He reached for her, pulling her into his arms, and buried his face in her neck. The relief was replaced by instant fear—fear that he was going to blow this. Even he hadn’t anticipated his reaction to be so heated. “I’m sorry.” He kissed her neck twice before pulling away. “I had a feeling I might suck at this, but I promise I won’t always be like this. I just . . .” He shook his head. “I’ll give you all the time you need. If you’d rather not talk about her yet, I’ll wait. I won’t be so—”
She kissed him, not letting him go on, and that was a damn good thing because, unbelievably, another thought he never expected to be thinking had begun to cloud his mind. For a moment of insane desperation, he actually considered doing something he long ago vowed he’d never do for anyone—beg. As much he felt for Regina, even she wouldn’t make him break that vow.
He had to get it together. His insecure ass was going to destroy this—this thing that after only a week he could already tell was the best thing that’d ever happened to him. Still, his reaction to thinking she didn’t want to tell him about another guy in her life hadn’t been unfounded. “I’m sorry I misunderstood,” he explained. “I really thought it was a guy you were on the phone with and sent you that romance novel.”
He kissed her deeply, wanting that last comment to register loud and clear. He wasn’t apologizing for nearly losing it because of that. If that were ever the case, she should expect nothing less. In fact, it’d probably be even more severe. The longer he was around her—spoiling her—claiming her with every kiss every time they made love, the likelier it’d be that he’d have less control over his emotions over anyone coming between them.
She ran her fingers through his hair as their kissing began going into that familiar, wild, uncontrolled place. Just like that, as always when he kissed her, he was instantly aroused, and his throbbing erection was already impossible to conceal through his thin boxer briefs. Remembering she was hungry and this was his chance to appease her with what she was craving, he pulled away gently, but she pulled him back, holding his shoulders tight.
Taking that as an invitation to dive in, he did so as wildly as only she could make him, as he had that very first time he kissed her madly. He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around him instantly. “Careful,” he reminded her, mindful to not hurt her ankle.
He may never beg, but spoiling and appeasing his girl he could do. In fact, he couldn’t think of anything that felt better than seeing that beautiful smiling face or, in this case, her crying out in pleasure. Just like the spoiling, he wanted to make something perfectly clear: she didn’t need anyone else spoiling her or making her cry out in pleasure ever again.
Laying her down on the bed, he pulled her panties off and spread her wide. Her eyes went equally as wide. Since the first time they’d made love, while he’d made sure she was satisfied to near exhaustion, they’d done it his new favorite way every time—feeling her come while he kissed her insatiably, something completely and utterly new to him. He knew if things didn’t work out between them it would never happen again. That was something reserved exclusively for Regina, and he would never even try it with anyone else. So he could not get enough of it.
But right now was all about spoiling his little princess. Getting comfortable between her legs, he smiled because he hadn’t done a thing yet, and already she was trembling. The whole giving-feeling-so-much-better-than-receiving theory certainly applied here. The moment his mouth and tongue began greedily sucking up every ounce of her sweetness and he heard her moan in pleasure, he knew it. Just like kissing her, this was just another thing he’d never get enough of.
Chapter Sixteen
Regina
That Sunday was the first time since Regina’s fall that she felt ready to get back in the driver’s seat. She didn’t think her family would fall for another excuse not to make it for their Sunday brunch, and she had to admit she missed them and was looking forward to seeing them again.
Fortunately, Brandon immediately mentioned that her visit to her parents would work out perfectly since he had errands to run and wanted to get back in the gym. Feeling guilty that it was her fault he’d neglected working out and possibly doing other things he normally did, she didn’t dare ask him to come with her. Secretly, she’d been relieved. She knew she was a grown-ass woman, and if she chose to all but move in with her boyfriend of just over a week, it was her business, and her family had no say in it. Still, she preferred to wean them to this unexpected change in her life. It was better to tell them about him first rather than just showing up with him.
Seeing her family once again had been great. As expected, they grilled her about Brandon the moment she’d mentioned meeting someone. They still didn’t know the half of it, but she did tell them she was very serious about him and told her sisters that he was possibly the most amazing kisser ever. Of course, they all asked when they could meet him, but she made no promises. She only assured them that it would be soon.
On her way back from her family’s brunch, Regina smiled, feeling her insides simmer with the excitement of simply knowing she’d soon be indulging in those amazing kisses again. To her surprise, Brandon walked out the door of his apartment as soon as she pulled in.
“Feel like Tiramisu?” He asked with a breathtaking smile.
Her brunch with her parents had been hours ago. Most of the last couple of hours she’d spent being the center of attention as they all continued to interrogate her about her new man. Tiramisu right then sounded perfect.
Nodding, she walked toward him. “You bought some?”
“No.” He held his keys up. “We can go knock another Gaslamp restaurant off your list.”
Regina had told him about her and Janecia’s quest to try every restaurant on that strip. She’d also told him about how weak-minded she was when it came to cravings setting in. Advertisers loved simpletons like her because the moment she saw anything tantalizing on TV or anywhere she’d have a craving for it until she got it. Last night they’d been lying in bed with the television on when Brandon clicked on a cooking reality show where the contestants were asked to make Tiramisu, one of her all-time favorite desserts. Brandon had laughed at the way her eyes sparkled as she watched the judges tasting the dessert. He’d even offered to go out and buy her some, but she declined, feeling like a spoiled brat. At the same time, she’d felt like the luckiest girl in the world to have found such an amazing guy, who’d be willing to run out and buy her cake just because he thought it would make her happy. Now he was offering to take her to get some.
“Yes!” She smiled brightly before kissing him as she reached him. “I don’t deserve you,” she said as she pulled away.
“Because I’m taking you to get Tiramisu?” He grinned playfully, already tugging her along toward his Jeep.
“No, because you remember everything, Brandon, even the silly things I tell you, and then you turn it around and do something so sweet. Do you even like tiramisu? Its main ingredient is coffee or espresso, and I know you don’t care for either.”
“I’ve had it before and it’s okay. I can always order something else.” They reached the passenger side of his Jeep, and he pulled her to him then leaned against the door, kissing her, her insides melting instantly. Pulling away, he stared in her eyes. “If I tell you something, you promise you won’t laugh?”