Worry covers his face as his eyebrows are knitted together, his features harder than normal, and dark bags are under his eyes. My smile drops to a frown as I reach out and cup his cheek, my thumb dragging under his eye.
“I’m okay, Bentley,” I reassure him as Reese Witherspoon yells at her fictional husband behind him.
Bentley leans his forehead against mine, his fingers curling around my hair which is still disheveled up from the night before. His head moves side to side slowly against mine. “I should have been there. I would’ve come as soon as J.P. called but I couldn’t leave until this morning.”
He lets out a long sigh and I gently press my lips against his. “Don’t worry, your sister knows how to kick a guy right where it hurts.”
Finally, he lets out a small laugh and pulls me in for a deep kiss, sliding his tongue over mine. His hand pulls on my hair as though he’s making sure I’m really in front of him. Breaking the kiss he leans back, his hands slide down my arms to my wrists. I start to pull them away but I’m not fast enough. Bentley flips my wrist back and forth, inspecting them both carefully and cussing under his breath as he notices the bruises left behind by Kevin.
“I’m so sorry, baby. This will never happen again.” He tenderly presses his lips against my wounds and I push my fingers through his hair so he’ll look at me.
“Bent, it’s not your fault.”
He swallows hard and I see tears in his eyes which immediately makes me want to cry too. I blink quickly, trying to hide mine before he notices. I bury my head in his chest as I wrap my arms around his neck and he holds me close. Unable to hold it in, too many emotions hitting me all at once, I cry softly into his t-shirt as he rubs my back and whispers how sorry he is. He pulls away just long enough to stand and help me up without waking Bri. Taking my hand, he nods to the front door.
“Come on, I’m taking you home,” he announces and I frown. Glancing over my shoulder, I sigh. Home alone doesn’t sound that appealing. I’d rather stay here cuddled up with Bri than by myself.
Bentley leans down and kisses my forehead, I’m a good six inches shorter than him now as I stand barefooted in a pair of Bri’s yoga pants and tank top. His hands move to my hips and my body reacts with electric sparks dancing across my skin. He turns his lips into a smile and says, “Don’t worry, I’m staying with you. I’m not leaving your side any time soon.”
My heart races at his words and I push up on my tippy toes to kiss him. His hands slide behind me and pull me against him. His breath is warm on my ear when he whispers, “Am I scaring you off again?”
Grinning, I look up at him and shake my head. He returns the smile and takes my hand, leading us through the kitchen where Paulie is working on his laptop. Nervously, I stand behind Bentley, bracing myself for the big brother lecture I know I’m about to hear. Instead, Paulie stands and shakes Bentley’s hand. I step to the side, lips pursed questioningly as I watch this interaction.
“Thanks for taking care of her,” Bentley says with a firm nod, his hand still gripping Paulie’s.
Paulie nods back. “Likewise.”
My brother looks at me and opens his arms for a hug. I step into his embrace and he squeezes me hard, not letting go right away. When he pulls away, he looks into my eyes and somehow this feels like some sort of passage of rights. Before I can ruin the moment by blurting out and asking if he’s about to cry, Paulie averts his eyes. Bentley takes my hand, leading us outside after I gather my clothes from the night before. Once in the truck, I glance over at Bentley, who is still holding my hand.
“What was that?” I ask.
He narrows his eyebrows. “What was what?”
“Back there, with my brother. Were you two passing me off?” That’s what it felt like, but Paulie seemed a bit reluctant. I need to corner him and find out what’s going on in his mind because I know what’s going on in mine and I’m ready for whatever is in store for Bentley and me.
Bentley doesn’t take his eyes off the road as he squeezes my hand. “You’re important to both of us, Jules, and last night had us both worried.” I nod and leave it at that, too tired and hungover to want to discuss it any further.
***
Driving back to her place, Jules falls asleep with her head on my shoulder. My hand never leaves hers as I don’t want her out of my touch, much less my sight. I look over at her sleeping peacefully, slightly snoring, and I see the bruise on her wrist. My blood pressure rises and I want to hurt the jerk that did it to her. I don’t want to be the boyfriend that won’t let his girl out of his sight, but if it’s what I have to do to keep her safe, I’ll be that guy.
