I had to stay late for a staff meeting at work, and by the time I got home, the sun was beginning its steady descent in the sky. Letting myself into the apartment, I heard activity coming from our kitchen and knew Brandon was making dinner.
When I appeared in the kitchen doorway, he looked up and offered me a big smile. “Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?”
“Long,” I said, returning his smile. “Thank you so much for cooking. I promise to give it another try tomorrow.” I was far from a natural in the kitchen, and Brandon was a much better cook. Still, I was slowly getting better with practice.
“I’m happy to do it,” he assured me. “This will be ready in a few minutes.”
I went to our bedroom to change into something more comfortable. Brandon was already in jeans and a T-shirt, but I decided on a dress I’d bought at the market a few weeks ago. It was handmade, with soft fabric and delicate straps. Definitely a summer outfit, and since fall was right around the corner, I figured I’d make the most of the sundress while the weather was still warm.
Brandon’s appreciative gaze made it clear he approved of my choice. During dinner, our conversation flowed more easily. No longer was it strained or weighed down by lengthy silences. As Brandon asked me about my day and told me about his, I realized that our time together in the shower that morning had done wonders for our relationship. All I’d done was give him a hand job, but he seemed so much happier. It didn’t take much to please him, I told myself, and I should have made more of an effort before now. After all, this was new to him as well, and he’d been nothing but kind and patient with me. Yet it felt almost impossible to stop thinking about Kai and how much I missed him.
Once we finished dinner and cleaned up the kitchen, Brandon and I ended up on the living room couch. Normally, I sat in a chair and sketched by lamplight, while he read or practiced playing his guitar. Sometimes we watched television, though the number of stations was limited. Our viewing was restricted mostly to documentaries, as well as local and national news. We occasionally watched old black-and-white movies. The radio played predominantly local music.
But tonight, I chose to sit next to my new husband. He nodded toward my sketchbook on the end table. “You planning on drawing?”
“Not tonight.” Though I knew he was curious about my art, I made him promise never to look through the sketchbook without my permission. And so far, I hadn’t granted it. When I first arrived here, I spent every moment I had to myself sketching Kai’s face, over and over. I grew almost obsessive about perfectly capturing his features on the page. I knew Brandon wouldn’t be pleased if he knew, and recently, I’d begun forcing myself to draw wildflowers, or a few of the trees near our apartment building. At some point, I’d show Brandon those sketches. But I wouldn’t allow him to see Kai. Those drawings were too intimate to share with my husband. And they were mine. They belonged to a part of my life I’d had to abruptly and painfully leave behind.
Brandon moved on the couch to face me. His smile was tender. Earlier, he’d turned on the radio, and a woman with a sultry voice now sang about going to meet her lover. “You look a little tired,” he remarked gently.
I gave a dismissive shrug. “Your job is much more stressful than mine.”
“But I’ve been at it for a while, so I’m used to it. You’re still settling in.” Brandon held out a hand to me. “Come here.” When I moved closer, he positioned me so that my back was to him. I gazed through the glass door which opened onto the balcony, and at the sky beyond. The sunset would be breathtaking tonight.
Resting his hands on my shoulders, Brandon began massaging my tense muscles. An involuntary moan of pleasure escaped my lips. “That feels really nice.”
For several minutes, we sat in comfortable silence as he continued the massage and I relaxed into his touch even more. By the time he finally spoke again, he was practically holding me upright. “I hope you don’t mind me saying that you look gorgeous in that dress.”
I grinned while keeping my eyes closed. “Of course not. I’m glad you like it.”
Brandon lowered the strap from my right shoulder and planted a kiss on my skin. “Lie down,” he whispered.
Wordlessly, I stretched out on my stomach. The hem of my dress bunched around my thighs, and after Brandon moved to perch at my side, balancing on the edge of the couch, he raised the dress even higher. My moans grew almost continual as he rubbed my calves and feet. I couldn’t help but giggle when he kissed my ankle.
