Fuck. That must have been a shitty way to grow up. His brushed a soft kiss across the inside of her wrist.
“I’m not sure why I just told you all that.” She looked away. “I thought I’d stopped comparing myself to them years ago. I just don’t really ever get called sexy. Or goddess…Wow, I’m really sorry I freaked out on you like that.”
“Jesus, don’t apologize, sweetheart. I’m glad you told me.” He shook his head and cupped her cheek with a gentle hand, turning her back to look at him. “Now promise me you will never hold yourself to that asinine standard again. You’re the kind of woman any man would be proud to have on his arm.” He pressed a hard kiss against her mouth. “And you are a goddess.”
“Thank you.” She blinked quickly, but he’d already spotted the sheen of tears. “You know, I’m really glad I chose your bike to hijack last Friday.”
“Me too.” He gave a husky laugh, sliding his hand up her rib cage to cup the underside of her breast. “I’m glad you had the guts to do it.”
“I am too,” she admitted and tilted her head. “And you might be pleased to see what else I have the guts to do.”
She pulled back and slid off his lap.
“Wait a minute, where are you going?” He reached for her again, but she’d already crossed the room.
“I want to try something,” she called out and picked up one of the wooden chairs at the kitchen table.
“You want to try something?” he repeated and shifted on the couch, tugging at his jeans. “Now? Couldn’t you try something later?”
“You’ll like it. I promise.” She grunted and adjusted the chair in her arms as she stumbled across the floor. It would have been comical if she didn’t look so damn sexy in that red thing.
She dropped the chair in front of the couch and rubbed her hands together.
“Sit on it,” she instructed.
“What?” He lifted an eyebrow. “I’m pretty comfortable right here—”
“I’m going to give you a lap dance.”
Marco blinked, going one hundred percent hard at her casual statement. Realizing he was stupid to even question her reasoning, he lurched off the couch and planted his ass on the chair.
“All right, here’s my lap.” He patted his legs. “Feel free to dance.”
“Now I want you to work with me here,” she warned, clearing her throat. “I’ve been thinking about doing this after…well after that first day when you thought I was a stripper.”
He opened his mouth, ready to admit he’d never actually thought she was a stripper, but then decided against it. Hell, why ruin all her fun?
“Is that right?” he asked instead.
“Yes.” She licked her lips and he could see the hesitancy and excitement flickering in her eyes. “Are you ready?”
“I was ready about a second and a half after you said lap dance.”
She laughed before her expression turned serious again. “Okay. Let me just turn on some music.”
“Are you sure you want to do this, princess? I’d be happy just having you naked and on top of me.”
“I bet you would. But I spent an hour with Val getting a lesson on how to do this.”
“You practiced on Val?” He lifted an eyebrow, finding it hard to imagine Brandy doing a kinky lap dance for Val.
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “I practiced on Slasher—Val’s boyfriend.”
“Like hell you did,” he growled.
“No, you’re right. I didn’t.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “But it’s nice to know you care.”
He grunted, not wanting to admit just how much he did care.
“I knew you were bluffing.”
“Sure you did.” She hurried across the room to his CD player. “Actually, while I was getting waxed Val told me that she and Slasher split last night. Which is a bummer since apparently he had a tornado tongue. Or something like that she said.”
He gave a soft laugh and before he could respond, she hit Play on the music. A second later some straight-out-of-a-bad-porno music started going. Nice. He’d have to thank Val later for this sudden inspiration.
“Here goes nothing.” She took a loud breath in, before moving to stand in front of him.
He watched as she started making slow circular movements with her hips. Even though her execution was a little stiff and jerky, watching her run her hands up and down her thighs made the whole thing sexy as hell.
She leaned forward abruptly, and placed her hands on the back of the chair on each side of his head. Her breasts were once again in his face as her lower body brushed against his erection through his jeans.
“Brandy.” He gripped the edge of the chair.
“Mmm hmm?” She pushed his legs apart and then fell to her knees between them.
She moved her hands up and down his thighs, tossing her head and making the curls stand up a little higher.
The blood pounded through his veins, and his breathing grew heavier.
His reaction to her dance must have been obvious, because her confidence blossomed visibly. Her smile widened as she lowered her head and kissed him through his jeans.
The air hissed out from between his teeth and his hips lifted involuntarily from the chair.
“Mmm.” She gave a soft laugh and then moved back up his body, kissing his chest and moving oh so slowly towards his mouth.
Then her head rammed into his chin.
“Ouch!” Pain radiated down his jaw.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” She pulled back, slapping her hand over her mouth. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like that.”
“Yeah, so I gather.” He gave her a lopsided smile.
“Do you want some ice?” She brought her hands to her mouth. “Oh God. I didn’t hurt your teeth, did I?”
He rotated his jaw and shook his head. “No, the teeth are fine.”
“Okay.” She lowered her hands and bit her lip. “Let me start the music again and I’ll start over.”
He stood up and shook his head. “I have a better idea.”
Her perfectly formed brows drew together adorably. “This wasn’t a good idea?”
