Chapter 3: All or Nothing: Chapter 2

I waited for regret over my little tryst with Braydon to rise to the surface, yet it was strangely absent in the morning. I couldn’t clear my thoughts of him. Maybe my pride was able to remain intact because we hadn’t had sex and he’d remained fully clothed. I wasn’t sure. I only knew I thought of last night with a warm and pleasant feeling.

After a quick shower, I combed my wet hair and opted for a low ponytail, jeans, and a cozy V-neck T-shirt. I had no one to impress. I was on my way to a casual coffee date with Ben and Emmy before they left for their month-long honeymoon. Of course, as Ben’s best friend, Braydon would be there, too, but I refused to let things get weird between us after last night. I had nothing to be ashamed of.

When I arrived at the coffee shop, I spotted Braydon straightaway. He was waiting at the back of the line, fiddling with his phone. Gone were the tuxedo and shiny leather shoes of last night. Today he was in worn jeans slung low on his hips, beat-up navy blue Converse sneakers, and a light gray T-shirt that hugged his long, lean frame. He looked every bit as edible as the night before. His hair, unstyled, was missing the shiny pomade and was pushed up in the front in a casual yet sexy way. I wished I was immune to him, but seeing him standing there, looking like sex on a stick, it was obvious I was anything but. Damn hormones. I had no choice but to join him at the end of the line.

“Hi, kitten. How are you feeling this morning?”

“Uh-uh.” I wagged my finger at him. “What happened last night is never happening again.”

“Relax, babe. It was fun, right?”

I nodded reluctantly. No denying that. I’d replayed the way his messy dark hair had looked between my thighs, the way his mouth had devoured me, the sure way his fingers had stroked me inside. I couldn’t believe I’d allowed him to go down on me, and that I’d done nothing in return to him and then fled. That wasn’t supposed to happen between us. I felt like an idiot. Or the coolest chick ever. Ha! When I’d apologized later for leaving him in that state, he’d merely shrugged and said he had hands—implying that he’d take care of himself.

My heart throbbed painfully in my chest as he continued to watch me.

Tipping his head low to whisper near my ear, his warm scent greeted me. “I want all of you next time.”

I shook my head. “Braydon, that’s not happening again. I was just lonely and caught up in the moment. I’m changing teams. No more men for me.”

“It’s only a matter of time. I will be inside you.”

A tiny whimper escaped my throat.

“Shh.” His hand pressed against my lower back. “It’s going to happen. Don’t fight it. I promise it’ll feel good.”

My heart thumped steadily in my chest.

His firm touch guided me forward in line to order. The barista stared at me blankly. Shit! I couldn’t get my mouth to work.

Braydon leaned down to my ear. “You like coffee?”

I nodded, my head bobbing on my shoulders.

“Two medium coffees, please,” he ordered for us.

I was reduced to pointing and nodding. God, this man turned me into a pile of hormones and sex. I needed medical help. Stat!

After handing the barista some cash, and dropping his change into the tip jar, Braydon accepted the two cups of coffee and led me to a table in the back. After making sure I was seated, Braydon turned to me. “Would like you cream? Sugar?”

“Yes, please. Both.”

I watched his cute butt as he strolled across the room to doctor up our coffees.

Emmy and Ben entered as Braydon was making his way back to the table. We shared hugs and stories from last night while Braydon went to stand in line again to order for the happy couple.

Once he’d rejoined us, sliding into the empty seat next to me, Emmy’s mouth curved up in a grin. “I was just thinking about last night . . . you know, when you lost your contacts,” she said, using air quotes.

I kicked her under the table.

“Ouch!” She bent down and rubbed her shin.

“Sorry. Reflex,” I apologized weakly.

“Seriously, though, will you guys be okay while we’re gone?” Emmy asked, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Bray.

Braydon’s hand disappeared under the table and closed around my knee, giving it a playful squeeze.

“Of course,” I stammered.

“Braydon will take care of her, won’t you Bray?” Ben asked.

Braydon looked straight at me, his brilliant blue eyes fringed in dark lashes smiling at mine. “I surely will.”

Emmy looked skeptical but shrugged. “With you two, I don’t know if I’ll find you in a closet tearing each other’s clothes off or with Ellie ripping your throat out.”

“I like it rough.” The low growl emanating from Braydon’s throat caused my nipples to harden against my bra. “I’m in.” Braydon grinned.

