by Lane, Sydney
“I guess you’ll just have to see when we get there. I think you’re going to like it.”
"No fair! I don't even like surprises!" She giggles, making my mind go in directions it shouldn't, especially when I'm hitting seventy on the interstate. I can only imagine the reason she doesn't like surprises. She really doesn't like not being the one in control. Another piece of the puzzle.
After she settles in her seat, she turns her head toward the window, watching the miles go by. Her hair blows gently in the wind, releasing little curls around her face. I steal a few glances at her, and for once, she looks content, like she's in the Jeep with me and not wherever she goes in her head sometimes. She smiles to herself, as if she's in on a big secret I'm not a part of. I love it. I'm finally seeing the real Quincy, not the one she shows the world.
As soon as I park, I jump down from the Jeep and walk to her side. Slinging open her door, I take her hand and help her down. My arms run up her sides, and I wrap her in my arms.
"We can’t do anything else until we get this out of the way.” I cup her cheek in my hand, rubbing my thumb over her pouty bottom lip. "I dreamed about these lips last night." And the night before... Cupping her head in my palm, I lower my mouth to hers. She willingly opens her lips, allowing me to invade her mouth. Her tongue meets mine, doing a little exploring of its own. She wraps her arms around me and moans against my lips, causing my shorts to become uncomfortably tight. I pull away, warning her, "If you keep that up, you won’t ever get to see my surprise. It’s supposed to rain later, so we better get going.” There's no way I want to get caught outside in a storm, even if I am with her.
I smile to myself as I watch a very flustered, very turned-on, Quincy try to apply sunscreen. I take the bottle from her shaking hands and pour some into my palm. Very gently, I use my fingertips to massage sunscreen down her nose and across her cheek bones. Her skin is so fair and flawless that I'd hate to see it get burned. She closes her eyes while I smooth the cream in, and it takes everything in me to back down.
We walk to the edge of the woods, I direct her to the trail I use with the guys, and we step into the cover of the trees. It's fall, so the leaves are turning all sorts of colors. It's beautiful in its own right, but this isn't what I wanted to show her. We walk in silence, each of us setting our own pace. A few times, I get ahead of her and slow down so she can follow. I swear I'm not being rude; I'm just excited.
Out of nowhere, she asks, "Brody, what do you like about me?" I stop in my tracks, not sure I heard her correctly. This could be a trick question, and the odds are, I will fail the test. I begin walking again, thinking about how to answer her honestly. There isn't any one thing I like. It's all of her. I turn around, facing her, needing to see her face when I say it.
"Everything." That one word says it all. I want to know all there is to know about her. I turn away, breaking the tension that hums between us. We have to get a move on or it’s going to rain on us.
At the edge of the woods, above the valley, I pause. I've already seen this, but she hasn't, and I want her to get the full effect. I take her hand in mine, pulling her into the clearing. She gasps beside me and steps forward. She extends her hands out to her sides, turning in circles, with a look of complete awe on her face.
This is the valley Seth and I stumbled upon. The entire field is in bloom with fall flowers, and there are hundreds of butterflies. I don't know how I missed this my whole life, but I'd never seen this before. I actually looked into it and found that this particular kind of butterfly hangs around until the very end of autumn, toughing it out after all of the others die. After the flowers die, the butterflies do, too. They have a short life span, but for that brief time, they make my valley a wonderland.
And she likes it.
"I know you said you would love to see the snow on the mountains, but I didn’t want you to miss this. It’s even prettier in the spring, but this only lasts a few weeks before the leaves fall.” This is my home, and I'm sharing it with the first girl I ever brought here.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she says, “Oh, Brody, this is beautiful! I love it!” She's so beautiful. Maybe I love her.
Pushing my thoughts aside, I guide her toward the trees along the edge of the valley. “This is only part of your surprise. Come on, it’s just a little farther. I found these years ago when I was exploring the farm.” The hot springs running along the edge of the property are the real reason I brought her here.
