All or Nothing Page 2

  “Then kiss me,” he rasped.

  “Why would I kiss you?” I asked, breathless yet fighting to remain in control.

  “Because you want to.” His statement was bold, direct, and sure. I hated how well he could read me.

  “No, I don’t,” I murmured weakly. Stay strong, Ellie.

  He chuckled softly. “Okay, kitten. Then let me kiss you. I want to see if you’re still as feisty when that pretty mouth is occupied.”

  My silence was the only answer he needed.

  He took my hand and dragged me the few paces to the women’s restroom across the hall. In this quiet part of the hotel, it was deserted.

  Braydon’s warm palm cupped the bare nape of my neck, his thumb lightly rubbing against the soft skin. A chill darted down my spine. The simple contact from his hand was more than enough to ignite the fireworks between us into a raging inferno. His touch was firm, knowing, and decidedly confident.

  With his hand still planted firmly at the base of my neck, he guided my body to his until our chests rested together. Our hearts pounded against each other, and I didn’t know if it was from the adrenaline surge of arguing with him or the desire I felt flooding my system.

  He certainly knew how to make my heart race.

  All the bickering and heated arguments gave way to this moment. His blue eyes gazed fiercely down at mine and my tongue unconsciously darted out to wet my bottom lip. Braydon didn’t miss the movement, his own lips parting as he softly inhaled.

  I had no idea what he saw in me—what he must think of me—with my razor-sharp tongue and the neon sign above my head advertising how much I distrusted men. But in this moment, he obviously didn’t care. He was every bit as wrapped up in this as I was. Maybe he was just horny, maybe it was our roles as maid of honor and best man at our best friends’ wedding that had brought us to this moment . . . but regardless, there was no denying I wanted him to kiss me.

  He was the king of mixed signals. He’d poked fun at me all day, and now he was looking like he wanted to devour me from the inside out. The thought made my stomach flip. With my chest brushing his, I felt my nipples harden beneath my satin gown. I wasn’t sure if he felt it too, but Braydon’s eyes grew dark with his desire and began to slip closed. I didn’t know what to make of him, but before I could even begin to sort out my feelings, his lips pressed tenderly against mine.

  The softness in his kiss was unexpected. His fingers curled around my neck, fastening my mouth to his while he demanded I give in.

  Knowing we were tucked away, with no chance of being discovered, I gave in to my desires. His fingers slowly knotted in my hair as he pulled me closer and deepened the kiss, his tongue lightly probing my mouth.

  He was too sure. Too skilled. My libido immediately took notice, delivering a healthy dose of moisture to my panties. He turned something as simple as a kiss into a promise for sweaty, heart-pounding sex. If he kissed this well, surely he would be commanding and confident in the bedroom. Why did that thought excite me so much? I kissed him back with everything I had, my tongue sliding intimately against his as I tangled my hands in his hair.

  After several moments, he slowly broke away, grinning against my mouth. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  I parted my lips and drew a slow, shaky breath. I wanted to beg him to kiss me again, but instead I lifted one shoulder then dropped it in a noncommittal shrug. “It was okay.”

  He tipped his head back and laughed out loud. “You’re lying. I can see your body’s response to me, kitten. Your panties are probably wet right now. Just from that one kiss.”

  I didn’t deny it—I just held my eyes on his. Even in these insanely high heels, I had to tilt up my head to look at him. He evoked strange responses from my body. One minute I wanted to bite his head off for being a player, and the next I wanted to mount him and make him show me just how experienced he was between the sheets. God, I should be checked for multiple personalities. Hold it together, Ellie!

  He bent down and his hands disappeared under the hem of my dress, skimming my naked calves and thighs. Chill bumps broke out in the wake of his smooth hands roaming along my skin. Was he honestly going to check if my panties were wet? And was I seriously going to let him? I knew I should stop him, slap his hands away, step back—something—but instead I stood there like a lovesick idiot, letting him manhandle me.

  His fingers slid in through the sides of my panties and slowly twisted them, pulling them down my thighs. I knew I should say something. This wasn’t okay, this wasn’t me. Yet I watched in wonder as he let them fall to my ankles.

