Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Brandon sighed. "Because you're the only person who can make me abandon all my principles."

His sweet-talking was impressive and effortless. He even sounded like he was commenting on the weather while he was at it. He was telling me he loved me without actually using the word "love". My eyes stung. Chewing on my flatbread, I said incoherently, "Come here, Brandon."

"Why?" Brandon asked, giving me a baffled look.

"Stop asking questions and do as you're told," I said stubbornly without explaining.

He rose to his feet and came over. He had just sat down when I leaned forward and put my head on his shoulder. He stiffened under me, and I said, "Food tastes better when I'm leaning on you." Brandon chuckled lightly, and my lips curled with a covert smile as well.

After dinner, we left the hospital and went home. When Brandon had tucked me into bed, I asked, "Will you be sleeping here or in your room tonight?"

"Here," he answered without hesitation.

Images of him doing push-ups and taking cold showers at midnight flashed through my mind. Wincing, I pressed my lips into a hard line and warned, "Fine, but you can't do push-ups in the middle of the night."

His cheeks flushed when he heard this, and he bit out, "Don't bring that up again."

I burrowed into his embrace and wrapped my arms around his waist. "I won't if you don't do it."

Brandon swallowed. "Mae, stop it."

controlling yourself?"

felt his grip tighten

turned low and hoarse as

you want it, Brandon?" I asked. I didn't

"Mae..."

one hand and snaked the other under it, my

turned dangerously gravelly as he

while pressing

recovered, but he seemed skeptical,

advances.

come over me. I was like a thing possessed, my excitement at his restraint turning into feral delight

right? You might not be fully well yet, and

wait a while longer." Brandon reasoned with me, though

my head. "No,

"Mae..."

more you say no, the more I

and simply pinned me with a long, hard stare. My

was a weightless thing as he