“Don’t worry,” Bryson whispers into me. “I’ve got plans for dessert.” He gives my ribs a tweak. “Baya and I will whip up some cookies.”
“Nice,” it purrs out of me. For a moment I thought he was propositioning me in front of his family.
“Race you up the steps,” he says, taking off for the sweeping staircase.
I bolt around him and barely crest the top a second before he does, with Nitro hot on my heels.
“I win,” I pant.
“It’s a tie.” He presses a kiss over my lips. “Plus, I had forty pounds of luggage.” He bumps the bags over his shoulders as Nitro hightails it back downstairs. “What do you have in here anyway? The bricks of technology?”
“Actually”—I step into his chest as he pants into me—“I left my laptop behind this weekend. I didn’t think I’d get much studying done with you around.” I glance down at the floral carpet that bleeds into the hall. “I thought maybe we could do other things.” I wanted to add, now that my brother isn’t haunting us with his vagina protection shield, but I’d rather leave all mention of Cole and missile-defense systems outside these walls for the weekend.
Bryson pulls me in. His hands warm my waist before riding low over my bottom, and my body whimpers into him.
“I was sort of hoping we’d do other things, too.” He gives a smile that borders on wicked. “I hope this weekend is everything you want it to be.”
Dear God. “It already is.”
Bryson offers a kiss that lingers this time. His supple lips smooth over mine and rain that special fire only he can produce right down into my soul.
A pair of footsteps come up on us quick, and we part ways quickly only to find Annie clicking her tongue at us before rushing back downstairs.
“Annie’s room.” He nods to the door at the end of the hall. “Holt’s,” he touches a door as we head in the opposite direction. “Your room.” He opens the door quiet as a whisper then nods at the room next door. “That’s mine.”
“Oh”—a flood of relief fills me that he’s practically within reach—“thank you.” My face heats up for no good reason. “So”—I lean into the doorframe—“is this where you stash all the girls you bring home for the weekend?” I don’t know why I went there. I guess, deep down, a part of me wants to know just how many girls his mother might find illegal.
“I guess so.” Bryson takes in a breath as he settles my bag on the floor. His eyes float back to mine, serious, tender with their gaze. “I’ve never brought a girl home before, so, in a way, I’m setting a precedent with you.”
My heart thumps its way into my throat. My ears pulsate with a rhythm all their own.
Bryson Edwards has never brought a girl home before, and now that girl is me.
“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper as he comes in close, his breath feathering over my cheek.
“Say this.” Bryson covers my mouth with his, and we indulge in a heated exchange right there in the doorway that just so happens to be unblemished with tally marks, real or imagined. His tongue roams over mine, his teeth bite over my lip playfully. I don’t stand a chance this weekend. I’m already his in every single way.
Bryson tracks his hands up my thigh and stops shy of my bottom. I reach down and pull him up a few inches until he’s cupping my curves in his hands, and a slight laugh gurgles from his throat to mine.
“This is just the beginning.” I whisper right into his mouth.
Bryson strings a trail of kisses up my neck and gives a gentle bite over my ear.
“A beautiful beginning,” he whispers, and every cell in me sings the body electric.
This weekend is starting to feel like the beginning of the rest of my life.
And with Bryson by my side, it will be more than beautiful.
Bryson
I give Baya a tour of the house, the most important room being my bedroom. She walks slowly around the periphery looking at the trophies on my bookshelf, the lack of actualbooks, which I’m sure she finds unimpressive. She runs her hand over the felt pendant that readsWhitney Briggs,and I don’t bother telling her that my mom put that up while I was away my first semester. Baya pauses at something over my desk and lingers.
“Who’s this girl?” It comes out so innocent, it doesn’t even faze me at first.
I bounce off the bed in a single bound and make my way over.
Fuck.
