by Audra Cole
“No, no, James.” I reach across the table and snap the lid shut. “This isn’t what I want.”
He releases my other hand and sits back from the table. “Why not? We can get you a different ring, if that’s what you want.” He looks angry now.
“It’s not about the ring, James, it’s about us. We’re not ready. I’m not ready. There’s something I need to talk to you about, actually, I uh—”
He cuts me off before I can figure out how to say what needs to come next. “Charity, you’re being unreasonable. Listen to me. I’m offering you a future here. We can get married and start a life, a real life together. You don’t have to work in that little rinky-dink café making coffee anymore. You can do something with your life!”
My mouth flops open in horror. I feel like he just slapped me across the face. In the entire course of our relationship he has never said anything like that before.
“Rinky-dink? Is that what you really think of me and my life? Wow.”
“You know what I mean,” he says, rolling his eyes like I’m being dramatic.
“No, I don’t. And do you want to know why? Because I don’t know you.”
“Charity, you’re being ridiculous.”
“No, I’m not!” I struggle to keep my voice under control. “I don’t know you, not the real you. Unless you really are just a shallow guy who doesn’t like anything more than golf and expensive dinners with a bunch of rich people you don’t even know! All you talk about is work, what kind of car you want to buy next, and how much money other people make and how they spend it. I don’t care about any of that shit!”
“You’re making a scene,” he hisses under his breath, his eyes nervously darting around the restaurant to see if other people were listening in.
“I don’t care. I don’t know these people, let them think whatever they want of me.”
“We need to leave,” he says, still watching the nearby diners. He reaches up and gestures for the waitress. “We can discuss this elsewhere.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re unbelievable. I can’t believe you would even think that a proposal was appropriate after everything that has happened in the last week. Actually, you wouldn’t if you really knew that was going on.” The last part, I say mostly to myself, but James picks up on it.
“What are you talking about? Why not?” he demands.
I sigh, figuring the bomb has already gone off. What more harm can really be done?
“I’m in love with someone else, James. I am very sorry that I betrayed you, it’s not who I am, but it happened.”
“What!” James reels back. “You’ve been cheating on me?”
I have nothing to say, so I stay silent.
He stuffs the ring back into his pocket. “You know what? Just go. I’ve put up with quite a few of your antics over the course of our relationship, but this exceeds the limit. You’ve humiliated me enough without making an even bigger scene here! I’ll probably never be allowed back as it is.”
I shake my head, stunned that being put on the blacklist at a restaurant is his major concern right now.
“I’ll go, but just a little tip, for your next marriage proposal, it’s not a business merger! You don’t come armed with a diamond ring and a list of pros and cons, when asking someone to spend the rest of their life with you.”
James’ face darkened another shade of red and I could tell he was about to explode again.
Not even chocolate cake could keep me here another minute. I stand and leave the restaurant, without even bothering to look back.
And this time I remember to grab my own coat!
Chapter Fifteen
I cruise on autopilot back to town, trying not to think or feel. Before I fully realize what I’m doing, I find myself parked in front of the Beverly Inn. I lean forward on the steering wheel for a moment and let out a slow exhale.
I fidget with my scarf for a few minutes, silently debating what to do, before getting out of the car and going to find Brandon. At one point last night, he gave me his cell phone number and his room number.
The inn is very small, only about a dozen rooms so it doesn’t take long to locate his room. The light is on and I can hear the TV muffled through the door. I take a deep breath and knock softly.
A moment later the door swings open. Brandon is standing there in jeans and a hoodie sweatshirt. His shock quickly melts into a smile. He looks so warm and I smile back. It’s all I can do to hold myself back from collapsing into his arms.
His smile falters slightly as he studies my face. “Cherry, what’s wrong?” he asks. Ushering me inside, he closes the door behind us. He reaches for me but stops himself and puts his hands in his pockets, looking unsure of what to do.
