“I don't want you to go,” I finally say. “I never want you to go.”
“Then why push me away?”
“It's complicated, Mel.”
“That doesn't mean you can't explain it.”
Grabbing her hand, I pull her to the chairs by the fire, and sit her down. Slipping my fingers between hers, I pull her hand into my lap and tell her everything.
“A few years ago I had a good friend named Sadie. She was just a friend.” I reiterate, making sure she hears me. “Sadie had some guy twice her age stalk her. It got bad, really bad. There were threats, he'd follow her around, be outside her work or show up someplace she was. It was actually really scary. So we came up with a plan that we would pretend we were married. We moved in together, and made it all look legit, even spread some rumors that she was pregnant, all to hopefully drive that creep away.”
Running my thumb back and forth over the top of her hand, my eyes shift between hers. “It worked, he eventually backed off. For a little while after, we kept the lie going just to make sure. But, after a while, Sadie met someone, and dropped me entirely. We were friends since we were thirteen, and one day she just decided we weren't anymore. It hurt, it hurt a lot to lose her like that. So, I built up my wall, moved into this cabin, and decided I was better off alone.”
She smiles softly, lifting her hand to my cheek and stroking it gently.
“Then the rumors started. I became the man who abandoned his wife and child. I became the deadbeat, the loner with a wife and kid out there someplace in the world. But I was never really married, and I don't have a child running around out there somewhere.”
“Why didn't you ever say anything? Why did you let the rumors go on and not set people straight?”
“Because I still cared about her. Despite everything and how I felt about it, I still didn't want anything to happen to her. But maybe I should have, maybe I should have stood up to the rumors because none of it is true. . .” My voice fades out as I turn my attention to the fire.
She squeezes my hand reassuringly. “I understand why you did that for her. It means you care, and there's nothing wrong with caring.”
My eyes drift back to hers. “The truth is, I want everything you want. I want a family, I want someone to go hiking with, to laugh with, to live and experience life with. Being alone offers nothing. I want more than what I've been living. I got that with you, I got all of that with you, but I’m ten years older than you, and after that night with your brother, I was afraid I'd be holding you back. You're so young. You should be able to experience life however you want, and not be held back by someone like me.”
“Someone like you?”
“A guy who has rooted himself in a small town, who's ten years ahead of you, and has already done so many things you haven't even had the chance to. Like going to a bar or traveling and seeing the world.”
“I don't care about all of that, none of it matters to me. If I wanted to do any of those things, I wouldn't be here with you now. All I care about is being happy. I don't want to get hurt, Bran.”
“I'd never hurt you, Mel. I love you.” The words slip out easily and unrestricted. I don't have to think about it. I don't need to second guess what I feel.
Maybe it's because I want her to hear it. Maybe it's just the whiskey giving me a little liquid courage to say it. Either way, she knows now.
A weight lifts off my chest, making my heart hammer and the air easier to breathe.
“You love me?” she asks, her eyes growing big, pupils expanding like dark pools. The fire flicks like glitter in her gaze, making her bright green eyes explode with yellow and gold flakes.
Pinching her chin in my fingers, I gently run my thumb over her bottom lip. “I love you. I know it might seem too soon and feel like there's no way it can be real, but I swear to you, it's true. I love you, Melody. You're what I've been waiting for.”
She's quiet, her eyes moving back and forth over mine. Swallowing hard, my stomach tightens with worry.
Did I just ruin this even more?
I don't want her to think she needs to say she loves me too if she's not there yet. If she feels she needs more time, I'm all right with that. But I don't want to push her away because she thinks there's some sort of pressure to say it back.
“Look, I don't expect—”
I hardly get to finish the last word before she grabs my face and kisses me. “I love you too,” she says softly against my lips. “I thought I was crazy.” Her mouth never pulls away as she speaks. “But now I know I'm not. I love you, Bran.”
