More Than Friends: Brad

by Marie Rochelle

  Brad gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing. “Sweetheart, as tempting as that sounds I thought you needed your rest. You looked too cute to wake up. Don’t you have a late broadcast that you have to anchor tonight?”

  Lying on her back, Alicia stretched her arms above her head causing the sheet to slip a little, but not enough to expose her breasts. However, Brad pulled it all the way down until it was around her waist.

  “You have the most beautiful breasts that I’ve ever seen,” he said cupping her right breast in his hand and brushing his thumb over the nipple.

  Moaning, Alicia arched her back pressing her breasts deeper into Brad’s warm palm. “How about you stay here and show me how much you love them?” she suggested softly.

  “Damn Alicia, I would love to do that. God, you don’t know how much I want to call and cancel with Zack, but I can’t. He’s helping me with this new business venture I’m working on.” Brad removed his hand and pulled the sheet back up.

  “What are you working on?” Alicia asked, sitting up in the bed. “Tell me about it. I might be able to help you out with something.”

  Sliding his hand behind her neck, Brad slowly ran his tongue along her lip before slipping it into her mouth. This kiss was different from his usual hot and panties creaming ones. This time the kiss was achingly sweet and romantic. She was only blessed with it for a few minutes, but the tender memory of it would last her a lifetime.

  “What was that for?” Alicia asked, surprised again by this unpredictable man.

  The tenderness in Brad’s expression amazed her as he moved away from her and stood up. “I was touched that you wanted to help me. That’s all, sweetheart. I never thought you would offer to do something for me.”

  “Brad, I love you. I want to help you any way I can.”

  Alicia heard his quick intake of breath and was shocked when his eyes suddenly filled with a fierce sparkling. “Baby, I love when you tell me that. I love it so much that I’m fighting the urge to get undressed and rejoin you in that bed.”

  “But you won’t,” she pouted.

  “No, I won’t,” he agreed. “Now why don’t I wait for you while you shower and get dressed?”

  Alicia got out of bed and wrapped the sheet around her body. Without her high heels on she only came to the middle of his chest. She straightened his tie and then ran her hands down the front of his shirt.

  “No, you go ahead and leave. I can get dressed and then I’ll call a cab to take me home.”

  Brad bent his head slightly forward kissing her by the side of her mouth. “No cab for my girlfriend. I’ll leave the keys to the Lexus out on the kitchen table. You can drive that home. Just leave the keys in the car in your driveway and I’ll have someone from work pick it up and bring it back here.”

  “If you give me your Lexus, what are you going to drive,” Alicia asked, staring into Brad’s blue eyes.

  “I’ll drive my Mustang. I haven’t driven it in months and I need to take it out.”

  “I don’t think...” Her words were cut off by Brad placing a finger over her mouth.

  “Don’t say a word, only nod. You’re going to accept my offer right?” His eyes were humorous and tender as he looked at her.

  Alicia thought about arguing because she wasn’t used to men doing things for her, but instead she nodded her head like Brad instructed.

  “Good girl.” Brad removed his finger from her mouth. “I better go. Zack doesn’t have much time to see me today. I’ll be by your house later, so be home,” he said, turning away from her before leaving the bedroom.

  Chapter Thirty

  “It was love at first sight when you saw me,” Richard insisted sitting next to his wife on the couch. “You looked at me like you couldn’t believe I was real.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Dawn denied looking over at her husband.

  Alicia had just finished up her interview with the cute couple in front of her and she was listening to them remember how the two of them first laid eyes on each other and of course they both had a different account of it.

  “You couldn’t have seen how I looked at you because you never even knew I was alive for the longest time,” Dawn pointed out.

  “Sweetheart, I noticed you the first time I saw you sitting outside my office waiting for your interview, but I was still into being single. So, I shoved the attraction away. That’s why I pushed you so hard. I realized my horrible mistake when you left. Thank God you came back to help with D4 or I wouldn’t have the unbelievable family that I do.”

  “God, the two of you are like a fairy tale come true.” Alicia laughed making Richard smile at her. “I’ve never seen two people so in love with each other.”

  “Hmmm...I think I might have to disagree with you on that. I believe you and Brad are the fairy tale couple. He never gave up on making you see how he felt about you. Brad is an amazing guy. He’s going to make you a wonderful husband.”

  “We haven’t talked about marriage,” Alicia sputtered shocked that Dawn even brought up the topic. “We’re just now starting a serious relationship.”

  Could she marry Brad if he asked her? Was Dawn even right? Did Brad have marriage plans in his head?

  “I know my baby brother and he only wants one woman in his life as his wife and that is you,” Richard informed her.

  Alicia opened her mouth to ask a question, but she got cut off by the sound of Sterling crying through the baby monitor.

  “I better go,” she said, getting her stuff together. “Thanks for such a wonderful interview. I’ll contact you when I’m ready to film the last part.”

  “Not a problem,” Richard said, standing up as Dawn left the room to check on their son. “Let me show you out.”

  “No, I can show myself out. Go with Dawn to check on Sterling.”

