by Jade Alyse
The sensation was climbing inside of him, and he sensed that she felt it too. It was only a matter of seconds that he would act on his feelings. He just needed the cue. He nudged one of her thighs outward with his knee, and followed suit with the other. He heard her suck in her breath as she rolled her eyes closed, licking her lips once more. He was waiting for her to say yes...
Baby, just say it...I’ll make you feel alright...I promise...
He leaned down to kiss her lips once and she moaned slowly. The sunset bathed the room in tepid amber light, kindling the golden flecks in her skin.
“I love you, Natalie,” he whispered against her collarbone.
“I love you, too,” she whispered back, whimpering leisurely afterward. She then reached up and tugged at the hem of his V-neck t-shirt, sliding it up his body and over his head. His eyes never left her face. He placed his fingers on his belt buckle and proceeded to loosen it. This moment was all too familiar – he only prayed that they weren’t interrupted this time. She helped him slide his jeans down, and he kicked them off with ease. His boxers followed.
She took his hands, pulling him on the bed again, setting him down on his back. She confidently mounted his hips, and it startled him. This was his baby, his Natalie, his innocent, immaculate, pure, darling, who was now straddling him in a way that made him not recognize her. But he embraced the change. He sat up, hooking her legs around his waist, reaching for her cheeks, kissing her lips over and over again. And then he steadied her face, massaging her hair with his fingers, gazing into her eyes. She smiled, nodded earnestly and whispered, “Yes, baby, yes”, and kissed him again.
He rolled her on her back again, and settled himself between her thighs, angling himself just right. The edge of his eager appendage zeroed in for a swift landing. He witnessed her take a deep breath...
And just as the tip his skin touched her own, a knock on the door disrupted his concentration.
“Hey, guys,” Scotty said, knocking again. “Are you almost done? I want to get a good parking space on the Riverfront...”
Brandon lowered his head, huffed, and murmured, “Fuck!”
He then kissed his Natalie’s forehead, and slid off of her, answering, “Yes, we’re coming...chill out...”
“Oh, my God,” Natalie said, pressing a hand to her chest in an attempt to catch her breath. “What were we just about to do? Oh, my God...oh, my...”
She quickly grabbed her clothes from a chair in the corner. He attempted to reach for her. “Natalie, baby, don’t...don’t...” But she dodged his grasp, raced into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
#
They enjoyed seafood on the Riverfront in Savannah, watching a series of boats of different sizes float by with ease. And she drank more than she should have at dinner, and at Wet Willie’s only a few paces away – damn that lack of an open container law.
She wasn’t drunk; she only wanted to numb the memories of what occurred only a couple of hours before, but the alcohol only made her want Brandon more. She could remember the size and shape and outline of his penis, and his chest, and the muscles in his arms, the look in his eyes. She found it hard to swallow. She’d wanted to make love to him for so long, but when she got this close, she couldn’t do it...
She sat on a bench in front of a street musician while Asha, Brandon and Scotty went back into Wet Willie’s for another daiquiri. The wild breeze moved swiftly through her hair and the sound of the organic acoustic guitar lulled her paranoid senses.
“You look cold.”
Brandon loomed above her head, removing his black blazer from his shoulders. She took it without hesitation – she wanted his smell to envelop her as it’d done before.
Then he sat down beside her, and their hips grazed. She rolled her eyes closed and turned her head away.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry about earlier...”
“What are you apologizing for, Natalie?” he chuckled, rubbing her head. “You have nothing to apologize for. I was being stupid. You’re not ready.”
She turned to face him again. “I want to be so badly...you just don’t understand...”
“I’m going to be honest, baby...I want you to be ready too...but it’s no big deal...I promise you...I have the rest of my life to wait...”
She raised her eyebrows at the latter part of that statement. Rest of my life... She didn’t want him to see that it made her feel itchy.
