by Amelia Stone
“Yeah, I guess.”
“I mean, if I can’t be there, I’d rather you or Todd pick someone for her.” He took another sip of his water. “I love my sister, but she clearly has no taste,” he continued, shooting me a hard look.
“So true,” I muttered, thinking of Andrew.
He frowned at me. “So what’s the problem?”
I squirmed. I didn’t want to admit my true feelings on the subject even to myself, let alone Sam. “I don’t know, man.”
“Well, do you not like the guy?” he pressed.
I shook my head. “He’s okay, I guess.” I swallowed down the bile that had risen from admitting that out loud.
“Then what? I mean, she’s allowed to date, right?” He shrugged. “Not that I’m crazy about the idea. She’s my little sister, after all.”
I snorted. “By six minutes.”
He grinned. “Hey, six minutes is six minutes.” He peered at me, moving closer to the camera. “But seriously man, you look upset. What’s the deal?”
I shrugged, flicking my eyes away from the screen. “I don’t know, man,” I repeated.
Sam narrowed his eyes, looking uncharacteristically shrewd. Looking a whole lot like his sister, in fact. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous.” He took another sip of his drink. “But that can’t possibly be the case. Right, dude?”
I shook my head, deeply in denial. “No way, man.”
“Then why can’t she go on a date?” he persisted. “I mean, she deserves a little romance after the shit she’s been through, right?”
I scowled. “No,” I said, before I could stop myself.
“No? Are you saying she should just fuck the guy, then?” He smirked. He actually smirked, the bastard.
“Fuck no,” I growled.
“Then why can’t she go on a date?” he pushed.
“Because she’s mine, goddamn it!” I shouted. I got up from the couch, pacing. Furious at myself – for what? Admitting I had feelings for Hannah?
Fuck. I had feelings for Hannah. I didn’t want to be fuck buddies anymore. I wanted more than that. I wanted everything. The flowers and candy, happily ever after bullshit.
I loved her. Completely, ass backwards, head over heels in love, for the first time in my sorry life.
I blew out a frustrated breath.
From the laptop, I could hear Sam laugh. “There we go. Dude, you have the worst poker face ever.”
That brought me up short. I stopped pacing and looked over at the laptop. “What?”
He grinned. “Hannah told me about your little arrangement weeks ago, man.”
I collapsed onto the couch, shocked. “You knew?”
He nodded. “She’s my twin, man. We don’t keep secrets from each other.”
I stared at him, gaping like a fish. “So, you’re not mad at me?” I felt a flash of annoyance that he’d been pulling my leg this whole time.
That wiped the smile off his face. “Dude, I’m fucking furious with you. How could you fuck my little sister?” He ran a hand through his hair again. “Worse yet, how could you treat her like that? Fuck buddies? Really?” He looked away. “She deserves better than that.”
He was right. I immediately felt like the biggest turd ever. “I’m sorry, Sam.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “Whatever, man. I’ll get over it.” He threw me a hard look. “But we both know I’m not the one you really need to worry about. Just promise me you’re going to fix things with her.”
I looked down at my hands. “I don’t know if she’ll give me the chance, man. She was pretty mad when she left.”
He shook his head. “That’s probably because she wanted you to stop her from going.”
Frustration kicked in. “I tried that, dude!”
“What did you say?”
I fiddled with the shredded remnants of Hannah’s Food & Wine. “I told her I didn’t think that Eric kid was right for her.”
He shook his head, chuckling. “You’re an idiot. She wanted you to declare your undying love.”
I stared at him for a long moment. “You think?”
He nodded. “She loves you, man. She just wants to know you love her, too.”
I reeled. “Really?” I asked, hope blooming in my chest. “She said that?”
He shook his head, and the bottom dropped out of my stomach. “No. But trust me. I know my sister. And I know what love looks like.” He looked away for a minute, and I wondered what that was all about. “Anyway. You’re all she’s been able to talk about for months. Her face gets all dreamy and shit when she says your name.” He made a gagging gesture. “She is stupid in love with you, even if you don’t deserve it.”
