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."

time controlling yourself?" I teased

his grip

Mae. And stop... teasing me." His voice had turned low and hoarse as he growled the last

Brandon?" I asked. I

"Mae..."

with one hand and snaked the other under

voice had turned dangerously

the while pressing myself against the

he seemed skeptical, and that kept him from responding

advances.

I was like a thing possessed, my excitement at his restraint turning into feral delight when I saw the beads of sweat breaking out over his temples and the throbbing vein

a bit, all right? You might not be fully well yet, and even if you

wait a while longer." Brandon reasoned with me,

shook my head. "No, I

"Mae..."

more you say no, the more I want it,"

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

later, my body was a weightless