"No, don't move," I mutter. Brandon's hand returns to my lower back, I snuggle closer to him, needing more of our skin to skin contact. The throb between my leg grows, I moan.

Buried inside my warmth, none of us speaks. My room is quiet except for our breathing which seems to grow louder in the darkness. I like having him in my comfort zone. I like the feel of him inside me, no sex, just inside me, making us one. He still owes me a kiss. My cheek presses to his chest, I draw circles around his nipples and he cups my butt.

Chills run down my spine at the sensations spreading through me as he traces the skin between my ass, I lift and lower myself back to his dick immediately and we both moan at the brief, pleasant thrill that racks our body. His chest rises and falls, the rhythm of his heartbeat should have lured me to sleep but I have spent too much time sleeping.

Sleep is far from me now. I don't even want to sleep, I want to enjoy this new level of intimacy we have unlocked until he shares his burden with me. One burden at a time.

"I saw Josh," I say and prop my chin on his chest. "Why do you guys hate each other?"

Since we are surrounded by darkness, I can't see his face and maybe that's a good thing. If his sudden stiffness is a sign to go by, this topic will lead us nowhere but I want to know and I want him to be comfortable talking to me about it. I choose him over Josh.

"I don't hate him."

Time crawls, understanding dawns and I snigger, surprised by my expectations. And his short, confusing reply. I should have known that reply is the most I will get out of him.

"That text," I say, "it was a mistake. It wasn't meant for you." His hand slides to the back of my head, I smile until my cheeks hurt. "Does my friendship with Josh bother you?"

"Yes, Elna. A lot." My heart stills, I had hoped for him to respond in the negative to allow me assuage my conscience. I want both of them in my life. Josh's voice rings in my head, I close my eyes. Brandon is more mature than him, he shouldn't mind, I am not asking for too much. "But I understand, I don't want you to give up your friends or any part of you because of me. I would rather you be happy even if it means being friends with Joshua."

Those words cause an eruption in my belly. He has no idea how much his reassurance means to me, I reach for his cheek, spread my fingers on his face. "Do you miss him?"

His reply takes too long to come. "Yes."

The flatness of his voice tugs at my heart, he misses him. I can make this work, I will fix the relationship with him and his brother though I know he will never admit to needing help on that front. He is certain he deserves the cold shoulders, everything awful. I sigh and tug on his beards. If two of them aren't so stubborn, life will be easier for all of us.

"Do you want to be my friend?"

Laughter bubbles in his throat, his chest vibrates and I welcome the distraction from my nervousness. He hooks a finger under my jaw, I level him a glance like I can see anything in this blinding darkness. "I have never had friends so I don't know how it works."

"That's fine, I'll teach you." Can I? Clary made the moves till I warmed up to her. Shoving the doubts to the darkest corners of my mind, I mutter, "Besides, Sophia is your friend."

"No. She only assists when I need something and I do the same for her."

If I could see his face, I would have given him a pointed look and a slap to accompany it. He wouldn't know what friendship is even if it hits him on his forehead, I squeeze his nipple until he grabs my hand. "That's what friends do. They tell each other secrets too."

In peaceful silence and safe in our bubble of contentment, I trace lines on his chest.

Light floods the room after Brandon clears his throat, my eyes flicker to his face, to his hand on the bedside lamp and he grins. "Does my friendship with Sophia bother you?" He shakes his head when I move to turn it off. "I want to see your face when you reply."

Stripped by his gaze, I lose my ability to speak. "No."

His thumb brushes my cheek. "You're lying." My mouth parts for another lie to defend the first one. "I know when you are lying," he whispers and I look away. What can I say?

After a moment's silence, I mutter, "If you switch off the light, I might tell you the truth."

The room is cast into darkness, my heart gallops at the anticipation hanging in the air. I cough, stalling to garner enough confidence to provide a reply that might satisfy him. "I don't want to be the jealous, insecure wife but I don't like her. I don't like her with you."

"Why?"

With someone else, I might have snapped at his blatant ignorance. I am not supposed to pretend I adore the lady my husband was fucking weeks before we got married. The woman who showed up at our house a day after our wedding to seduce him-us. But this is Brandon, my baby and he is genuinely confused. One of earth's most clueless men.

