An Awkwardly Loving Reunion (Brandon)

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

The escape had been terrifying and chaotic with bullets zipping through the air and people running to free themselves from the facility that kept them all prisoner for something close to six weeks. Jo had been with Gina at the time of their escape and by chance she had run into Mel and Brandon once out of the gated compound. She had no idea where they stood since she had stormed away from him a couple days prior, but she knew she wanted nothing more than to run into his arms, which was exactly what she did. Jo was so grateful he wrapped his arms around her in return, but their reunion was brief as they were ushered away from she chaos and pushed towards the fleet of getaway cars by a young woman who Jo didn't know.

Once Brandon, Mel, Gina and herself had clambered into the vehicle, the driver, who introduced herself as Eponine, took off. Brandon sat between Jo and Mel, and she turned her head towards the window, watching as the panic grew smaller and smaller as they were driven to safety. Heart hammering she turned and looked at Brandon, neither of them saying anything as their eyes did all the speaking. She was forgiven, and so was he.

The ride was awkwardly silent and Jo knew they were all probably in as much shock as she was. Gina made a few comments now and then from the front seat, but for the most part they didn't talk much other than to tell Eponine where they lived so she could drop them off at their homes. When Jo offered her address Brandon had stopped her, insisting she come home with him. Jo bit her bottom lip but then nodded. She wanted to go to her home, but she wanted to be with Brandon too, and if he wanted her to come back home with him then she would. Melanie told her she could borrow some of her clothes and she thanked her softly, still feeling a little strange from her last encounter with the Garcia's. Jo slipped her hand into Brandon's and he took it, squeezing it and she knew everything would be alright from then on out. Somehow, everything would be alright.

Melanie got dropped off at her boyfriends home and Gina got out as well. Again they were left in silence but not for long. Soon enough Eponine pulled up at Brandon's house, which she had never been to, and let them out. The pair thanked her repeatedly before moving hastily into the Garcia home, eager to hide the secret on Brandon's back.

Once inside Brandon shut the door and locked it and Jo stood there in the front hall of the house anxious and nervous. As haggard as he looked, he was still very handsome and it made Jo's heart throb to look at him. Desperately she wanted to be in his arms once more but she was afraid to make that move. "I'm sorry." She said in a soft voice that cracked with the threat of tears but the look in Brandon's eyes told her that she needn't say anything at all. He moved towards her and that was enough for her to know it was alright to make a move. Jo all but flung herself at him, her warms coming up around his neck as she truly embraced him for the first time since their ordeal began. How many times had she dreamt of this moment while falling asleep at night? The tears came as she buried her face into his neck, sniffling as she squeezed him tight as though her life depended on it.

They were finally free.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

The more Brandon ran over the events of the day so far in his head, the more unbelievable it was. Escaping with his sister, his girlfriend, her friend…saved by Gargoyles and being chauffeured home by a Gargoyle…In his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have imagined something like this. A few hours before he thought Jo still hadn’t forgiven him and he was still frustrated with her; now that was all forgotten. She was sitting beside him in the car, and he could hardly believe he had just held her in his arms almost an hour ago. Their fingers were twined together, squeezing reassuringly. He didn’t know if they would try to imprison them again, but one thing was for sure; he wouldn’t let them take her from him again. As soon as he was able, they were leaving Scriptor Bay. They could sail down to California or South America, take a vacation, but he wasn’t staying here or coming back until he knew it was safe. Melanie was coming with him, and if that meant Kevin was coming too, then so be it. He was certain they could find some fishing business there too, and he knew Kevin would be good to help him out, as would Melanie. He could even teach Jo how to fish if she wanted to learn. It sounded like a splendid plan.

When they pulled up to his house, he wanted nothing more than to run inside and stay there for as long as he could, holding Jo, kissing her, loving her until they fell asleep in his warm, soft bed. Eponine released them and Brandon couldn’t thank her enough. Melanie would certainly get all of her information so he could thank her properly. The Gargoyle woman had saved their lives. As soon as they reached the door, he fished out the spare key from the hiding spot in the potted flowers on the porch. The marker saying what kind of flowers they were marked the spot where the key was buried. Quickly he unlocked the door and hustled Jo inside before following her, his wings bristling in anxiety. As soon as the door was locked behind them, he sighed, feeling safe for the moment. They were free and safe in his home. He turned to look at Jo once more.

