No Reservations (18 page)

Leah twisted the top off the bottle and drank back the sweet bubbly liquid with a grunt of pleasure much like she imagined heroin addicts made when they took their first hit of the day. The stuff was poison, but, damn, did it taste good.

She wiped her mouth and set the bottle on the counter and looked around the bathroom again, at the shower where they'd made love the night before and the giant soaking tub she could easily imagine fucking him in later today.

Leah had spent a lot of years being responsible for herself, and she didn't bear a grudge against her parents for making that happen. She liked who she was because of how she'd been raised. She was satisfied with her relationship with her parents because even though it wasn't close, it was genuine, with both sides having no false il usions about what the other wanted or was able to give. But now, for the first time since her high school prom date had stood her up to take the school slut instead, Leah felt herself reaching for something and regretting that she'd never get it. Not from her mother, anyway, who'd be happy to listen to her dilemma and even offer advice, but who would sound a little confused as to why on earth Leah would bother asking.

Leah thumbed in a number that was familiar even though she'd only had to cal it a few times. It rang and rang, and in the half a minute before it was answered she panicked, wondering if she'd miscalculated the time difference. If she was making a huge mistake.

'Hel o?'

'Caroline? It's Leah.'

'Leah! Hel o, hon, how are you?' If Brandon's mother was pissed off, she wasn't showing it.

Leah pul ed out the low chair in front of the bathroom's vanity and sat. The tray of sample-sized, high-end beauty products rattled and she reached to stil the shaking bottles with the flat of her hand. She knew she should say something or look like an even bigger idiot than she had when she'd left Iowa with hardly any explanation.

I'm in . . . we're in Las Vegas.'

'Oh, yes, I know.' Caroline laughed. 'Bingo cal ed me when he got in so I'd know he was al right.'

Caroline paused, then continued before Leah could speak. 'I told him he didn't have to do that, you know. I'm glad he did, of course. I worried when I heard there was ice down your way, that his flight might have problems. But he didn't have to cal me.'

Leah's parents must've worried about her, she thought.

Sometimes. Didn't they? Isn't that what parents did? It's what she would be expected to do for a husband and children.

Worry about them. Take care of them.

'But how is it?' Caroline continued. 'Bil and I went out there once, oh, it must've been three years ago now. We had the most incredible food there, I came home in my fat jeans and stil couldn't button them. I'm sure you won't have that problem, you're so slim. But my goodness, the shows there.

Have you been to see a show?'

'Urn . . . yes,' Leah said, not ready to spil it about watching naked men gyrate while bathed in baby oil.

Caroline's voice dipped low. 'I thought about going to one of those burlesque places, you know, but Bil and I decided to see Barry Manilow instead.'

Leah laughed then covered her mouth with her hand.

'How was he?'

'Oh, Leah, he is so dreamy,' Caroline said. 'But I'm glad he kept his clothes on.'

Leah laughed again, softer this time. 'Caroline, I'm sorry I ran out on you al . That's why I'm cal ing.'

'Oh, hon. Don't you apologise for a darned thing. I could tel we were just overwhelming you within ten minutes of you walking in the door. You got that deer-in-the-headlights look.

I'm surprised you lasted as long as you did.' 'I did?' Leah swal owed, face heating. 'I'm so sorry. That was so rude of me, I'm sorry.'

Caroline laughed. 'Stop that, right now. Sony's for when you do something wrong. Not for just being yourself.' Leah looked at her reflection as she spoke. Being herself around Brandon's family? 'About that. . .'

'Hold on a second, hon. Scamp! Get that out of your mouth! Bil ! Can you please come and get the dog away from the baby. He's trying to eat little Prue's crackers! OK, hon, go ahead. You were saying?' Caroline didn't sound stressed by the chaos Leah could hear in the background.

'Is this a bad time? I could cal back.'

'No, we're al just getting ready for the big party tonight.

The kids are coming over to play games and I guess the men wil watch some sort of sports. I've got the Crockpot going and Linda - you remember Bingo's Aunt Linda, don't you?

God love her, the woman's seventy and stil makes her own bread. Wel , she slipped and fel on the ice and we al thought she broke her hip but she didn't, so she's about due to arrive any minute and I've got everyone on standby to get out there and bring her in from the car.'