“It’s over, with James,” I say, almost in a daze. “He had a ring, Brandon, a ring! He wanted to marry me, but I said no.”
Brandon swears under his breath and pushes a hand through his hair.
“Do you love him?” he asks. There is something strange in his eyes.It takes me a moment to realize that it’s fear.
“No.” I shake my head. “I think I loved the idea of him, and I did care about him a lot, but no, I wasn’t in love with him.”
Brandon looks relieved. He holds out his hands and I take them, stepping closer to him.
“What did you tell him?” he asks.
“That I’m in love with someone else,” I say.
“Are you now? Anyone I know?” Brandon teases, trying to lighten the mood.
I can’t help but laugh. I roll my eyes and punch him lightly on the forearm. “You might know him. Against all odds, and probably my better judgment, I am in love with you.”
He smiles and closes the remaining distance between us. He cups my face in his hands. “And I’ve always been in love with you.”
His lips crash against mine. I’m lost in his arms as he envelopes me, pulling me into his solid chest. His lips are soft, but also intense and charged with heat. He parts my lips with his and his tongue melds to mine, sending flickers of heat throughout my body. I moan into the kiss as he circles the tip of my tongue with his and at the sound, he dives deeper. He his moves to the back of my head and he gently pulls at the roots of my hair to lean my head back. He makes a hot trail of kisses down my chin and onto my neck. He is towering over me and has to stoop down to get lower. Every flick of his tongue along my sensitive skin sends a trail of fire down my body, to my core.
My legs start to feel more unsteady as he continues moving down my neck. I cling to his muscular back for balance and support. My whole body feels like it’s alive, every fiber ignited, and ready for whatever will happen next. Brandon’s hands move down my curves slowly, and I commit the feeling to memory. His hands slowly sliding down the curves of my breast, my ribs, and sides, they come to a stop on my hips and he tugs me closer, my hips into him, and I can feel his arousal as he grinds up against me until we feel like puzzle pieces, nested together.
“Cherry, you’re so unbelievably gorgeous,” he whispers, dragging his lips back up my neck to run his tongue over my tender earlobe.
I sigh and lay my head back at the sensations dancing through my body. “Brandon, I want you.”
His eyes meet mine, his green eyes a dark emerald, illuminated with heat. With his eyes still locked on mine, he slides his hands from my hips and up my back. “I have to see you. All of you.”
His fingers find the zipper on the back of my dress, and I breathe in a sharp breath as he tugs the fastener down. Our eyes never break contact, searching each other as we listen to the sound of both of our ragged breathing. When the zipper reaches the bottom, the cool air in the room hits my bare back, now completely exposed. A nervous flutter rushes over me at the thought of Brandon seeing my naked, like this, with all the lights on. It had been three years since the last time we made love, and although I tried my best, my body had changed some since then.
“You’re gorgeous.”
I’m not sure how he knew I needed
the reassurance, but I’m grateful. The look in his eyes tells me that he thinks I am beautiful and sexy, and I shove aside my anxiety.
“Take off the dress,” he prompts. He backs up one tiny step. He is still close enough for me to feel his body heat but I miss him all the same.
I slide the cocktail dress off my shoulders and slowly push it down, over the curves of my body, until it’s over my hips and lying at my stiletto-clad feet. I stand before him and watch as his lust plays out on his face.
Brandon groans. I can’t help but smile, suddenly feeling very sexy and powerful.
Emblazoned with a new confidence, I step towards him and close the gap between us, pressing my chest against his so he can feel the lace and the hardness of my nipples that are poking through.
As soon as we touch, he grabs me up in his arms and takes me over to the bed. He tosses me down and pulls his hoodie up and over his head before joining me. The sight of his muscles makes me even hotter, and I can feel the moisture between my legs saturating my black lace panties. As soon as he stretches out next to me, he runs his fingers over my breasts, playing with the hardened buds and sending jolts of pleasure throughout my body. My breathing is coming out in gasps as he continues to touch me.
