Chapter 13: Fall with Me

Before anyone had a chance to react, I slipped my hand into Brennan’s and we made our way out of the gazebo. The soft hum of music and chatter filled the air as we walked away.

“Brennan!” Kate’s voice echoed behind us.

Brennan paused near the altar, his hand still holding mine.

Kate embraced him. “He had no right to treat you like that,” she whispered.

“It’s nothing new,” he responded. “Go, enjoy your reception. Save me a piece of cake.”

“Of course,” Kate said, then turned to me. She smiled and pulled me into a hug. “He’s so lucky to have you.”

She vanished, leaving Brennan and me standing alone at the altar. I looked up at Brennan, my lips pressed together.

“I’m so sorry,” I murmured. “I’ve probably made things worse.”

Brennan didn’t respond. He simply turned and gently tugged on my hand, leading us toward the driveway.

The quads from the shed were parked at the end. Brennan pulled a set of keys from his pocket, unlocked one, and climbed on. He then extended his hand to me.

Once I was seated, he took my arms and wrapped them around his waist. The quad roared to life and we sped down the gravel road. The further we got from the wedding, the quieter it became.

The warm air brushed against my skin as we rode. My arms tightened around Brennan. I could feel his steady breathing, and it was oddly soothing.

Brennan drove the quad into the shed and turned it off. He tossed the keys at the wall and began pacing the floor.

I climbed off the quad, and before I could straighten my dress and ask if he was okay, Brennan had his arm around my waist, his lips on mine, and his hand cradling the back of my neck.

Suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t breathe, think, or even exist. I gently pushed him back.

“I don’t understand. How are you not angry?”

“Angry?” Brennan asked, sounding puzzled. “Why would I be angry?”

“I was rude. I couldn’t stand to listen to another second. I was so harsh with your father.” I covered my mouth with my hand.

“He needed to hear it,” Brennan said. “And I’m not mad. I’m in awe. You are amazing, Grace Reynolds.”

Brennan stepped closer. He lifted his hand to my face, his fingers curling around mine and moving my hand away from my mouth.

I searched his deep brown eyes, trying to understand what was happening. His thumb brushed my bottom lip.

I knew what was coming. I knew he was going to kiss me again and I didn’t want to stop him. I wanted to lose myself in it.

Tomorrow we’d be on a plane home, this entire pretend relationship over. But we could have tonight.

I gave a slight nod, which was all the permission he needed. Our lips met again, this time with more intensity and less control.

Brennan’s hands roamed, touching me everywhere he could as if trying to memorize me.

His lips left mine, trailing down my neck, his fingers slipping the thin strap of my dress down as he planted kisses on my shoulder.

“Should we go to the bedroom?” he whispered between ragged breaths and kisses.

“Yes,” I managed to say.

Brennan took my hand, and we dashed out of the garage and up onto the deck, pausing to kiss again before we even opened the door.

I undid the first three buttons of his shirt and pulled the fabric apart, revealing his smooth olive skin glowing in the moonlight. I pressed my lips against the warmth of his neck.

“Grace,” he mumbled, his voice strained.

He lifted me off the ground, pushing my dress up to my hips so I could wrap my legs around him. We must have stopped at least three more times to kiss and explore each other along the way.

Once we were in the bedroom, Brennan set me down and closed the door.

We undressed. Brennan tugged at his suit, popping the remaining buttons and loosening his tie. He was shirtless in front of me before I even reached for the zipper of my dress.

Brennan caught me again, his hands aiding mine to free me from the tight bodice and billowing lavender fabric. The dress fell to the floor, and he lifted me off the ground again, stepping over it as he walked to the bed.

He laid me down, hovering over me for a moment before moving down to kiss my chest. He lifted me just enough to arch my back so he could unclasp my bra.

He was an expert at it, which, if I’d had time to think about it, might have given me pause. But I didn’t, because then his mouth was on my nipple, circling, flicking, and sucking.

I couldn’t suppress the moan that escaped my lips, nor the intense sensation it sent straight to my core. I hadn’t been with anyone since college, and I’d made it seem like I had when we’d been talking. Maybe I was going to be terrible.

I felt my body tense and Brennan must have felt it too because he stopped. His face was suddenly level with mine again.

“Do you want to stop?” he whispered, his words clear and calm. His eyes were filled with concern.

I shook my head and took his hand in mine, placing it over my pounding heart, my bare breast.

“It’s been a while,” I whispered. “I don’t want to be bad at this.”

Brennan smiled and kissed me before pulling back. “I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

Our frantic kisses drowned out my nagging worries. I kicked off my shoes while he removed his suit pants.

When we were both in nothing more than our underwear, Brennan slid his hand down, underneath the sheer fabric and over my center.

He touched me, gently at first, building up a rhythm before slowing right down again. I writhed beneath him, arching my hips, craving more.

I needed him, sooner rather than later, and I could tell by the way he moved against me he needed me too.

“Brennan,” I moaned. “Please.”

He let out a deep groan, getting up on his knees and pulling my panties off in one swift motion. He reached for his wallet on the bedside table, pulled out a condom, and tore it open.

And then, he was inside me—our point of no return. We fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, perfectly aligned.

He lifted my arms above my head, holding them there with one hand while he showered my neck with kisses.

His free hand found my breast, and he eagerly tasted the sensitive skin before returning his lips to mine. I felt alive, my body buzzing with all the pent-up feelings I’d been holding back all weekend.

The butterflies in my stomach took flight.

Brennan released my wrists. He cupped my cheek and looked at me in a way I couldn’t quite decipher. His eyes were soft, his mouth slightly open.

I closed my eyes and clung to his shoulder. His rhythm quickened. I couldn’t recall ever feeling this way before. Sure, I didn’t have much experience, but sex was just sex, wasn’t it?

“Look at me,” he whispered.

I opened my eyes and met his gaze. My thoughts vanished. All that existed was this moment.

He moved even closer, until our bodies were practically one, and slowed his pace again. We moved together, slow and deep, until my body couldn’t take any more.

But I couldn’t look away, not even as my climax began to consume me. I called out his name, because it was the only thing I wanted on my lips, and he kissed me, his own breath ragged as he started to tremble.

“Grace.” His voice was barely a whisper, his lips brushing against my ear.

We stayed entwined for a moment, neither of us ready to end this encounter just yet. But it had to end.

Brennan collapsed onto the bed. He got up and disappeared into the bathroom.

My heart hadn’t stopped pounding since the wedding, but now it was pounding for a completely different reason.

We’d crossed a line, but it didn’t matter because in a few hours we’d be heading home. This would all be over.

I was just another one of Brennan’s girls, another notch on his bedpost.

I rolled over and closed my eyes. I’d let myself get swept up in the moment, and while I couldn’t bring myself to regret it, I knew it had changed everything.

The bathroom door opened, and Brennan climbed back into bed. He moved closer to me and pressed his warm, still naked body against mine, his arm wrapping around my waist.

I thought about pretending to be asleep, to protect myself before I had to face the inevitable letdown, but it was pointless. I wanted to kiss him again, because sooner or later it would be the last time.

I turned to face him. He pressed a kiss to my nose.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

I nodded and kissed him. His mouth was ready, and for a few minutes we lost ourselves in each other again. Kissing like teenagers pushing curfew.

“I’m okay,” I whispered, pulling back from the kiss. “What about you?”

“I’m better than okay,” Brennan said softly.

I wanted to stay awake, but in Brennan’s arms, exhaustion washed over me. I could feel his heartbeat in sync with mine and it wasn’t long before I slipped into a deep sleep.