“Okay, I just don’t want to put you out. Alice will expect me to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with her, of course,” he said and Jolie felt hot tears pricking the backs of her eyelids. So, this is what it had come to…a form of business negotiation. They were going to have to schedule themselves around each other, so they didn’t bump in.
She nodded her head and tried to hold back the tears.
“Well, she won’t expect me to be here, so you’re safe,” she said and Brandon made a move towards her, trying to reach for her hand again but she had yanked herself away.
“That’s not what I meant, Jo. I don’t want to be safe, I don’t want to keep away from you,” he said and she shook her head, as she felt her eyes watering up. She was struggling to keep up the appearance of strength and control.
“But you have to, because you’ve committed yourself in marriage,” she said and Brandon’s eyes became dim. He looked like his mouth had run dry.
“I hadn’t met you when I married Alice, and, now, I have no choice but to see this through. There is nothing more that I need right now, than a family,” he said and Jolie felt like he had slipped a dagger into her heart and now he was in the process of turning it. He wanted children, and he wanted children with his wife.
“Of course. I understand,” she said, in a voice that was verging on breaking. She whipped away from him and ran up the steps of the porch and into the house.
Brandon Calloway wanted a family, and he wasn’t wrong to want children with his wife. She should have known all along; that he was the kind of man who would want heirs. He was a business tycoon and he would want to leave his wealth and fortune to his children…of course he would!
Jolie locked herself in her lavish bedroom upstairs. She felt like her heart was going to explode as she leaned the back of her head against the door and slid down slowly to the carpet. Her limbs felt like clay, her knees were buckling…whatever sliver of hope she had foolishly harbored all this while, had just disappeared. Brandon Calloway would never leave her mother, because he had married her with a fixed purpose in mind.
She felt like she was going to be sick.
Chapter 16
Brandon was standing in the middle of their living room, surrounded by a group of his wife’s friends whom he had never met before. Alice had invited eight of her friends, who she claimed were her closest pals and she had gone through the trouble of making a show of the party. Caterers in waistcoats were organized, two bars had been set up around the house and a barbecue was being manned by a chef in the backyard.
When Alice said that she was going to keep it low-key, she had clearly lied.
Her friends gushed over Brandon, making loud jokes and hugging him. Some even took photos with him for their records or for social media…and all of this made Brandon uncomfortable. Most importantly of all, Jo hadn’t made an appearance yet.
Alice, along with her friends, had been drinking heavily and now Brandon watched as his wife grew unsteady on her heels, swaying slightly on his arm. She was kissing him more, hugging him tighter than ever and he couldn’t wait to escape to his study, away from this all.
It wasn’t until at least two hours of the festivities had passed, that Jo finally made an appearance. Brandon did a double take when he saw her appear at the living room door.
She was in a beautiful red dress with a slit in the middle of her left thigh, which revealed her long smooth legs with every step she took. She’d kept her makeup minimal, with just a pale rose lipstick, to match her dress and her flaming hair. It tumbled down her back, and she had styled it tonight in gentle waves that fell around her shoulders delicately.
“Jolie! My beautiful daughter!” Alice squealed and her friends let out a cheer as they rushed towards her. Brandon stayed back and took quick nervous sips of his whisky instead. He felt breathless and like his body was on fire. It was unfair that he couldn’t even bring himself to go near her.
Alice was kissing and hugging her daughter, and posing for photographs as Brandon watched Jo’s face turn sour. She wasn’t enjoying the attention either. She looked uncomfortable surrounded by all these people from her past, and eventually, she managed to slither away.
“C’mon, honey. Another picture. With Matt and me this time,” Alice urged her daughter, while Jo tried to step away from the gang.
“C’mon Jolie, be a sport,” the man called Matt grabbed her by her arms and tried to direct her back to the group.
Brandon gripped his whisky glass tighter as he watched. Another man touching her made his blood boil and his skin crawl.