She was thinner, the bags beneath her eyes deep, but still she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. Jo gazed back at him too and for a long moment they just stared at each other, unsure what to do. “I’m sorry.” The way her voice cracked tore his heart apart and he shook his head as his eyes gazed sorrowfully at her. There was nothing to be sorry for. He opened his arms and moved toward her, needing to have her in his arms again. She threw herself at him and he caught her in a tight embrace, knowing he could never have her close enough to feel completely at ease. Her arms held tight around his neck and he buried his face into her neck and shoulder, just holding her as she cried. All of the weariness he had felt over the past six weeks flooded through him as he held her tight in his hallway. They were home and together and he suddenly felt whole once again. He held her tighter, keeping her warmth against him to make sure she was real. One hand came up and ran over her hair, just admiring the softness of it as he had wanted to do for weeks. “I’m sorry…” he whispered against her skin, knowing he’d been hard-headed too. Even if it wasn’t necessary, he needed her to know that he was sorry for the way he’d treated her.

His lips moved over her skin, his love for her pouring over every inch he could reach. It started at her neck, then moved along her jaw. He kissed over her cheek and across her cheekbone, resting his lips against her closed and teary eye before moving them to her brow, her forehead, her hair. He moved back down, kissing the bridge of her nose, the tip, the side of her mouth, until finally his lips pressed against hers. It filled him with a sense of relief so strong, he felt weak. His hand held the back of her head and around her waist as he kissed her softly at first and then more and more deeply. He’d never missed someone so much in his life. There wasn’t even a sexual need, per se, only the need to show her, not just tell her, how very deeply he needed her. He brought both hands to her waist and lifted her so he could carry her to the couch. They were both exhausted and the closest place was the couch. One arm secured around her waist, the other hand buried into her hair as he kissed her. He carried her to the couch and sank back into the cushions, Jo straddling him. All he did was hold her close and kiss her like he would never stop. In fact, he had no intention of doing so for quite some time, even if they were out of breath. His hands explored her face, the sharpened angles made there by hunger, his fingers combing through her hair then smoothing across the skin of her neck. He held her neck and jaw, forcing her to look at him as he pulled away just enough to look in her eyes. “I am never, ever going to let you go again.” It was a promise, and the serious look in his deep, dark eyes made it clear he meant what he said.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Jo felt Brandon's hand sweet through her hair and it made her sigh into his neck. How long had she craved to feel his touch; to feel anyone's touch? “I’m sorry…” he whispered against her skin which only served to make her cry harder. It was good hearing the words. They had both overreacted and she was glad that Brandon, unlike Kit, could apologize.

Jo felt a chill run down her spine as Brandon's lips moved over her neck and her head instinctively tilted to give him access. It was as though electricity shot through him straight towards her, awakening her body. She had craved this sort of affection for weeks and he had been so close and yet so very far during their time at the camp. It was a constant tease and finally she could feel his lips once. She let out a quick little breath, her eyes shutting as she clung to him and savored the moment; his lips were soft and his scruff was scratchy and it made her feel alive for the first time in weeks. His mouth moved over her cheeks and rested on her lips, a sob choking her as she kissed him before he continued his trail upwards. His mouth rested gently on each tear filled eye and then moved to her forehead before starting its ascent down the bridge of her nose. Jo felt her tears calm as she focused on the gesture, feeling needed and adored which was exactly what she needed after the ordeal.

When his mouth came on her again she sucked in a hard breath through her nose as her arms came up around his shoulders and then around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. She wanted to just get lost in his embrace and it was easy to do that, to absorb herself in Brandon and forget the nightmare of the last few weeks. When he lifted her she wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him as he brought her to the couch, nestling her down in his lap where she gratefully say. Her lips never left his as they continued their heated kiss, Jo straddling Brandon. Her hands moved up through his hair, combing over the back of his scalp and coming back down and then repeating it over his ears before her fingers knitted together at the back of his head, holding him near and never wanting to let go. She let out a soft, sad moan when he cradled her face and pulled her away from his comforting kiss. Her reddened eyes met his and she searched them, seeing his adoration mirrored there. “I am never, ever going to let you go again.”

