15. Anya
CHAPTER 15
Ididn’t catch a wink of sleep last few nights.
After Brandon made it clear that Spencer was not his priority, he left without saying anything else. He didn't come back or drop off Alessa. I don't know how to interpret his actions, but it brings me happiness knowing what his priority is.
Not Spencer.
Not the obvious tension building between us.
Just Kira.
For the first time since I gave birth to my daughter, I finally feel so relieved there’ll be someone else to love and care for her as much as I would if anything ever happened to me. Not just one person—she has a whole village behind her back. I know Mrs. Jackson will love her just as much as she loves Alessa.
The doorbell chimes, interrupting my thoughts.
Flying up to my feet, I jog to the front door before my guest can ring the bell a second time.
Gianna’s standing on the front porch when I open the door, holding two shopping bags. A giant Barbie doll is peeking out from one of the bags. “Hey, cousin,” she says with glee.
I shift my weight to one leg and put on a fake frown. She had left town the morning after our bonfire night, promising to return in just one day. "I was expecting you back a week ago."
She clenches her jaw. "I know, I'm sorry." She gestures to the bags in her hands. "I got you and Kira an apology gift for that."
Before I can respond, she nudges me out of the way with her elbow and strides inside. I follow eagerly, happy that one of my closest friends has finally returned.
My cousin trudges to the living room, where she sets the bags on the coffee table. She exhales as if she’s just climbed down a mountain. “Now, where’s my favorite little human?”
“Asleep.”
Gianna makes a disgruntled sound. “I feel betrayed. I was really hurrying to come and hold her.” She pouts and makes a sad puppy face. “Can I wake her up?”
“No. She’ll get cranky.” I sit on one of the couches and stare at the bags. “What’s that?”
“Bribe.” She grins and plunges down on the seat next to me. “I bought the newest version of the Astronaut Barbie doll for Kira. I think she’ll love it.”
Gianna is just like a rich aunty who loves to spoil her niece. I have a closet full of expensive clothes that she bought for Kira, despite my warning that my baby would overgrow them soon. She never stops buying things for her. Kira is one lucky baby.
“Can I see it?” I ask, reaching for the bag with the Barbie doll.
She snatches the bag from the table and hides it next to her. “No, you can’t. Only Kira is allowed to see it first. I got a few other toys too.”
My brow shoots up to my hairline. “You realize I can see the doll’s head and neck already, right?”
She purses her lips. “My answer is still no. I have something for you though.”
My curiosity piques at the mischievous glint in her eyes. “Please tell me it’s not a vibrator.”
She chuckles, throwing a hand over her mouth to smother the sound. “It’s something even better. Something that’ll help you get the main thing.” She pulls out a set of red lacy lingerie from the bag. “Viola!”
My glare bounces between her and the tiny piece of fabric she’s holding. “What is that for?”
“What does it seem like?” She tosses it at me. “I’m not stupid, Anya. I saw the way you and Brandon were gawking at each other on bonfire night. For a moment, I thought you’d rip off each other’s clothes and give us a good show.”
My eyes squeeze. “Gross.”
“What is gross is pretending you’re not insanely attracted to that man.” She leans in, the scent of her lavender perfume filling my nose. “I’ll take Kira for the night. Wear this, pour some wine, and invite him over.”
I gape at my cousin. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“Try it, you’ll thank me later.” She winks at me, then her lips curl into a lopsided grin.
“Thanks, but no.” I take the lingerie and throw it back in the bag. “He found out last night.”
“That you like him? It took him that long.”
“Not that. He found out that Kira’s his daughter.” I close my eyes. The memories from last night float into my mind. The pain and shock in Brandon’s eyes. The way my heart sank to my stomach. It's all still fresh in my memory.
“Oh, God.” Gianna’s tongue darts out and swipes over her lips. “What was his reaction?”
“He took it better than I expected. He wants to be her dad, fortunately.” I don’t know what I would have done if he’d looked me straight in the eye and told me he didn’t want to be a part of Kira’s life. I would have cried all night, but I would have put myself together after that. Violence is never an option for me, but he would have gone home with a broken nose at least.
“That’s good news.”