I nodded. “I can work with that.”
“So what are you going to do?” he asked.
I frowned. I wasn’t sure. I’d never been in love before. How does an idiot like me go about wooing?
Sam laughed. “Dude, pay attention. I’ve got a plan.”
I trudged up the stairs in my bare feet, holding my ridiculous, barbaric, treacherous high heels in one hand, a doggy bag in the other.
Tonight was the worst date I’d ever been on, hands down. Eric was nice enough – if ‘nice’ means ‘totally boring.’ He told me bland stories about his cat and his grandmother, complained about his history professor, and waxed ecstatic on Antiques Roadshow. He was so snooze-worthy that I actually wished I was watching Antiques Roadshow instead – anything but being trapped in a stuffy restaurant that served pretentious, old-fashioned food, sitting across from a guy with elbow patches.
I shit you not, his (tweed!) jacket had corduroy elbow patches.
To be fair, Eric was probably not as bad as I made him out to be. He was pretty cute, wardrobe notwithstanding. And I was well aware that I was being a Judgy McJudgerson on the elbow patches.
But all night, all I could think about was Brian. The argument we had right before I left was incredibly frustrating. I couldn’t concentrate on my date at all, and I was left feeling irritable and uncharitable toward Eric as a result.
It’d seemed as though Brian and I were right on the verge of a breakthrough. He was so close to admitting his feelings for me, or so I thought. But he backed off at the last minute, leaving me to wonder whether he really felt anything for me at all. Was I imagining a deeper meaning behind his kisses? Were his thoughtful gestures just something a friend would do, and nothing more? Did he really look at me with love in his eyes, or was that all in my head?
I sighed as I turned the key to open the front door. I hoped he wasn’t home, so I could grab the Oreos and slip into bed for a night of wallowing without getting the third degree.
No such luck. There he was, sitting on the couch, waiting for me. I braced my shoulders, preparing myself for the fight to come.
“You’re home early,” he commented, in what seemed a deliberately neutral tone.
I nodded, not looking at him. I hung my purse on the hook by the door and dropped my shoes on the floor. I could put them away tomorrow.
“Did you have fun tonight?” he asked as I passed into the kitchen to stow my leftovers in the fridge.
I huffed out a breath, annoyed. I heard his footsteps behind me, following me. “As a matter of fact, no. No, I did not have fun.”
“Good,” I heard him say from right behind me.
I whirled around. “Good?” I hissed. “You’re actually happy that I had a miserable time tonight?”
He frowned. “Well, I’m not happy that you’re miserable,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “But I am happy that it didn’t work out with what’s-his-face.”
“Eric,” I corrected automatically.
“Whatever,” he muttered.
“Why would you be happy with that?” I gave him a hard look. “We’re just fuck buddies.”
He moved closer, locking eyes with me. He cupped my face with his big hands, dwarfing me. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a gravelly whisper. “We’re not just
fuck buddies, Hannah.”
“Oh?” I felt suddenly breathless. The kitchen was entirely too small when Brian was in there with me, standing oh so close, saying things I’d been longing to hear.
“You’re mine, Hannah,” he rumbled. “Only mine.”
I swayed, my knees suddenly feeling weak. “Yours?” I breathed.
He kissed me deeply. “Mine,” he growled. “I love you.”
I froze, staring up at him. His blue eyes were warm and shining with sincerity, and I believed him. He loved me. Brian loved me.
But just in case. “One more time?” I asked hesitantly.
He laughed. “I love you, Hannah. Only you. Always.” He punctuated his declaration with kisses.
I blinked back tears. “I love you, too,” I told him, pouring everything I had into the words.
He kissed me again. “Of course you do,” he said, a cocky grin spreading across his beautiful face.
I rolled my eyes, grinning back. “I might revoke my love if you don’t wipe that smug look off your face.”
He mimed a horrorstruck look. “You wouldn’t dare!”
