No Reservations (10 page)

'Have you told him about this?'

'He only recently began the let's move in together thing.

He suggested we move to Lancaster which makes it halfway between our jobs and we each commute. Which is great but it doesn't get at the situation with his daughters stil going to school. While I don't mind him commuting an hour, why should they give up the house he's lived in for al these years?'

Because they're old enough to deal with that. For God's sake, they're not eight years old. You said they were with Pickles most weekdays anyway because she was way closer to the school and their jobs.'

'Back to you. I just think you should take a chance on Bingo. He's worth it. He's like way hot and stuff. He folds your laundry because it makes you happy. Christ, Leah, what man does that? He's like . . . wel , listen, if he were five or six years older and not your boyfriend and Dix wouldn't kil me and I didn't love him and al , I'd nail Brandon myself.'

They got out and let the doorman get the door for them as they sauntered through the lobby, through the atrium and back towards the elevators.

'Whore.' Leah laughed as they rode up to their floor.

You know it. So when are you going to cal him? He has to be worried.'

'I know. After dinner tonight I wil . Maybe I'l go home when you do.'

They got off and walked around the serene, luxuriously appointed comer and what should they see but Dix and Bingo looking like they slept rough and very unhappy.

Kate stopped, sheepish. 'Um. Guess you found where I was staying.'

Mouth in a hard line, Dix took the card key from her hand, opened the door, handed it to Brandon who looked equal y pissed off, and turned back to Kate. 'Which one is yours?'

She pointed to her room. He swatted her ass and pushed her along the way. She cast a look over her shoulder at Brandon and Leah before Dix slammed the door and menaced her.

'No offence or anything, but, one, you look like you slept on the floor of a Greyhound bus and, two, why are you here?'

He stepped towards her and she wrinkled her nose.

'There's a three, you smel like pee. Did Bingo have an accident or something?'

He threw up his hands and began to laugh. 'Damn you, Kate. Why can you always disarm me? I'm supposed to be mad at you. Bingo? And why the fuck do you look so good?

Being away from me means you turn into some fucking supermodel?'

She shoved him towards the bathroom, i wouldn't have had four glasses of champagne if I knew you'd be here. Bingo is apparently what Ma and Pa Kettle cal Band Boy. If you tel him, I wil have to kil you before Leah kil s me so keep that to yourself. Get out of those clothes and into the shower. I can't say I've ever had a thing for homeless, urine-stinky men, even ones who can blow me until I scream.'

She brought back a glass of champagne just as he was getting out of the shower.

Thank you.' He drank it in two swal ows, put the glass down and hauled her to him for a kiss that left her tingly, shaky and breathless. 'That's better. I looked like I slept on the sticky floor of a Greyhound bus because we spent last night at the ever so lovely Penny Pincher motor court about five miles from here with hot and cold running hookers with two-day beard growth and fishnet stockings in the lobby. By the way, he offered us a freebie. They had hourly rates. Brandon's feet hung off the end of the bed. Which crinkled from the plastic lining on the mattress. My skin is stil crawling. And here you are staying in the motherfucking penthouse suite at the Palisades! Why do you look so good? You smel like mango.

Your hair is al soft and straight. Your breasts are very fetching in that blouse. What the fuck have you been doing?'

'A guy I saved from a very nasty legal situation a few years ago works here. They had a last-minute cancel ation.

It's swank, no? I look rested because I am. I slept until eleven the last two mornings and I had breakfast served at the table out there while Leah and I leafed through magazines.

Yesterday we shopped and lunched and went dancing. Today we had a spa day which included a massage, a facial, skin treatments including mango body butter, a manicure and a pedicure. Oh and I got my hair done. In between those things, we had sushi for lunch and flirted with servers. I also masturbated three times for no other reason than I could and I knew Leah wasn't going to burst in without knocking and pretend she forgot I was in here. Why are you here? And most importantly, is Pickles with you?'

You test me, woman. You wouldn't tel me where you were. I wanted to be with you. You promised me this entire winter break and I'm here to col ect. Take those clothes ofF.'

She grinned. 'How did you find me?'

