Brandt smiles and grabbing the jug by my bedside, pours a glass of water. Handing it to me he says, 'Don't feel bad about it. Everyone falls in love with Gabe. Even those who electrocute him and try to take his head off with an iPad.' He presses his lips together and tries not to grin. Yeah, I did that, didn't I? I'm amazed Gabe didn't kill me there and then.
'Do you still love him? He slept with that bloke to get himself out of jail. You can't blame him for that.' I tip the glass up to my lips and drink. I can feel a headache coming on.
'He was still unfaithful.' Brandt looks thoughtful as he speaks, not angry. I wonder what this means.
'You'd have done the same thing to get out of there,' I point out. I know I would have.
'You're probably right. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. He informs me he's going to have the time of his life over the next couple of years, getting high on anything that's going.'
I roll my eyes. 'I can imagine him saying that. Will he come and find us when his time is up, do you think?' I want him to. I don't want this to be the last we ever see of him. I think if Brandt were honest, he'd say the same thing.
'Who knows?' He shrugs his shoulders. 'Right now we have to concentrate on getting you better, so we can get you out of here. As soon as you're up for it I'm taking you to meet my parents. There. That'll encourage you to eat your greens, won't it?'
I snort with laughter. I can't help it. Then a thought occurs to me.
'Oh shit. I meant to tell you. Mal has your parents...' Brandt cuts me off mid-sentence.
'I know. That's why you are going to meet them. It wasn't a joke.'
'Oh.' The 'O' sound goes on for quite a long time.
'Do you love me, Harper? Think long and hard before you answer because there is no going back from this. I'm going to take care of you, whatever the answer, but I need to know the truth.'
I blink. He needs to ask me? After all this time, he's still not sure? Men. They really are from a different planet. Taking his head in my hands, one on either side of his face, I give him the brightest smile I've ever given anyone.
'I've always loved you, Brandt Browning. You were my first love, you will be my last. I've daydreamed about you for years, convinced myself I'd never have you, and cried over you. I've tried to forget you, tried to ignore you, and tried to distance myself from you. None of it worked. Alex knew it, Mal knew it. The knowledge drove them crazy. Even if you walk away from me now, I will always love you. I can love you from afar. I've had lots of practice. You are up here, and you always will be.' I tap my forehead a couple of times. 'You were the only thing that got me through the last five years of my life. I am so sorry for what I did to you, and I would do anything to make it up to you. Anything. You just have to say the word.' I mean it, too. I would walk on water for the guy. Probably dance over it, too.
'Well, thank fuck for that. Will you move in with me, Harper Wilkinson? Will you let me take care of you? I've been in love with you for years, I was just too much of a pussy to stand up to my parents. You should have told me what an idiot I was. You are the only woman that could ever make me happy and I want to spend the next fifty or sixty years proving that to you. Will you let me? I might drive you crazy, but please say yes.'
I'm crying again. I don't cry for years and then I'm waterworks woman all of a sudden. What's with that? 'Yes,' I sob. I can't say anything else. The thought of waking up to Brandt every morning makes me want to sob all over again, harder and with much more enthusiasm. Poor Brandt obviously thinks I'm a loon because he then picks me up and carries me out of there.
For the next eight weeks, through my slow and cumbersome recovery, he won't take his eyes off me, but that's okay, because I can't take my eyes off him either. I am treated like a princess, albeit one that's made of spun sugar, and for the first time in ages Brandt has a genuine smile on his face. We drown in each other at every opportunity, sharing all our hopes and dreams, and amazingly enough, they are relatively similar. We both want to travel, figure out some kind of fulfilling career that isn't illegal, and hopefully start a family one day. For now, though, we're taking it one step at a time.
Sydney, Australia
'Either you get your ass down these stairs immediately, Harper, or I'm coming up and I'm going to spank the living daylights out of it.' Brandt sounds exasperated, as well he should. We're supposed to be meeting friends for drinks in just over an hour and it's a forty-five minute drive to the restaurant in Darling Harbour, which is just minutes away from the Opera House. I love Australia. Everyone dines al fresco out here because the weather is always fantastic, and the seafood is to die for. The shellfish here are literally double the size of anything you can find in the UK. I don't know what the Aussies are feeding their fish, but hot damn, it must be good.