  “Step out of them,” he commanded.

  I lifted one foot and then the other, leaving my panties haphazardly on the floor.

  He slid one finger against my sex, and his mouth curved up in a grin. “You get really wet, don’t you?”

  Heat flooded my cheeks and my eyes dropped to the floor. Oh, God.

  He tipped my chin up to meet his eyes once again. “Fuck, I like that. A lot.”

  I pulled in a shaky breath, relaxing into his touch.

  His finger glided along my wet center and a whimper fell from my parted lips. It was laced with need, and Braydon recognized it immediately, his jaw tightening. His eyes danced as he looked into mine, and we tried to calm our ragged breathing.

  “All this tension between us, my little firecracker, this electricity . . . don’t you want to see what it will be like when I’m buried balls-deep inside you?” he murmured, his finger lightly rubbing my clit as his eyes met mine. I whimpered and bit my lip. Braydon continued watching me as though cataloging my every reaction as his finger continued to carefully circle the bundle of nerve endings so desperate for attention.

  God, if he keeps that up, I’m going to explode . . .

  “Can I taste you?” he asked.

  All the blood rushed from my brain to my clenching sex, and I nodded wordlessly.

  Walking us backward, Braydon guided me into one of the large bathroom stalls and slid the clasp into place, locking the door behind us. My heart pounded in anticipation.

  Our eyes connected as he lowered himself to his knees in front of me, pushing my dress up around my hips as he went. Raw desire was reflected back at me as those beautiful blue depths penetrated mine. He hungered to put his mouth on me, and that thought alone drove me absolutely wild.

  Balancing on precariously high heels with a poufy satin dress lifted up around my waist, I braced one hand on the wall beside me for support.

  “Put your hands here.” He took my wrists, placing my hands on his shoulders instead. Then he slowly leaned forward, planting sweet kisses along my inner thigh. I writhed, trying to push myself closer, and balled my fists into his shirt.

  “Hang on, baby. I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

  His words instantly soothed me. I knew he would.

  What in the world was happening between me and Braydon? I had no clue. But hell if I wanted to stop it. His tantalizing mouth moved to my other thigh, giving it the same treatment, trailing tender, sucking kisses all over the smooth flesh.

  I gripped his shirt, my fingers sliding from his shoulders to his collar, to his hair, using it to tug him closer.

  “Okay, enough teasing,” he whispered. “You want to come?”

  “Yes,” I groaned out.

  His mouth closed over my sex, sucking my swollen flesh into his mouth. He certainly wasn’t shy. This wasn’t the timid, noncommittal technique I was used to from most guys—a few flicks of the tongue before retreating to check a box. Oral sex complete. No, Braydon invested himself fully, pinning me in place and worshipping my lady parts until I was moaning and tugging against his hair to get him to ease up.

  Hushed voices and footsteps came within hearing range. Braydon didn’t stop his ministrations, despite me trying to wiggle away. His hands clamped down on my hips, holding me in place. The footsteps stopped just beside the door, and I peeked one eye open. I could see black Italian loafers and hot pink satin pumps unde
r the doorway. Holy shit! It was Ben and Emmy.

  Braydon and I froze, our gazes locking.

  “Ben, I need you,” Emmy whined.

  “I know, baby. I want to fuck you so bad.”

  Emmy giggled. “Look. There are panties on the floor.”

  “Looks like we weren’t the only ones with this idea,” Ben said. “Our romantic wedding makes panties drop,” he said as he chuckled softly.

  After a moment’s hesitation, Emmy asked, “Ellie? Is that you?”

  Shit!

  There was no use denying it. She could see my shoes, and since she’d picked out these strappy sandals for me, I knew we’d been spotted.

  “Yeah, um, Braydon’s just helping me, um, find my contact.”

  She hesitated just a moment. “You don’t wear contacts.”

  Damn. I was hoping she’d be tipsy enough to overlook that fact.

  “Yes, but I’m thinking of starting and I wanted to be sure . . .”