I pulled him in for another kiss. “Maybe not. If you make it up to me.”
He beamed. “Well, in that case, I think we have some belated celebrating to do,” he said, scooping me up and tossing me over his shoulder.
I laughed and gripped his shirt to keep from falling as he ran down the hallway to my bedroom.
He dropped me gently onto the bed, and I looked around the room, amazed. Brian had covered every available surface with sunflowers. There had to be dozens of vases, all full to bursting, all over my dresser, my nightstands, the bookshelves, and even some on the floor. Their fresh, summery scent filled the room, and I inhaled deeply, breathing them in.
“How did you…?” Unable to finish my sentence, I attempted to swallow the lump in my throat, blinking back tears.
He ran his fingers through my hair as he looked down at me. “I went to eight different stores.” He shrugged his shoulders, smiling at me sheepishly. “It was actually Sam’s idea.”
“Why…?” I trailed off, once again unable to speak.
“Because they’re your favorite. And you’re my favorite.” More kisses, deep and sweet. “I’ve been such a dick, Hannah. I haven’t treated you the way you deserved. That stops now.”
I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. “I love you,” I whispered, unable to think of anything better to say.
He kissed me once more. “I love you, too.”
I opened my eyes, grinning up at him. Love-struck fool, that’s me. “Good. Now hurry up and strip.”
He barked out a laugh. “Yes, ma’am!”
He stepped back, divesting himself of his clothes in record time. He bent over to kiss me, lifting the hem of my dress up over my hips. He peeled my black lace panties down over my legs, tossing them aside. “By the way, I’m going to overlook the fact that you wore your sexy lingerie on a date with another man.” Another searing kiss. “But only because there will be no more dates with other men, ever again.” His eyes were hot and demanding as he stared at me.
I grinned. “Never again,” I agreed.
Another deep, savoring kiss. “That’s my girl.”
He pulled my dress up and over my head and unhooked my bra, dropping both garments to the floor. He stood there for a moment, looking me up and down.
Which was all well and good, but I was impatient to get the party started. It had been almost a week since Brian moved inside me, and I needed him with a desperation I’d never felt before. Especially now that I knew he loved me as much as I loved him.
So I faked a yawn, knowing just how to push his buttons. He snapped his gaze up to my face, indignation all over his beautiful face. “Woman, you get excited when I’m making love to you!”
I grinned. “Say that one more time.”
His features softened. He climbed onto the bed, hovering over me. “I’m making love to you,” he whispered, dipping his head to kiss me, long and slow and sweet. He pulled back, looking into my eyes. “I love you, Hannah.”
I pressed my forehead to his, closing my eyes. “I love you, Brian,” I whispered.
Another loving kiss, and then he began kissing my neck, swirling his tongue over that spot right behind my ear that gets me every time. By the time he made his way down to my breasts, my knees were jelly and my whole body was trembling.
When he took a nipple into his mouth, tugging it gently between his teeth, I nearly came right then and there. He soothed the sting with his tongue, humming slightly, vibrating my skin in the most delicious way. I shivered and let out an unearthly moan.
He moved a hand down to rub against my folds, and I made a most unladylike grunting noise. I could feel him chuckle against my skin as he moved to my other breast, planting open-mouthed kisses as he went. Just as he pulled that nipple between his teeth, he inserted two fingers into me, his thumb brushing my clit, and I burst, shaking with an almost violent orgasm.
He smiled as he pulled his head up to kiss me. “That was a nice surprise.”
I returned his smile weakly. “Hardly. You always know just how to work me.”
He flashed a silly, self-satisfied grin. “I do, don’t I?”
I laughed. “And you’re so modest about it.”
“Can’t help but brag, when you’re my girl.” He gave me another quick kiss, his thumb still lazily circling my sweet spot. “Hey, you know how you said last week that you’ve been on the pill forever, since your period is, and I quote, ‘an evil motherfucker?’”
I nodded, laughing. “It’s very, very evil,” I confirmed.