Pulling into her driveway, Jules slowly wakes up, stretching her arms above her head. She looks at me and asks, “What time are we going to your parents today?”
I can’t take her there now. I’d planned on letting the cat out of the bag today, but not after last night. I don’t know when I’ll be able to. Right now I have to focus on Jules and keeping her safe. Leaning toward her, I push my lips on her forehead. “We’re not going, I’m keeping you in my arms all day.” A smile spreads across her face and I know she won’t object.
Chapter 21
My face has donned a permanent smile ever since Bentley brought me home from Paulie and Bri’s. When he said that he wasn’t leaving my side, he meant it. Every night, he holds me close when I fall asleep. He leaves around five in the morning to get things ready for his employees, but comes back at eight to take me to work. I’m loving having some much Bentley time but he seems super stressed.
It’s the week of the wedding and he’s running around helping his sister get ready for her big day while trying to operate his nursery as well as take care of me. The man is exhausted and usually snoring before I even turn the light off. I’m sure once the wedding is over, things will slow down and we’ll fall into a routine. My ridiculous grin gets bigger as I realize how much I want Bentley to move in and yet we still haven’t gone to the next level physically yet.
Straightening his baby blue tie over his white dress shirt, I watch Bentley staring over my head into the mirror and I wonder what he’s thinking. His face is serious and he looks drained. I can’t wait until Sunday when we finally have a day to sleep in, the poor guy needs a day off.
Turning to face him, I run my hands down his suit coat, smoothing out the wool material. The tag read Armani but I know better than to comment on it. Bentley and Bri have proven that they don’t let money define them. Bentley glances down and my grin gets wider. His hands move to my bare shoulders, his thumb immediately going to my tattoo and his shoulders drop slightly as he relaxes. Not in my heels yet and still shorter than him, I push up on my toes and brush my lips against his.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask, worry setting in as this isn’t the typical upbeat Bentley that I’m familiar with.
His hands squeeze my shoulders and he shakes his head. “It’s just been a long week, that’s all.” He kisses my forehead and steps just outside the bathroom. “I’ll be in the living room waiting.”
I sigh and the smile I’d been wearing all week fades. Something’s going on and my instinct tells me that it’s not good. Turning to face the mirror myself, I smooth out my own strapless dress with layers of chiffon the color of a grapefruit. I pull on a pearl bracelet Paulie got me for graduation and the matching necklace he gave me the night of his engagement party. My fingers touch each jewel and I hear Bentley’s words in my mind: Julianna, that ‘mistake’ you made almost fifteen years ago is why you’re sitting here with me. With Bentley’s actions, I’m beginning to wonder if his words are true or if I’m just going to end up losing someone else I love. Yes, love.
Before I ruin my make-up, I flip off the light and enter the living room where he’s staring mindlessly at the baseball game on the television. I clear my throat to get his attention and automatically, like a robot, he turns off the game, stands up, takes my hand, and leads us out to his truck without saying a word. My stomach starts to sour and I
know this night isn’t going to end well.
A short dress and high heels are not ideal for his lifted F-350 so he’s forced to help me into the passenger seat. My hands on his shoulders, I hold on to them a bit longer and give a quick squeeze to get his attention. Snapping out of his trance, his eyes meet mine.
“Everything okay, Bentley?” I ask, dreading what he might say.
He lets out a long sigh and shakes his head. Pulling my hand to his lips, he gently kisses it. “I’m sorry, Julianna. The week is catching up to me.” I give him a meek smile, his words not making me feel any more comfortable. He kisses my hand again then flashes me his dimple. “You look amazing tonight. I can only imagine what you’ll look like tomorrow.”
My stomach settles slightly as this is something he would normally say. Moving with a little pep in his step now, he runs around to the truck and turns on his Florida Georgia Line CD, singing along with it. I watch him for a while and the perma-grin he made disappear in the bathroom makes its way back on my face. I join him in the sing-along. Holding hands on the way to the church, we have our own impromptu concert. By the time we arrive downtown, we’re both laughing and back to the normal couple we usually are.