“It was a great idea,” he murmured and scooped her up into his arms, ignoring her squeal of surprise. “But I have one that’s a hell of a lot more geared for the birthday girl.”
“But you’ve done enough for my birthday.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pouted. “I wanted to do something for you.”
“You can another day,” he promised. “Right now I want you in my bed.” He stared at her mouth. “Beneath me, making those sweet little sounds you make when you come. And then I want you screaming my name.”
“Oh. Well that’s certainly specific.” He heard the shift in her breathing. “But you know what? I kind of like the sound of that idea.”
“I thought you might.”
He kicked open the door to his room and moved swiftly to the bed. He braced one knee on the mattress and lowered her down.
She stretched her arms above her head and stared up at him with an intoxicating combination of desire and trust.
He set his other knee down so that he straddled her waist. Using his hands to bracket her rib cage, he moved his thumbs over the slippery red negligee.
“I really like this on you,” he murmured and stroked up the swell of her breast.
“Good.” The haze of desire in her eyes increased and her chest rose as she drew in a deep breath; her lips parted on a sigh.
Somehow she managed to embody the ultimate temptation of sex and seduction, while at the same moment exude vulnerability and innocence.
The blood in his veins quickened, his throat grew tight with the need to touch her. He slid his hands down to her waist, catching the fabric in his hand and pushing it up her body until it gathered below her breasts.
Nudging her thighs apart with his knee, he moved to kneel between them. He leaned down and brushed a kiss over the curve of her belly.
“And I really like this.” He
snapped the string on the side of her panties. “But I think I’ll like them even better off.”
He curled his fingers around the string on each side of her hip and pulled downward. She lifted her hips, making it easier for him to draw the scrap of lace off.
“Jesus.” His breath caught and his erection increased to a painful level. “You got more than your eyebrows waxed, huh, princess?”
She gave a soft laugh and lifted her head to look down at herself.
“Mmm hmm, and you’d better like it because doing that hurt like the devil.”
“Hell yeah I like it.” His words sounded husky to his own ears.
He cupped her smooth mound possessively, sinking a finger into her slick heat.
“Oh.” Her eyes drifted shut with the soft moan.
He watched her reaction as he slipped his thumb between her folds to rub the swollen button of flesh. Her lips parted and her breathing grew heavy. He bit back a groan and used a second finger to penetrate her.
Monitoring her reactions, he adjusted the pressure with this thumb and murmured a husky, “Come for me, sweetheart.”
Her hips lifted against his hand and she cried out, gripping the sheets. He kissed her belly, loving the way her body trembled from the orgasm.
Moving his mouth lower, he kissed his way towards the sweet taste of her. He pressed his tongue into her folds and sought her swollen bud.
“Marco,” she gasped and squirmed beneath him. “What are you doing?”
He circled the sensitive flesh with his tongue again then muttered, “Giving you an orgasm.”
“But I,” she groaned and then began to pant. “I just had one.”
“Good. That means we have twenty-nine to go before morning.” He lifted his head from between her legs and grinned. “Thirty birthdays, thirty orgasms.”
“I thought that was spankings,” she protested weakly, even as her hips rose again toward his mouth.
“Would you rather I spank you?” He kissed the smooth rise of her mound and hid a smile.
It was her birthday, if that’s what she wanted, hell, he’d have no problem indulging her. He lifted his head.
“No. God, no. Thirty orgasms sound fantastic.” She slid her fingers into his hair and urged his mouth back down. “Now hit me with your best shot.”
He laughed and pressed his tongue to her once more, all too willing to comply. A second later her body trembled beneath him again.
He lifted his head. “That’s two.”
“Oh my God,” she whispered raggedly. “It’s going to be an amazing night.”
Chapter Thirteen
“We’ve had fifteen bands sign up for tomorrow’s event.” Brandy dropped two empty pint glasses and a burger basket into the sink and stepped into the doorway of the back office. “Fifteen.”
Marco pushed his paperwork away. “That’s good, right?”
Her heart fluttered at the intimate smile her gave her. “That’s great. Because if you think about it, each band competing will be bringing their own little support group of family and friends.”
He leaned back in his chair, pursed his lips and gave thoughtful nod.
She hurried on. “That’s exposing Dante’s to a bunch of people who may never have heard of you guys before.”
Rolling a pen between his fingers, he continued to stare at her. “Brandy, you have been so good for this place.”
Her face flushed with pleasure. Had it only been a week and a half since she’d first jumped his bike?
“Is everything all set up for tomorrow night? Is there anything else you can think of that we need?” he asked.
Brandy walked all the way into the office and sat down on the edge of his desk.
“Well, it’ll be tight staffwise that night, but we’ll all be there. So we should be able to handle it,” she hesitated. “But still, you should look into hiring a couple more waitresses. I’m telling you, your business is going to double, if not triple, after this event.”
His foot, which he’d kicked up on the desk, nudged her hip and he grinned.
“I’m on top of it, princess. I placed an ad in the paper a few days ago.” He cleared his throat. “Besides, I know you won’t be hanging out here with us forever.”
