Chapter 21
Brayden
I was pissed off but also worried. Why wasn’t she saying anything? I wanted to know what she was thinking, why she was so on edge. But she was closing up right in front of me, and I instinctively knew that if I pushed more, she’d just shut me out completely.
This was so unlike Isabelle that I was completely thrown. She was always saying what was on her mind. I needed to find a way to get through to her, but I needed to be alone with her for that. Right now, the guys were approaching us.
“Gang, let’s take the insider pics before I’m too wasted,” Lars exclaimed. We always shared photos from the party on our social media the next day.
“I definitely don’t look like myself when I’ve had too much to drink, and everyone wants more of the sexiest man alive,” he added.
Isabelle gave me a small smile. Even though she was trying to act as if there was nothing bothering her, she looked vulnerable. Fuck. What’s going on?
“Lars, you’ve never been the sexiest one,” Harvey said.
Thomas nodded. “Yeah. Checked the top one hundred sexiest men alive lately? Harvey, Brayden, and I are in front of you.”
“Whatever,” Lars exclaimed. He took out his phone and snapped selfies while we all gathered behind him in front of a couch. Harvey was holding out a bottle of champagne. Thomas had his fingers in a V behind Harvey’s head.
I kept Isabelle firmly next to me. “Stay. I want you here,” I whispered in her ear.
Sasha and Cami were also in the pics. I was usually looking forward to this, because they gave fans a real glimpse into the evening, and into us—our lives.
But right now, all I wanted was to pull Isabelle somewhere private.
I was determined to do it as soon as we finished with the pictures, but I didn’t get the chance, because she and Cami went to the bathroom.
“Is it just me, or is your girl avoiding you?” Harvey asked.
How the fuck had he caught on?
“Not just you,” Thomas said. “Dude, whatever it is, don’t let it escalate.”
“Stop hazing the poor guy,” Sasha intervened. “Maybe Isabelle’s tired of you lot. Did you think about that?”
Lars rolled his shoulders, pushing out his chest. “Impossible.”
Sasha laughed, running a hand through her hair.
“I’m not in the mood for this,” I said, walking away from them. I went to the bar, ordering a glass of water; they’d only set out champagne throughout the room. The bartender handed me a huge glass immediately, and I chugged it down, needing to hydrate.
Lilian approached me. “Your little girlfriend seems sulky. Did I scare her away?”
I stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on. I’m sure she ran to you complaining about our encounter.”
“What exactly did you tell her?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice calm.
“The truth. That she’s not part of this world.
She doesn’t know how to deal with everything.
And that you’ll get bored of her eventually.
You need someone who can take on everything.
And who’s much better looking and knows what the camera loves.
Like me. She doesn’t even know how to dress up for an event like this.
Who comes with an off-rack dress to a party full of A-listers?
The reporters already asked about my outfit when I arrived.
” She was smirking. Lilian had always come across as arrogant and far too self-assured.
I’d never paid attention, because I had zero interest in her personally, and Sasha insisted she was good at her job.
I looked straight at her, determined to keep my voice low but strong and clear.
“You’re fired.”
She blinked. “What? You can’t do that. The tour season is about to start.”
“We’ll manage without you.”
“You’re not?—”
“Effective immediately. Leave the premises right now. If you don’t go willingly, I’ll ask security to escort you. You don’t want the cameras outside to catch that, do you?”
Her glare was icy. “You’re going to regret this.”
I waved at Sasha, who was still talking to the guys. She came over to us right away.
“Sasha, I fired Lilian, effective immediately.”
Sasha’s eyes widened, but she didn’t contradict me. She knew better.
“Make sure she leaves the premises right away.”
With that, I left the bar area, looking around the room for Isabelle.
Remembering she’d gone to the bathroom, I headed that way too.
I waited for her outside the corridor leading to the back where the amenities were.
No one stopped me to chat on the way, which was a miracle.
Then again, most guests were already in party mode.
Five minutes passed, then ten. What the hell is taking them so long?
When Cami and Isabelle finally emerged, they looked at me in surprise.
“Someone’s been missing you,” Cami said. “You can tell me about the second meditation technique later. And I want to buy one of those journals you make.”
“No, no. You’re my friend. Friends don’t pay. I’ll make one for you.”
