Chapter 44
Brandon
Warm sunshine poured into the room, washing over the bed where Brandon lay on his elbow with his head propped in one hand.
It was Monday morning. He should be up and about getting dressed for work. But he couldn't make himself leave the bed, not with Tamia in it. He'd been awake for the past half hour quietly watching her sleep. She was so beautiful, he couldn't get enough of staring at her.
She looked innocent in sleep, almost childlike. But that had always been part of her allure . . . the contradictions. On one hand she was a sultry vixen who could set him on fire with one hot glance. On the other hand she was an ingénue who got weepy over romantic comedies and cooed about parades and lunar eclipses.
Brandon loved damn near everything about her. He'd been crazy to think, even for a second, that he could ever settle for another woman. Tamia was his soul mate, his true ride-or-die chick. And knowing that his child was growing inside her . . . it was enough to make him wanna bawl like a straight-up punk.
He couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with Tamia, couldn't wait to wake up beside her every morning.
Unable to resist, he leaned down and gently nibbled her plump lower lip.
“Mmm,” she purred contentedly without opening her eyes. “So yesterday
wasn't
just a dream.”
Brandon smiled. “Nope. You're still stuck with me.”
“And I'm still not complaining.” As she stretched languorously beneath the covers, Brandon's groin heated at the sight of her large, luscious breasts with those mouthwatering dark caramel nipples. He bent down and wrapped his lips around one of them, making Tamia moan softly with pleasure.
Gently sucking her nipple, he curved his hand against her smooth, flat stomach. “How you feeling?”
She sighed. “Not great. But at least I'm not throwing upâ
yet
.”
Brandon grimaced. “I'm sorry you have to go through this,” he murmured sympathetically.
“Me, too.” She smiled, affectionately rubbing his head. “But it's so worth it.”
Brandon smiled, feeling his chest swell. He gathered her protectively in his arms, spooning her warm body. “I'm gonna call Mrs. Jessupâ”
“Your family's cook?”
“Yeah. I'll see if she has any remedies for morning sickness. She's got a cure for everything else, so why not that?”
Tamia sighed deeply. “I hope she does. I'd be
ever
so grateful.”
Brandon kissed the nape of her neck, moving from bare skin into her hair. “Let me know when your doctor's appointment is. I wanna go with you.”
Tamia looked over her shoulder at him. “Really?”
“Yeah. I wanna go to all of them if I can.” He searched her face. “You don't mind, do you?”
Her eyes softened. “Of course not. I'd love to have you with me every step of the way.”
“And that's where I plan to be.”
Tamia smiled tenderly as he brushed his lips across hers.
“Are you going to work today?” she whispered.
“Nope. Staying right here.” He didn't want to be apart from her. They'd spent more than enough time separated.
Visibly pleased, Tamia turned in his arms, draping her luscious thigh across his hip. Her eyes were twinkling with amusement. “By the way, you looked a
lil
too comfortable setting that fire last night,” she teased. “Lemme find out you were a pyromaniac as a child.”
Lowering his lashes over his eyes, Brandon drawled mysteriously, “I'll never tell.”
“What?”
“Yo, I'm like Bruce Wayne. You can't be knowing all my secrets.”
“Stop playin'!” Tamia laughed, playfully bumping her pelvis against his.
“Oh, my damn,” he groaned as his dick swelled against her stomach. “Keep that up, woman, and I'm never letting you outta this bed.”
“You have to.”
“Why?”
“ 'Cause I have to pee!”
Brandon laughed. “So do I!”
He chased her into the bathroom, where they took turns using the toilet before brushing their teeth together. Brandon had expected Tamia to comment on how he'd presumptuously packed an overnight bag, but she hadn't said anything.
As they stood at the double sink watching each other in the mirror, he was struck anew by how natural it felt to share a bathroom with her. He'd enjoyed their closeness when she'd lived with him before, but it had been different with Cynthia. He'd often felt like she was intruding upon his space. Even when she sat in his favorite armchair, he'd been irked.
Tamia rinsed out her mouth, then hopped onto the gleaming counter and grinned at Brandon as he dropped his toothbrush into the cup with hers.
“Bruce Wayne, huh?”
“Yup.”
“Hmm.” She considered him. “Handsome, debonair bachelor. Super-rich humanitarian. Wealthy, influential family. Grew up in a mansion with servants. Killer fighting skills.” A slow grin curved her mouth. “Okay. I'ma start calling you the Dark Knight.”
Brandon laughed. “I like that. Has a nice ring to it.”
Tamia sighed. “Batgirl was lame, so I guess I'll have to become Catwoman.”
Brandon grinned. “You'd make a
sexy ass
Catwoman.”
She chuckled. “Well, I was already used to disguising myself with leather masksâ” She broke off, blushing self-consciously.
It was the first time she'd voluntarily referenced her former alter ego, and she was embarrassed.
Brandon gently tipped her chin up. When her eyes met his, he smiled and winked. “Mystique was sexy as hell, too. Which is why I'm keeping her to my damn self from now on.”
Tamia gave him a sweet, grateful smile that sucker-punched him in the chest.
Damn, I love this girl.
He affectionately tweaked her nose. “Since I'm playing hooky today, whatcha wanna do? You already got plans?”
“Not today. I'm meeting with Shanell's Realtor tomorrow to show him my old house.”
Brandon's expression softened. “You sure you're ready to sell it?”
She nodded. “It's time.”
“Okay.” Brandon touched her cheek. “Well, let me know if there's anything I can do. If you need to make repairs to the house or anything, I got you. And let dude know you and I need to go house hunting soon.”
Tamia's eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Really.” He smiled. “We need a bigger place now that we're starting a family.” He thought fleetingly of Cynthia, remembering how
she
was the one who'd been making all the plans. If she could see him now, she'd probably kill him.
