CHAPTER SIXTEEN

W illow threw the T-shirt on the bed and groaned. She was aiming for sexy and relaxed, but fifteen outfits later, she was ready to give up. Brayden would tell her to go naked.

She swept her hair into a messy bun and put the white top back on. On her bed was a pair of sweatpants and a pair of tight jeans.

The jeans won.

Not exactly Netfix attire, but they made her butt look sexy, so she slipped them on and took once last look in the mirror.

Knock, knock.

“Gorgeous,” Brayden said as he pulled her against his lips after she had opened the door.

She heard the paper bag and looked down. From the delicious aroma, she guessed it was their Turkish takeout.

“You smell delicious,” she moaned hungrily.

“If I had known hummus got that kind of reaction, I would have layered myself with it.”

She grinned, took the bag of food, and stopped herself from responding. His ego was big enough.

“How did your presentation go?”

“Good, I think. I’ll find out in a few days. I was so nervous, but having Bri in the room helped.”

She’d told Brayden all about their friendship and her friend’s loss. He’d surprised her by listening quietly while running his thumb over her knuckles affectionately and asking a few questions. Part of her resented the easy way they were together. Why couldn’t she meet a man like this for a long-term relationship?

Perhaps it was easy enough to do when he was only spending a few days with her and there was a guarantee of sex at the end of the conversation. She was aware of how cynical that sounded.

“Loyal friends are valuable,” he said, gathering the napkins and following her into the living room. “I’m sure you were amazing, and if not, you’ll learn and incorporate them into your next pitch.”

She loved that he was business-minded and they were able to talk shop. It was a complete turn-on. However, getting Brayden to talk about his day, in any detail, always fell flat.

Recalling her first impression of him, she began to wonder if this intimidating and powerful-looking man was mixed up in something criminal.

Whenever she pushed for more information, he’d brush her off saying his business was boring and would rather hear about her day. Did he think she was naive?

Willow had dropped it because in a few days, their affair would be over. The sobering thought had her glancing over as he bit into his kebab.

His forehead was creased, and his eyes were everywhere but on the TV. Something was on his mind. Looking back, she realized he’d only kissed her once and hadn’t laid a finger on her since.

It was incredibly unusual, based on the full four days she’d known him. She rolled her eyes at her insecurity and picked up the remote, switching to Netflix.

“Any favorite shows?”

Dropping his plate on the table, he laid a hand along the back of the sofa. Not on her.

“As long as it doesn’t start with Housewives of..., you choose.”

“I can guarantee it won’t.” She smiled, turning on an episode of Lucifer .

“Nice.” He moved over slightly and planted a kiss on her head.

Like. She. Was. His. Sister.

What the hell?

A while later, the screen began to load the next episode. Brayden glanced at her and ruffled her hair.

“Okay. Enough,” she said, switching off the screen. “Who are you and what have you done with Brayden?”

He pulled back his chin and laughed. “What now?”

“You’ve been here for over an hour and haven’t tried to have sex with me yet.”

He relaxed and laughed some more.

“First, I don’t try to have sex with you. I fuck you thoroughly, Willow. Second, the night is still young, principessa .”

He kissed her nose.

“There! That! You kissed my nose. It’s something you’d do to your sister.”

“I don’t have a sister.”

“Wait. Are you going to break up with me?” she asked, mouth gaping.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m getting my full week with you, Willow. Believe me.”

His voice was dark and sultry, and the way he looked at her, full of desire and want, felt far more familiar. She relaxed a little.

“Then what’s going on? I don’t mind this snuggly version of you, I just—oh God, it’s the unsexy outfit, isn’t it? Too soon.”

She couldn’t stop herself. She was never this insecure, but he was so damn hot, and she was...so damn normal.

Even in jeans and a sweatshirt, he looked like a god. In fact, tonight he looked bigger than usual in the blue-and-black outfit. Had those shoulders and chest grown overnight?

He shook his head and pulled her into his arms and onto his lap.

“Willow, you’d look sexy in a paper bag.” Pulling on her hair tie, he ran his hands through her brown waves and looked at her like she was an ice cream.

Now that was better.

“I have some things on my mind, nothing else.”

She sighed as his lips landed on hers, softly. As she opened for him, his tongue caressed hers sensually. He ended the kiss, and his silver eyes danced in a now familiar way before he blinked, and they returned to normal.

“Want to talk about it?”

He glanced away and shook his head.

“No.”

Fingers on his chin, she turned his face back to hers. “Stay with me.”

