Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Armond Davis
WE PULLED UP TO MY loft about twenty minutes from their property.
I owned the entire top floor of the building and had a parking spot so close to the elevator you would think it was a handicap spot.
We traveled into the garage and rounded the corner.
She sat up as I parked and I saw the unease in her brows. She’d never been inside.
She waited for me to open her door and stepped out without accepting my hand. That shit made my jaw clench.
“You can’t accept my kindness now?”
“Maybe I just want to get inside,” she snapped. I was going to let her have it but the second we walked in my place, she was going to hear it.
Her silence the entire way up was starting to piss me off. I didn’t care about what the fuck just happened. She was always safe with me. I hated that she acted like she had to be on guard with me too. No matter how much I showed her I’d always stand on business when it came to her.
Joshua showing up set her back tremendously and that pissed me off more.
The distant brother who didn’t care for the man’s existence suddenly reappeared to find out where he’d been?
Shit didn’t sit right and now I was beginning to wonder what her relationship with Joshua looked like.
Maybe I was creating scenarios, but her silence and lack of touch were frustrating.
I entered the code then used my thumbprint to unlock the door to my place. Brandy looked around curiously then her eyes ballooned as we stepped inside.
From the entrance, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city were visible. She kicked off her sneakers then rushed over to the window and the beam on her face made all this silence worth it. I wasn’t even mad any longer.
“Armond, this view is exceptional,” she said.
“The best in the city,” I replied as I walked up behind her.
She tensed from my touch but stared at me intensely through our reflections in the window.
“Armond. How do I know Jeffrey won’t be the next to pop up?
“Because the bastard is dead, Brandy.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Did I hear correctly?”
“You did. I snatched that motherfucker at the airport. He was my captive for about a month. I needed him to feel every ounce of pain he caused you. When I left for the gala, I made sure he was part of my business as well.
“I got the gash on my arm fucking around with the door for the bunker since we don’t use it often. Honeybee, I’m always going to keep you safe. The minute you decided to give me a chance, it was up,” I explained.
She faced me and searched my eyes, trying to find the lie, but I would never lie to her. She exhaled a deep sigh and wrapped her arms around me.
“Fuck. Thank you, Mon Mon,” she said, then squeezed tighter.
“I’ve always got you, honeybee.”
She nuzzled into my neck and sniffled lightly. I soon felt tears that made my shirt stick to my skin. I pulled away from her slightly and wiped her tears with the strum of my thumbs. I kissed her forehead then looked over the city.
It was busy. People made their way to wherever on foot while buses and cars barely inched through the late-night traffic.
“What would you like to do with our evening, honeybee?” I said softly in her ear.
“Wine.”
“That I can do.”
I made my way to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of glasses.
I grabbed the ice tray and carefully took out the round pieces and placed one into each glass.
I looked over at Brandy and she was still standing in the window with one arm folded over her chest and her other hand fiddled with her necklace.
She was deep in thought and I was glad that the waterworks ceased. I hated seeing her fret over anything.
“Would you like to do the honor?” I asked as I extended the bottle. She turned with her brows furrowed, confusion riddled her face. She lit right up when she saw the secured bottle and that was all I wanted. To get her mind off anything related to Jeffrey or Joshua.
She trotted over then took the bottle from my hand. She looked it over then smiled. I was still stuck on the way her hips swayed as she walked toward me. The confidence that was once forced seemed to come effortlessly now. She was transforming back into herself with each step. I was damn proud.
“You can open it, love,” she finally said.
“I know you like to,” I replied.
“Yeah, but it’s okay. You know I trust you.” She smiled genuinely.
“Do you?”
“Of course.”
“I wasn’t sure about an hour ago.”
“That was fear of the unknown. I thought Jeffrey was going to be right behind him. That he actually found me all the way out here,” she explained.
“I told you before, you’re safest with me. He was going to be handled regardless. The fact that he ever hurt you was enough to go searching if needed. He just happened to offer himself up on a silver platter.”
