Beautiful Sacrifice (Maddox Brothers #3)

by Jamie McGuire

  Thomas hugged her to his chest. “She is.”

  “Aw, cute,” I said.

  Someone tapped on my shoulder.

  When I saw it was Taylor, I hugged him, feeling the stiff fabric of his tuxedo beneath my fingers. “Are you hot?” I asked.

  “Baking.”

  “Well, you look intolerably sexy,” I said quietly.

  His eyes burned when they met mine. “Yeah?”

  “There is something to be said about not having all this beauty outside. Makes it easier to stay inside.”

  Taylor pulled me against him. “I’m flexible. There’s a perfectly good beach over there.”

  Jim clapped his hands and rubbed them together, reminding us other people were around.

  But no one was paying attention to our quiet flirtation. Instead, people seemed to notice the palpable tension between Thomas and Liis, and Trenton and Camille.

  “Grab your ladies, boys,” Jim said. “I’m starved. Let’s eat.”

  Walking hand in hand with Liis, Thomas followed his father, Trenton, and Camille.

  “What is all that about?” I asked Taylor.

  “Oh, Liis and Camille?”

  I nodded.

  Ellison leaned in. “They both dated Thomas. It’s going to be awkward for a while, but it’ll get better.”

  “Well, you’ve both kissed the same guy,” Tyler said.

  Ellison playfully punched him, but the contact still made a thud.

  Tyler held his stomach, startled. “Oh!”

  Taylor cackled and then interlaced his fingers in mine, and together, we strolled to Sails, the restaurant parallel to our building. The patio was on the opposite side, and the twins sat at one of the empty tables marked Reserved for the reception.

  Seconds after we sat down, a server approached to take our drink orders.

  “Whiskey,” Taylor said. “Neat.”

  “We have a nice Irish Jameson Eighteen.”

  “Sounds good,” he said. He was smiling, but his tone and the skin around his eyes told a different story.

  The server looked to me.

  “Just a water, please.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Flat or sparkling?”

  “Sparkling,” I said. At least that would feel a little more like I was celebrating with everyone else.

  Liis and Thomas were across the way, seated with Shepley and America and Shepley’s parents. Looking content and in love, Camille and Trenton were chatting with Jim two tables away, completely oblivious of Thomas and Liis at the other table. Whatever awkwardness lived between the two couples must have been one-sided, but I was only speculating.

  Taylor pulled off his tuxedo jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white button-down. He leaned over, pointing to his bow tie, and I helped him loosen it along with his top button.

  “Goddamn, I’m glad you’re here,” he said, leaning the remaining inches to kiss the corner of my mouth. “I was really sweating it until you texted me.”

  “I told you I would come.”

  He scanned my face and touched his thumb to my bottom lip. “I want you. Just you. Nothing else. I’m not just content with that, Falyn. You’re not part of what I want. You’re everything I want. Anything else is a bonus.”

  I sat back against my chair, trying not to stare. His forearm tensed when he reached up to rub the back of his neck, and I had to cross my legs to control the ache between my thighs. It had been more than two weeks since I felt his skin against mine, and my body was letting me know about it.

  “What?” he asked, a coy grin stretching across his face.

  “Nothing,” I said, looking away as I tried not to smile.

  Abby and Travis arrived. Travis held his wife’s hand high in the air as her other hand held her bouquet. The hostess announced their arrival over the PA system, and everyone in Sails clapped and cheered. A rock ballad came over the speakers, and Travis pulled Abby out to dance. She looked absolutely beautiful, her elegant caramel waves nearly blending in with her skin that had already been bronzed by the Caribbean sun. The stark white of her dress only made her tan look even darker.

  I looked down at my arms, a sad shade of Colorado pale. Whatever time we had left, I committed right then and there to spend it in the sun.

  We ate, danced, and listened to the speeches from the best man and maid of honor. We laughed, everyone but me drank, and the men left the covered patio for a bit to smoke the cigars Jim had brought.

