Begin Again (Beautiful #2)

by Bester, Tamsyn

  “No,” I replied. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet.”

  “Bullshit,” he said loudly. I was taken by surprise. He never cursed. “You came back to fight for her, didn’t you?”

  I couldn’t lie to this man, but I wasn’t sure. Had I come back to fight for Demi? I didn’t even know if there was anything still worth fighting for.

  Before I could say as much, my grandmother came outside.

  “It’s almost time to get leave for Huntley and Grayson’s barbeque. You boys nearly ready?”

  “I’m ready,” my grandfather replied, “I don’t need all day to get ready like you women do.” He was teasing, and like most times, he was doing it to get a rise out of my grandmother.

  She pointed her index in his direction and fixed him with her stern yet exuberant gaze. “Don’t sass me Clayton Scott.” He stood up and walked towards her, encasing her in his arms. “I wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, and I looked away to give them some privacy. Not to mention it was weird as hell watching your grandparents make out like teenagers. In many ways, I envied them. Who would’ve thought? They had the kind of love people write novels about, and I wasn’t too much of a man to admit that I wanted it.

  “Are you coming with us?” my grandmother asked after they’d unlocked their lips.

  “I’ll join you a little later,” I replied. “I’m going to take a shower and unpack first.”

  “Don’t take too long,” my grandfather said. “I’m sure Grayson is eager to see you and catch up.”

  “Yes sir.” I gave them a half smile and grabbed my bags from my truck. As soon as my grandparents had left, I hopped in the shower and got ready. I wasn’t even sure I’d be seeing Demi tonight, but I couldn’t ignore the small part of me that was hoping I would.

  GRAYSON GREETED ME at the front door, followed by a rather enthusiastic Hunter.

  “Good to have you home,” Grayson said.

  “I could say the same thing. You guys have a good honeymoon?”

  His face broke into a grin and he replied, “Yeah, we had fun.” He winked and I pretended to slug him in the arm.

  “T.M.I man, really. I don’t need to know that shit.”

  Grayson laughed as we made our way outside, but stopped just before we reached the door. He hesitated, and then looked back at me. “Demi’s here,” he said carefully, no doubt waiting for my reaction.

  “I was counting on it.”

  He gave me a its about fucking time smile and I followed him outside. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to Demi when I saw her, but I’d figured it would come to me as soon as she was in front of me.

  Huntley appeared in front of me, a knowing smile on her face. Did everyone know why I’d really come home except for me?

  “Welcome home,” she said with a hug. “It’s about damn time.”

  “Nice to see you too, Mrs. Carter.”

  She beamed and damn if I wasn’t happy for them.

  “She’s over there,” Huntley pointed behind her, “talking to your grandparents.”

  “Thanks” I replied. “You think she’ll talk to me?”

  Huntley looked back at Demi and then at me. “I think you have to try. We’re all rooting for you.” Her eyes softened and she touched my arm. “Don’t let me down.”

  I dipped my head and made my way towards Demi just as she turned her head. Our eyes clashed, green to brown, and I was instantly thrown back in high school. My hands started sweating, and I rubbed them on my jeans. It didn’t help. My heart raced, blood rushing to my ears. Dammit, I was nervous.

  “Hi,” I said, stepping up to her. My grandparents sidled away quietly, leaving me alone with Demi.

  “Hey,” she replied quietly. Her light, faded jeans clung to her body, making it obvious that she’s lost weight. Her black blouse hung loosely around her middle, but still managed to show off the curves I’d fallen in love with. Her eyes were a little dull, and her face a little more hollow than the last time I’d seen her. She looked gaunt, but still gorgeous. She’d always be gorgeous in my eyes.

  “Uh…” I stuttered. Fucking nerves. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

  She looked apprehensive, somewhat hesitant. “I don’t think now’s the time or the place.”

  “Please,” I persisted. “It won’t take long.”

