He followed with a ragged groan, his whole body going taut as he spilled into me.
For a moment, the only sound was our breathing, ragged and uneven.
Then softer, almost like he didn’t mean to say it, “You ruin me.”
The words hit low in my chest, sharp and warm all at once. My breath caught.
When I turned and looked at him, he was already pulling away, zipping up, wiping his mouth like nothing had happened.
Maybe it hadn’t. Maybe it was just sex in a hallway.
But those words stuck.
You ruin me.
Chapter 5
Starlight – Taylor Swift
Wilder
She didn’t say a word when I pulled away. Just adjusted her clothes with shaking fingers, like she was still trying to catch up to what had just happened. I told myself it was the champagne, the buzz, the heat of the moment. That I hadn’t meant the words.
You ruin me.
But they were still lodged in my throat as I followed her out of the hallway, back into the thrum of the bar, where laughter and flickering candlelight blurred everything back into something normal.
Only it didn’t feel normal now.
Tally Brown was buzzed. Giggly and fucking cute as hell. She couldn’t even walk in a straight line to the truck.
“How much have they had to drink?” I asked Gunner as he held Cassidy upright.
“At least three bottles of champagne between them.” He nodded over to the side of the parking lot where Lily was puking. “Could be worse.”
Nash was holding his wife’s hair, turned away because puke was my brother’s nemesis. When Bertie was ill it had always been a double jeopardy as to whether it would make Nash go too.
“I think I can drive,” Tally said beside me. “I’m fine.”
Immediately she tottered on her high heels, stumbling against me. “I don’t think so, Brownie,” I muttered against her ear. “I value my life.”
“You okay to get her back to her cabin?” Gunner asked, forcing me to put some distance between me and the wobbly redhead.
“Yes, sure.” I nodded to the other truck. “Who’s driving and who’s taking care of the girls.”
“I’ll let Nash drive in case Lily pukes again. I’m not sure he can take it.” Gunner chuckled, as fingers grabbed at his chin and pulled his head around.
Cassidy smooshed his lips between her finger and thumb. “I love you, baby,” she drawled drunkenly. “I can’t wait to be your wife. Do you love me?”
Laughing hard, Gunner smacked his lips against hers for a quick kiss. “So fucking much, sweetheart.”
The door to the bar opened behind us and a few more revelers trooped out. One or two called out more congratulations to the happy couple, while the rest either got in their vehicles or started the walk home.
“Nash, there’s an old feed bucket in the back of the truck,” I called to him as he helped Lily into the back seat. “Give it to her to puke in.”
Nash held up a hand in acknowledgment, his attention still on his wife as Gunner coaxed Cassidy to get in beside her.
“Okay, Brownie, get in the truck.”