  Richard paused to look at her. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive,” Alicia smiled and placed her purse on her shoulder.

  “Thanks.” Richard hurried out of the room and down the hallway.

  Walking out of the room, Alicia went towards the front door but stopped in the entrance way when Richard’s family photos caught her attention. She noticed how Lee looked like their father while Richard and Zack were a mixture of both parents, but Brad looked totally like their mother. He even had the same dark brown hair and ocean blue eyes.

  Several more photos were hung on the wall showing all of the brothers at different ages and it saddened her that Brad’s parents were already gone when most of these were taken. Brad might have missed out on the love of his parents at a young age, but his brothers made up for it.

  Alicia took one last glance at a picture of Brad that looked like it was taken at a family BBQ a couple of years ago. There was a huge smile on his face and the familiar tennis racquet in his hand.

  God, she didn’t know how Brad sneaked his way into her heart, but she was so thrilled that he had. Alicia smiled and touched the picture before she quietly opened the door and left the house.

  ****

  Kicking off her shoes, Alicia tossed her purse down on the table along with her keys. On the drive back home, she couldn’t get Brad out of her mind. Everything about him captivated her every sense. He stimulated her mind with his intelligence and imagination. She loved the way he never saw the bad in anything. It was like Brad never had a bad day.

  He wasn’t the type to brag about his accomplishment which would aggravate her to no end. Instead, he talked about his MBA like it wasn’t anything important at all.

  Just little things like that made her more curious about him. It was like the more she was around Brad all of these new unique twists popped out about him. She would’ve never thought Brad enjoyed walking through the park holding hands at night.

  Or how much he loved kids, but after seeing him interact with Carter she saw what an outstanding father he would be. Right at this moment, she was enjoying the anticipation and excitement about where their relationship was headed.

  Was there s
omething new for her to explore and love about Brad? He was definitely leaving her wanting more and more which was making her come back time after time.

  Another thing she had grown to love about Brad was his ability to hold a conversation with her. She wasn’t always the one to be asking the questions or trying to think of things to keep it going. Brad possessed a way of tossing in things that showed her what made him click.

  She appreciated how he listened to her. Brad was an excellent sounding board. Not once when she was telling him about her childhood and her parents did he ask her what she did to cause them not to love her enough. Without a doubt, Brad had a huge heart and he wanted to share it with her.

  He made her want a sense of adventure in her life. Everything around her was so well-balanced and thought out. However, when Brad was around he did things on a spur of the moment which she found so hot and sexy. Brad kept her mind and body moving and she loved him for it.

  None of the things Brad wanted to do with her were overly complex, but they were different and fun.

  Heading in the direction of her bedroom, Alicia pulled her light pink shirt over her head and was about to undo her bra so she could take a quick shower and relax before she headed into work later on, but the sound of the doorbell stopped her.

  She hurried back to the front door with the shirt in her hand wondering who was at the door. It couldn’t be Brad because he had a meeting with Zack until late into the afternoon.

  Taking a look through the peephole a smile spread across her face even before she opened the door. “I thought you weren’t going to be here until later on today.”

  “Where in the hell is your shirt?” Brad demanded as his eyes zoomed in on her white lacy bra. He came into her house slamming the door behind them.

  “Don’t I get a ‘hi sweetheart’, or anything? “Alicia asked ignoring Brad’s childish outburst.

  “Not until you tell me why you’re answering the door in your underwear,” he demanded again touching her bra.

  “I thought it might be this incredibly handsome man that I might be able to seduce into my bed for an hour or two before I had to drag my body into work.”

  Brad’s eyes dropped down to her breasts before they slowly made their way back up to her face. The heat in them almost made her take a step back.

  “Damn baby, you would pick now to try to have some afternoon fun.”

  “You don’t want to go back to bed with me,” Alicia pouted. “I don’t have to at the news station for hours and I finished up the interview with Richard and Dawn already.”

  “Hours?” Long, tanned fingers played with the tops of her breasts while Brad’s other hand moved around to cup her ass. “It feels like days since I made love to you.”

  “I know,” Alicia agreed as she grabbed Brad’s hand. “Let’s go.” She started to pull Brad toward her bedroom but halfway there he stopped her.

  “Alicia, I can’t,” Brad sighed, letting go of her hand.

  “Why not? I thought you would like spending the day or a few hours with me.”

  “Baby, I would love it, but I thought you might like to see my surprise instead.” Reaching inside his pocket, Brad pulled out a key and dangled it in her face.

  “What does this unlock?” Alicia asked, excited as her hand reached for the key.

  “How about you put that shirt back on over those beautiful breasts and I’ll take you to it?”

  She dropped her eyes down to the shirt in her hand and then looked back up at Brad. “I forgot I even had this in my hand.” Alicia put the shirt back on and pulled it down. “Okay, I’m dressed. Can we go and see your surprise now?”

  “If you’re sure that you’re up for it.” Brad grinned at her.

