He kissed the tender spot behind her ear and whispered, “Come home with me?” There was nothing but raw need in his voice.
Just that quickly, Braylee wanted him again more than anything. Her throat was dry. She could barely get the words out.
He traced the outline of her lips with his tongue, “Just…say…yes. We’ve already crossed the line. We’ll deal with tomorrow…tomorrow.”
Alex continued to kiss and lick his way down Braylee’s neck. She trembled at his touch. Thinking was impossible, and before she knew it, the words tumbled breathlessly from her lips, “Yes.”
There was no other answer but yes after gazing at the fire in his eyes. Alex got back into his seat and quickly put the car back on the road.
Braylee’s hand was still on his hardness. “How long is it until we get to your house?”
“Too damn long. It’s about twenty minutes.”
This time, she unbuttoned her seat belt. Alex was right, twenty minutes was too damn long. Braylee moved to get a little closer as she ran her hands back and forth along the hardness underneath his clothing.
She could see him swallow from her touch. He took his eyes off of the road for a moment to glance at her just in time to see her licked her lips.
“If you keep doing what you’re doing with your mouth, we’re going to end up wrapped around a tree.”
She brought her lips to the side of his neck and took little bites as she breathed him in deeply. Her fingers crept into the inside of his pants. Braylee wrapped her fingers around him and squeezed.
He briefly closed his eyes.
Slowly, ever so slowly did she start to move her hand up and down. Braylee added more pressure and pumped her hands at a rhythm that started off slow but gradually increased. He was taking short breaths. Once Braylee felt moisture at the tip, she pulled her hand away. Alex thought he was going to die from need.
But, Braylee had other plans. She quickly unzipped his pants and leaned over to take him completely into her mouth.
He cursed out loud. Watching her head bob up and down as she took him deeply into her throat put Alex on the verge of spilling into her mouth.
They were rocketing down the highway at a ridiculous speed. How in the hell was he going to get them home safely when she was doing miraculous things with her mouth to him?
He felt the tightening and knew if Braylee kept up this pace, he was going to explode. “God you feel so good. Braylee…I’m about to come.”
It was difficult to try and pull out. He was doing close to a hundred miles an hour and both his hands were on the steering wheel.
Somehow she managed to speak, “Then come.”
The sound of her voice sent him over the edge. Braylee continued loving on him while taking in every last drop.
Chapter 13
Shortly after his explosion, Alex pulled up into his garage. They each unhooked their seat belts and kissed each other with a ferociousness like never before.
He pulled away, “If we don’t stop now…we won’t make it into the house.”
“I don’t care. I just want you.”
The side door from the garage to the house opened, “Uncle Alex? Uncle Alex? Are you out here? I thought I saw you pull up inside.”
Braylee froze, “Is that Cecily?”
He closed his eyes, “Yes.” The windows are tinted she can’t see us, but we’d better get out. If she comes to this car, she’s going to smell sex.”
They both quickly adjusted their clothes.
“Is my hair okay?” The girl was fourteen it wouldn’t be lost on her if they got out looking disheveled.
He touched her cheek, “You’re beautiful.”
After everything that just happened between them, Braylee smiled shyly, “Thank you.”
“Come on…let’s go.”
******
Alex and Braylee met Cecily at the door. She was standing there waiting.
“Hey, kid.”
She looked from Alex to Braylee and smiled then stuck out her hand to Braylee, “Hi Uncle Alex. And, hi…I’m Cecily.”
Braylee took her hand, “Hi Cecily, I’m Braylee Hinsdale.” She prayed the girl couldn’t tell what had happened between them over the last half an hour.
They all walked inside the house.
“Like I said, I saw your car coming up in the driveway and just got a little worried since it was taking you so long to come inside.”
“Yeah, Ms. Hinsdale and I were talking.”
Cecily looked as if she wanted to burst with excitement. “I have some news that I couldn’t wait to tell you about.”
How was it possible for Alex to feel the lowest of the low and in a span of a couple of hours of being with Braylee and Cecily feel like…his world wasn’t crashing in around him.
Braylee was feeling a little uneasy, “I don’t want to intrude especially if you need to talk to Alexandro. I can call a service to take me back to the office.”
Alex pulled her closer to his side with words that were meant for her ears only, “Not a chance. We have some unfinished business, and I plan to finish it.”
That sent a shiver through her.
Cecily spoke up too, “Oh no. That’s not necessary. It’s not that big a deal. I was just excited and wanted to share my news.
The aroma of something cooking was incredible. It also reminded Braylee that she hadn’t had anything to eat since a bit of fruit for breakfast. “I don’t know whose cooking but my goodness it smells wonderful.”
“Oh…that’s Claudia. She does all the cooking and cleaning for Uncle Alex. Her food is amazing.”
With a straight face, Alex said, “I had a taste for something else but now that I think about it…I could eat a bit of food. You feel like something Braylee?”
Braylee wouldn’t even look at him. He was doing his best to embarrass her in front of his niece. “Um…yeah. Some food would be great.”
