Page 45 of Need

Again, her lower lip disappeared. I waited.

“Why don’t you like him?” she whispered.

I took a drink of my water before I answered. “Last year, he took over running Ross Builders from his father,” I explained, not knowing what she’d been told. “They contribute to The Coleman Foundation. Neil was very generous. Cal... has been less so.”

She looked confused. “I don’t understand,” she finally said.

With a sigh, I turned to face her. This was not something I really wanted to discuss. In fact, I’d rather talk about anything else besides Cal Ross. “Neil Ross promised the foundation a certain amount of dollars this past year. Cal didn’t see the need to donate such a large sum of money.” At least, that was what he’d said. I had my doubts about his reasoning, but I’d keep that to myself. Cal had always given me the impression that it was his dislike of me—for whatever reason—behind the difference in his attitude.

“Cal doesn’t like you,” she whispered as our food arrived.

I waited until our server walked away again before addressing her statement. “No. He doesn’t. Although, I’m not sure exactly why that is. I’ve never done anything to the man.” She seemed to be contemplating this. “Eat your food, Brianna.” She could think about it all she wanted while she was having her dinner.

After a few minutes, I tried to steer the conversation in a new direction and asked her about her day. It worked for a while, but eventually, as she worked herself toward telling me about the end of her day, Ross returned to the forefront.

Brianna lowered her head before looking back up at me through her eyelashes. “You aren’t mad at me about Cal? Even though you don’t like him?”

“No,” I answered before laying my fork down on my now-empty plate. She thought about it for a long minute, and then went back to eating, seeming to be satisfied with my answer.

Once Brianna was finished with her meal, I paid the check and we headed home. It was still early, which worked out perfectly. I wanted to go slow with my plans tonight. That was, if she was willing. There was also the added bonus of getting Ross off her mind. I was definitely up to the challenge.

Upon entering our condominium, I walked over to my chair, sat down, and waited to see what she would do. Her eyes followed my movement. Once I was settled and waiting, she walked over. I gestured to let her know that she could sit.

I wrapped my arms around her as soon as I felt her body sink against mine. This was comfortable. This was perfect. Her head rested against my shoulder as my hand ran up and down her arm. It’d been a few days since we’d been in my chair. I’d missed it. And from the contented sigh she’d just released, I’d have said she felt the same way.

I was happy to let us sit there for a while. We had hours before bedtime for me to push her more if she would allow it. So that’s what we did for the next forty-five minutes.

When the clock on the mantle read eight thirty, I knew that if we were to accomplish anything tonight it would have to begin. I brushed her hair back from her face and placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Did you think about the question I asked you last night?”

She nodded.

“What did you decide?”

“I...” She paused. “I’d like to try.”

I contained my excitement and just nodded. “If you need me to stop, say ‘red’, and I will stop. We’ll end for the night, and you can think over whether you’d like to try again another time. If you just need a minute, or if I’m going too fast and you need to take a break before continuing... say ‘yellow’, and I’ll stop until you are okay to start again. Do you understand?”

She nodded.

“I want to hear the words, Brianna.”

“Yes.” She visibly swallowed. “I understand.”

“Good,” I said and patted her thigh to let her know that I wanted her to stand.

Once on my feet, I took her hand, led her back to her bedroom, and brought her over beside her bed.

The fitted top she was wearing buttoned down the front. I reached out, and beginning at the top, began slowly undressing her. Every chance I got, I made sure my fingers or the back of my hand brushed against her skin. I pushed her shirt from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor, leaving her in only a beautiful cream-colored bra.

My fingers traced the outline of the straps and cups, but stayed clear of where I most wanted to touch. We would get to that later. Right now, she needed to be teased. She needed to feel the want of this.

As my hands reached the underside of her breasts, I trailed them down her torso to the clasp holding her jeans. It would have been easy just to release and remove them, but I wanted to play with her. Wanted her to know just how desirable I found her body.

My fingers were light along her stomach. It was soft and just slightly rounded. Perfect. I couldn’t wait to have my mouth on every inch of her body.

I looked directly into her eyes as the button of her jeans gave under my hands. My lips touched hers in a soft, brief kiss as the zipper released its hold and I pushed the material from her hips.

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