Cami smiled. “Thank you.” Patting my shoulder, she added, “I love her. And now I’ll leave you two. Don’t want to be a third wheel.”
As Cami left, Isabelle and I moved a few feet away so we wouldn’t be in the way of traffic.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Cami said they’re trying to get pregnant, and it’s not going as smoothly as they hoped.”
“I know. Thomas mentioned it a few times.”
“She’s experiencing anxiety, and I explained an easy meditation technique. I’m going to make a journal for her. I’ll need to talk to her in more detail about everything though.”
I couldn’t believe she was thinking about how to best help Cami even though she’d been so shaken before by Lilian.
“I fired Lilian,” I said without further ado.
“What? Why?”
“She told me about your conversation, and I don’t tolerate that behavior.”
Her eyes widened, and she clasped her bag tighter. “Brayden… you didn’t have to fire her. She’s doing a good job.”
“I don’t care. No one treats you like that and remains unpunished.” I took one step closer, until I was right in her personal space. “We need to clarify a few things.”
“Like what?”
“Like the fact that you’re mine, and everything that being mine entails.” I skimmed my fingers along her jaw, moving lower to her neck. She exhaled sharply, parting her lips. “But I want us to be alone for that conversation. We’ve stayed at this event long enough. It’s time to go.”
Paul took us directly to the Waldorf Astoria. We didn’t speak at all in the car; I didn’t want to have to filter what I was about to tell her because we weren’t alone.
A bellhop opened the door to the car, leading us straight up to our room.
It was on the top floor. Because the elevator was room-keyed to take one party at a time, we didn’t need extra security.
The suite had a bedroom and a living room, complete with a couch, a dining table, and a desk.
The bellhop started pointing out the different amenities, but I cut him short, ready to be with my girl.
“Thank you, we’re good.” I tipped him generously, and the second he left, I focused on Isabelle. She was standing in front of the desk with her back to me.
I went to her, clasping our fingers together, kissing her neck and shoulder.
“About those things we need to clarify,” I began, determined to have this conversation before I lost my head.
She half turned her head, pressing her back against me.
“You and I are together in everything, Isabelle, do you understand? Everything. Don’t push me out.”
She turned around slowly. “I wasn’t trying to.”
“But you did it.”
“I’m not sure why I didn’t come clean about it. I wanted to tell you about it but didn’t want to ruin the party. You were so happy. I wanted to protect you. You don’t have to fire her. I can handle Lilian.”
“You don’t have to handle her at all. Anyone hurts you, I remove them. Simple as that. You just need to tell me.”
The corners of her mouth tilted up. “Sounds easy enough.”
“It is. I mean it, Isabelle. I’m crazy about you. I want to give you the world, and I am in a position to do that.”
I captured her mouth, kissing her until she went soft in my arms. I lowered my hand to her hips, lifting her dress slowly, enjoying how the rhythm of her breath changed.
When I reached the bare skin of her outer thighs, she moaned against my mouth, lacing her fingers at the back of my neck. I moved one hand to her ass, squeezing it. Fuck, she was too delicious, too perfect. I’d barely touched her and I already had a hard-on.
I remembered the zipper of her dress was on the left side and lowered it in one swift move.
I tugged at her dress, and so did she until it fell to the floor.
The sight of her naked breasts drove me insane.
She stepped out of it, pushing it away with her foot.
She still had those sexy-as-hell heels on.
“Best fucking part of this dress,” I said.
“What?”
“You don’t need a bra with it.”
She threw her head back, laughing, but the sounds turned to moans when I drew circles with my fingers around one nipple.
Dipping my head, I traced the tip of my tongue around the other one.
She gasped, rolling her hips forward, tugging at my hair.
I loved how fast I could bring her to the edge, and that she wasn’t ashamed of expressing herself.
I lowered myself even more, kissing a straight line down her belly.
She sucked in her stomach in anticipation.
I parted her thighs with one hand, sliding my thumb in her panties, right over her pussy.
She buckled, gripping the edge of the desk with both hands.
I teased her like that, drawing my thumb slowly down her opening and then back up, nudging her clit each time.
She brought her hands to the elastic band of her panties, her intention clear. I blocked her right hand.
“No. I want you to come before I even take the panties off you. Then I’ll make you come all over again.”
She gasped. Her legs shook slightly as I stroked her clit more.
“Ooooh.” Her voice was wobbly and pleading.