“It is.” I smile. Once more, the doorbell chimes. I hop up and make my way to the door. Brandon is standing there, basking in the afternoon sunlight. His white shirt accentuates his broad shoulders and his hair is tousled in an effortlessly attractive way. He looks amazing. So amazing that my mouth starts to water.
Behave, girl.
“Good afternoon,” he says with a smile.
“Good afternoon. I suppose.”
“So, I had a lot to think.” He pauses and waits for me to nod before he continues. “If it’s okay, I’d like to meet Kira…as her dad this time.”
Emotion wells at the back of my throat. I can’t believe this is happening. I held back the truth for so long, and it was all for nothing. “Sure, you’re allowed to. But she’s sleeping now.”
I expect him to ask if he can come back later, but he doesn’t. Instead, he says, “Can we talk about our next steps while I wait for her to wake up?”
Kira is a long sleeper, so she won’t be awake for a while, but I invite him in. “Come on.” I move aside for him to enter.
“Oh, you had someone over,” Brandon says when he sees Gianna inside.
“She’s not anyone important. Just my annoying cousin.” I grin and gesture for him to sit. “Do you want something to drink? Maybe coffee?”
“No, I actually wanted to take you and Kira for dinner later.”
“Um—I think I need to leave now.” Gigi stands up. “Call me if you need anything. Help with Kira maybe.” She gives me a knowing smile. As she walks away, I catch Brandon's gaze lingering on something on the couch where Gianna had just been sitting. It must be the lingerie she brought with her, and I can only imagine her intentions for showing it to him. I know her well enough to make an educated guess.
I quickly grab the lingerie and throw it into the shopping bag. “Sorry, Gianna is actually a little bit crazy.”
He huffs out a laugh. “I can say the same about you. I wonder if our daughter will be just like that.”
Our daughter.
My chest hums with joy. It’s actually so sweet hearing him refer to her like that. “Well, I already worked hard to give her good genes that she’ll thank me for one day. I can’t help it if she turns out a little crazy.”
He nods. “I’m okay with a little crazy.”
“Where’s Alessa? You didn’t bring her over the past few days.”
He runs a hand through his messy hair. "I was out of it. It's hard to believe. I'm happy, but at the same time, I feel regret for not being there on Kira's very first day."
My stomach twists as I see tears forming in his eyes. Brandon, showing this much emotion? It's so sweet.
"Her first word was Gigi," I reveal. "Not Mama, Gigi."
"Does she really like Gianna that much?" he asks, clearly taken aback.
I grin. “Yes. She loves her aunt, and Gigi loves her so much.” There are many firsts I want him to know, it’s a struggle to pick one out of that many. “She took her first step at eleven months, and I baked a Barbie cake for her on her first month. I have some albums I can show you.”
“I’d like to see them,” he says. His tone is a bit cautious. “But I’d like to know how you managed all on your own.”
I shrug. “I don’t know to be honest. It was a struggle before I moved down here. I felt frustrated sometimes, and I cried myself to sleep some nights. But whenever I looked at Kira, I knew she was the best thing to have ever happened to me, and that kept me going.”
Brandon hangs his head in his hand. He sniffles, but I really can’t tell if he’s sobbing or not. His eyes are red and misty when he raises his head again. “You should never have had to go through that.”
“I did, and it’s in the past now.”
He inclines his head. “Give me your phone.”
I take my phone from my pocket and give it to him. He types in his number and dials it before he returns the phone to me. “Call me if you need anything. I don’t care if it’s midnight, I’ll be here.”
Taking the phone from him, I smile. “Anything at all?”
“Any—” He pauses, skewers me with a suggestive look, and then he licks his lips. “Anything,” he concludes.
He knows I’m flirting and plays along with it. I know I shouldn’t be flirting, but I can’t help it. I’ve missed this man so much, and he looks so goddamn gorgeous that it’s impossible for dirty thoughts not to bubble in my mind.
I pocket my phone. “Don’t complain when I actually do call you.”
“I won’t,” he says with a smile that is just the same as Kira’s. Their resemblance is so uncanny, it’s crazy.
We’re silent for a moment, and the tension hanging around us is palpable. I need to talk about something, anything to keep me from the distraction right in front of me.
