by E. J. Adams
“If you want to know where I am, why don't you just ask?”
“Would you tell me?”
“Probably not.”
“That's why I didn't ask.”
I had to smile at that remark. I sat in the comfy chair and crossed my legs. “Criss cross Applesauce” a teacher had once said about sitting in a circle for story time. Strange how, and when, certain things come back to you.
“So you figured you would ask a series of leading questions to figure it out?”
“Seemed like a good as plan as any,” Brandon said. “Look, Ashley, I'm worried about you. I want to know that you are alright.”
“I think that 'alright' is a bit relative for me right now. I'm getting through my days and trying to come to some decisions,” I offered.
“Do any of those decisions include us?” he asked.
I paused for a moment. How much did I want to get into this at that moment? Was I ready to have another conversation with Brandon about 'us'?
“It's part of a larger whole,” I finally said.
“Are you thinking of leaving your job?” he asked. I doubted he knew about my meeting with Adele or their offer. But he was a smart businessman. He read people extremely well. It was probably only natural, given the situation, that I might consider working someplace else.
He could tell that I was hesitating.
“You don't have to answer that,” he said to break the silence. “Just be honest with me. Are you doing okay? At least okay enough?”
“Yes. Okay enough.” That was the absolute truth. I wasn't particularly happy. I wouldn't even say that I was content. But life wasn't terrible either. Could be much worse. Okay enough seemed about right.
“Well, I guess that has to be good enough. At least for now,” he said.
“I guess,” I said. I missed him. Hearing his voice and the genuine concern he expressed made me realize it. I still didn't know if I could be with him again, but I did miss him.
“I should let you go. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend. I hope you have a chance to figure some things out.” I could tell that he didn't want to get off the phone. He almost seemed vulnerable.
“Brandon?”
“Yes?”
“Are you doing okay?”
There was some silence on the phone as he paused to consider my question. I don't think he was expecting it. I'm not sure I planned on asking it. But I did want to know.
“I'm doing . . . okay enough,” he replied.
“I'm in Los Angeles,” I offered. I didn't know what else to say and I didn't want the call to end. The thought of hanging up and being alone in my hotel room made me feel not just alone, but lonely.
Maybe what my parents had said earlier was influencing my decision. Maybe it was the direction I had always been moving in. Probably a little of both. What I felt was that I wasn't ready to let go of Brandon. Maybe my heart could risk be broken again if it meant a chance of finding lasting happiness with him.
“You could come to L.A.. Maybe we could head over to Lusso in Santa Barbara,” I suggested.
“Is that what you really want?” he asked.
“Long term? I still need to figure that out. But I want to see you. I want to take a step toward you.”
“Where are you staying?
“The Grand Hotel.”
“I can be there in under an hour.”
“What? You are in L.A.?”
“Yes. I can explain when I get there. Assuming you want me to come over.”
“I'll see you when you get here. Room 735.”
“I'm glad you want to see me. I want to make all of this right between us. See you in a little while.”
We ended our call. I felt a rush of excitement. I was curious as to why Brandon was in Los Angeles, but that was secondary. A distant second to the fact that I would be with him within the hour.
I didn't have anything sexy to wear. I wasn't planning on sexy this weekend. I debated if I should purchase something from the hotel shop. I decided to just go with my sheep pajamas.
A good test of how much Brandon wanted to make it work between us. Comfy Ashley vs. sex goddess Ashley. We had things to discuss, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to end up in bed with him.
I was a bit anxious, so I put on the television to occupy my time until he arrived. I flipped through the channels and couldn't find anything that I wanted to watch. I left the TV on some documentary about cats. It ranged from lions and tigers to domestic kitties.
After about 45 minutes I heard a knock at the door. I turned off the television and padded over to the door. I peeked through the peep hole. I assumed it was Brandon, but you can never be too safe. I instantly honed in on Brandon's dreamy blue eyes and his gorgeous face. He had a five o'clock shadow that was totally sexy.
I opened the door and he stepped in carrying an overnight bag.
“Just in case,” he said as he held up the bag.
I closed the door behind him. He was unsure how to greet me, so I stretched up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
He looked amazing. As he always did. He was wearing khaki pants and a New York Yankees t-shirt. It was a snug fit on his muscular torso.
“It's good to see you,” I said. “We'll see about the overnight bag.”
“Fair enough. It's wonderful to see you, Ashley. I've missed you this past week.”
“Let's sit,” I said motioning to the couch in the sitting area. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“No, thank you. I like the pajamas,” he remarked with a warm smile.
“I wasn't planning on entertaining anyone this weekend.”
“Ashley, you look cute in whatever you have on.”
“I'm glad you are here, but why are you here? In L.A., I mean?” I asked after we sat down next to each other on the couch.
“To be honest, I came in hopes that you would want to see me.”
“You came to L.A. just to see me? How did you know I was here? You're not bugging me or having me followed, are you?”
“A lot of questions there, Ashley. Yes, I did come to L.A. in hopes of seeing you. If you didn't want to see me, I would have gone back to New York. No, I am not bugging you, nor am I having you followed.”