Caroline's story washed over Leah in waves. A few days ago the words would have drowned her, but now she floated in them, comforted. It sounds like a good time.'

Brandon's mom didn't remind Leah she could've been there if she hadn't run away like an idiot. 'Oh, I'm sure it wil be. But you must have something fancy planned for tonight.

New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, that has to be a pretty big deal.'

I don't know yet. I guess so.'

Caroline paused. Leah heard the background noise soften. 'I had to go in the pantiy just to hear myself think. Make Bingo . . .' Again, she paused. 'I guess I should stop cal ing him that. He's a little too old to be my Bingo any more.' 'Oh, he's not,' Leah assured her, but Caroline laughed.

'Leah. I have four sons. Every one of them has brought home a dozen girls to meet me, and I never said a word to them about it, but I could always tel which were the ones who would be sticking around for a while and which would be never heard from again.'

Which am I?' Leah asked, smiling, because the words that might've sounded like a chal enge from someone else, only sounded kind from Caroline.

You're a keeper.

Thank you.'

You're welcome.'

Leah traced the pattern of gold sparkles in the marble countertop. 'Your son is a very good man.'

Of course he is. I raised him, didn't I?' Caroline chuckled. 'My sons know how to treat their women, Leah. Just like their dad does.'

Leah swal owed against her rise of emotion. Yes. About that. . .'

Leah, Caroline said sternly. 'I have three daughters-in-law, and I'm going to tel you something I never said to any one of them.' Leah's throat closed, so she couldn't answer, but Caroline didn't seem to mind. The silence let her carry on without interruption. Leah braced herself for the bad news.

You're good for my son.'

Leah blinked. 'You never said that to any of the others?'

'Nope.'

Why not?' Leah had met Brandon's brothers' wives, al of whom seemed to get along with his family. They al had a handful of kids and al favoured the sorts of jewel ed and glittery sweatshirts his mother did. They al seemed to fit together in away she knew she never would.

None of them needed me to.'

:Oh.'

'Leah . . .' Caroline's voice softened. 'Brandon wil always be my boy. But he's not a boy any more, is he?' 'No. I don't think so.'

'I don't, either. And I'm proud of the man he is. I trust him to make good choices. So if you're the choice he's made, I believe he's making the right one.'

Caroline sounded so enviably serene, and so much like her son, that Leah had to laugh a little. 'I never thought I'd ever be having such a conversation with you, Caroline.'

'But you cal ed me, didn't you, hon?' the other woman asked kindly. 'Yes. I'm not sure why.'

'Because it's what you do when you need some advice.

You cal your mom. I'm used to it, hon. It's what I do. It's part of who I am. I'm happy to do it for you, too.'

Leah swiped at her eyes though she knew the tears were evident in her voice. 'Thank you.'

'You're welcome. Have fun tonight.'

'I'm sorry we aren't there to celebrate it with you.'

'I told you before,' Caroline said sternly. 'Sorrys are for when you do something wrong.'

Sudden cacophony sounded in the background, i have to go, hon. Aunt Lindas here and she forgot her buns. The ones she baked, obviously, not her rear-end, though you never can be sure with Linda.'

Leah laughed, wishing with utter sincerity she and Brandon were there to see that. 'Happy New Year. 'You too, hon. Give Brandon a kiss from me.' 'I wil .'

Caroline hung up and Leah cupped her phone in her palm.

She loved him. What was so hard about that? 'Nothing is the answer to that,' Leah whispered and drank more soda.

Absolutely nothing.'

Al at once the giddiness in her bel y was like the bubbles rising in a bottle of cola. She clutched her arms around herself and put a hand over her mouth to hold back her giggles.

Leah went back into the bedroom and slid beneath the covers to align herself along Brandon, who'd stopped snoring.

He made a little noise when her hand slid up his thigh to find his cock, half-hard. She gave it a gentle stroke and he stirred.

'Good morning,' she said.

'Mmmmphf'It's time to get up.'

'I'm already up.' He put his hand over hers. 'Feels good.'

She knew what would feel better. Leah dove beneath the covers and slid her mouth over his bel y, his thighs. She licked his sac and laughed when he let out a muffled half-yelp. She sat up, tossing back the covers, and looked at him with a grin that felt very, very wicked.

