Keeping Her Close: A Slow Burn Standalone

by Casey Diam

  “Drink up,” she said.

  After he finished, she took the bottle from him and leaned over to set it on the carpet. He had to be the luckiest man alive. She gave him a feverish kiss as she loosened his bowtie, and he unbuttoned his shirt, remembering how excited she’d gotten the last time. Because although her ripping his clothes off was a huge turn on, this time he didn’t have a spare.

  “What has gotten into you tonight?” he teased.

  “Nothing yet, but I’m hoping you.”

  “You never cease to amaze.” He pulled her against him, and the softness of her sheer panties glided along his shaft.

  “I need to feel you inside,” she whispered when he kissed her neck.

  “I can definitely help you with that.” As he slid his hand between them, his phone buzzed at his feet. He ignored it, but then Jordan’s phone rang. She sighed, removing herself from his hold as she retrieved it from the bed. “It’s your mom.”

  Brandon shrugged, and she answered the call. “Hi, Kim . . . Brandon, uh . . .” Biting her lip, she looked at him. “Okay, I will. Bye.”

  “What happened?”

  “She’s leaving with your dad and needs you to come back to the party to host until it’s over. Do you think she’s on to us?” Jordan sat on him again.

  “She’s very intuitive, so I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  “So, she knows. But intuitive or not, you did kiss me in front of everyone. Which means we should tell our friends tonight.” Jordan pressed her lips to his, smiling as she murmured, “But I still need to feel you inside me before you leave this room.” She slid her panties over and ground her wet slit against him.

  Oh, boy. “Beautiful, you’re so much trouble,” Brandon said, nibbling her lip. “I think I may need to keep you around for a very, very long time. The condom’s in my wallet.”

  “You don’t need one. It’s only for two seconds. I just need to feel you, really feel you.” Jordan kissed his neck and teased her tongue in his ear, and his body trembled.

  Without letting a second more go by, he slid his cock into her warmth and—holy shit. He had to be dreaming. He’d been fantasizing about taking her raw since day one. And only she had merited that desire in ten years of women. It was like his body knew he would need this closeness with her. Skin on skin. Nothing between them. Holy shit. Fucking ecstasy.

  Lifting his pelvis, he pushed himself in until she cried out. Then he continued to stretch her until she took all of him. She was made for him; he was sure of it. His breathing grew heavy as he lifted her hips and pulled her down. How the hell was he going to make it back to the party in one piece?

  “Shit,” he hissed, squeezing his eyes shut when Jordan started to ride him. “Baby, if you keep doing that—”

  “Don’t worry, I’m on the pill now. This is a gift from me to you for those test results you taped to my chocolates. Plus, it’s not like we can do more harm than we already have.”

  “All I heard is that I can come in you. Fuck the party—deep inside of you is the only place I belong. And when you say test results . . .” He skimmed his hands up her arms. “Are the exams I take at school admissible for moments like these? Because I may need this gift on a regular basis now.”

  Jordan laughed. “You have no self-control, do you?”

  “When it comes to you? None.”

  He ran his hands up her thighs, catching the hem of her red satin dress and pulling it over her head. Tossing it to the side, he unhooked her front-closure bra, took a nipple into his mouth, and covered the other breast with his hand. She moaned and grabbed his hair.

  “Ride me until your little cunt squeezes every last drop out of my cock. It’s yours, beautiful. All yours.”

  Her breathing quickened, as she moved faster and faster, giving in to pleasure until her muscles tightened around him and she convulsed. Taking control of her hips, he helped her ride out her very last spasm while giving him enough time to empty himself.

  She kissed him, using her teeth to tug on his bottom lip. “Look who’s having multiple orgasms.”

  He loved her. Yup, he fucking loved her.

  He eventually went back downstairs, but he spent the remainder of the party staring at the woman he’d fallen in love with—the same one who’d also recommended a bath together when they got home.