Quincy looks at the creek with steam rising from the water and asks, "What is it?"
“It’s a hot spring. The spring runs down from the mountains, and it pools here. The water is about waist deep. Come on.” Throwing my cap down on the ground, I reach over my shoulder and pull my shirt over my head. I turn to Quincy, arching an eyebrow, when she hesitates. So we're back to this again? Her hiding her body from me? I walk to her, giving her my best come hither look. I smile as I reach for her shirt.
"Here. Let me help you with that." I pull her shirt up and over her head. When she lifts her arms, I brush a finger down her inner arm, that tender touch causing her to shiver. Reaching for her shorts, I kneel as I tug them over her hips and down her legs. From my view down here, she looks perfect. I stand in front of her, wondering just what I did to deserve this girl. "See? That wasn't bad at all." I almost came in my shorts, but it wasn't bad. I can promise you that. A shy smile transforms her face, a sparkle in her eye.
"It's not fair when you distract me to get your way." Walking over to the water, she dips a foot in, and quickly jumps back. I catch her before she tips over. "I thought it was warm."
I laugh, moving toward a deeper area downstream. "Not there. Over here." To show her I'm not lying, I wade into the water. Immediately, I feel the stress of the last few weeks releasing from my shoulders. The water is warm, much like a bath.
She follows me in, walking over to a rock that hangs out into the water. When she pulls herself up on the rock, allowing her feet to dangle in the water, I can't resist temptation. I wade over, standing between her parted legs. I gotta admit, I always liked a girl with a nice tan, but there is something about the creamy color of her skin and the way it pinkens wherever I touch it that does me in. She leans back, her hands on the rock behind her, closes her eyes, and sighs in pleasure. Without meaning to, every movement, every sound she makes, turns me on.
"I thought you didn't like surprises."
She leans forward, wrapping her arms around my neck, "Brody, you can surprise me like this anytime." She lowers her face to mine, our lips only a breath apart, as she uses her deep, chocolate brown eyes to hypnotize me. "Kiss me," she breathes.
I don't have to be asked twice. I forcefully slant my lips over hers, parting her mouth with my tongue. Running my hands up her legs, I urge them around my waist, my arousal evident as it brushes her inner thigh. When I pull away, she's watching me, her eyes hooded with long, dark eyelashes. Desire pools in her bottomless eyes, her true feelings on display for the first time I can remember.
"I could stay here forever if you always looked at me just like that." I get lost in her eyes, wondering again, just what it was about Quincy Priest that reeled me in. "Everything." The word slips from my lips. She looks confused, even concerned, so I clarify, "I like everything about you, Quince. I like the way those little wisps of hair frame your face. I love your eyes, so deep I lose myself in them. Those lips I can’t resist. But I like you, Quince. The first time I saw you, I was drawn to you. I knew right then that you would turn my world upside down. It scared the hell out of me, but I knew I’d follow you anywhere.” A lump forms in my throat, and for the first time since Paige, I put my heart on the line.
I search her eyes for any hint of emotion, but she doesn't say a word. Instead, she wraps her arms around my neck, her lips meeting mine halfway. When her small hands fist in my hair, I escape, jumping over the edge feet first. The kiss deepens, and my body overheats in the warm water.
A low rumble with a sharp cl
ap instantly brings me back to reality. I jump, nervously checking the sky for signs of rain. If there is anything I'm afraid of, it's thunderstorms.
"Sounds like we better head back." When I back away from Quincy, a soft giggle stops me. "What? You think this is funny?" Before she can move away, I capture her, holding her still as I tickle her ribs. Her laugh drowns out the distant thunder."Now you know my secret. I don't like thunder and lightning."
I grew up in the South where these storms are common, but it doesn't mean I like them any more than I like the tornadoes that power through here from time to time. I've seen the damage Mother Nature can do. Just as beautiful and striking as she can be, she can be just as powerful and destructive. Doesn't help that my grandma told me a story about a man who got struck dead by a flash of lightning, charring him on the spot.
