25. Butterfly

Once we were back in London, Brand announced we’d be leaving in the morning and returning to New York.

“Has something happened?” I asked.

“I have eleven more days with you, and I don’t intend to spend it in someone else’s flat. This way, we’ll be home well before Christmas, with plenty of time to celebrate it the way I’ve fantasized we would.”

“Forgive me for asking this, but are you allowed to leave?”

He smiled. “I cleared it with Nemesis.”

“If you’re doing this for me…”

“I’m doing this for us, Butterfly.”

“I have to admit, spending Christmas at home sounds really nice.”

He put his arms around my waist and pulled my body flush with his. “I plan to make the most of every minute we have together.” He pressed his hardness between my legs.

“Starting now?” I asked.

“There are sixteen thousand minutes, give or take, between now and my deployment. I have a request for when we get home.”

“Okay,” I murmured.

“We spend as many of what’s left naked.”

I giggled. “I’m all in.”

“I love you, Butterfly.”

“I love you, Michelangelo.”

While I typically slept onflights, this time I didn’t. The little time we had before Brand had to leave was ticking by too quickly as it was. I wouldn’t waste it sleeping when I could be gazing into his eyes, talking to him, and just holding his hand.

I hadn’t asked how long he thought he had to be in Italy. I doubted he knew. My asking would only increase his anxiety and remind us both what was coming far sooner than we wanted it to.

The other thing I hadn’t done was let the tribe know we were returning to the States earlier than we thought. If Brand wanted to see Tara, his mother, or father, I’d certainly understand. What I wouldn’t do was make plans with anyone else. My parents especially.

As predicted, my dad’s engagement to Hailey—or Blair—came to an abrupt end. It wasn’t something I’d learned from him, though. Instead, it popped up on a celebrity gossip site.

No doubt, he was still angry with me for blindsiding him the way I had, but I didn’t regret doing it. The Butterfly Cottage was worth it. If I’d thought it mattered to him even a little, the conversations we’d had about the property would’ve gone very differently.

Since I’d already told my mom I wouldn’t be traveling to the Bahamas for the holidays, I hadn’t told her I’d be in London. If she found out I was in New York, she’d assume I’d been there all along.

“Something has been troubling me,” Brand said an hour into the flight.

“What?”

He sighed. “Richard. In speaking with Typhon about what went down five years ago, I realized how much the man did for me. He literally saved my life, and how am I repaying him? By being an absolute douche over an inheritance literally worth billions.” He shook his head. “I find myself falling into the same mindset I swore I wouldn’t ever again.”

I got it. My parents had done so much for me financially. What I’d needed more was their love.

“Tara said your mom didn’t want you to know Richard was your father. Is that true?”

Brand nodded, his eyes downcast.

“Why don’t you try to see him? Get this off your chest and make amends with him before you have to leave for Italy.”

He raised his gaze to meet mine. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“All I ask is if you invite him to the town house, we both dress before he arrives.”

He laughed. “I’m happy to abide by your wishes in that regard. Well, any regard, really.”

I tried to stop my thoughts from drifting to what may happen to Brand in Italy. I’d prayed countless times that he’d return to me unscathed and that, then, we’d really start our life together. It wasn’t a conversation we’d had and maybe we should. Not on an airplane, though.

Since we’d leftin the morning, our flight landed early afternoon. We dropped our bags at home and immediately set out to find a Christmas tree.

“What about decorations?” he asked after we’d made arrangements to have it delivered later in the day.

“Remember the hallway lined with hidden storage?”

“I do.”

“I’d guess half are filled with holiday decor.”

Brand’s eyes widened.

“All we’re doing is the tree, though,” I assured him.

I could get everything else we needed in the same area between the wine shop, bakery, produce and fish markets before returning home, where we’d both agreed to spend as much of our time as we could.

Seconds after we closed the front door behind us, Brand helped me with my coat, then lifted my sweater over my head. Before he could unfasten my bra or jeans, I moved his hands away and raced up the stairs, giggling all the way.

The frenzy continued until we were both naked. Then Brand slowed everything down.

“Get on the bed, Butterfly. On your back and spread your legs.” I watched him walk to the bureau, open the second drawer from the top, and pull out a handful of silk scarves. “I may keep you like this for days,” he said, taking one ankle, wrapping the silk around it, tying it to the bed’s footboard, then doing the same with my other leg.

He moved up my body, trailing his fingers as he went. “You need to tell me if you feel your arms or legs tingling.”

“Okay,” I whispered, too turned on to say anything else.

He held up one more scarf. “May I?”

When I nodded, he covered my eyes and tied it behind my head before securing my hands. “For now, I just want you to feel, Butterfly. Keep your mind focused on only that.”

My breath hitched, and I tried to writhe, but all I could move was my hips.

His hands rested on the inside of my thighs. “Stay still, my love.” The next thing I felt was his breath on my pussy, then his tongue, swirling my sensitive bundle of nerves.

