Page 75 of Branded

Samuel reaches out and shakes first Isaac’s hand and then mine. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve heard a lot about you, Isaac.”

“All good things I hope,” he replies.

“Ah, well, that I’ll never tell. Pillow talk is private talk.”

I cough at that, nearly choking on my water. “I’m sorry. Wrong pipe.”

Isaac rubs my back. “Are you okay?”

I reassure everyone I’m fine before Samuel turns his attention back to Jean.

“What do you say I take you for a spin around the dance floor? We’ll take it slow and easy. That is, if you don’t mind me stealing you away for a few minutes.”

“I’d love that. Isaac, why don’t you and Sawyer join us?”

Isaac and I exchange a glance. “A dance doesn’t sound half bad. Sawyer?” Isaac asks, offering his hand.

“Don’t step on my toes, Black, and we’ve got a deal.”

When we make our way over to the next room and onto the small, makeshift dance floor, Samuel and Jean have found a spot on the edge, while Isaac has pulled me to the middle and wraps me up in his arms. We sway gently to the music, his hands cradling me at the small of my back, and my arms around his shoulders.

“You and Grams are hitting it off.”

“She is ridiculously fun, and pretty smitten over Samuel there.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on. You’re not that obtuse, are you? Look at them. She’s got the hots for him and I am pretty sure the feeling is mutual.”

He looks over my shoulder, presumably at the pair of them then shakes his head. “Nah, no way. They are just friends.”

I arch my brow. “Did you miss that pillow talk comment?”

“I tried to ignore it,” he admits.

“Well, sorry to break it to you. Grams is still getting it.”

“Congratulations. I’ll never get hard again.”

I bury my face in his chest to laugh. “The horror.”

“You joke about this, but that’s my grandmother we are talking about. She is sweet and adorable. She isn’t supposed to be... wanted by someone like that.” He shivers dramatically.

“Hey, she may be elderly, but people are still sexual very late in their lives. Sometimes as late as their eighties. I took a human sexuality class in college. Read all about it.”

“Maybe that means I’ve got good genes and I’ll still be wanting to bone in my old age.”

I shake my head at him and smile. “You’ll never want to stop doing that. I am starting to see that you are quite insatiable.”

“Maybe that’s just with you. You’re pretty incredible, you know?”

I can feel my cheeks heat at his compliment. “Thank you. I’m just... me.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, Sawyer. You’re a wonderful person. Everyone in my life is drawn to you. Anyone who you’ve come in contact with in my circle adores you immediately. I’ve yet to find in single flaw. Sometimes I worry this is all a joke and I’ll wake up one morning to see it’s not real.”

My body and mind instantly want to reject every compliment he’s just given me. My head even begins to shake back and forth, physically saying no to every word. “I’m full of flaws, Isaac.”

“Your flaws are perfection to me.”

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