Just before we leave the room, Freddie slows and pulls a single burgundy rose from one of the arrangements. No words pass his lips but my stomach twists in anticipation.
13
Freddie
I look over my shoulder before we disappear through the door and Mac catches my eye. He briefly looks at Bryony, then moves his gaze back to me. A single nod tells me that he’s okay with this. Not that I’d stop right now even if he wasn’t.
Pushing her forward, I press the button for the elevator and wait for the doors to open. My fists clench with my need to touch her, but I need her in the privacy of her room first.
We’re inside before the doors are fully open. I’m just about to back her up against the wall when an elderly couple join us. The wicked smile that twitches on Bryony’s lips tells me she knows exactly what I was thinking.
“What’s the flower for?” she whispers.
Lifting the single rose, I allow the soft petals to tickle down her cheek and over her lips. Her chin drops and her eyes flutter closed. “I thought it might be fun,” I breathe in her ear, making her entire body shudder.
Her hand trembles as she tries to slide the key card into the lock. Wrapping my hand around hers, I guide it into the slot before pushing her inside the room.
There’s a thud as her purse drops to the floor the second I push her up against the door. The rose in my hand soon follows as I find what I’ve been waiting hours for. Her lips.
“Fuck,” I grunt, pressing myself against her soft curves, my hands running over every inch of her. But still, it’s not enough. “I need you, B. I need you right now.”
“Yes, yes,” she chants.
I intended on bringing her up here and taking my time, showing her everything she’s been missing for the last ten years. But now she's here, panting for more, and I can’t resist. Slow and sensuous can wait. Right now, we both need this release. It’s been a long time coming.
After shrugging off my jacket, I skim my hands up her thighs, lifting her dress up around her waist. I press my fingers against the damp lace covering her mound. She whimpers against my lips and I press a little harder.
My cock hardens to the point of pain. She must sense my discomfort because as I continue to tease her over her panties, she reaches out for my waistband. My pants and boxers are soon being pushed down over my hips, thankfully releasing my straining cock.
“Fuck, Bry,” I moan when she wraps her tiny hand around me. “I need you.”
“You’ve got me.”
Dragging my eyes open, I look down into her desire-filled chocolate gaze and any tiny bit of restraint I had snaps. My hands wrap around her thighs and I lift her. Without any instruction, she reaches down and pulls her panties to the side. In one swift movement, I fill her. We both cry out as I thrust as far in as she’ll allow me.
“Jesus, fuck.”
“Move,” she demands and I’m powerless to do anything but what she asks.
With my fingers bruising her thighs, I pull back and thrust up. Her head falls back against the door as she cries out. The rippling of her muscles has me racing towards release all too soon and I can’t draw this out. I need her hard and fast, right fucking now.
Dropping my head to her exposed neck, I suck on her sensitive skin. Her pulse thunders against my lips as her release gets within reaching distance.
“I need to feel you coming, Bry.”
“Oh, shit,” she moans as I lick up the length of her neck. I bite down on her earlobe and she explodes around me. Her pussy grips me so tight as her orgasm hits that I’ve no choice but to follow her.
“Bryony,” I growl in her ear as my balls draw up and I fill her full of everything I’ve got.
It’s long seconds before I pull back. Resting my forehead against hers, our eyes connect and our breaths mingle.
“Hey,” she says, her cheeks brightening.
“Hey.”
“That was—”
“Not what you deserved,” I interrupt. “Now, let me show you how it should be done.”
“Oh.” Her chin drops and a smile twitches at the corners of her lips. “That’s not it?”
“That’s only the beginning, baby.”
14
Bryony
The conviction in his words makes my stomach clench. Those few minutes were earth shattering and reminded me of everything we once were. But it wasn’t enough, and I’m so glad he thinks so, too.
Releasing my legs, he puts me back on my feet and stands back. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” His eyes run over every inch of me and my skin prickles with his attention. He bends down to collect the discarded rose before reaching for my hand and pulling me farther into my room. Stopping a few feet from the bed, he stares me straight in the eyes and demands for me to stay put.
Taking two steps back, he pulls his tie off and undoes his dress shirt before shrugging if off and allowing the fabric to drop to the floor. My eyes feast on the inches upon inches of tanned and toned skin in front of me. After toeing off his shoes and dropping his pants, he comes back to me.
He circles me and I feel like his prey. Lust shoots to my core and my panties get even wetter.
Pushing my hair over one shoulder, he drops his lips to my neck and trails kisses down to the top of the zip. Painfully slowly, he pulls it down. My body shivers as the fabric tickles over my skin where I’m hyperaware of everything he’s doing.
His breath catches when he pushes my dress from my shoulders and it pools at my feet, revealing my burgundy lingerie.
His fingers trail around my waist as he walks back around to my front. His cock’s already rock hard again and tenting his boxers, but his focus is solely on me. Reaching behind him, he grabs the rose.
“You’re going to remember tonight forever,” he promises.