Slipping both her hands into my hair, her nails run against my scalp as her fingers twirl and tug gently. She groans, her moan sexy and sinful all in one breath.
Grabbing her around the waist, I pull her onto my lap. Her legs spread wide as she arches her back. With hard nipples, Melody rolls her hips against my bulge.
I'm hard instantly as her tongue sweeps across my mouth, and she bites down on my bottom lip. She smiles through her bite, pulling on my lip until it plucks free.
I can't stop the growl that explodes from deep within my core. Pressing open palms against her shoulder blades, I pull her in, kissing her harder. I need this woman. I've never needed something so bad in my life, and I'm letting this kiss show her that.
Her tongue licks across the ridge of my mouth as she glides her hands down my chest until they hit my belt. Pulling back, she's breathing heavily as her fingers work my belt free.
I am painfully hard, throbbing to be inside her. The cool air swirls between us as she unbuttons my pants and pulls the zipper down. Running my fingertips up her arms, I can feel the goosebumps on her skin.
“Let's go inside,” I say, whispering into her ear as I drive my hands into her hair and kiss her neck.
“No,” she says, her voice delicate as glass. “Here, take me right here. By the fire, outside like when we first met.” Shoving her hand into my pants, she pulls my dick out and strokes my shaft up and down.
Pulling off her jacket, I tug her shirt over her head. Her chest is rising and falling rapidly. Running the tips of my fingers over her lacy white bra, I circle both nipples, turning them hard as diamonds.
My fingers keep moving, adding to the layer of goosebumps as I slip down the center of her chest, drawing a line over her naval. She keeps her eyes on me as I rip her shorts open. Raising up, I work them off her body until they drop free.
Her panties match her bra, and I almost can't take how sexy she looks. Bouncy red curls dangle around her face, framing her soft jawline. The glow of the flames licks her skin, making her light up like an angel.
And that's exactly what she is. She's my angel.
Melody thinks I saved her, but she's wrong. She saved me from a life of loneliness. She saved me from myself.
Ripping her panties clear off, I toss them over her shoulder. Digging my fingers into her hips, I slam her down on my shaft. Melody exhales a heavy breath as I hold her there. I don't let her move, but I know she wants to. Her hips struggle against my hands, trying to grind herself against my stomach.
“I'm going to make love to you tonight, not just fuck you.” Slow and gentle, I guide her hips up, and slam her back down.
She moans, dropping her eyes onto mine. Her lips form a sexy little O as I lift her and drop her again. I know she's on top, but I want this to last. I want her to see exactly how good I can make her feel. I want her entire body to shake and tremble as I fill her.
Her skin is growing hotter and hotter as she rides me. It's beautiful. She's beautiful.
Thrusting up, Mel arches her back, and lets her head tip as she grabs my shoulders. Her moans are growing louder, and her muscles start to tense up. Rolling her hips, her slit slicks my stomach.
She's so close to coming, I can feel it. Her walls are clenching around me. Her body is starting to go stiff. Her nails are digging into my skin.
Those small movements send me over the edge. I could come right now, but I want to come with her.<
br />
“Mm, Bran,” she moans as she throws herself forward, burying her face into the crook of my neck.
Wrapping my arms around her back, I hold her close as I piston my hips upward. My heels press into the soft ground as I give one last thrust. My balls draw up high and my shaft thickens as it shoots come inside her heat.
Melody's entire body relaxes, molding against mine. “I love you.” She whispers against my chest, her fingers coming up and gently stroking the side of my face.
“I love you too.”
We snuggle up by the fire, wrapped around each other. The fire crackles in the silence, and the trees rustle as they blow in the wind.
It's perfect. Everything right now just seems so perfect, too perfect to let this moment slip by.
“Mel,” I say.
“Yeah?” she looks up at me, her finger twirling in the center of my chest.
“Would it be crazy if I proposed to you right now?”
“What?” she asks, pushing herself up.