A line appeared between his brows and his body tensed underneath her. “Have you ever had to do something you don’t want to do? Something inexcusable.”

“No. Do you really have to do it, or just think you do? Are there any other options?”

“Yes. And no.”

“Then only you know what the right decision is for you.”

He kissed the side of her mouth. “Unfortunately, this impacts many people. People I care about.”

“I may not know you very well, Brayden, but I do not think you would do anything to hurt anyone you care about. It’s not in your nature.”

He glanced at her and squinted.

“I’m serious. You are very protective, and when you speak of your family, you have love in your eyes.”

He cupped her cheek and began kissing her. Longer, deeper, harder. His hand snuck under her top and ran up her back, making its way around the front and cupping her breast.

Underneath her, his cock hardened. They both moaned. There was the possessive and passionate man she knew. Releasing her lips a moment later, he gripped her waist tightly.

“You mean more to me than just sex, Willow. I want you to know this.”

She hadn’t expected to hear those words from him. Her eyes glistened, and the corners of her mouth curved up.

Oh.

She was ridiculously happy to hear him say that, and she’d worry about why later.

“Hey, we don’t have to do anything. I was just feeling insecure. Sorry.”

“No, you weren’t. I was distant, and you picked up on it intuitively.”

Her mouth fell open. “Okay, seriously, am I on some reality show?”

“What?” He laughed.

“Either you’re an AI prototype of the perfect man, or I’m dreaming. Something’s going on here.”

He laughed. “I’ll take it as a compliment.”

She laid her head on his shoulder. Brayden was right, though. She had picked up on his emotional distance, except she’d made it all about her. It wasn’t like her to be so insecure, and while everyone had their moments, she usually kept hers in check.

Surprised again by her reaction to this man, she found herself unable to stop.

“So, do you want to share more about this situation?”

He shook his head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” Taking her face in his hands, he gazed seriously into her eyes. “Willow, I found out yesterday that we’re heading back east in six days. I intend to spend all of them with you.”

She opened her mouth. Closed it. It wasn’t like she was counting the days, but if someone had asked, technically, it would give them two additional days together. But she wasn’t counting.

“There will be a day or two I am busy, but afterward, I want...no, I’ll need to see you.” He glanced across the room, his eyes looking haunted.

Now she was really beginning to wonder what he was involved with.

“Bray, I’m not sure...”

“I need you. For the next six days, Willow, I want you in my life. I’ve got some responsibilities to fulfill that are...difficult.”

She swallowed deeply and ran her fingers over his new stubble, wondering what he was getting himself into—or was already knee deep in.

Some women liked bad boys, and while they were most certainly sexy, Willow preferred her bad boys in a romance novel, not in her bed. Had her initial instincts been right about Brayden and his friend?

“If this is something illegal, perhaps it’s best you don’t do it.”

He let out a dark laugh. “Oh, it’s far worse than illegal.”

She pulled back. “What do you mean?”

He shook his head.

“Are you going to hurt someone? Please tell me you’re not into bad things, Brayden.” She tried to move off his lap, but he held her tight, eyes boring into hers.

“Honestly, if I do this right, the only person getting hurt will be me. It’s so fucked up.”

He let out a breath and his eyes darkened as they ran over her body. She saw the moment he shut down. His eyelids dropped and his large hand ran over her forehead, across her hair, and gripped it.

“I am not the nice man you think I am, Willow.”

She sucked in a breath.

“You’re scaring me, Brayden.”

“Am I? Or are you excited?” Her core flared with heat, her panties becoming moist as his cock grew harder and larger beneath her. “Isn’t this what you wanted? To have me desire you, touch you, and taste you.”

Her breathing became ragged as he ran his tongue down her throat, stopping at her pulse.

“You have no need to fear me. I’ll never hurt you.”

He pulled her T-shirt off, exposing her favorite sexy bra. She was also wearing the matching panties and had shaved and dabbed perfume in all the right places.

His strong hands held her hip and back of her head. She loved his dominance.

“I thought about you wearing no panties today. You were very naughty texting me that.”

“Did you believe me?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, suddenly lifting her up and laying her on the sofa.

His strength never failed to surprise her. She gasped as he laid his large muscular frame over her.

“Now, I’m going to punish you for that tease.”

He sucked on her nipple and unzipped her jeans, pulling them free.

“Punish me?” she squeaked out, a flush of anticipation running through her body. Kneeling over her, he nodded, then reached one hand behind him, ripping off his top.

