“Adriana.” He threw his backpack off and sprinted toward me around the water’s edge.
Heart pounding, I wobbled to him, my knees shaky and my boots slipping and gliding on the slippery stone. Nothing could stop me. Every fiber in me wanted to feel Andrew against me. Hug him. Kiss him. Press my face into his neck. Tell him I would risk everything for him. Tell him I would move. Tell him that I loved him.
My body slammed into him, and his strong arms wrapped around my back, hoisting me. My legs circled his waist, and my arms looped tight around his neck. I buried my face in the side of his face, his stubble scratching against my skin. Warmth coursed through my bones and I let myself cry.
“You’re safe,” Andrew whispered, voice catching on words, his hold on me tightening. “I thought I’d lost you.”
I shook my head, tears stringing down my face. “I found my way back to you.”
“I don’t ever want to be parted from you again. I’ll move to Atlanta,” he said, chest rising, his breath hot on my neck. “I’m in love with you.”
I drew back and cradled his tired face with my hands. “And I’m in love with you.”
My mouth covered his, and my tongue swept between his lips. I weaved my fingers into his thick hair. The raw, husky sound in his throat made me shudder in his arms. He angled his head to deepen the kiss. I moaned from delirious pleasure.
Andrew nibbled on my bottom lip before his hot mouth traveled to my jawline, down my neck, leaving a trail of kisses and shivers in their wake. I was as close as I could get to Andrew, and yet it was still not enough. I pressed myself harder into him. His heart hammered wildly in his chest. Mine was on the verge of exploding.
From somewhere behind Andrew, William’s gentle voice dragged me into reality. “Adriana?”
My gaze landed on him and I was overcome with mixed feelings of relief he was okay and guilt that I hadn’t noticed his slim figure earlier when my focus had zoomed to Andrew.
Andrew carefully released me to the ground, and I rushed to my beautiful, exhausted brother.
“Hi, handsome.” I embraced him, pressing my head into his shoulder and relaxing into his warm brotherly hug. And I cried. Again.
Christ, I need to get my shit together.
William’s chest shook. “I was so scared.”
My nose ran. “Me too.”
“I thought you were gone.” He sniffled. “I thought, ‘fuck, now I have to go over all her crap in my condo and see what I want to keep and what to donate.’”
I burst out laughing and looked at his dirty face, then kissed his gruff cheek. “Keep the wine. Donate the rest.”
“Heavens to Betsy. You’d need a week’s worth of facials to fix this.” William circled my face with his finger.
“Pff. You should see yourself.”
William rolled his eyes. “Oh, I know.” His stare went over my shoulder. “Yech. I was hoping not to see her again.”
I turned. With my flashlight in hand, Brie wobbled towards us. Her leg slipped when she was near Andrew. She swayed in his direction. He caught her arm and pushed her to stand straight.
“Thank you, Andy,” she said breathlessly, her eyes hooded.
I cursed inwardly.
William leaned in. “She did it on pur?—”
“I know,” I whispered to him, clenching my fists.
Brie shuffled past us without making eye contact. Did I want to shove her? Hell yes. But I resisted.
Brie continued to where Richard sat on a rock, his head leaning against the wall. She sat on his lap and hugged him, pressing her forehead into his shoulder.
Brandon stood on the other side of the waterfall, studying its crest. Two people were noticeably absent. Not that I wanted to see them ever again.
“Where are Igor and Vitali?” My eyes ping-ponged between William and Andrew.
