Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
Brandy touched his arm, chasing away the terrible, buzzing sound in his head.
“As I was saying, Niles, this is Marvin Jones. He’s looking for investors for his new start-up technology company. It might be a good fit with your portfolio.”
Niles uncurled his fist.
Better than putting it in the face of some innocent, unsuspecting male whose only sin was talking to Brandy.
He pretended an interest he was nowhere close to feeling. “Indeed?” The only thing he wanted was to have her all to himself.
“I suggested that Mr. Jones contact your office to schedule an appointment.”
“Excellent.” More and more, this woman was getting to him. She hadn’t been flirting with the guy, she had been talking business—his business.
And she’d made no promises that he’d actually speak with this Jones fellow. Instead, she’d been friendly and suggested his protocols be followed. “If Brandy thinks it’s worthwhile us talking, I’m happy to meet with you.” He gave the gentleman one of his business cards. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, I’d like to dance with my woman.”
“Of course.” Marvin smiled at Brandy. “Thank you.” To Niles, he added, “Very much appreciated.”
After excusing them, Niles guided her toward the dance floor. “How long before we can leave this place?” he asked as she wove her hands around his neck and placed her cheek against his lapel.
The way she had greeted him had made it clear he was the only man in the room she was interested in. And that, he wanted to repay.
“I want to say that I’m ready to go anytime you are, Sir…”
“But…?”
“Bidding won’t close for a little while, and…”
“Say no more.”
After the dance ended, Mame joined them.
“Having fun, kids?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” Brandy replied enthusiastically. “But I’m having tons of anxiety about that basketball jersey.”
“Oh?” She glanced at the wall where it was hanging in a frame. “The one that Lawrence Minton has his eye on?”
Niles followed her gaze.
The older, distinguished gentleman was standing in front of the table, pen in hand.
“The thing is too large for him,” Mame said. “He’d look like a clown in it.”
And it wouldn’t drown Brandy? She’d need a belt so it didn’t fall straight off her body.
“Go save him from himself, Niles,” Mame implored.
Before Brandy could add her two cents, he dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I know better than to argue with the two most important ladies in my life.”
He ended up engaged in conversation with several associates, but he kept an eye on the sheet and added his name to the bottom of the list whenever anyone else dared to outbid him.
Since the ladies were deep in conversation, he made his way around the room, checking the items that Brandy had indicated an interest in.
His name was at the bottom of at least six bid sheets.
With luck, he wouldn’t win them all. But if he did, Brandy would be happy, and so would Aunt Mame’s charity.
That made it a no-lose situation, he supposed.
When he rejoined Brandy and Mame, his aunt smiled.
“Brandy’s going to take a look at one of my websites,” Mame said.
“Is she?”
Mame held up her smart phone and showed him that her home page was displayed on the screen.
There were some funky words and symbols in the image.
“I thought I knew how to do all that myself, but I obviously did some things wrong. This dear girl said she will have them all fixed by Monday, and she had the idea to acknowledge tonight’s winners and thank all the donors, linking to each person’s site as a way to draw more traffic.”
“All that happened in the last five minutes?” he asked, dumbfounded, looking from one to the other.
“No. All that happened in less than one minute,” Mame corrected. “She’s really something. Smart. Socially astute.” She patted his cheek. “Hold on to her, Niles, my boy.”
Then, with an air kiss, she moved off to speak with new arrivals.
“Whew,” Brandy said. “She has more energy than I’ve had in my entire life.”
Another couple that he knew casually stopped to say hello, and in less time than it took him to blink, Brandy had the man talking about his business, and she asked how he might be able to do business with Niles.
Mame was right. Brandy was a powerhouse.
After they’d spoken to almost everyone he had any interest in meeting, his aunt took the stage and accepted the microphone.
She thanked everyone for coming, then turned over the event to the people she’d hired to hype the silent auction.
Over the next thirty minutes, some door prizes were given away, donors were acknowledged and asked to take a bow, and items were described with Hollywood flair.
Which meant bidding truly began, so keeping up with all the items was a constant challenge.
He and Brandy stayed until the bidding ended.
And because they stationed themselves in different places, she won the jersey, and secured box seats for a basketball game. No doubt he could have bought an interest in the team for less money.
