But I couldn’t help toying with that line, dipping my thumbs a bit in the waistband. Brayden groaned against my mouth, deepening the kiss. He threaded his fingers in my hair, tilting my head back slightly. His other hand covered mine, stopping me from further toeing that line. He moved one hand down my back, cupping my ass and pressing me against him. I gasped, realizing why he hadn’t wanted me to further tease him. He had a hard-on. He was hanging by a thread already.
He pressed me even more into him, until his erection pushed against my clit. I soaked my panties. Another jolt of pleasure shot through me, even more intense than the one before. My body was putty in his hands. Every sensation was intensified: his lips on mine, his chest against my breasts, his erection against my sensitive spot.
He stopped the kiss so abruptly that I was thrown for a loop, blinking rapidly. His eyelids were slightly hooded, his pupils dilated. That was when I heard voices approaching, and I realized the guys were coming. I touched my lips with two fingers, wondering if they were swollen. I caught Brayden’s half smile as he moved behind the bar.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
He chuckled. “Trying to walk off my hard-on behind the bar.”
My cheeks warmed. I brought a hand to my neck, schooling my features, hoping no one would catch on.
“Isabelle, when did you arrive?” Lars asked.
“A few minutes ago.”
“Brayden took good care of you?”
I was sincerely hoping my blush wasn’t intensifying. “Yes.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Brayden turning away to hide a smile.
“I’m ready to show you this plan I’ve made. It’s more of a guide. I think you’re doing a great job on your own, but Sasha insisted it would be helpful to have some pointers written out.”
“Let’s hear it,” Thomas said.
“I don’t want to take up much of your time. I’m meeting a client later, so I can’t stay long.”
All of us moved to the couch, including Brayden. I was still so on edge from our kiss that my entire body hummed even though he wasn’t sitting next to me. I could feel him watching me though.
“I think one Facebook live every week is good now. Once concert season starts, you can probably do two, but I know that’s a busy time, so play it by ear. The important thing is for this to be fun for you, to come naturally. If it’s uncomfortable for you, then I can assure you the viewer can tell. Certain body language cues are obvious even to the untrained eye.”
I glanced at the group quickly, checking if they were following me before focusing on the iPad again.
“I’ve listed some ideas for you, based on what the fans asked in the comments. They mentioned some things they’d want to see. It’s up to you, obviously, but I thought it would be helpful to know. Maybe it can spark other ideas.”
I moved on to the slide of suggestions.
“People are interested in our gym routine?” Lars asked incredulously.
I chuckled. “You’re all hot as sin. Obviously they want to know how you keep in shape.”
A strange noise came from Brayden. No one seemed to hear it except me. When I locked eyes with him, I was surprised by the intensity in his expression.
He’s jealous? Holy shit, it was just a comment. Did it make me a bad person that I was enjoying it slightly? I grinned. He cocked a brow. I grinned even wider, shrugging one shoulder.
We went through my whole list quickly. I kept checking the time, because I didn’t want to be late back to the office.
“Okay, guys. I’m sorry, but I really have to go. I think you have enough info for your next video. You can always call me.”
“We’re good,” Harvey said.
“I’ll walk you out,” Brayden offered. Placing a hand at the small of my back, he led me to the front door. Heat spread through me from the point of contact.
“When do you finish?” he asked.
“In two hours, I think.”
“I’ll be waiting in front of your building in a car.”
“Oh, wow. Okay. Want to make sure I don’t get away?”
“Exactly.” He pushed a strand of hair out of my face, looking straight at me. “And the rest of the evening will be just for us.”
***
My client, Elsa, was a mess. Sadly, I couldn’t do anything for her right now more than hand her tissues and console her. In times like these, any advice was pointless. She needed to let out the grief, and I was happy she felt safe enough to do it with me.
“You’re so great, Isabelle. Thanks for making time for me on a Friday evening.”
“I’m always here for you, Elsa.”
“I don’t even know what to do. I don’t want to cry my eyes out all weekend.”
“Sometimes you have to let it all out. But I can make you a diary, if you want. You can write down everything you feel, tear out the page, and throw it away. It really helps.”
“I’d love that.”
I opened the drawer under my desk where I kept the papers and binders for diaries. I personalized them according to the client’s needs. I’d printed a stack of uplifting quotes. After choosing a dozen, I carefully glued them on the papers I put in the binder.
“That’s it. It’s ready,” I announced.
“Thank you, Isabelle. I’m so happy I found you.” She beamed, rubbing the corners of her eyes as she slid the diary in her purse.
My heart was hurting for her as I led her to the door. It would take a long time for her to heal.
The second I was alone in the office, I remembered that Brayden was waiting for me downstairs, and my chest filled with this incredible joy. I quickly refreshed my makeup—a dash of mascara and eyeshadow, leaving my lips bare.
My pulse quickened as I left the building. The black BMW was parked in the spot reserved for deliveries. Rolling down the tinted window, he smiled at me. I had no idea what tonight would bring, but I was ready to embrace everything. He opened the door, scooting along the back seat to make space for me.
“What do you want to do?” he asked once I was next to him, door closed.
“We could go to my place.”
He nodded. “Tell Paul your address.”
Paul was the same guy who’d driven me to Lars’s party. I rattled off my address, and the car lurched forward.
It felt a bit surreal to sit here next to Brayden. He said absolutely nothing on the way, which only made the tension between us more palpable. I could feel him watching me, and the weight of the conversation we were about to have filled the air. Every time I glanced sideways, I found him looking at me. He touched me relentlessly, skimming his hand up my forearm, threading our fingers together.
Even though there was quite a distance between my office in Brooklyn and my apartment in the Bronx, I was so lost in his delicious touch that I barely felt the time slip by.
I startled when Paul announced, “We’re here.”
“Oh, thanks.” I was suddenly so nervous, especially when Brayden put on a cap.
“Was there a bodyguard following us in another car or something?” I remembered him saying once that security didn’t travel in the same car with him.
“Nah, I only ask Sasha for a security detail when I’m in busy places. This is residential, mostly. It would draw attention.”