One Night With Mr Braxton

” Breathtaking, absolutely breathtaking, Emma.” Asher’s eyes spoke before his mouth moved.

” Thank you.” She held her golden clutch tighter than required, then quipped, ” You don’t look too bad yourself.”

Asher raised an eyebrow in reply; she blushed abashedly.

” Shall we?” She took his hand and they walked out of the building with meaningful silence.

Asher dressed in a tux, one that was a sight for sore eyes, his appeal remained unchartered and she couldn’t help but notice his fit arms.

Her husband’s arm consistently put every other to shame and oftentimes, she wondered how he stayed in shape, especially with his demanding job and tight schedules.

” Why am I not surprised?” Emma said when she caught sight of the black Limousine parked in front of the house. ” Couldn’t we use something less conspicuous?”

A suited man opened the door and Asher urged her in, following sharply behind her.

” Trust me, this is less conspicuous.” He said, drawing her closer to himself. ” It’s going to be a battle keeping my hands off of you tonight.”

The driver said a few things in french, to which Asher nodded and soon they were left to their devices. In thirty minutes, the chauffeur announced their arrival and with one look outside, Emma could tell it wasn’t an intimate event.

Reporters and exotic cars were littered around, crowding the guests as they arrived, trying to grab a word or photo. Unknown to her, her palm curled up to a fist: she couldn’t get used to having her photo taken or getting yelled at.

” Remember, we are the most important ones here. Just walk with me, and don’t cower.” He straightened her fists and replaced it with an interlock.

She tightened their hands and let out a breath. It was just another event to breeze through, Asher’s presence was always an assurance, she remained grateful for the fact he always took out time to remind her she was much more than whatever bad or opinionated narrative and perspective being painted about her.

” Let’s do this.”

Asher nodded, placed a kiss on her forehead and clicked open the door. In seconds, security officials were situated, creating a path as they walked into the venue with class. At their arrival, they took over the conversations in the event, having been one of the most controversial and influential couple to have graced the event.

Emma walked beside Asher, playing the role of a dutiful wife and warding off the ladies who might as well swallow her husband. Some went as far as flirting with him, ignoring the fact that she was standing beside him.

It didn’t take long before she got tired and urged him to continue while she headed over to the bar. Asher looked conflicted, obviously not wanting to be separated from his wife but couldn’t really shut down a conversation with one of his business partners.

” It’s all right, come find me when you’re done.” She whispered, smiled courteously and excused herself from their midst.

A hand held her from leaving, ” Five minutes, five minutes and we’ll be out of here.” He assured, dragging her closer and placing a chaste kiss on her cheek. ” Don’t have too much fun without me.”

Emma left her husband in a mess. She wasn’t that big on public displays of affection but that wasn’t the case with Asher, who took it upon himself to show just how in love they were in public.

But in private, not so much.

That thought left a sour taste on her mouth and she hastened to the bar, hoping to dull out those depressing and negative thoughts.

” What would you have?” The bartender asked as soon as she sat in the stool.

Her eyes strayed towards Asher and caught a glimpse of another woman, shoving her chest towards his oblivious eyes.

” Any of your strongest drinks.” She gritted. Couldn’t she just take a hint? Couldn’t they all?

” Coming right up.”

Soon, she received her order, and it was strong alright. She took small sips, counting the time until her husband came for her and seconds turned into minutes.

” Lonely?” A voice said to her just when she was about to head over and grab her husband from the company of those pesky women.

She looked up and a flick of recognition passed through her droopy eyes. ” Have we met?”

” Are you drunk?” The voice returned, seeming gleeful and familiar.

By now, she was tipsy and couldn’t wrap her head around where she’d met him. ” A little.” She gestured using a pinch of her fingers.

” Why are you here,” he stopped, then looked over at her husband, ” alone and pouting.” He finished off as a statement.

” I’m not pouting!” She said defensively, ” I’m only waiting for him to come get me.”

” Looks like he’s quite busy,” he remarked, his eyes turned cold, ” is he always this busy?”

She took another shot of the glasses lined before her. Two things, either this very familiar person was catering to her drinks or the bartender sold it for free.

Her inebriated mind went with the latter, ” Of course! My husband is quite busy. Very.. very busy.” She annunciated every word.

” I see.” He looked at the bartender and more drinks were served, if he could get her a tad bit more drunk, maybe he could gather useful information. ” Come-on, drink with me.” He urged, noticing her starry eyedness.

” I think…I think I might puke if I have any more,” she scrunched her face, ” I’ll have to get him myself.” She muttered, making to leave the stool but nearly fell face first to the floor.

He held her, then sat her on the stool; all the while connecting eyes with her husband whose eyes were trained on his, grasping her waist. It was only a matter of minutes before he came over now.

” I have to go.” He informed, and without waiting for another inebriated response, he found his way into the mix and effectively disappeared before Asher got to his wife.

” I said to not have too much fun without me.” Asher stated upon coming over, taking in her drunken state.

She cupped his face with an easy smile, ” You look like my husband.” Her eyes caressed his face, ” beautiful.”

Asher didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He wondered just how many men she’d called beautiful in her inebriated state and it made him even more protective of her defenseless state.

” Of course.” He humored her, then proposed, ” let’s go home.”

” No!” Her refusal was sharp. ” Let’s dance. I feel like dancing.”

” Okay?” He said unsurely, analyzing her movements. Letting her walk proved to be a bad decision as she might as well split her head open with how uncoordinated she was.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He assisted her out of the place, using an emergency exit, while she enjoyed her piggyback ride. An SUV stood outside the building, and another of his workers standing beside it.

When he saw them, he rushed with motive to help him out but a sharp look sent him to a screeching halt.

” Drive.” Asher instructed and he opened the car door, before driving off.

Emma was very hands on when drunk. A fact that both baffled and surprised Asher. He couldn’t help the wicked thoughts that fleeted into his mind when her body plastered against his.

They fit so well and he fought against the temptations of taking her every single way at moments they were in such proximity. She sniffed his neck then let out a contented sigh;

” Ash..” She muttered in a drowsy haze, hearing her call him so fondly did things he couldn’t explain.

She couldn’t be close enough and her right leg crossed over his, adding to his already high body heat. Her eyes fluttered open, she palmed his face, then said; ” so beautiful, so mine.” She smiled into her sleep, ” I like you, Asher.”

They arrived back home and he took her into the house bridal style. Her words remained endlessly looped in his mind. She said those words, three words that left him breathless and full of life.

She turned his life around with those words and fell right asleep after, leaving him to navigate the extents of her professed words alone. Was it a drunken slur or spilled content from the depths of her heart?

Asher pondered a lot of things as he took her into their shared bedroom. He placed her on the bed and covered her, making sure she was comfortable before pluming on the bed, just beside her.

She liked him. She said she liked him. That was enough to unchain the depth of emotions he nursed for her and bring him to the ultimate realization of how strongly he felt towards her.

He didn’t just like her, he wanted her; mind, spirit, soul and body. He wanted her in ways he never wanted anyone. He wanted to posses her and never let go.

Asher leaned towards her, and planted a kiss on her forehead. ” I feel too strongly like couldn’t even cut it.”