Chapter Twenty
Brady
“Screw this,” Allegra shouted from inside her closet.
I was sitting on the foot of her bed, my legs manspread, and my hands together as I leaned my elbows on my knees. “Damn it, Allegra, you’re really starting to piss me off.” We were supposed to be at Jack and Quinn’s in twenty minutes, and at the rate Allegra was going to just pick out an outfit, there was no way we were going to make it. It didn’t bother me that we were late, not really anyway. I mean, they were family, so it was fine, and they wouldn’t care. What annoyed me was that Allegra had started getting dressed a little over a half hour ago and she was still in a bra and panties.
Allegra poked her head out of her closet, her eyes narrowed. “Don’t start with me, Brady Moore”—she wagged a finger in front of her, pointing at me—“this is all your fault. Not a single thing in here fits me. I can’t even squeeze into my dresses anymore.”
I ran a hand across my face and shook my head, getting up to walk over to her. “It doesn’t matter what you wear, Allegra. You look beautiful no matter what.”
She frowned as I placed my hands on her arms and began rubbing them. Fuck, it felt good to touch her.
“You mean it?” she asked.
“Would I lie?” I quirked a brow, watching her expression as she let out a sigh. “Come on. Just pick anything. What about those maternity clothes?”
She scrunched her nose and threw her head back, groaning. Which only made her breasts become more pronounced. She’d always had a great rack, but suddenly, it was all I could do not to stare at it. Had they grown? It was as though her bra was barely doing anything for her. They were practically spilling out the top and the only thing I couldn’t see—unfortunately—were her nipples. Shit, I wanted to free her breasts from the confines of that bra and hold them in my hands, fondling them. Then I wanted to greedily push them together so that I could suck on both of her nipples at the same time.
“Never mind. You’re right,” she said, breaking me out of my reverie. She turned around and started rummaging through her clothes.
Did she just say I was right?
She tossed her head over her shoulder, and her eyes widened, so much so that they were practically bugging out of her head. “Forget a dress, I could wear those pants that stretch in the front.” Her eyes welled with tears. “Do you remember my old ass?”
I cleared my throat. “Um, what?” Her old ass ? Okay, I guessed that was what we were calling it now.
She moved at a fast pace, leaving the closet and moving me aside to look in the floor-length mirror. “My old ass,” she reiterated. She tossed her hair up in some messy thing on the top of her head with a band she had on her wrist. “I remember it. Of course, you probably don’t miss it because you didn’t have time with it.”
“Is this like the foot eulogy?” I asked, remembering that horrid shit I read in the pregnancy book.
She darted a confused look at me as I approached her. “What?”
I shook my head. “Never mind.”
She posed probably about ten different ways, staring at her ass from every which angle before placing her hand on her belly and licking her lips. She blinked. “It’s fine,” she finally said. “Really, it is. Once Baby is born, I’ll get my ass back.”
I nodded. “Absolutely.” Then I placed my hands around her to cup her belly, rubbing concentric circles on it. “Until then, though, you look sexy as hell.”
She looked up, and I caught her eyes staring at me in the mirror. “I have a ridiculous question, but humor me, okay?”
All right, I didn’t know where this was going, but I’d do anything for her. “What’s that?” I asked.
She placed her hands over mine on her belly and closed her eyes as though it was taking all of her energy to come out with it. “If we were together,” she started, swallowing, her muscles tensing. “What would you want to do to me?”
“You mean sexually?”
She nodded, opening her eyes back up. “Yeah.” Then she dropped her hands and walked away from me, sitting on the foot of the bed. “I know it’s silly. You don’t have to answer that. You can actually go to the car and I’ll meet you. I’m just going to get dressed. I know what to wear now.”
Was she really acting shy? Wasn’t this the same woman who’d led me into my office looking for a one-night stand? It was definitely cute, but I was a little surprised. And frankly, I wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what I had to say. “You really want to know?” I turned around and pulled on the back of my neck, waiting for her answer.
She didn’t move. Not even an inch. Until I came closer, kneeling on the floor in front of her, my hands cupping the back of her thighs. Then her lips parted slightly, and a deep breath followed. “Yes,” she finally confirmed.
She asked for it. . . . “I would get on my knees just like this and guide your legs, spreading them open, as wide as they can go. Then I would have you bring them over my shoulders so that I could bury my head between them. I’d start with kissing the side of your thighs. I’d work me way up to revel in that puffy pussy of yours that would be dripping with need for me. I’d tease you with my tongue, gently stroking your clit and watch as your hips jerk forward, begging for more. I’d be so obsessed that I’d have to have more and more, so I’d dip my tongue inside your entrance. I would savor every loud moan and cry that comes from you. I’ve never tasted you before, but fuck, I already know it’d be my new addiction.”