The following morning, she slept longer that she anticipated, but her body felt rested and renewed. But Brandon wasn't by her side. She then raised herself up, brows furrowed in curiosity, calling out his name is whisper, his voice drowning into the late morning stillness. When she didn't get a response, she slid off of the floor and threw on the first nightie she could find; she couldn't recall why she took it off or when, but it was probably around the same time that Brandon had mysteriously removed his underwear in the middle of the night, groaning to himself and nearly rolling on top of her. It was then that she tried to breathe as she attempted to cool down the flagrant temperature rising in her body. She didn't want to think about her actions if she saw his penis again, if she smelled his animalistic warmth, or heard him groan like that again...
She shook off the foolishness as she crept out of the bedroom and down the hallway, calling out his name again. Scotty nearly startled her when he poked his head out into the hallway, glaring at her.
"Why the hell are you calling Brandon's name like a fool?"
"You're still asleep?" Scotty rolled his eyes. "Girl, I'm on vacation...I'll get up when I damn well please..."
"I'm looking for Brandon," she replied. "He didn't happen to take off again, did he?"
"No," he chuckled, taking a cue from her teasing tone. "I think he's in it to win it this time...you want me to help you look for him?"
"Nah, I'm okay...you go back to sleep..."
"Hell, I'm wide awake now...I might as well go and terrorize Ash for a little
while...maybe we can go into Savannah later and do some sightseeing...?"
Natalie smiled. "Sounds good..."
She followed the sound of minute chatter coming from the kitchen downstairs. It was there that she found Brandon looming over the stove, poking at something in a frying pan with a fork. Francis and Kent were sitting at the breakfast bar with a newspaper folded out before them.
“There she is,” Francis beamed, sliding off of her barstool. “You look refreshed darling...”
“I am,” Natalie breathed, smiling. “This is a very beautiful house.”
Francis placed her hands on Natalie’s shoulders. “Would you like a mimosa while you wait on breakfast?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Natalie said. “I’m not big on drinking so early in the day...”
“Oh, hell, you’re on vacation...live it up, child,” Francis teased. “Have a seat; I’ll have one for you in no time.”
Natalie not wanting to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere compliantly took a seat across from Kent, who then took a sip from his mug of coffee.
“Brandon decided to cook us breakfast this morning,” Kent offered. “Did he now?” “Yes,” Francis answered, pouring the orange juice and champagne mixture into a glass.
“He’s making us country ham and scrambled eggs...he tells us that it’s your favorite...”
Natalie felt her cheeks begin to tingle, and her attempt at hiding her smile failed. “Yea, something like that...” Brandon turned his eyes away from the stove momentarily and winked at her.
“Oh, gosh, Kent, she’s so shy,” Francis said. “Do you remember when I was that shy all those years ago?”
“No,” Kent answered abruptly. Natalie and Brandon chuckled under their breath. “Oh, my Kent is an old fart,” Francis said with the roll of her eyes. “I was just like you when I was in my twenties. I tell you, I felt something strong about that old fool sitting over there and he had absolutely no clue. We were both law students at Harvard...but he came from old money and I didn’t. I
managed to convince myself that he wouldn’t be interested in me for that reason. Now, don’t get me wrong, I had all the self-confidence in the world...at twenty-three, I’d come a long way. You see, Kent wasn’t like the other pretentious, arrogant assholes that I shared classes with. He was different. It wasn’t until I had enough balls to tell him how I truly felt that I learned he felt the same way about me...ever since then, no one has been able to tear us apart...”
Natalie knew exactly what Francis Kelly was talking about, but she chose to play the fool anyway...
Brandon turned around again and his eyes lingered over her face. Maybe he understood what she meant too...
“I’m sorry,” Natalie sighed. “It takes me a while to warm up to people...”
“I understand completely,” Francis replied, nodding. “But just know that you shouldn’t waste a moment, hiding who you are and how you truly feel...you should let it out...oh, Lord, I should stop drinking...listen at me, talking to you as if I’m your mama...”
Natalie smiled. “I can see why Scotty loves y’all so much...”
