Domino Effect (Effect 2)

I was in the garage of our place looking through a box, trying to find my cookbooks. Brandt and I had just moved in together, and this was the first meal we’d share in our new home. Over the past few months, we’d become inseparable, but our relationship had deepened when we’d made the leap and decided to move in together. We were in love, and he was going to be my happily ever after. Giving up my search in this box, I stood and noticed a box on the top shelf. It was my last hope to find the cookbook with all my favorite recipes. Grandmama and I had matching volumes that we continued to add to as we found new and exciting things to prepare.

Standing on my tiptoes, I felt fingers under my shirt, moving up my stomach toward my free breasts. I had gone braless after my shower. As his hands reached the cusps, I sank back onto the balls of my feet and leaned into a bare chest. His fingers continued to dance over my breasts, tickling them in pleasure. Softly he skimmed across my nipple. I moaned as the feathery light touches sent desire coursing through my body.

“You’ve been walking around in those tight-ass shorts and your tits have been free for an hour. It’s time to fuck.”

The sound of his voice, deep and commanding, got me every time. “Any place in particular?”

“Yeah, there is.” We walked backward until he turned me around and pushed me down on the hood of his car. I complied, lying on the long, silver hood of the Corvette.

Brandt stood before me naked. His hands cupped my face then trailed down my body until they reached the top of my shorts. The metal was cool against my ass as he peeled my shorts from my body, exposing my lower half.

He stood back and stroked his cock. “Touch yourself, Nikola.”

My feet came up to the hood of the car and I opened my legs, letting my fingers begin to graze my clit. My abdomen contracted, making my back arch. Dipping into my core, I reveled in the feeling, knowing it was about to become more powerful. I brought my finger back up to my mouth, knowing what it did to Brandt when I tasted myself.

“Fuuuck!”

Brandt was on me in two seconds, penetrating deep inside me. My legs wrapped around his ass as they held on for one of Brandt’s mind-blowing fucks. His large, thick cock was awakening every nerve ending in me. My body was on fire. He was a machine.

“Clench that pussy around me, hard.” My body was a puppet to his command. I loved when he talked dirty. “That’s right, Nikki.”

His body glistened from the exertion. Brandt gave me a slight smirk, knowing, from the trembling walls of my core, that I was about to ignite.

I cried out incoherently as Brandt roared through his release, collapsing on me.

The light flickered, bringing me back to the present. I swallowed, wishing the memory would go away, too. As I glanced up at Brandt, his eyes burned with passion, and his breaths were short—like mine.

I took another step toward him as he whispered, “You were thinking about the time on the hood of the car when we fucked like animals.”

Inside, my body begged for a release, but Brandt didn’t move as I continued walking toward him. My voice was low as I said, “Yes.”

We locked onto each other’s eyes. Brandt’s fingers came to trace my mouth as he said, “You’ve always had the most beautiful, pouty lips.”

“Thank you.”

My resolve began to fade as I felt Brandt’s magnetic pull. My body wanted him—burned for him, even. And the stress of the day had left me needing him, like I used to. Wanting that feeling of being consumed, I closed my eyes, leaned forward.

Brandt pulled back away. “I won’t be a regret for you in the morning. It’s taking every ounce of will power not to fuck you again on the hood of my car.”

“Brandt—”

He held up his hands as I looked down, shame coursing through me. I’d been weak when I was supposed to be strong. Our relationship couldn’t be based on sex.

“Nikola.” I moved my head back up to meet his eyes. “We’ve had a long day. There’s nothing to feel ashamed of. The first time we’re together again is not going to be in my garage. And it’s not going to be when we are both on edge. Let’s go inside.”

The haze in my brain passed, and I realized what I’d tried to do. He was right—now was not the time. Without thinking, I grabbed his hand and squeezed. He looked back at me as I said, “You really are wonderful. I’m glad you came for me tonight.”

“I’ll always try do what’s right for us, baby.”

Startled, I sat up. Where am I? As my brain began functioning, I remembered—I was at Brandt’s. After showing me around his sparsely-furnished place, I’d elected to go to bed. At first, Brandt had wanted me to take his room, but sleeping while enveloped in his smell would not have been a good idea. I’d been exhausted and needed some time to myself to process. Stretching my legs, I prepared to get up.