  Sometime after ten o’clock, Shepley’s parents decided to turn in. Jim followed suit not long after.

  Eager to be alone, Travis lifted Abby into his arms. She waved her bouquet as he carried her into the night, toward building five. I thought about what would happen once Taylor and I reached our room, and my body screamed at me to make up an excuse for us to leave. I looked over at Taylor having so much fun with his brothers, and I ignored the overwhelming lust building inside of me.

  Thomas and Liis were the next to say their good-byes, leaving the middle-born Maddoxes and their cousin with their dates.

  An upbeat song came over the speakers, and Taylor pulled me onto the makeshift dance floor, which was only an area of the patio cleared of tables. For the dozenth time that evening, he spun me around, but then he tripped, and we stumbled to the floor. In the few seconds it took for us to fall, despite the many drinks he’d had, he reached out, making sure to hold me inches off the ground while his hip and shoulder banged against the concrete.

  “Oh!” his brothers said, all gathering around us.

  Shepley, Tyler, and Trenton worked together to help me up.

  “You okay?” Shepley asked.

  “Yes,” I said, watching Taylor struggle to stand upright.

  “Are you okay?” Taylor asked me.

  “I didn’t even hit the floor. Are you okay?”

  He nodded, his eyes unfocused. “I can’t feel anything at the moment.”

  Tyler patted his brother’s shoulder, hard. “Attaboy.”

  America shook her head, turning to me. “Want anything besides sparkling water? He’s way ahead of you.”

  “I can see that,” I said, smiling when Taylor’s brothers took turns pushing him back and forth.

  “Okay, okay,” Shepley said. “We’re all drunk. Quit fucking with one another before someone gets pissed, and a fight breaks out. I don’t want to be kicked out of a hotel when we’re out of the country.”

  “This is US territory,” Taylor said, weaving. “We’re good.”

  “See?” Ellison said, pointing at Taylor. “He’s not too drunk. Partying may proceed.”

  The boys left for the railing to take a smoke break, and America, Ellison, and Camille joined me at a table.

  America rested her arm on top of the back of a chair, looking exhausted.

  “You did good,” Camille said.

  “You planned this?” I asked.

  “Every last detail,” America said. “Abby wanted nothing to do with it. If I was going to get my dream best friend’s wedding where I was the costar maid of honor, I was going to have to plan it myself. So, I did.”

  “Impressive,” I said.

  The pattering of rain prompted the servers to rush to lower the fabric sidewalls and move the tables to protect the guests. The boys didn’t move, happily standing in the shower of the warm island rain.

  Camille jumped up and rushed to Trenton, hugging him. He twirled her around, and she squealed in delight, letting her head fall back while closing her eyes.

  A server approached the boys, offering a glass of water for them to extinguish their cigarettes, and they returned to us. Spatters of rain made translucent specks on the shoulders, chests, and sleeves of their white button-downs.

  Taylor sat beside me and lifted my hand to his mouth before kissing my knuckles. “I’m trying to be polite, but all I can think about is getting you back to the room.”

  “We’ll see them tomorrow. It’s been a long day. I think they’ll understand,” I said, unable to even pretend I wanted
to stay a second longer.

  Taylor stood, bringing me with him. “We’re out!” he called.

  We walked in a not-so-straight line from Sails to the sidewalk leading back to our building. The waves crashed against the sand less than fifty yards from our path, but it was dark, and all I could see was the sprinkling of lights along the hills across the cove.

  Soon, voices could be heard between the sounds of restless water.

  “You act as if loving someone can just be flipped off like a light switch. We’ve had this conversation a dozen times. I want you. I’m with you.”

  Taylor froze, and I ran into him from behind.

  “Sorry,” Taylor whispered, but he wasn’t being as quiet as he likely thought. “That’s Tommy.”

  “Shh,” I said.

  “… missing her,” Liis said, “wishing you were with her. And you want me to change everything I trust for that?”