“Thank you, child,” Francis answered, placing the champagne glass down in front of her. She then returned to her barstool, glancing in Brandon’s direction.
“Brandon’s quite a catch, isn’t he, Natalie?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean by that, Francis,” Natalie replied, attempting to hide her grin.
“Oh, please,” Francis replied, rolling her eyes again. “I noticed it the moment that you two walked through that front door, didn’t I, Kent?”
“Sure you did, Fran,” Kent answered, holding the newspaper up to his face.
“I see the same uncertainty in your eyes that I had when I was that age,” she assured Natalie. “You just have to let it go...”
As uncomfortable as the attention was, Natalie couldn’t help but notice that Francis made complete sense. But if she knew the entire story, wouldn’t she be able to understand the uncertainty that she felt inside?
“Breakfast is ready,” Brandon said, placing a plate down in front of her. “Here you go, Tal...”
“Brandy,” Natalie replied, beaming at the aesthetically pleasing presentation. “It actually looks good...”
“I learned from the best, didn’t I?”
Natalie felt her heart thump again. The breakfast was surprisingly good, in spite of the number of years that Brandon refused to cook. Natalie figured that he was just scared or maybe he really did enjoy her cooking enough.
Nevertheless, the fact that he remembered her favorite meal after all the time that had passed, was duly noted...
“If you need any help with the barbecue,” Natalie began as they sat at the breakfast bar together. “I’d be more than willing...I haven’t cooked extensively in awhile...I miss it...”
“Well, we appreciate that, Miss Natalie,” Francis said, shoving a forkful of eggs into her mouth. “But we’re not exactly having a barbecue...”
Natalie knew that she looked thoroughly confused.
“Kent and I decided to renew our wedding vows a little early,” Francis beamed. “We’ve been married for over thirty years and I think it’s about damn time we did something about it, don’t you think?”
“Of course,” Natalie agreed. “But where are all the guests? What exactly are the plans?”
“You have to excuse my Natalie,” Brandon began, smiling. “She pays a little too much attention to detail...”
“Well there’s no need,” Francis replied calmly. “It was a spontaneous decision. We’re going to stand right out on that beach with a local preacher and say our vows at sunset. I’m almost sixty years old; we don’t need all that frilly, pompous shit. I’m still in love with Kent and Kent is still in love with me...that’s all that matters...”
#
The wedding was just as impromptu and organic as Francis said it was going to be, but Natalie still felt the need to look her best. And as the old Kelly couple exchanged vows under a falling ochre sun and a quiet breeze, Natalie caught herself gazing in Brandon’s direction in a lingering fashion, as her dress swept along the sand, as her breath got caught in her throat, as he smiled serenely in her direction. Suddenly she was the shy, naïve seventeen-year-old freshman again, and being in Brandon’s presence caused a milky sensation in her stomach.
“My dearest Francis,” Kent breathed as he fought the inevitable tears. “A man through great obstacles of misfortune, heartbreak and confusion before we find the person who completes us in every way possible. You are the missing key to my lock, my darling...you are my mirror...you have evanesced into every part of my soul, my baby...I sincerely believe that in a previous life we loved each other just as much as we do now...I always knew that you were the one...and I will love you till the very hour that I stop breathing...”
“Kent,” she began, smiling through her tears. “There were a lot of things that I never thought I’d be or do or see. I never thought I’d meet a rich bastard like you, I never thought I’d fall in love with a rich bastard like you, I never thought I’d breathe a rich bastard like you. You have always been the better part of me; the person that I always wanted to be but could never understand fully. I still want you just as much as I did when we were young and foolish, living in that ratty one bedroom apartment; I still admire you just as much as I did when we had that Morality class together...you are brilliant and self-assured and fierce. I dreamt of a man like you but never knew that you truly existed. I am so glad that I am your wife...I cannot stand life without you...”
When Natalie glanced at Brandon again, he mouthed I love you and a tear escaped from her eye and slid down her cheek.