As I was describing my favorite fantasy to her in detail, I watched her face—her cheeks redden, her lips go dry, and her eyes darken, desire forming in them. As much as she might have liked to deny herself, she wanted it. She wanted everything I’d said. And she wanted me to do it to her.
She just wouldn’t let it happen.
For your information, I wanted her to realize that I’d just turned her on so much that she needed a release, badly, so she would decide to just let herself go and do it. Even if it scared her. Even if she didn’t think it was the right thing to do. Fuck, she should only know that nothing had ever felt more right for me than being with her.
Just watching her like this—almost bare, besides a bra and panties, belly on full display, her full lips wet from where she’d just licked them—I knew with repetitive strokes and a tug of my cock, I’d be shooting out in no time.
“That’s it?” she asked, her eyes watching me as I began walking to the door.
I placed my hand on the frame of it and grinned. “Allegra, that’s just the beginning, but that’s all it would take for your legs to shudder as an orgasm tore through you.”
“So do it,” Allegra said simply.
I shook my head. This didn’t feel right. One second she was holding me at arm’s length and the next she was asking me to make her orgasm. Something wasn’t right here. I mean, sure, I wanted her to say those very words, but this felt too easy. “What?”
She moved and licked her lips. “Orgasms are good for the baby,” Allegra spat out quickly, her words nearly running into each other.
I blinked, sure as shit never expecting that one.
* * *
Allegra
Ugh! Brady was killing me, he was just staring at me, occasionally blinking. What did he want me to say? That I wanted to take him up on his offer and try being together? It sounded lame even to my own ears.
But I was definitely getting hornier, and really, I just wanted him to make me orgasm because it made me feel good and I was fixing to feel good. To feel anything again.
He shook his head. “I don’t—”
“Being pregnant, I’m supposed to orgasm a lot quicker. That would mean you barely have to do any work at all. We both know you want to, so what gives?”
“Allegra.”
The way he said my name had my spine tingling. I wanted this man. If I unhooked my bra and slipped my panties down, I’d be naked in front of him. He couldn’t deny me then, could he? There was no way.
I looked down and eyed the bulge in his pants. If he was a good boy, maybe I could give him the release he needed, too.
“Just once.” Sure, I could use a vibrator or my own fingers, but I wanted Brady. And I wasn’t even asking for his cock—although I wanted that, too—only his tongue as he described it. I wanted to watch him, to hold his head as he lapped me up.
Brady’s eyes were filled with lust, his arms crossing in a way that made me want to reach out and lick every delicious inch of him. “First of all, I’m not afraid of hard work. Second, I wouldn’t stop at one orgasm. I’m a greedy fucking man, especially when it comes to you, Allegra, and I want to know just how much I pleasure you.”
I swallowed. Once. Twice.
This was my chance. My big moment to speak up. Why was I not giving myself exactly what I wanted again? Why couldn’t I just say the damn words—that I wanted him?
He ran a hand through his hair and started backing away from me. “I’m sorry, Allegra, but if you want me, then you’re going to have to admit it. Both to yourself and aloud. I already had you for one night, and it was pure torture. This time, I want you for more than that. I won’t settle for anything less. So, when you’re ready to be with me and play by my rules, you know where to find me. I’m going to the car. Come out when you’re ready.” And just like that, he was gone.
Boy, was he standing his ground.
Meanwhile, I felt like an idiot.
* * *
I finished responding to the last email in my inbox and placed the phone in my purse. “You get a lot of emails,” Brady noted, eyeing me.
I had been answering messages since we got in the car to drive to Jack and Quinn’s apartment over The Black Sheep. To be honest, I liked working because it helped get my mind off my own very real problems. And after the conversation we’d had back at our place, I didn’t really feel like talking to Brady. What was there left to say anyway?
I shrugged. “Fashion doesn’t sleep,” I said, acknowledging Brady’s statement as we got out of the car.
“Neither do people who work in the industry. Clearly.” Said he, who worked not only most nights (except lately), but also most days, dealing with administrative things for the pub.
“Social is a high priority to get people buzzing about the arrival of the next issue before it drops. That coupled with the fact that I’m still planning the anniversary party. . . yeah, there’s a lot to do and eight hours never feels like enough.” I fussed with the strap on my purse. “Plus, I like my job, so it doesn’t feel like work.”