"Oh, come on, scaredy cat." She takes my hand, and I let her lead me from the water. We quickly towel off and throw our clothes on. I wouldn't mind if she walked back in her bathing suit, but I guess that might be too much to ask.
The heat bears down on us, making it harder to breathe as the humidity moves in. I walk behind Quincy, watching her small hips sway. She's delicate but trim, her thighs and calves well-defined. I’ve always heard that big things sometimes come in small packages.
With another rumble of thunder, I catch up to Quincy, taking her hand in mine. We walk faster, but the rain moves in quick. Just as we reach the tree line, the bottom falls out of the sky, drenching our already wet bodies.
Quincy drops my hand, running out into the yard, away from the protection of the trees. Instead of making a dash for the house, she stops about midway and raises her hands to the sky. Laughing, she turns in circles, allowing the rain to wash over her. When she reaches her hand out to me, I hesitate for a split second before I run out to meet her.
"Are you crazy?" I yell, but I can't keep the smile off my face. She looks untroubled, so relaxed... this is what freedom looks like. I stand still, lost in the moment, and then, she's standing still, facing me. She reaches to brush the hair from my eyes, and I give in. My mouth crashes into hers, kissing the rain away. Our hands join between us, her tiny fingers resting on my chest.
We part, and with our hands clasped, I run toward the cabin with her on my heels. Quincy giggles the whole way. I think she's crazy. I think she's wonderful. I don't know how I lived without her.
Once inside, I leave her standing in the doorway on a rug while I go in search of dry towels. When I skip down the stairs, she's cowering, with only her bathing suit on, right where I left her. Relief, quickly followed by desire, spreads across her face. I take my wet shirt off and wrap a towel around my waist. Reaching under my towel, I slide my shorts off and throw them in a wet pile. Quincy silently watches my hands move, clearly shocked that I'm naked underneath my towel.
"What? You want some help with yours?" I joke, catching the corner of her towel and giving it one sharp tug.
"Brody! Don't even think about it!" She turns to run from me, but I'm faster. I catch her, my arm around her small waist, and lift her off her feet. She pushes and shoves against me, but there's no way I'm letting her go. Ever.
I'm suddenly enchanted by the soft skin of her neck, that little junction where her neck meets her shoulder. I lean down, licking that very spot. Her will to fight leaves her as she succumbs to the heat between us. Her fingertips explore the tattoo on my chest while my tongue explores the valley of her throat. I need this. I need her.
"Quince," I whisper, my voice caught in my throat. "Believe me when I say I've never wanted anything like I want this."
I lift her, her legs wrapped around my waist, and carry her to the couch. She tentatively lowers her head, placing small kisses along my collarbone and up my neck. When she nibbles the tender spot under my ear, I almost drop her.
Slowly, I lower her, her still damp body sliding down mine. She steps back, putting distance between us and reaching for the string holding her bathing suit top on. My heart pounds in my chest, beating so loud I can hear it in my ears. I watch as the knot slowly unravels and finally gives way. Discarding the top, she reaches for the bottoms. I want to touch her, to undress her myself, but I can only watch as she pushes the bottoms down and kicks them to the side.
I can only stare, entranced, as she reaches for my towel, flicking it open. It swooshes to the ground, leaving us completely exposed. I step toward her, needing my hands on her body, and she meets me halfway. This time, when our lips meet, it is soft, even gentle. A whispered promise.
Pushing her down on the couch, I lower myself between her legs. I search her face for any sign that I'm moving too fast, and I'm shocked by the intensity burning there. She shyly looks away before her eyes meet mine again. Her breath catches in her throat as she whispers, "I belong to you, Brody." I can't hide the shock that echoes within me. Words I never thought I would hear. "I belong to you." For a fleeting moment, I feel as if this moment is too good to be true, like if I blink, it might disappear.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Quince. But I’m not strong enough to walk away.” I'm beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, I need her more than she needs me.
