by Kylie Keene
“Nope. It just wasn’t my thing. That, and I didn’t have a date.”
“How could you not have a date? Did you turn down every guy who asked?”
“Nobody asked me. Don’t you remember? I was the shy, quiet girl with the dead mother. Not exactly every teen boy’s dream.”
“You were my dream,” he says. “You still are.”
I smile. “Then you should’ve asked me to prom.”
“You would’ve said no. I knew what you thought of me back then.”
“Actually, it really didn’t have anything to do with getting asked to the dance. It was more about not having my mom around. Getting the dress and the shoes. Getting your hair done. It’s something you do with your mom and I didn’t have one. So that’s why I didn’t go to dances.” I have no idea why I admitted that to him. I’ve never told anyone that. Not even my dad. I attempt to make light of it. “It’s stupid. I should’ve just gone.”
“It’s not stupid, Morgan.” He kisses the top of my head as I rest my cheek on his chest and we sway side to side with the music.
I feel so vulnerable with Brad. Like I’ve let him see too much of me and now I can’t take it back. And yet for some reason I want to share even more of myself with him.
A new song begins and I feel Brad pull away as my dad comes up behind him. “Mind if I have a dance?”
“She’s all yours.” Brad lets me go and my dad takes his place.
“Having a good time?” he asks.
“Yeah. Everything turned out perfect. The food. The music. The cake.”
He smiles. “I meant are you having a good time with Brad?”
“Oh. Yeah.” I smile back. “I really like him. Even before we started dating, I liked hanging out with him.”
He gets the stern dad face. “And he treats you well? Because if he doesn’t, he’ll have to answer to me. I’ll be on the first plane—”
“Dad, he treats me very well. You don’t need to worry.”
“I’ll always worry, Morgan. That’s my job. Someday you’ll be a parent and you’ll see that the worrying never goes away, no matter how old your kids are.”
“So what do you think of Brad? Do you like him?”
“I don’t know him that well yet, but from the little I’ve seen I’m impressed. But I’m still gonna keep an eye on him. That’s just what fathers do.”
“That might be a challenge from Texas.”
“I’ll be back visiting plenty of times. Sophie still has some business here to finish up so we renewed the lease on her apartment for another six months. So don’t get too comfortable not having me around.” He glances back at Sophie who’s dancing with a tall older man with gray hair. “I better get back to my bride. I’ll see you later, honey.” He kisses my cheek and returns to Sophie.
As I start to leave the dance floor, I feel a hand around my waist, spinning me back around.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Brad asks. “You have a lot of dances to make up.”
“You’re pretty good at this,” I say as he leads us around the dance floor. “I suppose you went to every dance in high school.”
“I did, but this is way better than any of those.”
“My dad’s wedding? Really? Come on. You were homecoming king. That had to better than this.”
“You don’t seem to get how much I like you, Morgan. This is the best dance because I’m here with you. I can’t even remember who I took to those high school dances.”
I smile and give him a hug. How is it possible I found someone who likes me as much as I like him? That never happens. At least not to me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
26
We continue to dance for a few more songs. Then we go back to his table and talk to his mom for a while. She’s beaming just seeing us together. I wonder how many of Brad’s girlfriends she’s met over the years. I’m guessing he didn’t bring many girls home to meet his mom during his sex-crazed teen years.
The evening winds down at midnight. Before we leave, Brad and I say goodbye to my dad and Sophie. In the morning they take off for their honeymoon, which is at a lodge in northern Minnesota. I should clarify that the lodge is their first honeymoon. Their second honeymoon is in Hawaii. They decided to each pick a destination and have two honeymoons rather than trying to agree on just one. Of course my dad picks a lodge in the woods. The lodge is practically in Canada so I’m sure it’ll be freezing there, even in March. But Sophie acts excited to go because she knows it will make my dad happy. And he does the same about Hawaii, although I think he’s actually excited about going there.
***
When we get back to the apartment, I invite Brad to my place. It’s funny to have ‘my place’ be the apartment right above his.
We take off our coats and I go straight to the fridge. “I guess I should’ve ate more. I’m still hungry. Are you?” I survey the fridge and find nothing but condiments, milk, and some apples.
He sits at the kitchen table. “I could eat something. What have you got?”
I check the freezer and find five frozen meals and a quart of chocolate ice cream.
“Do you want some ice cream? That’s alI I have unless you want an apple or some mustard.”
“You really need to make more trips to the grocery store, Morgan. You never have any food.”
I take the ice cream out of the freezer, then put it back, not wanting chocolate stains all over my dress.
“I’m gonna change quick. Can you help me out of this dress?”
He smiles. “Yeah, I think I could do that.”
We go in the bedroom and he unzips the back of my dress, then slips it off, kissing my shoulder as he does. I turn around and kiss him as my dress falls to the floor. Our lips break apart and I catch him staring down at my black lace bra and matching bikinis.
I can tell it’s turning him on and just seeing him look at me that way turns me on. Plus, he looks so damn good in that suit. And he smells amazing.
We look at each other and it’s like I can feel the heat between us. Our attraction to each other is off the charts.
