Always the Baker

Chapter 8

8

B illie

I stepped out of my hotel, racing to get to the cafe I’d agreed to meet Brax at. We’d gone our separate ways last night, but even the hours we spent apart to sleep seemed to be too many. For both of us. He’d woken me up with a text message. I’d raced through a shower and dressed in something quick and casual.

I spotted the cafe and all but wrenched the door open as I stepped inside. How the hell was I going to leave this man? I was supposed to be gone last night, yet here I was, meeting him like I actually lived here.

Brax spotted me right away and called out to me from the counter. “Morning, sunshine. Coffee?”

“God, yes.” I groaned, reaching for the mug he held out. Our fingers brushed, and I felt that now familiar spark. How was it possible that after just a few days, this felt so normal?

Brax leaned against the counter with his tattooed arms crossed over his chest. “So, I was thinking we could do something different today. How do you feel about boats?”

I took a sip of coffee, buying time.

“Boats are… fine?” I hoped my voice didn’t betray my nerves. Truth was, I’d never been on anything bigger than a rowboat on the river back home.

“Great!” Brax clapped his hands together once. I loved how excited he would get. I loved that he never hid his emotions. “Boat ride it is. We’ll need to be careful, though. I don’t want us seen and have the paparazzi following us, ruining our day.”

I agreed. An hour later, we were weaving through the crowd at the bay. Brax had on a snapback pulled low over his forehead and dark sunglasses. I couldn’t help but giggle at the sight.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Nothing.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing again. “You just look like a celebrity trying not to look like a celebrity.”

Brax grinned. “That’s the idea, sweetheart. Now, come on. Our chariot awaits.”

Boat may have been an understatement. This was a freaking yacht. As we boarded, I felt a flutter of excitement in my stomach. This was so far from my normal life; it was like I’d stepped into someone else’s shoes. Brax guided me to a spot near the railing. His hand was warm on the small of my back.

“You okay?” he asked against my ear.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The captain came to speak to us, and they both gave me a tour. The bed, the sitting area, the bar, the picnic basket. I shed a tear. He was treating me so well. I tried to convince myself this was how he was with all women, but a piece of me believed that wasn’t true.

When the yacht started to move, I gripped the railing tightly. Brax noticed and wrapped an arm around my waist.

“I got you.” Between the sincerity of his voice and warmth of his breath against my ear, I relaxed against him. “Just relax and enjoy the view.”

As we pulled away from the dock, I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. The city skyline stretched out before us, glittering in the morning sun. It was breathtaking.

“Pretty amazing, huh?” Brax said, watching my face.

“It’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Brax squeezed me tighter. “Well, I’m glad I get to share it with you.”

I turned to look at him. My heart swelled. In that moment, with the wind in my hair and the city at our backs, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. And for once, I didn’t feel like an imposter. I felt like I belonged right here, with him.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the skyline, drinking in every detail, even the seagulls swooping overhead… it was all so new and exciting.

“I can’t believe I’ve never been on the bay before,” I admitted, still clutching the railing. “It’s... it’s just incredible.”

Brax chuckled with his arm still around my waist. “Never? Really?”

I shook my head, feeling a little embarrassed. “Nope. First time.”

He leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear. “And here I thought you were a big city girl. This is one of the best parts of The Hills.”

I laughed nervously, trying to play it cool. “Well it never seemed like something worth doing.”

“Clearly.” His eyes twinkled with amusement.

Even as he teased me, I felt warm and safe in his arms. It was like we’d known each other for years instead of days. He broke away and made us mimosas that were heavy on the champagne. Like… they literally had just a couple of drops of orange juice. I chuckled but accepted. Brax asked me if I smoked, and after I said yes, he pulled out a blunt that we passed until it was just a nub.

That instantly increased my hunger, so we opened the picnic basket he’d gotten. It was supposed to be for lunch after we’d been on the water for a while, but we both were ready to smash now. He had several different kinds of small sandwiches, fruit, and chips. While I pigged out on ham and Swiss, he had turkey and cheddar. We shared a bag of spicy pickle chips since I wasn’t sure if I’d like them, and they turned out to be bomb. I was smiling hard as hell, unsure if it was the weed or the fullness of the moment.