  “This is an impossible situation,” Thomas responded.

  I cringed, feeling guilt and empathy for them both. “C’mon,” I whispered. “We shouldn’t eavesdrop.”

  Taylor held up a finger.

  “Your payback?” Liis cried. “You’ve made me believe all weekend that you were falling for me!”

  “I am! I have! Jesus Christ, Camille, how can I get that through your head?”

  “Oh, fuck,” Taylor said. “That’s not good.”

  “Did he just call her Camille?” I asked, horrified.

  Taylor nodded, weaving as he tried to stay upright.

  “Goddamn it,” Thomas said, his voice desperate. “I am so sorry.”

  “Can we please go?” I asked, tugging on Taylor’s arm.

  “I am so … stupid,” Liis said. The hurt in her voice could have carried all the way across the ocean.

  “Taylor,” I hissed.

  “I wanna make sure he’s okay.”

  Just then, Thomas emerged from the beach, startled to see us standing there. His features turned severe.

  “Hey, man. You all right?” Taylor asked, using me to steady himself.

  Thomas’s expression softened from anger to concern. “How much have you had to drink?”

  “A lot,” I said.

  “Not that much,” Taylor said at the same time.

  Thomas glanced at me and then leaned closer to his brother. “Remember what I said. Just sleep it off. You know how you get.”

  Taylor waved him off, and Thomas patted his brother’s shoulder.

  “Night.” He looked at me. “Make sure he goes straight to bed. No shower. Don’t even undress him. Just get him into bed, so he can pass out.”

  I frowned. I’d seen Taylor drunk before. He had been wasted on New Year’s Eve. I was the sad drunk. Taylor just liked to talk a lot—like, until sunrise. But I liked it. He was honest and shameless about his thoughts and feelings on everything. There was no filter, no holding back.

  “Falyn?” Thomas said in an authoritative voice.

  “I heard you,” I said, unappreciative of the order. “C’mon, Taylor, let’s go.”

  Thomas passed us, and I guided Taylor up the never-ending staircase and into our room. He leaned on me to kick off his shoes and then peel off his socks.

  “Gross. I think I just need to throw that pair away. They’re so sweaty that they probably weigh five pounds apiece.”

  “Yep,” I said, “there’s that honesty I love so much.”

  Taylor looked up at me, something sparking in his eyes, but he looked away, attempting to unbutton his shirt.

  “Here, let me help,” I said.

  He didn’t make eye contact while I undressed him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of me while I took off my own clothes. I knelt down in front of him, but he stepped back.

  I let my hands slap down to my thighs. “What is going on with you?”

  “Nothing,” he said, pulling me up to stand. He walked backward, leading me toward the bed.

  “Does it have something to do with what Thomas said?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  I leaned in to kiss him, sliding my hands around his backside. The bed was just behind him, and with one small push, Taylor was lying on his back on the mattress.

  I crawled on top of him, and his hands found their way to my hips. He groaned as I sucked on his bottom lip, and his erection formed beneath me as I kissed him.

  “Oh my God, this is all I thought about last week,” he said.

  I sat up. “Not this week?”

  “You told me to think about not having kids this week, to really think about it, so I did.”

  I lowered myself until my breasts were pressed against his warm chest. My mouth made a trail of kisses along his jawline to his earlobe, gently nibbling at the soft skin before pulling away with the slightest suction.

  He moaned, grabbing my jaw with both hands, forcing my mouth back to his. I positioned myself over him, but he released me and grabbed my hips, holding me at bay.

  “Baby,” he said, panting.

  I waited, trying to predict what he might say.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” I said, bending down for another kiss.

  He sat up, and at the same time, he pushed me so that I was sitting as far away from him as possible while still being on his lap. He swallowed.

  “Taylor, what the hell is going on?”

  He blew out a controlled breath, his thoughts swimming in the pint of whiskey he’d consumed since dinner. “We should go to sleep.”

  “What? Why?” I asked, my voice an octave higher.