He grinned. “Well, I went to the student clinic last week, to get tested.”
My eyes widened in anticipation. “Oh?”
He kissed me again, inserting his fingers back into me, pumping his digits over and over, until I was dizzy and breathless. “I’m clean,” he whispered when he finally broke the kiss. “We can go bare.” He scrunched his nose, looking a little unsure. “If you want to,” he added.
Unable to speak, I nodded my assent as my second orgasm consumed me. He kissed me again, swallowing my cries with his lips, thrusting his tongue in sync with his fingers. Then, before I’d even come down from my peak, he removed his fingers, replacing them with his cock in one swift thrust.
Oh. My. God. He felt so amazing in me, skin to skin, so hot and hard and velvety smooth. I let out a guttural moan, locking my legs around his waist and digging my nails into his back.
“Oh God, Hannah. So good,” he bit out, his voice raspy with need. “You feel so good, baby.”
“Unnnngh,” I moaned, unable to form words. I was pretty sure I would have been unable to remember my own name at that moment, if not for Brian breathing it reverently with each stroke.
Sooner than I would have thought possible, I felt myself convulsing in yet another climax. The wholly new sensation of Brian bare inside me, the delayed gratification after six days without him, and the turbulent emotions of the night, all combined to push me to the finish line in record time.
As my inner walls squeezed him, he thrust like a madman, pounding into me in a desperate search for his own release. A few seconds later, he came, and I shuddered with each hot pulse deep inside me.
When we both came down, he smiled at me. “Oh, Hannah. That was amazing.” He kissed me sweetly.
I nodded fervently, grinning like a fool. “You’re amazing,” I said.
He rolled off me, pulling me against him to spoon. He brushed my hair back from my face and pressed a kiss to my temple. “You’re perfect.” He snuggled deeper into me, rubbing his thumbs across my nipples lightly. “The perfect woman for me.”
I hummed in pleasure, utterly sated. “And don’t you forget it,” I teased.
He kissed my shoulder. “Never.”
We lay like that for a few minutes, Brian kissing my neck or shoulders, gently tweaking my nipples. Before long, I felt him harden against my bottom.
I turned my head, grinning. “One more time?” I wriggled my ass against his growing hard-on.
He kissed me deeply. “One more time,” he agreed, laughing.
Finally, we’d reached the day Hannah’s restaurant opened.
She’d been working like a madwoman the last six years. Between finishing her bachelor’s degree, followed by two years of culinary school, and finally climbing her way up the ranks in a Michelin Star-rated restaurant, it amazed me that she’d had time to plan this. But somehow, she found the time to secure investors, work out a menu, and coordinate all the logistics for tonight’s debut of Hannah’s Kitchen.
It’d been tough, since we didn’t get to see each other as often as we’d like. She’d been working late, six days a week, with vacation days few and far between. I’m couldn’t lie and say it hadn’t been a strain on our relationship. We fought sometimes, and I missed my woman a hell of a lot. But it was worth it all when I saw how happy she was to be realizing her dream after all that time, all that hard work.
Still, the time we did have together was precious, and we enjoyed it to the fullest. And to be honest, I wouldn’t have traded Hannah for anyone else. When I was with her, all the stress, all the worry, all the bullshit just fell away, and I was home. Hannah owned me, heart and soul.
And that day, I planned to make it official. I had an elaborate plan for a proposal. I was not the greatest when it came to romantic gestures, so I worked hard to make sure everything was in place - with maybe a little long-distance help from Sam, who was still in Portugal. I was anxious to secure our future together, so I needed to be sure nothing would go wrong.
But before I asked her to change her name from Whitfield to Campbell, my top priority was waking her up for a little morning delight.
I snuggled up to her, pressing my hard-on into her ass. She stirred slightly, but her breathing remained deep and even, telling me she was still asleep. So I reached a hand into her pajama bottoms, rubbing her clit and inserting two fingers into her. She moaned sleepily, but didn’t open her eyes. I smiled devilishly, knowing just what would do the trick.