Pressing my cheek to his chest, I whisper like it will conceal the insecurity leaking into my voice, "You two have shared parts of you I can never compete with. She knows you."

Stroking that part of us joined in bliss, he says, "It was just sex, El. You know me better."

Now, I am about to sound like a nagging wife but he asked for it. I take in a deep breath. "No, I don't, not as much as I wish to. Sophia knew you didn't want kids." My eyes shut when I remember my last encounter with her. "She knew why but I didn't, I don't. When you found out how much I wanted kids, it pissed you off and you went to her instead of talking to me. You share your business plans with her first. She is the only submissive you kept." I inhale. "Sophia knows you in ways I don't, maybe better than I ever will."

He sighs heavily. "Don't say that. She doesn't know how much I love your breasts."

Naughty man. I laugh. "Okay. Does she know about Josh? Does she know about your new project?" My voice remains cool, cheek glued to his chest. "Does she know about Sonik?"

"Yes." I don't get a chance to react, his arms tighten around me. My eyes sting with tears, I don't want him inside me anymore, I don't even want to be his friend. "But you are not being fair, I have known her for years and we have only been married for a few months. I trust you, I want to tell you everything but I don't know how. Sophia accepts whatever I tell her, she knows not to question me and that makes it easier for me to be in control."

"Whatever." He spanks my ass to show his disapproval, I sigh. I am not being fair? He is not even trying to talk to me. Okay, he tries but he needs to try harder. "Why didn't you marry her? You two will make the perfect couple." His hand falls from my waist, I pull it back with a huff. "I'm not saying it to offend you, I am curious." He doesn't reply. "Fine."

"Who should have been the recipient of your message?" The abrupt switch stings. I ram my elbow into his ribs, content with the low growl that escapes him. "Don't be like that."

"Whatever."

"If you get upset with some of my replies, how do you expect us to move forward?" He doesn't wait for my answer, he continues, "Sophia might have known me longer than you do but I belong to you. You are my wife. Mine. The woman I want to try forever with. If I wanted Sophia, you wouldn't be here but if this is what I have to face each time her name comes up, I will cut her off. I don't want you doubting your worth to me."

The impact of his words leaves my mind blank, I take seconds to recollect my thoughts and I pat his bicep. I swear I am not usually this insecure. But Sophia is everything I am not.

"She is pretty."

Brandon chuckles, the sound eases my guilt, partly chips off the insecurity and I bite my lip. I don't want to be a jealous wife but Sophia is super hot. "You are beautiful, Elna."

"She is a doctor," I murmur and squeeze my eyes shut at the sudden brightens that fills my bedroom. "Turn off the lights," I cry out. Brandon obeys and for a long, awkward minute we stay there in stifling silence. I think I fucked up. Why isn't he holding me?

"What's going on? Did something happen?" I shake my head. "She has paid her dues and you are paying yours." His fingers slip into my hair, trail my spine. "You are a beautiful, smart woman, Elna. I begged you to work with me, remember?" I nod. "In a few years, you will be so successful I will need to book appointments to see you." We both laugh, I slap his chest, it will never get to that. "Don't you ever compare yourself to her, okay?"

"Okay. Sorry." Listening to his heartbeat helps my fears take a backseat, lends me the courage to say, "I won't. But if I ever do, don't forget to remind me. It's so easy to forget."

His finger slides between my buttcrack, I gasp as his slender digit lowers to the part of our bodies still in communion and he teases my clit. I didn't expect him to suggest this but I am glad he did. It's a different form of intimacy and we need to do it more often.

Propping up on my elbow, I whisper, "Sophia might be crazy but she cares about you." I feel his gaze on me and clear my throat. "I don't want to take that away from you."

"Thank you."

The divine ministrations on my butt cease, I groan. The light comes on, I don't protest. He tucks a braid behind my ear and my insides melt at his smile. The storm comes after this brief calm, his gaze steels and the air around us sizzles with a different emotion.

"Sophia is a paediatrician," he says in a voice too low for even me to hear. "Brianna is sick, really sick." His pain cuts through me, I try to lift myself to peck his forehead but his hands descend on my waist and I let my fingers run up and down his stomach.

"Can I meet her? I want to meet Brianna."