  “Because I need to sleep this off. I shouldn’t have had so much to drink.”

  I shook my head, confused.

  Taylor rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t … I don’t want you to leave me.”

  I hugged him. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You promise?” he asked.

  I cocked my head.

  “Promise me, Falyn. Promise you’ll stay.”

  I shrugged, a bit amused. “Where else am I going to go?”

  He touched my face with that look in his eyes, as if he were studying every curve, every line. He sighed, his eyes glossing over. “I didn’t know. I thought you … I thought we were … I was pissed at you. I just wanted to get my mind off of it for a night.”

  I paused. “What night are we talking about?”

  “Last week. When I was in San Diego.”

  I shrugged again. “So, you got drunk?”

  The worry that had been in his eyes all day, the dread, even some of the things he’d said now made sense.

  My lips parted as the truth set in.

  “Baby, I swear to God, I didn’t know we were still together. That’s not an excuse because I shouldn’t have done it anyway.”

  “What did you do?” I asked, scooting away from him and covering myself with the corner of the comforter. The question had two meanings.

  “I went to some dive bar with Thomas. I was upset, and I got as fucking plastered as I could. Thomas left, and I stayed.”

  “You went home with someone.”

  “I … the bar was across the street from Thomas’s place. She came back with me.”

  “So, he knows,” I said, rolling my eyes at my own words. “Of course he knows. He didn’t want you to tell me.”

  “He didn’t believe you’d forgive me.”

  “I won’t.”

  Taylor’s mouth popped open, and then he moved toward me.

  I hopped off the bed, yanking the comforter until Taylor stood and I could take it with me. “I admit that what I did was shitty. I have no excuse. It was an awful way to make sure you knew what you were getting into. But you …” I touched my forehead. “You said you were thinking about it. You were thinking about our future and whether you wanted to be with me despite the fact that I’m barren. And you go fuck someone? How exactly did that help your process?”

  He stood up, slipped a pair of shorts on, and took a step toward me.


  I held out my hand, palm out, and then pointed at him. “Don’t touch me.”

  His shoulders sagged. “Please don’t hate me. I thought I was going to go nuts last week. I can’t go through that again, Falyn. I can’t fucking do it.” His voice broke.

  I sat down on the bed, staring at nothing in front of me. “Well, I can’t either. So, now what?”

  He sat next to me. “You can’t what?”

  “Do this.” I looked over at him. “I can’t stay with you now. It’s not fair for you to even ask.”

  “You’re right. It’s not. But I don’t give a fuck. I can’t lose you again.”

  “Thomas didn’t want you to tell me, but you did anyway. Why?”

  “I was going to tell you. I had to before we—”

  “You didn’t use anything?”

  “I can’t remember,” he said, ashamed.

  I made a disgusted face and then wiped away a tear that had escaped down my cheek.

  “You promised you’d stay,” he said.

  “You promised you wouldn’t.”

  “I’m an idiot. That was a stupid thing to do. I admit it. But I didn’t go to San Diego to cheat on you. Despite being a complete asshole and trying to distract myself with the first chick who showed me attention, I do love you.”

  “We were both stupid.”

  “You were trying to do the right thing. I didn’t understand at first, but you were right. It would have been hard for me to make a decision to essentially break up with you if I decided I wanted kids.”

  I stood up, and he startled.

  “What are you doing?” he said, panic in his voice.

  “Getting dressed. I think it’s safe to say the moment has passed.”

  I left him for the bathroom, dragging the comforter along with me. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, thankful he hadn’t let me go down on him. He would have to get tested for STDs. Just when I’d thought the hard part was behind us, everything had become more complicated.

  I dried my face with a towel, and then the tears came. As I cried silently into the lush cloth, everything he’d said and done since I arrived along with the drunk text all made sense. He’d practically admitted it to me then. He had made a huge mistake, but until now, he was the only one who had lost trust. I was just as capable of breaking his heart, and I didn’t need to sleep with someone else to do it.