Page 7 of Keep Me

“We’re not supposed to be talking,” I muttered, then unclasped my hands from behind my back so I could fix my cufflinks.

“Alright, I’ll just let you look like an idiot next time.”

Then, I noticed my pocket square was crooked, so I fiddled with that too. My watch didn’t feel right either. Basically, nothing felt right, and I itched to walk down that aisle, away from the crowd.

When I didn’t respond, Jackson laughed, stopping so abruptly I thought he was choking. I looked up and caught sight of his frozen face.

“Everything okay?”

The bridal procession music started, but I was too focused on my friend to look.

“Wow…” he huffed out. “Britt looks… fantastic.”

I clenched my jaw, angry he was the first one to see her. I lifted my gaze and to say I nearly fell on the floor would be an understatement.

He was right.

I’d always heard when you saw the right person walking down the aisle, you’d feel it in every fiber of your being. Never in a million years did I think they’d be right.

The guests stood in awe as the beautiful woman walked toward me.

Brittany Brennon.

My chest was tight, my stomach rolled, and my legs wanted to go to her. To touch her. To claim her as mine.

Breathe.

I needed to calm down, otherwise I risk rocking a hard-on in front of all these people. A crooked bow tie would be the least of my concerns then.

Britt was… well, I wanted to say fantastic, but that wasn’t enough. Just looking at her made me want to get on my knees and crawl to her while I thanked her for merely gracing me with her presence. A long silky gown hugged her curves and her lightly tousled blonde hair bounced as she made her way down the aisle looking anywhere but straight ahead.

Her bare arms were a little red from the sun. Oh how I wanted to run my lips across her shoulder, bite her skin, then lick it better so I could leave my mark. Groaning inwardly, I imagined the scene. She’d let out these soft, breathy whimpers as her fingers dug into my skin, telling me where to go next, and I’d happily kneel, worshipping every last inch of her.

Yeah, those were not appropriate thoughts to be having while standing next to a priest.

Britt stared at the Hessian runner covering the grass, watching her step. She had high heels on, which were no doubt messing with her balance. Not that she had anything to worry about. If there was any hint of her falling, I’d run down the aisle and catch her. Maybe I should go help her right now. No, that would ruin the moment. There were too many people, and that wasn’t the protocol. So I stuffed my hands in my pockets as she tentatively made her way toward me.

With every step, my feet felt a little less stable on the ground.

How close would she get before I fell off these steps?

She pushed a piece of hair behind her ear and clutched onto her bouquet like it was the only thing holding her up. All the missed opportunities flashed through my mind. How many times we’d studied together, and I held back from kissing her. How many times she’d walked into someone else’s arms that weren’t mine, and I couldn’t say a damn thing because we were just friends.How many times I had to pretend she wasn’t the best thing to ever happen to me.

When she was only a few rows away, our eyes met. My fingers twitched, and that burning need to be close to her became stronger.

Blue eyes as deep as the ocean stared back at me, and I couldn’t help but smile. My heart was on fire, and it was all because the woman standing in front of me was everything I ever wanted.

What was she thinking?

It was a question that constantly ran through my mind even though I desperately tried to avoid its presence.

Britt was everything without even knowing it. I longed for her in ways I never expected. Even now. We were only a few feet apart, yet it didn’t feel right because she wasn’t in my arms.

She gave me a subtle wave, and I smiled like a goofy teenager, glancing at the floor to try to keep from embarrassing myself in front of all these people.

“Blue really suits her,” Jackson whispered, nudging me in the side.

I didn’t answer him as the reality of the situation came crashing down with that one statement.

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