“The research society thanks you,” Mame said.
“And so do I,” Brandy added, rising onto her toes to kiss him.
“You have to wear a kilt to the game,” he told her.
“I’d do anything for you, Niles.” Her smile was as dutiful as it was playful, and he knew she meant every word.
“Told you she’s a keeper,” Mame said, moving off with no apparent loss of energy.
“That was a joke,” he clarified when they were in the elevator.
“What was?”
“The kilt.” Sudden, inexplicable jealousy lanced him. “I’m not letting you out in public dressed like that.”
“I’d wear white knee socks with it.”
“Jesus.” No. Hell no. Fuck no.
“And skip wearing panties. I mean, I’d want you to enjoy the full experience, Sir.”
“Put me out of my misery.”
“Here?” she asked, sliding her hand toward his crotch. “Now?”
As much as he was tempted…
“I’m sure there’s an emergency stop button so we could have privacy while I suck your cock.”
He captured her wrist and devoured her mouth with a punishing kiss. “Behave.” The word emerged as a threatening growl.
“Oh, Sir. I’m just trying to give you what you want. I mean…” Like a seductress, she licked her lip. “After all, you’ve been so good to me tonight.”
“What I want is to give you a damn spanking for your impertinence.”
“Really? Do you think I deserve one?”
“No doubt.” That and so much more.
Once they were in the room with the lock in place, he slammed her up against the door, and she began to rub him through his slacks, her eyes wide with temptation.
Then he took a step back.
Without being asked or told, she dropped to her knees.
Utterly focused, she unfastened his belt and trousers, allowing them to fall to the marble floor.
“Commando, Sir?” she asked, gaze fastened on his face.
Which was why the slightest touch from her was enough to drive him to distraction.
She stroked him and cupped his balls before taking his cock into her warm mouth.
“Damn. Fucking hell.” Niles trapped her head between his palms as she worked him, sucking him off and swallowing every drop of his load.
After their shared shower, he licked her cunt until she screamed her pleasure, then he dragged her over his lap for the spanking he’d promised her.
He teased her, aroused her, then left her unsatisfied before pulling her against his naked body in the bed.
“But, Sir…”
“You played with fire, beautiful Brandy.”
She gave a fake pout, but dutifully thanked him for his attention.
Damn, she was an exquisite, willing submissive.
When he awoke in the middle of the night, moonlight filtering through the window, she was lying quietly on her side, one hand on his chest, looking at him. “Still needy?” he asked her.
“Yes, Sir. You put me to sleep all uptight and restless.”
If this was the result, good.
Sweet Brandy reached for him and brought him to full arousal in only a handful of seconds.
Barely remembering to roll on a condom, he took her.
After they were finished and he’d bathed them both with a warm, damp towel, she backed her bottom against his crotch.
“Not promising you’ll get any sleep if you’re going to be wiggling that hot ass against my dick.”
“Well, Sir, I should certainly hope not.”
He’d never met a woman whose sexual desires matched his own.
Off and on through the rest of the night, they made love, then dozed.
When dawn lit the mountains, she was securely wrapped in his arms.
He never wanted to let her go.
Because of the gentle rise and fall of her breathing, he knew she was awake. “Would you like to see some of downtown?” He paused. “And then you could go home with me.”
She was silent for so long he wasn’t sure she’d answer.
Finally, she nodded and softly said, “I’d love to, Sir.”
He ordered room service lattes, and he checked his phone to see a message from Mame, requesting they join her for breakfast. “What do you think?” he asked Brandy, conveying the invitation.
“I’d enjoy that. Do we have to go right away?”
Her eyes had darkened.
“After a bath,” he replied.
He wanted to keep her on a knife-edge of arousal today so that he could shatter her completely this evening.
They soaked together, discussed the previous night’s events, and sipped their beverages.
And later, they joined a jubilant Mame for breakfast.
“Congratulations on a successful event,” Brandy said. “I’ll be sure to email you with my suggestions so you can keep some momentum going.”
