A pair of warm,expansive hands gently masked her eyes,their heat seeping through her skin and stirring her heartbeat into an erratic rhythm.
“Brandon..”Natalie’s voice faltered in surprise, a wave of confusion washing over her.”Why are you obstructing my sight?”
Bending down to align with her height, Brandon let his warm breathfan over her ear, a hint of a suppressed smile coloring his voice that had adopted a deeper,icier tone.
“I fear the sight might stir fear in you.”
Natalie’s lips curled into a pout upon hearing his words,countering,”I’m not so easily frightened.”
Her voice,laced with sweet indignation, stirred a brighter smile on Brandon’s face.He murmured soothingly,”You’re indeed the bravest,but some sights are unsuited for your delicate eyes.Please,let’s avoid this one, shall we?”
His soft reassurances stirred a flush in Natalie’s cheeks,sending her heart pounding in overdrive.Overwhelmed by shy exhilaration, she could only manage a dazed nod, stammering,”I’ll heed your advice.”
Witnessing Natalie’s compliant response,a delighted chuckle bubbled up in Brandon’s throat.Shielding her eyes,he enveloped her in his embrace,gently guiding her away from the scene.
Grasping his hand with a hint of trepidation, Natalie inquired,”Where are we headed?”
“Oh?What seems to be the problem?”
Brandon’s hand subtly tightened around Natalie’s waist,drawing her closer to his comforting presence.”Are you afraid I might auction you off?”
The heat from Brandon’s body seeped through her clothing,warming her back as she was pressed against him.This comforting warmth slowly crept up her spine,painting her cheeks with a soft,rosy hue.
“I am aware you won’t,”she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What was that?” Brandon’s question hovered in the air,with a curious tilt to his voice as he strained to catch her words.
Gathering a swell of courage,Natalie cleared her throat,her voice rising.”I know you won’t.On the contrary,You’ll ensure my safety.”
Brandon’s response was a stunned silence.
And then,laughter bubbled up from his throat,warm and rich,as he complimented, “Good girl,your acuity impresses me.”
In the midst of their exchange,Brandon halted their progress.
Gently,he removed his hands from her eyes and placed them on her shoulders,guiding her to settle down on a chair.
Blinking in surprise,Natalie’s gaze swept across her new surroundings.She found herself in a living room,with Frank lounging across from her while Brandon stood at her side,uncapping a bottle of water.
“Hydrate yourself,”Brandon murmured,his voice a comforting balm,as he passed her the bottle.”Take a moment to rest.”
Frank,upon observing this exchange, couldn’t resist ribbing,”Brandon,I’ve never witnessed such considerate behavior from you.Might you fetchme a bottle of water too?”
Brandon shot him a cool glance and retorted, “If thirst quenches your throat,help yourself.
Have your limbs ceased their function?”
Listening to Brandon’s sharp response, Frank’s lips curled into a pout as he grumbled lowly,”Clearly,you favor your lady love over a comrade.”
Disregarding Frank’s grumbling,Brandon refocused his attention on Natalie,his voice dropping to a tender register.”You’ve been on your feet all day.Drink some water to soothe your parched throat.”
Natalie accepted the bottle but hesitated.
Her fear wasn’t rooted in distrust of Brandon but rather in the dangerous company of the Darkmoon.She couldn’t help but worry that if the water was tainted,she might unintentionally bring further trouble to Brandon.
Her concerns ushered her hand to place the water back onto the table,her head shaking gently.”Thankyou,but I’m not thirsty.”
“You’re not?”Brandon quirked an eyebrow, leaning in closer to Natalie.His smile held a flirtatious glimmer that was dangerously enchanting.
The palpable tension made Natalie flustered, and she stammered,”Wha-what are you doing?Why are you so near to me?”
Brandon reached out,lifting her chin with a casual graze of his fingers,a playful smile dancing on his lips.”Your face is flushed,a sheen of sweat gracing your forehead.I assumed you were feeling warm.”