I know Brad feels it, too, and I know he wants to take me over to the bed and give in to our attraction. But he won’t because he’s determined to wait until I’m ready.
He backs away. “So are we gonna have that ice cream?”
“Yeah.” I grab a button-up shirt that’s sitting on my chair. I put it on and start buttoning it as we walk back to the living room.
“I’m gonna go downstairs and change out of this suit.” He gives me a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
While he’s gone, I grab some bowls and serve us some ice cream. Brad comes back wearing jeans and one of his super soft t-shirts in an aqua blue color that brings out the blue in his eyes.
He sits across from me at the kitchen table. I cross one leg under my butt and sit on it, propping myself up higher. I lean toward Brad as I lick the ice cream off my spoon.
“So you had a good time tonight?”
“I had a great time.” He smiles. “You know, you don’t have to keep asking me that. You’ve asked me three times. It’s like you don’t believe me.”
“I believe you. I was just making conversation.” I lick another round of ice cream from my spoon.
Brad watches me, gazing at my eyes and my lips as I eat. I notice his own ice cream is almost gone.
“How did you eat that so fast? Do you want some more?”
“No. I’m good.”
I finish my ice cream and take our bowls to the sink, rinsing them out. “That was good but now my lips are frozen.”
I feel Brad behind me, his arms around my waist. I turn to face him and he leans down and kisses me. His lips are so warm and mine are so cold that the contrast sends a chill through me. I feel his hand at the nape of my neck as his kisses go deeper, his tongue warming my mouth. His other hand moves to my back, pulling me into him.
I break from his lips. “Let’s go.” I nod toward my bedroom.
“Let’s just stay here.” His hand tangles in my hair as he kisses me.
I stop him again. “I don’t want to make out in the kitchen. Let’s go to the bed.”
“I can’t go in there, Morgan. Things might go too far.”
“We’ve been making out on the bed all week.”
“Yeah, and every night we end up taking things a little farther. I don’t want to pressure you. I don’t want you to feel like you have to go farther because of me.” His kisses travel down my neck. “This right here is good. Really good. I can keep doing this.”
He says that, but I know he’s dying for this to go farther. And so am I. I’m more than ready. I don’t know what the future holds for Brad and me. Maybe we’ll break up in a few months. Maybe we’ll date for years. Maybe we’ll get married. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is right now. And right now I feel like I’ve never felt before. I actually want to be with Brad and not because I want to get anything over with. I just want to be with him in a way that I’ve never been with anyone else.
I push against his chest. “I really want to go to the bedroom.”
I look him in the eye, hoping he’ll see my intent without me having to say it. He must, because he backs away, then follows me to my room. I lay on the bed and pull him over me. But he moves to my side, propped up on his arm. He seems hesitant to get on top of me. I guess he didn’t get my eye message.
He undoes the top few buttons of my shirt, then moves the fabric aside and leaves soft kisses along the outline of my bra, making my heart beat faster.
I tug on his t-shirt until it’s up by his shoulders. He rips it over his head, then continues kissing my chest. I don’t like him being so far away so I try to pull him over me again.
He stops his kisses and looks at me. “Morgan, don’t. I don’t think we—”
“I’m ready.” I look him in the eye. “I want this, okay?”
He cocks his head. “When you say ‘this’ do you mean—”
“Sex. Yes. I can’t believe you’re making me say it out loud.”
“Are you sure? Like absolutely sure?”
“Yes. 100%.”
He smiles. “I would’ve preferred 110 but I’ll take 100.”
He remains on his side and unbuttons the rest of my shirt.
“Aren’t you going to take off your jeans?” I ask him.
“Not yet.” He moves my shirt aside, his warm hand gliding over my skin. “I want this memory to be a good one for you.” He kisses my stomach and heat fills the area just below it. “We’re taking this slow.”
I have no idea how taking it slow works for a guy. I thought once they were ready they just had to do it. But he seems to think this will work. And he would know. He’s had plenty of experience in this area.
His kisses travel back up my chest, then my neck, finally meeting up with my lips as his hand slides up my inner thigh. My breath catches as I feel his fingers grace the thin fabric between my legs. But he refuses to take off my bikinis. Instead he continues to caress my inner thighs and that tiny strip of fabric, teasing me and causing me to moan a little.
“Too much?” he whispers in my ear. The warmth of his breath makes me shiver.
“No. It’s not too much.”
“You want me to keep going?”
“Yes,” I say, breathless.
“Then I need you to get naked.”
My eyes pop open and I see him smiling at me. My gaze wanders down to his broad shoulders and chest and his chiseled abs. He’s so freaking hot.
I sit up, taking my shirt off and tossing it on the floor. Brad reaches his hand around me and unhooks my bra and I slip it off.
“Much better.” He smiles again, then his mouth dips down to my breast, his tongue circling my nipple as he eases me back down on the bed. He kisses his way down my stomach and remains there as he slides my panties off. He brings his mouth back to mine, his tongue gliding across my lips until they part for him. Then his hand moves between my legs and I gasp as he finds my most sensitive spot. My core floods with sensation and I arch back.
I love what he’s doing to me, but I want more. I can’t wait any longer. I reach down and unzip his jeans.