Bentley laces his fingers with mine as we make our way across the parking lot. He nods in the direction of the Arch, but I refuse to look that way after my last experience there. Clutching my hand, he asks in a teasing manner, “Think I can get you in the Arch?”
“Hell no!” I say with a laugh then cover my mouth, afraid Jesus himself might get off that cross inside and come into the parking lot to wash my mouth out.
Bentley lets out his deep chuckle and stops walking, pulling me against his chest. He leans down and lets his lips find mine. His tongue desperately slides across my mouth, begging for me to let him in. His right hand finds my neck under my long dark mane and his fingers grip my hair making our kiss even more intense. His left hand slides around my waist and pinches my back side. Surprised, I yelp finally letting his tongue in my mouth where it teases mine and I pull him closer. His hand in my hair grasps it tighter and pulls me to look at him. Our kiss over, my chest is heaving as I try to catch my breath.
“I’m ready,” I mumble, unable to think of anything else to say.
Bentley quirks an eyebrow. “Ready?”
Slowly nodding, locking eyes with him, I repeat, “I’m ready…to be yours. I don’t want you going anywhere unless I’m with you.”
Bentley’s eyes light up and he kisses me again as the church bells chime letting us know we’re late. I break the kiss this time and mockingly ask, “Am I scaring you away?”
His deep laughter fills the air around us and he leads us inside, slipping his arm around my waist. The rest of the wedding party and family are at the front of the church praying as the Jesus statue glares at us for being late. My arm is around Bentley’s back and I hold him close as though he can protect me from a figure on a pedestal and the evil looks from the other bridesmaids.
An hour later and Bentley did save me from the wicked Nikki. Bentley only let go of me when we had to take our places beside the bride and groom. Other than that, he was my knight in shining armor. Before we head to Mosaic, an upscale restaurant not far from the church, Bri greets us both with hugs and chatters nervously about her concerns for the ceremony. In true big brother fashion, Bentley takes her by the shoulders and says, “Bri, tomorrow will be fine. All you have to worry about is getting down the aisle and saying I do.”
The Ladner siblings embrace and I look away, trying not to encroach on their moment, only to be greeted by Jesus staring at me again. Quickly looking back at them, I ask, “Where’s Ariel?”
Bentley looks at me confused as Bri laughs. “She’s not feeling good so she stayed home with a sitter. She’ll be here tomorrow in rare form I’m sure.”
“Tell her I’m looking forward to eating cake with her at the reception.”
Bri nods and is pulled away by her mother to discuss something about where the florist should set up. I look back at Bentley who has that intense look on his face again. I follow his gaze to see him nodding at Father Foy, the priest in charge of tomorrow’s ceremony. The two of them are having a staredown but before I can ask anything, Bentley grips my hand and pulls us toward the exit.
Helping me into the truck again, he apologizes. “Sorry, I’m just not comfortable in church. I hope that’s not a problem.”
He shuts the door and climbs in on the other side. Scrunching my nose, I ask, “A problem?”
“Yeah, for when we get married. Did you want a church wedding?”
My heart skips a beat and for a brief second I see nothing but black. I want to be intimate with Bentley, I want him to move in, I think I even love him, but the mention of marriage and I’m ready to run for the hills.
Bentley’s laughter breaks my train of thought and I look at him. “Relax, Jules. I was only teasing… a little bit,” he says with a wink.
Instead of relief, my body is flooded with excitement. Once Paulie and Bri are married, Bentley and I will need to sit down and discuss our future. Goosebumps jump over my skin. Our future? I’ve never had a future with anyone, never even thought about it or wanted it. I always figured Smitty and I would grow old together, but now it looks like it’ll be Bentley and I rocking together on our front porch.
I float through dinner on cloud nine with Bentley by my side. He introduces me to family Bri had me avoid at the shower. Most of them are cordial enough, but a few give obvious disapproving looks. Bentley isn’t fazed by it, although we do cut out early after telling both Paulie and Bri to enjoy their last night of being single.