“I get that.” He cleared his throat and pulled on the back of his neck. “I just want to make sure you don’t get burned out.”
I laughed. “Don’t worry about that. I’m a workaholic as much as Bibi’s a shopaholic.” To clarify, I added, “Big time.”
When we got to the apartment, Brady knocked on the door.
“Does Jack cook?” I asked, trying to change the subject and tuning into my growling stomach. Yeah, I guessed you could say I was hungry. Or Baby was hungry.
Brady snickered. “No. Not really.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Let’s hope he didn’t try his hand at it tonight, either.”
I widened my eyes. “That bad?”
Before Brady could respond, Jack opened the door and invited us in. I’d only met him and Quinn once before, but they seemed like good people. And Brady was related to Jack, so I believed that to be true.
“It’s nice to see you again, Allie,” Jack said, giving me a head nod. Then he turned to Brady and shook his head. “As for you, dude, I see you way too often. Your ugly mug is in my damn nightmares.”
Brady ruffled the top of his head. “I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: you’re an idiot, bro.”
I couldn’t help as the corners of my lips turned upward at their brotherly banter. They reminded me of my sisters. There was something to be said about sibling fun, that was for sure.
“I’m glad we could do this.” I spotted Quinn, her back to us as she was dealing with something on the stove. “Hey, Quinn!” I shouted, trying to get her attention.
She turned around and brought a hand to her ear. She was wearing earbuds, apparently. That was probably why she hadn’t heard us come in. “Allie, how are you?” She placed the earbuds on the counter beside the stove and walked over to us, leaving the pan on the stove.
“Hungry,” I answered honestly and smiled. “Sorry, but it’s the baby.” I laughed. “Otherwise, I’m good. You?”
She swayed her head back and forth and then chuckled. “I’m married to this one”—she tilted her head toward Jack and grinned—“so there’s never a dull moment.”
I angled my head toward Brady. “I’m having a baby with this one. I understand you better than anyone.” I made my eyes go wide to drive my point home.
Brady and Jack laughed. “All right, all right,” Brady said, snaking an arm around my waist.
Man, I loved it when he touched me. Even the slightest touch from him made me tingle with desire. And now was so not the time to be thinking about riding his cock like a cowgirl who couldn’t be tamed.
“What are you cooking, Quinn? It smells great,” Brady went on, sniffing the air.
It hadn’t really smelled like anything when we arrived. She must have started cooking it just before we walked in. The smell was potent, to say the least. As was every smell during this pregnancy. Except this one was. . . this one was. . .
I cupped my hand over my mouth and tried my best not to gag.
I failed miserably.
“Are you okay?” Quinn inquired, probably realizing my face was pale.
I already knew I’d lost color in my face because that was exactly what happened before I wound up headfirst over the toilet.
I tried my best to fight the urge to run to the bathroom.
Brady cursed under his breath and tried to soothe my upset stomach by rubbing my back. It wasn’t helping, but I appreciated the gesture. “Allegra can’t handle the smell of chicken. It makes her sick.”
Nose plugs, now that was what I needed.
“Oh, no!” Quinn exclaimed.
Jack shook his head, coming up behind his wife. “We had no idea.”
“I should have thought to ask,” Quinn said.
I removed my hand from my mouth, which had honestly been covering my nose, too, by the end, and tried to shoo her worry away. “It’s fine.” I barely got that last word out, though. I gagged and this time knew that I was going to be sick.
I couldn’t even excuse myself. There was no time. I simply ran down the narrow hallway, hoping I’d make it to the bathroom.
* * *
Once the chicken was put in a container in the fridge, the rest of the evening was nice. I enjoyed getting to know Jack and Quinn a bit better. After all, they were going to be family. I mean, not mine. Not exactly, anyway. But they’d be Baby’s family and that was what mattered.
I picked up another spoonful of the lentil soup Quinn heated for us and blew on it to make sure I didn’t burn my mouth. “Thank you for this, Quinn. I didn’t mean to put you out.”
She took a spoonful of hers and waved a hand in the air. “Please, don’t apologize. It was no problem, really. Jack and I will have chicken fajitas tomorrow night.”
I was glad she was being so understanding about it, but I still felt bad. If it wasn’t for my disdain for the smell of chicken these days, they could have at least enjoyed it. “I really appreciate it,” I told her, eyeing Jack, too, who was stirring the lentil soup in his bowl.