Her bubble of happiness slowly deflated from the puncture wound he’d just inflected. Was he already gearing up for her to leave? The idea hadn’t even crossed her mind. Or maybe it had, but she’d fiercely shoved it back into the cobwebs in the back.
“I’d better get back up front,” she muttered, glancing away. “I just thought I’d give you the latest number.”
He didn’t say anything, but his mouth grew taut. Without another second’s hesitation she slid off the desk and left his office, and tried to ignore the feeling gnawing at her.
You knew it wouldn’t last forever. So you shouldn’t get in a tizzy the minute he brings up that fact.
Besides she had a life back home. Her thoughts turned to her classes that would start in the fall. Who was she kidding, this wasn’t her life. She could never give it all up to be a waitress. Sure it had its fun moments, but her heart was in teaching. Taking a group of half-talented, half-tone-deaf students and getting a decent sound out of them as a whole.
Still. Would that mean the end of her and Marco? Would she leave and things just go back to…life as normal? Did she want that?
She sighed. The last afternoon customer left an hour ago. Sebastian and Val wouldn’t be in for another couple of hours.
Light poured into the bar as the front door swung open. A silhouette of a woman was illuminated before the door closed again.
Brandy crossed the floor to approach her. The young woman didn’t look much older than some of her students. She wore baggy cargo pants, a tight tank top and the aura of someone with a serious chip on their shoulder.
“Hi there,” Brandy called out. “Do you mind if I check your ID?”
The woman, still a girl really, gave her an appraising glance. She was a slip of a thing, probably just a few inches over five feet, but obviously confident with herself.
“I’m here to sign up for Dante’s Band Battle,” the girl said after a moment and held up a flier.
Nice how she skirted the issue of identification. Brandy drew herself up to her full height and cleared her throat.
Pulling out her teacher tone, she asked again. “I’ll need to see your ID first.
The girl’s dark eyes narrowed, before she began to dig in her purse.
Brandy blinked, the hairs lifting on the back of her neck. There was something familiar about the girl—those eyes.
“Here.” The girl thrust her license at Brandy.
Brandy took the plastic card from her and stared at it.
“Elena?”
Marco’s voice split through the silence at the other end of the bar. Elena grinned and strode past her to her brother.
“What’s up, mi hermano?”
Brandy turned around to watch the young woman run full speed into Marco’s embrace.
He wrapped his arms around her slight form, squeezing her tight. “I told you not to come,” he reprimanded her, but there was no anger in his voice.
“As if that would stop me.” She pulled back and scowled, all affection vanishing. “How dare you, Marco.”
Marco gave a weary sigh. “How dare I what, Elena?”
“Avoid us for so long. You haven’t seen Dad in almost two years. He’s—”
“Dad doesn’t give a shit about me anymore, Elena, and we both know it.”
This was obviously a conversation Brandy didn’t want to be sitting in on. “He cares about you, Marco. You’re both just being stubborn and proud and it’s ridiculous.”
Right. Time to make an escape.
Brandy drew a quick breath in and moved toward the kitchen, hoping they wouldn’t notice her leaving.
“Where are you going?”
No such luck.
She turned back and faced Marco and his question. “I thought I�
�d give you two a moment.”
“Don’t bother. Elena was just leaving.”
“I’m not leaving, so deal with it.” His sister folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin. “Besides, I’m here to sign up for the competition.”
“You’re in a band?”
“Umm, yeah, and have been for at least two years. I told you that last year when you came by.” She rolled her eyes. “But then you were only at the house for forty minutes, I’m sure you forgot everything except the fight with Dad.”
“Elena, it’s not a good idea.”
“What isn’t?” she challenged.
“Everything. You being here. Signing up for the Band Battle.”
“So, what? You going to throw me out? Your own hermana? Are you going to forbid me from signing up for the Battle?”
Brandy shrugged. What could she say? She had no idea of the history between the two, but obviously there was some kind of dispute between Marco and his dad.
“Where are you and the other girls staying?” he asked tersely.
“Girls?”
“The other band members.”
“Oh.” Elena tossed her hair and gave a broad smile. “They’re boys. I’m the only girl in the band. And Bill and I have a room at the Excalibur.”
“Bill?” he asked.
“He’s the drummer. We’ve been dating for five months.”
Marco’s hands curled into fists and he took a deep breath. Yikes, if that wasn’t a sign we about to jump into big brother protective mode than she wasn’t sure what was. Brandy stepped forward and grabbed Elena’s arm and moved her toward one of the booths.
“We haven’t actually been introduced. I’m Brandy, one of the waitresses here. Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?”
“A little bit.” Elena gave a half smile and then stared down at her shiny metallic pink nails. “I could eat. We ate these crap breakfast burritos a couple hours ago and it totally didn’t fill me up.”
Marco stepped forward. “Brandy—”
“How about a burger? They’re fabulous here.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Brandy—”
“Marco.” Brandy turned her head and gave him a pointed look. “Why don’t you ask Dave to grill up one of Dante’s famous burgers and I’ll go ahead and get Elena signed up for the competition?”
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