Page 2 of Legally Mine

Chapter 1

I woke up with a smile on my face, something that hadn't happened in a long time. The familiar room was airy and bright. Thin rays of sunshine streamed through the bay windows that looked over the Public Garden. It was hard to beat the Commons in full bloom: the vivid green of the grass and willow trees was set off by the brilliant patches of color. The soft pink of late cherry blossoms. The thrill of irises and rose bushes lining the paths. This morning in particular, everything seemed to gleam, like the old Technicolor movies that Bubbe, my grandmother, loved so much.

I grinned lazily into the warm, white sheets and inhaled. Nothing smelled better. That light scent of fabric softener combined with something infinitely less definable, a delectable blend of mint, almonds, and something else that only smelled like one thing. I inhaled again.

How could I have ever thought of leaving this behind? Of leaving him?

The door to the bedroom burst open with a clap, startling me from my reverie. I sat up, holding the soft cotton sheets to my bare chest as Brandon eased backward into the room, carrying a tray of food. My head cocked appreciatively. Even in just a pair of worn flannel pajama pants, the man seriously had an ass that wouldn't quit. It helped that he wasn't wearing anything on top. Nothing but a broad-shouldered expanse of tanned muscle that tapered to his trim waist.

He kicked the door closed, humming a song under his breath. When he turned around, I found myself on receiving end of his full six feet, four inches of glory. Wide pectoral muscles smattered with a dusting of dark blond hair. Biceps that would have threatened the sleeves of a T-shirt had he been wearing one. A well-defined six-pack that stacked evenly down to the V-shaped muscles at his hips. An athlete's body that was lean and toned, not bulky. Perfect.

But none of it compared to his smile, that thousand-watt smile that lit up every room he entered and sky-blue eyes that seemed to shine brightest when he was looking at me. He made the sun seem dim in comparison. Even on a day like this.

My heart fluttered. It literally fluttered. What had I ever done to deserve someone like this? How could I ever have thought of throwing him away like some piece of garbage? The thought made me feel sick, so I shook my head and smiled back at him.

"Hey, beautiful, you're awake," he said warmly as he walked the tray over to the bed.

I pushed myself up and stacked a few of the massive down pillows behind my back before answering. "I just woke up. I slept like a rock."

"Good," Brandon said with another sweet grin that revealed the dimples in his ruddy cheeks.

He set the tray on the nightstand and then perched over me on his knees so he could give me a long, lingering kiss.

"And good morning," he murmured against my mouth.

I smiled again, my nose wrinkling against his. God, I loved this man. I couldn't love anyone or anything more.

"Good morning to you," I murmured against his soft, full lips. There was that scent again, in the flesh.

Brandon moved to sit beside me on the bed. He picked up the tray of food and set it between us, and I peered over all the accoutrements, not even trying to contain my obvious enthusiasm.

"And what do we have here?" I asked eagerly.

"I might have had Anna run over to Mike's for some pastries," he said, pointing to the plate stacked with flaky, buttery goodies. "But I cut up the melon and scrambled the eggs myself. You impressed, Red?"

I grinned. Brandon wasn't exactly a cook. I was honestly surprised he knew how to do anything more than boil water.

"You're going to make me fat," I said blissfully as I reached for a chocolate-filled sfogliatelle.

"Good," Brandon said with a satisfied grin. "More of you to love, right?"

I rolled my eyes at the corny line, but took a massive bite anyway. Who was I kidding? I loved it.

The merry expression on Brandon's face quickly turned almost predatory as he followed the movement of my mouth, zeroing in on my lips as my tongue slipped out to snag a stray bit of chocolate. I finished swallowing, but couldn't take another bite. With deft hands, Brandon plucked the pastry out of my fingers and set it back on the tray, which he then put back on the side table.

When he turned back to me, I was a statue. He reached up to tuck a few morning-tousled strands of my red hair behind my ear.

"Do you know..." he said as he leaned in slightly.

"Do I know what?" I asked as he ran his nose up and down my neck.

I dropped the sheet from my bare breasts, instead wrapping my arms instinctively around his warm shoulders. My nipples just grazed the hard planes of his chest, and I shivered at the feeling. I had no shame with this man. I was his, body and soul. He knew it, and I knew it. But even so, he also knew how much I loved to hear him say it out loud.

"You are..." he trailed off again as his mouth found the edge of my shoulder and he began to feather his lips along my collarbone.

"I'm what?" I murmured as I leaned back, opening myself up to his eyes and his kisses.

I laid fully back into the pillows, allowing him to cage me under his big, warm body. I moaned under the delectable feel of his stubble along my clavicle, the soft flick of his tongue at the base of my neck, the wet press of his mouth between my breasts. But he knew what I wanted to hear. It was another game we liked to play. And I wasn't going to be distracted.

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