“Maybe you should give me the full city tour. Show me all the things I’ve been missing,” I suggested.

Brax grinned. “I’d love to. We could start with a play since you mentioned wanting to go, hit up some food trucks, maybe even sneak into an exclusive rooftop lounge that’ll be closing soon for the season. It has a pool, bar, and DJ. The vibe is immaculate… especially if we can snag a private cabana.”

My heart raced at the thought. A whole day of adventures with Brax? It sounded like a dream come true. But a little voice in the back of my mind reminded me that this wasn’t real, that I was living on borrowed time.

I pushed the thought away, determined to enjoy this moment.

I laughed, trying to sound casual, but my heart was racing. “Exclusive rooftop bar? Sounds fancy. I’m not sure I’m dressed for that kind of place.”

Brax’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Trust me, you look perfect. Besides, half the fun is sneaking in.”

I doubt if he had to sneak into anywhere, but it was fun playing the game.

“You’re such a bad influence.”

He smiled as he pulled out his phone. “Speaking of bad influences, we need a selfie to commemorate your first boat ride.”

“You calling this a boat when it’s a yacht is beyond me.”

The sexy chuckle he released went straight to my pussy. “That’s all it is to me. Now come on and take this picture.”

“Oh, I don’t know…” I hesitated, but Brax was already positioning us.

“Come on, my mystery girl. Give me that pretty smile.”

I froze for a second at the nickname, then forced myself to relax. I leaned into Brax, smiling as he snapped a few pictures.

“Perfect,” he said, scrolling through them. “Mind if I post one?”

My stomach dropped, but I nodded. “Sure, why not?”

I watched as he typed ‘Yacht ride with my sweetheart’ and hit post. As the likes started rolling in, I wondered how long I could keep up this charade. But with Brax’s arm around me and the city skyline as our backdrop, I decided to worry about that later. His soft kisses against my neck and cheek had me blushing and giggling as I tossed my leg over his lap and pulled him closer. I brushed his nose with mine before giving him a deep, tender kiss. Brax pulled me onto his lap, sliding his hands under my shirt. A low hum escaped me feeling his large, slightly rough hands against my skin.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. We pulled back, and I ignored it, focusing on Brax’s warm smile and the way the setting sun made his eyes shine. We were having such a perfect moment. I didn’t want anything to ruin it.

But then my phone buzzed again. And again. And again.

“Wow, someone’s popular,” Brax teased, raising an eyebrow.

I laughed nervously, fishing my phone out of my pocket. “Oh, it’s probably just my mom checking in.”

When I glanced at the screen, my heart nearly stopped. Notifications were pouring in from every social media app I had. Comments, likes, messages, all asking the same thing: Is that the Brax Adams?

“Everything okay?” Brax asked. His voice and face were covered with concern.

I nodded, probably a little too enthusiastically. “Yeah, just… uh, my friends being nosy.”

As if on cue, my phone started ringing. Ember’s face flashed on the screen.

“I should probably take this.” My voice sounded strained even to my own ears. “It’s my best friend.”

Brax nodded, giving me some space as I answered the call. We both stood and took steps in opposite directions.

“Billie Hopkins!” Ember’s voice exploded through the speaker. “Is that really you with Brax? He posted you on all his socials! You know how long it takes him to post a woman he’s dating, yet he’s posting you already.”

I winced, turning away from Brax and lowering my voice. “Ember, I told you—”

“Girl, I thought you were living a daydream with some imposter, but he’s the real deal.”

I felt my face heat as I snickered. “Yeah, I know. It’s been amazing. That’s why I haven’t come back yet.”

“When are you coming home? Or do I have to come drag you back?” She prodded in a way that told me she wasn’t joking.

“I don’t know, Em. Brax wants to go see a play and stuff. And, well, he doesn’t know I’m not from the city. He thinks I live here, remember?”