'Hands on the headboard,' she said.

He was wide awake now. He did as she said, though the padded headboard had no place for him to grab. His finger splayed on the white fabric and dug in slightly. His cock was not ful y erect and Leah eyed it, licking her lips.

'Delicious.'

She ran her hands up his sides, over his chest. She stopped to toy with his nipples, making them hard. Then she tickled his sides until he groaned and wiggled in protest - but he didn't put his hands down. His fingers just pressed al the more into the headboard's soft cushion.

No matter how many times she had him in this position, or any, it never got old. Just watching Brandon do what she told him to do got her heart thumping and her pussy slick. And yes, she had to know his limits, had to be responsible for his pleasure as wel . . . but it was no hardship, was it? When she knew him this wel , when he gave her everything she could ever ask for or need, it wasn't difficult at al to do the same for him.

Even if it was for the rest of their lives.

Leah straddled Brandon's thighs and took his cock in her fist. She stroked. He smiled. She stroked him again, slowly, twisting. His smile twisted, too.

'I love to watch you come,' she told him.

'I kind of like it too,' he told her in a thick voice with a hint of amusement.

'Imagine that.' She licked her finger and swirled it around the head of his cock, then captured the slick, glistening drop of pre-come seeping from the slit. He watched her as she tasted it, and his erection throbbed in her hand.

She could make this last for hours, if she wanted. She knew she could stroke him to the edge, then leave him there and know he wouldn't move until she came back, and when she did he'd be as ready for her as he was just now. But Leah didn't leave. She stroked him with one hand as she rocked her clit against the other.

Desire coiled tight in her bel y. Sit up.'

He did, his arms going around her. Leah shifted to wrap her legs around his waist as she guided him inside her. He fil ed her so completely it made her want to weep. Instead, she let her forehead rest on his as they stayed without moving for the span of several breaths.

His hands moved up and down her back, smoothed along her spine, then settled on her hips. When Brandon kissed her, soft and sweet, Leah opened her mouth for him.

She'd thought upon starting this she'd get him close and ease off, then ride his mouth for a while until she came. But now with him settled inside her, a frantic pace didn't seem to suit.

And she didn't need to command him for Brandon to understand that. He moved after a minute, his hands going under her ass to lift her on his cock as he thrust. Her arms and legs wrapped around him. Her clit rubbed with delicious, perfect friction each time he moved.

And he kissed her over and over, just the way she liked it. Needed it. His tongue stroked hers as his lips nibbled.

Leah tipped her head so he could mouth her throat. His teeth skimmed her. Her cunt swel ed, hot and slick, and he groaned when she bore down on him with wel -trained internal muscles.

The pace quickened as they rocked together. The bed, so soft they sank half an inch into the mattress, wasn't helping this position. Brandon, a hand behind her neck and one at the smal of her back to support her, fel back onto the bed and took her with him.

This changed the angle of his cock and Leah gasped when the head of it moved along the tight bundle of nerves behind her pubic bone. Her knees dug into the bed as she leant forwards, their mouths stil locked in kisses. Al she had to do was lift her ass, just a little, and . . .

'Fuck, yes!' She bit out the words, let them fal into his mouth, where he swal owed them.

Brandon thrust harder, every motion smooth and slick and precise. At this angle she didn't have to do anything but let him fuck into her, she didn't have to move or shift. She only had to . . . be.

The hand on her ass cupped her flesh, stroking. The other one joined it. He moved her as he moved himself. Their bodies slapped. Her clit scraped his bel y with every downthrust and there was no stopping the ecstasy sweeping over her.

'Yes,' she said into his mouth. Yes, yes, yes.'

Leah buried her face into the curve of his neck, and Brandon said into her ear, You're so hot, and tight and wet for me. I'm going to come so hard. Al up inside you.'

Leah groaned and bit him, which made him gasp. 'That mouth . . .'

He knew al too wel what his dirty talk did to her, at odds as it was from how he seemed the rest of the time. 'This mouth?' He licked her earlobe. 'This mouth that wants to eat your pussy right now?'

There had to be laughter, even if it was mixed with a gasp of pleasure. Sex was simply too precious and ridiculous at its base not to invite laughter. Brandon wasn't offended when she giggled. He just fucked into her harder. 'Let me taste you,' he told her.