“Do you mind just going ahead and doing the work? My assistant can give you logins and whatnot. I emailed her your information and told her to get you the attendee list and the donor list. You’ll also get the names of all the winners.” She grinned at them. “Which also includes you and my nephew. By the way, you can claim your prizes in the mezzanine. My assistant is handling the details. And since you’ll already be over there, you can get with her about the website. She’s prepared to do anything you tell her and to pay your invoice.” She barely took a breath before waving her hand and going on, “I’ll let you sort it out with her, Brandy. I’ll be out of the country for about a week.”
Niles frowned. First he’d heard of it.
“I’ve decided I deserve a rest, so I’m taking a trip to Belize for a little R R,” she said. Grinning, she added, “With Truex Williams.”
Truex Williams? The football player? “Didn’t you just meet him last week?”
“Maybe two weeks ago.” She waved a hand, and her diamond bracelet nearly blinded him.
Unable to keep his mouth shut, Niles sat back and drummed his fingers on the table. “He’s thirty years younger than you are. At least.”
“Thirty-five.” She winked. “But who’s counting? But at least he can keep up with me and none of the old farts my age can. I need some good loving,” she said. “From a man who can keep it up all night.”
“Jesus, Aunt Mame.” Niles groaned. “I don’t need all those details.”
“Pish. Like you two didn’t go at it like rabbits last night. I see how bruised Brandy’s eyes are. She didn’t get a wink of sleep.”
“Aunt Mame!”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, ma’am.” Brandy poured a splash of cream into her coffee. “I went upstairs and fell asleep.”
Mame nodded then wagged a finger at Niles. “Keep her close. She protects your reputation.”
Niles couldn’t agree more.
“Anyway, Truex will be picking me up soon in his limo. He says I’m a MILF.”
Brandy choked on her coffee.
Over the rim of her mimosa, Mame regarded Brandy.
“I prefer to think of myself as a cougar.”
“Proudly so,” Brandy told her with a nod.
“I’ll see you two after I get back. I have to pack my bikini and my handcuffs.”
With that, she gave them air kisses and swept away, trailing a cloud of perfume and astonishment behind her.
“Well,” Brandy finally observed, sitting back. “She is something.”
“Yeah.” He looked after his retreating aunt. “Definitely that. I figured you’d like her.”
And once more, she’d stuck him with the bill.
Shaking his head, he handled the payment, then he and Brandy took the stairs to the mezzanine to collect her coveted winnings, and Brandy spent a few minutes discussing details with Mame’s assistant.
When they were back in their room, she swore she was going to pay him back for the two items they’d won.
“I won’t hear of it.”
“But—”
“I mean it.” He held up a hand. “Not open to negotiation.”
Stubbornly, she folded her arms and tipped back her chin. “Then we can do a barter. My web services in exchange for the jersey and tickets.”
“Jesus, Brandy.”
“That’s a yes?”
He sighed exasperatedly and advanced on her to capture her shoulders. “What part of no did you not comprehend?”
“Sir, that’s hardly fair. You had no interest in either of those things.”
“And? I’d have bid on a dozen items because it’s a fundraiser, and that’s what’s expected.”
“But at least you would have gotten things you wanted,” she persisted.
“Stubborn, confounded…” He brought his back teeth together.
“And I’m right.”
No way could Niles back down and allow her to triumph in this argument. She’d only learn that she could outlast him, and that was a message he refused to send. “My answer is no.”
“Then I don’t want the stuff. We can donate it back for the next auction.”
“Your spanking is going to be really uncomfortable if you don’t accept my decision.”
She lifted an eyebrow.
With a sigh, he released her and dug a hand into his hair. “Damn it, woman. Let me do this for you.”
Tension pulsed, thick and heavy.
“Please,” he added.
“Paying you back is a matter of pride,” she said softly. “This matters to me.”
With her eyes, she beseeched him.
Fuck.
To truly make her happy, he would need to compromise, no matter how difficult that was for him. “How about this… You buy dinner when we go to the game. And if you want, a hotel room.”
She narrowed her eyes. “It won’t be at a place like this,” she warned.
Here they were, talking about a future.
And he liked it.
“Are we in agreement?” he asked.
“I have one more thing to say, Sir.”
Of course you do.
“Thank you. You’re more than generous, Master Niles.”