“I'll see when Marcellus is available to go with us,” Tamia said.
“Cool. And we can always do some exploring on our own.”
“I'd like that very much.”
They smiled warmly at each other.
“I want to hear all about your new ad agency,” Brandon said.
“Okay. I'll tell you about it. But first,” Tamia said quietly, “there's something else I have to share with you.”
Brandon instinctively tensed. “What is it?”
Her gaze was intent on his face. “In the spirit of new beginnings and not keeping secrets from each other, you should know that I'm the one who leaked the story about Bishop Yarbrough to the media.”
Brandon stared at her. “
You
outed the bishop?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Not to break up you and Cynthia, if that's what you're thinking.”
He frowned. “I wasn't.”
“Good. Because that wasn't even on my mind.” Tamia's expression hardened. “I did it because I wanted to make Bishop Yarbrough pay for what he did to me.”
Brandon's eyes narrowed swiftly. “What did he do to you?”
“He's the one who told Dominic that I was Mystique.”
“WHAT?”
Tamia's eyes flashed with anger. “After the bishop found out from Honey, he blackmailed Dominic into blackmailing
me
for sex. Apparently he knew that Dominic had embezzled money in the past, so he used it against him. He even bought off Honey and Lou.”
Brandon was seething with fury. “I
knew
there was a reason I never liked that self-righteous muthafucka,” he growled.
Tamia scowled. “It was all an elaborate scheme to get me out of the way so that Cynthia could sink her claws into you. It worked out even better than they'd hoped when I went to prison for murder.”
Brandon scrubbed a hand over his face, striving to keep his temper in check. He couldn't believe this shit!
“I've known about Bishop Yarbrough hiring escorts for a while,” Tamia grimly admitted. “I know I could have told you to warn your father, but I promised to keep Honey's secret. And no offense, Brandon, but your parents haven't exactly done anything to warrant my loyalty.”
Brandon grimaced. “That's true.”
“So I kept my silence, thinking I was being a good friend. But once I found out how they'd all played me, I wanted revenge. If that makes me a vindictive bitch, so be it.”
Brandon frowned. “It doesn't make you a vindictive bitch. It makes you human. I'd be lying if I said I'm not thinking about ripping Yarbrough's throat out so he can never stand behind another pulpit spewing his sanctimonious bullshit.”
Tamia snickered. “You'd certainly be doing the world a favor, but the bishop's days of sermonizing may be numbered anyway. I heard the feds will be investigating his finances to see whether he used church funds to pay for the escorts and a number of other questionable things. Looks like his empire is crumbling fast.”
“Serves that muthafucka right.” Brandon stared at Tamia, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Did Cynthia know about this scheme?”
“I don't think so,” Tamia grumbled. “But considering how many other people were involved, it wouldn't shock me in the least if Cynthia was in on it, too.”
“Wouldn't shock me either,” Brandon muttered darkly.
Tamia frowned, searching his face. “You never did tell me why you broke up with Cynthia.”
“I broke up with her because I don't love her and I wanna be with you. I had already made up my mind to end the engagement before I found out that she'd been lying about being pregnant.”
Tamia's jaw dropped. “WHAT?”
Brandon scowled. “She was faking her pregnancy so I'd marry her.”
“Oh. My. God.” Tamia stared at him in disbelief. “I had my suspicions, but then I told myself I was just being jealous. Which I was. I
hated
the idea of her having your baby, Brandon.”
“Well, it ain't happening, so you never have to worry about that again.”
Tamia slowly shook her head. “Poor Cynthia. She must be absolutely devastated.”
“I'm sure she is, but that's not my concern anymore.” Brandon cupped Tamia's face, his eyes boring into hers. “There's something else I'd like to discuss with you.”
She eyed him curiously. “What?”
He glanced around, suddenly remembering that they were still in the bathroom. He scooped Tamia off the counter and carried her back into the room. After they climbed into bed, he drew the covers up to their waists.
When they lay on their sides facing each other, Brandon announced, “I'm running for the Senate this year.”
Tamia's eyes widened. “
You are?
”
He nodded, closely observing her face to gauge her true reaction.
She beamed. “That's wonderful, Brandon! After you gave that speech at the prayer breakfast, I knew it was only a matter of time before you'd be throwing your hat into the ring.”
Brandon shook his head slowly. “When I was standing up there talking, something came over me. . . . It's hard to explain. Afterward, Dad told me he knew I'd been speaking from the heart because the vision I described for Texas is nowhere to be found on his Web site or strategic initiatives report.” Brandon chuckled. “His campaign manager has already adopted the language I used.”
Tamia grinned. “Biter.”
Brandon laughed.
Tamia touched his face. “Seriously, baby, I'm glad you've decided to heed your calling.”
Brandon grimaced. “I don't know about all that. A âcalling' sounds so lofty . . . but maybe it's more accurate than not.”
Tamia smiled softly. “You seem surprised. You
are
a Chambers.”
“I know, but that's not why I'm running. I know it sounds like a cliché, but I honestly
do
wanna make a difference and serve the people of Texas.”
“I think you'd make a wonderful senator,” Tamia said proudly. “The people of Texas
â
myself included
â
would be very lucky to have you representing our interests.”
Touched by her words, Brandon leaned down and tenderly kissed her forehead. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I meant it.”
“I know. That's why I appreciated it so much.” He stroked her hip. “But make no mistake about it, baby, this ain't gonna be a cakewalk. They're gonna throw the kitchen sink at us. Everything about our lives will be dissected and raked over the coals. Nothing
â
absolutely nothing
â
will be off limits. So that means they're gonna try to put your porn career front and center. You understand that?”
Tamia swallowed visibly and nodded.