He laughed as he walked toward the kitchen, “Why don’t you ladies go into the family room. I’ll see what I can do about getting us something to eat and then you can tell me all about your news.”
Cecily guided Braylee to the family room. They sat on a massive sectional sofa, “How do you know Uncle Alex?”
“Oh…I’m one of his lawyers.”
Her eyes grew wide, “You’re a lawyer? That’s what I want to go to college for!”
Braylee was impressed, “Really? What kind of lawyer?”
“I’m not sure, but I love to talk and I love to help people and I love to convince people of my arguments. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg is my girl crush.”
Braylee laughed out loud, “Wow. Well…I’ll let you in on a secret, I’ve met her once and she’s pretty amazing. So…you picked a good one.”
Alex walked back into the room, “What’s so funny?”
“Girl stuff Uncle Alex. It’s nice to be able to do that sometimes.”
He sat down too, “So, what’s this great news?”
The excitement in her eyes returned. “You know I’ve been working on spending my summer at Vassar College for the Young Scholars Empowerment Summit. I didn’t think I’d be able to qualify, but I received my congratulations letter in the mail today!”
Alex frowned, “Cecily, I think it’s wonderful that you were accepted, but we never agreed that I was going to let you spend an entire summer in New York.”
“Come on Uncle Alex. It’s Vassar College! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Please?” Cecily turned to Braylee for some backup, “Don’t you think this is a great opportunity?”
It was a great opportunity. But, she didn’t want to get in the middle of this disagreement. “I think that you and Alex will need to really talk about it. However, I will say Vasser is a great institution. That’s where I received my undergraduate degree.”
“Seeeee Uncle Alex! Even Braylee thinks this is a great opportunity.”
He shook his head from side to side, why did women no matter how young or old, seem to always stick
together. “Well now, that gives me something to think about.”
Several hours later, Braylee found that she had really enjoyed herself. They had dinner then after that spent time laughing, talking, and watching movies. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d watched a movie, or had so much fun.
After the credits had rolled on the last movie, Cecily yawned, “I think I’m going to head up to bed. Braylee it was so nice to meet you. I hope you come over again soon.”
She returned her warm smile, “Thank you. It was nice to meet you too, and I’d like that.”
Cecily kissed Alex on the cheek and left for bed.
Alex moved closer to Braylee but was still too far away to touch her, “I love my niece, but I couldn’t wait to have you all to myself.”
She crawled on all fours to get closer to him too. Purring like a kitten, “It’s late. I should probably be going.”
He pulled her into a scorching hot kiss that re-ignited their simmering passion, “I already told you that we have some unfinished business…and I intend to finish it.”
Chapter 14
Darkness descended upon them some time throughout the evening, and Braylee couldn’t be sure if it were late or early? Only that the room was illuminated by moonlight streaming through the windows as she lay with her naked body flush against this beautiful solid mass of man. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, and it felt so good, safe…right.
She inhaled deeply wanting to commit the intoxicating scent of their loving making that lingered to memory. Being with Alex had been explosive. He’d awakened something within her that had lain dormant for way too long. But what now? Now that they’d crossed the line, what was going to happen next? Although, he’d said let tomorrow take care of tomorrow what did that mean? But, what about tomorrow?
Alex muttered sleepily, “I can hear you thinking. Don’t. Go to sleep.”
Feeling almost school girl nervous she spoke, “I should probably go home. I don’t have anything to wear to the office in the morning. I’d hate for Cecily to catch me in the same clothes.”
“Cecily won’t catch you. She’ll be long gone for school by the time I finish making love to you, and we get up for the day.”
The mere thought of being with Alex again made the apex of her body tingle with anticipation. Yet, it was mixed with anxiety. Why couldn’t she just enjoy the moment? It was her nagging nature that always needed to know what was next.
In almost a whisper Braylee spoke, “Alex, what are we doing? What’s going on between us?” She felt suspended in air hoping and waiting for something that tonight was more than just physical. Of course, she knew they weren’t in love but could this be a beginning?
This was a conversation, Alex hoped could be delayed at least until tomorrow. He closed his eyes and brushed his nose against the back of her neck inhaling the lavender scent that was uniquely Braylee’s. From now on, he would always associate lavender with her.
“Today…tonight…tonight was amazing. Do we need to analyze it?”
He felt her stiffen in his arms.
“Don’t over think this?”
Slowly Braylee sat up and pulled the covers to her chest, “It’s obvious that I don’t do anything without thinking it through. Well…maybe except today. But, you should know me well enough to know that I don’t live my life by the seat of my pants, and I’m not ashamed of that. I just want to know what you think this is between us. Is it the beginning of something or…not?”
Sounding stronger than she felt, Braylee pressed on, “That way I…I know what to expect.”
Alex rolled over onto his back and threw his arm over his eyes. He didn’t anticipate this from Braylee of all people. Why wasn’t it possible for two consenting adults to just be together and enjoy each other’s time without all the melodrama? Can’t a single man and a single woman enjoy each other without having to figure anything out?
