Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

brADEN

She loved me.

Even after everything, all the pain and heartache and confusion of the past week, she still loved me. She still wanted this. Wanted us .

With a smile that was like I'd just won the lottery – because I had – I claimed Dani's lips again, immediately licking at the seam of her lips and begging for entrance. She all-too-willingly opened for me, letting me deepen the kiss, and I just drank down her quiet whimpers and moans like a starving man at a banquet, lost to the passion and emotion that swirled around us, so thick that I almost felt like I could reach out and touch it.

Even though I had her pulled flush against me, it still felt like we were miles apart. Because all I wanted to do was erase every millimeter of space, every barrier between us and show her exactly how I felt about her. Take my time worshiping every inch of her and making her come undone over and over again until she just couldn't handle it anymore.

And then Isaac started to fuss, making us break apart, panting for breath.

"Um…I'm not done with dinner yet. Do you want to give him his bottle while I finish cooking?" Dani murmured.

"Abso-fucking-lutely," I said with a grin.

She leaned up to peck my lips one more time, then disappeared down the hallway and returned with a burp rag.

"Do you know how to burp him after he's done eating?"

I nodded. "Cousin's kids, remember?"

Walking over to the baby swing, I unstrapped my grumpy son and lifted him into my arms. As I looked down at his chubby little cheeks and into those brown eyes, I wondered how I could have been so blind. How I hadn't seen the similarities right away. Because this kid was my spitting image.

"Hola, little man," I said softly, then looked up at Dani. "I took ASL in high school. How do you say ‘I'm your dad' in Spanish?"

She chuckled and smiled. "‘Soy tu papá.'"

"Soy tu papá," I told him. "And I swear to God, I'm going to do my best to make sure you don't turn out anything like me."

Dani walked over to me, wrapping an arm around my waist and leaning against my arm. Shifting Isaac so I could hold him with one arm, I returned her hug, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

"Don't say that," she mumbled. "If he turns out to be even half the man you are, I'll be thrilled."

I looked at her with a raised brow. "There are way better people for him to turn out like."

Such as someone who hadn't fucked his way through half of Kansas City, Lawrence, and Orlando. Someone who hadn't let his anger get the best of him and ended up getting led away in handcuffs. Someone who hadn't gone almost a whole year completely oblivious to the fact that he'd knocked a girl up and had a fucking child he was responsible for.

"No, there aren't," she said. "You're a good man, Braden. Kind. Thoughtful. Generous. You thought I didn't notice when you quietly dropped fifty bucks in the tip jar at the coffee shop or left massive tips when we went out to eat, but I did. The first thing you thought of when you were planning a date night for us was a way to help me let out my emotions and process everything I'd been through. And no matter how hard I tried to push you away, you refused to abandon me and your son. So, yeah. If Isaac turns out anything at all like you, then we'll have done right by him."

Damn.

Why this woman – this fucking goddess – had chosen me to love, I'd never understand. But I knew I'd spend the rest of my life trying to be the man she saw. A man she and Isaac could be proud of.

I leaned down and stole a kiss. "I don't deserve you, beautiful. But I'll never stop trying."

Dani chuckled. "I could say the same thing to you." Then she gave me a slight squeeze before disentangling herself from my hold and heading toward the kitchen. "Let me warm up a bottle for him before he gets hangry."

I followed her and just smiled as I watched her mix up our little man's formula and put the bottle in the warmer on the countertop, singing along to the chorus of Taylor Swift's "Style" that was playing on her Bluetooth speaker and even doing the dance moves from the Eras Tour clips I'd seen come across my social media feeds. Once again, lost in the music. Carefree. Happy.

And this time? This time, there wasn't a single part of her that was holding back. No sadness lurking behind her eyes. She was beaming with a smile that could have lit up a whole stadium, letting the joy consume her, and fuck if it wasn't the most glorious sight I'd ever seen.