Jo obliged this time, and posed with Matt and her mom. Just when the flash of the camera evaporated in the air, she tried to step away again. This time, Alice caught her by the waist.
“Just one with me, this time. Give us a smile, honey,” Alice said, but Brandon detected the rage building up in Alice’s voice now. She wanted her daughter to comply with her wishes, no matter how uncomfortable it was making her.
“Mom, I feel like an animal in a zoo,” Jo said, with a nervous laugh that didn’t fool anyone. Alice’s expression changed immediately.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jolie. I’m just asking you for a photograph!” she snapped at her daughter, and all her friends became quiet. Brandon clenched his jaws as he watched mother and daughter facing off.
“But you’ve taken enough already, mom. Can I just have a drink now?” Jo said, trying to brush the fight off, but Alice, in her drunken haze, wasn’t about to let it drop this easily.
“No, you may not have a drink. This is my home and you will do as you’re told. Stand here for as many photographs as I ask for!” Alice was screeching now and a couple of her friends turned to Brandon to gauge his reaction.
He placed his glass down on a coffee table. Jo shifted on her feet nervously, her cheeks turning red, and her eyes turning bloodshot with anger. Brandon was seeing for the first time, what Jo’s childhood might have been like with a mother like Alice.
“Alice, we should all just relax,” Brandon said and she whipped around to him, her lips quivering with fury.
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do, Brandon! She’s my daughter and she’s behaving like a spoilt brat!” Alice screamed and he felt a throb rising in his temples.
“Mom, please don’t yell at everybody. You’ve had a bit to drink, just sit down,” Jo said and caught Alice’s arms to help her to the couch.
Alice turned to her daughter, her palm landing with a smack on Jo’s face. The sound of the slap cracked in the air and everyone gasped. Jo nearly stumbled back with the force.
“Don’t you lecture me about drinking, silly girl!” Alice’s voice sizzled.
Jo had already turned from them and was running out of the living room.
Brandon rushed to Alice, grabbing her by her shoulders and giving her shake.
“You need to behave yourself, woman. And you’re wrong. This is my house, and don’t you dare raise a hand on her again,” he growled. Alice burst out in tears, covering her face with her hands as she cried.
“Why won’t she just appreciate me? She doesn’t praise me for anything I do!” Brandon heard Alice squealing behind him, as he rushed out of the living room.
He just caught sight of Jo running around the stairs.
“Jo!” he called out to her, but she had disappeared already. He ran after her, and slowed down when he saw her going into his study.
“Jo, please…” he said, when he approached the door.
She was standing by one of his empty bookcases now, her hand clamped to her mouth as she tried to hold the tears back.
“I shouldn’t have come here,” she said, her voice muffled by her hand.
Brandon walked into the study and shut the door behind him.
Chapter 17
Jolie could feel her body shuddering as she watched Brandon walking towards her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this much shame. She had managed to block her experiences way back in her mind all
these years. Now, after the slap and her mother’s screeches, those memories had come tumbling back.
As a child, she had been defenseless against her mother’s rage. Even as a teenager, all she could do was dream that one day she would be able to get away from her mother. Now, she had. She had a life of her own, she didn’t need to be here, she didn’t need to put herself through her mother’s temper any more. Somehow, she had managed to tangle herself up into it again. Somehow she had managed to convince herself that her mother had changed. That Brandon had calmed her down and she was now a different person.
What did they say about old horses? That you can’t teach them new tricks.
The truth was that her mother hadn’t changed at all, and now she had shamed Jolie in front of all her friends and, worst of all, in front of the man she was falling for.
“I will never forgive her for what she did to you,” Brandon’s eyes were narrow and dark, his face was firmly set. He was coming towards her with his jaws gritted. His nostrils were flaring. All Jolie wanted to do was fling herself at him. She wanted to feel his arms around her.
“This isn’t the first time,” she managed to say and Brandon reached for her hand.
