His voice was like steel when he spoke. “This isn’t a negotiation Gina. Where are you staying and I’ll meet you there?”
She put her dark glasses back on. “You don’t control me. No one does. You should know that by now. Like I said, I’ll tell you tomorrow when I call to set up our meeting.” With all the drama she could muster, Gina turned on her heels to walk back toward the running car that had been waiting for her.
Alex stood and watched as the luxury sedan drove away. He waited until the brake lights of the car passed through the gates and he was sure she was no longer on his property. It was only then that he pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket and hit the speed dial number. On the first ring, someone picked up.
“Sooner than I anticipated, but just as I expected. She’s here. Close the front gate and beef up security here at the house, as well as on Braylee, Fabi, and Cecily.”
*****
More than a little drained from dealing with Gina, Alex dragged himself up the stairs. While walking down the hallway toward his bedroom, he attempted to get himself together. Once he arrived at the door, Alex stood in front of it with his arms outstretched and bracketing each side. His head was bowed, and his eyes were closed. Gina had thoroughly soured his mood from earlier. After inhaling deeply, he took another moment to gather himself before going inside.
This disaster wasn’t Braylee’s fault. Somehow Alex was going to have to figure out a way to navigate through treacherous waters to keep her safe. Their relationship was still so new, yet they had already been through a lifetime’s worth of drama. Frustrated, he took a hand and ran it over his face. He would manage this, but it wasn’t going to be figured out tonight. After taking another calming breath and feeling more in control, Alex turned the knob and opened the door.
It was obvious when he walked inside that Braylee had gone through a considerable amount of effort. She wouldn’t do this for just anybody. This was for him, and he knew it. Something about that stirred the caveman inside. Feelings he thought had dissipated returned the moment he was in her presence. Alex continued to scan the room. It was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight as the flicker of the flames bounced off of the walls. What made his heart stop was the sight of Braylee lying sexily across his bed wearing a silky pair of panties, thigh-high stockings and nothing else. His entire body stiffened. His voice was husky. “Sorry, that took much longer than it should have.”
Braylee crawled to the edge of the bed and stood up on her knees before reaching out to him. “I was almost ready to send out a search party. Who was at the door?”
Looking at the soft swell of her breast and the way her nipples had pebbled, Gina was the last person he wanted to think about. “Nobody important and even less so now that I know what has been waiting for me.” A slow smile crept across his face as he focused entirely on her smooth as caramel body. He couldn’t wait to run his tongue over skin that appeared as if it had been feather dusted with flecks of gold. “You went through a lot of trouble.”
Seductively, she responded, “Just a bit.” Something was off. She felt it. Braylee couldn’t help but wonder who was really at the door. But for now, she would let it go. Something in the set of his shoulders was tense. Maybe once he relaxed, he would tell her. He obviously didn’t want to ruin the mood and neither did she. She hooked her fingers through the loops of his slacks and pulled him closer.
Alex wrapped his hands around the back of her neck and drew her lips to his in a hungry kiss. He moved to erase the remaining space between them. His kiss not only made her heart beat faster but warmed her all over.
Seven long days of not having her in his arms was too much. Alex would have to put his worries to the back of his mind. All he could do at this moment was focus on Braylee—on them.
Whispering against the softness of her lips, he asked, “How much time do we have?”
She whispered back, “Just a couple of hours.”
With a gentle touch, he pushed her back against the mattress. “That’s all the time I need to make you lose your voice screaming my name.”
Chapter 2
After just a few short hours of sleep, Braylee and Alex walked into the kitchen the next morning seemingly more refreshed than they should have been. Cecily and Fabi were already having breakfast and were laughing about something. Cecily sat at the table in her school uniform eating a bowl of cereal and Fabi was standing at the counter pouring himself a glass of orange juice.
It was Fabi who noticed Braylee and Alex first. “I didn’t think I’d see you two before I left for work.”
Cecily’s big brown eyes matched her smile. “Morning Braylee. Hey, Uncle Alex. How was your trip?”
Happiness radiated through Braylee as she returned her greeting with a smile that matched her mood. “Good morning Cecily…Fabi.” When she walked over by Fabi, Braylee mouthed the words thank you while reaching into the cabinet for a glass. “That looks refreshing. I think I’ll have some before I head off to work.” Fabi smiled a conspiratorial