  “Okay,” she sighed. I followed her through Huntley and Grayson’s house and out the front door to the driveway. It was a strange place to have this conversation, but I guess it was as good as any. It was the only place we could get some privacy.

  She stopped next to Huntley’s grey jeep and turned to face me. We stared at each other, as if to relearn what the other looks like. On the outside we might’ve looked the same, but inside we’d changed. For better or worse only time would tell.

  I swallowed, and took a leap. “We have a lot to talk about and - ”

  “I’m sorry,” she blurted. “For all of it.”

  I relaxed slightly, thinking that ‘sorry’ was a good place to start. “So am I. We made a real mess of things.”

  “I should told you about…” she blinked, hesitating, “the baby. I was wrong to keep it from you.”

  “You’re right,” I admitted. “You should’ve. But if I hadn’t have left, then maybe things would have been different.”

  “It wasn’t your fault, and it wasn’t mine. We made some stupid decisions, reckless decisions.”

  I rubbed my face. “I know.”

  “Do you think we can move on?” Her eyes shone bright with hope, a hope that mirrored mine.

  “Things can never be the same, you know that.”

  Her face fell and she looked down. “I understand.” Her voice was quiet, and broken. “Well, maybe we can be friends again, somewhere in the near future. Despite everything, I still want you to be happy Brody.”

  What just happened? Clearly she’d misunderstood what I meant. I grabbed her arm as she turned around, and stopped her.

  “I don’t think you understand what I’m saying.”

  She frowned, a line forming between her brows. The instinct to smooth it over with my thumb, like I always had, was overwhelming.

  “I think I do,” she replied. “You want us to move on.”

  “I do. Together.”

  We stood in silence and I took the chance to continue. I thought about giving her a fancy, romantic speech, but she deserved more. She deserved the truth. I stepped closer and she tipped her head back.

  “I know we have a lot to work through, but it all comes down to one thing,” I paused, trying to steady the thump of my heart, “I miss you. I miss waking up with you next to me. I miss seeing you walk around barefoot in the kitchen. I miss kissing you,” I brushed her bottom lip with my thumb, smiling when she sucked in a breath, “I miss hearing you sing in the shower. I miss making love to you at all hours. I miss having angry sex with you. I miss having you in my life, Demetria, and I know I can live without you, but dammit, I don’t want to.”

  “I’ve missed you too,” she choked out, “but how do we move on from everything? After everything we’ve put each other through?”

  I cupped the back of her head and inched my face closer to hers. “It won’t be easy,” I replied in a whisper, “but if you’re willing, I figured we could just…begin again.”

  Demi’s eyes glistened in the moonlight and I wanted so much to erase the last year. But I couldn’t. All I could do was express my willingness to fight, and hope to God she’d do the same.

  “Fight for us,” I breathed. “Decide that everything we’ve been through isn’t enough to stop you from fighting for us.”

  I could tell by the way her eyes searched mine that she was contemplating it. I started getting nervous again. At least it wasn’t a flat out no.

  “What about Sienna?” She flinched. “She’s pregnant.”

  I shook my head. I was planning on explaining this all to her later, but now I had no other choice.

  “
She lied. She was never pregnant.”

  “Oh.”

  I waited, and then asked, “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking…that I really want you to kiss me right now.”

  I took my chance and crashed my lips to hers. Our mouths moved with familiarity, certainty. I knew her mouth, her lips, their taste, and yet my body was hot all over like it was our first kiss. Her tongue ventured into my mouth and she coaxed mine into a wicked dance of give and take. Her hands fisted in my shirt, and mine slid into her hair, pulling her head back so that I could deepen the kiss. I swallowed her moan just as she swallowed mine. It was perfect.

  Until we heard cheering and clapping coming from what I knew to be living room of Huntley and Grayson’s house. Demi and I broke apart, both breathless and desperate for air. We looked to the side and found our closest friends and family watching us. They all smiled like idiots and cheered us on.

  “Oh God,” Demi muttered into my chest. “How embarrassing.”