“Tell me, Jo,” he whispered and his hot breath fell on her face, making some of her red locks quiver. She looked up at him with tears puddling her eyes. He looked kind and dangerous at the same time. She couldn’t decide which one.
“She’s always had a bad temper,” she said and Brandon’s hand on hers tightened.
“Has she physically assaulted you as a child?” he asked and the words choked in Jo’s throat.
“Yes, especially when she drinks and she used to drink a lot,” Jo said and Brandon pulled her hand to his heart, pressing it to his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Jo,” he said and she shook her head.
“It’s not your fault, you didn’t know,” she said and turned her face towards her feet.
“No mother should treat her child this way,” Brandon said and Jo gulped, refusing to meet his eye. She didn’t like to talk about her childhood experiences with anyone, but somehow with him, she couldn’t stop talking.
“I don’t know if I can blame her. She had me when she was young. When she was like, sixteen. But she hit me and slapped me and locked me up in my room for hours. It was the same with her husbands and boyfriends. When she drank, she assaulted them too. Not that the men didn’t deserve it. I used to hide under my bed, trying to keep my ears covered while they fought like cats outside. Hurling things at each other, hitting each other, screaming…” Jolie’s voice trailed as she spoke and when she looked up, she found Brandon staring into her eyes.
“When I realized that your relationship with Alice was bad, I knew it had to do with her, not you,” he said and stroked her hand.
Jo couldn’t hold back, she fell on his chest, burying her face into his three-piece suit and tried to muffle her cries.
“I was so happy to just escape to New York. I didn’t want to live here anymore. I didn’t want to turn into her,” she cried and she felt him stroking her hair.
“You are nothing like your mother, Jo. You are successful and independent and kind. You are not going to become Alice, trust me,” she heard him say and she wrapped her arms around him.
“I feel terrible sometimes. That I don’t have a better relationship with my mother…but it’s not like she calls, or visits either,” Jolie said, pulling her face away from his chest. Brandon hooked a finger under her chin, to raise her face up towards him.
“This is not your fault. Whatever the state of your relationship with her is…she’s brought it upon herself,” he said and, just then, a loud festive cheer rang out in the house. Jolie’s eyes hardened as she looked towards the door.
“They’ve forgotten about it already. They’ve always been like this…mom and her beloved pals,” she said, with bitterness in her voice.
“It doesn’t matter, I don’t care if they’re enjoying themselves or not,” Brandon said and she looked at him again. She felt safe in his arms, like for the first time in her life, she could actually rely on somebody.
“Thank you, Brandon. For standing up for me. I heard what you said to mom. I’ve had nobody stand up for me against her before,” she said and Brandon lowered his face towards her.
Their lips met and this time, their kiss was slow and gentle. It took over her senses, making her forget for a few moments that she was feeling miserable. His tongue slipped over her lips, tasting her. His fingers weaved through her hair gently, and she felt like she was falling into a deep beautiful dream.
He pulled himself away from her, to look deep into her eyes. Jolie noticed the darkness in his gaze, the hardening of his face as he stared at her.
“I want to make you feel better, Jo. I want to make your pain go away,” he said and she stared back at him. Her lips parted gently and she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out for a while. He had her completely under his spell. He could do anything he wanted to her.
“I want it too,” she managed to say, just as he lunged at her again, enveloping her mouth in his.
***
Brandon was kissing her, while his hands slipped down her leg to the slit in her dress. Jolie could feel his rough fingers on her skin, caressing and touching till he had pulled her dress up.
As they kissed, he gently pushed her backwards so that now her back was pressing against the edge of his oak desk. She opened her mouth wide, allowing his tongue to explore her. His hands felt the shudder of her thighs as he reached for her throbbing wet pussy.
Jolie gasped when he touched her there. Her panties were wet with her juices already, and he slid his fingers over her folds, making her moan. She pulled her lips away from him, so that she could look into his eyes again. Brandon’s gaze was hungry, he wasn’t going to stop till he got what he wanted this time; and she didn’t want him to either.