“If I asked you to marry me right now, would you say yes?”
“Are you serious?”
“Wait right here.” Slipping out from underneath her, I run into the house quickly. “I have something here for you. It's not a ring, but I will get you one.”
Dropping to one knee, my hands are behind my back. Tears are already filling her eyes as she looks down at me.
“Marry me,” I say, pulling out the piece of art I made for her and holding it up.
She inhales a shallow breath, tears rolling down her cheeks as she reaches for the sculpture. Her fingers trace the curves, eyes twinkling with happiness.
The sculpture is of her standing on a lily pad naked and wrapped in a giant leaf. It took hours of sculpting and smoothing to get it perfect, and another day of work to paint it.
But it's her, the perfect version of her. Wrapped in nature, allowing it to carry her, cover her, and embrace her.
“I know what I want, Mel, and that's you. I don't need to think about it, not when I can feel it in my heart. You're all I'll ever need.” Reaching up, I take her hand and kiss the back of her palm. “Will you marry me?”
She nods, smiling through her tears. “Yes, yes I'll marry you.”
14
Melody
Six Months Later
Exhaling a slow breath through pursed lips, I run my hands down the front of my dress, fixing any little creases.
It's a simple dress. Flowing at the bottom, fitted around my hips and waist, and tight around my torso. Beading traces the thin heart-shaped hem over my bust line. The small diamonds twinkle like stars under the lighting in the motel room.
I can't believe I'm getting married today.
Bran and I couldn't wait. We started planning the day after he asked me.
We're keeping it small, and decided to have it at the motel where I work. There's a gorgeous little garden in the back, and the reception room inside is perfect size for us. My boss was also more than happy to let us use the place for free. I mean, I have covered enough shifts for him that he owed me one.
There's a knock at the door. A knock I know all too well.
“Come in,” I say.
My brother pokes his head inside and smiles. “Today's the big day.” He steps in and closes the door behind him. “You ready?” he asks. “You really ready for this?”
“I'm ready, Ryder.”
“You know you're not too big to jump on my back and I'll piggy-back you out of here.” He turns sideways and points over his shoulder. “We can make a clean getaway.”
“What about Jenna? You think she's going to run after us toting my nephew in high heels and a gown?”
“You're right. I'll grab my kid and Jenna can give you a piggyback.”
Laughing, I turn back to the mirror and adjust my hair. “You're crazy.”
Holding out his arms, he comes up behind me. “I wouldn't be your brother if I wasn't.” He watches me for a moment, his eyes smiling almost as big as his mouth. “I have something for you.”
“What is it?”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a necklace. Wrapping it around my neck, he clasps the back. “This was Mom's. I found it one day between the wall and the mattress in their room. I wanted to give it to you one day, and I think today is the perfect day.”
Touching the small stone, it's a bright green emerald. I twist it between my fingers, and my eyes begin to fill with tears. “I remember this necklace. It's her birth stone. Dad gave it to her for their twelfth anniversary, right before she got sick.”
“Yeah. Now it's yours. It looks perfect on you.” Twisting around, tear drops trickle down my face. “Come on, don't cry. You'll ruin your makeup.” He pulls me in and gives me a big hug. “You know they're both watching you right now and they're so proud.”
Sniffling, I try to stifle the tears. It's just hard to not have either of your parents at your wedding. My father should be walking me down the aisle. My mother should be pinning my hair for me and helping watch her grandson so my maid of honor can have a glass of champagne and fuss over my dress.
“I'm so happy you're here, Ryder. Thank you.”
“Of course I'm here. Did you think I wouldn't be?”
Shrugging a shoulder, I step back and grab a tissue. “I don't know. I mean, this is all happening really quickly, and I know how you felt about Branson not that long ago.”
“None of that matters, Mel. What matters to me is that you're happy.” His smile is warm. The corner of his lips twitches slightly as he says, “But don't think for one second I won't kick his ass if you need me to.”