  With Jordan’s back pressed against his chest in the tub, he smoothed suds down her shoulders. And with the fireplace before them creating the perfect mood, he couldn’t help but reflect on how seamlessly she fit into his life, or how easily he could foresee a future with her.

  “I like this,” Jordan said, relaxing her head onto his chest. “I used to believe in fairy tales: grow up, go to college, fall in love, get married, have a baby. But now, I feel like maybe living for moments like these is just as good.”

  Toying with her palm pressed against his, he interlocked his fingers with hers, released them, and closed his fingers around hers again. It was then that the words he thought he’d never say began to spill from his lips.

  “Hailey was the name of the first girl I fell in love with. She was my high school sweetheart. I lost my virginity to her, and I proposed to her our senior year in high school, which was when she got pregnant.”

  Jordan stiffened, but he stared into the fireplace, willing himself to go on.

  “While I was deployed overseas, she would send me ultrasound images and love letters. And I don’t know if she really loved me or not, but eventually I realized it wasn’t my baby. She had slept with one of my father’s friends and lied to my face about it.”

  After a pause, he continued, explaining what happened after Hailey gave birth and how he’d learned the truth. “Within a few months, I’d separated from the military and moved back in with my parents. My dad sponsored me for flight school. He handled everything and kept what had happened to me a secret. Only the people involved and close family knew the truth. I just stayed as busy as possible, focusing on myself, my future, friends, and family. I never fully committed to another woman after that. It could’ve been out of fear, but sometimes I think it’s because I hated the idea of feeling that kind of incompetence again.”

  “I’m sorry.” Jordan eased up from his chest, twisting to look into his eyes. “I swear, Brandon, if I ever see her and attempt to punch her in the face, don’t stop me.”

  He laughed. “I knew you were feisty, but when did you become so aggressive?”

  “I’ve always felt the need to protect the people I love. My brother can tell you all about it.”

  “You love me?”

  Jordan lowered her eyes and mumbled, “Gosh, now I’m just saying all kinds of—”

  “I love you,” he said, before she could hide whatever she was feeling—or what he hoped she was feeling too.

  Jordan looked into his eyes, a smile creeping to her lips. “Really?”

  Brandon nodded. “Really. I mean, I have been stalking you for months now. How could you not have noticed?”

  Jordan tucked her head in his neck. “Are you sure?”

  He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Very. You should be the one who’s unsure. I’m not the easiest person to love. I’ve hurt you . . .”

  Wait, fuck—she didn’t actually say it. Had he said it too soon? He’d probably misunderstood her. What if she didn’t feel the same? But, no matter. He loved her. He. Loved. Her. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to suppress the slicing pain.

  But then her mouth moved over his chest as she whispered, “I love you too, Brandon.”

  He looked down, and as she stared up at him, all his anxiety vanished.

  “How long do we have to wait?” Brandon asked, hopping onto the bathroom countertop at Jordan’s apartment next to where she’d placed the pregnancy test.

  “Two minutes,” she said, the uneasiness of the wait too familiar, but also strange given the first time was four years earlier.

  “Are you nervous?”

  “No, but you’re making me.” Closing t
he toilet lid, she sat on top of it.

  “Can you imagine us having a kid together? We’re so happy now. I don’t want anything to change.”

  “Brandon! Stop talking,” Jordan warned.

  “Maybe we should have sex while we wait.”

  “That’s what got us here in the first place. You’re being so frustrating. Why are you doing this?”

  He grinned at her, and she frowned.

  “It’s not funny.”

  “I don’t think you’re pregnant.”

  “And how would you know that?”

  “Because you’ve been so moody since yesterday. PMS?”

  “Brandon, I swear. You’re pissing me off. Can you just wait in the other room, please?”

  He laughed, “It’s okay. I love you even when you’re moody.”

  God, he was so irritating right now. Pursing her lips, she propped her elbows on her knees and pressed her chin into her palms. He went silent for a moment, but not for long.

  “Remember how I told you about the baby situation I had with Hailey?”