He doesn’t have to ask, he just seems to know what to do next. He kisses me again, and rolls so his body is over mine. I relish in the feeling of his skin on my skin. His flat, washboard abs feel solid and strong against my smooth, soft stomach. He breaks away from our kiss and starts to make a new line of kisses down my neck, over my collarbone, and finally, down to the top of my breasts.
I suck in a sharp breath as he finds my nipple with his lips and darts his tongue out to tease me.
“Brandon,” I whimper.
He responds by bringing his hand up to toy with my other breast, cupping it in his palm, and applying a gently pressure. I arch back and call out again as he twists and sends a spark through me, a new mix of pleasure and pain. He pulls his face away and watches me as he carefully reaches behind me and unclasps my bra. He pulls it away from me slowly and lets my breasts fall out of the fabric cups.
“I want you, Charity. Only you.”
“I’m yours,” I say meeting his eyes.
My words are more powerful than I had even intended. Brandon closes his eyes, his face an expression of sheer pleasure. When he reopens his eyes they are even darker than before, and a shiver of anticipation runs throughout my body. He places his hands back on my breasts, taking them both in his hands. He drops his head down and runs his tongue along both hard nipples and I arch back.
He moves down my body, his eyes once again staring into mine, and I gasp when he reaches the fabric of my panties. His breath is hot and I feel it on my skin through the thin fabric.
“Brandon, please,” I whisper. My pussy is hot and wet, anticipating his touch.
He lingers, looking up at me and gives me a wicked smile. “Not yet.”
Instead, he kisses the fabric and then trails his fingers on the insides of my thighs. I shiver with each touch, flames of heat rushing to my already throbbing center. He traces his fingers down my thighs and follows the lines with his lips and tongue, teasing me. I reach down and run my fingers through his dark hair, trying to guide his lips up to where I so desperately need him, but he resists. He pulls away and grabs my wrists and pins them to the bed on either side of me. His grip is strong and I can’t wiggle free, but I’m not scared, I trust Brandon. The feeling of being helpless actually turns me on more. It takes me to another level as he resumes his game of torture, using his lips to kiss and tease as he holds me still.
I close my eyes and lay my head back, surrendering to him, and let the sensations wash over me. His kisses trail back up my leg and his tongue runs over the lace edge of my panties. I gasp and lift my hips and he releases my wrists and holds onto my hips instead.
“Spread your legs, Charity,” he instructs.
I do as he says and open my legs further. I can feel my moistness as the air from the room hits my skin. He lowers his face against me, and kisses and licks at my opening, but there is still a layer between me and his touch. I want to reach down and strip off my panties, but somehow, I know I have to wait for him.
He releases my hips and in the process, hooks the panties and pulls them down, painstakingly slowly. Once I am completely naked, he backs away and looks at me, his eyes hungrily roving over every inch of my body.
“Brandon,” I say breathlessly. “Please, I want you.”
He lowers himself back down. “What do you want me to do to you?” he whispers in my ear.
My mind scrambles for a moment, unsure how to tell him. I had never been asked something like that before.
“I want you to touch me,” I say, hoping he will continue and relieve the pressure built up inside of me.
“Where?”
I grab his hand and guide it to my needy pussy. “Here.”
He pulls free of my hand and slides a finger down my slit and I shudder at his touch. I nod, to indicate I want him to continue, as if my labored breathing and arched back wasn’t clear enough.
He smiles at me and lowers back down so that his face is inches away from me. His free hand pulls my leg and I spread for him. He breathes on my sensitive skin and then dips down to place his lips against me.
“Yes, Brandon, please don’t stop,” I plead, grabbing handfuls of the covers and steadying myself. His fingers separate my folds and he brings his lips to capture the tender bud of nerves. I moan out, louder than before, as it feels like my body burst into delicious flames.