  Braydon’s hand squeezed mine and he shot me a sympathetic look. “We’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  “Got it. We’ll see you shortly,” Ben said. I watched as their feet disappeared around the corner, and I sagged in relief.

  “Thank you,” I whispered to Braydon. My dumb ass had tried to convince Emmy I was getting contacts. Thanks to his quick thinking, or guy code or whatever, he’d gotten rid of them.

  Without another word, Braydon’s mouth returned to my core and I cried out at the unexpected onslaught.

  Once my body was pulsing after its second release, Braydon slowly pulled back and lowered my dress into place, smoothing out the wrinkles over my hips with his hands. Then he rose and stood in front of me. A slow, lazy smile tugged one corner of his mouth up. “Hi,” he whispered, his eyes dancing on mine like we were the only two in on a private joke.

  I pressed my lips together to hide my smile. “We shouldn’t have done that.”

  “You came, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Twice,” he confirmed.

  “I wasn’t keeping track,” I lied. It was two mind-blowing orgasms, more powerful than I’d ever experienced before.

  “I was.” His eyes locked on mine, possessive and dominant.

  “That’s not happening again.”

  “Yes it is.”

  Fuck.

  I worked my bottom lip between my teeth while Braydon watched me curiously.

  2

  I waited for regret over my little tryst with Braydon to rise to the surface, yet it was strangely absent in the morning. I couldn’t clear my thoughts of him. Maybe my pride was able to remain intact because we hadn’t had sex and he’d remained fully clothed. I wasn’t sure. I only knew I thought of last night with a warm and pleasant feeling.

  After a quick shower, I combed my wet hair and opted for a low ponytail, jeans, and a cozy V-neck T-shirt. I had no one to impress. I was on my way to a casual coffee date with Ben and Emmy before they left for their month-long honeymoon. Of course, as Ben’s best friend, Braydon would be there, too, but I refused to let things get weird between us after last night. I had nothing to be ashamed of.

  When I arrived at the coffee shop, I spotted Braydon straightaway. He was waiting at the back of the line, fiddling with his phone. Gone were the tuxedo and shiny leather shoes of last night. Today he was in worn jeans slung low on his hips, beat-up navy blue Converse sneakers, and a light gray T-shirt that hugged his long, lean frame. He looked every bit as edible as the night before. His hair, unstyled, was missing the shiny pomade and was pushed up in the front in a casual yet sexy way. I wished I was immune to him, but seeing him standing there, looking like sex on a stick, it was obvious I was anything but. Damn hormones. I had no choice but to join him at the end of the line.

  “Hi, kitten. How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Uh-uh.” I wagged my finger at him. “What happened last night is never happening again.”

  “Relax, babe. It was fun, right?”

  I nodded reluctantly. No denying that. I’d replayed the way his messy dark hair had looked between my thighs, the way his mouth had devoured me, the sure way his fingers had stroked me inside. I couldn’t believe I’d allowed him to go down on me, and that I’d done nothing in return to him and then fled. That wasn’t supposed to happen between us. I felt like an idiot. Or the coolest chick ever. Ha! When I’d apologized later for leaving him in that state, he’d merely shrugged and said he had hands—implying that he’d take care of himself.

  My heart throbbed painfully in my chest as he continued to watch me.

  Tipping his head low to whisper near my ear, his warm scent greeted me. “I want all of you next time.”

  I shook my head. “Braydon, that’s not happening again. I was just lonely and caught up in the moment. I’m changing teams. No more men for me.”

  “It’s only a matter of time. I will be inside you.”

  A tiny whimper escaped my throat.

  “Shh.” His hand pressed against my lower back. “It’s going to happen. Don’t fight it. I promise it’ll feel good.”

  My heart thumped steadily in my chest.

  His firm touch guided me forward in line to order. The barista stared at me blankly. Shit! I couldn’t get my mouth to work.

  Braydon leaned down to my ear. “You like coffee?”

  I nodded, my head bobbing on my shoulders.

  “Two medium coffees, please,” he ordered for us.

  I was reduced to pointing and nodding. God, this man turned me into a pile of hormones and sex. I needed medical help. Stat!