"So, what smells so amazing?" I asked as Dani and I walked out of the nursery, where we'd just put a very sleepy Isaac down…with the huge baby-safe plush Drake the Dragon – the Dragons' mascot – that I'd gotten him now sitting in a corner of the room.

"It's called ropa vieja," she said, setting the baby monitor screen on the table before heading back into the kitchen. "The first time you took me out, you said you wanted me to make real Cuban food for you sometime. You can't get more authentic than ropa vieja con arroz, frijoles, y plátanos fritos."

Seriously, why was hearing her speak in Spanish, even just telling me the name of a dish, so fucking sexy? I suddenly wasn't hungry for food anymore…and now there was nothing stopping me from showing her exactly what I was hungry for.

I walked into the kitchen and slid my arms around her waist, pulling her close as I brushed her hair away from her neck and kissed right above her pulse point. I could feel her shuddering in my arms, and I smiled against her skin before moving my lips to her ear.

"You have no idea what hearing you speak Spanish does to me," I whispered, ever so slightly pressing myself against her so she could feel how hard I was for her.

She giggled. "?Ah, sí?" She turned halfway in my arms, brushing her lips against mine before lowering her voice to a murmur. "Eres el hombre de mis sue?os."

I had no idea what that meant, other than that the word "sue?os" sounded a lot like the word "sue?es" from that phrase she'd told me meant "sleep with the little angels." I guessed it meant something to do with sleeping or maybe dreaming.

But before I could ask, the lyrics of the song that was playing on the speaker interrupted my train of thought, and what I heard stopped me dead in my tracks. Because literally every single word sounded like it was written specifically for us. All I could do was crash my lips to hers as I listened to the lyrics about a love that was weird, beautiful, and felt impossible, equating it to watching snow on the beach.

That was what this felt like. The fact that this woman still wanted me, even after everything we'd been through, was impossible. A dream. And also the most beautiful reality in the world.

Dani turned in my arms so she was facing me as she slid her arms around my neck and stood on her toes to kiss me again. I quickly lifted her to the counter, and she immediately wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled me closer as our lips and tongues dipped and swirled around each other. One of my hands gripped her leg as I fisted the other in her hair, tilting her head to the side so I could trail kisses down her neck while I pressed my painfully hard cock against her warm center, cursing the layers of fabric between us.

"Fuck, sweetheart," I groaned as I trailed my tongue up to her earlobe, grazing my teeth against it. "You don't know how much I want you right now."

"I…oh, God…" she mumbled while I continued to pepper kisses along her jaw and neck. "Braden, I…"

I lifted my mouth from her flawless bronze skin, pulling back to look into her eyes.

"Too fast?" I asked. "You can say no, beautiful. You can always say no."

She shook her head. "It's not that. I want this. I want you ." As if trying to convince me, she leaned forward and gave me a soft, tender kiss. "But I just… I've never…"

Fuck. Me.

My brain almost couldn't compute what she was trying to tell me. This woman was so damn beautiful. And sweet. And smart. And just…fucking awe-inspiring. There was no possible way she didn't have men lined up around the block for her.

I had no idea what my face looked like, but whatever she saw there, it made her cast her eyes downward like she was embarrassed.

"I…um, I'm demisexual," she mumbled. "I need an emotional connection before I can feel physical attraction. I get it if you?—"

I immediately put my hand under her chin and claimed her lips in a searing kiss, cutting her off from finishing that thought. Making sure she knew this didn't change a damn thing for me…other than the fact that I wasn't going to fuck her on the kitchen counter now. She deserved a first time that was as amazing and special as she was.

Reaching over to the stove, I turned off the burner where what looked like black beans were simmering, then put the slow cooker on the "keep warm" setting. Once I checked everything else, making sure we weren't going to burn the place down, I picked her up, making her squeal and giggle as she hooked her ankles behind my back, and started to head for her bedroom.

"Wait, wait," she said quickly. "The monitor."

Right. There was a baby sleeping in the nursery. One I'd helped create.