I looked over at Brady, and he winked at me, as though to say it was okay and no one was mad at me. It was nice, actually. He gave me things I didn’t even know I needed, like reassurance.
He placed his hand on my thigh under the table, and I immediately tipped my spoon, the soup falling back into my bowl.
“So, Allie, you work at your family’s fashion magazine. What’s that like?”
I shrugged, going back to eating and making conversation. Most importantly, I was trying my damnedest to ignore the fact that Brady’s hand was inching higher up my thigh, his fingers trailing inward. It was like he couldn’t help himself. Even though he wouldn’t just let himself screw me and be done with it.
Or maybe he was trying to drive me wild.
In case you missed it, it was working.
Finally answering Quinn, I said, “It’s fun. I get to work beside my sisters, so that’s nice. Plus, I love social media. I’m actually planning our anniversary party right now.”
She nodded. “That’s cool. Did you always know you wanted to work there?”
I swayed my head back and forth and bit down on my bottom lip. “Truthfully, yes. I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.” Then I chuckled. “Actually, I’ve recently considered being a mediator, but that’s a story for another time,” I joked, remembering back to when my problem-solving skills kicked ass with Wilhelmina.
Brady arched a brow, turning to me. “Really?”
I turned to look at him square in the eye. “No, I was joking. But I’m not half-bad at dealing with problems. Coming up with solutions, you know.”
Jack laughed. “That’s good because with a kid, you’ll definitely have to mediate problems.”
Brady snickered. “Don’t listen to him. He’s an idiot.”
“So you’ve said.” I laughed. “I actually like Jack’s sense of humor.”
Jack pointed at me, eyeing Brady. “See. Maybe it’s because you’re so old that you can’t appreciate it.”
Brady cocked a brow. “I’m not old, jackass.”
Quinn rolled her eyes. “These two can go at it all night.”
I giggled. “My sisters and I are the same way. Well, we don’t call each other names, but we do joke around a lot. Makes me feel at home.”
Brady squeezed my inner thigh. “You always have a home with me.”
I blinked to make sure tears didn’t blur my vision because I knew I was already holding them back. “Enough about me, though. Quinn, do you have any siblings?”
Quinn shook her head. “I wish.” She shrugged. “I’m an only child. And let me tell you, it got lonely. A lot.”
“Bet it was nice, though, when it came to the holidays.”
Quinn laughed. “Under the tree? Sure, that was nice, but I would’ve liked having someone to play it all with.”
I looked down, prepared to spoon up more soup to eat when she startled me by asking, “Are you looking for your baby to have siblings soon?”
Let’s just say I was grateful I didn’t have food in my mouth because I would have choked on it. Instead, I choked on my saliva and Brady had to slap my back.
Brady answered on behalf of both of us because I clearly couldn’t. “If it were up to me, Allegra would be pregnant again right after this one is born.”
What the hell? Not the answer I was expecting, buddy.
I laughed, trying to make it seem like Brady was joking, since his face was serious, and he didn’t seem to be biting back a laugh. He should have, though. That was ludicrous. We weren’t even a couple.
Because you’re a moron who can’t see a good thing right in front of your face. Maybe a swift kick in the ass would help. Every other man pales in comparison to Brady.
Okay, we were going to ignore the nagging voice in the back of my head.
“He’s kidding.” I eyed Jack and Quinn before my gaze darted to Brady, and I gave him my best death stare. “Now his sense of humor is lacking.”
Jack snorted. “Tell me about it. All brawn and no brains.”
Brady’s head whipped to Jack. “Why did I think it would be a good idea to have dinner with you again?” He turned toward Quinn. “You deserve an award for dealing with this joker.”
She smiled and kissed Jack’s cheek. “Maybe, but he’s my joker.”
I practically swooned, melted into a puddle of goo right at the table. I swallowed as I watched them. “It must be nice to know you have each other.”
Jack shrugged. “Eh, it’s okay.”
Quinn swatted his arm and clicked her tongue. “It is. I have a life partner. I don’t think I can imagine my life without him.”
“Kidding aside, me neither,” Jack answered earnestly. He grabbed Quinn’s hand from the table and kissed the top of it.
As they looked adoringly into one another’s eyes, Brady leaned over and whispered in my ear, “That could be us, you know.”
I shuddered at the sensation of his words against the shell of my ear and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s hard, Brady,” I tossed back at him.
“You’re telling me,” he returned with a wink.
What was I going to do with this man?