“Are you guys hungry?” Scotty asked after the ceremony was over. “I’m pretty sure my aunt and uncle are going to want some alone time after all of that...”
“I could eat,” Asha answered, tugging at the hem of her dress. “Natalie, Brandon? Are you in?”
Brandon and Natalie glanced at each other, and then he shook his head. “No, you guys go ahead...Tal and I are going to take a walk...”
Brandon reached for Natalie’s hand and tugged her away before she had a chance to protest. She didn’t want to anyway...
He pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her waist. The sun still lingered peacefully over the horizon, the beach was uninhabited, and the sound of the crashing waves was rather tame. Natalie couldn’t think of another place she’d rather be...
“That ceremony was intense, wasn’t it?” Brandon asked her.
She nodded slowly. “Yea, but I couldn’t think of a better way to do it...get married, I mean...it should be personal, intimate, meaningful...I think people get too caught up in the ceremony that they forget about the marriage and the lifelong commitment...”
“I completely agree,” he replied. “Besides it’s more cost-efficient...”
“Since when do you care about spending a lot of money?” Natalie teased, nudging him
“I’ve changed, Nat,” he replied with a sigh. “I can’t put it any simpler than that...” “I know,” she quietly replied, smiling into him. “I can tell...” He attempted to kiss her, but she quickly broke free of his grasp, removed her sandals, hiked up her dress and ran toward the shore.
“Natalie, what the hell are you doing?” he asked her, removing his shoes and socks. She squealed, jumping through the water, diving in completely. Brandon was close behind her, removing his shirt and belt, jumping in after her. And by the time he reached her, she had already breached the surface again, startling him. He smiled as she pulled him in close, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him once.
“What’s going on with you?” he asked her, peeling back a clump of hair that had gotten stuck to her cheek.
She studied his eyes, grinning warmly, and whispered, “I’ve changed too...”
He kissed her again, longer and deeper this time. Then she pulled apart from him and gingerly ran her fingers along her cheek.
“Francis was right,
Brandy,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t be afraid to show how I truly feel...I shouldn’t be afraid to tell you what I’m thinking...time is passing us by...and damn it, I love you, don’t I?”
“I love you too, Natalie,” he murmured, nuzzling his nose against hers.
“This is right, Brandon,” she replied, witlessly. “This is so right that it scares me...and you used to scare me...but I’m not afraid anymore...I refuse to be...”
“What are you trying to say...?”
“There are some things that I’ve been trying to tell you but I could never get them out,” she whispered, her voice splintering.
He grinned. “I have some things to tell you too...”
“You go first,” she offered.
He shook his head. “Not right here, not right now...”
She then grew anxious. “Just tell me, Brandy...why are you acting all weird...?” “I’m not trying to,” he replied. “We should talk when we’re alone tonight...”
“Am I going to like this conversation?”
He sighed and hesitated momentarily. “I’m thinking that you are...”
“Tonight, then?” He nodded. “Fine,” she sighed, rubbing his shoulders with her hands. “We should go meet up with Scotty and Asha...we’ve been isolating ourselves all weekend...”
“And that’s a bad thing?” he replied, leaning in to kiss her.
“Yes,” she replied, laughing. “We’ve got to do better...”
#
He remembered how he felt about Natalie three years ago, when they couldn’t have been any closer. He was firmly secure in the idea that their relationship could stand the test of time, as trite as that sounded, and he knew that every part of him wanted her by his side for the rest of his life. So, maybe that would explain why he’d pushed the notion that she was only twenty-years-old and hadn’t finished school yet out his mind. Being young and naïve was easier to admit than the idea that maybe she really didn’t want to marry him. And in that three year span, he knew that he needed to change in order to win her back: he wouldn’t pressure her into doing anything she wasn’t ready for; she had never been as susceptible to change as he was and it took him awhile to understand that. The fact that she was willing to give it another go, even after all the obstacles their relationship had gone through was indication enough that she may have been ready for a new leap – and perhaps it was his time to discern which one would be better.