“Every part of you is so beautiful,” he murmured. With his strong hands, he delivered constant bliss to my body. When he started pulling down my panties, I was so eager for more that I readily lifted my hips to make the job easier for him. He let out his own moan while gently kneading my curvy ass.
I felt his lips on my right buttock. He gave it a playful bite, making me laugh again. But then his mouth grew more fervent, and I shivered at the sensation of his tongue grazing my inner thigh.
“Turn over for me.” His tone was more urgent now.
Immediately, I did as he asked, and before I settled back down, I tugged my dress over my head. Lying on my back and wearing nothing but my bra, I gazed up at Brandon. He moved to kneel between my spread legs, his breaths coming faster. “I want to make you feel good, Alissa, the way you made me feel good this morning.”
Our eyes locked as he waited for my answer. Trying to ignore my guilt at betraying Kai, I nodded my assent. This had to happen, I told myself. Brandon and I had been married a month. Was it wrong that I was now wet from his touch? I wanted more of it, I realized. I wanted more of him.
He nuzzled my thighs, his beard tickling a little. I felt his warm breath on my skin as his lips inched upward. Instead of diving right in, as Kai had, Brandon took his time kissing my outer lips and building my anticipation. When he finally slid his tongue over my inner labia, I actually let out a needy whine.
“Mmm, you taste so good!” he said in a guttural voice. “Already so wet for me.”
Though I blushed at his words, I didn’t hesitate to tease my nipples through my bra. Brandon licked and kissed; he even nibbled, his mouth exploring every inch of my pussy before homing in on my clit. Yet his tongue merely circled around that bud until he had me writhing.
With a fingertip, he ever so gently rubbed my flesh. His touch sent currents of pleasure rippling through my entire body. Lifting my head, I stared down at him pleadingly.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for so long,” he revealed to me.
And oh God, he knew exactly what to do! The moment he buried his face between my thighs and devoted all of his attention to my clit, I grabbed his hair. “Yes!” I cried as my hips started a wanton rocking. Brandon made encouraging noises, for he seemed to love me grinding my pussy against him.
I never dreamed a man’s tongue could feel so fucking good! Already, my clit was swollen and exquisitely responsive to his licking and sucking. The varying pressure and speed he used kept me right on edge, and it wasn’t long before my thighs started quivering.
While stimulating my clit, he slid a finger inside me. My back arched, and I couldn’t muffle another loud cry. I was so wet that I could hear his finger easing in and out of my pussy. When he curled it upward, using an expert touch to massage my vaginal wall, I succumbed to a fierce orgasm that made me shudder all over.
Even as my moans and trembling subsided, Brandon kept his face between my legs. Sensing that my clit was now too sensitive, he suckled my inner lips while withdrawing his finger from my pussy. I felt his tongue slide over my entrance before he finally lifted his head and moved to kiss me. His mouth was fervent on mine, betraying his arousal, yet he didn’t try to push me for more.
No, I was the one who cupped his face in my hands and whispered, “Make love to me.”
My request caused Brandon’s stare to grow even hotter. Effortlessly, he lifted me from the couch and carried me toward our bedroom. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, kissing his neck as he held me tight. I could smell the scent of my juices clinging to his beard.
Our room was filled with shadows, but neither of us turned on the light. Instead, I hurriedly took off my bra and yanked back the bedcovers while Brandon stripped naked. His cock was fully hard, and I couldn’t help admiring it. A shiver of desire coursed through me at the memory of touching him that morning.
As soon as I reached to stroke him, he gave me another kiss. I readily returned it, drawing a moan from his throat. “I’ve been dying for this,” he confessed through his heavy breaths.
I drew Brandon along with me to the bed, where I lay down and opened my arms to him. When he eased on top of me, I felt him trembling beneath my hands. His erection was rigid between us, yet he spent plenty of time kissing and suckling my breasts. Teasingly, he took a nipple between his teeth, careful not to hurt me. Still, that hint of pain made me cry out from my own arousal. Already, my hips were trying to move under his weight.