Their faces were so close that Natalie could see her own flustered reflection mirrored in the depth of Brandon’s dark eyes.The sight caused her blush to deepen,the heat from Brandon’s teasing gaze igniting a warmth that engulfed her.
Restlessly shifting in her chair,her mouth fell open,words failing her as she struggled to camouflage her shy disarray.
It took a considerable moment before Natalie regained her equilibrium,her voice barely audible as she grumbled,”Don’t behave like that again!”
Brandon’s striking visage loomed closer,as though poised to steal a kiss.A chuckle escaped his lips,laced with a flirtatious undertone.”Behave like what?”
Natalie didn’t anticipated such brazen audacity. Despite an audience,he displayed no restraint,escalating his teasing instead. Flustered and miffed,she shrugged off his hand and swiveled her head away,resolving not to engage further.
Natalie was innately bashful,a trait amplified in the presence of others,especially when faced with such intimate exchanges.Brandon, recognizing her heightened embarrassment simmering into irritation,finally ceased his playful torment.A resigned yet endearing smile spread across his face.
“Alright,alright,I promise not to joke that way again,”he placated,reaching for the bottle of water on the table.”You seem overheated.Have a drink.”
Annoyed and embarrassed,Natalie turned her face away,maintaining her silent protest.
Brandon’s gaze held no annoyance at her visible vexation;rather,his smile broadened. He extended a hand to caress her flushed cheek,his voice a soothing whisper.”No one’s watching us.Relax.”
At that,Frank,who’d been engrossed in his phone,chimed in with a helpful quip,”I have a girlfriend.As an honorable boyfriend,I don’t ogle other women.”
He added with a smirk,”Least of all,my friend’s lady.”
His reassurances eased the heat flooding Natalie’s face.She lifted her gaze to meet Frank’s.
Her experiences with Frank in the past few encounters,albeit infrequent,all pointed to his consistent politeness and respectful smile spread across his fac + 9 0 Points at most “Alright,alright,I promise not to joke that way again,”he placated,reaching for the bottle of water on the table.”You seem overheated.Have a drink.”
Annoyed and embarrassed,Natalie turned her face away,maintaining her silent protest.
Brandon’s gaze held no annoyance at her visible vexation;rather,his smile broadened.
He extended a hand to caress her flushed cheek,his voice a soothing whisper.”No one’s watching us.Relax.”
At that,Frank,who’d been engrossed in his phone,chimed in with a helpful quip,”I have a girlfriend.As an honorable boyfriend,I don’t ogle other women.”
He added with a smirk,”Least of all,my friend’s lady.”
His reassurances eased the heat flooding Natalie’s face.She lifted her gaze to meet Frank’s.
Her experiences with Frank in the past few encounters,albeit infrequent,all pointed to his consistent politeness and respectful demeanor,never once lingering too long on her person.
Reflecting on this,Natalie couldn’t help but commend him sincerely,”Your girlfriend must indeed be quite pleased!”
Frank puffed out his chest in response to her compliment and yelled,”Of course,I rank among the best of boyfriends!”without showing any sign of modesty.
Brandon’s smile,however,seemed to wither at his wife’s praises for another man,and his face adopted a darker hue.
Noticing Brandon’s shift in mood,Frank erupted into laughter.”Brandon,are you envious?”
Brandon’s curt response and indifferent glance in Frank’s direction were,”You’re too chatty. “
“Alright!Messagereceived.I’llkeepmypeace.”
Shrugging nonchalantly,Frank returned his attention to his phone.
Natalie peered up at the apparently envious Brandon,a laugh twinkling in her eyes.”Are you truly jealous?’
Maintaining a deadpan expression,Brandon cleared his throat and countered,”Why on earth would I feel jealous over such a trivial matter?As for you,your lips are parched.
Have some water.”
Spotting his persistent insistence that she hydrate,she sighed in mild exasperation.”I’m concerned there might be something amiss with the water.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply