Brie
“You’re going to be fine,” Guy insists from the kitchen of the royal downtown penthouse Kellan and I have been residing at.
After everything that happened a couple weeks ago with our fight, our nephew being born, and spending days playing tour hosts to our best friends, Kellan suggested we take some ‘personal space’ by staying here instead of the palace. Turns out other than Kellan no one else ever stays at the penthouse anymore. His father more or less originally purchased it for him to have a safe place in the city to always stay. I took the change of scenery as a gesture of trying to bridge the gap we’ve unconsciously developed. So far, it’s slightly better. He doesn’t have to rush away as early in the mornings because we’re closer to the office. With that same logic, he takes his lunch breaks with me and when the night is going to be later than he predicted, I bring him take out before letting him have me for dessert on his couch. Yeah…He really likes when that happens. Starting to wonder if he’s actually working late or just trying to find excuses to have sex in his office….As for paying attention to more than Hannah’s Hope…well that hasn’t exactly changed much. It seems like any time he starts to pay attention to what’s going on with me or stories about his nephew, Felicity calls with an emergency. I swear she’s like the girl who cried crisis. I’m about 75% sure some of those are just ways of pulling him away from me earlier than he wants because she hates his attempt at creating a new system that doesn’t revolve around her or what they’re working on. Could be completely crazy or…most likely completely accurate.
“Seriously, Brie. Absolutely fine.”
“But what if I do something stupid?!”
“Like?”
“I don’t know…forget my pencil?”
“It’s on the computer,” he reminds me.
“My ID?”
“They already fingerprinted you, remember?” Guy heads towards where I’m sitting at the long white dining room table that is located between the kitchen and living room space. “You don’t need your ID. They already have all your information.” He puts a plate down in front of me. “Any other irrational concerns?”
I glance down at the disaster on my plate. “That you’re trying to kill me.”
“It’s carb friendly pizza.”
“Which is not at all how I like my pizza, thank you very much.”
He plops down in the chair beside me with a stern expression. “That may be true, but unless you want to wheeze while painting or get winded picking up canvases, I suggest you occasionally opt for a healthier version of your favorite things.”
My face automatically sneers.
In a way, he’s worse than Kellan about food. Kellan aims to force me to eat healthy then rewards me by giving me what it is I truly want. Guy simply takes my favorite foods and healthifies them like some sort of corrupt nutrition guru. We almost stopped being friends last week when he fed me cauliflower nuggets instead of actual chicken.
“Look, you’ve easily become one of my best mates. I truly care about you and would like you to live another forty or fifty years if possible.” He tries to give me a sweet look. “Besides, it’s just the crust that has changed. It’s cauliflower based, but I swear you won’t be able to taste it.”
“What’s your obsession with cauliflower? Does it owe you money? Do you get paid every time you endorse it?”
Guy chuckles and lifts his concoction, which looks worse than mine with the sliced pieces of tomato, mushroom, and avocado. “Eat it.”
I glance down at the mock pepperoni pizza. It has a homemade pizza sauce, low fat mozzarella and an imitation crust made from broccoli’s ugly cousin.
Just looking at it makes me feel ten pounds lighter. Shouldn’t that be enough?
“Eat it,” he commands between bites. “You’ve barely eaten anything all day.”
“I’ve been busy cramming.”
“For a test I’m fairly certain you could pass while sleeping at this point.”
His reassurance is met with a smirk.
“You’re ready.” He gives me a curt nod. “Any more ready and you could write the damn thing. Now eat. Relax. And for the love of God, please make sure you get at least one off tonight. It’ll help you sleep better.”
On a small chuckle, I state, “Never a problem in my life.”
Guy swallows the piece of pizza he’s been working. “I’ve met Kellan. I don’t doubt it.”
“Jealous?” I wink.
“Maybe,” he playfully replies.
Oh hush it! We aren’t flirting. Learn the difference.
After a short giggle, I pick up one of the two slices off my plate. I give it another hard glare, which prompts him to let out an annoyed sigh.
“You are such a big baby.”
“Says the guy who almost cursed out a frozen yogurt girl for forgetting gummy bears on his midday treat.”
We exchange another laugh before I finally have a bite. While it doesn’t taste awful, it doesn’t taste like dough, making me hesitant to continue to eat it. However, knowing how much work Guy put into it and that in retrospect it’s probably saving me from having to actually start adding a workout routine into my life, pushes me to accept this as a viable dinner choice.
Oh don’t start with me. You know I was this way from the beginning.
The two of us spend the rest of the meal talking about a new exhibit coming to one of our favorite galleries rather than me reciting information that may or may not be covered on my test tomorrow. Eventually the conversation rolls towards the progress of Hannah’s Hope and how I’m handling the seemingly increasing long unrelenting hours.