  Hearing that name made her heart break for him, but now was the worst time to discuss his ex. Still, she remained silent because he didn’t talk much about his past, and if he felt compelled to do it now, she wasn’t going to stop him.

  “Her daughter’s name is Rose. I used to call her Little Rosie. She’s ten years old now.” He paused. “I still feel guilty for leaving her when I did, so every couple of months I have someone check in to see that she’s okay. I also started a trust fund for her nine years ago. I didn’t have much then, but I would put whatever little I had into it until I was able to add more. It’s worth millions right now.”

  Jordan inhaled and looked up at him, but he was leaned forward and staring at the floor. This daughter who should have been his—did he regret leaving? Did he want to go back to them? Why was he telling her this?

  “Jordan, that’s not even my blood.”

  Her eyes lowered to his finger, tracing over the tattoo on his wrist. The red rose. Rose, whom he’d thought was his daughter. It made sense why he’d been so vague about the tattoo before.

  “I’m telling you this because if you are pregnant, there’s no limit to what I’ll do to care for you and the baby.”

  She looked at the pregnancy test sitting on the counter next to her. Negative.

  She took a breath. That was supposed to be good news, so why was she pissed? Why did she feel like crying? She threw it in the stainless-steel trash container with so much force, it clanged back and forth inside.

  Brandon jumped off the counter and stood in her way as she tried to get around him. “What did it say?”

  Disappointment tore through her, and she didn’t know why. It was too soon for them to think about kids. “It’s negative. You’re not tied to me anymore. Hope you’re happy now.”

  “Whoa, where did that come from?” Brandon wrapped his arms around her. “Is it not what you wanted? I was pretty sure you didn’t want to be knocked up as much as I didn’t want to have done that to you.”

  “Yeah. I guess we should both be happy then.” Jordan removed his arms. “I need to get ready.”

  Jordan could now see that taking the pregnancy test the same morning she had a photoshoot for a local magazine had been a mistake. Her mood was all over the place. But she should have figured it was going to be that kind of day. It was barely nine a.m. and she’d already been irritated with the man she loved, spilled coffee on herself, and broke a nail getting into her car.

  “Relax, Jordan. You’re distracted,” Mark said, clicking the camera from different angles.

  “I’m sorry, I just need a . . .” Jordan sighed. “Richie, can I have some water, please?”

  “Of course, hon,” he said. “Although you look like you could use a shot of tequila.”

  “Take five. I’ll look at what we have so far,” Mark announced.

  The air in the room changed, and Jordan looked up to see Brandon walking through the doors in a tailored suit. All eyes turned to him, but he had no regard for any of them. He walked straight to her, and the music and chatter seemingly came to a halt as his eyes held hers. Her stomach fluttered. She didn’t know he was coming to see her. He had a meeting on his schedule, from what she recalled.

  Richie’s eyes followed hers. “Now I get it. Trouble in paradise?”

  Brandon nodded to Richie. “Hey, man. Richie, right? I just need a moment with her.”

  “Yeah, of course. Maybe you can put a smile on her face for the camera,” Richie said, shaking Brandon’s hand. Brandon’s expression turned hard before softening as he looked at her.

  “Why don’t you like him?” Jordan asked when she was sure Richie was out of earshot.

  “Who says I don’t like him?” Brandon asked.

  “Your expression. You always seem displeased when he’s around.”

  There was pain in his eyes. “You know my history with cheaters. I know you’re different, but with you two being so close, I can’t help but think about it.”

  Jordan shook her head. “I would never. Anyway, Richie and I are not attracted to each other. And to be honest, he’s more infatuated with you than he is me.”

  “Okay, fine. But what did I do, Jordan? Why are you mad at me?”

  “I’m just still processing my feelings about this morning, and about what you said. I didn’t realize your ex was still part of your life at all.”