She smiled weakly and nodded, then put her eyes on the bottle.
“Were you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you killed Jeffrey? It’s been what? Two weeks?”
“Yes, I was going to tell you when we got a free moment together. Since I’ve gotten back, we haven’t had many chances to get this all out there.”
“You could’ve called and told me that.”
“The fuck I look like telling you something like that over the phone?”
“Okay, okay. You got me on that one.”
“Mmhmm. Take this glass, honeybee.”
“Thank you,” she said as her fingers glided over mine.
She put the glass to her lips and took a sip. Her eyes gravitated to the glass and that let me know she appreciated the Cabernet Sauvignon. I took a gulp and placed my cup down when I noticed her look go from pleasure to panic.
“What’s wrong?”
“Bathroom?”
“Down the hall, first door on the right.”
She hauled ass to the bathroom and seconds later I heard her throwing up her soul. I looked at her glass then took another sip of mine to see if I would get sick as well. When nothing happened, I rushed to the bathroom and pulled her hair up, so she didn’t throw up in it.
“Baby, are you alright?”
I knew it was a stupid question, but it was all I could process. A million scenarios hit me and I needed her to shut the noise up.
After a minute she rested her head on her arm then nodded at me. I helped her stand and she went to the sink to rinse her mouth. I went into the little side pantry and grabbed mouthwash, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. I handed them to her and she sighed in relief.
“Thanks,” she mumbled.
“Have you been feeling sick like this all day?”
“Only when I eat something spicy. I haven’t today so I’m kind of confused,” she replied.
“Hmm, come. Let’s run you a shower and you can relax on the bench and take your time. Then you can climb into bed and I’ll bring you hot tea to help that feeling subside. How’s that?”
“Sounds perfect.”
She groaned as she brushed her teeth, like the taste was making her nauseous as well, but she continued. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and she continued to look down as she brushed.
I grabbed a rag and went to the kitchen to give her a little space.
I ran cold water over the rag then wrung it out when I heard the faucet turn off.
We met in the hallway and I placed the rag on her forehead.
She sighed and gave me a forced smile as she grabbed the cloth.
She was fear stricken and I wondered what scared her the most.
“Talk to me, honeybee, why do you look like that?”
“I haven’t been sick in a while. I don’t know what this is,” she mumbled.
“Maybe it’s the overexertion of the last couple hours.”
“Yeah, that was a lot. I can’t get Joshua’s eyes out of my head.” She closed her eyes then shook her head like the gesture would remove the image from her thoughts.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that. He killed Bryce and I reacted when I saw the bastard making his way to you. I only saw red. I wasn’t about to have him thinking he could lay a finger on you.”
“Bryce?! Oh no. No wonder Arlando was showing out like that.” She shook her head then sighed. “I appreciate that, Armond. I do. I just need to lay down, I guess. I mean, I feel a little better since throwing up.”
“That’s good. Come on.”
I picked her up bridal style and carried her into my bedroom.
She wrapped her arms around my neck tightly and rested her head against me.
Her sweet perfume filled my nose, mixed with her shampoo.
It was a combination that made me do irrational shit like shooting someone in broad daylight without caring about possible consequences.
I pulled the blanket back with my semi-free hand and she giggled then threw herself onto the bed. She quickly took off her shirt then scooted out of her leggings before I could say anything. I smirked then went into the en suite to start her shower.
I grabbed my lighter and lit the candles scattered around the bathroom then pushed the button on the panel to start the shower jets.
I turned the temperature up then threw a shower bomb in.
It smelled like lavender and vanilla, two of her favorite smells.
I figured it would ease a little of that stress out of her shoulders.
Once I was satisfied, I pulled out my cell and put it on DND then went to my playlist and turned on soft jazz. The guitar filled my eardrums and I instantly calmed down. This should do the same for my honeybee.
I stepped into the bedroom and Brandy was fast asleep in the center of my bed.
I rested against the bedpost and watched her.