“Brandy, believe me when I say this… Seeing you happy is worth anything.” Leisurely, but with passion, he kissed her, only letting her go when he was in danger of losing control.
A few minutes later, after discussing their options, they decided to take a stroll and ride the shuttle on the Sixteenth Street Mall to take in the sights.
Their outing ended up lasting a few hours, and they walked and sipped coffee while people watching and window shopping.
Other than an occasional meal out, he rarely took the time to appreciate the city he lived in.
If he had someone like Brandy in his life, he might do it more often.
If…
He shook his head to clear it of his momentary lapse of common sense.
His life was structured the way he wanted it, and he planned to keep it that way.
Back at the Moline, he and Brandy packed their bags.
Then he drove them to his loft, which wasn’t more than two miles away.
“I had no idea you were so close. We could have stayed here,” she said.
“Being at the hotel was important to the whole experience, and I wanted to spoil you.”
“That spa day…”
He slid her a smile. “Wonderful?”
“Amazing,” she corrected. “I’ll be able to do so much work next week.”
They rode the elevator to his floor.
His place was wide open, industrial-looking, with exposed brick and duct work. It was constructed from light wood, stainless steel, tall windows, lots of stunning lighting and not much else.
“No art, Sir?”
“I’ve never gotten around to it.”
“No photographs? Mementos?”
Through her eyes, he saw anew how stark it was.
“I gather you didn’t live here with your wife?”
“My aunt isn’t the only one who’s nosy.”
“You can always refuse to answer.” She gave a small, half-apologetic smile. “Or put your tongue in my mouth to get me to do what you want.”
Her carefully constructed image shut him the hell right up.
When he didn’t respond, she wandered to the window, her back to him.
“I apologize,” he said gruffly, not accustomed to uttering those words.
Brandy obviously wanted to get to know him better, and she had that right. “I know I’m difficult.”
She faced him again.
When she asked questions, she was treading on uncertain ground.
Other than his aunt, Damien, and Gregorio—his most trusted confidants—no one knew the real truth about Eleanor.
“Being open isn’t easy for me.” He moved closer to her. “I’m not accustomed to talking about what happened. About my wife.” Wryly, he added, “Most people have respected that. Except you and Aunt Mame.”
“Sorry, Sir. I guess you could order me not to mention her again, and I will abide by that. But it puts boundaries around what we share. I’m not allowed past a certain spot in your life. That makes me an acquaintance, nothing more. Someone you fuck and spank.” She touched her pendant. “And pay off with expensive trinkets.”
Fury boiled in his blood.
“I understand where you’re coming from. And I appreciate you letting me know so I didn’t get other ideas.”
He took her by the shoulders, resisting the temptation not to dig in his fingers and cause bruising. “I wouldn’t have invited you to my place if I had wanted to keep you out of my personal life.”
She didn’t back down. “Then you’ll have to put up with my inquisitiveness.”
Abruptly, he released her. “I suppose I will.”
“Is it a hardship, Sir?”
“At times, yes,” he admitted. He used both of his hands to brush hair back from her face. “But you’re worth it.” Even though there were lines that he’d never allow her to cross.
“Thank you.”
He put some distance between them. “I sold the marital property and lived at a hotel for a while after I buried her.”
“I’m sorry for touching a nerve. It must have been difficult.”
“It was. But not in the way you might think.” Images, horrible and unforgettable, flashed through his mind like an obscene strobe light.
“Anyway, a real estate agent found this place, and I bought it sight unseen. She hired a decorator to furnish it, but since I never responded to questions about my taste, she gave up, did the best she could and walked away.” He lifted a hand. “Can’t blame her.”
“Maybe one day you’ll make a different decision. Soften it up with some throw blankets and pillows. Some more furnishings.”
Like her place.
“Photos. Maybe of the two of you. Honor her memory.”
When hell freezes over.
“It really is an amazing space with a lot of potential. Do you entertain?”
“No.” He shook his head. “You’re the first person to visit me here.”
“I am?”
When he nodded, she crossed to him and curled her hand into his T-shirt. “Shall we make some new memories, Sir?”
In his bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room, they did.
And his Brandy had some very creative ideas…