I flinch when the soft petals of the rose touch my stomach. He runs it along the edge of my panties and a soft whimper falls from my lips. He trails it up my body, between my breasts, making my nipples pucker against the lace, begging to be released.
“It’s been ten years since I touched you. Can you imagine how many different ways I’ve imagined doing this?”
“I…I have a rough idea,” I admit, having had my own fantasies over the years.
“All of them end with you screaming my name and begging me for more. Do you think you can do that?”
“I think I already have.”
“Hmm, so you have.”
His fingers find the clasp on my bra and he peels it away from my body. The cool air makes my nipples harder still. He circles me once again, the rose tickling my skin and driving me to insanity. I want his hands, his mouth, his— My thoughts are cut off as the rose brushes my nipple. “Oh God.”
“You think I could make you come like this?”
“I don’t…maybe…I…fuck.”
“What about like this?” Leaning forward, his tongue teases the tip of my nipple. My entire body stiffens as pleasure builds within me. I’m pretty sure I’ve never felt like this before. I swear my body is on the verge of exploding with the pressure.
He gives the other the same treatment before going back to the rose. “Freddie, please,” I moan as it passes my belly button and teases me over the lace.
“More?”
“So much more, please,” I beg.
Dropping the rose to the floor, he takes my breasts in his hands and sucks one nipple into his mouth.
“Yesss,” I hiss, his tongue circling and driving me crazy.
“I never could say no to you.”
He kisses, licks, and sucks over my breasts before dropping down my stomach. Heat floods my core in anticipation and my body trembles for the release he’s keeping from me.
“Do you taste as sweet as I remember, Bryony?”
I mumble something incoherent as he wraps his fingers around the sides of my panties and tugs. They fall down around my shoes and Freddie leans into me. His hands land on my thighs and encourage me to open for him, and I do in
an instant.
“Oh fuck,” I cry when his tongue finds my clit. My knees threaten to buckle, but he must sense it because he lifts his hands and holds my ass. His tongue delves deeper and I cry out in pleasure.
“Even fucking sweeter,” he says, his wide smile splitting his face as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
Kissing back up my body, his lips find mine. I groan when my own taste explodes on my tongue. “Fucking sweet, right?” he mumbles, but I’m too lost in his kiss to reply.
With our lips still connected, he turns us and gently lowers me to the bed before dropping his boxers. Climbing between my legs, he pulls back and looks down at me. The love pouring from his eyes has tears burning the back of my throat. How did I ever think I was going to be able to deny him?
I drop my eyes from his and run them down his chest, abs, and to his cock that he’s rubbing against my clit. Propping myself up on my elbows, I watch intently as he presses inside me. My eyes flutter closed as the sensation engulfs my body.
When I open them again, my back is on the mattress and Freddie is slowly thrusting inside me, his eyes locked on mine.
“Hey,” he says, a cheeky glint in his eye.
“Hey,” I moan as he hits me deep.
Dropping down, he rests his head against mine but his hips never stop. “I never stopped loving you, B.”
Tears sting my eyes and before I have a chance to fight them, one runs down my temple. This, him, us…it’s all just a bit much to take.
“Don’t do that,” he whispers, wiping the tear with his thumb.
“I’m sorry. It’s just…I love you, too.”
15
Freddie
Hearing those three little words leaves me fighting for breath. I regretted what I did when I was only eighteen every day since I made the mistake. I’ve imagined what it might take to make her forgive me, for her to hear me out, but I didn’t think she’d ever give me the time of day.
This, right now, is more than I ever could have asked for.
“Freddie?” she asks softly, and I realise that I’ve stopped moving.
“Sorry. I just…” I trail off, not really knowing what to say.
“I know.” Her warm palm cups my cheek. “I know.”
Dropping my head to her neck, I slowly circle my hips, eliciting a moan to fall from her lips. Her walls ripple around me and I grind my teeth to hold back my own release until she’s found hers. Skimming my hand down her stomach, I press my fingertips against her clit and she cries out my name. My chest swells with everything I feel for this woman beneath me as I feel the first twitch of her release.
She comes with my name as a soft cry on her lips. It’s not the loud scream I wanted, but this is so, so much more. She clamps down on me as she writhes beneath me, and I follow her into my own release.
“Do you think anyone’s noticed we’ve disappeared yet?”
“Does it matter?”
“I guess not. If they have, it means this won’t be our dirty little secret any longer.”
“Good. You’re so much more to me than a dirty little secret.”
“That means we need to talk to Mac.”
“He already knows.” Bryony sits bolt upright and I fight to pull her back down to the bed where we were relaxing after our exertion.
“He does?”
“I think he’s always known, although he’s never said anything. But he saw us leave earlier.”
“But—” Her body stiffens.
“It’s okay. He’ll be fine.”
“You think?”
“I know.” Sealing my lips over hers, I set about distracting her from the thoughts of her brother.
I stay awake for hours with her asleep in my arms, taking in every feature that had started to fade in my mind. I made the biggest mistake of my life when I was eighteen, but I won’t make it again. No matter what the future holds for us, we’ll deal with it together.