The aroma of coffee permeated the air as I put my feet down on the floor. The hardwood’s cold penetrated my socks. Taking my robe from the foot of the bed, I put it on, cinching the belt tight as I made my way to the kitchen.

Brandt was at the small breakfast table, reading the paper. It had been a habit of his for as long as I had known him.

“I got your caramel mocha creamer stuff you like, in case you want some coffee. And your favorite bagels with the strawberry cream cheese stuff. If there’s something else you want, let me know and we can get it.”

He took another sip as he watched me. The way he phrased it made it seem like I was staying longer than just last night.

I felt a little shy as I responded, “Thank you.”

He set his coffee down and smiled. “You’re welcome.”

I went to the kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee, adding the creamer first. I could hear Brandt’s paper rustling while I toasted my bagel and spread cream cheese on it. Picking up my mess, I made my way back to the breakfast table and sat next to Brandt.

He put down the paper and said, “You fly out at noon today, right?”

My travel was out of control. I’d already scaled my business trips back to twice a month versus weekly, starting next month.

“Yes. I wish I could cancel so we could spend more time together. I’m going to try to work on moving some meetings—I want to spend more time with you.”

“I’d like that a lot.”

“Me, too. I wanted to ask you something about last night.”

Brandt put his hand on my knee. “Ask away.”

“Last night you said we’d talk about everything else later. What did you mean?”

Brandt leaned back in his seat. His relaxed posture helped me relax some. Last night, I hadn’t wanted to talk after our conversation in the garage.

“You can’t withhold stuff from me because you’re afraid it’s going to stress me out. Life is stress, Nikola, and I have to learn to deal with it. If you’re calling Wesley first because you’re nervous about me using drugs again, well, don’t. Call me first. If you’re calling Wesley because you aren’t comfortable enough with me yet, then that’s an entirely different story that we need to address.”

I took a sip of coffee. “I am comfortable with you. I was only scared of pushing you to drugs again. Do you care if I’m friends with Wesley?”

Brandt seemed pleased with my response as he looked at me. “If he looks at you truly as a friend, then yeah, I’m okay with it. If he starts looking at you with anything

more than friendship, then I’ll have a problem with it. I think you’d feel the same way.” His tone wasn’t threatening or jealous—just factual.

Over the months, I had asked myself several times if I felt anything for Wesley. Every time, I got the same internal answer: No. I knew Wesley felt the same way.

“I honestly don’t think that would ever be the case. But if it was, I have more respect for what we have than to jeopardize it like that. When it comes to you and Wesley, you win every time.”

“I like the sound of that…a lot.” Brandt took a sip. “Will you call me if you need something next time? Give me a chance to show you I can handle the stress.”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Good. I have some errands to run this morning. Do you want to ride with me? I’ll drop you off at the airport so you don’t have to worry about your car.”

“I’d like that.”

SIX DAYS HAD passed since I’d dropped Nikola off at the airport. What had started as a three-day trip had turned into a disaster. Nikola’s business affairs ended up being extended by one day, then she got stuck in Arkansas for two days due to bad weather. She’d finally landed and was waiting at the baggage claim.

I was ready to see her and had been circling the airport for about forty-five minutes. It was drizzling and the forecast called for sleet, with temperatures hovering around thirty-two degrees. The sooner we got home, the faster we’d be out of the mess that was bound to ensue if the roads got icy. One thing Atlanta was not equipped for was bad weather. Plus, it was going to start getting dark within the hour.

My phone vibrated.

Nikola: Headed out.

Me: I’ll be there.

As I came back around to the terminal, Nikola emerged from the sliding doors. I pulled up to the curb and hopped out of the car.

“Go ahead and hop in the car, I’ll get your bags, baby.”

It was good to see her again. I gave her a peck on the lips and felt her smiling. All I wanted to do was kiss her into oblivion, but I refrained. Nikola needed to control the pace of the relationship. I still had sixteen damn days before I could try to seduce her. If I kissed her like I wanted to, I’d be breaking my promise. If we were going to have sex prior to the blue balls timer going off, Nikola would have to instigate it.