Jo gulped. Part of her was relieved by the statement, another part terrified. She was finally able to enter a relationship with someone that she had been dreaming of for over a decade and though it was comforting knowing someone was that interested, it was scary. She knew she was difficult at times and she knew they would fight. She saw first hand how stubborn he could be as well; did he really mean what he said? Would he really never let her go? Was she ready for that sort of commitment? Still afraid Jo nodded not returning the verbal sentiment, but finding his lips once more with her own setting a ravenous pace as her tongue probed his mouth. She kept her hungry kiss going for a moment before she pulled away and hugged him tight, not wanting to go overboard just now. She was tired and dirty and she simply wanted his warmth and comfort, and possibly a bath. Jo wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face there as well. "You better not make promises you can't keep." She said softly, letting her own vulnerability shine through. Brandon had gotten a taste of her temper in the camps and it would only probably get worse.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon could see Jo’s hesitation and he was afraid he’d scared her with what he said. That hadn’t been his intention; he did want her to know, however, that he was very serious about her. Their time apart in the camps had been torture. Even if he couldn’t keep her forever, right now he had no plans of ever letting her go. He didn’t want her out of his sight. He wanted to make sure she was always safe because he didn’t want a life without her. He wasn’t sure when he’d started to feel this way, only that he did. When she nodded and kissed him again, he hungrily accepted her lips. Their mouths moved hard and fast against each other and he sighed into her mouth as her tongue met his. For a long moment their tongues danced across each other, heat bubbling in the pit of his stomach for the first time in weeks. One hand moved back to the back of her head, holding her close as he kissed her. Unfortunately, it didn’t go much further and she fell into his neck, hugging tight. The gesture made him sigh as his arms came around her tiny torso. Though her shoulder was still covered, he kissed it, needing to shower her with kisses.

“You better not make promises you can’t keep.” He smiled very lightly into her shoulder and turned his face to kiss her neck and say softly against her ear. “I’m not going anywhere, no matter what you do.” His lips turned up more against her ear, his nose nuzzling into the side of her face. “I’ll keep you safe.” That was a promise he made even more softly, wanting her to know that whatever they did to her in the camps, it would not happen again. He wouldn’t allow for that to happen. They weren’t going back to those camps, not even near them. The two of them were getting the hell out of Scriptor Bay. Hugging her more tightly, he sighed into her shoulder and just held her for a couple minutes. When he did pull away, he took her face in his hands and he gazed into those beautiful brown eyes. They were so big, he could get lost in them. His thumbs brushed along her cheeks, just admiring having her back in his arms. It had been unbearable not to have her.

“Let’s run away.” The suggestion was a little sudden, but he made sure she saw he was dead serious. “We’ll get on my boat and we’ll sail down to Mexico. I can fish down there too and I’m fluent so I’ll have business. But even if we don’t make much, I can catch our meals if I have to. I have plenty of savings we could live on until we could come home. We’ll even feel stronger with all of that sunshine.” His fingers combed through her hair affectionately, searching her face. “What do you think? We can even bring your cat along if you want. We’ll be safe until this who mess and darkness blows over, or at least until it calms down and we know it’s safe enough.” He wanted her to say yes, to run away with him, but if she wanted to stay, he could do that too. Of course, he might not let her out of the house, but they would be home.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“I’m not going anywhere, no matter what you do.” Jo bit her lip feeling her heart race as his nose nuzzled into the side of her face, his lips pressing closer to her ear. “I’ll keep you safe.” The softness of his words sent chills all the way down her back, the hairs at the nape of her neck standing on edge as a soft breath escaped her lips, rattling from deep in her lungs. It was what she had always wanted, someone to want her despite her very many flaws. Despite his promise there was a part of her that boiled deep down and made her think of Kit. She'd wanted that promise from him, and as deeply as she cared for Brandon, she would probably always love Kit. She would always want him to make that very same proclamation and mean it, but he couldn't. It wasn't that he wouldn't, but he simply was incapable of the type of love that Brandon was so eagerly offering her and she wanted it more than anything. It terrified her, and she wasn't used to it, but she wanted it and she believed that Brandon would make good on what he said. He would stay with her no matter what. He would keep her safe. He would offer stability and in the short time that they'd dated he'd proved this. He'd worried for her when she'd gone missing. He religiously met her ta the fence every day. He may have sided with his sister over her, but she had also neglected to tell him the truth about what happened as Melanie had done. When there was even a hint that she might leave him he begged for forgiveness and was willing to do whatever it took to get back in her good graces. She would be foolish to resist him in any way, and she didn't want to. She only wished it with Kit as well. Jo knew she couldn't have both, but the other man had been such a staple in her life for the last ten years. She had to push him away again, though. She couldn't think of Kit anymore, not when she had someone as wonderful as Brandon.