I stopped at the table, letting her lean down and grab it before I kissed her again. I'd thought I couldn't love her any more than I already did, but seeing her prioritize our little boy even in the midst of this monumental moment made me fall just a little bit harder.

Quickly crossing the apartment, I carried her to her bed and knelt down on the mattress as I deposited her beneath me, my lips crashing to hers as I skimmed my hand up her side, slowly pushing her shirt up as I went.

"Do you know how much I love you?" I whispered against her lips. "How fucking incredible you are?"

Dani chuckled and turned bright pink. "You don't have to sweet-talk me, B. I'm already a sure thing."

Why I loved hearing her call me by my nickname so much, I had no idea. But I did. Probably because it meant she was comfortable enough with me to call me by my nickname. And after the events of the past week and a half, that was nothing short of a miracle.

I laughed and kissed her. "It's not sweet-talking if it's true, sweetheart. You're kind. Smart. Fucking breathtaking. An amazing mother to that beautiful little boy in the next room. And for some reason I don't understand, you feel close enough to me to actually want this as much as I do."

I didn't know a lot about the asexual spectrum. It wasn't something I'd ever had to learn about because I'd never known anyone who identified that way until now. But from what I understood, for a demisexual person, finding that kind of connection with someone was rare. Sometimes it was even a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

And she felt that with me. That was the real gift she was giving me tonight. Not the gift of being the first – and, if I had my way, only – man she'd been with, but the gift of the trust and emotion that came with that decision for her.

"Porque te amo," she murmured. "Porque eres increíble también."

"Keep speaking Spanish to me and this is going to be over way faster than either of us wants," I teased, making her giggle again.

Fuck, I wanted to record that sound and play it on a loop forever.

Grinning, I nudged my nose against hers before feathering a kiss over her lips and pulling her up just enough to tug her shirt off. As she settled back on the mattress, I just took several long beats to gaze down at her. To appreciate the utter perfection that was Daniela Ramos.

"Beautiful," I breathed, leaning down to kiss her again as I slid my arms behind her back and unclasped her bra. "Fucking perfect."

I quickly slid her bra down her arms and tossed it to the floor, then brought my mouth to her neck, lightly grazing my teeth over her pulse point before sucking softly, relishing in the soft moan that escaped her lips. Which made me think of something I'd literally never had to worry about before.

"Is that monitor two-way?" I asked quietly. "Because the sounds that are about to spill from those sweet lips of yours are not going to be G-rated."

Turning dark crimson, Dani reached over to the nightstand, where she'd set the video monitor for the nursery cam, and flicked a switch. "Not anymore. And you're overdressed."

I chuckled as I quickly pulled my t-shirt off and threw it on the floor before kissing her hard and deep, groaning into her mouth as I felt nothing but her soft skin against mine. My dick strained against the confines of my jeans, desperate to be inside her, but I couldn't give in. Not yet. I needed to make this last. Because she deserved that, but also because I needed to savor every single second of tonight.

Releasing her mouth, I slowly trailed kisses along her jaw and neck, down to her collarbone and then her chest. My tongue drew a circle around her nipple before I tugged it into my mouth, sucking hard as I reached over to cup her other breast, flicking a thumb over that nipple.

"Oh, God," she whimpered as she wrapped her legs around my waist, arching her hips to rub against me.

As I licked a path over to her other breast and pulled the hardened bud between my lips, I gripped one of her thighs and bent her leg upward slightly as I rubbed my cock against her pussy through the layers of clothing, moaning at the sweet, torturous friction. She let out a sexy-as-fuck groan as she rocked her hips in time with mine and buried her hand in my hair, tugging at the strands while arching her back.

"That's it, beautiful. Just feel," I murmured against her skin, then flicked my tongue over her nipple again. "Let me worship you like the goddamn queen you are."

"I…fuck, I need…" she trailed off.

