Page 41 of Conflagration
His grin doesn’t falter as his eyes sweep over my body appreciatively. “Baby, I don’t think of you as a girl at all.” His eyes rest on my chest for a quick beat before coming back up to meet mine. He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me into him with such force that it causes me to gasp. “Oh, no. You are definitely all woman.”
“Well, in that case,” I whisper as I slip my arms around his neck and rise up on my tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips.
Branson has other ideas, however. He turns his head at the last second and my lips connect with the rough stubble of the five-o’clock shadow on his cheek. Dejected, I slump down and pull away from him. He lifts my chin so I’m looking at him, and he’s clearly amused with himself.
“Ariana, it’s the beginning of our first date. What kind of man do you think I am?”
Grinning, I roll my eyes. “The kind that wants to skip the entire thing and spend the rest of the night in bed?” I ask hopefully.
Jesus, calm down and act like you’ve seen a hot guy before,I think, but I just can’t help myself.
He laughs but shakes his head. “Not tonight. Now get your purse and let’s go.”
I do as he asked, locking the door behind us. He takes hold of his crutches and gestures for me to lead the way down the sidewalk. I stop immediately when I see the limo and turn back to him.
“Branson, what’s this? What are we doing? Am I underdressed? If you give me two minutes, I can go change into something more appropriate.” I fire off questions one after the other, not letting him answer.
He crutches over to me and gives me a soft look. “It’s a surprise, and no, you don’t need to change. You look beautiful. I told you casual. Just trust me, baby,” he requests.
“If you say so,” I mutter.
He grins, giving me a gentle slap on the ass. “I do. Now get your ass in the limo.”
ONCE WE’RE settled in the limo, Branson slips a piece of paper to the driver then presses a button so the partition rises. After setting his crutches across from us, he reaches into a small compartment and pulls out a bottle of champagne and two flutes.
“Wow. For a first date, you sure go all out, Branson,” I tease.
He grins at me just as he sends the cork popping across the back of the limo. “This night could define the rest of our relationship. If it doesn’t go well, you may not agree to a second one.”
He pours two glasses, handing one to me before he sits next to me, his arm extending behind my shoulder, his thigh grazing against my own. Electricity crackles as it practically swirls through the air at the sudden contact in this confined space. I really do feel like a giddy schoolgirl on her first date. Especially with what he just said. I know he was kidding, but in all reality, he might be right. This very night could define us.
Or it could just further cement the fact that I’m falling for him. Either way, I’m thankful for the champagne and take a sip, letting it flow down the back of my throat and soothe me.
“So, how was the fitting?” I ask as I shift my body and look up at him.
A radiant smile spreads across his face—one that’s a little too enthusiastic for something like getting fitted for tuxedos. “It was great. The brace doesn’t look too bad with the tux, but hopefully I’ll be able to last one night without it.”
I give him a look that says,No way.
He sighs. “Just for the ceremony and then pictures afterwards. I promise I’ll have it on throughout the reception.”
“I guess I’m okay with that, but I will be sitting next to your mom with your crutches, so if you need them, you better tell me.”
He leans down and kisses my forehead. “Okay, baby. We’ll come up with some sort of Bat signal. Just in case.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Okay, Bruce Wayne. If you say so. Now why are you cheesing so big? Did something else happen while you were at your parents’ place? I know you’re not that excited about being in a tux, even if I can’t wait to see you in one.”
“What? My basketball shorts and T-shirts don’t turn you on?” he asks, trying his best to look hurt.
Giving him a knowing look, I take a sip of my champagne before answering. “Branson, if we don’t have appointments on any given day, I’m lucky if I get you to do more than put on boxers in the morning.” He gives me a cocky smirk. “Not that I’m complaining. You’d look good in anything and, well, nothing, too. I just have a feeling you’re going to be super sexy in a tux. Very Bruce Wayne like,” I tease, lifting up to capture his lips in a kiss.
Pulling back before he can deepen it, I give his lower lip a nibble, and a low growl emits from his throat. His free hand comes up to grip my cheek as he closes the space between us and presses a hot kiss against my lips, his tongue sweeping in as it seeks out my own. His kiss has my nerve endings on fire, and just as I’m about to climb into his lap, he slows it down and then pulls away. This time, I’m the one with the growl.
He grins. “I can be your Bruce Wayne or your Batman, baby. Whoever you want me to be.”
I scoot back, putting a little space between us, not wanting things to get too heated before we even get to our destination. “Hmm…Bruce Wayne or Batman. That’s a tough one. Although, now that I think about it, Batman wasn’t able to save his girlfriend from the explosion. The way I see it, you already have one up on him.”
His shoulders shake as he chuckles. “I guess we’ll just have to find another superhero.”