He hugged her more tightly and sighed into her shoulder and Jo was happy to nuzzle into him, her arms around his neck and lost in his mop of dark hair. Finally he pulled away from her and pushed her face up to look into his eyes. She pouted slightly gazing up into his nearly black eyes, his thumb caressing her cheek and she couldn't help but sigh and lean into his touch. She cared about him more than she knew. “Let’s run away.” He said suddenly and her brows raised. Run away? Where? Her store! She couldn't leave! But could she stay? "What?" “We’ll get on my boat and we’ll sail down to Mexico. I can fish down there too and I’m fluent so I’ll have business. But even if we don’t make much, I can catch our meals if I have to. I have plenty of savings we could live on until we could come home. We’ll even feel stronger with all of that sunshine.” It was crazy! They couldn't just go to Mexico, but even as she thought it she knew they possibly could. Would she be able to? It would be amazing if they could.. Her lips were pursed in thought as she considered what he was suggesting. It was crazy, but it might be wonderful also.

His fingers were moving through her hair in a way that made her feel almost weak. “What do you think? We can even bring your cat along if you want." Her cat! Had he survived? She needed to get to her store and check on him! "We’ll be safe until this who mess and darkness blows over, or at least until it calms down and we know it’s safe enough.” Jo bit her bottom lip and chewed it gently, looking almost like a child in his lap as she stared at him and tried to sort it all out in her mind. It sounded amazing; she and Brandon on his boat. Plus Melanie, she was sure which meant Kevin. Oh, how terribly awkward that might all become. Her mind slipped to Kit once more. Leaving him behind frightened her and she knew Kevin wouldn't like the thought, but the thought of bringing him made her uncomfortable. Getting away from the city and Kit and this dreaded darkness was just what she needed, she knew it. It was what she and Brandon needed as a couple.

"Oh, Brandon.." She said softly, her fingers combing through his hair once more, her face sad and unsure. "I want to.. I want to desperately but my whole world is here. I can't just up and leave.. I have a business to run, both here and in Vegas." She looked down as the thought popped in her mind. "Unless.. unless one of my friends from the Vegas location could come here for a time and manage this location. It would cost a lot of money but.. but I think..." Would Roxy come? Silvia was definitely unable to with her law degree. Naomi? No, she had kids. Unless she brought them with her? Thai had kids, too.. She would pay them handsomely.

"Okay." She said hoarsely, a flicker of a nervous smile creasing her lips. "If.. if I can get someone to cover my store for me then.. then we can go. But I would need to have phone and internet access so I could pay the bills and work through the finances and do the orders.. It can't be a vacation, I would have to work. This store.. this is my whole life. I can't lose it, I won't... but if someone can come in then.. then yes. Let's runaway.." She gulped and managed a smile, suddenly excited for the idea. Sunshine would be so welcome right about now, and being able to spend an entire night with Brandon again and not shift into a damn mouse would be phenomenal! "Let's do it!"

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon could see Jo’s struggle written on her face. She was biting her lip and she looked so unsure. He was certain she would say no, but waiting patiently for her answer. Her fingers began to comb through his hair and he sighed deeply, his eyes sinking shut for a moment. “Oh, Brandon…I want to…” His eyes opened, ready for the catch. “I want to desperately but my whole world is here. I can’t just up and leave…I have a business to run, both here and in Vegas.” He frowned at her, cupping her face gently. “We both have businesses to run. My men have been out of work for six weeks and I’m about to extend that so we can be safe. Trust me, both of our worlds are here.” It wasn’t just Jo who was going to suffer because of this arrangement. But was living considered suffering? She would be alive and well when they returned if they ran away now and waited until it was safe. “Unless…” Unless what? “Unless one of my friends from the Vegas location could come here for a time and manage this location. It would cost a lot of money but…but I think…” He allowed the hope to bubble in his stomach. Would she come travel with him? Would they fly away and float down to Mexico? His eyes searched hers as she considered the idea.