He glances up at me and smiles. “I’m not done yet.”
Is he serious? He’s been torturing me like this for at least 10 minutes, maybe longer. I really have no idea. I’ve lost all track of time.
“I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
“Are you absolutely, positively sure?”
“Yes!” I blurt out. “Just take your damn jeans off!”
“Demanding, huh? I didn’t expect that.” He laughs a little as he stands up and finally takes off his jeans and boxers. The sight of him naked stirs up even more heat within my core.
He lays over me and I’m wondering if he forgot about the condom because I certainly haven’t.
“Brad, you need to—”
“I know. Stop rushing.” His body presses against mine and I can feel every part of him. I’ve never been this far with a man. Completely naked. Our bodies touching like this.
I thought I’d be nervous when we got to this point, but I’m not at all. Brad makes me feel safe. And I know if I wanted to change my mind at this very moment, he would get off me in an instant. But I’m not changing my mind. Everything about this feels right.
We kiss a little more and then he whispers in my ear, “Where are they?”
“In the nightstand.”
He reaches over and takes one out. “Are these the ones from—”
“Boston. And they were over $3 a piece so this better be worth it.”
“You’ll get your money’s worth.” He sits up on his knees and tears open the package, smiling at me. “And by the way, I paid for these.”
I laugh, because it’s funny that after all this time, we’re actually using those overpriced condoms. I close my eyes as he puts it on. Then I feel his body lower over mine as he enters me, slowly and gently.
“You okay?” He whispers it over my mouth.
“Yeah,” I whisper back.
He kisses me as he pushes in a little deeper. And then his hips start to move in a slow rocking motion. His kisses alone get me going, but the feel of him inside me fires off even more pleasurable sensations. Ones I’ve never felt before.
I feel him break from the kiss and I open my eyes and see his face just above mine. Our gazes meet and hold for just a moment. And then his face drops down and he kisses my neck, then along my shoulder as he reaches between us, his hand moving over that sensitive area once again.
I tip my head back and dig my hands in Brad’s shoulders, my breathing ragged. This feels so good. All of it. His kisses. His hand. The feel of him moving inside me.
His lips return to mine and his hips drive a little harder and deeper. The tension inside me keeps building, ready to burst. He takes his hand from between us and picks up his speed. And moments later, powerful waves of sensation explode through my core, continuing until my body eventually relaxes into the bed.
I’m left sweaty. Out of breath. And happy.
That was amazing. Way better than I thought it would be.
Brad kisses me, then finishes up himself. And then he gently moves off me and holds me in his arms.
I’m no longer a virgin. I finally had sex. And it was great. Paige said it would hurt. Kayla said it’d be over in a minute. Maybe that’s how it was for them but it wasn’t that way for me. Okay, maybe it hurt a little at first, but after that it felt good. Better than good. Incredible. And Brad was definitely not done in a minute.
We lie there quietly for a moment. I rest my head against Brad’s chest, feeling better than I’ve felt in a really long time. I’m so glad I waited. That I didn’t just throw this away for some guy I didn’t care about or had no connection with. I had feelings for Grant, but there was something missing. And if he’d agreed to ditch his born-again virgin status, doing this with him wouldn’t have felt right.
Brad kisses
the top of my head. “You’re quiet. Is everything okay?”
I look up at him. “It’s more than okay.”
“You got your three dollars worth?” he kids. “Or my three dollars worth?”
I laugh. “Yes. Absolutely.”
“So now what happens?”
“What do you mean?”
“You got what you wanted out of me.” He skims his hand up and down my arm. “Are you dumping me now?”
I pause to consider it. “No. I think I’ll keep you around. I might need to do this again sometime. I heard it’s good for stress relief.”
“Good point. And we both have stressful jobs.”
“Brad.” My tone turns serious. “I want to say thank you.”
“For what? The sex? Because I’ll tell you a little secret, Morgan. You never have to thank a guy for sex.”
“I’m not thanking you for the sex. I’m thanking you for being patient and respectful and a gentleman. You didn’t pressure me or rush me. You made me feel safe. And cared for. So thank you.”
He moves my hair behind my ear, then rests his hand along the side of my face. “You deserve nothing less than that. You don’t have to thank me.”
“If I’d waited a few more weeks, or even months, to do this, would you have stuck around?’
“Of course. I can’t believe you even have to ask.” He smiles. “I’m not saying it’d be easy, but I’d still wait. That should show you how much I—” He stops.
“How much you what?”
“Nothing.” He picks my hand off his chest and brings it to his lips, kissing it before resting it back on his chest.
“Brad, were you going to say the L word?”
“I wouldn’t say that this soon.” He looks off to the side. “You’d think I’m crazy.”
“Yeah. Okay.” I let him off the hook, but I know he was totally going to say it. And I wouldn’t have thought he was crazy because I think I love him, too. “I probably shouldn’t ask, but how was it for you? The sex? I mean, I know your history so—”
“Morgan, stop bringing up my past. I’m not that person anymore. In fact, I haven’t even done this since, well, since I broke off the engagement.”
I sit up, staring at him, completely stunned. “That was over two years ago.”