Standing at the top of the stairs dressed in something expensive, slinky and revealing, I say, 'Has that threat ever worked for you before?'
Brandt grins. 'Why do you think I use it?' He then bounds up the stairs so fast I barely even get a head start. To be fair, there's no point trying to run in this dress. I'll just end up in a heap on the floor, which Brandt will find hysterical, and laughter is not what I'm after. Nuh-uh. I want full-throttle, bent over the bathtub, hardcore sex, with a moderate amount of pain involved. We've argued about my addiction to pain, but at the end of the day I like receiving it and Brandt likes giving it, so we managed to compromise. Brandt refuses to leave any lingering marks or bruises anywhere except my backside. That works for me. We can both get what we want this way, and besides, you don't have to leave marks to create pain. Brandt is rather devious like that.
'Don't even think about it,' I threaten as he moves towards me. 'It took me an hour to do my make-up, and this dress will wrinkle if you toss it on the floor.' The dress is amazing, made from this gorgeous velvety material that clings to every curve. It's stunningly draped to reveal nearly the entire length of my left leg and features a plunging 'V' neckline. I love it, and by the look in Brandt's eye, I'm not the only one.
'I won't touch your face and you can keep the dress on. We talked about this, princess. If you insist on wearing ridiculously sexy clothes that will torment me all through dinner, you'd better be prepared to suffer a little yourself. So, get in the bedroom, bend over the dresser, and lift up your skirt. You'd better not be wearing panties, either. You remember our arrangement I hope?' Brandt has the devil in his eyes.
'Our arrangement' as he calls it, means that if he catches me wearing panties he can dole out any punishment he likes on the spot.
'We're going to be late,' I say, backing away from him. 'You hate being late.' I'm just playing with him, of course. I need sex so badly right now I could cry. He's been away for the last two days studying some business module that his father recommended. Brandt wants to go into app development. He loves computers and nearly everything related to them, so he's testing the waters to see if it's for him. I've missed him like crazy though. Two days seems likes forever without Brandt.
'I hate being late when it's my parents or family. Dad's a pain about shit like that. But we're visiting friends tonight. We can be as late as you like.' The look he gives me is predatory as he moves forward and reaches out to grab me. I step back just in time.
'I think we need to talk about the no panties rule. This is a very short dress in places. Do you really want your girlfriend exposing herself in public?' I point towards the teal dress now riding up my leg in case he's forgotten the argument while running his eyes all over my body.
'No. I'd rather you wore a burka in public, if I'm completely honest. I don't want any other man setting eyes on what's mine. If you choose to wear dresses that are far too short and feel the need to wear panties, you'll just have to accept the consequences.' Brandt points his finger at me. 'Memo to you, dress more conservatively in future.'
My mouth opens wide at his high-handedness. 'Oh, you...' I don't get a chance to finish the sentence because his second grab at me is right on target.
'Was th
at a 'oh you devilishly handsome man, I've missed you so much and I need you so badly'?' Brandt's hand goes straight between my legs and finds out I am indeed wearing panties, and they're rather wet. 'Oh God, Harper,' he groans, 'you're going to kill me.'
'Makes a change from you wanting to kill me, huh?' I back away quickly, making a run for it down the hallway. Brandt is hot on my heels, which is exactly where I want him.
'Jesus, woman. Stay still.'
Huh? Where would be the fun in that? I run faster just to spite him. The trouble is, one of his strides equals two of mine and he's on me in two seconds flat.
Grabbing my arm he spins me round to face him, before pulling me to his chest and lifting me up in the air. Uh oh. Now I'm in trouble. Hallelujah!
Brandt flings me over his shoulder, and he doesn't let me down until we're in front of the dresser he mentioned throwing me over. He then does exactly that, placing my palms face down and my head directly in front of the mirror.
