Page 100 of Unguarded

“You look like a dream.” I lean over her, studying her features in the dim lamplight.

She sighs, biting into her lower lip. I smile over her, feeling freed by the crazy confession I just made. I grab the blanket around the foot of the bed and tuck it up around her chin.

“I’m going to shower.” I dip down, kissing the tip of her nose before retreating to the bathroom to wash off all the blood dripping down my side.

Before I close the door, I turn back around to study her, but she has already closed her eyes and is breathing deeply, drifting off to sleep.

“I love you,” I say, needing to say the words again before I shut the door.

“I love you.”I lean into her, panting the words as I come.

It’s been ten days since I first said it, and I can’t stop.

Monroe clenches her thighs around me, her breathless moan in my ear. She digs her fingernails into my shoulders, gasping for air. She pulls back from me, staring into my eyes.

I smile at her, my head falling back with a laugh. “Damn, you’re so fucking beautiful.”

She gapes at me as I retreat from inside of her.

We’re still in bed, having just woken up. I started touching her as soon as the light began filtering through the side of the curtain.

It’s Holden and Rosie’s wedding day, and we have a lot to do. I throw the covers off, sitting up on the side of the bed. My side aches, but it’s feeling ten times better than it did when it happened, despite all my extra cardio sessions.

“Are you not at all worried about me not saying it back?” Her voice is timid.

She sits up with the covers clutched to her chest. Her blonde hair shines in the sunlight pouring in from the window.

I stand, naked and as free as I’ve ever felt. I shrug. “You’re not ready. I get it.”

She tilts her head, lips pursed. “You’re not bothered that I haven’t said it?”

I try to resist laughing at the stunned look on her face, eyebrows scrunched up and so cute.

“I’m not worried about it, Princess. You’ll say it when you’re ready.” I wink at her, strutting into the bathroom. Before I shut the door, I glance over my shoulder. “Shower with me?”

She rolls her eyes, but crawls out of bed to join me.

I’m not worried about it because I know she loves me back. It’s in every look she gives me. It’s on her face when she comes on my cock. It’s in her hands when she grips my fingers during a scary movie. It’s in her sigh when she lays her head on my shoulder while we stargaze. It’s in everything she does.

She’s just not ready to admit it to me, which I completely understand, more than anyone. I’m not worried about her saying those three little words to me because I know she feels it.

Holden and Rosieare pink and grinning as they huddle together at the head table. Their ranch wedding is something out of a movie. Lights are strung from the trees. The spring air is chilled and blooming with the joy of future nights we’ll spend out here for years to come. Getting married where thefamily finds joy and happiness is the next level of wedding bliss.

I stand up at the front of the dance floor, the cold microphone clutched in my hand. I’m not a public speaker—never have been. I despise the spotlight, but this is my big brother’s special day, and I’d do anything for him—even this. Every eye in the field is on me as I lift the microphone to my lips.

“Well, we want to thank y’all for coming out for this special night in the Redford history books.” I dip my head toward the crowd.

There’s about one hundred people gathered under the two big oak trees in the field behind the house.

“I didn’t know this many people even liked Holden, considering he’s not even the tallest of us boys.”

The crowd chuckles. Holden is three-quarters of an inch shorter than me, which is barely detectable at our height. I’ve ribbed him about it since the day I realized I’d outgrown him. He’s also a former felon and a known murderer for protecting Dolly from a rapist over a year ago. He went to prison for three and a half years, and even though he was granted clemency, a lot of people in our town think he should have stayed behind bars.

“One thing about Holden is that he’s pretty stubborn. He knows what he wants out of life, and he goes after it. I’ve always admired that in my brother. Another thing you should know about him is that he doesn’t have many weaknesses. He’s as tough as they come, except in one area. That area is Miss Rosie Lou, the girl over there with the pretty red hair. She’s about as close to an Achilles’ heel as my brotherwill ever have. Good things rarely come without a little pain and suffering, but, damn, they sure do hit when they make it to you.”

The crowd awes, turning their eyes to the happy couple. My blood is pounding in my ears.

“The truth is, I’m so happy for you both right now. Watching you get to experience this kind of love and happiness is the peak of brotherhood.” Emotion rips through me, rising up in my throat and nearly choking me as I try to get the words out. “Holden, you’re one of the few people in this world who has seen the worst of me and stuck around. You know me better than anyone here tonight, anyone on this planet.” I look down at my boots, kicking invisible rocks as I try to gain composure.

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