Intrigued and Enchanted (10 page)

“Get some sleep my sweet girl. I’ll take advantage of you in those cute shorts in the morning as I peel them off you to shower.” With that delectable promise I drift into a wonderful dreamless sleep, peaceful in the cocoon of Brandon’s arms.

10

Brandon makes good on his promise the next morning. It’s 11 o’clock by the time him and I have showered and are sitting down to breakfast. We must have taken almost an hour and a half to get showered and dressed with Brandon’s roaming hands and my unquenchable thirst for him.

I’m in no rush to get on with my day because I know I won’t see Brandon until after finals on Friday night. Brandon isn’t too happy about that, but he knows how important it is for me to do well and acquiesces to my half-hearted demands. We agree to keep in touch throughout the week, no more crazy avoidance on my part.

I’ve organised to go out on Friday night with friends to celebrate the end of our studies and I convince Brandon to meet us after work for drinks and he agrees on the condition that he can organise a private celebration for me at the weekend. I’m not going to say no to seeing him Friday night and the weekend! I’m excited and it’s great to have something to look forward to.

Brandon leaves for work at around 1 o’clock, giving me a heart-stopping, ruin me for anyone else kiss, to see me through to Friday night. When I close the door to my apartment, it feels empty without him.

Later in the day I receive a gorgeous bouquet of pink roses with a card attached.

Thank you for last night…and this morning. Brandon x

I’m in such a good mood I get loads of studying done before heading to bed and snuggling into the pillow that still smells of Brandon. He calls me before he goes to bed; it’s a great way to end the day – listening to his smooth, enticing voice. He could say anything and it would sound amazing coming from his lips.

Every morning I wake to a text from Brandon telling me that he missed the feel of me lying in his arms overnight. It’s a fabulous start to my days. And every day I receive a different colour of roses with a card attached. Wednesday’s card reads:

Thinking of you sweet girl. I’m jealous of your books today. Brandon x

We text throughout the day and speak before going to sleep. I don’t like admitting it, but I'm really missing him.

Thursday is the beginning of finals and at 8am the buzzer goes - There is a package for me. I thought it would be flowers but it's a box. There's a card inside from Brandon.

Good luck today sweet girl. I know you’ll be amazing. Brandon x

Inside the box is a bouquet of HB pencils (too cute), all kinds of stationery in a box marked Exam Survival Kit, and at the bottom of the box is a small box marked Good Luck Charm. I open it to find a Tiffany & Co box.

My hands are a bit shaky as I untie the white ribbon and lift the lid off of the iconic box. Nestled inside was a gorgeous silver charm bracelet with a single charm attached – a cute little four leaf clover. I must have the most ridiculous smile on my face as I clip the bracelet around my wrist. A reminder of Brandon wherever I go. I text him immediately to say thank you.

Me: Your package was so thoughtful, I love it all. Thank you so much. I will be taking my survival kit today and I’m already wearing the bracelet. It’s stunning. You really shouldn’t have.

Mr E: You’re more than welcome sweet girl. You won’t need luck today but I like the idea of you wearing something from me when you sit your finals. Call me when you’re finished. Brandon x

Before I leave to head to campus my daily bouquet of roses arrives – yellow. Thursday’s card reads:

Yellow roses for the girl that brings sunshine to my days. Brandon x

Could he be any sweeter?

After I finish for the day, I grab some dinner with Jess and head back to the apartment to call Brandon. We talk for hours and he listens patiently as I drone on about my exam. He just laughs when I go on and on about how much I love the bracelet and my Exam kit. I put my bouquet of pencils on my desk and I don’t want to use them. This gets me no end of teasing. We say good night and I prepare for my final exam on Friday.

****

Friday morning is here finally. Today is the day I finish four years of hard work at Columbia, but I have to be honest with you, my excitement this morning is definitely more to do with the fact that I’ll be seeing Brandon tonight. The butterflies have taken flight in the pit of my stomach and I’ll be counting down the hours today. Another package arrives this morning – A large Saks bag. This time the card reads:

I hope you’ll be wearing this when I see you tonight. Brandon x

Inside is an amazing Dolce & Gabana dress – a short teal sleeveless lace shift dress. There is also a Manolo Blahnik shoe box which contains a pair of peach patent leather sandals with a giant buckle round the ankle. I may have died and gone to shoe heaven.