Looking up at me, Brandon’s gaze was unexpectedly tender. “I think you’re ready for this, too.”
I quickly nodded, then held my breath as he moved to position his cock at my opening. Though I wasn’t a virgin, it had been a while since I’d last had sex, and I forced myself to relax while Brandon entered me. There was no hesitance on his part now. Instead, he seemed desperate to give me every inch of his cock.
A shudder of blatant arousal coursed through him when he bottomed out. Somehow, I swallowed back a whimper, for he was stretching me wide. Only after I offered him a smile did he begin taking me with gentle thrusts. Even in the semidarkness of the room, I discerned the wild brightness in his eyes. Finally, I was giving him what he’d craved since our first meeting.
Sliding my hands over his skin, I released high-pitched cries. Those sounds spurred my husband on, and I had to marvel at his graceful, fluid rhythm. His jaw was set in determination as the pace of his lovemaking increased. It was as if his pleasure was contagious, for I soon sensed another orgasm building in my core.
It was then that I wondered if Whitney and Banks were home. Could they hear my cries, and the creaking of our bed? To ensure they did, I grew even louder. “Oh, my God!” I wailed. “You’re gonna make me come again!”
Now it was our headboard smacking against the wall. I loved the way Brandon groaned and panted in his effort to drive me to climax. When I dared to rake his back with my nails, he released a growl and buried his face in my neck. I expected to feel a nip at my skin, but he only whispered, “I love you, angel.”
Closing my eyes, I reeled from the words he’d uttered. Could he really love me after only a month? Could I eventually grow to love him?
I didn’t have time to think on that before a powerful orgasm pulsed through me. Brandon released a choked cry when my pussy began contracting around him. “Ah, fuck, I’m almost there!”
“Come!” My voice reverberated throughout the room.
His groan sounded almost pained as he finally let go. The sensation of him throbbing inside me was so intense that it made me gasp. Yet even after he was spent, he didn’t pull out. Instead, his lips sought out mine for a deep, lingering kiss.
I couldn’t help but think about what the scientist had revealed to me. If Brandon did indeed have a remarkably high sperm count, and if my fertility was at an optimal level, I’d soon be pregnant. I wouldn’t allow myself to imagine that. Brandon and I had just gotten married; we were still getting to know each other. How could we possibly be ready to become parents?
Finally, he withdrew and lay at my side. I welcomed his embrace, and his lips against my hair. “Thank you,” he murmured.
I felt his semen starting to ooze out of me. Fighting back a surge of panic, I smiled up at him. “There’s no need to thank me, Brandon. You were amazing.” A fresh blush heated my cheeks as I added, “And you’re obviously far more experienced than I am. I hope I didn’t disappoint you.”
“Are you kidding? You had me so damn excited that I was struggling to last!” He laughed low and soft. “Do you think the neighbors heard?”
“Serves them right if they did,” I muttered. “They’ve kept us awake plenty of nights.” Trailing my fingertips over his chest, I asked, “What do you think of them, anyway? Do they seem… strange to you?”
Brandon considered my question for a few seconds. “Not really. I mean, I barely know them, but they seem nice enough. And it’s funny you should mention them, because I ran into Banks today, and he invited us over to dinner on Friday.”
I resisted the urge to sit up. “You didn’t say yes, did you?”
I could make out Brandon’s chagrined expression. “I did, actually. I’m sorry, Alissa. I didn’t think it would be an issue.” When I stayed quiet, he rushed on. “It’s probably a good idea for us to be sociable and try to make new friends, right?”
I clasped my tongue between my teeth to keep from protesting. It was just one evening, I told myself. It wouldn’t kill me to be pleasant to Whitney and Banks for a couple of hours. “Fine,” I reluctantly agreed. “We’ll go.”
Brandon planted another kiss on my mouth. “I’ll be by your side the whole time,” he told me. “You have nothing to worry about.”
I only hoped he was right.