My body begs for release, but I want to take things slow. I need to show her how special she is to me. I reach for my shorts and locate the condom I got out of my room earlier. I smile sheepishly at Quince, hoping she's not offended.
“This is what took me so long upstairs.” As soon as I roll the condom on, she uses her legs to pull my hips to hers. I pull away, resisting her. A look of disappointment shadows her face, and I rush to explain. “No, baby, I'm going to take my time with you. I want to remember every detail.”
And I do. I kiss her body from head to toe, relishing every detail, no matter how small. Her soft moans drive me wild, pushing me closer to the edge. My erection is almost painful as I kiss my way down her leg and back up. Her body quivers against me, urging me to move faster, but I'm determined to draw out the passion, to make this experience more intense than all of the others we're had. She's different than all the rest, and she deserves to be worshipped.
When our bodies line up, I push into her slowly, drawing out the tension building in my gut. Rather than thrusting, I grind my hips into hers, driving her wild. I watch her face, her brows furrowed with need. She thrashes her head side to side, and I can sense the momentum building. When she cries out, fisting my hair in her hands, I release violently inside of her. Amazing.
Collapsing in a pile of skin and limbs, our breathing returns to normal. My heart is still beating loudly in my chest when there is a loud clap of thunder. A bolt of lightning lights up the sky. "I'll never be afraid of thunder again." I'm pretty sure that I'll never hear it again without thinking of Quincy and this moment.
"See? I'm better than a therapist, and it didn't cost you anything." She giggles, running her fingers through my hair.
"Oh, I don't know about that." I lean up so she can see my face when I say it. "It may have cost me more than either of us know." Yes, my brotherhood is on the line, but so is my heart.
After I get rid of the condom, I grab a blanket and lie down beside her. Pulling her close, I take a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of vanilla and sex. I suddenly feel possessive, realizing that I can't let her go. I can't stand another minute of her hanging out with Declan. I'm lost in thought when she speaks.
“Brody, Alex says you don’t date. And you’re telling me you don’t do relationships. Why? I mean, why not?” That wasn't the question I expected. And it's not one easily answered.
I start with the easy part. “It’s not about a girl, but at the same time, it is. I had a girlfriend named Paige all through high school. We were together four years, and I caught her cheating on me. I wasn’t devastated or anything because I was already beginning to feel like we needed a break from each other.”I pause, my mind searching for the words I've only ever said to Declan. “Later, she told me she had an abortion without even discussing it with me. I knew, then, that
she wasn’t who I thought she was. She wasn’t someone I could be with.” It sickens me that I gave someone else that much control over my happiness. “I just haven’t found anyone I wanted to be with since then.” And then, I tell her the part that has come to define me. “You know, it’s not even about her. It’s not even about the cheating. It’s that she robbed me of my choice. I realize we weren’t ready to be parents. We would never have stayed together, but I deserved to know.” I relive the moment I found out about the abortion, the relief I felt until the guilt set in.
I wait for her to pull away in disgust or maybe even disappointment. Instead, she squeezes me tighter, offering support without saying a word. She gives me the time I need, and unlike most girls, she doesn't offer advice or say anything cheesy.
Instead, she says, "I'm so, so sorry." No excuses, no accusations. It's exactly what I needed.
I want to ask her about herself. There's so much about Quincy Priest that I don't know. I guess I'm kind of thinking that, since I shared something with her, she'll share something with me. Instead, we lie in silence, comforting one another in a way I never knew we needed. As bad as I hate to leave, I know I need to get her back home.
“Come on, babe. We need to get back so you can study." Life awaits us.
On the drive back, we talk easily, avoiding heavy topics. I could listen to her soft country twang all day long and never get tired of it. We stop to eat dinner, talking, but never revealing too much. And damn if leaving her at her dorm isn't one of the hardest things I've ever done.
Before today, I've always felt like the deck was stacked against me. Declan's the nice guy, everything a girl could hope for. He met her first, and she seems to like being with him. However, today changed things. The tide is finally turning in my favor. There is a connection between us that can no longer be ignored.