There’s a Prada clutch in the same peach colour at the bottom on the bag, wrapped in its own Prada cloth tote. The whole outfit is spectacular. I can’t wait to wear it for Brandon later.

There is one more bag I haven’t opened; a Victoria’s Secret bag. Inside is perhaps the sexiest lingerie I have ever laid eyes on. I have to press my thighs together to contain the ache that swells at the thought of Brandon’s gaze on me wearing this for him. A gorgeous teal satin balcony bra with matching thong. Of course they’re the right size. Did he go through my drawers when I was sleeping on Monday?

I call to thank him and tell him I can’t wait to see him.

As I get ready for my last final, it dawns on me just how momentous this day is. I will no longer be a student at Columbia, I will be heading into the big bad world and carving a path for myself. Hopefully a path that will include Brandon. Before I leave for campus my daily roses arrive, white with crystals woven through them. The card reads:

To the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Brandon x

It amazes me that he seems to read my mind from miles away. I send him a quick text before I have to leave.

Me: You read my mind. L x

Mr E: I wish that were true baby. See you tonight x

I’m more than ready to close this chapter and embark on the next.

11

The elation that courses through me as I leave the exam hall is palpable. I did it. I made it through four years of hard work and dedication. I am ready to party! Jess’s last final is today so I head to the student union and wait for her.

The look on her face as she walks towards me is beyond happy. We start jumping up and down like idiots, chanting “We did it.” Unleashing the crazy. Our friends aren’t surprised by this kind of behaviour, they’ve grown accustomed to it over the years. There has been a weight lifted from our shoulders and the excitement at what comes next is in the air. Once we agree a time and place to meet our friends to celebrate I send the details to Brandon so he can meet us there. He says he has a late meeting but should only be a half hour late.

For the first time in my life I feel truly beautiful when I’m ready to leave for the party. The outfit that Brandon sent me looks fabulous, even down to the underwear. The only jewellery I wear is my Tiffany bracelet from Brandon. My styling wand has transformed my blonde hair; it’s hanging down my back in soft sexy curls which compliment my outfit nicely.

I’ve gone with smoky make-up with a touch of teal glitter on my eyelids. It really makes them stand out. When I come into the lounge Jess starts wolf whistling at me.

“Damn girl. You look H-O-T tonight. Brandon is going to have a heart attack when he sees you. Or he might die of a perpetual boner!”

Jess is looking pretty hot herself with a barely there black dress. The back of the dress is non-existent, ending so low down you can see the cute little dimples above her ass.

“Looking pretty foxy yourself Jester. Ready to paint the town red?” She interlinks our arms and grabs the keys to our apartment.

“Hell yes bestie…hell to the yes.”

We arrive at a great bar called Blue at around seven thirty to find the party in full swing already. I guess our friends started early.

“You guys look phenomenal tonight.” Our friend Matty says giving us a joint hug.

“Thanks Matty. We’re feeling pretty sexy and ready to party. You getting us some drinks?” Jess is such a flirt.

“How could I refuse two beautiful women? French Martinis?” Everyone knows our poison of choice. Especially when we are out to have an epic night. As Matty makes his way to the bar Jess and I join the rest of our group – there are about ten of us that have finished up today so we’re all ready to party. I think we have a bit of catching up to do with the drinking. I’m pretty sure most of our friends are already feeling the buzz.

The music is loud, the atmosphere is charged in the way that you can only find in Manhattan on a Friday night. This city sweeps you off your feet and all you can do is go along for the ride. I love it. There is nowhere else on earth like it.

Matty comes back with our drinks and parks himself next to us, reminiscing about our time at Columbia, laughing at some of the crazy nights we’ve had out together. Jess is really laying the charm on thick with him tonight. I feel bad for him, he doesn’t stand a chance. She’ll have him buying her drinks all night, then wave goodbye as she heads off with some other guy.