“Not happening,” I barked, taking a sip of my coffee. Damn! Too hot. I winced, pushing the paper cup away from me. Being near him was maddening. I wanted to lash out at him one second and fuck him silly the next. My mood swings were going to give me whiplash.

“Excuse us a minute.” Emmy grabbed my hand and yanked me from the table, practically dragging me to the restroom.

“Ouch . . . sheesh.” I wrenched my hand free, splaying my fingers open and closed in an attempt to get some of the blood to return to the digits.

“You and Braydon . . . oh my God, tell me everything!”

I splashed cool water on my cheeks and washed my hands. Emmy handed me a wad of paper towel, watching me closely in the mirror.

“What the hell happened last night?”

“Umm . . .” I accepted the paper towels, drying my hands and blotting my face. I didn’t know how to answer, what to say.

“Seriously, you better spill it. I tell you everything about me and Ben. Every single detail.”

It was true. She did. I’d listened to every sordid tale and given her advice when they first started dating—and every time he’d done something foolish to mess it up.

“Did you guys get it on? I know that crap about contacts was a lie, so you better just come clean.”

“We fooled around a little. We didn’t have sex.”

A slow smile curled on Emmy’s lips. “Did you see his piercing?”

“What piercing?”

She blushed feverishly. “Never mind. So what in the world happened? You fight with him constantly.”

“I know. I guess all that bickering gave way to sexual tension and, I don’t know. I just stopped fighting it last night.”

“Okay, so are you guys, like, hanging out now?”

“No. It was a one-time thing. A stupid mistake. I’m just glad I didn’t let it go any further than it did.”

I hadn’t really opened up to Emmy about my lonely and miserable state. I hadn’t wanted to rain on her parade. She was deeply in love, planning a wedding, a honeymoon, and running Ben’s charity. She had a lot on her plate. And even though I hadn’t said the words out loud, I thought, deep down, she knew I’d had a string of bad relationships and wanted something real. I was done wasting my time on Mr. Right Now. My heart was sick of all the games. I was looking for the real thing.

“Okay. So we’re still Operation: All Men Are Dicks.”

I nodded. “Correct.”

“Okay, well, just so you know, Bray’s not really a dick. He’s actually a really good guy.”

Yeah, a good guy who’d seduced me with flirty glances and dirty words and stripped me of my panties in a public rest­room. But when I reflected on last night, he hadn’t expected anything of me. He’d gotten me off—twice, as he reminded me—and then let me flee the scene. I chuckled at the memory. It was rather odd for a hookup. Not like most guys, who would’ve wanted something in return.

“What?” Emmy asked.

“Nothing. Let’s go back out there before Ben sends in a search party after you.”

“He’s not that bad!” She smiled. We both knew he was, but she loved him and all his possessive, dominant ways too much to argue.

We rejoined the guys at the table and finished our coffees. Braydon kept quiet and sipped his drink, every once in a while lifting his blue eyes to mine. I pretended not to notice. Ben checked his watch and announced they needed to get going if they were going to make their flight. I was getting used to her busy travel schedule, but still, the idea of not seeing Emmy for a month was not something I looked forward to.

We gathered on the sidewalk for hugs and farewells, and all too soon Emmy and Ben were whisked away by their driver to head to the airport.

Braydon turned to me and smiled. “Shall I walk you home?” he asked.

“No.” So much for manners and pleasantries. I knew if I gave him an inch, he’d take a mile.

“Afraid you’ll invite me up?” He grinned, tucking his hands inside his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

“No. I just don’t want you knowing where I live. How do I know you’re not a creeper?”

His face turned serious, his eyebrows knitting together in concern. “You can trust me, Ellie. I’d never do something you didn’t want. And I’d take care of you, you know.”

I nodded. One second we were playful and sarcastic; the next he was turning the tables on me, deepening the conversation to places I couldn’t let myself go. “I’d rather just be alone,” I murmured.

He nodded, watching my closely. “Can’t blame a guy for trying. Enjoy your day, kitten.” He turned and strolled away, leaving me watching his strong back and the delectable way his muscles moved under his T-shirt. With one hand still stuffed in his pocket, his other pulled out his cell phone. He no doubt had a bevy of girls on his contacts list, ready and waiting to warm the spot in his bed that I refused to take. Which was exactly as it should be. I needed to move on from my little Braydon adventure.