“Okay.” His heart skipped a beat. “If…if I can get someone to cover my store for me then…then we can go. But I would need to have phone and internet access so I could pay the bills and work through the finances and do the orders…It can’t be a vacation, I would have to work. This store…this is my whole life. I can’t lose it, I won’t…but if someone can come in then…then yes. Let’s run away.” He grinned from ear to ear, his fingers combing through her hair. They were going to run away. He was going to keep her safe. “Let’s do it!” Brandon pulled her in for another kiss, deep and passionate, so happy she was going to let him protect her. Going down to Mexico with his girlfriend, basking in the sunshine? It would be such a relief after the camps, a time for them to heal. His wings would grow strong again and she wouldn’t shift all the time. Their energy would come back and it would be such a good way to move on from this mess. He didn’t even think about Kit. Perhaps Jo and Kit were close, and maybe she still loved him (which he did wonder about from time to time), but while this was a great way to split them up, all Brandon could think about was the fact that he was going away with Jo.

When his lips finally pulled away, he looked up at Jo and cradled her face in his hands. “We can get you one of those air cards and a new phone, see if they have an international plan. If not, we’ll get you a phone in Mexico too. Or what if we just went to southern California? Then we’re still in the States, you could go to Vegas if you needed to, and I can still fish. Anywhere you want to go, babe, we’ll go. I just want to get away from here and far enough away that they won’t easily find us.” His hands swept through her hair again as he smiled warmly at her. He wanted her to be safe and he was going to do whatever it took to get her there. Leaning up, he kissed her again and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against him. She was so small and seemingly fragile, how could he resist the urge to protect her? With a smile on his lips, he stood up and took Jo with him, feeling her legs wrap around his waist as he made his way upstairs with her. “I bet you want a shower, huh?” he teased against her lips as he carried her up. In fact, he was going to let her shower all by herself. He just wanted to be playful and lighthearted, take a small step back towards normalcy. Once upstairs, he showed her where Mel’s bathroom was connected to her bedroom and got her a couple towels and a washcloth from the linen closet. He figured she would like the products in Melanie’s shower more than the men’s products in his and he assured her his sister wouldn’t mind. As she showered, he pulled out a pair of his sister’s sweats, a sports bra and one of his sister’s t-shirts for her to wear. She’d have to go without underwear or wear her own pair for now, since he doubted she’d want to wear Mel’s, but they could fix that situation later. He silently placed the clothes on the counter in Melanie’s bathroom and then went downstairs to find something for them to eat. Thank goodness he always had frozen pizzas in the freezer. He pulled two out and preheated the oven, waiting impatiently for the beep indicating it was time to pop the pizzas in. By the time it did beep, he heard the water stop running upstairs. His turn! He put the pizzas in the oven, set the timer and bounded up the stairs to get his own quick shower. He was digging in his drawers for clean clothes when Jo stepped out of Melanie’s room.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Jo was pleased at how happy Brandon had become. He was obviously excited for this and just seeing his excitement made her own bubble up. He was going on about getting her whatever she needed in order to conduct her business around the globe, and she had to agree it sounded like a fine idea. Even California would be fine! She hadn't been to Cali in ages and they could probably even dock for a day and rent a car and maybe drive inland to see her uncle at his horse ranch. She wondered if Brandon would like that or not. "Anywhere you want to go, babe, we’ll go. I just want to get away from here and far enough away that they won’t easily find us.” she loved how his hands slipped through her hair and she wondered if she would ever grow tired of feeling him touching her.

Jo giggled as Brandon kissed her and pulled her up into his arms as he stood. Her legs wrapped around his waist and her arms came around his neck, clinging to him as he moved towards the steps. “I bet you want a shower, huh?” Jo giggled and nodded. "You read my mind." A shower sounded amazing right about now for Jo. Sure they had showers there but she hadn't felt clean since she left the infirmary. No amount of soap seemed to be able to wash away the filth she felt from being stuck in that room.