'Bingo has hotel connections. My God, your tits look good.' His hands replaced her bra and she arched into his touch. 'I have a suggestion.' I'm al ears and erection.'

'We owe each other a blow job, let's start with that first.'

Brandon said nothing as he watched Dix and Kate disappear into the bedroom. Without waiting for Leah, he stalked into the other bedroom. Her breath had left her at the sight of him in the hal and hadn't quite returned. She took a moment to run a hand over her hair, soft and smooth from the special conditioner they'd put in it at the spa. Then she fol owed him.

Leah wished she was wearing high heels instead of soft bal et flats. A skirt and a tailored blouse instead of the yoga pants and T-shirt. She wished she'd pul ed her hair into a bun or a braid, something tight and control ed. Because the way Brandon was looking at her right now made her feel anything but in control.

She closed the door behind her. He took a step towards her and, though she hated herself for doing it, she stepped back. His eyes flashed. Those big hands, the ones that knew every inch of her, curled into fists. He looked angry, and she didn't blame him.

He took another step towards her and this time she managed to stand her ground. Brandon would never hurt her.

Leah lifted her chin, meaning to say something, anything that would break the awful silence between them, but his mouth stopped her words before they made it off her tongue.

His hand slid beneath the weight of her hair and held the back of her neck. The other went to her hip, pul ed her close, ground her against his groin. Fuck, he was hard, and she moaned into his open mouth before she could stop herself.

Leah broke the kiss and pul ed away. Not far. With each word her lips brushed his, and she knew in another minute she would have to taste him again.

'I told you not to come after me,' she breathed, stil pinned against him by his grip.

'I didn't listen.'

How did you find me?'

His half-smile didn't quite erase the glitter of anger in his eyes. "I made a few cal s. Asked some friends who had friends who knew people.'

'You went to a lot of effort,' Leah said.

Brandon's hand tightened on her hip then slid around to cup her ass and grind her just a little bit harder against the thickness in his crotch. He opened his mouth, but said nothing, just gave a smal shake of his head that made the hair fal over his eyes. She liked it that way, though he preferred it shorter.

'Did you real y think I wouldn't?' he asked in a low voice, dark and deep.

Surprised at the tone, she tried to move away but Brandon's grip held her tight. Her hands went to his chest to push at him, but he was like rock, immovable. 'I told you not to.'

'And I do whatever you say. Right? Isn't that right?'

Leah blinked and pushed at him again, but Brandon held her fast. She straightened her back and shoulders.

Lifting her chin, she fixed him with the sort of steely glare that had lesser men quaking, but Brandon didn't quake. 'That's the way I like it, yes,' Leah said in a cool, even tone. 'Brandon.'

Heat flashed in his dark eyes. Under her palms, his heart thudded just a little harder. A slow, sweet spasm clenched her cunt and she bit her lower lip to keep from breathing out a gasp or a sigh.

He tilted his head just a bit, though, and looked deep into her eyes. 'And I always give you what you want,' he murmured without looking away from her.

His tongue wet his bottom lip and Leah leant in, just a little. Brandon didn't kiss her. He watched her, instead.

The moment froze between them, and once again Leah found herself grabbing for the threads of her control. Dammit, this was why she'd had to leave him in the first place, to take some time and get her head on straight. Away from those dark eyes, the head of thick dark hair, those big, big hands . .

.

'Why do I do that, Leah?'

She opened her mouth but found no words, just a soft sigh. Brandon took his hand from her hip and captured one of hers. He slid it down his broad chest, hard with muscle under his tight T-shirt. When her hand skated over the knot of his nipple, Leah bit down on her bottom lip again. Hard.

Brandon forced her fingers to curl over his crotch. The heavy bulge of his cock pressed her palm through wash-worn denim. He shifted under her touch, pushing himself harder into her hand.

'Feel that?' He bent to whisper in her ear, saving her the sight of his face. Saving her control. Because, as long as she didn't have to look at him, she could pretend she wasn't the one ready to drop to her knees. 'Feel how hard I am for you? I haven't slept in days, Leah. Have barely eaten. I haven't done a damned thing but think about how I was going to find you, even though you told me not to. And then when I get here al I can think about is how much I want to get inside you.'