'You can safe word anytime you like, but if I have blue balls during dinner I'm making you wear the egg all night long.' The egg is a vibrating monster that fits snuggly inside my pussy and drives me crazy. He has a remote control for it, which means we can have the 'tolerable' level or the 'evil' level. Obviously it's much more fun to go evil, and that's usually where it stays. Anyway, this is a moot point. Why would I want to safe word? I've been gagging for this for days.
When I sit quietly for a few moments and there's no response I wiggle my ass. 'Please, Brandt. Please?' I whimper.
'God. The things you do to me, Harper. I haven't been able to concentrate all week because thoughts of you have been driving me crazy.'
I snort. 'Glad to know I'm not the only one. Now stick it in me, Brando, and wiggle it around. Oh, and hurry, because we're on a schedule here and you don't like to be late.' This is code for 'I need my orgasm yesterday'. He'll figure it out.
Brandt's mouth comes close to my ear and he bites my lobe, which drives me nuts. He always knows just how much pain to dish out without actually causing me bodily harm. It's a skill none of my other boyfriends has ever managed to accomplish. Oh, and he worships me as if I'm a goddess. Every woman in the world should be treated this way. It feels incredible.
'Hard?' he asks. It's a stupid question, and he knows it. Of course I want it hard.
'Yes,' I hiss, 'and don't rip the panties. I've only got two pairs left.' Brandt has a thing about tearing lingerie apart. The lady at Victoria's Secret now knows me by name and I swear she thinks I'm a prostitute as I'm in there nearly every week.
Brandt lifts up my skirt and then with one swift yank, tears the flimsy black lace panties in two. Men. Why can't they follow simple instructions?
'I like tearing them off. It's one of my favourite pastimes. And maybe one day you'll realise that buying new ones is pointless.' He undoes his fly and pulls his cock out of his boxers, rubbing it up and down my slit. Oh God, I'm about to explode. The merest touch on my clit is going to send me over the edge. Whoever told me the honeymoon period in a new relationship lasted six months was way off. I'm constantly like a lit firework around this man. It's got to be really bad for my blood pressure.
I let out a little growl of annoyance. 'You're buying my panties in future, Brando. The girls in the lingerie store probably think I have some sort of fetish by now.'
'No way. You're not allowed any. Ever. Either get used to going naked or learn to wear longer skirts.' His fingers lightly brush over my clit and my hips buck back into him, while the rest of my body crests on lightning waves of pleasure.
'Brandt,' my voice is ragged. 'Please.' My hands are shaking on the side of the dresser as his fingers dip inside me.
'Promise me you will never buy another pair of panties ever again.' There is no way I am making that promise. His fingers brush over my clit again, ever so lightly, but they make my whole body light up.
'I promise I am never buying panties ever again,' I mewl. 'Fuck me now, damnit.'
Brandt laughs and proceeds to do exactly that with hard, fast, deep and long strokes that have me coming in seconds. The feeling is amazing, and it never goes away. I am so lucky. All my fantasies have come true.
Anyway, the monster hasn't won. Either I'll use his credit card to buy all my panties in the future (so technically he's buying them), or I'll buy teddies, bodysuits or babydolls instead. Problem solved.
Chapter Twenty-Seven - Gabriel
When Harper walks into the restaurant and sees me she nearly does a double take. For a moment her eyes bug wide, and then she claps a hand over her mouth and squeals like a kid.
'Gabriel!' As she rushes over I just manage to get out of my chair before I am greeted with a bear hug. As far as bear's go she's a small one, but she looks a damn site better than she did the last time I saw her. 'What happened?' she breathes. 'Did you finally manage to get out?'
'If by that you mean did I finally manage to fake my own death, then yes, I am officially dead.' My eyes are eating her up, and her eyes on me are no less carnivorous. The dress she is wearing is almost indecent, so you can't blame me. I am a mere mortal, after all.
'You look really good for a dead person,' she says, grinning all over me. I have to admit, I do scrub up rather well. I've had two years to amass a small fortune, and in that time I've had a bit of a style update. It turns out that Armani suits are a good look for me, so I now have quite the collection. Tonight, I'm in a pale beige number with a white shirt, which does wonders for my tan.