With a grin, I lifted my head from her chest and brought my mouth back to hers, letting my tongue take its time exploring her mouth while I slid a hand between us, down to the hem of the yoga pants she was wearing. I dipped my fingers beneath the fabric and slid them down to cup her pussy over her panties, rubbing my palm against her clit and letting out a growl when I felt how wet she was. She groaned into my mouth, pressing herself further against my hand, and I smiled against her lips.

"Shit, sweetheart," I rasped, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "You're fucking soaked. And I'm going to drink down every damn drop."

Dani's lips parted as a gasp escaped, and I covered them with mine again, kissing her deep. Pouring every ounce of love, awe, and absolute joy I felt in this moment into this connection with her.

"You want that, Dani? You want my mouth on that pretty pussy? You want me to make you come on my face?"

She just nodded, wide-eyed.

"I need your words, beautiful. Tell me what you want." I trailed a finger along her slit through the fabric, then pressed my thumb between her folds, rubbing slow circles on her clit.

"I…shit…" she panted as she writhed beneath me. "I want you…your mouth…fuck!"

With one final kiss, I shimmied down the bed, hooking my fingers into her pants and pulling them and her panties down her legs at the same time. She lifted her legs to allow me to pull them off her, and then I lifted her legs over my shoulders while I lowered myself between them, brushing my lips over the bare skin there.

The second I got a whiff of the sweet, musky scent of her arousal, all thoughts in my head about going slow and building anticipation went out the window. I needed to taste her now. So I lightly dragged my tongue over her slit, groaning as the intoxicating flavor hit my tastebuds.

"You are so goddamn sweet," I growled.

Parting her lower lips with my fingers, I gave her clit a long, firm lick before closing my mouth over it and sucking hard while swirling my tongue around the swollen nerves.

"Oh, fuck," she whimpered.

As I grazed my teeth over her clit, eliciting the sweetest moan from those gorgeous lips, I pressed one finger inside her, slowly pumping it in and out, making her groan as she bucked her hips against my face. After a few minutes, I added a second finger, scissoring them back and forth as I tried to stretch her out a little while continuing to feast on her like she was my last meal.

And if she had been my last meal, then I would have died a happy man.

"God, Braden," she cried. "Oh, shit. I'm… I'm gonna…"

I could feel her walls fluttering around me as she squeezed her legs around my head, keeping my mouth right where it was. Sucking harder on that sweet bud, I worked a third finger inside her and started pumping my hand faster.

"Fuck!" Dani groaned. "So…fucking…close."

"Let me have it, sweetheart," I murmured against her core. "Come for me."

When I curled my fingers to brush against that sweet spot inside her, she did. With my name on her lips, she tumbled off the cliff as she soaked my face and hand. And I fucking feasted on every last drop. Only when she closed her legs and pushed me away did I lift my mouth from her.

Quickly shedding the rest of my clothes, I grabbed my wallet out of the pocket of my jeans, retrieving a condom before crawling back up between her legs and crashing my lips to hers, letting her taste herself on my lips. She moaned into my mouth as she curled her arms around my shoulders and wound her legs around my waist, pulling me closer.

As my bare cock glided over her slick pussy, I let out a groan of equal parts absolute ecstasy and utter frustration. I needed to be inside her, but I also knew I needed to take this slow.

"I need in you, beautiful," I whispered against her lips. "You ready?"

"Yes," she breathed. "Just…take it slow. Please."

"I will. I'll do my best not to hurt you. I promise."

Rising to my knees, I ripped the foil packet open with my teeth. But before I could take the latex out, she put a hand on my thigh, making me look down at her.

"I have a birth control implant." Her voice was small. Meek. Almost embarrassed. "For medical reasons. If you?—"

I cut her off with a hard, deep kiss. I didn't want anything between us either. I couldn't give her the same first she was giving me, but at least I could give her another one tonight.

And the ones she was getting? They were the most important. The ones that really mattered. My first "I love you." My first time making love to a woman rather than just fucking her. And now this one.

