Page 47 of Branded

“Andrew. Why? That was random.”

“Mine is Elizabeth. I just thought we should know that about one another.”

“Well then, Sawyer Elizabeth.” He stands taller when he speaks and gives his best regal accent, “Shall we?” He offers his arm to me and I slip mine through.

“We shall, Isaac Andrew.”

“I feel like I’m never going to stop being in awe all weekend long.”

I step into our room for the weekend and I have stop myself from audibly gasping. It is literally a room that could have belonged to a princess.

The walls are a rich champagne color with gold crown molding lining the tops and bottoms of the walls. There is a dark, oak wardrobe in the right corner by two French doors that lead to a balcony. There’s a huge four-poster bed against the left wall, centered directly in front of a beautiful fireplace with a black steel screen on the hearthstone.

I slide my hand over the lush, white duvet placed perfectly over the bed along with many inviting pillows.

“Goddamn,” Isaac calls from the bathroom. “Come check this out.”

I follow the sound of his voice and step into a bathroom that is even better than I could have imagined.

A Jacuzzi tub that could easily fit ten people is nestled into a little nook in the corner that is totally lined with mirrors. It’s decadent. It’s hot.

“This is out of control, Isaac.” I cover my mouth and laugh. It’s the only reaction I have. “This is insane.”

“Christopher told me it was going to be over-the-top, but I wasn’t expecting this. Not that I’m complaining. I’m absolutely not, especially since I have pretty awesome company.”

I look over my shoulder at him and smile. “Have you ever seen anything so beautiful before? This is just crazy.” I slide my hand over the lip of the incredibly deep, inviting bathtub.

“Sawyer…” Isaac steps up behind me and I look up into the mirror in front of me so I can meet his eyes.

“Yeah?” I reply.

“I realize now that I never even considered the fact you might not want to sleep in the same bed. I should have asked you instead of just assuming, and I want to apologize for that.”

I spin around so I can see him face-to-face. “If I didn’t want to sleep in the same bed as you, I wouldn’t have agreed to be your date. We are adults, right?”

“I just don’t want you to feel pressured into anything, Sawyer. I just needed to say that. This isn’t some ploy to get in your pants. I really just want to spend time with you,” he says, as he cups my face in his hands.

“I like when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Make me feel like I’m more than a piece of meat. You respect me as a person, and that means more to me than anything.”

“I can’t lie to you though,” he slides his hands around my body and pulls me closer, “I do think about you in less than respectful ways sometimes. Does that make me an asshole?”

My stomach flips deliciously and a tingle builds between my legs.

“No, because if that makes you an asshole, what does the fact I also have the same thoughts make me?” I place my hands on his chest and stare up at him.

“Sawyer, I don’t know what we are doing or where this is going, but I do know I’m enjoying the journey, and I don’t want it to stop anytime soon,” he says with pure honesty written on his face. There isn’t an ounce of him that feels dishonest.

“On this we can agree. We like each other, we enjoy spending time together, and whatever happens… happens. We are grown-ups. We are allowed to have fun. I need fun.”

Especially with Jason’s birthday looming.

What used to be my favorite day of the year is now the one I dread the most.

“Well, lucky for you, I am the master at providing a fun time.” He presses a kiss to my nose.

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