The Law of Attraction

“Cameron will be there for sure,” Tyler added.

“Terrific.” He turned to me again. “Cameron’s my cousin. Marla cheated on me with him. I should probably be thankful since I wanted an excuse to break up with her anyway, but I wasn’t in on the plan, you know?”

“It was so long ago, Braden. I wish that the two of you would just put it behind you,” Claire said.

“Yeah, we’ll see. I do think that maybe I’ll have a little chat with him. There’s something I’d like to ask him about.”

“The Masons will likely be there with Felicity,” she went on.

“The Masons want to marry their daughter off to me.” Braden explained. “The mother, Mrs. Mason, is a snob with the warmth of a glacier and her daughter, Felicity, reminds me of Wednesday Addams but more Goth. I think the father might be a hologram.”

“And will you be marrying the lovely Felicity?”

“I would be more likely to marry Cameron.”

“Cole Stephenson will be there of course,” Tyler noted, looking uncomfortable.

“We need to steer clear of him for sure,” Braden said, giving me a disgusted look. “He's a state representative and a complete political animal. He would sell his soul to get elected to a federal congressional seat. He’s also a social climber and a lecher. His eyes won't leave your cle**age.”

“This sounds like a fun party.”

“Most of the folks who'll be there will be quite nice,” Claire said in an apologetic tone.

“I'll just smile and nod a lot,” I replied

“Braden should do that more often. We're hoping you'll be a good influence,” Claire said to me.

“Maybe I'll be a bad influence,” Braden said, smiling at me in a way that made me glance at my watch. It was almost eight-thirty already. Claire noticed my gesture and quickly checked her own watch.

“We'd better get going, Tyler. I don't want to miss the beginning of the movie.”

Claire and Tyler wished us a good night and excused themselves. As soon as they were gone Braden turned to me with a naughty smile. Without a word he pulled me onto his lap and began nuzzling my neck. I nuzzled him back and we worked our way to each other's mouths and started kissing. Just as our tongues were becoming deliciously entwined I heard Drew.

“Christ, Braden, can't you even wait until we leave the house?”

“Braden's head fell back onto the top of the sofa in exasperation. I slid off of his lap and felt myself blushing as I tactfully retreated to my own seat and straightened out the skirt of my short summer dress.

“How many rooms are in this f**king house, Drew, and you have to be in this one right now?”

“Just be thankful that we're all going out so you can “rest” in privacy.” He made the little air quotes to make it clear that he didn’t think we would be resting.

“You didn't have to go out,” I said, feeling embarrassed. Had the Pierces planned their social outings around us having sex?

“Don't listen to him!” Braden said. “They go out all the time on Friday nights when they’re here.”

“I'm sorry, Gabrielle,” Drew laughed. “I'm just giving Braden a hard time.” He sat down in a chair next to us and sipped a Coke.

“He's just jealous.”

“Damn right I'm jealous. You get to sleep with your girlfriend tonight and I'm going out with my sister. There would be something wrong with me if I weren't jealous, dude.”

“Stop thinking about my sex life.”

“Just make sure you don't remind me of it later. Don’t forget that my room is right next to yours and the walls are thin.”

“Didn't you have to be somewhere?”

“In case you're wondering, Theresa left for the night already and Mom and Dad left for the movies. They'll probably be back by midnight. Beth and I are leaving in about five minutes. I’m not sure what time we’ll be home though.”

“Thanks for the update,” Braden said dryly.

“Just trying to be helpful.” Drew grinned.

“Perhaps we'll see you out,” Braden said getting up and walking over to the door. Drew got up and walked out to the entry where Beth was already waiting.

“Have a good night,” Beth said with a smile and a wave.

“Enjoy your rest,” Drew said, mimicking her gesture and singsong voice.

As soon as the door closed I started to walk toward Braden but he held up a hand, signaling me to wait. A minute later Drew came back in.

“What?” He laughed. “I forgot my phone!” He walked over to a writing table where a cell phone was lying next to a large vase of flowers. “Don't worry, Braden. I'm really leaving now. You can rest in every room in the house if you want.” He left again and Braden walked over to the window and watched them pull away. Then he turned toward me with a very happy smile. He walked over and took my hand and led me upstairs.

CHAPTER NINE

When we got to the top of the stairs we walked down a long hallway and Braden stopped in front of a door on the left. He opened it and stepped aside for me to enter, coming in behind me. He walked over to turn on a bedside lamp and then turned the overhead light off, making it much more intimate. He went over to his music player, found something on his iPod, and seconds later I heard BB King singing the sexy blues song Need Your Love So Bad. He walked slowly toward me, staring into my eyes with a positively sinful look. I swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

“Do you know how much I want you, Gabrielle?” he asked softly when he reached me. My legs felt like they were going to give out and I wasn't sure that I saw consciousness in my immediate future. I was already too aroused to be nervous anymore, so I freed my inner hussy. (Note, I said hussy.)

“Show me,” I whispered.

He put his hands on my hips and pulled me tightly against him. I immediately knew how much. The answer was pressing into my lower abdomen. He leaned down and kissed me almost ravenously, his tongue exploring everywhere and rubbing up against mine sensuously. I felt a little overpowered by it but I liked it too. His lips moved away from my mouth and toward my ear. “Does that give you a better idea?” he whispered seductively.

“It gives me lots of ideas. What are you going to do about it?” My inner hussy had obviously decided that she liked being freed.

“Saucy wench.” He smiled wickedly. “I may have to spank you.” He sank down to kneel at my feet, removing my shoes and tossing them aside. Then he ran his hands up my bare legs and under my skirt, letting his fingers slide into my panties, and pushing them down over my hips. They dropped to the floor and I stepped out of them and kicked them aside. Fixing me with that hot look of his he reached around behind me, unzipped my dress and unhooked my bra. In one easy move they both hit the floor. If there were an Olympic category for undressing women he would be a serious contender for the gold. He had some mad skills. There were a few drunken nights in college when I could have really used his help. I just watched in lust-dazed fascination as he stepped back and starting at my feet let his eyes slowly trail up my bare body.