“Ryder,” I say, angling my head as I laugh.
“I'm just saying. But seriously, this is your day, this is your life, and there's nothing you could ever do that would make me miss one second of it. I love you, Mel, you're my sister.”
More tears pool up in my eyes, so I dab them away with the tissue. “I love you too, but enough of this mushy stuff. If my makeup does get messed up before I walk down the aisle, it's your fault.”
Chuckling, he holds out his arm. “Let's go get you married then so you can't blame me for anything.”
Giggling, I scoop my arm in his and pick up my bouquet off the table. “I'm ready.”
“It's still not too late to change your mind.” He eyes me with a grin.
“Ryder.” I draw out his name and arch a brow.
“All right, that was your last chance,” he says, pulling the door open.
Leading me to the doors to the garden, Jenna is waiting with the baby.
“You look gorgeous, Mel.”
“Thanks.”
“How you feeling?” she asks.
“Nervous as hell.” My cheeks puff out as I exhale a heavy breath.
“That's normal. I threw up the morning I got married to your brother.”
“That's because you were pregnant.”
Jenna chuckles and smirks. “True.”
“How's my little man doing?” Ryder asks, leaning in to kiss him on the head.
“Well, I learned six month old babies hate tiny suits. He cried for almost half an hour once I put it on him, but he's good now.”
The music starts to play, and my boss pops his head into the small foyer. “They're ready for you.”
Jenna smiles, her eyes twinkling with happiness. “See you at the altar,” she says.
Holding Troy against her hip, and her bouquet in the other hand, she disappears out the door.
I'm so damn nervous. My hands are sweating, and I feel like I might hyperventilate. Every nerve in my body is firing off making my heart beat so hard I can hear it pounding in my head.
The door opens. The signal that it's my turn.
Clutching Ryder's arm hard, I let him take the lead. We round the small corner, and instantly I have tunnel vision. I can't see the rows of chairs or the people in them. I can't hear the instruments or the music or feel the cool air on my skin.
March in New Hampshire is norma
lly pretty cool, but we got lucky today. It's an abnormally warm day, and I can't help but think my father had something to do with it. He always loved the springtime but complained how early spring was so unpredictable.
You could have flowers budding and the trees beginning to flower, then out of nowhere get smacked with a snowstorm. But not today; today is perfect.
'Thanks, Dad,' I whisper silently to myself.
I can almost feel him with me. There's a warm bubble surrounding me. And for a brief second, Ryder rubs my wrist as we walk just like my father used to when I was little and we would dance together in the kitchen.
Tears cloud my eyes as I focus on Branson standing at the altar. He's dressed in a black suit that looks like it was made for him, with a bright white rose pinned to his chest. He's smiling ear to ear, a twinkle of a tear in his eyes as my brother passes me off to him.
Bran shakes Ryder's hand, and both men pat each other on the shoulder. It's nice to see there's no hate or anger between them. Both of them want the same thing, for me to be happy.
And I am. I'm very happy. I'm the happiest I've ever been.
Taking my hand, Branson looks me up and down. “You look beautiful,” he says, kissing the back of my fingers as he tangles his fingers with mine.
“You don't look so bad yourself,” I say with a wink.
The justice of the peace starts her speech. It's sweet and short, just like we requested. Bran and I didn't want a long winded speech. This isn't about someone else talking about love and what they think a couple should feel for each other.
This day is about us and what we feel for each other.
“Branson, your vows,” she says.
Clearing his throat, he turns to face me and takes my other hand. His eyes glisten as he starts to speak. “Melody, you came into my life out of nowhere. We met by accident, and instantly I knew there was something special about you. Your eyes drew me in, but it was your spark that made me fall in love. I can't ever picture my life without you, and I don't want to. I love you.”
I can't stop the smile from spreading on my face as the tears roll freely. Bran lifts his hand to my cheek and wipes the tears away.
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