Leah swal owed but didn't tiy to push him away. Brandon moved her hand up and down along the length of his erection inside his jeans. He took a quick moment to let go of the back of her neck and reach between them to undo the button and zipper, and another to slide her hand inside. Her hand slipped over soft cotton. His fingers curled, forcing hers to grip his cock through his boxer briefs. His breath stuttered when he moved her hand along his hard cock.

'Feel that.' His voice had dipped low again, though not in anger.

'I feel it.'

'That's for you.' He spoke directly into her ear, each word hovering on a soft puff of breath that tickled her lobe.

Brandon nuzzled her neck just beneath it, and Leah's nipples tightened to poke the sheer lace of her bra. His hand moved hers. Up, down. His cock thickened under her touch.

He shuddered when he took her hand and moved it under the waistband of his briefs to touch his bare skin. His cock, let loose from the cotton prison, sprang free, and Leah's hand closed around him al the way. Her other went to his shoulder, gripping tight, because God help her she needed the support.

Her knees had gone weak.

He pressed his teeth to her skin, not quite biting. A shiver rippled over her entire body and culminated between her legs where the lace of her panties had gone damp and tugged at her swol en clit with every shift. She thought he chuckled but the sound was immediately swal owed by his groan as her hand moved up and over the head of his prick.

He was stil moving her hand, and Leah let him. She wel knew how to get him off with her hand, her mouth, every piece of her, but for now she was letting him move her fist over his shaft at whatever pace he set. His long, strong fingers kept hers held tight to his flesh as he used her hand to jack himself.

Leah's fingers dug deeper into Brandon's shoulder. His free hand grabbed tight to her ass as he cocked a thigh between her legs. The pressure on her cunt sent another gasp from her throat and, when she sagged, his teeth skidded on her skin. Her head fel back and Brandon's mouth covered her throat with kisses. His tongue stabbed at her skin as his lips sucked, gently, then harder when she rocked against his leg.

And al the while he kept up the stroke-stroke of her hand in his, over his cock. He was rock hard now, his cock thick and hot. By now she would've taken over, ordered him to get on the bed, at least, so she could ride his face while she sucked that beautiful penis, but Leah couldn't move.

Mesmerised, hypnotised, held in place by his hand on her ass and his mouth on her throat. Anchored to him by his hand on hers.

'Whose prick are you stroking, Leah?' His voice had gone lower than low, now. Guttural, broken by shuddering breaths. 'Yours.'

His hand squeezed her ass as his thigh rocked against her. Leah's clit pulsed and she ground on his leg without shame. Fuck control. Fuck who was in charge. This felt too good, too big, too delicious to deny herself. 'No,' he said, surprising her.

She'd have stopped stroking but his hand kept moving.

She tried to pul away but couldn't. Brandon stepped up the pace, his hand moving faster. His hips moved. He was getting close.

'It's yours,' he said without a trace of irony, no hint of facetiousness. 'This is your dick, Leah. It belongs to you.'

He pul ed away to look into her eyes. His hand pushed hers faster. Harder. A tiny line appeared between his eyebrows and his lips pressed into a thin line. She knew that look. He was going to come, and she couldn't stop him.

She didn't real y want to.

'This,' Brandon said through clenched jaws, his hand squeezing hers around his cock, 'is yours.'

She started to shake her head, thinking she would find some words to protest this statement of ownership she didn't want to admit had her hungry cunt begging for more. The look on his face stopped her. His gaze dropped for just a second to his leg and her body against it, then moved back to her eyes.

'Say it,' Brandon told her. 'I want to hear you say it, Leah.

Own it. Own me.'

She tried to deny it. She didn't want to own him, like he was a piece of furniture or a jacket or a car. And he knew that, damn him, just as he knew that forcing her to say it would make real what was also already true.

Brandon pumped his hips, forcing his cock into her fist.

'Say it, Leah. I want to hear you say it. Right. . . now.'

'Oh, yes,' she said final y, and her hand moved on its own. Up and down, palming the head, adding a twist that made his entire body jerk. 'Yes, Brandon. This is mine. You . .