His lips hold my clit firmly and his tongue swirls around, building my pleasure and getting me closer and closer to release. I dig one hand into his hair and hold tight as he licks and sucks in rhythm.
“Brandon, I’m so—” I gasp in as he intensifies his pressure. “So close.”
I arch back against the bed, my eyes closed, and get higher and higher. Just as I am about to crash over the edge, he buries two fingers deep inside me in a hard thrust and I scream out his name as I come. My hips buck wildly as I shudder with each wave of pleasure that rushes over my body. He pulls out his fingers for a moment and buries them back in and I feel a new peak. Again and again, he thrust, until I collapse, breathless on the bed. My body covered in sweat and my scent filling my nose.
“Shit,” was all I could say as I struggle to regain my breath. Brandon comes back up my body and I can smell myself on him. It which perks my arousal back up. I had never had an orgasm like that before. It was so intense and consuming. My body was exhausted and exhilarated all at once.
I run my hand down Brandon’s skin as he stays next to me, kissing me and fondling my breasts as I recover. I trace over the edges of his ab muscles and then find the v-lines on his hips. I trail them down, under the waist of his athletic shorts, and he gasps as I place my finger on the tip of his rock hard cock. I smile, happy that I could tease him slightly, and run my finger down his long, firm shaft.
“Cherry,” he breathes into my ear. “I want to fuck you.”
I nod and meet his eyes. “Fuck me Brandon. I want you to.”
In an instant, he pulls off his shorts, and I see his whole body, naked.
“Holy shit!” I exclaim, raking my eyes over every muscled inch of him. A new wave of heat floods my body and I am wet again at the sight of him.
He lowers himself on top of me, and reaches down between us to tease my pussy with the tip of his dick. I wrap my legs around his waist and pull on his firm ass cheeks to pull him closer to me. He buries himself inside me with one powerful thrust. I moan out as he fills me completely and starts to pump in and out of me. I hold tightly to his hips with my legs. He goes harder and faster with each stroke, stretching me out and loosening me up.
While he thrusts, our eyes lock and we watch the pleasure build and reflect in each other’s eyes. I moan and close my eyes again as he changes angles. His cock rubs against the most sensitive spot inside me, and I feel close to o
rgasm again.
“Stay with me,” Brandon pants. “Wait until I say.”
I bite my lip and nod, unsure of how long I can really hold. I feel Brandon’s cock swelling inside me and I know it won’t be long for him. He thrusts again and his thick cock pulses.
“Come for me, baby,” he calls and I moan out in response, letting myself slip over the edge as I feel him pulsing and throbbing inside of me. I cling to his back, digging my nails into his skin, and keep my legs latched to him as he finishes inside me.
When he is spent, I release and he rolls to my side. He collapses next to me on the bed and gathers me to his chest, holding me tightly, possessively. I burrow into his arms and rest my head on his firm bicep. I breathe in his scent as we lay together, trying to slow our racing hearts.
The room is silent except for our heavy breathing, but over a couple of minutes that slows and regulates. Brandon seems to relax his hold on me and I look up to see his eyes are closed. I smile to myself, happy that he feels relaxed and comfortable with me in his arms. I slip out of his grasp for a moment, to flick off the bedside light, and then immediately go back and he gathers me up again.
***
I wake the next morning and it takes me a second to remember where I am. I stretch against Brandon, and then relax into the comforting feel of his arms wrapped around me and his skin against mine.
“Morning, my beautiful girl,” he mumbles into my ear.
“Morning,” I reply. As I roll over to face him, he kisses my forehead, and I smile up at him, amazed by how he manages to look so hot first thing in the morning. He has some definite scruffiness, and it’s making me a little crazy.
It’s really not fair.
Brandon smiles lazily down at me. He traces a finger along my cheek and then down my neck, following the trail with his lips. Little shivers shoot through me with every kiss, and when it hits the hollow underneath my collarbone, I stop thinking altogether.