  I chuckled. “At least they got a show, but you never gave me an answer.”

  “Can we take it slow?” she asked.

  I brushed her lips with mine, feeling the way her body shivered from the contact. “We can take it as slow as you want.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  Fingers trailed down my spine and cupped my butt cheek. My skin broke out into goose flesh and I felt my nipples harden.

  “Hmm.” Brody hummed next to my ear as his hand dipped between my legs. I squirmed, earning a chuckle from the beautiful man next to me. The rich timber of his voice made heat pool between my legs. I wanted him. Again. And judging by the erection pressing into my side, he was thinking the same thing.

  “Good morning,” I murmured. I turned my head to face him and he gave me that panty dropping I’m going to make you scream my name smile. His brown eyes lured me in, like they always had, and in them I saw everything I’d always wanted.

  “It will be very soon,” he replied. I saw the gleam in his eye and my insides coiled in delicious anticipation. He was insatiable, had been since last night. It was the first time we’d had sex since he’d come home and while it was torture to wait, I was glad he’d made good on his promise to take it slow. We’d worked through the things we needed to, taken one day at a time, and the result was not a mended relationship, but a completely new one. Brody made me believe he wanted me and he showed me every day that we were meant to be.

  Last night, Brody had taken me on a date, something we’d never done before. He did all the things a woman would expect on a date – bought me flowers, opened the door for me, took me to a nice restaurant, made me laugh – and when we finally got home I couldn’t take it anymore. I dragged him back to my bedroom and we spent the rest of the night learning each other’s bodies from scratch.

  I turned over and before I could blink he had me beneath him. The hard planes of his chest pressed down on my breasts and he settled between my legs, his erection hot against my belly. My blood simmered beneath my skin.

  “There she is,” he said, his full lips stretched into a grin. “I was worried you weren’t going to wake up at all.”

  I pushed my hands through his hair and cradled his head. “It’s not my fault you tired me out,” I sighed lazily. “I’m worried you might’ve broken me.”

  He smirked, and if I wasn’t already wet I was now. “We’ll have to find out now won’t we?”

  My heart started beating double time and my skin prickled with awareness. He pulled a pebbled nipple into his mouth and bit down before licking away the sharp sting. The intensity could be felt all the way down below where his hips rested on mine.

  “I love these,” he murmured, palming my other breast. I arched my back but we never broke eye contact. Something about it made it even more sensual. His hand slid further down, his fingers feather light, until they brushed my tender lips. I bit my lip and whimpered.

  “This,” Brody whispered, “Is.Mine.” He pushed two fingers into me and rubbed my clit with his thumb.

  “Brody,” I sighed, “Hmmmm.”

  I felt the tension start low and build, hoping for that inevitable release. Then Brody stopped, and I had to stop myself from scowling.

  “Don’t worry, Demetria,” the way he said my name made me shiver, “I have…bigger…plans for you.”

  My eyes broke from his, only to land on where he’d positioned the head of his cock at my opening. He pushed in, slowly, gently, and it was the most violent pleasure to feel him fill me up. He braced himself on his forearms and threaded his fingers through my hair. My hands trailed down his back and dipped into the deep crevices formed by his muscles.

  “I love you,” I whispered against his mouth, “so much.”

  “I love you too,” he replied. He devoured my mouth, feasting on me like he was a starved man. His hips started moving, slowly at first, and then faster and harder. I wrapped my legs around him and hitched my knees up under his arms. The slight change in my position took him deeper and the tip of his cock hit my sweet spot.

  We grew sweaty, clinging to each other for dear life, and when his eyes met mine I was sure nothing could ever break us up again.

  I sucked in a breath and mouth formed an “o” as my impending orgasm took over my entire body.

  “So beautiful.” Brody’s voice sounded far away. My body shook, and my eyes rolled backward. Brody hovered above me and then bit my neck as he found is own release. We were a mess of sweaty limbs, damp skin and heavy breathing. It was the perfect mess to be in.