Jo was glad that Brandon was going to let her shower on her own. She wanted a little privacy to shave her legs and do all the things she couldn't do at the camp due to modesty. When he left the bathroom she stripped the nasty old jumpsuit off and got under the steaming hot cascading water. Immediately she felt better as the camp began to wash away. Jo took great care to scrub herself clean from head to toe twice. Her nails dug into her scalp wanting to deeply clean it as she shampoo'd, and she shaved every last damn hair off her body, save for her landing strip which she trimmed with the razor. She was glad that Mel had some disposable razors and she would pay the girl back later. Her boyfriends sister definitely kept some nice products, and though they weren't all Jo's, they were still quality. It was nice to have some familiar scents, though. Jo would be happy to restock her bathroom for her.

Jo heard Brandon come in at one point and she thought he would be joining her, but he left as quickly as he'd come and a peak out the curtain told her that he'd left her some clothes. When she finally finished washing she shut the water off and thoroughly dried herself down, rubbing lotion on her body from head to toe and wrapping a towel in her dark brown hair. It had grown a couple inches in the camps and she decided she sort of liked having it this length, and maybe she would just let it grow a little longer. It would give Brandon more to play with and tug during sex. She slipped the sweats and t-shirt on, leaving the sports bra off for now and she decided to just go commando. She wanted to be comfortable and the thought of putting her underwear back on made her ill. She was planning on burning those damn things the first chance she got. She ran a comb through her hair and then opened the door, stepping out only to be greeted by Brandon. She smiled at him and then bit her lower lip. "I'm not wearing any underwear." She declared with a giggle and a mischievous look. She took a step closer to him and reached up, touching his stubbly face. "Wash up, sailor. You'll feel a lot better afterwards," She promised, standing on her tip toes to kiss him before he disappeared to get himself cleaned.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon looked up at Jo as she came back into his room, intrigued by the way she was biting her lip. “I’m not wearing any underwear.” The devious smile curled up Brandon’s lips as he raised his eyebrows at her. Was that how they were going to play it? She stepped closer to him, taking his rough face in her hands, and he did the same with her hips. They were narrower than before, bonier, but they could fix that soon enough. As for his face, he’d grown something of a beard over the last several weeks, shaving only once in the camps since the disposable razor had nicked the shit out of his face. It actually suited him nicely, though it itched from time to time. “Wash up, sailor. You’ll feel a lot better afterwards.” His grin was as mischievous as hers when she leaned up to kiss him, his arms coming around her in turn. “Oh will I?” he asked playfully against her lips. Again he kissed her deeply, his hands snaking down her back slowly until they reached her butt. He squeezed, confirming she was, in fact, going commando. It made him smile more against her lips, chuckling at her reaction to his hands. “Do I need to wash up?” he teased. Even though he would love to through her on his bed and have his way with her over and over again, he knew he needed to wash the camps away first.

His lips and probably his beard tickled as he kissed back to her ear, saying softly against it, “There’s pizza in the oven downstairs. It’s almost done.” He pulled back to grin down at her, swaying her hips gently side to side. “It smells so good, it’s kind of like foreplay.” With another big smile, he leaned in and kissed his girlfriend again before patting her butt playfully. “Help yourself to whatever is in the kitchen while I clean up.” All he grabbed was a pair of sweats of his dresser before walking across the hallway to his bathroom, watching her with a smile. It felt weird letting her out of sight, but he couldn’t deny being excited at not just getting cleaned up but at the alone time he would have in there. He practically ripped the damn jumpsuit off along with every other article of clothing he had obtained at the camps. There was going to be a bonfire at the beach when they left for California or wherever they decided to go. There would be three ugly navy blue jumpsuits in the flames along with three pairs of underwear, two bras, three pairs of socks and three pairs of boots. Hopefully others would be inspired by the ruins to do the same.

In short, the shower was amazing. Hot water and good smelling body wash left him feeling cleaner than he’d felt in weeks. His fingers dug into his scalp, clearing everything out of his hair and he made sure to do a good job cleaning up his package. When he got out of the shower he trimmed his beard to a fine stubble. It would be much less itchy and cleaner that way. He ran a comb through his hair before he slipped into his sweats and made his way from the bathroom. Brandon was excited for food and he hurried downstairs to the kitchen to the beautiful smell of pizza. Jo was in there thoroughly enjoying her pizza, and he was quick to join her, but not without a quick kiss on the cheek. With his first bite, he moaned he appreciation, leaning against the counter with a sigh. It was the best pizza he’d ever tasted. He got through half the pizza on his own before he finally felt satisfied enough to turn his undivided attention to Jo. With a grin, he pulled her to him, his finger hooked at the front of her sweats. His arms came around her and he leaned in to kiss her hungrily. “We’ve showered…” He kissed her again. “We’ve eaten…” And again. “What else should we do?” he asked playfully, grinning against her lips. His mouth moved to her neck where he kissed softly, sucking at the skin lightly while one of his hands moved back to her butt and squeezed. God he’d missed touching her…