I stand to clear our dishes. “Living here is definitely making it easier…”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“No more slumber parties with Felicity at the office?”
My face cringes as I spin on my heels to deliver the empty plates to the dishwasher. “Nope.”
Believe it or not I held my tongue with Kellan on that one. He was already so apologetic for missing plans and forgetting to engage in things outside of work that I decided instead of pouring gasoline on the flame to just let it die. But make no mistake I was furious when I heard her version of what happened that night from Guy. That she didn’t go home either. That they shared a late meal together. Supposedly took turns having powernaps on his couch since she doesn’t have one of her own. How he made sure she didn’t get cold by getting her a blanket and tucking her in. How they enjoyed coffee and an early morning stroll together after they checked out the property. Of course, what she said didn’t exactly match the version Kellan gave me. But that’s okay because I trust him. I trust he told me the truth and that she’s just a perfidious bitch trying to get the better of me.
“You know I think she was exaggerating all of those details. I’m on your side. I don’t believe for one moment Kellan ever looks at her the way he looks at you.”
I smile to myself while rinsing off the dishes.
“But I will warn you of this, Brie,” he speaks up with caution in his voice.
My actions completely still, and I give him my full attention.
“Felicity Malone is an avid chess player.”
“Are you telling me that because that’s how Kellan and her pass their down time? Are you telling me I should learn to play it?”
He chortles. “No. And you should never play chess. All your moves would be revealed on your face long before they ever touched the board.”
His comment causes me to glower.
He’s so wrong!
“Then what’s your point?”
“Felicity has been born and bred to take what she wants. To see life as a chess game and prepare at least three moves ahead at any given moment. She’s been trained from an early age to assess a situation, apply pressure to the weak spot, and benefit from the outcome. No matter what she says or even how she may behave, she always only has her interest at heart. Everything in life is a game to her that only she may win.”
My arms fold protectively across my chest. “How do you know that?”
“We’re cut from the same cloth.”
His words cause me to shift my weight.
“Our fathers raised us very similarly. The difference was when I was old enough to realize people weren’t pawns for my amusement, I became a different person. She on the other hand did not.”
The warning is echoed by the sound of my phone vibrating across the table.
Our eyes dart to it and he states, “It’s your father video chat calling.”
Wanting more information about the woman I already loathe pushes me to quickly insist, “I can call him back.”
“No. No,” he counters, swiping it up. “Answer it. Talk to him. He probably wants to wish you good luck for tomorrow.” Guy places the phone in my hand and a chaste kiss on my cheek. “Rest easy. I’ll check on you tomorrow.”
I give him a short wave goodbye before answering the call.
It takes a moment for my father to steady his phone as usual, but once he does he brightly greets, “Afternoon!”
“Evening here, Dad.”
My gentle reminder makes him grin. “You’d think I’d have the hang of that by now.”
You’d think…
With an unwavering warm expression, he asks, “Everything okay on that side of the world?”
“You mean aside from the test looming over my life?”
“Of course. Aside from that.”
His humor causes me to scowl.
Dad slightly chuckles and brushes off my woes, “You have to relax, Brie. You’re going to do fine. We both know what you need right now is a bubble bath, a carton of cookie dough ice cream, and FRIENDS marathon to ease your stress.”
“You know me so well…”
“You’re my daughter. Of course I do.”
“Wanna hear something crazy?”
“Always.”
“I can actually do all three of those things at once in this penthouse.”
Disbelief coats my father’s eyes. “Really?”
“Yeah…The master bathroom has a television built into the wall.”
Luxury is not a luxury with the Kenningstons. It’s a requirement.
“So you’re saying when we come for a visit that’s where we should be staying?”
I lean against the edge of the kitchen counter and snicker. “If you want. I’ll even make sure to have the freezer stocked with your favorite ice cream.”
“No ice cream!” my mom chimes in from somewhere in the background. He frowns seconds before she wiggles into the frame. “His health has improved and the doctors are no longer as concerned as they were, but we aren’t going to push it, Brie. We’re going to keep him eating right and working less.”
His eyes lift to the ceiling in irritation causing me to cover my mouth to prevent more laughter.
She catches the action and gives him a hard pop on the arm. “Charles!”
“I think ice cream while on vacation and visiting our daughter would be an acceptable time to bend the rules.”
“Or break them.”
My mom turns her look of disapproval to me.
Dad and I laugh again, which causes her to huff. “You two are going to give me a headache, you know that.”
“But you love us.” He pecks her cheek forcing a smile back onto her face.
She leans into his embrace and asks, “What time is your test in the morning?”
“8 a.m.”
“Are you ready?”
“As ready as I can be I guess.”
“What’s got you so worried?”
I give her a small shrug. “Everything? I mean, I had to learn a hunk of another country’s history I knew nothing about, educational laws and conducts. I’ve been studying for months and still feel like I’m missing so much.”
Her expression shifts to a soft, motherly one. “Brie, we all know when you are determined to do something, nothing can stand in your way. You went after your bachelor’s degree and didn’t stop until you walked across the stage. You went after the love of your life and didn’t stop until you walked down the aisle. I have all the faith in the world that you’re going to go take that test and not walk away from it until you’ve given it everything you’ve got.”
Relief washes over me for the first time all evening.
She may be a bit neurotic at times, but she’s damn good at the mothering thing when I need it.
“We’re here for you, Brie. Thousands of miles away, but always here.” My father adds.
“I love you both.”
“We love you too.” Mom blows a kiss at me. “Now, you should go and get a good night’s sleep. Go to bed a bit earlier than normal.”
“And eat some ice cream,” my dad childishly fake coughs.
“I will…at least the going to bed early. We don’t have any ice cream here at the moment.”
“Good! Keep it that way. Too much sugar.”
Instead of wasting my breath arguing, I smile wide. “Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad.”
“Night.”
Their faces disappear and an unread text message is revealed. With a quick click it opens.
Husband: MINOH meeting is running behind. Will be late, Love. Forgive me.
Same message different words….
I roll my eyes, toss the phone on the counter, and return to doing the dishes, including the ones Guy used to cook with.
After putting away the leftovers in the fridge, I take my father’s advice about a hot bath. In the master bathroom, I start the water in the tub and promptly add a dash of the fancy bubble bath Kellan hides under the sink.
He honestly thinks I don’t know about his weird, secret stashes. He also hides his wrinkle cream back there, but shhhh…I never told you that.
I light the three candles on the built in shelf that sits right below where the television is before shedding my clothes and slipping into the steaming water. Once I’m comfortable, I use the verbal commands to pull up the sitcom on the screen and rest the back of my head on the rolled towel I grabbed from the stash the maid keeps in a basket near the faucet. While the water blankets my body, easing the tension from every inch it touches, my mind drifts into the complicated storyline that is known as Ross and Rachel.
Were they really on a break? One of the most popular questions of the 90s…
About two episodes later, the bathroom door cracks open, and Kellan’s sweet face appears around it. It immediately switches to one of pain. “A bath without me? Testing new forms of punishment for my tardiness?”
With a wink, I wiggle further down. “Maybe…”
He whimpers, but keeps his distant. “You want privacy or company?”
“You can keep me company from the side of the tub.”
Kellan lightly chuckles as he approaches. “So this is punishment?”
“More like trying not to stress about tomorrow.”
He braces himself along the edge so his body is facing me. “Would you like me to help you study another round of questions? I’m sure Guy was already here and you two already did it, but I would be happy to do an additional one if you think it’ll help.”
Yes that was jealousy in his tone. It’s hard for him to accept all the time Guy and I get to spend together, but he has to realize at some point it’s just friendship unlike the Wicked Witch of The West’s daughter who is trying to ride his broomstick every chance she gets. Plus, he hates the idea I’m lonely yet with Guy around I have a friend to help me feel that way less often. Even though I wish it was Kellan spending more time with me, at least I am not as isolated as I was before.
“Relaxation is the agreed upon advise from everyone.”
“Everyone?”
“My parents called.”
“Ah.” He glances over his shoulder and hits me with another smile. “Which is why you’re watching FRIENDS to clear your mind.”
I nod.
“You know what else helps clear that overactive brain of yours?”
“Ice cream.”
Kellan lightly laughs. “That too…”
Unexpectedly his expression heats and his eyes lower to where my chest is barely peeking out of the water. The transition from humor to hunger slips a soft moan out of me. My response receives a growl followed promptly by the rolling up of his gray dress shirt sleeve. He deliberately takes his time. Keeps his eyes locked with mine. Builds anticipation with each exposed portion of skin. When he’s finished, his hand slides down into the water and trails along my inner thigh. The second I lift my hips to meet his touch, he sinks his finger deep inside. A mutual moan floods the room and my head tips back as I gently rock into gradual pushes.
“God, you’re gorgeous like this…”
I smile proudly at the compliment.
He never fails to make me feel like that’s true.
Kellan continues the combination of deep thrusts and teasing brushes against my clit until my hands are flying out of the water to tug my own hair. He groans at the sight while my entire body begins to shake from the building pleasure. All of a sudden, he yanks my hand away to replace it with his own. A sharp breath is stolen and my now freed hand aggressively grips his thigh. Immediately noting where my fingers have landed, I slide over and grasp his stiff member through his suit pants.
The mumbled fit of curse words from the initial touch spurs me to demand, “Take your cock out for me…”
In an impressive maneuver, Kellan releases my hair and grants my wish. As soon as his dick is bared, I wrap my hand firmly around it. He hisses and nudges himself deeper into my pussy. The abrupt change causes me to clutch his cock tighter. Kellan adds another finger in retaliation and increases the speed. Within a few short breaths, the two of us have fallen into a carnal competition to make one another come undone. My soaked hand strokes him wildly, anxious to bring him to the brink of euphoria where he’s steadily been dangling me from his first graze. Bath water crashes against the walls adding a delicious erotic element to the succulent situation. The moment our heaving breaths sync, I know we’ve reached the point of no return. His shaft begins to swell and the swift change spirals me into an orgasmic nirvana.
He rumbles deeply, “Fuck…”
Our bodies tremble together as we coat each other’s fingers with sticky proof of our mutual shared satisfaction.
Still in a slight sexual daze, I return my body to the now barely warm water.
Kellan questions, “And how are you feeling now?”
I offer him a content hum as my reply.
“Perfect…” He stands, readjusts himself back into his pants, and then leans over to release the drain. When I pout, he simply retorts, “Calm down, Love. I’m going to fill the tub with hot water again and turn on the jets so it remains that way until you’re actually ready to get out.”
His sweet gesture receives a smile. “Thank you.”
Our eyes meet momentarily. “My pleasure.”
After the cold water is gone, Kellan does as promised, and encourages me to take my time. My spent body welcomes the additional soak time. When I finally get out, I wrap myself in one of our fluffy Kenningston engraved towels and stroll into our bedroom.
Its empty contents make me glare.
I swear to God he better not be working…
“Kellan,” I call out.
No response.
Frustration begins to fester. “Kellan…”
“Yeah?” He replies, distraction in his voice.
“What are you doing?”
“Uh…” The lull scrunches my face further. “Nothing…”
I shake my head. “Kellan.”
“One moment!”
An annoyed sigh shoots free and I walk across the room to the king sized bed. Shortly after I sit on the edge, he appears in the doorway wearing only a pair of boxers and holding a carton of ice cream along with two spoons.
Grade A today in the husband department. First an orgasm, then the extra long bath, and now the one thing we didn’t have in the house.
Unable to verbally express my appreciation, I offer him a glowing grin.
“Sorry. Was watching the highlights from the match today. Westburg annihilated Gostenland.”
Pleased it was sports rather than work that had his attention, I cheer, “Go Westburg!”
“Damn right go Westburg!” His smile brightens as he approaches. “It’s cookies and cream,” he confesses with a cringe. “They were all out of cookie dough.”
“Better than nothing.” The two of us crawl to the center of the bed and his arm slides around me. I grab my spoon, scoop out a bite, and praise, “Thank you for bringing this home. Kinda surprised you remembered.”
He digs out his own bite. “How could I forget? It was one of my favorite things about studying with you when we were in the states. That and the adorable way you often fell asleep on your textbooks.”
My head hits his chest on a chuckle. “Hopefully this is the last time we ever have to do this.”
“I have no doubt you’re going to pass tomorrow.”
Makes one of us…
“And I will be here to take you in the morning.”
Excitement shoots my eyes to his. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. I have cleared my schedule for tomorrow. Being there for you is my top priority.” Kellan pushes a damp strand behind my ear. “First your test, then brunch at your favorite burger place, followed by a trip to The Rose and an evening filled with balcony sex.”
“We’re not having balcony sex again,” I fuss. “Your father’s head nearly exploded when you explained why your bare ass was photographed in that position.”
Newly wed sex may have gotten a bit adventurous after a business dinner one night…
“Fine,” he surrenders with his spoon hand. “I will take dining room table sex for $400 Alex.”
Helplessly, I snicker. “That show you get right?”
“It’s a classic!”
“So was Rugrats but your lack of knowledge about its existence and horrifying response are huge reminders television shows don’t always cross country lines.”
Trust me when I say it was a long night and not the pillow talk conversation I originally had in mind.
“Still think it’s a creepy idea for a cartoon,” he mutters.
I dip my spoon in the carton and tug us back to the original topic. “So…tomorrow you’re all mine?”
“Absolutely.” The firmness in his voice erases the apprehension I’m tempted to feel. “I’m ready to silently cheer you on and support you in any fashion you need. Hell, I’ll even wake you with a cup of hot chocolate like I used too.”
“I’d love that.”
He lowers his mouth to feather mine. “Well I love you…”
The combination of his warm words and cold lips causes me to shiver. “I love you too…”
And I love knowing that he will be by my side on the most important day of my new career.