Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 147136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 736(@200wpm)___ 589(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)
His mouth jerked with a smile.
“Missed you too,” he said. “Past two days have been Hell.”
I nodded in agreement, grabbed his face with both of my hands, inhaled deep, then spoke.
“I learned after losing my brother that you shouldn’t wait to tell someone something you’re really feeling, that you never know how much time you have with them, and in a second, they could be gone and you regret everything you never told them.”
His eyes held mine, sure and steady. He didn’t even blink.
I swallowed and continued on.
“That being said, I know what happened between us happened fast and it happened in a way neither one of us can explain, and at the start of it, I wasn’t even legally separated from my husband.”
His jaw flexed under my palm.
“Which, by the way, has changed,” I assured him. “I signed the papers today and they’re going out Monday. In the eyes of the law, I am now legally separated and free of Marcus.”
“That’s good, babe,” he told me.
“Thank you. I agree,” I said, pulling my bottom lip into my mouth and sucking on it while I stared up at him.
He quirked an eyebrow.
“Thought you were leading up to telling me something with that speech, Syd.”
I released my lip.
“I was. I’m just …wondering if now is the best time to say it.”
“This ain’t a good time?”
I looked down at myself, then back up at him.
“Well, I am naked. Mostly.” I glared at his tear-soaked shirt, then wiped my hand across his chest, hoping the friction would dry it while I muttered, “And I totally cried all over you. I’m sorry.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Hand stilling, I lifted my head and tilted it.
“Mm?”
He smiled.
“Nothing.” He bent and gave me a soft kiss. “You won’t? I’ll say it.”
I gasped against his mouth, watched him lean back an inch and slid my other hand to his chest to join the one I already had pressing there.
“Told you I was gone for you,” Brian started. “Think you know what that meant. Think you might be feeling me the same way and that’s what you were wanting to tell me.” He ran his thumb along my jaw down to my neck. “Am I right?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Good,” he said, smiling. “That’s ours, Wild. What we have, how we build on it, and I don’t give a fuck if it makes sense or not. It was fast but I don’t care. People might not get it like we do but again”—he dipped closer—“I do not fuckin’ care. What I do care about is you, everything that involves you, and right now, getting you covered up enough so I can get you inside to my room and into my bed where I’ve dreamed about getting you, and straight up, Syd, in case you didn’t know, I’ve dreamed about it a lot.”
My eyes were round, had been since Brian said what we had was ours.
I liked knowing something was ours.
I liked it a lot.
I also was as anxious as he was to get me into his bed.
“I’ve dreamed about it, too,” I admitted softly, watching his smile reappear.
It was beautiful and something I wanted to stare at and study for hours, but first I needed to put on pants.
I went about doing that and doing it quickly, letting Brian help me when he insisted on sliding my leggings up and over my ass, taking that hands-free moment to wipe at my face with my hoodie sleeve before slipping my bra on, Brian also helping with that, and finally, pulling my hoodie over my head.
I tugged awkwardly at the hood strings as I stepped into my flipflops.
“I wasn’t coming here to impress anyone so I just wore this,” I told Brian, feeling the need to explain my wardrobe selection. “I normally dress a little nicer.”
He finished tying his shoe, stood, and looked me over, slow and purposefully.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, green eyes sweet and filled with honesty.
I really didn’t want to, but damn it, I couldn’t help it.
Head falling into my hands, I burst into tears again.
His arms curled around me and drew me close as his lips pressed to my hair.
“Didn’t know my girl was so sensitive to compliments,” he said, laughter touching his voice.
His girl.
My chest warmed as it continued vibrating with my cries.
I took several minutes to collect myself, wrapped up in Brian’s arms while I did it.
Then I let my boy lead me back to the party.
Chapter Thirteen
BRIAN
I walked with Sydney tucked against my side down the sandy path that led to the house, my arm over her shoulder, keeping her close, and her arm around my waist, pressing closer.
Even when we took the stairs to get up to the deck, we stayed like that.
I wasn’t pulling away and neither was she. I’d waited too damn long for this moment.