“I’m attracted to you and you’re attracted to me. But, seriously, neither of us has time for anything more than what we’re doing right now….enjoying each other’s time when we can. You’re my lawyer, you know more than most how much I have on my plate.”
It was as if he’d sneered at her when he’d said what she was to him professionally; her being his lawyer. She didn’t know what she expected when they’d started this conversation, but it wasn’t this. Although he didn’t say it directly, she could only believe that being together was nothing more than a sexual release…for him. And why should it have been anything else? They’d known each other for all of five minutes.
Braylee started to feel sick to her stomach, and it was her own fault.
She couldn’t be more grateful that her face was mostly covered in the darkness. What made her think that just because he’d shared intimate details of his life that it meant something? He was supposed to share sensitive information. She was his lawyer.
Braylee tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice and cleared her throat, “I should go. I have a lot to catch up on tomorrow.”
He knew before removing his arm from across his face that his answers weren’t what she wanted to hear. Shit. This wasn’t how he wanted the night to end. Alex could see the tension in her body as he looked at her, “Braylee, it’s two-thirty in the morning. Go back to sleep and I’ll drive you home first thing tomorrow.”
Braylee threw the sheets off of her body and got out of bed looking for her clothing. They were all over the room.
“You’re right…it’s late. I’ll just call the car service.”
“You’re being ridiculous. You don’t have to call anybody.”
“It’s fine…really. I’m sure that’s what usually happens after something like this. I just haven’t been in this type of a situation in a while, so I forgot the rules. But, they are slowly coming back to me now.”
Braylee found her clothing and put them on even though she hadn’t found her panty and bra.
Alex sat up, “What? What do you want from me? My brother was murdered, I’m fighting for my company, I’m fighting to clear his name, and I’m learning to be a father all in a span of a few weeks. I’m doing my best just to stay sane. Where on earth is there room for anything else?”
Braylee remained silent as she found her shoes. Leaning over onto the night table for support she angrily stuffed her feet into them. It would have been easier to sit on the bed and do it but she couldn’t.
She was angry, hurt, but most of all disappointed not with Alex…but with herself. He was right. What did she expect from him? He was hanging on by a thread, and she’d been foolish by sleeping with him.
Way to throw caution to the wind and live in the moment Braylee. Every time…every damn time she’d let her guard down it seemed to always be a huge mistake.
Alex got out of bed and walked into his closet. He found a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Frustrated, he pulled the t-shirt over his head and yanked on his jeans as he walked back into the bedroom. “One of the things that attracted me to you in the first place was your drive, your independence and the fact that you were married to your work.”
She stopped searching for her underwear to glare at him, “So, you only slept with me because you thought I’d only want a screw here or there in between meetings and conference calls?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“But, that’s what you said.”
“If we’re being totally honest, you don’t have time for anything more either because you are married to your work. I know it, and you know it.”
She didn’t want him to see the hurt in her face. He was standing in front of the door leading to the hallway. Braylee swallowed hard before pushing past him to leave the room.
Why did her instincts when it came to men suck? It hurt to know the first person she’d been attracted to in such a long time, didn’t feel the same way. Men could have meaningless sex. She wasn’t built that way. She felt a dull ache in her chest. Why did it bother her so much anyway? Hadn’t she already resigned he
rself to the fact that relationships weren’t in her future?
As if running from the hounds of hell, Braylee quickly ran down the long staircase. Her purse was on the table by the door. She grabbed it and pulled out her cell phone to call the service; praying that it wouldn’t take too long to arrive.
Alex’s voice sounded behind her, “What are you doing?”
“I told you, I’m calling a service.”
He took the phone out of her hand, ended the call and gave it back, “I told you that was not necessary and that I would take you home. It’s too late for all these dramatics.” With that, Alex turned and walked out towards his garage.
Braylee wasn’t being dramatic. She didn’t do drama. But, in this case she would have much preferred walking home to being in his presence one second longer. However, she wasn’t stupid either. Her place was too far, it was too late, and she would probably only make it through his winding driveway in her shoes. Dammit.
Against everything within her, she begrudgingly followed him out to his garage; becoming angrier by the second with herself for being stupid. She’d known being with him would be a big mistake. And, knowing that she did it anyway. It was only when she didn’t listen to her inner woman things seemed to always end up badly.
Yet, after everything he’d said tonight, a smart woman would just chalk this up to great sex and move on. But, Braylee still wanted him to want her.
It would be easy to say it was because it was close to three in the morning, that he was sexier than ever. His tousled hair and that t-shirt that did nothing to disguise his mouth-watering chest that only hours ago her hands had claimed as her own. It was more than physical for her…he left her breathless and guilty for it. Her Feminists friends would be appalled.
Alex opened the door for her to get into his Range Rover. Once she was inside, he closed it and walked around to the driver’s side to get into the car.
Neither of them spoke during the entire forty-five-minute drive. Both lost in their thoughts. The car had barely stopped in front of Braylee’s building before she got out and slammed the door behind her.
A Storm Is Coming Page 8