Page 12 of Something Borrowed
“You’re—” My words are cut off when she presses her body against mine, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and smashes her lips to mine.
I immediately open for her and she wastes no time in teasing my tongue with her own. My cock swells and presses against her stomach. She doesn’t miss it and begins grinding against me.
Skimming my hands up from her hips, I squeeze her breasts and a loud moan falls from her lips.
“Fuck, Freddie. I need—” Her phone ringing fills the silence around us and it’s the reality check she needs. Ripping her lips and hands away from me, she backs up. Regret fills her face and I’m desperate to say something to wipe it away but I come up short.
“Yeah. Okay, I’ll be right up,” she says into her phone before tucking it back inside her bag.
“I need to go.”
“Bryony,” I beg, just managing to grab her hand before she disappears.
“I can’t do this, Freddie. I’ve got a wedding to organize. The sooner this weekend is over, the better.”
Her words and the conviction she says them with slice through me. Dropping her hand, I allow her to go.
Bryony
Thankfully, the rest of the morning runs smoothly, and before I know it, Tessa and her dad are ready to head down to the room the ceremony is being held in.
“Are you ready for this?”
“I think so. Thank you, Bryony. I know I haven’t been the easiest person to work with on this, but I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything. Especially you standing in and being my something borrowed.”
“You’re more than welcome, Sis.” I give her a quick hug before we all head towards the elevator.
I can only imagine how Tessa feels because as I stand behind the closed doors, preparing to make my entrance, my entire body trembles. This is one of the reasons I wouldn’t want a big wedding. Just the thought of everyone turning to look at me the second the doors open is enough to make me want to puke.
Taking a deep breath, I try to put my maid of honor duties aside and just pretend I’m working. It doesn’t really help, but it pushes me forward and I poke my head around the door and give the cue.
The music changes and I push the doors wide open. The moment I step foot in the room, everyone turns to me but I hardly notice. My attention is solely on one man at the front of the room. His eyes find me instantly. They hold mine for a second before dropping down my body. Everything around me vanishes, and as I take a step forward it’s like it’s just the two of us. He draws me to him just like he did when I was a kid, and it’s in that moment I realize I can’t keep running. As much as he might scare me. As much as I don’t want my heart shattered again. I don’t think I have a choice. He’s the only man who’s ever made me feel worthy, loved, and cherished. He’s the only man who’s ever made me feel complete.
Our eyes connect again and my feet move without any instruction from my brain. At the last minute I have to force myself not to walk right up to him. He must see my fight because a smug little smile appears on his face.
Dragging my eyes from him, I look to my brother, who’s anxiously staring at the door the bridesmaids just walked through, waiting for his bride to appear.
When the doors are pulled back and he gets his first look at her, the expression on his face is priceless. Tears burn my throat as I fight to keep myself in check.
While my focus is on the bride and groom, soaking up their love and excitement, Freddie’s eyes burn into me. Tingles follow his journey around my body and it’s enough to have desire licking at my insides.
My head knows the sensible and safest option would be to keep fighting him. But right now, in the middle of the most romantic of settings, my heart is winning the war inside me.
I watch the connection between Tessa and Mac as they stare into each other’s eyes and say their vows. For the first time in years, I start to imagine what it might be like to be the one standing up there with the love of my life staring into my soul.
My heart starts to race and I’ve no choice but to find Freddie. He’s the only one I’ve ever imagined spending my life with, the only one I thought could give me my happily ever after. It might be ten years later, but could he give me everything the eighteen-year-old inside me is still yearning for?
* * *
Everyone’s crowdedaround watching the newlyweds take to the dance floor for their first dance when hands land on my waist. My heart jumps, but the second his scent surrounds me it begins to race for a whole other reason.
“Dance with me?” When I look up, my parents and Tessa’s are joining them on the dance floor. A few other couples move to dance as Freddie slides his hand into mine and gently tugs. I go willingly, the pull to be close to him too much.
He brings me to a halt, pulls my arms, and I step into him. The heat of his body burns through our clothes and a slow throb starts up between my legs. This fucked up foreplay we’ve got going on is getting a little bit much to bear.
His hands slide around my waist and rest just above my ass. Far enough away that anyone looking wouldn’t be suspicious, but close enough I can feel his fingers twitching to explore more. I thread my arms around his neck and look up into his emerald eyes. They’re sparkling with delight like he can sense the shift in me.
He smiles, then leans forwards. His lips brush against the shell of my ear and I shudder in his arms. “Are you ready to give up fighting yet? Let me give you what you need, Bryony.” I sag against him, my body more than willing to accept what he’s offering. “That should be you in the white dress. It should be us starting the next chapter of our lives together. It’s time to put the past behind us. Tell me you don’t want it.”