'So do you. That dress should be illegal.' Smiling back at her, I then turn to Brandt and say, 'Thank your father for getting me out of there. I couldn't have done it without his help. It was a bit touch and go for a while, but we got there in the end.' Mayor Browning helped me pull off a massive sting operation where I basically gave him everything. The whereabouts of all the labs, the names of all my contacts, and where the drugs were coming in from. The only thing he didn't get was the money. There had to be some perks to the job. Anyway, there were pictures of my dead body plastered all over the tabloids, to make sure no one came looking for me. I have no idea where he got the makeup artist from, but oh boy did she know her stuff. I looked hideous.
'He says to thank you, funnily enough. He's almost certain to get re-elected after he's taken one of London's most notorious criminals off the grid, and crime is already down in the capital by ten percent. He's also grateful to you for saving my hide, as am I, funnily enough.' Brant gives me another hug and a slap on the back. I return it.
'I wasn't sure you'd come tonight,' I say. Now that Brandt's got the girl, I'm surprised he wants me anywhere near them. I wondered, up until now, whether Harper would be undecided between Brandt and me, but by the look in her eyes I can tell she isn't. She wears the look of a woman madly in love, and while I want what they have, I'm not prepared to destroy their happiness. For the first time in forever, I care too much for both of them to let my feelings interfere.
'Why ever not?' Brandt looks at me, puzzled. 'We owe our lives to you. Harper because of the stunt you pulled in Mal's warehouse with your men, and me due to all the strings you pulled in order to make some old 'evidence' disappear. We're not the kind of people who forget things like that, Gabriel.'
'No, not because of that, and you don't owe me anything. I didn't need any encouragement to tear Adley to pieces. That monster deserved everything he got.'
'Then what do you mean?' Brandt is grinning at me. The bastard is tormenting me in front of the woman I've been infatuated with for the past two years. Still, if he wants to fight dirty, I can sling a little mud of my own.
'I mean because of the way I feel about your woman.'
'Ahh. The woman. She's a feisty little thing.' Brandt raises his eyebrows and looks over at Harper. She winks and then picks up her wineglass and waggles it in the air.
'Gentlemen, we need wine. This is a celebration.' Beckoning a waiter over, she whispers in his ear and both me and Brandt stiffen.
'You're not bored with he
r then?' I bite my lip and look decidedly pissed off, because I already know the answer to that question.
Brandt nearly chokes but recovers himself quickly. 'I don't get bored, Gabriel. That's your thing and you know it. Harper is amazing. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her, and I mean that - nothing.' Brandt is smitten. He'll be building a white picket fence, planting roses and feeding a baby or two before the year is out. It's written all over his face. I am insanely jealous and I'm sure it shows. It's unlike me, but I can't help it. It doesn't help that the jealousy is twofold. I want both Brandt and Harper. I want their perfect life. I want what I can't have.
Pulling out my chair, I try my best to smile as the waiter brings over a chilled bottle of white wine. With napkin in hand, he pours a generous serving into each of our glasses, and I watch as the condensation dribbles down the bottle. I can't look at Harper. It feels like someone has wedged an axe in the middle of my chest, and it's a fucking great big one.
'Gabriel? Are you okay?' Harper sounds worried, and she reaches for my hand across the table. Oh shit. It's time to put on my brave face and pretend to be a big boy. I'm going to lose the two people I love tonight. They'll live their lives happily ever after while I'll be one of those bystanders that might get a glimpse of their euphoria every few months on Facebook, if I'm lucky.
'I'm fine.' My head snaps up, and I compose myself quickly. 'So, what have you guys been up to since I saw you last?' I smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. They are focused on a large rattan vase at the back of the restaurant that is lit up in amber tones. It should be vaguely calming, but it isn't.
'Well,' says Harper, 'we've been studying, reading, exploring, travelling, playing house, and waiting.' There's a little note of excitement after her last comment. If she's about to tell me she's pregnant with Brandt's baby, I am going to lose it. Yes, I am going to lose it spectacularly, and I will start throwing all the glassware on this beautiful wooden table across the restaurant, as far and as hard as I can. The trouble is, I can't help myself; I have to know.
Beautiful Tyrant (Enemies to Lovers - Dark Romance Book 3) Page 25