  “I’m up for anything you have in mind.” Alicia flirted back as she turned away from him, “and if it’s something really good. I might give you a surprise of my own.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Walking around the huge empty building, Alicia looked at the space in awe. It was absolutely stunning with its high ceilings and small offices throughout the area. What in the world was Brad going to do with this place? Was Lee opening up a new marketing firm and Brad was going to be over it, but he had mentioned that he wasn’t interested in doing that sort of job anymore.

  “Brad, this place is beautiful. Why are we here? Is Lee opening up a new business or is it going to be another restaurant for Richard?” The location of the place was only two blocks for the news station where she worked.

  “No, it’s mine,” he answered, watching her closely.

  “Yours?”

  “Yes, I’m leaving Lee’s business and I’m going to open up my own.”

  Screaming, Alicia rushed up to Brad and hugged him. “Baby, I’m so thrilled for you. I know whatever you think of will be something amazing. You’re a very intelligent man and you’ll be able to make this place outstanding. Do you need my help with anything?”

  Brad massaged her back through her shirt as he pressed her closer to him. She breathed in the wonderful scent of his cologne getting lost just being in his arms.

  “Thank you,” he said above her head.

  “What are you thanking me for?” she asked, leaning back in Brad’s arms. “I haven’t done anything special.”

  “You’re being supportive of me without even knowing what my dream is.”

  “I’ve no doubt that whatever it is it will be perfect for you and you will kick ass at it.”

  Alicia knew that Brad would work with everything in him to make this new career move of his a success and she would be there every step of the way. He might be older than her but she would show him that she could support him like a woman his own age.

  “I hope that I’m doing the right thing. I’m leaving a steady job at Drace Marketing and jumping head first into the unknown.”

  “Brad, if you aren’t getting the best or most out of your life working with your brother then it is time to move on. What does Lee think about your decision to leave?”

  Moving away from her, Brad leaned back against the counter in the room. “Honestly, Lee took it better than I thought he would. I think he wanted to say more, but he didn’t and I appreciate that.”

  Alicia went up to Brad and stood between his spread legs. The scent of his cologne stirred her senses making her want to strip him out the expensive suit he was wearing, but she wouldn’t. Instead, she would rather Brad tell her more about his new job.

  “So, tell me what you’re planning to do with this amazing building?” she asked moving away from Brad and walking to the other side of the room taking it in. She couldn’t get over how amazing this building was.

  Brad came over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m thinking about turning it into something involving tennis, but I’m not quite sure yet. I have to think about it some more. I know an idea will come to me.

  Slowly, Brad brushed his lips across the back of her neck while his fingers massaged her stomach through her shirt. “Do you remember earlier when you wanted to have a little fun at your house?” he asked, pulling the shirt she was wearing up her body.

  “Of course I do because you turned me down,” she complained. “You made me not want to be the seducer anymore.”

  “Please don’t tell me that.” Stepping back, Brad pulled the shirt over her head tossing it in front of them.

  “What are you doing?” Alicia moaned when Brad’s fingers started playing her nipples.

  “Haven’t you heard the old saying, when a guy moves into a new building that his sexy girlfriend has to help him bless every room by having unbelievable sex?” Spinning her around, Brad captured her mouth with his as he lowered them down to the floor.

  Alicia tore her mouth away from Brad’s. What in the hell was she doing? She couldn’t be having sex during the middle of the day in an empty building. What if someone saw them?

  “No, we can’t do this,” she said as Brad slipped his hand underneath the black skirt she was wearing.
r />   “Why not?” he asked hotly as one of his long fingers eased inside of her panties.

  “Someone might see us through the—” her words were cut off by the sound of her panties being ripped off her followed by her skirt being shoved up past her waist. She was so turned on that she couldn’t think straight.

  “No one can see us,” Brad said as he eased between her thighs. “Zack installed some kind of glass that you can see out but they can’t see inside. There is nothing to worry about. No one is going to see this beautiful body but me.”

  She heard the rasp of Brad’s zipper. The sound seemed to echo off the walls inside the semi-empty building. “Sweetheart, do you want me. Tell me that you’re dying to have me deep inside of you as far as I can go.”

  Alicia knew that she should be upset that Brad wanted to take her on the floor in a new building that he acquired from his brother. She should demand that he get off her and take her back home this instead. But all she could think about was how much she wanted Brad insides of her so fully that she wouldn’t about to think about anything else but him.

  “Yes, I want you.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Brad slammed into her the instant the words left her mouth and Alicia screamed as pleasure like she had never known before took over her body.

  “Are you okay?” Brad asked concerned as his body pressed against hers. “Did I hurt you?”

  Alicia looked into Brad’s eyes. She saw the desire there, but it was mingled with a little fear. “No, I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me.”

  Grabbing the front of his shirt with her hands, she pulled Brad down to her for a kiss to show him that she was just fine. Brad nibbled at her bottom lip as his hips slowly started working like he was still trying to make sure that he wasn’t hurting her. After a while his slow shallow thrusts turned into something faster and harder as he spread her legs wider giving him more room to work.