Page 108 of The Way We Collide

“He really is talented,” Dylan adds. “He’s getting more confident now, too.”

The restaurant is cleaned, and we follow a weaving path together up the hill to the Bradford house.

“The ceremony will be in the alley between the stalls. The big doors will be open, and we’ll face the green pasture. Everything is decorated with pine boughs and twinkle lights, and my bouquet is camellias and winter jasmine. He got those scented pine cones, so it smells amazing.”

“It’s almost Christmas,” I wistfully note, thinking of the holiday just around the corner.

“I wish y’all would stay with us.” Dylan rests her head on my shoulder. “Haddy needs to know her aunt Deedee.”

“Hendrix has a game.” My voice is quiet, and I think about how I’d like to spend Christmas with him.

It’s so close. Even though it’s past our three-month limit, I wonder if he’d be okay with that. I think he would.

Dylan and Rachel are settled at the house. Austin picks up Allie and me, driving me to the hotel before taking his mom home.

When I get to our room, Haddy is asleep in her crib, and her daddy is breathing heavily from the bed. I quickly wash my face and slip between the sheets beside him. Thinking about his sexy moves on the dance floor, I press my lips against his warm skin.

Without hesitation, he turns, cupping my cheeks and pulling my mouth to his for a hungry kiss.

We don’t speak. We don’t question the way my legs part, the way he moves above me, the way our bodies come together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

His hands are on each side of me on the mattress, and as he rocks his hips, sending his cock deeper into my slippery core, I slide my hands up his muscled arms.

I remember the way he moved on the dance floor, rolling like a wave on the ocean, and a moan slips from my parted lips. I grip his shoulders, lifting my back so I can trace my lips along the lines of his chest.

My tongue slides over his salty skin. I press my teeth against his hard muscles, causing him to groan deeply. Arching my back, I meet his movements, taking him even deeper.

He stretches me, caresses me, sends me straight to the edge. It’s a primal dance, so basic between a man and a woman, a husband and a wife.

He’s mine. I’m his.

We get closer to the end and our movements become feverish. We moan and kiss, chasing our release, and when it happens, I’m more sure than ever this is how it’s meant to be.

26

Hendrix

The barn sparkles with white lights, and wedding guests flood the dance floor as the reception continues past twilight.

Leaning against a sturdy wooden beam, I watch our friends dancing to the music. Gloria and Sandra are the owners and partners here at Second Chance Stables. They gave Zane a place to heal when he came back angry and injured. Craig, who I haven’t seen enough on this visit, and his wedding-planner-boyfriend Clint groove together.

I don’t know a whole lot about weddings, but this one seems custom-designed for Zane and Rachel’s quiet, smoldering romance.

Standing beside Jack and Garrett, watching Zane look so intensely into Rachel’s green eyes as he recites his vows, watching her hold him so close after their kiss, I’m really kind of gratified my loner older brother has found his person.

I like how Rachel’s floor-length dress has a square neck and a lace skirt that hangs in three layers down the front. I thinkRaven would look beautiful in something like that. She’s so pretty in white.

Rachel’s bouquet of white and red flowers is one of the biggest I’ve ever seen. Raven said they’re camellias and white jasmine, and they smell really good. Hell, the whole place smells really good, like Christmas.

A wreath of flowers is woven into her blonde hair, similar to how Raven wore her hair at our wedding, and as pretty as my brother’s ceremony is, with the horses hanging their heads over the stalls like they’re taking part in it, I think our wedding at the courthouse was just as special.

I know for sure my ladies were just as beautiful. A little smile crosses my lips as I remember Haddy in her cute white dress trying to get that wreath off her head. Raven’s eyes were so scared when they met mine, but I had it all under control, rings and everything.

My brothers and I wear traditional black suits, but the bridesmaids wear floor-length, pale green dresses with different styles up top. Raven is the hottest in her off-the-shoulder gown. It’s my favorite look on her.

Her dark hair hangs in soft waves, and the way that top moves, I have to distract my thoughts from her luscious breasts.

Last night, I’d meant to stay up and wait for her, but I must’ve dozed after getting Haddy to sleep. Waking to her warm lips pressing against my skin, I didn’t hesitate. I took her.

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