I cried out when he eased two fingers inside me, wanting to beg him for more, but somehow knowing I shouldn’t. Brand was in complete control, and I fucking loved it. Never before would I have allowed another man—trusted another man—to tie me up, powerless.

He sucked and thrust harder until I cried out my release. As I floated back to reality, the ache between my legs grew. I could feel his presence even though he wasn’t touching me. “Brand, please,” I begged.

“What do you need, Butterfly?” He put one finger inside me.

“More. I need so much more.”

He added a second finger, then nipped the side of my breast before sucking the nipple into his mouth so hard it almost hurt. And yet, it didn’t. Once again, I was on the verge of another orgasm.

“Brand, please,” I repeated.

“Tell me what you want, Pen, or you may not get it.”

“Fuck me. God, I’m begging you.”

Rather than feel him shift to give me what I so desperately needed, Brand circled my clit with his thumb and moved his two fingers in and out of me far too slowly, driving up my desire.

I nearly bucked off the bed when his tongue swiped through my folds and then was gone. The next thing I felt was his lips on mine.

“Taste yourself, Butterfly.” His kiss was hard and deep, like his fingers as they continued to play with my pussy. All too soon, Brand removed them and lifted himself away from me.

“Is this what you need, my love?” he asked, nudging my swollen sex with his thick, hard erection.

“God, yes.”

He went deeper, then cupped my bottom with both hands before slamming himself as far as he could go, then stilled. I could feel his cock pulsing like he was about to come, then he pulled all the way out before thrusting in again.

Over and over, he repeated his movements until I cried out another release.

“I need another,” he murmured as his teeth gently bit my nipple, causing my back to arch. “Will you give me one more?”

“I’ll give you anything, everything, Brand,” I whined.

“Forever?”

“For as long as I live.”

“Everything, Butterfly?”

Tears ran down my cheeks, and I nodded.

He eased back inside me and stilled. “Keep your eyes closed,” he said as he removed the scarf covering them. “Will you give yourself to me?”

“I already have.”

“Not in the most important way.”

“I’m yours in every way. However you want me.”

He cupped my cheek with one hand and used the other to release the scarf holding one wrist, then moved to the other. He rubbed each one. “Any tingling? Pain?”

“None.”

“What about your legs?”

I shook my head.

“Good, I like them held open for me.” When he got off the bed, I sneaked a peek and watched as he picked his jacket up from the floor and reached into the pocket. He sat on the bed, beside me.

“Open your eyes and say you’re mine.”

I nodded.

“Forever.”

“Yes.”

He reached for my left hand and slid something on my finger. “Marry me.”

“I will.”

He released my hand, and I brought it closer. The ring that adorned my finger was simple and perfect. “It’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you. Nothing will ever be.”

“I love you, Brando Ripa.”

“And I love you. Each and every part of you.” He used his hands and mouth to ravish my breasts, then kissed his way down my body. “Especially your pussy.”

He fucked me with his hands and mouth until I came again. Only then did he plunge back inside me, thrusting as deep as he could, then pulling back out until his pulsing cock sent me over the edge once more. How many times had I come? I’d lost count.

As promised,Brand and I spent most of our ten remaining days completely naked, making love in almost every room of the town house except those on the fifth floor and in the basement.

We dressed four times. The first was when the Christmas tree was delivered. Then when Richard Emsworth came to the house. The last two times were when Brand’s mother and Tara visited.

“I’m not going to stay long,” my dearest friend in the world had said when she arrived. “I know you and Brand want to spend as much time alone as you can, and I totally get it.”

I looked over at him, and he nodded as though he could hear the question my mind asked, and I held out my hand.

“Oh my God,” Tara gasped. “You’re engaged?”

“Yes.” Our eyes filled with tears, and we embraced. Brand joined us and wrapped us both in his arms.

Tara was the first to pull back. “Do you know how happy I am for the two of you?”

“I think I have an idea,” he responded.

“I’ve wanted this since the day I first brought you to Fire Island,” she said, looking at him.

“Me too.”

I rested my head on his shoulder. “I did, too.”

Brand didn’t talk about his meeting with his father, and I didn’t ask. It was enough to know both men seemed more at ease when Richard left.

When Brand had to leave on New Year’s Day to make it back to London, then head to Italy, I felt as though half my heart was being ripped from my chest, and I was sure he did too.

“We’ll see each other soon,” he said after telling me countless times he loved me.

For now, we could only communicate via the secure app I’d used to chat with Julie.

I couldn’t help but wonder how she and baby Linnea were doing and hoped she’d get in touch soon.

“Let’s go to California to celebrate your birthday,” Tara said two days after Brand left. “Knox has a meeting with Doc, and you could definitely use some cheering up. Plus, you need to share your big news with Quinn, Ava, and Aine.”

I thought for sure Tara would tell them, but it meant a lot that she hadn’t.

Like so manyother times in my life, I was endlessly grateful for the tribe. We’d always done our best to be there when one of us was in need. I couldn’t remember a time it had been me. Now, though, it was, and they jumped in to wrap me in all the love I needed until Brand returned.