Thanks to an extra long and extra pleasurable shower, we’re the last down to breakfast the next morning. The second we enter the room where it’s being served, all sets of eyes turn on us. You’d think we were yesterday’s bride and groom from the attention we’re getting.
Mac stands and my heart races. I know I said to Bryony last night that he’d be okay with it, but there’s a chance I could be wrong. Tina also goes to stand, her eyes flicking between her son and me with concern filling them.
Mac doesn’t do what I expect him to. He marches up to me and holds his hand out like he’s going to shake mine. Only, when I slide my hand into his, he pulls me close so he can whisper in my ear. “Hurt her again and I’ll fucking kill you.” His voice is low and menacing like I’ve never heard from my best friend before , and it causes a shiver to run down my spine.
“You have my word.”
“I should fucking hope so.”
Tugging on my hand, he pulls me into a hug and slaps my back. Bryony and Tina’s eyes are both wide when I look up. But they soon relax when I nod at them.
Once Mac releases me, Tina steps up. “Look after my baby.”
“Of course.”
“Is there going to be another wedding soon?” Tessa calls from her place at the table, and when I turn to Bryony, her face has lost all its color.
“Don’t listen to her,” I whisper in her ear. “We’ll do this our way.” I might not say the words, but I fully intend on her becoming my wife one way or another. I just need to figure out the best way to do it.
16
Bryony
“Do you have to go?” I ask, holding both of Freddie’s hands in mine.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’ll be back as soon as I can on Friday.”
We spent most of yesterday helping Tessa and Mac sort all their wedding stuff out at the hotel and then the four of us went out for dinner before they left for their honeymoon.
Thankfully, Mac seemed relatively cool with the idea of Freddie and I being together. I’m sure that wouldn’t have been the case if he found out when I was only seventeen, mind you. But I’m a somewhat sensible adult now and he should know better than to question my decisions.
With one last kiss, I watch as Freddie throws his bag in the trunk of his car and gets in the driver’s seat. Tears burn my eyes, but I refuse to cry. I’ve managed without him for ten years. Three days should be nothing.
He gives me a sad little wave before he puts his foot down and disappears from my sight.
Shutting the door behind me, I let out a slow breath, willing the tears to disappear. I’m stronger than this.
Walking over to the coffee table, I type out a message on our girls group chat.
Bryony: Anyone fancy a drink?
Rose: It’s a Monday night.
Vaughan: I’m there. Usual place?
Just over an hour later, I’m walking into our usual cocktail bar. There is no way I could sit at home alone after everything that’s happened this weekend.
“So,” Rose starts the second I join her, Vaughan, Lacey, and Cherry at our usual booth at the back. “Vaughan says you’ve been keeping secrets.”
My cheeks heat and I break my gaze from Rose. She’s been my best friend for years and I feel guilty that I’ve never confided in her about Freddie.
“I’m sorry,” I say, taking the seat next to her and grabbing the glass that’s waiting for me.
“What for?”
“For not telling you about him.”
“Don’t be silly. But I do want to know everything now.”
The girls helped to take my mind off the fact that not only was I in a proper relationship for the first time in my adult life, but it was a long distance one at that. By the time Thursday rolls around, talking to Freddie on the phone and sending messages practically every hour of the day is already starting to get old. I know he said everything would work out, but this really fucking sucks.
I’m curled up on the sofa in my pajamas with a tub of my favorite ice cream watching the latest season of The Bachelor on TV w
hen my doorbell rings.
Checking my phone to make sure one of the girls hasn’t said they’re on their way, I put the tub down and make my way over to the door.
Looking through the peephole, I can’t believe my eyes. I quickly look in the mirror to my left, but I don’t have time to fix how I look because he’s there, on the other side of the door.
The second I open it, Freddie’s on me. He pushes me backwards into the hallway until we crash back against the wall. His lips descend on mine and he kisses me like he’s been gone months, not only days.
“Freddie, what are you—”
His lips cut me off again, his tongue sweeping deep into my mouth. “Missed you,” he mumbles.
“I missed you, too,” I manage to say when he eventually pulls back, not that I’m complaining. “How come you’re here?”
“Why, don’t you want me here?”
“Of course I do. I’m just surprised.”
“How surprised would you be if I were to tell you I was here to stay?”
A smile twitches at my lips, but I refuse to allow it to break in case he’s just winding me up.
“What?”
“Bryony,” he says, taking my hand and standing back a little. My eyes widen and my heart pounds that he’s about to drop to one knee, but thankfully he stays on his feet. “Can I move in with you?”
“Can you…move in with me?” My brow creases as I stare at him. He’s joking, right? This is a joke. “What about your life? Your job?”
“I left. I was losing my job anyway. I gave notice on my apartment and packed up all my stuff. Just say if—”
“You’re serious?”
Flirty Ever Afters: A Flirt Club Collection Page 18
