Page 98 of Branded Hearts

Hope surges through me. Suddenly, there’s a soft knock on my door, and panic shoots through me.Who on earth could that be?

I hesitate, approaching the door cautiously, wishing I had a peephole. I slide the security chain off before opening it slowly, and my jaw drops.

Bradley stands there, filling the doorframe, looking absolutely adorable in black trackies and a matching hoodie, holdingtwopints of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

Oh, my goodness.

I’ll never tire of seeing him looking so laid back.

I’m speechless.

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“Hi,” he says.

“Hi. How did you... When did you?” I stammer.

He huffs a laugh. “I’d left before you’d even mentioned the twenty-four-hour convenience store.”

I stand there, feeling a mix of surprise and delight. How can he be so thoughtful? It’s almost too good to be true. As he steps into my apartment and closes the door behind him, he towers over me in all his six-foot-something glory, holding out the two pints of ice cream.

“I didn’t know what flavour you liked, so I got both,” he says casually, shrugging as if it’s no big deal. I try to contain my bubbling excitement.

He offers me the pints to choose from—vanilla or choc chip cookie dough. My mouth waters instinctively. I reach eagerly for the choc chip cookie dough flavour, my eyes lighting up with delight.

“This is my all-time favourite!” I exclaim, unable to hide my enthusiasm.

His eyes soften. “Mine, too.”

I grab two spoons from a nearby drawer. “Wanna share, then?” I ask playfully, offering one to him. He nods with a small smile, accepting the spoon.

We settle on the couch together, the ice cream between us, and I can’t help but steal glances at him when he’s not looking. I notice how his smile flickers as Maverick’s jet flies across the screen from Top Gun, a movie I’ve just discovered is one of his favourites. It feels intimate, and I’m hyper-aware of his presence beside me. Stealing glances at him, while engrossed in the film, I notice the subtle movements: how his Adam’s apple bobs with each swallow, how his lips wrap around the spoon as he savours the ice cream. It’s these small details that draw me in, and I can’t deny it—he turns me on so much that I can literally feel my core pulsate, fluttering like it has a beat of its own and matching the rapid beat of my heart.

I shift, trying to ignore the way my body responds to his proximity, but it’s impossible. The air between us crackles with tension.

I steal another glance at him, catching his eyes this time. Heat pools in my stomach, spreading through me like wildfire. I can’t look away, and I don’t want to. He sets his spoon aside and leans in closer.

“What are you thinking right now?” he asks, his voice husky with desire.

“I think you know,” I reply, my breath catching in my throat.

“I want you to tell me.”

“I want you,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “I want you to kiss me.”

He hums softly at my words, then leans back against the couch,legs spread wide, his demeanour relaxed yet commanding. “Come here,” he says, nodding toward his lap.

My heart races in my chest as I slowly straddle his thighs, feeling the firm bulge beneath his pants. Every subtle movement sends a delightful friction through me, awakening a sensation I never imagined.

I settle in his lap and instantly feel his bulge pressing into me. I bite my lip to suppress a moan. The tension between us is palpable, and I know that this moment will change everything.

“Do you still want to kiss me?”

“Yes,” I reply, my voice a breathless whisper. I ache for his touch, for the connection of our lips, for the heat of his body against mine. I adjust over the bulge in his pants, and he tilts his head, his eyes locking onto mine as a low groan escapes him.

“Well, then, what are you waiting for?” he teases, his voice low and gravelly. It sends shivers down my spine, stirring my desire even more. Without hesitation, I lean in and press my lips to his. His mouth opens, tongue seeking entrance. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to deepen the kiss, and my tongue swirls around his. His hands roam my body, up the sides, before moving down toward my arse, giving it a firm a squeeze. I gasp at the sudden sensation of his hardness rubbing against me through mythinpyjama pants, so I’m feeling everything.Everything.

Every touch of his, every caress, builds the tension between us to an unbearable level, and I never want it to end. Without breaking our kiss, I guide his hand to the hem of my shirt. He doesn’t hesitate,his fingers tracing the curve of my waist, his warm hand on my skin sending shivers of pleasure down my spine. I moan softly into his mouth. Being around him gives me a sense ofconfidenceI’ve never felt before. Without another word, he gently lays me back on the couch, his body hovering over mine.

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