"You sure, sweetheart?" I asked her. "I swear to God I'm clean, but if you want to wait until I can get tested again to prove it?—"

Now it was her turn to silence me with a kiss. "I trust you, Braden. And I love you. I don't want anything between us."

"I don't either. I can't give you what you're giving me tonight, but I'm so fucking happy I saved this first for you. And I'm even happier that you're going to be all of my lasts. Because I am never letting you go."

"Nunca te dejaré ir tampoco," she murmured. "Te amo tanto. Quiero estar contigo para siempre."

"What did I say about speaking Spanish to me right now?" I kissed her nose.

She let out a cute as fuck giggle. "Lo siento."

"Woman, you're going to be the death of me," I chuckled, then claimed her lips again. "But I can't think of a better way to go."

Taking one of her hands, I guided it between us, placing it on my painfully hard cock. Her lips parted, forming an O, as she tentatively curled her fingers around my length and slowly stroked. I breathed a sharp inhale before speaking.

"You feel that, beautiful? It's all for you. Only you. For the rest of my life. You hear me?"

She nodded and leaned up to kiss me as her hand left my dick. "Enough talking. Te necesito ahora, bebé. Síngame."

I groaned as I lined myself up with her entrance and slowly pushed just a few inches inside her, sucking in a shallow breath as I felt nothing but her skin against mine.

Fuck me, was this what I'd been missing out on for my whole life? The connection? The intimacy? The complete overwhelming of all my senses, blinding me to everything but her and the way she was making me feel?

"You okay, sweetheart?" I asked quietly.

Dani just nodded again, and I cupped her cheek in my hand as I gave her a soft kiss while sliding deeper inside her. When I met the resistance, I pulled back slightly, then pressed forward a little faster, figuring it was better to just get it over with and let her adjust to having me inside her. She let out a soft grunt as her fingers dug into my shoulder, and I deepened our kiss as I used every ounce of willpower I possessed to stay still rather than give in to the euphoria that was coursing through my veins.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, beautiful," I murmured.

"It's okay," she chuckled softly. "I'm okay. I love you."

"God, Dani. I love you so damn much. More than I ever knew was possible. You ready for me to move?"

"Sí. Por favor," she said with an impish grin.

I smiled and kissed her now-swollen lips while I glided halfway out and then back in, setting a gentle rhythm as I rocked in and out of her, peppering kisses on her lips, her neck, her collarbone, everywhere I could reach. And forcing myself to go slow like this? It just amplified everything. Made me appreciate every kiss, every touch, every spark of electricity that was racing through my body as I showed this goddess exactly what she meant to me.

"I won't break, B," Dani breathed. "Give me more."

"I love when you call me that," I confessed as I brushed my lips over hers while picking up my pace and bending one of her legs toward her stomach.

"Everyone calls you that," she said, then let out a moan as she arched her hips to take me deeper.

"Not you. Not usually." I pulled all the way back out and pushed back in, causing her to cry out as she arched her neck back. "Fuck, you feel too damn good, sweetheart."

"You feel better," she panted. "Harder. Please. So close."

Who was I to deny my girl what she needed? Picking up the pace, I started to piston harder, bottoming out with each thrust. And way too soon, I could feel the telltale tingling at the base of my spine as my balls started to tighten. No matter how much I wanted to make this last forever, I couldn't.

Slipping my hand between us, I pressed my thumb against her clit and started to rub.

"Shit, B!" she cried. "God, don't stop. I'm gonna come."

"Don't hold back, beautiful," I told her as I rubbed that swollen bud harder and picked up my pace even more. "Let go. Take me with you."

And with three more thrusts, she did.

"Braden, fuck!" she groaned as she pulsed around me, squeezing my cock in a vise grip.

Unable to hold back any longer, I tumbled off the cliff with her into that blissful freefall that had never felt so good.

"Christ, Dani," I growled, claiming her lips in a fierce kiss as I spilled myself inside her.