“Oh, God.” I shake as my thighs grip Brayden’s sides. I lock my ankles together and dig my nails into his back while I call out his name.
I come from a place deep inside me, a place I’m positive has never been awakened before.
Then Brayden falls over the edge with me.
He just made love to me in a way I thought only happened in the movies. It was so profound, and my orgasm was so long, that I’m still crying out after he’s finished moving himself.
“Oh, wow,” I whisper into his neck as he releases into me. So this is what amazing sex feels like.
Still inside me, Brayden shifts so he can lock eyes with me. He’s breathing heavily, and he runs his hand over the small of my back tenderly.
“I have to say two things,” he says quickly. “Before our time here is over and you’re gone from under this blanket.”
I try to interrupt him to tell him that I’m not going anywhere, that I don’t ever want to leave him again, but he puts his finger to my lips. “Shh. Just give me two minutes, that’s all I ask. First thing I have to say—because I know you were told all sorts of negative crap about yourself in bed—you are so damn sexy, and that was the greatest sex I’ve ever had in my life. It’s never felt like that before for me. Just with you.”
I swallow hard, and a warmth fills my chest.
Brayden tips my chin until I’m staring into his clear blue eyes. “Second thing: Leleila Wills, I love you.”
A noise escapes my mouth. I may squeal a little.
Brayden’s eyes crinkle. “And I’m not saying that because I’m just crazy here from the incredible sex we had. I’m saying it because I do. I love you. I’ve known for a while now.”
“Brayden…” My throat fills with emotion.
“So I guess I should have said I have three things to say.” He takes a deep breath. “The third is that I know you were supposed to walk down the aisle in less than two weeks, and I’m not naïve, Leleila. I know what we have could be more of a rebound thing for you, a way to kind of move forward. I want everything with you, anything and everything you can give me. But I don’t expect this to necessarily go anywhere permanent, and I won’t hold anything against you if it doesn’t. I’ll wish you well, in your future and in your life, and I’ll have no regrets.” He kisses me, even as tears cloud his beautiful blue eyes.
My eyes fill too. “Brayden. That was just…shoot.” I reach around for my clothes, but I can’t find them.
Brayden hands me my underwear. “On my side,” he says with a smile. “Maybe I should have held onto them.”
I laugh. “Brayden.” I kiss him lightly. “I’m crazy in love with you.”
His breath hitches. “You don’t have to say it just because I did…”
“I’m saying it because I mean it.” I kiss him longer. “And what just happened underneath this blanket…I didn’t know sex could feel like that. I felt so close to you. I’ve never even…that was my first time having an orgasm from straight sex. I didn’t think I was capable of it.”
He lifts his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Really.” I put my hand on his cheek. “It’s like I’ve guarded my body and my heart for the last twelve years. I thought it was because I was so scared. You know after the assault, I didn’t trust anybody. But now I think it was because I was waiting for you.”
I know what Brayden risked by forging this friendship with me. He risked everything, really. Because I could have walked away at any moment, married Phillip, and never seen Brayden again.
I take his hand. “I don’t know that I would have been strong enough to listen to my heart if you weren’t so courageous with yours.”
“Leleila, I don’t want to make love just this one time.” Brayden strokes my hair. “If it’s something you want, when you’re ready, I want this to work. I want to love you forever.”
I put my arms around him and look into his eyes. “You know I started to fall for you the first time we kissed. As teenagers.”
“You hardly knew me.”
“I know,” I say. “But that was what I felt. And trust me; I’m usually in my head so much it takes a lot—a feeling pretty much has to wave itself in front of my face and poke me to get me to pay attention to it.”
He runs his thumb along my bottom lip. “Honestly, I started to fall for you twelve years ago too. Before we even met. The first time we caught eyes.”
“Will you stay here tonight?” He kisses my cheek. “I promise I’ll make you feel beautiful all night long.”
“I’m not leaving,” I whisper.
