swarmed his body with each lick and each suck that brought him deeper into her throat. “God, don’t ever stop.”

  The door flew open and Andrew burst inside before stopping dead in his tracks. “Oh, fuck. Jesus. Dammit. What is this? Eww, Jordan, don’t put your mouth on that. You two are sick.”

  His cock slipped from Jordan’s mouth, but Jordan didn’t move an inch, probably horrified at what their friend just saw, though the back of her head was to the door.

  “Andrew, I will fire you, I swear to God. Get out,” Brandon hissed.

  “Awe, poor baby.” Concern dipped between Andrew’s brows. “You two just . . . disgusting!”

  As the door shut, Brandon sighed. “I knew having his office next to mine was a mistake.” Jordan’s long, goldilocks hair hung behind her shoulders as she shook her head, looking up at him. “I’ve never been so humiliated.”

  Brandon thrust his hips forward until his cock touched her lips. “But you’re my insanely gorgeous wife and I know you love sucking,” before mouthing ‘my cock.’ “I’m so close, please baby.” Her tongue flicked
over him and his eyes closed. “Yeah. So good.” And as his cock slid into the warm suction of her mouth, he held Zack closer with both arms. Fuck, he was probably going to hell for this but between taking care of Isabella and Zack, he’d savor any chance he got to be with his wife.

  Her hands circled around the rest of his length, magnifying the friction and intensifying the desire winding down the head of his cock, his swelling shaft, and to his tightening balls before pleasure overcame him and his cock jerked. He bit back the curse coming to his lips as he perched on the edge of his desk, heat radiating from his body and abs contracting as he focused on Jordan sucking every last drop from him like she always did.

  “Mmm,” he groaned as she stood, pulling his pants up and tucking himself back inside. Damn, she was perfect and his. All his. “I love you. So fucking much.”

  She licked her lips. “I love you more.”

  “Nope, I don’t think so, I love you more.” He rubbed a hand over Zack’s back and heard a small hiccup. “And I love this little guy. You’re so good to Daddy,” Brandon cooed, kissing Zack until he let out a slew of baby giggles. “Yes, you are.”

  “Weird,” Jordan said, narrowing her eyes. “He always cries when you’re trying to do anything to me.”

  “I know, he’s not a mommy’s boy,” then he continued in his baby voice, “and he just loves his daddy, don’t you? You love Dada, don’t you, yeah, I know.” Brandon lifted his head, his eyes crinkling at the corners as his smile widened at Jordan’s pout.

  “I still don’t like you.” She was trying, but he could see the warmth flooding her eyes as she watched them together. He kissed her forehead, and as she washed her hands inside the personal bathroom attached to his office, he said, “So, when you’re done washing your hands, we should go to Andrew’s office. I’m going to give him shit about barging into my office and while I’m doing that, I want you to start touching everything. Especially the phone on his desk. I want to watch him squirm as he thinks about where your hands have been.”

  “No, oh my God! See, horrible.” Jordan laughed, leaning over the sink as amusement weakened her. “He’d sanitize everything for months.”