  After handing the barista some cash, and dropping his change into the tip jar, Braydon accepted the two cups of coffee and led me to a table in the back. After making sure I was seated, Braydon turned to me. “Would like you cream? Sugar?”

  “Yes, please. Both.”

  I watched his cute butt as he strolled across the room to doctor up our coffees.

  Emmy and Ben entered as Braydon was making his way back to the table. We shared hugs and stories from last night while Braydon went to stand in line again to order for the happy couple.

  Once he’d rejoined us, sliding into the empty seat next to me, Emmy’s mouth curved up in a grin. “I was just thinking about last night . . . you know, when you lost your contacts,” she said, using air quotes.

  I kicked her under the table.

  “Ouch!” She bent down and rubbed her shin.

  “Sorry. Reflex,” I apologized weakly.

  “Seriously, though, will you guys be okay while we’re gone?” Emmy asked, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Bray.

  Braydon’s hand disappeared under the table and closed around my knee, giving it a playful squeeze.

  “Of course,” I stammered.

  “Braydon will take care of her, won’t you Bray?” Ben asked.

  Braydon looked straight at me, his brilliant blue eyes fringed in dark lashes smiling at mine. “I surely will.”

  Emmy looked skeptical but shrugged. “With you two, I don’t know if I’ll find you in a closet tearing each other’s clothes off or with Ellie ripping your throat out.”

  “I like it rough.” The low growl emanating from Braydon’s throat caused my nipples to harden against my bra. “I’m in.” Braydon grinned.

  “Not happening,” I barked, taking a sip of my coffee. Damn! Too hot. I winced, pushing the paper cup away from me. Being near him was maddening. I wanted to lash out at him one second and fuck him silly the next. My mood swings were going to give me whiplash.

  “Excuse us a minute.” Emmy grabbed my hand and yanked me from the table, practically dragging me to the restroom.

  “Ouch . . . sheesh.” I wrenched my hand free, splaying my fingers open and closed in an attempt to get some of the blood to return to the digits.

  “You and Braydon . . . oh my God, tell me everything!”

  I splashed cool water on my cheeks and washed my hands. Emmy handed me a wad of paper towel, watching me closely in
the mirror.

  “What the hell happened last night?”

  “Umm . . .” I accepted the paper towels, drying my hands and blotting my face. I didn’t know how to answer, what to say.

  “Seriously, you better spill it. I tell you everything about me and Ben. Every single detail.”

  It was true. She did. I’d listened to every sordid tale and given her advice when they first started dating—and every time he’d done something foolish to mess it up.

  “Did you guys get it on? I know that crap about contacts was a lie, so you better just come clean.”

  “We fooled around a little. We didn’t have sex.”

  A slow smile curled on Emmy’s lips. “Did you see his piercing?”

  “What piercing?”

  She blushed feverishly. “Never mind. So what in the world happened? You fight with him constantly.”

  “I know. I guess all that bickering gave way to sexual tension and, I don’t know. I just stopped fighting it last night.”

  “Okay, so are you guys, like, hanging out now?”

  “No. It was a one-time thing. A stupid mistake. I’m just glad I didn’t let it go any further than it did.”

  I hadn’t really opened up to Emmy about my lonely and miserable state. I hadn’t wanted to rain on her parade. She was deeply in love, planning a wedding, a honeymoon, and running Ben’s charity. She had a lot on her plate. And even though I hadn’t said the words out loud, I thought, deep down, she knew I’d had a string of bad relationships and wanted something real. I was done wasting my time on Mr. Right Now. My heart was sick of all the games. I was looking for the real thing.

  “Okay. So we’re still Operation: All Men Are Dicks.”

  I nodded. “Correct.”

  “Okay, well, just so you know, Bray’s not really a dick. He’s actually a really good guy.”

  Yeah, a good guy who’d seduced me with flirty glances and dirty words and stripped me of my panties in a public restroom. But when I reflected on last night, he hadn’t expected anything of me. He’d gotten me off—twice, as he reminded me—and then let me flee the scene. I chuckled at the memory. It was rather odd for a hookup. Not like most guys, who would’ve wanted something in return.