“Take off your dress, Jo,” he commanded, in a deep gruff voice and he stepped away from her.
Jolie did as she was told, fumbling for the zip of her dress on her side and she quickly pulled it down. Her brand new dress fell away from her and slithered down to the floor, forming a pool around her ankles.
Brandon was loosening his tie, but he stopped to watch her.
She was standing in front of him now, in her black lace underwear. She knew her nipples were pebbled and protruding through the fabric of her bra. She knew he could see the shape and size of her nipples and Brandon’s eyes grew wide.
“Take those off too,” he grunted, as his eyes roamed all over her body. She wasn’t shy to be naked in front of him. She wanted him to look. She wanted him to see her in all her nakedness.
Brandon took off his jacket, and his waistcoat and started unbuttoning his shirt.
Jolie in the meantime, unhooked her bra and took it off, before focusing on pulling down her panties.
Brandon’s shirt came loose and in one swift motion he had taken it off. She was seeing him naked for the first time and a quivering cry rose up her throat. He had the body of a thirty-something who frequented the gym. Except that his chest was covered in dark hair in the center and she could feel her mouthwatering at the prospect of running her fingers through that tuft of hair.
When her eyes fell on the tattoo of a Celtic cross on the right side of his chest, she looked up at him with a jerk. Brandon Calloway had a tattoo? She nearly smiled.
“My ancestors were Irish,” he grunted, noticing the glimmer of surprise in her eyes.
Jolie’s panties had come down and now she was completely naked. Her breasts swung in front of her, as she quickly jumped up on the desk, perching herself on the edge. She was about to cross her legs, but Brandon stepped up to her.
He had wedged himself between her thighs, parting her legs wide and wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Do you even know how beautiful you are?” he mumbled, more to himself than to her. He cupped her left breast and squeezed it and she was enveloped by h
is masculine scent. Then he gently lifted her breast up, while simultaneously lowering his face to it. When his mouth found her nipple, Jolie moaned and bit down on her lip.
He was sucking on her nipple now, wildly tugging at it and teasing the sensitive mound. She could feel a throbbing ache growing between her legs. His cock was tenting his pants and rubbing against her clit. The sensation was overwhelming. She felt like she was going to cum already.
Brandon’s beard scratched against her tender skin as he continued to suck. His other hand found her right breast and he cupped and squeezed it too, before beginning to rub his thumb on that nipple.
She pressed herself to his body, thrilled at the feeling of his tight muscles against her; his cock pushing against her pussy.
“Brandon please…I want…” she pleaded, throwing her head back. He didn’t stop sucking on her nipple, instead, he switched his mouth to the other one and sucked again. Jolie felt like she was going to explode, and then he escalated it even more.
Brandon’s fingers wedged between their bodies and he found her pussy. Jolie gasped as his fingers slipped over her folds, while his thumb played with her clit. It felt like all her sensitive spots were being stimulated at the same time. He knew exactly what to do to set her off.
“Brandon…” she breathed his name in a pleading voice again, and, finally, he smacked his mouth away from her nipple and looked up at her.
His green eyes were stormy but sparkling, there was a hint of a satisfied smile on his face.
“Tell me what you want, Jo. Tell me exactly what you want me to do,” he said, in a low crooning voice. Just his voice was enough. Her juices seeped out of her pussy and she had to grit her teeth to stop herself from screaming.
He was looking straight into her eyes, and she tried to hold his gaze. Her body was shaking, he was tightly cupping her breasts.
“I…I want you to…” she couldn’t get the words out, but Brandon wanted to hear her say it.
“Yes, Jo, what do you want?” he said and his fingers found her pussy again. It was becoming unbearable, his thumb teased her clit mercilessly. She was going to cum just like that!
Unwrap Me Daddy_A Holiday Romance Page 44