  “Beautiful, I told you that because I don’t want to keep anything from you, and also because I wanted you to know I would be there for you. What I have been doing has nothing to do with Hailey and everything to do with the little girl. Hailey doesn’t even know. In fact, you, the bank, and Andrew are the only ones who know about the trust. As I said before, I was there when she was born, and I feel like I owe her, even though I’m not her dad.” He shrugged. “I want to make sure she’s okay.”

  Setting the bottle of water on the stool, Jordan lifted her hands to his neck, feeling calmer. He must have been hurting all these years, especially with the constant reminder on his wrist.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  He traced a finger down her cheek. “Nothing is wrong with you. I just can’t lose you, and it felt like something changed this morning when you left. I know you won’t cheat on me, but it’s somewhere there in my mind, driving me fucking crazy. It’s not that I don’t trust you—please don’t think it’s that, because I love you, and you have no idea how much it means that you’re with me, that you trust me. That you chose me.”

  Jordan blinked back tears. “I love you, too. And I’m just being stupid and jealous of you almost having a baby with someone else, and that was ten years ago. I’m sorry I was upset with you this morning; my mood is all over the place right now, and it’s driving me crazy. One minute I want to cry, the next minute I’m pissed off, then I’m smiling. Seriously, what the fuck?”

  Brandon smiled, smoothing her hair back from her face.

  She shook her head. “The one thing that doesn’t change is what I feel for you. So you never have to doubt that, Brandon, because I’m glad we found each other. And it’s a plus that you come with such a killer personality, body . . .” As he wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her into a tight embrace, she whispered in his ear, “. . . and extremely satisfying equipment inside your pants, which I can’t seem to get enough of. But please, put me down. As much as I love these hugs, my boobs are super sensitive. They hurt so bad right now.”

  Brandon laughed and set her down. “I’m sorry. Why do they hurt?”

  She wasn’t sure at first because she’d never had problems with premenstrual symptoms. But it all made sense now that she thought about it. Her hormones had only been haywire since she’d started the birth control, and she wasn’t pregnant, so it had to be the pills.

  “I think it’s my birth control. We can talk about that later, but I’m guessing it’s the same reason I’ve been so moody. Anyway, I thought you
had a meeting this morning.”

  Brandon kissed her temple and straightened her crinkled blouse. “I did, but I wanted to make sure you were okay, and we’re okay.”

  She nodded, turning to look at everyone else in the room.

  “I’ve never seen Jordan like this, ever. Ew—it’s kind of gag-worthy,” Richie joked. “Anyway, Mark said he’s ready whenever you are.”

  Jordan stuck her tongue out at Richie before smiling into Brandon’s eyes. “I think I’m ready now.”

  The photographer walked over. “Hey, you must be Jordan’s boyfriend. I’m Mark.”

  Brandon shook his hand, leaving one arm around her waist. “Nice to meet you, Mark.”

  “I think you’ve gotten more from her than I did in the last hour. Now, if we can keep those eyes lit up, Jordan, we’ll get these shots in no time.”

  “I guess you did cheer her up,” Richie said to Brandon, who now seemed a bit more at ease with her friend.

  “What can I say? She needed her Vitamin B.”

  Jordan’s eyes widened and her cheeks colored. “Brandon.”

  “What? Everyone knows what the B can do for your mood.”

  Jordan folded her arms across her chest and shook her head at him, hoping he wouldn’t continue.

  “You know, multivitamins are usually recommended,” Richie chimed in, using his sixth sense for anything sexual in nature. “So make sure she gets the D later.”

  Great. Lovely, Jordan thought, her cheeks flaming as the men laughed.

  “You know, I think I like your friend,” Brandon said, encasing her in his arms.

  “Of course, you do. You’re both embarrassing. Mark, you should ask them both to leave if you want any good shots.”

  “Leave? Are you kidding me? I’ve been waiting for this energy all morning. Laura, can you give Jordan a quick touchup?” Mark laughed. “Maybe a little less on the blush.”

  Laura, the makeup artist, approached them, a makeup pouch clipped around her waist.