Say You're Mine - Layla Hagen Page 0,31
my chest filled with this incredible joy. I quickly refreshed my makeup—a dash of mascara and eyeshadow, leaving my lips bare.
My pulse quickened as I left the building. The black BMW was parked in the spot reserved for deliveries. Rolling down the tinted window, he smiled at me. I had no idea what tonight would bring, but I was ready to embrace everything. He opened the door, scooting along the back seat to make space for me.
“What do you want to do?” he asked once I was next to him, door closed.
“We could go to my place.”
He nodded. “Tell Paul your address.”
Paul was the same guy who’d driven me to Lars’s party. I rattled off my address, and the car lurched forward.
It felt a bit surreal to sit here next to Brayden. He said absolutely nothing on the way, which only made the tension between us more palpable. I could feel him watching me, and the weight of the conversation we were about to have filled the air. Every time I glanced sideways, I found him looking at me. He touched me relentlessly, skimming his hand up my forearm, threading our fingers together.
Even though there was quite a distance between my office in Brooklyn and my apartment in the Bronx, I was so lost in his delicious touch that I barely felt the time slip by.
I startled when Paul announced, “We’re here.”
“Oh, thanks.” I was suddenly so nervous, especially when Brayden put on a cap.
“Was there a bodyguard following us in another car or something?” I remembered him saying once that security didn’t travel in the same car with him.
“Nah, I only ask Sasha for a security detail when I’m in busy places. This is residential, mostly. It would draw attention.”
I led him through the narrow alleyways between the buildings until we reached mine. To my relief, no one bothered us. We took the staircase up to my place, because no one ever used it, and I unlocked the door quickly.
I only really relaxed once we were inside. “I thought you didn’t go anywhere without Sasha clearing the way first.”
He flashed me a devastating smile, taking off the cap and placing it on my silvery console. “I don’t, but like you said, I wasn’t going to let you get away tonight.”
I smiled back, fiddling with my thumbs.
“How was your session?” he asked.
“Very sad, but I think it helped her.”
“The way you care about everyone, from your siblings to your clients, is amazing. One of the things I admire most about you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. A lot. Especially your clients, since they’re practically strangers.”
“Well, they do become friends in a way. I like to think that, anyway, but maybe it’s one-sided. I mean, they don’t know anything about me, while I practically know their life story.”
“Doesn’t it get to be too much? Listening to everyone’s troubles?”
“Mostly I can compartmentalize. And it helps when I always think that it does them good to bring all the ugly out in the open.” I loved that he was asking questions about my work. My past dates would roll their eyes or try to change the subject whenever I spoke about my clients, but Brayden seemed genuinely interested. “But today I am a bit sad, I can’t deny that.”
He placed his hands on my shoulders, his thumbs rubbing at the base of my neck. Heat speared me. My breath hitched.
“Maybe I can help with that.”
“Mmmm, I’m sure you can.”
Suddenly I was feeling a little jittery.
“What are we doing, Brayden?” I whispered.
“I don’t know.” He touched my cheek with one hand.
“I mean, your tour starts in a couple months.”
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy each other now.”
“Without any pressure,” I continued.
“I know I said I can’t give you everything you need, but I can make you so damn happy, Isabelle.”
My heart somersaulted in my chest. I loved living in the here and now, without questioning the future too much. And his words were making me swoon. I had other questions, but none of them seemed important enough right now. All I wanted was for him to kiss me, so I rose on my tiptoes, sealing my mouth over his.
Chapter Nine
Brayden
Her taste was addictive. I couldn’t get enough of the sounds she made, the way she responded to me. I pulled her curvy body against me and nearly lost my mind. I touched her waist before moving down to her hips until my fingers brushed the elastic band of her panties over her dress. She whimpered softly as