“Do you think Alessa will love being a big sister?” I ask. “I mean, she’s adorable with Kira and she loves her. But she’s a kid and might react differently to Kira actually being her baby sister.”
“Alessa will be more than happy. Have you listened to her at home? Kira is all she talks about.” Brandon’s eyes gleam as he smiles. “She’ll love Kira. She loves her already.”
I feel panic flare in my stomach as I ask, “How about your parents? I’m worried your mom won’t like me very much.”
“She knows already, and she can’t wait to meet Kira officially.”
My eyes open wide with shock. “What? You’ve told her already? Does everyone know?”
He shakes his head. “No. Just Mom. She wants me to invite you to dinner when you’re ready. I’m thinking we can tell the rest of the family then.”
Oh my God.
A lump forms in the back of my throat. I think I’m going to throw up from how anxious I am. “And Spencer?”
“I love my brother, but he doesn’t take priority here.” He rubs a hand over his stubble. “We didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t know who you were, and you didn’t know who I was either.”
“Yes, but—” I trail off. I’d spent all my time thinking of how to break the news of Kira’s paternity to Brandon. I didn’t really think of the aftermath. Maybe I did, but it’s now even more unnerving than I imagined it would be. “Shit.”
Brandon's hand reaches out for mine, and he caresses the back of it with his thumb. Just the touch of his skin ignites a fire within me. "You don't have to go through this alone anymore, Anya. Remember to take care of yourself and do things that bring you joy. I'll handle everything else."
I consider a night out with Gianna, getting drunk like we used to. I’ve missed that life, but I really feel like I would rather snuggle with Kira and watch Sofia the First instead. Being a mother has changed everything about me, but not in a bad way. And I have a hot baby daddy who holds my hand and tries to make me not worry about anything.
It feels reassuring knowing I have someone in my corner, and that I’m no longer alone. “Fine.”
“Fine,” he echoes, looking into my eyes intensely. “You’re beautiful, Anya,” he whispers. “So intoxicatingly beautiful.”
My hand moves, and I flatten a palm on his face. His skin is surprisingly smooth for a man as strong as him. “I don’t know if it’s right to say this, but I missed you, Brandon. I never even thought we would meet again.”
“Me too.” He draws closer, leveling his lips against mine.
My tongue flicks out to lick my lips in anticipation. My heart beats faster, and I feel a surge of desire coursing through me. Every part of my body yearns to be close to him again, and I can't resist giving in.
I feel the heat of his breath against my skin as our lips meet in a passionate kiss. I melt into him, returning his kiss.
My hands travel across his body, my nails digging into his clothes.
Once we confirm that Kira is asleep, I push him onto the bed and straddle him, our lips meeting once more in a frenzy of need. As we continue to kiss, our hands roam freely across each other's bodies. I can feel his firm muscles under my fingertips, and I moan softly as his hands grip my waist.
Our kiss deepens, becoming more urgent and passionate. My body responds to every touch and sensation, craving more of him.
Breaking the kiss for a moment, he pulls back to look into my eyes. There is a hesitation in his gaze, as if he's asking for permission. But I nod, urging him on.
With that signal, he pulls me closer and guides me under him on the bed. Our bodies fit together perfectly as he hovers above me. His lips travel down my neck, leaving a trail of kisses and bites along the way.
I arch my back in pleasure as his hands roam down my body, pulling at my clothes until they're scattered around us on the floor. He takes his time exploring every inch of my skin, making me shiver with anticipation.
My senses are heightened, and I can smell the scent of his cologne mixed with my own arousal. The sharp, musky scent fills the room, making me dizzy with desire.
The rustle of fabric and the soft sounds of skin on skin fill the room, along with the occasional gasp or moan escaping from my lips.
Finally, we come together as one. I gasp as he fills me completely, our bodies moving in perfect rhythm. Our moans mingle in the air as we lose ourselves in each other.
I run my hands through his hair and scratch lightly at his back, urging him on with every movement. He responds eagerly, kissing me deeply and thrusting harder.
We reach the height of passion together, both crying out in ecstasy as we reach our climax. We collapse onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and breathing heavily.
As we lay there catching our breaths, I know that today will be etched into my memory forever. And I couldn't be happier to have shared it with him once again.