I lose track of Jess after a while, struggling to maintain a conversation with Matty over the noise in the bar. I lean in closer to hear what he’s trying to say when I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. I know from the jolt of electricity coursing through my body that Brandon is behind me. Even without seeing him, my body responds to him.

When I see the look on Matty’s face I’m not sure I want to look into the icy blue depths of the eyes behind me; Matty looks scared. I can feel the tension in Brandon’s body; moving his mouth down to my ear, his voice edgy.

“Hello sweet girl. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your
friend
?” I feel the whisper of a kiss on my cheek before Brandon stands tall, his shoulders broad, squaring himself and extending his hand to Matty.

“Matty this is Brandon. He’s…..” I don’t really know what we are. It’s not something we’ve spoken about and I don’t want to assume anything. Brandon jumps on my hesitation.

“I’m her boyfriend. And you are?” Matty shakes his hand and introduces himself. Brandon holds his firm handshake a little longer than needed, then he snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me to his side. Now I can see the heat in his eyes as he rakes his gaze over the outfit he sent me. Leaning his head down closer to mine Brandon’s sexy voice caresses my cheek.

“You look astonishingly beautiful tonight Miss Pritchard.” Lifting my chin with his fingers he presses his lips to mine igniting a fire inside me that has been burning for days in his absence.

Everything around us fades into the background and our kiss becomes more passionate, his tongue teasing the crease of my lips to open for him. I can’t deny him; I don’t want to. I part my lips and dart my tongue out to meet his, crashing into each other, hungry for a taste of what we’ve been deprived of. God this man can kiss. I swear I can feel it down to my toes when his lips are on mine, his tongue tangling with mine in an exploration of our fierce attraction to one another. Brandon pulls back before I do, holding my face in his hands.

“We need to stop now Lily. I don’t want your first time to be in a crowded bar, and if we keep kissing like this, I might not be able to convince myself to do the right thing.” I’m embarrassed to realise that I had completely forgotten where we are and that Matty is standing looking dumbfounded by our combustible display in front of him.

Brandon has a cocky grin on his face and I know - that kiss was tantamount to him pissing all over me. Let’s face it though, I loved it. Every woman loves a bit of caveman behaviour, even if they don’t admit it; it’s sexy as hell. Matty makes excuses and scurries off to chat with some other friends. Brandon pulls me into his arms, his masculine smell enveloping me - a delight to my senses.

“How’s my girl doing?” His fingers caressing my cheek as he speaks.

“I’m better now that you’re here. I missed you this week. Thank you so much for all the flowers and gifts Brandon, it was so thoughtful of you.” He holds up my wrist in his hand, inspecting the Tiffany bracelet he gave me.

“This suits your little wrist sweet girl, but it’s missing something.” He dips his hand into his suit jacket pocket and produces a tiny Tiffany box.

“Brandon, you can’t keep buying me things.” Rolling his eyes he puts the tiny blue box in my palm and says “Open it.” A sweet smile forming on his beautiful, kiss swollen lips. Inside is an exquisite butterfly charm.

“Brandon it’s gorgeous. Thank you so much. Could you put it on for me?” As he attaches the charm he leans into my ear and whispers.

“For my beautiful girl who is about to spread her wings and start the next chapter.”

I can feel my eyes well with tears, but before any escape, Brandon’s lips are capturing mine, giving me the softest, sweetest kiss. Pulling back he pins me with his gaze.

“I hope I’m part of the next chapter for you.” I’m lost for words. I just stand there dumbstruck and nod my head, my eyes unable to leave his blue depths.

Jess is at my side and I hadn’t even registered her.

“Hey dill weed. Let’s get the drinking on the go and decide where we’re going to hit next. I’m up for some dancing.” Brandon chimes in before I have a chance to speak.

“A friend of mine owns Cube. How about I give him a shout and get him to put us on the list, I can have him rope off an area for us? All your friends are welcome obviously.” I don’t want to put Brandon in an awkward position with his friend, but Jess has other ideas.

“Get on that this minute my good man. I love that place. I’ll go tell everyone the plan.” I turn to Brandon.

“You don’t have to do that for my friends Brandon. I don’t want to put you in a bad position with your friend.”