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“Oh will I?” he asked playfully, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her once more. She felt his hands glide to her rear end and squeeze, making her yelp and slap his shoulder playfully. It hurt so damn good! “Do I need to wash up?” She smiled brightly against his lip, the most genuine smile she'd mustered in weeks. "Yes!" She practically yelled with a laugh, wanting him to get his stinky, shaggy but in the shower so she could enjoy him sooner. His beard tickled her as he moved his lips to her ear and told her there was pizza in the oven, which made her stomach do a happy little somersault in anticipation. “It smells so good, it’s kind of like foreplay.” He teased which made her laugh again as he offered another kiss, pat on the rear, and a seductive retreat into the bathroom.

Jo made her way down to the kitchen and poked around to see what she could find. There was a can of coke in the fridge which she helped herself to and some stale potato chips in the cabinet. She ate them anyway as she waited for the pizza to be done. The whole kitchen smelled divine! She was afraid of all the pizza burns she would receive from that delicious frozen treat as she tried to eat it while the cheese was still molten. Finally the timer went off and she pulled the pizzas out, letting them cool on plates as she waited for Brandon.

After what seemed like an eternity she heard the water turn off, but then she heard the razor come on. She was glad he was cleaning himself up. All that extra beard hair would feel funny while they kissed all night. By the time he made his way downstairs, Jo had already begun to pick at her pizza, which was still too damn hot to eat normally, but little bites were good. She knew her appetite was much smaller these days which meant she would have a better chance to listen to her body give her cues about how full she was. She smiled at Brandon as he joined her and pecked her cheek. "It's sooo good." She giggled watching him as he dug in.

They ate in silence for the most part, both too interested in their meals to talk too much. It wasn't good quality pizza, but to Jo it was some of the best damn pizza she'd ever had. She wasn't all that surprised that she got full so quickly. She intended on finishing her pizza throughout the night, though, so she was okay pulling away from it for now. Brandon seemed to be in the same boat because he was giving her that sweet, boyish grin again. He hooked his finger into her pants and tugged her closer, making her bite her bottom lip to stifle a smile as he brought her close enough to kiss her. She hummed her appreciation into his mouth as he kissed her. “We’ve showered…” He said playfully against her lips before he kissed her again. “We’ve eaten…” And another kiss.. “What else should we do?” he asked playfully as his mouth trailed down to her neck, making Jo sigh as she turned her head to allow him access, her eyes slipping shut as she enjoyed his attention. His hands came to her bottom once more and squeezed, making her gasp sharply. God how she wanted him!

"Well..." She said seductively, her fingers trailing gently up and down his forearm. "I was thinking maybe we could watch a documentary on the history of knitting.." She said using her sexiest voice, "And maybe if you're really good, a nap.." She teased bringing her fingers to his hair and curling them in his mane. "I bet you'd like that wouldn't you... you clean boy, you.."

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Brandon was still grinning over Jo’s gasp as her fingers began to tickle along his arms in a slow up and down motion. “Well…I was thinking maybe we could watch a documentary on the history of knitting…” He snorted, though he couldn’t deny the sexy way she said it gave him chills. The things he was going to do to her… “And maybe if you’re really good, a nap…” Her fingers curled into his hair, making him smile wider. “Oooo…” he cooed in a teasing voice. “I bet you’d like that wouldn’t you…you clean boy, you…” He grinned wide, his hands slipping back over her ass and up the back of her t-shirt, feeling the warm, soft skin there for the first time in weeks. Thankfully, she didn’t put on the bra; it was one less thing he had to strip off her. As for him, he hadn’t even bothered with the shirt. His lips came to her earlobe, nipping gently before he sucked the soft flap of flesh between his lips. The hand under her shirt moved over her more pronounced ribs, sneaking closer to her chest. “I was thinking of something a little dirtier…” he said in a low, seductive voice against her ear, the deep rumble of his voice more than likely making her wetter. He loved how wet she got…
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