“Then, how did you know I would be here? Did you talk to Chelsea?”
“No. I did not speak with Chelsea. I get the distinct impression she is not fond of me at the moment.”
“That would be true.”
“I have to admit, she frightens me a little.”
“Don't feel bad, she has that affect on a lot of people. But only when she wants to. She is also a real sweetheart. You just don't want to cross her. You crossed her by hurting me.”
Brandon simply nodded in agreement with everything that I had said.
“Ashley, I knew you were in L.A. because I heard about your meeting at Adele. I'm not upset about that. In fact, I will fight to keep you at Jacqueline. Regardless of what happens between us personally, you are too vital to the company to let you walk away.”
“How did you know I was meeting with Adele? I can't imagine it would be in their interest for you to find out before I accepted their offer.”
“They didn't tell me. Not formally. At our levels, the fashion media world is relatively small. People like to gossip. It is practically impossible for an executive at one magazine to meet with another magazine without the rumor mill starting to churn.”
“I guess I never thought much about that. You have to understand that they contacted me. If things hadn't been the way they are between us, I would have flat out rejected a meeting or any offer. But, given our situation, I figured it didn't hurt to explore my options.”
“I understand. And, like I said, I will fight to keep you. That part is business and it is good for my business to have you employed at Jacqueline and not our competition. So, whatever they have offered I will beat it. I hope that will be enough to convince you to stay.”
“I haven't made any decision yet.
But that is good to know. But it isn't even really about the job.”
“I know that.”
“Brandon, it's always been about us. Whether I can trust you again. Whether I can risk you hurting me again.”
“I can't promise that you will never get hurt. In the same way that you can't promise that you will never hurt me. Relationships aren't all roses and champagne. But I will never cheat on you again. That I do promise.”
“So, you want a relationship with me? You are willing to work at a completely honest relationship? Committed to just me?”
“Yes. Ashley, I hate that I hurt you like I did. I've been a mess without you. From the very beginning I have been infatuated with you. I hoped that you could be the woman I would break my rules for. And you were. You are.”
“The rules of just sex? No relationships? No actually sleeping in the same bed?”
“Yes. I broke the first rule with you our very first night. All the others were quickly broken. And I don't regret that. Not for one second.”
“Except the one time.”
“I never regretted being in a relationship with you. Having sex with Jessica was a mistake. A mistake I will never make again. Not with her, not with any other woman. I only want to be with you. Ashley, I love you.”
Neither of us had said those three words to each other before. I had felt them, but I was afraid to say them for fear of driving Brandon away too soon. But now he had said them first. I LOVE YOU. The most powerful three words in the English language.
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Eight
“I love you, but that is not a totally new feeling. It doesn't mean that everything is just okay between us like nothing happened,” I said as I placed my hand on his.
“What does it mean, then?”
“It means that we have come a long way from where we were. It means that we can try. I am going to give you a second chance. But under my terms.”
“Okay.”
“Number one, no other women. That should go without saying, but . . .”
“Understood.”
“Number two, we have to be completely in the open with our relationship. I think most everybody had it figured out, but I don't want there to be any question about who your girlfriend is.”
“I agree completely.”
“Number three, I will be watching you like a hawk. Chelsea will be watching you like a hawk. I think I can convince your grandmother to watch you like a hawk. If you slip up, we are through forever.”
“Forever is a long time.”
“Then don't slip up.”
“Number four, you will need to at least match Adele's offer in both my salary and my department's budget. I am remaining at Jacqueline. It is where I want to be professionally and personally. But, consider it a small payment for your indiscretion.”
“Done.”
“Wait. I'm not quite finished yet. Out of your personal funds, you will donate the two months salary signing bonus I would have received from Adele to the charity of my choice. And you will continue to do so every quarter.”
Brandon waited a few moments to make sure that I was finished. “You are a tough negotiator Ashley Sullivan,” he said with a grin.
“You did once tell me that you liked assertive Ashley.”
“Actually, I have mentioned it on more than one occasion. Two very different occasions.”
I thought for a moment. He had mentioned it at our first dinner together when he offered my my job at Jacqueline. He mentioned it a second time after our night of sex on the couch in his office. I smiled.
“I think you will be seeing more of the assertive Ashley from now on. Both professionally and personally.”
“I love the sound of that.”
“Finally,” I said, “this is a trial basis. Prove to me that you can faithfully commit to me and we can move on to a future together.”
“Okay. So, am I on the clock, so to speak?”
“Hold on a second,” I said as I raised my hand. “Do you understand the terms?”
“Yes. They are crystal clear.”
“And you agree to them?”
“Yes. Without question.”
I cocked my head at him. “Hmm. You don't even want to know what this is costing you? Financially, I mean? You don't even know what the offer from Adele was. Or do you?”
“No. I don't. And it doesn't matter. It is a bargain, at any price, to keep you at Jacqueline. And, most importantly, to have you back in my life.”