  Brody finally came up for air and stared down at my flushed face.

  “Make me a promise,” I said, still trying to catch my breath.

  “Anything,” he replied without hesitating. My insides warmed knowing he would do anything for me without question. God, I really did love him.

  “Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”

  He brushed his thumb across my cheek and I saw the regret in the depths of his chocolate orbs. It took me back to the night we cried together over the loss of the child we would never get to meet. I kept a box of all my sonograms, and the tiny pink booties that once belonged to me as a baby. I’d kept them in the hopes that I was having a little girl. It was hard, going through all those things with Brody, but in many ways grieving together, even after so much time had passed, healed us and allowed us to move on. Together.

  “I promise. I’m not going anywhere ever again. My heart is yours, and I don’t want to be anywhere you’re not.”

  I swore I was done crying but his words, his promise, reached into me and touched my soul. We were bound together for life and I realized that I wouldn’t have done anything differently. All the bad stuff, all the heartache had led us right back to where we were meant to be. And all because we decided to begin again…

  The sun had set and in its place was a beautiful night sky littered with millions of stars. The sound of crickets echoed around us. Brody covered my eyes and spoke into my ear. “No peaking.” He led me away from our newly built house.

  I giggled. “Where are you taking me?” I almost tripped but his arm wrapped around my waist to steady me. He chuckled, most likely at my clumsiness.

  “It’s a surprise,” he whispered, “just trust me.”

  I thought about where he could be taking me, since there were few places on the ranch I didn’t know, but I knew it was pointless. If he said it was a surprise, I believed him.

  We’d moved onto the ranch a few months ago and already I felt at home. Brody was finally chasing his dreams, only this time with me at his side. Between Grayson, Brody and Jeff, they had managed to start a flourishing business and had plans to later expand. I was happy for them and shared in their excitement.

  I heard a door creak open and there only one place we could possibly be. The barn.

  Brody ushered me in and we came to a stop. “Stay right here,” he told me, “I’m going to remove my hand but you have to keep those pretty eyes closed. Understood?”

>   I nodded, growing antsy. “Okay.”

  His hand left my face and I heard him walk away. There were a few hushed voices around me, and I frowned. What the hell was going on?

  Less then a minute later, Brody took my hands in his and pulled me in a little further.

  “Open your eyes, Demetria.”

  My lids opened and an audible gasp left my mouth. All our closest friends and family were gathered around us in a wide circle and the barn was lit up by hundreds of tea lights. I looked up, and it was almost like looking at stars.

  I looked back at Brody, confused.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  He smiled that shy smile I loved so much and it dawned on me that he was anxious. He never got anxious. Something weird was happening.

  “You were five when we met,” he started, squeezing my hands, “and that first day I told you your dress was ugly. Your answer was to throw a mudpie in my face.” People laughed, and then everything went quiet again. You could hear a pin drop.

  Brody swallowed and then continued, “I knew then that there was no one else out there for me. Only you.” Oh. Shit. I knew what was coming. “Demetria Rosemead, I have loved you all my life. I believe after all of the hardships we’ve faced, we ended up right here, right now, in front of all our friends and family so that I could tell you how much I love you. I love that sassy mouth, “ I laughed, feeling the tears coming, “I love that smart mind. I love every curve on your body,” someone cleared a throat and I blushed furiously, “I love the way you make me feel, and the way you’ve given yourself to me so completely. I love that every day is a new adventure, and the way you always make me laugh. I love the confidence you exude and how you care for our friends. But most of all, I love your heart.”

  He bent down on one knee and I cupped my mouth. This was really happening. He pulled out a blue box and in it sat a beautiful platinum band with a princess cut diamond. It was ornate, and it sparkled as it caught the shimmering of the tea lights above us.

  “Two years ago, almost to the day, I made you a promise to never leave your side, and now it’s my turn to ask you for that same promise. Marry me.”