Once inside the house, Bentley immediately sheds his jacket and tie, setting them on the back of a kitchen chair. Leaning against the door, watching his long, muscular body move as he unbuttons his shirt and talks about the plans for the next day, I bite my bottom lip, trying to keep my hormones in check. His back to me, he shrugs off his shirt setting it with his coat and tie. His broad shoulders, muscles stretching his thin white undershirt have my body in a frenzy.
When I don’t respond to his question, he turns to face me and I take two steps to him, my mouth closing in on his as I take his head in both my hands. I keep moving until he’s pinned against the counter. Quickly, he returns the kiss, his hands slide under my dress and clench my thighs, lifting me, my legs moving around his waist. I can feel him straining under his pants and my hips immediately grind against him.
Our tongues moving together, he walks us down the hallway to my bedroom. Gently laying me back on the bed, he lifts his arms above his head to take his shirt off and I sit up, undoing his pants, letting them drop to the ground. Tossing his shirt to the floor, he lifts his eyebrow and speaks softly.
“You sure about this, Julianna? After we do this, there’s no turning back. You’ll be mine and I’ll be yours…”
My heart races and I wrap my legs around his waist, yanking and pulling him on top of me. He catches himself on the bed, his arms on either side of my torso as he grins.
“Condoms?” he asks.
Immediately, I frown and prop myself up on my elbows. “Use them or do I have them?” I ask, hoping he’s just asking for my opinion.
He leans back, resting lightly on my thighs as his hands move to my dress on my stomach. “I take it you don’t have any…” he says softly, avoiding my eyes.
Irritated, I complain, “You don’t either?”
Bentley scoffs and lifts my chin to look at him. “Relax, baby. I didn’t know you were ready, didn’t think to throw them in when I packed a bag for the week.”
My stomach drops. “Only the week?”
His dimple gets deeper. “You want me here longer?”
I shrug. “Maybe…”
Bentley stands up between my legs and drops to his knees. Sitting up to see him, I ask, “What are you doing?”
A mischievous grin spreads across his face and he lightly pushes me to lay back down. “Just because we don’t ha
ve a condom, doesn’t mean I can’t pleasure you.”
His fingers drag up and down my inner thighs and my body shudders in anticipation. My heart races as I close my eyes, trying to steady myself and prepare for Bentley’s touch. His lips press into the sensitive skin on my thigh, so close yet so far away from my pleasure spot. With my eyes shut, I breathe deeply wondering if I’m already this worked up and I haven’t even touched him yet, how will my body handle it when I finally feel him?
“Julianna,” I hear his deep voice pulling me out of my thoughts. I barely peep out a “yes” as I lean up and see Bentley grinning from between my legs. Our eyes connect and his thumb rubs over the thin silk fabric of my thong. His other hand reaches for my hand and we intertwine our fingers.
With a squeeze of my hand, he slides the fabric to the side and puts more pressure behind his thumb, rubbing directly against my sweet spot. My chest puffs up and down, my eyes fall closed again, and a low moan erupts from my lips. Bentley pulls my hand to get my attention. Looking at him again, his grin turns into a smirk.
“This is it, baby, no turning back,” he says confidently and my body throbs for him. In mid-nod, I let out a loud yelp of surprise as Bentley buries his face between my legs and I feel his tongue like I never have before.
***
Panting as I try to catch my breath from my release, I reach down and pull Jules up from between my legs. I don’t even want to think about the last time I came like this it was so long ago, but the blowjob I just received from Jules was like no other. She teased and satisfied me in ways I didn’t even know existed. There was this thing with her tongue, at least I think it was her tongue…
Currently, her tongue now twirls against mine before she rolls to the side, catching her own breath and snuggling up to my chest. She mindlessly drags her finger through my chest hair causing me to start to get hard again. This was the perfect end to an uneasy week, I still don’t know how I’m going to handle tomorrow, but I’ll figure it out and I just pray that Jules takes the news well. My fingers fiddle with her hair as she kisses my chest and blows on my nipple.
Spring Into Love Page 105