I leaned over and kissed him. We shared a deep and long kiss. He was delectable. I had missed his lips. There was no doubt in my mind, or my heart, Brandon Mitchell had the most sensual, loving, and erotic kisses of any man I had ever been with.
My heart raced. I felt a tingle of joy all over. Not just the sexual tingle I always got when we touched, but something even deeper and more meaningful. The only question was whether or not it could last. Could Brandon and I make it this time?
Chapter Nine
“Does this mean that I'll get to use my overnight bag?” asked Brandon.
“I think you could convince me of that.”
“Might be hard with you in sheep pajamas.”
“I thought you said you liked them? That I was cute in them? Actually, the word you used was 'amazing',” I said playfully.
“I do like them. And you are very cute in them. They just don't scream . . .”
“Sexy,” I completed Brandon's thought. “Well, maybe this will be a little better.”
I stood and unbuttoned the tops to my pajamas. I wasn't trying to be overly seductive in how I did it. It is hard to be seductive and sexy in pink pajamas with fluffy sheep all over them. I quickly tossed my pajama top to the side and pulled my pajama bottoms off.
I didn't have sexy panties on, but it didn't matter at that point. Brandon was staring straight at my chest. I didn't have a bra on. My fleshy breasts popped into Brandon's face. I shimmied my shoulders and they giggled.
Brandon's pants tented. Oh I had longed to see his gorgeous specimen of manhood again. How I desired to feel him penetrate me in places that no other man had ever reached. To so masterfully press his crown against my aroused clit. I was already wet.
“Stand up,” I ordered.
Brandon stood. The tent was fully pitched now. I knew he was as ready to go as I was. I had a surprise in store for him.
“Take off your shirt.”
Brandon pulled the t-shirt over his head and tossed it onto the couch.
“Now your pants.”
Brandon removed his pants. He was wearing navy blue boxers. They did nothing to contain his gigantic erection. He looped his fingers inside the waistband and then paused to look at me.
“Proceed,” I said.
He pulled his boxers down around his feet and stepped out. His muscular body glistened in the glow of the lamplight. He reached for his wallet to retrieve a condom.
“You won't be needing that just yet,” I told him.
He looked at me with curiosity. I pushed him into a seated position on the couch. I knelt down in front of him.
“Ashley, you don't . . .”
“I know. I want to.”
Brandon sat back on the couch. A smile grew wide across his face. I knew he loved oral sex. I had never, I mean never, gone down on a guy before. Not even Brandon. Tonight, that changed.
I took hold of his long and wide shaft. I moved my mouth toward the head of his penis. I rolled my tongue around the tip. I licked pre-cum away as I worked my tongue around his throbbing crown. Brandon groaned with pleasure.
I kissed my way down his massive rod. It took a while as there was a good amount of territory to cover. I cradled his balls in my hand as I kissed and gently sucked along his shaft. I worked back toward the tip.
I moved my mouth over his cock and clamped my lips around it. I began to suck feverishly. I moved my head closer to take more of the anaconda into my mouth. His crown pressed against the back of my throat. I suck
ed hard. Brandon began to push upward to fuck my mouth.
We moved in rhythm faster. I worked both my tongue and lips on as much of his manhood as I could possibly fit into my mouth.
“Oh, Ashley! This is so fuckin' sweet. Oh yeah, baby. Don't stop.”
Brandon was panting as he thrust into my mouth as I took it with pleasure. My lips still tightly formed around his swollen cock.
“Ash, I'm going to erupt!”
I stayed the course. I had no idea what it would be like, but I had decided I was going to give Brandon the best blow job he had ever received. He was near climax and then he flooded my mouth with his hot and salty ejaculation. I let it slide down my throat.
The look on Brandon's face was worth it. Pure pleasure. Pure satisfaction. I also got off on it. My panties were soaked.
Brandon leaned over and kissed me hard on the mouth. He twirled his tongue around in my mouth. He placed his hand on my head and drew me tight to him. His kiss was filled with desire.
“That was amazing. You were amazing. I thought you had never done that before?”
“I hadn't. I thought I would give it a try.”
“Well, it was perfect. Better than perfect. I've never had it that good before.”
“So, better than that bitch Jessica?” I asked as I stood up over him.
“Jessica who?”
Brandon reached up and pulled my panties down. He wrapped his hands around my waist. He dipped his head down and buried his face into my crotch. A jolt of excitement shot through my entire body.
He moved his nose through the curls of my sex as he delicately kissed my lower lips. My bodied stiffened and I let out a moan. My core was on fire.
Brandon darted his tongue in and around my slit. I was rapt with both pleasure and anticipation. I could barely contain myself for the even greater pleasure on the horizon.
I braced myself as Brandon moved his tongue under my folds and circled my swollen clitoris. He moved his hands down my outer thighs. He brought them across the front of my legs and to my inner thighs. He pushed my legs apart as he took my clit between his teeth.
I jumped and let out a cry of total pleasure. Brandon licked away the juices of my arousal. He moved up my stomach to the fleshy mounds of my chest. He took my right breast into his mouth.
