Valentine's Dates

by Rhian Cahill

  He collapsed, half-on half-off Vee’s quivering body. Dragging in a breath, he heaved himself to the side and took her with him. His softening length slipped from her body and a shudder rolled down to his toes. Her breath fanned out over his chest, ruffling his hair and causing his nipple to harden. Brent slipped his arms around her and held her close. If it wasn’t for his heart still beating against his ribcage he’d think she’d killed him.

  “I think you killed me.”

  Brent chuckled. “I was just thinking it was you that killed me.”

  “Okay, we killed each other.” Her fingers played with the trail of hair below his belly button. “Guess that means we can’t do it again.”

  Her fingers travelled lower and his sex jerked with renewed interest reminding him of the used condom. “I need to clean up first. How about a shower?”

  “Speaking of cleaning up, we totally trashed your quilt.” She raised her head and propped her chin on his chest. “And we left our lunch outside. The seagulls will be having a field day with the scraps.”

  “Nag, nag, nag. Is this another ‘wet clothes in the machine’ moment?” Brent grinned.

  Vee’s eyes narrowed. “Are you making fun of me because I like things to be put away properly?”

  “No. I’m making fun of you so I can see that spark in your eyes.” He tapped her on the tip of her nose.

  Her mouth drew into a frown and he kissed her to stop the protest he could see forming. He intended it to be a quick peck, but long minutes later his mouth still ate at hers and the arousal he’d thought sated roared back to life. Rolling her beneath him, he pressed his hips to hers and was brought back to reality with a slap. The wet slap of a used condom half hanging off.

  “Shit. See what you do to me? I forgot about the condom and getting cleaned up.” Brent reached down and removed the offending latex. It was the least romantic or sexy moment in his life, but when Vee slipped out from under him and bounded off the bed he figured the view was worth the embarrassment.

  “Race you to the bathroom,” she called as she dashed across his room.

  He chuckled and rolled off the bed to follow. Pausing, he spun around and grabbed a foil packet. No point getting caught without when he knew full well hopping in the shower with Vee and getting slicked up with soap bubbles was guaranteed to lead somewhere.

  Steam billowed as he entered his ensuite. He dumped the used condom in the waste bin and stepped into the shower behind Vee. Reaching past her, Brent placed the unopened condom on the soap holder.

  “Oh, who’s a good little boy scout then?”

  He nuzzled the back of her neck. “There’s nothing boy about me.”

  She moaned, her head falling to the side to give him better access. “Mmm…”

  Encouraged, he set out to prove just how far out of boyhood he was.

  Vee had just stepped into Brent’s room with a towel around her when Wade walked in. They both froze. If she hadn’t been nervous about what he’d think, she’d have laughed at the sight of him. His mouth hung open and his eyes were wide enough to drive a car through. She searched her brain for something to say, for some excuse as to why she was in Brent’s apartment other than she was having sex with him.

  “Hey, Wade. You guys are back early.” Brent spoke as he walked passed Vee to the chest of drawers across the room. “I didn’t think you were coming home until tomorrow.”

  “Obviously.” Wade’s eyes never left hers.

  She couldn’t tear her gaze from her brother. Her heart had picked up a beat and sweat coated her palms. Why was she so concerned about Wade’s reaction? It wasn’t like she needed his permission to be with a man, including Brent.

  “Here.” Brent handed her a shirt and boxers. “These should fit.”

  “Where are her clothes?” Wade’s voice came out strained.

  Vee and Brent looked at each other before swivelling their heads to take in the swimwear strewn around the room.

  “Never mind.” Wade pointed at Brent. “My office. Now.”

  “No.”

  “What?” Her brother paused in his turn to leave.

  “No.”

  Wade seemed genuinely confused by Brent’s refusal to come to heel like some misbehaving dog.

  “Enough, Wade.” Vee sighed and walked over to her brother. “You’re not my father and, even if you were, it’s none of your business who I sleep with.”

  “Jeez.” Wade rubbed the bridge of his nose with thumb and index finger. “Not an image I want in my head, Vee.”

  “Too bad. If you’d walked in half an hour ago you’d have gotten the full visual effect.” Brent chuckled behind her as he placed a hand on her shoulder in support.

  “Dammit, Vee.” Wade closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and looked at her. “Just tell me he didn’t force you.”

  She didn’t get time to answer. Brent’s arm shot past her shoulder and his hand wrapped in the front of Wade’s shirt in a fist. “I should punch you for that, Johnson.”

