Chapter 7

Alicia

      I saw the lust all over his face and shivered under his heated gaze. I was probably the world’s biggest fool by doing this, but I wanted Brandon. He was gorgeous, confident and all man. I was trying to live my best life here, and he was a part of that.

I was hoping that we’d fizzle out and return to acquaintances. I loved what his mom was doing for me and my future and didn’t want to risk that. I just couldn’t resist her son.

“That’s not my intention. I’m just trying to show you how badly I want you.” I admitted as his eyes darkened with lust.

“You’re not worried about the consequences?” He asked as I tilted my head at him. Brandon made my world spin and desire bubble over. I couldn’t fight the attraction for long at all.

“I suppose but we’re both adults, Brandon.” I leaned in, offering him a good view of my cleavage. He swallowed as he looked down, making me smile as I kissed him.

The kiss heated the room quickly, and I pushed him to his back. I lowered his lounge pants and wriggled over him as I felt how hard he was. That was going to be inside of me.

I kissed his mouth then his neck. I slid down slowly to taste his chest once his shirt was off. He was sexy as sin and I could feel myself getting wetter as I moved between his thighs. “I had your mouth already.” Brandon told me. “I want to be inside of you.” He reached down for his pants and pulled a packet from the pocket. I licked my lips nervously as he lowered his face between my legs, tasting and licking me until I came all over his mouth.

Brandon ripped open the condom and sheathed himself with it as I watched. My thong was on the floor and he lifted my bra over my head before spreading my thighs with his knees.

This was crazy for me to do after having such a plan for New York. I was supposed to keep the art on my mind and not get distracted. For as many people that were there, a man hadn’t been that for me yet. That was about to change as he slipped his hand down to position himself, meeting my eyes as he slowly thrust inside of me. I gasped, feeling him fill me as my body wrapped around him like a glove.

“You feel so good. I wanted this from the moment we met.” Brandon murmured as he paused to allow me to adjust to him. He stared into my eyes, but it felt like he was looking into my soul. “So beautiful.”

I rocked against him to tell him I wanted more. Brandon smiled widely and moved back before thrusting inside again. I arched my back and dragged my nails down his back, feeling his mouth against my hair. We kept moving together, and it just felt right. It didn’t feel like the first time with Brandon. I moaned as I tightened, knowing that I was going to come again. Brandon murmured my name as he did, thrusting a few more times before he let out a low cry.

Brandon rolled away but dropped to his side, holding me close. I breathed in and out, catching hints of his masculine outdoor scent and the sex between us. I never thought it could be so intoxicating. We ended up falling asleep nestled together, and I woke up when I heard him cursing under his breath. “Brandon? Are you okay?” I whispered as he pulled me against him for a long time.

“It’s four and I need to get upstairs. I can’t get caught in here.” He told me with a rueful smile. “We fell asleep.”

It reminded me of reasons we weren’t supposed to be doing this. Brandon went into my bathroom and cleaned up before giving me a soft kiss. “I’ll see you in a few hours. Thank you.” He whispered as I leaned in for another kiss. “You are a different kind of woman.”

Once he was gone, and I got a text that we were still secret, I curled up under the covers to assess the situation. I was sore but in the best way, making me feel like it was my first time all over again. Maybe it was in some ways. My skin hurt where he used his teeth, but I was begging for more. I closed my eyes and pictured being with him in a room where I could scream his name. It would sound incredible in my loft. I smiled and reminded myself that this might be it. Brandon was a known playboy and moved through women quickly. To me, this felt different, and I thought that he felt the same.

I wouldn’t ask him how he felt about me. I wouldn’t push him for more. This was allowed to be an affair that would ride its course until it wasn’t what we wanted any longer.

I fell asleep a short time later and woke up to my alarm at seven. That was when the kids were allowed to get up to open gifts and I took a quick shower in the attached bathroom and pulled my hair into a ponytail. I dressed in some sweats and a big sweats shirt and headed down the hall to voices.

There was coffee in the kitchen and kids chattering by the massive Christmas tree. I poured a cup and sat on the couch to look over the tree that was overflowing with presents for the six kids gathered around in their pajamas. It was heartwarming, and I smiled as I sipped the warm mug in my hands.

I sensed a change in the air and glanced up to see Brandon. He was wearing worn jeans and a college sweatshirt, and his hair was a mess. He looked incredible. He had his own coffee and shot me a crooked grin before ambling across the room and taking a seat on the couch at what I thought was an acceptable distance. The other adults gathered around, and the kids were free to see what they got.

I laughed at the kids as they tore, screamed and sometimes ran around the room from sheer excitement. That lasted about an hour and then the women shuffled into the kitchen to start breakfast, making me jump to offer to help. Brandon’s family had been so generous to include me in all of this that I wanted to show my appreciation.

I also was having a hard time being so close to Brandon. We made bacon, sausage, eggs, bagels and a huge fruit salad for breakfast. That was going to be nibbled on all day with a formal ham dinner for tonight. We ate around the tables that were still set up and chatted, caught up in the warmth of the morning. It was clear that I would have some interested buyers in my work and would need to get some paintings finished.

I took a nap in the afternoon and dreamed about Brandon. I thought that we’d be returning to the city tomorrow and wondered what would happen there. There would be work and my friends. I would start building my empire again.

I made it back for dinner, feeling slightly more awake than before. I enjoyed the meal, chatting with Moira and her cousins while I shared looks with Brandon across the room. That was the night that most people returned home to regular life, and I yawned as I walked to my room. I was going to drive back with Moira tomorrow morning and get all of my ideas on canvas, feeling more inspired than ever. I needed to sketch out some ideas since they were flooding my brain.

I entered the room I was using and changed into lounge pants and a t-shirt, sitting down with my sketchbook. I was on the third page when I heard the sound of heels outside of my door. I lifted my head and heard hushed whispers and a woman giggle as my eyes widened. They kept going, and I heard the distinct sound of a door closing before I stood. I knew for a fact that Brandon’s door was cracked when I came in here and I took a slow breath as I realized what I was going to do right now.

I opened my door and noticed that his was closed now. I heard the same giggle and clenched my fist before closing my door and locking it for good measure. I stumbled to the bed and played back every memory with him, focused on the intense feelings between us. It meant something. It had to.

I wiped at my eyes and stared forward, realizing that perhaps I was just a notch on his bedpost. I was relieved to be leaving with Moira in the morning. I needed to get back to my life.