at once. The words swam in her head as Braden explored the outline of her lips with his thumb. His fingers found the curve of her cheek, and then trailed down the side of her neck, his gentle touch setting her ablaze inch-by-inch. Just as she began to wonder if he would really take the risk – if he’d dare press his mouth to hers – Braden licked his lips, the sight barely visible as her eyes adjusted to the dark. He moved in slowly, gauging her response. Warming her up to the idea.
Her pulse hammered to the point it hurt. She’d always known Braden was taller than Terrance, and broader too, but having him so near accentuated those points. As he stepped impossibly closer, Allie lowered her chin, too shy to meet his gaze any longer. The soft touch of his heated breath tickled her forehead. Close. He was so close. Touching her. Caressing her so tenderly her legs threatened to give out. The sensation increased as Braden pressed a kiss just above her brow, making her sigh in return. His lips traveled slowly over her cheek, where he pressed another lingering kiss.
If anticipation alone could kill a person, Allie might have died in that moment. She lifted her chin a fraction at a time.
His lips grazed hers like a whisper. Once, twice. And then his kiss was hers. With the full and complete lock of their lips, Braden let out a groan, the masculine sound of it thrilling every sense she had. His kisses were strong and certain, but not forceful. His every move hinging on her approval. When she kissed him back willingly, actively, he reached for the curve of her waist, gripping her there as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Persistent. Patient. Masterful. Allie had practiced the piano in her youth, the trusty metronome ticking a constant track to keep the rhythm. Braden’s affections were consistent too. Paced to perfection – pressing one moment, tasting the next, and seducing her with every hypnotic beat.
She’d never been kissed in such a way. Not before. And not since. Allie wasn’t sure how long it had lasted. Whether it was seven minutes like Terrance’s fling, or if it had lasted even longer. Made no difference, really. It was enough to ruin her from any other man. Even Terrance. And the guilt that flooded in at the knowledge had consumed her for months. Maybe even years. It was the very reason she’d started setting Braden up with other girls. She had done that – done it to prove to herself that she could stay loyal to Terrance. That she wasn’t a horrible cheat who would dump her boyfriend because somebody better had swept her off her feet. Besides, Terrance needed her; reminded her over and over of how lost he’d be without her. Braden was different. He never needed anyone, or so it seemed, and something about that fact frightened her.
With a bit of effort, Allie pushed those thoughts aside and mused on the kiss once again. It’d been years since she’d allowed herself to think of it. She’d kept the encounter far from reach during her married years. But today it had resurfaced with a vengeance, and she couldn’t keep herself from enjoying it.
Over the hours that followed she relived that kiss again and again, the vision playing out as she scanned order forms, pulling each one onto Braden’s laptop in digital format. By the end of her shift, Allie took a minute to assess the work she’d accomplished. A good section of the documents had been stored on the hard drive, as well as backed up through an online source. She was glad to see it, considering how distracted she’d been.
Braden had worked quietly today. No power tools roaring into action. No hammer pounding from the other side of the wall. A few times she’d wondered if he hadn’t snuck out completely. But then she’d detect a tiny clank here, the soft rustle of sanding there, or a long, weary sigh that made her want to comfort him somehow.
After rounding up her things, Allie rested her workbag on the chair and then stood in place
Her pulse hammered to the point it hurt. She’d always known Braden was taller than Terrance, and broader too, but having him so near accentuated those points. As he stepped impossibly closer, Allie lowered her chin, too shy to meet his gaze any longer. The soft touch of his heated breath tickled her forehead. Close. He was so close. Touching her. Caressing her so tenderly her legs threatened to give out. The sensation increased as Braden pressed a kiss just above her brow, making her sigh in return. His lips traveled slowly over her cheek, where he pressed another lingering kiss.
If anticipation alone could kill a person, Allie might have died in that moment. She lifted her chin a fraction at a time.
His lips grazed hers like a whisper. Once, twice. And then his kiss was hers. With the full and complete lock of their lips, Braden let out a groan, the masculine sound of it thrilling every sense she had. His kisses were strong and certain, but not forceful. His every move hinging on her approval. When she kissed him back willingly, actively, he reached for the curve of her waist, gripping her there as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Persistent. Patient. Masterful. Allie had practiced the piano in her youth, the trusty metronome ticking a constant track to keep the rhythm. Braden’s affections were consistent too. Paced to perfection – pressing one moment, tasting the next, and seducing her with every hypnotic beat.
She’d never been kissed in such a way. Not before. And not since. Allie wasn’t sure how long it had lasted. Whether it was seven minutes like Terrance’s fling, or if it had lasted even longer. Made no difference, really. It was enough to ruin her from any other man. Even Terrance. And the guilt that flooded in at the knowledge had consumed her for months. Maybe even years. It was the very reason she’d started setting Braden up with other girls. She had done that – done it to prove to herself that she could stay loyal to Terrance. That she wasn’t a horrible cheat who would dump her boyfriend because somebody better had swept her off her feet. Besides, Terrance needed her; reminded her over and over of how lost he’d be without her. Braden was different. He never needed anyone, or so it seemed, and something about that fact frightened her.
With a bit of effort, Allie pushed those thoughts aside and mused on the kiss once again. It’d been years since she’d allowed herself to think of it. She’d kept the encounter far from reach during her married years. But today it had resurfaced with a vengeance, and she couldn’t keep herself from enjoying it.
Over the hours that followed she relived that kiss again and again, the vision playing out as she scanned order forms, pulling each one onto Braden’s laptop in digital format. By the end of her shift, Allie took a minute to assess the work she’d accomplished. A good section of the documents had been stored on the hard drive, as well as backed up through an online source. She was glad to see it, considering how distracted she’d been.
Braden had worked quietly today. No power tools roaring into action. No hammer pounding from the other side of the wall. A few times she’d wondered if he hadn’t snuck out completely. But then she’d detect a tiny clank here, the soft rustle of sanding there, or a long, weary sigh that made her want to comfort him somehow.
After rounding up her things, Allie rested her workbag on the chair and then stood in place
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