Giving My All to You

Brandon scooped her up and placed her on his lap. “Do you know how hard it was for me to sit across from you today and not kiss you like I wanted?”

He didn’t give Faith a chance to answer before his mouth came crashing down on hers, hot and demanding. His tongue swirled around hers, while his hand slid up her bare thigh, heating her all over. He shifted her so she was straddling him and continued to devour her mouth. Any coherent thoughts she might have had dissolved with each tantalizing stroke. She didn’t know how, but she found the strength to pull away. “Brandon, we need to talk.”

“We are talking, baby.” His hands slid over her hips and back, and then came up to frame her face. Their eyes met. “Don’t you hear what I’m saying?” He stripped her shirt off.

Faith’s pulse spiked. “This isn’t…ooh…talking.” She shivered in response to the slow, meandering kisses on the tops of her breasts.

“I beg to differ. Listen closely to what I’m saying,” he murmured, divesting her of the bra and circling his tongue around her hardened nipples. “Can you hear me now?”

She cried out at the exquisite torture. Surely he didn’t expect her to answer. And the only things she could hear were her labored breathing and her heart pounding in her ears.

“I’m telling you what I feel.” Brandon lifted his head and kissed her again, this time softly, tenderly.

Tears stung the backs of her eyes. Yes, she heard him. She felt him. Loved him.

“Let me show you, Faith. I want to show you how much you mean to me.” Brandon came to his feet, still holding her in his arms and strode down across the room to her bedroom.

Faith should have protested, should have said something, but she wanted this last night with him.

* * *

Brandon stared down at Faith sleeping beside him and a riot of emotions swirled around in his chest. No matter how hard he tried to tell himself otherwise—that it was just fun and great sex—his heart said something different. I love her. And she’d be leaving unless he could convince her to stay. He had planned to continue their conversation from lunch when he arrived, but one kiss was all it took for him to lose focus. Or redirect it. He could still feel her hands and mouth on his body and would swear he heard her whisper, “I love you,” as she drifted off. It gave him hope they were on the same page.

As much as he wanted to spend the night, he had the standing appointment with his brothers at the gym in the morning and he’d never make it if he stayed. But she was sleeping so peacefully he didn’t want to wake her. Brandon left the bed silently and dressed. He used the pen and notepad provided by the hotel to write a note letting her know he would be back tomorrow afternoon to talk and placed it on the pillow next to her. He gently pushed the hair off her face and kissed her lightly. “Sleep well, baby,” he whispered and slipped out quietly.

Brandon managed to get a few hours of sleep and, by the time he got to the gym, everyone else had arrived.

“I thought I was going to have to take your place,” Khalil said.

Malcolm laughed and eyed Brandon critically. “By the looks of big brother, that might be a good idea. Were you working late last night again, Brandon?”

Justin and Omar threw Brandon a knowing look, but didn’t comment.

Brandon bent to tighten his shoelaces. “No.”

Khalil let out a short bark of laughter. “No?” He sidled next to Malcolm and elbowed him playfully. “I think Brandon is going to be playing on the other team soon,” he said, gesturing toward Justin and Omar.

Malcolm’s eyes widened and he whipped his head around toward Brandon. “You’re dating someone seriously? Who is she?”

Brandon knew he’d have to deal with his brothers sooner or later. “None of your business.” He picked up the ball. “Are we playing or not?”

Instead of playing a full game, they opted for a shootaround. During the game, the conversation went from the current state of politics to sports and everything in between.

“Brandon, do you know what this meeting is about on Tuesday?” Khalil asked as he made a shot.

“I’m guessing it has to do with Uncle Thad’s heir.” He still got heated every time he thought about it.