  “Fine. Okay. That was uncalled for.” Wade tried to remove Brent’s hand. “But I’ve watched you moon over her for years, Brent, and I’ve watched Vee fight with you every chance she got.”

  “There’s a fine line between love and hate, Wade,” Vee said. “Brent isn’t the only one who’s been mooning. Obviously I’m better at keeping it hidden than he is.”

  “You should show a little more confidence in your sister. You know as well as I do Valentine does nothing she doesn’t want to.” Brent removed his hand from Wade’s shirt.

  “So what you’re trying to tell me is I should leave you alone and go back to my wife and son.”

  “Yes.” Brent moved beside her and slung an arm over her shoulders. “We’ll come down to say hello later.”

  Wade spun on his heel. “Damn. Now I’m gonna be wondering what the hell you two are doing,” he muttered as he left the room.

  Vee let out a breath. “Well. That went brilliantly.”

  “Yeah, I was kinda hoping we’d have us sorted out before your brother came home and threw a spanner in the works.” Brent turned her into his chest and tucked her head beneath his chin. “At least the first awkward moment is over with.”

  “Awkward is a good word for it. Do you think it’ll get any easier?”

  “He’ll get over it once the shock wears off.” Brent rubbed his hands up and down her back. “Don’t forget he didn’t just find you in my apartment, he found you wearing nothing but a wet towel.”

  “True. Plus it’s quite obvious what we were doing before he arrived.”

  “Look, as much as I want to make sure Wade isn’t going to freak out over this, I’d prefer if we got dressed and talked about us and where we go from here.” He tipped her chin up until their eyes met. “Let’s get dressed and go clean up our lunch. We can figure things out while we work.”

  “What is there to work out?”

  “Our next date.”

  “Date?”

  “Be my Valentine.” Brent smiled.

  “Are you trying to confuse me?”

  Brent reached for her hand and cradled it in both of his. “This has to be the least romantic setting in the world, but I want you to know how I feel. I love you. Have loved you for as long as I can remember and I don’t want to spend another day of my life without you in it.”

  Vee’s hand shook as he brought it to his lips for a soft kiss. She threw herself into his arms and they tumbled to the floor. Her mouth found his and she poured everything she felt into their kiss. He might not think his declaration worthy, but it was the most romantic thing she’d ever experienced because it came from his heart. It came with his heart. Vee eased her mouth from his and stared at his smiling face.

  “I love you, Brent.”

  “I love you too.”

  Brent rolled them over and pinned her beneath him for another long kiss. As always with him, a kiss turned to more and it was a few hours before they made it downstairs to clean up.

  Epilogue />
  The sun streamed in through the open French doors. The first thirteen days in February had been unseasonably wet and cold, but not today. Today the clouds had floated away and the sun shone on the yard below. Vee didn’t look down; she didn’t want to spoil the wonder of walking out of the house later, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the view of the harbour.

  “Are you ready? Wade’s starting to pace. I think the fact Brent isn’t is making your brother worse.”

  Vee smiled at the reflection of her sister-in-law in the mirror. “I’ve been ready for this date my whole life.”

  Emily skimmed her fingers over the strip of lace on Vee’s shoulder. “You know I loved my wedding dress, but I have to admit this one is the most gorgeous creation I’ve ever seen.”

  “It turned out exactly as I pictured it.” Vee admired the exquisite dress in the mirror.

  Emily laughed. “I honestly didn’t think you were going to convince the designer to make it.”

  “He caved when I threatened to find a first-year design school student if he wasn’t capable of making the dress to my specifications.” Vee smoothed a hand down the front of the form-fitting lace bodice. From the waist up, the dress was an intricate weave of white lace over a gold satin backing. The designer’s initial protest that it would look like his grandmother’s doilies sewn together held merit, but she hadn’t allowed it to deter her from getting what she wanted. And the end result had turned out far more stunning than Vee had imagined. With the A-line skirt in the same white as the lace, the dress had a hint of old, but was thoroughly modern and suited her figure perfectly. “Nothing works better on a man than his own ego.”

  “Too true.” Emily picked up the delicate rose bouquet Wade had the gardener make from their mother’s prized roses and handed it to Vee. “I can’t believe my husband thought of using your mum’s flowers for the bouquets.”

  “Me either. Or that he’d suggest Brent wear Dad’s engraved cufflinks.” Vee felt the sting of tears and breathed deep, willing the urge away. She didn’t want to ruin her make-up. “He never would have thought about any of that before you.”

  “Don’t be silly, of course he would have. He loves you and wants you to have a little piece of your parents with you on your special day,” Emily argued.