“Billie, baby, you need to come clean,” Ember said with a softened tone. “This isn’t you. Lying, sneaking around… I mean, we talked big game about you living a new life there, but this isn’t exactly what I meant.”

I glanced back at Brax, who was leaning against the railing, giving me privacy but still watching me with curious eyes.

“I can’t. Not yet. I just… I need this, Em. Just for a little while longer.”

Ember sighed. “Billie…”

“I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”

I hung up before she could protest, plastering on a smile as I turned back to Brax.

“Everything okay?”

I forced a smile, trying to quell the nervous flutter in my stomach. “Everything’s fine. Just my friend checking in.”

Brax raised an eyebrow and studied my face. “You sure? You look a bit stressed.”

I waved my hand dismissively, desperate to change the subject. “Yeah. She was just surprised to see me with you, and honestly, I’m surprised you posted it too.”

His mouth twisted to the side as he closed the space between us. “Is being seen with me too much? If so, we can just go to my place after this. I can show you my guitar collection, maybe play you something I’ve been working on.”

My heart skipped a beat. Brax’s place. Alone. The thought was both electrifying and petrifying.

“I, uh, um…” Part of me wanted to say yes immediately, to keep living this dream for as long as I could... But another part was screaming caution.

Brax must have sensed my hesitation. He held up his hands, his expression softening.

“Aye, no pressure. We could grab a late dinner instead if you prefer. I’m cool if you’d rather us stay in public. There’s this great pizza joint I know. We can just… ride around for a while then go there.”

I bit my lip, torn. “It’s not that I don’t want to,” I said quickly. “It’s just… this is all happening so fast. Like… I’m still processing you actually like spending time with me and now you’re posting me and inviting me back to your place.” My voice softened as I added, “It feels like a dream.”

Brax nodded, reaching out to cup my cheek. The casual intimacy of the gesture made me shiver. “I get it. We can take things slow, Billie. I’m just enjoying getting to know you. And I did post you faster than I’ve ever posted anyone before.” He shrugged and looked toward the sky. “I don’t know. I just wanted to share you with the world because you’ve made me so happy.”

I looked up at him, at his kind eyes and easy smile, and felt my resolve weakening. This man could ask me for a kidney at this point and I’d say yes.

“Okay. Let’s go to your place. But just to talk and listen to music, alright?”

Brax gave me a sneaky smirk. “Of course. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

I felt my nervousness start to take over as we made our way off the bay.

As we waited for the town car he’d picked me up in, I tried to quiet the voices in my head, Ember’s warning, my own doubts, the fear of what would happen when Brax found out the truth. For now, I just wanted to live in this moment, this impossible dream come true.

Instead of waiting for the driver, Brax opened the door, and I slid in. He did the same, and after we were buckled in, his hand found mine. The ride to Brax’s place was a blur of lights and nervous excitement. As we stepped into his penthouse apartment, my jaw dropped. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the glittering skyline. I wasn’t sure what part of town he lived in, but it wasn’t near the arts district or the beach.

“Wow.” I moved closer to the glass. “This is incredible.”

Brax chuckled, coming up behind me. “Not bad for a young hoodlum from Memphis huh?”

“You’ve done so well, Brax. I’m proud of you.” I turned to face him. “This whole weekend has been like a dream.”

“A good dream, I hope?” His eyes searched mine with a hint of vulnerability, as if he’d be crushed if I said otherwise.

“The best,” I whispered, and before I could overthink it, I stretched up on my toes and kissed him.

Brax responded immediately. His arms wrapped around me. The kiss deepened, and suddenly my back was against the cool glass of the window. I gasped, breaking away.

“Too much?” Brax asked, his breath ragged.

I shook my head. “No, it’s just…” I shook my head again. “I want this. I want you.”

A slow grin spread across his face.

“Good, because I want you too.” He captured my lips again.

We stumbled toward his living room, shedding clothes along the way. As Brax lowered me onto his couch, a fleeting thought of how out of my depth I was crossed my mind. But then his hands were on me, his lips trailing fire down my neck, and all coherent thought flew out the window.