Willow took a moment to enjoy the gift that was Brayden. His abdomen was tight and hard, with muscles that nearly defied nature. She reached out and ran her fingers across his soft olive skin and stopped as she saw the head of his cock peeking out. He grabbed her hand.

“You want that?” he asked as she licked her lips. She nodded, eager.

“I have some playing to do before you get it. As your punishment.”

He undid his jeans, and it sprung free. Her body clenched with a need so powerful, she burned.

“Bray, I...”

He grabbed her wrist again and pushed both her arms over her head. “Do I need to bind your hands?”

She swallowed. It was probably best. His body was layer upon layer of raw masculinity that she had to touch.

Free of his jeans, she noticed Brayden held something in his hand. He spread her natural juices around her pussy, and licking his fingers, he looked up at her, eyes dark with desire as she arched into him.

Her hands reached for him again.

“Last warning, or I’ll tie you up.”

She groaned. “Fuck me, Brayden. I need you inside me.”

He opened his hand. In his palm was a short string of large white pearls. She stared at them, then at him.

“I’m going to put these inside your nice, wet pussy,” he said, rubbing his hand along her thigh. “Relax, baby.” He dropped and began lapping at her, the feeling so intense and erotic she nearly came. He lifted his head and tapped her clit. “No. I’ll tell you when you can orgasm, Willow. Now relax and open for me.”

She gasped, the jolt and instruction stopping her.

Brayden lowered again and his fingers and tongue began moving around her folds, the delicious feeling causing all kinds of short circuits in her body and brain. Suddenly, she felt the foreign object enter her. It felt large but not uncomfortable. Just a pop and it was inside her. Her pussy contracted around it, wanting more.

“Yes, oh, good girl.” Brayden kept with the fingers and licking, then another one entered her. “Oh yes. God, Willow, so hot.”

Soon all five of the white pearls were inside her, filling her, every move she made creating waves of pleasure.

“Oh, my...” She groaned.

Brayden glanced up at her, running his tongue over her clit. “Next time, you will wear panties when you’re not with me, won’t you?”

He pinched a nipple and she groaned. “Brayden, please.”

“Oh, we are just getting started.”

He stood, and her eyes widened. Where was he going? But he didn’t go far. He moved to her side and gripped his cock. “Open your mouth, sweetheart.”

He slipped his cock in and pulled her hair into a tight bunch. She sucked on him, moving up and down his shaft. Every inch she moved stimulated the pearls within her, sending flares of ecstasy throughout her body.

“Oh God.”

Brayden held the base of his cock, pushing her head to go deeper. “Yes. God, Willow, that’s it.”

She was on the edge, so on the edge. Just when she thought she could handle no more, he surprised her again.

“Don’t come,” he reminded her, running a hand along her stomach, tweaking her clit, and lining his finger with her moisture only to lick it off. Her eyes begged his as he stared down at her with more desire than she’d seen in her life.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” he said, affection and lust filling his eyes. “You ready for more?”

She nodded. A sudden buzzing began within her, and she cried out, throwing her head back.

“Fuck, look at you.”

Pleasure flooded her body, short-circuiting her brain.

“Fuckfuckfuckfuck. Brayden!” she cried as he shoved his cock in her mouth again.

He reached and began circling her clit. “Come for me, Willow. Come now.”

As soon as permission was given, her body convulsed, arching into the pleasure of the vibration and stimulation from his fingers. She clenched, mouth flying open as powerful waves of pleasure blossomed through her. In complete surrender, she opened her eyes and watched as Brayden pumped his cock, spilling his seed into her mouth.

“My girl,” Brayden said, moving into position between her legs. Slowly he pulled the pearls out, one by one, and each time, she let out a pleasure-laced moan.

“Bray.”

Lying back, he pulled her on top of him and slid into her.

“Argh, fuck,” he exclaimed in surprise. “God, you feel so damn good.”

“I...”

“I’m going to fuck you hard, Willow. Are you okay with that?”

She nodded, and he did. Hard and fast, he pounded into her, moving her with his hold on her hips. How he had the strength, she had no idea and didn’t care. It was exactly what she needed. Every damn inch of him with total and utter dominating power.

They both came again before collapsing.

Brayden kept one arm around her lower back as they breathed laboriously together. He lifted her chin and kissed her long and hard.

“Never,” he said darkly, “Never will I not want you, Willow. Remember, always.”

His lips landed back on hers, totally owning her.

She didn’t know what the proclamation meant, but she did know she’d be giving him those six days, without question.