  “No, before you he was dead inside, just going through the motions. Then he met you and you brought him back. You gave me back my brother and I can’t thank you enough for that. Or the rambunctious little devil who’s drooling on his suit.” Vee indicated the sleeping Davie on the bed behind them.

  Emily smiled and grasped Vee’s hand. “I’d give you a hug, but I’m not risking mucking up that dress or your hair or your make-up. Or mine.”

  Vee laughed and, taking a deep breath, said, “Let’s get this Valentine date started.”

  Brent stood under the rose covered arch and waited for his bride. He wasn’t nervous. It never entered his mind that she might not show up. A grin spread across his face.

  “Hey.” Wade elbowed his side. “You’re not supposed to smile like that until the bride arrives.”

  He turned to face his best friend and future brother-in-law. “I’m not allowed to be happy waiting at the altar?”

  “Hell no! You’re supposed to be shaking in your boots, tugging at your collar, and sweating buckets with the fear she won’t show.”

  “Not a chance of that happening,” Brent said. “It took numerous bribes to get her to wait this long. I wouldn’t be surprised if she walked down the aisle with bells on like she threatened.”

  “Oh God, I hope not.” Wade glanced over his shoulder to the end of the red carpet runner. “Then again, it sounds like something Vee would do.”

  Soft music floated on the air and Brent’s heart raced with anticipation. He didn’t care if she showed up in her PJs or one of the shirts she’d pinched from his wardrobe, he just wanted to get this date started so they could make it official.

  Davie appeared at the top of the aisle, Emily by his side, and Wade let out a sigh beside him. “Damn. I’ll never get used to those two being in my life. Being my life,” he murmured.

  “Halfway there,” Brent reminded himself.

  “What?” Wade asked.

  “Nothing.” Now was not the time to have that discussion.

  The music changed and the strains of Nickelback’s Holding On To Heaven filled the air. A bark of laughter burst from his throat only to be cut off mid-breath when Vee came into view. It was so typically her to choose a song no one else would walk down the aisle to. She moved towards him, her long white dress swirling around her bare feet, the little bells attached to an anklet she wore on her right leg barely audible over the music and whispers of the crowd.

  He heard the celebrant say something, but his attention was completely on Vee and the damn bells she’d promised to wear. And she knew it. Her lips kicked up on one end and the sparkle in her eyes told him she had more ways to dazzle him planned. As she drew closer he checked the urge to meet her halfway. Not that he cared what anyone else thought, but Morgan might take offence to being pushed aside.

  Brent had been shocked and please when Vee had suggested their friend walk her down the aisle. She’d wanted Wade to stand up for him as best man and insisted it was the more important role of the two. It had taken some convincing, but eventually Wade had seen the wisdom of the move. To say Morgan had been thrilled with Vee’s request was an understatement. And as the two of them made their way the last few steps, his friend still had a proud smile on his face.

  The ceremony went off without a hitch. There were photos and toasts and finger food, and Brent soon found himself separated from his new wife. People milled about on the lawn in their designer-best. Spotting Vee over on the terrace, he made his way across the lawn. Sneaking up behind her, he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her in close. “Are you having a good time?” he asked.

  “It’s been the best date of my life.” Vee turned her head and kissed his jaw.

  “I’m glad. I wasn’t sure you’d go for the whole Valentine’s Day wedding.”

  “You do realise I accepted this date for a reason.”

  “My good looks and charm?”

  “Mm, those are certainly a bonus. But what I’m after is a second date.”

  “A second date?”

  “Same time next year?”

  “You want to do this again?” Brent glanced around them.

  “Well not quite this elaborate, but yes, same date every year for the rest of our lives.” She spun in his arms and stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. “And I’ll take your heart.”

  “A lifetime of Valentine’s dates?” He pretended to ponder the request. “I suppose I can manage that, but I’m afraid I can’t let you take my heart. I have no control of that traitorous organ. It was stolen years ago and never returned.”

  Vee laughed. “That was one of those sneak attacks I’m so good at.”

  “Valentine Coleman, there was nothing sneaky about it. You marched right in and plucked that thing out like you owned it. And you do. Then, now, always.”

  The End

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  About the Author

  Rhian Cahill is the alter ego of a stay-at-home mother of four. With motherly duties rapidly dwindling, Rhian is now able to make use of the fertile imagination that kept her sane for all those years of slavery. Spending some years living overseas and visiting tropical climates has helped inspire some steamy stories. Multi-published in erotic romance, Rhian (with the help of Mr. Muse) spends her days and nights writing. When not glued to the keyboard, you’ll find her with a book in hand avoiding housework as much as possible.