“You’re beautiful,” Brax whispered against my skin, and I let myself believe it. I mean, I knew it, but hearing it come from him hit me in a deeper place.

“Are we really doing this?” A part of me, the tiny, usually sensible part, screamed that I should slam on the brakes. But I’d been the good girl for far too long, and now with Brax, it felt like my body was waking up from a long, passionless slumber.

“We are.” His eyes were filled with a mix of desire and something dangerously close to affection. It made me bold. Made me reckless.

His apartment smelled like money and success, but all I could focus on was the scent of him… crisp, intoxicating. I buried my fingers in his neck and pulled him closer. The way he moved against me, firm and unyielding, it felt like every cheesy love song had been written about this exact moment.

“Brax,” I moaned breathlessly. My voice sounded foreign to my own ears… breathy, full of want. As my lips traveled the expanse of his neck, tasting the distinct taste of his skin, I realized we weren’t just two people succumbing to attraction. We were a storm of need and longing, finally breaking.

His lips trailed down my body, sliding between my thighs. He pried them apart and moaned before licking between my slit. My back arched immediately. Brax took his time feasting on my pussy. He ate me with a hunger that consumed me. Me cumming didn’t make him stop—it urged him to continue. Two of his fingers slipped inside my slick opening as he alternated between licking and sucking my clit.

Brax moaned as it pulsed inside of his mouth. I was about to cum again already. Mumbling his name, I palmed my breasts and squirmed as I fed him more of my pussy.

“Pooh,” I hummed, gripping his head.

“Cum.”

And I did. My legs trembled and he kept them locked around him as he continued to feast. I had to literally push him away, causing him to laugh. As he wiped his face of my essence, Brax made his way back up the length of my body.

“Do you know how good you taste?” Biting down on my bottom lip, I shook my head. “Hmm. Taste.”

As Brax slipped his fingers inside of my mouth, he pressed his way inside of my pussy. My moan as I sucked my cum turned into a gasp as he stretched me. He’d always had big dick energy but feeling it was altogether different. I clawed at his arms and pulled in a deep breath as I waited for him to enter me fully. He was so long it felt like it took forever. When Brax was finally inside, he kissed me.

He drew me in tighter against him, his arms strong bands around me, making me feel small yet fiercely protected. How cliché that I, Billie Hopkins, would fall for his charm? But here I was, caught up in the whirlwind of Brax Adams, living a fantasy I only allowed myself to dream about.

His hands caressed me with a possessiveness that made me shiver.

My legs found their way around Brax’s waist as if they had a mind of their own as he grinded against me in a way that sent electricity crackling through every nerve. I felt him so deep, yet wanted him deeper, it felt like even our skin was an unnecessary barrier.

“Brax.” I moaned, then his lips covered mine again, hungry and demanding. It was hard to believe this was the same guy who crooned ballads about lost love on stage. He made love to me like a skilled lover who would never let me go.

Brax broke our kiss and looked me over with lust filled eyes, never missing a stroke. A shiver ran through me when his fingertips danced over my skin, teasing my nipple until it was tight and begging for more. His tongue wasn’t shy either, exploring my nipples, collar bone, neck, and mouth with a boldness that made my head spin.

My hands roamed over his chest, feeling the ripple of muscles that tensed under my touch. I made my way lower, emboldened by each involuntary shudder I drew from him.

“Damn, Billie.” He groaned when I took matters into my own hands, quite literally. One hand stroked his dick when it left me and the other massaged his balls. The sound of my name coming out as a growl from his lips was music to my ears. Better than any platinum record hit.

“You like that, pooh?” I asked, unable to keep the triumph out of my voice as I stroked him, loving the power I had to make him lose control.

“Fuck yes,” he muttered. His hips bucked into my grip. “Say my name again.”

“Brax,” I whispered, drawing out his name like a note held for too long at the end of a song. He said my name back, like a vow, a promise, a plea… all rolled into one.

There was no going back. We were on fire, and the flames were just getting started.

“Fuck.” I hissed as my back arched and my grip on him tightened. “Please don’t stop.”

His breath hitched as he looked down into my eyes, dark with lust and something else, something deeper.