She was always portrait ready. If I painted, I would pull out the easel and mimic the beautiful cascade of her long legs, the brush of hair across her face, her slender frame, and those pouty lips. She was a vision. She was mine.
I crawled over to her then nuzzled her neck. I planted kisses on her face until she stirred awake.
“Mmm, Armond, quit,” she groaned.
“Your shower is ready, mama. Come on.”
She sighed then opened her eyes. She sniffed the air then looked at me.
“It smells like my house.” She beamed.
“It smells like you, honeybee.”
She shot up and rushed to the bathroom. She halted at the entrance and covered her mouth.
“Oh, this is beautiful.”
“Something slight.”
“Yeah, okay. Look at that shower. I’m supposed to get in that? Looks like I’m about to go through a car wash.”
I chuckled and grabbed her hand. I led her to the shower and she slipped her bra and panties off. I hit the panel and turned off two of the jets. She smiled then kissed me on the lips.
“That’s much better,” she said.
“Get your sexy ass in there.”
“You’re joining me, right?”
“Is that what you want?”
“Of course.”
I discarded my clothing then stepped into the shower with her. My gaze traversed her entire being before locking onto her eyes. She was still insecure over the couple of scars she normally kept hidden. I didn’t care about that. She’d kissed my scars and I would do the same for her any day.
I kneeled and kissed the scar from her cesarean, the scars on the inside of her left thigh, and her belly button, then trailed my tongue around it.
“Armond…”
“Shhhh,” I interrupted.
She sat on the bench just for my lips to disconnect from her skin. The rise and fall of her chest told me everything her lips wouldn’t. She was anxious. Ready. So damn ready. She noticed my exploration and gave me a naughty smile and batted those pretty lashes at me.
I kissed the scar on her inner thigh then spread her legs further.
I planted kiss after kiss on her clit, giving it a light suck before I dove in.
She let out a moan so alluring that I fucked her with my tongue until her body quivered.
I lapped her up in meticulous swirls then sucked on her clit until her legs tried to snap my neck off.
The second she reached her climax, her legs spread widely and I let her fill me up until she settled.
I licked my lips then winked at her as I grabbed her hand.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly as her head tilted back and rested on the shower wall.
She was already spent but I wasn’t done with her yet.
I pulled her onto the floor with me. With me still on my knees, she decided to straddle me as she propped her legs to the side. The soft mats eased our descent.
I inched forward then slid inside her juicy tunnel.
She shuddered then grabbed my arm as I slowly filled her up.
Her eyes fluttered open. Her breathing hitched and I got lost in her gaze.
The hair on the back of my neck rose and a rush of heat sat back there with it. I couldn’t move my eyes from her.
I wasn’t sure if that made her nervous because she was biting the corner of her bottom lip and holding onto me for dear life. I kissed the side of her mouth then her forehead. Her soft yet sharp exhale gave me pause. I searched her face for an answer and her hand met the back of my nape.
“It’s okay,” she murmured.
“You sure?”
“Yes. I want you. I’m okay,” she insisted.
I tucked my knees under her and lifted her to rest on my legs as I ground into her. The arch of her back as she moaned and the burn of her nails dragging along my arms fed the fire begging to escape from under my skin.
She let out a soft “fuck” and I just about lost it. She wanted me to nut right then.
Water splashed against us with each stroke. Each droplet highlighting her perfect skin, the glow that never seemed to leave her, so smooth and fucking irresistible. My lips crashed into hers as I pulled her closer. She let out a light moan then pulled away.
I grabbed her neck and gave it a light squeeze. Shit had her biting her bottom lip again. Her eyes were low and lazy. Teleporting us to our own realm.
The sputter of her breath. The knot in her throat as she held onto whatever breath she had left. The slight tilt of her head as if she was begging me to squeeze harder. She enticed me to grant her wish.
She let out a moan that made chills roll across my skin. My hand cupped her chin and she kissed me hungrily. I felt her adjusting in my lap, so I pulled away to let her do whatever she wanted. Her feet planted onto the mat and she took control of our rhythm.
Fuck.