“Will you allow me the honor… the pleasure… of making you cum, sweetheart?”

Him asking for permission alone pushed me to the brink.

His words were a silken thread weaving through the air, binding me to him. His hand moved lower, his fingers slowly circling my clit with an agonizing slowness.

Being skin to skin with him was a sensation unlike any other. There was no more hesitancy, no more second-guessing. We were two halves of a whole, desperate to be joined.

“Billie,” he moaned against my lips before kissing them, urging me to answer.

“Yesss,” I cried out.

“Yes what?” he taunted. “I need to hear you say it. Tell me to make you cum.”

His hand slipped up and wrapped around my neck. My eyes rolled into the back of my head before shutting.

“M-Make me cum.” My lips and chin trembled as I pulled in a shaky breath.

“Mm… I got you, sweetheart. I’ll make this pretty pussy cum.”

And God… he did. His strokes were methodical, long, and deep… hitting places in my pussy no other man had ever reached.

“Oh my God, Brax.” My voice slurred as I dug my nails into his skin. He kept the same pace as I came, refusing to let up.

“Say thank you. Thank me for making you cum.”

“Thank you!” I all but yelled, and he released a cocky laugh before he moaned. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“This pussy mine now.” His strokes sped up and hardened. Brax’s eyes lowered to my breasts as they bounced. Taking one into his mouth, he circled his hips in a way that made me buck and cry out.

“Are you mine?” I whispered against his lips. My hands roamed over the landscape of his back, tracing the muscles that flexed beneath his tattooed skin.

“Always.” Brax sealed the promise with a kiss that ignited another fire within me.

We moved together, lost in each other. The world outside his penthouse slipped away until there was nothing left but Brax and me, and the undeniable truth that we belonged to each other… even if just for this stolen moment.

“Brax…” was all I could muster, and suddenly my world narrowed down to the delicious pressure of him inside of me and the fullness, the oneness it ignited.

“Take me with you,” he rasped, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. “Can I cum in you, sweetheart? Can I write my name in this pussy?”

I couldn’t speak. My voice was lost in the tide of pure ecstasy that washed over me. My back arched, straining against the invisible strings that tied my soul to his.

“Yes, Brax. Cum in me, pooh.”

My feet dug into the cushions of the couch. As his pace increased, every muscle in my body tensed. I was on the brink of something different, something deeper.

With a final shudder that rocked us both to the core, Brax let go. His release came with a pulse deep inside of me that detonated my orgasm too as he groaned deep and low. The sound of it, raw and primal, sent a warm shiver racing down my spine. I collapsed beneath him, my hands clinging to his shoulders as his body continued to shake above mine.

“Brax.” The aftershocks of our passion rippled through me. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close. His breaths were ragged gasps that matched my own. This was real. He was real. The singer with the world at his feet was now undeniably mine.

“Damn, Billie…” I kissed his chest. The sensation of it rising and falling against mine grounded me. “You’re something else.”

I released a breathy and light chuckle.

“Look who’s talking.” In the aftermath, everything felt easy and natural. Even the way we fit together sweaty and spent on his couch. I could get used to this.

“Let me just…” Brax gently shifted, rolling to the inside of the couch so that he wasn’t crushing me. I nestled into the space beside him, my head on his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart.

“Better?” I asked, tracing the tattoos on his skin.

“Much.” He kissed the top of my head. With him still inside me, it was a simple gesture that spoke volumes.

As we lay there catching our breath, the reality of what we’d done lingered in the air. We were two people from different worlds who had crashed into each other, leaving no room for anything but the raw connection that had just consumed us.

“Brax?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for not giving up on me earlier. Thank you for being patient. I hope I was worth the wait.”

“I would have waited longer, but this felt right. You were more than worth the wait though. I hope I was worth the fantasizing you did before we met.”

My laughter was light and lazy as I stroked his arm while he kissed my forehead. “I couldn’t have dreamed of feeling anything better.”

A smile spread his lips. I felt his heart beating against mine. The pace synced with mine, and before I knew it, we both drifted off to sleep.