Conflagration
Page 34
“Took you long enough.”
I can’t tell if she’s teasing or not. “I know. I should’ve been here sooner,” I admit, sighing out loud, knowing I wasted too much time wallowing in self-pity.
She sits up, and I miss the warmth of her body pressed up against mine. “No, I’m glad you didn’t.” She shakes her head when I frown. “I needed to time, Branson. You broke something inside me that day. You didn’t trust me, through no fault of my own. I know I should’ve answered your questions when you asked, but it was humiliating admitting to you I’d nearly married someone who didn’t love me.”
Sitting up, I take her hand and cup her jaw with my other one. “I know, baby. I fucked up. I was wrong to listen to them, and I was wrong for how I reacted. I’ll be paying for it for the rest of my life if I lose you. I’m so sorry, Ariana. Forgive me, please.”
Her eyes shimmer in the moonlight, and I wait for her to say something. To say that it’s too late. To say that I’ll never lose her. Just… something.
“Branson…” she breathes, and I brace myself.
“What?” I ask, pulling back, looking into her eyes.
“I need you, Branson.”
“Ariana,” I start, but she presses a fingers to my lips, deciding to take control. I shut up. If this is what she needs, then I’ll give it to her and hope that, when we talk later, she’ll forgive me.
She climbs into my lap, pushing me back down on the lounge chair. Her legs straddle my waist, and I instantly harden as I feel her core connecting with my dick. I watch in awe as she undoes my belt, slides down my zipper, then slips her small hand into my boxers. As much as I want to flip her over and fuck her senseless, I give her this. I give her me. She lifts up, pushing her shorts to the side, and lines the head of my cock at her entrance.
“God, I’ve missed this,” she breathes out as she slowly sinks down on me.
I struggle to not move as she takes all of me. As much as I want to grip her hips, I keep my hands at my side, allowing her to move up and down at her own pace, slowly circling her hips. This is about her, and if this is what she needs, I have no problem giving it to her.
She leans forward, crashing her lips down on mine. This time, I allow myself to touch her. My hand slips into her hair, holding her in place. As she continues to ride me, our tongues tangle in dueling fashion. Our kisses are frenzied, hungry, almost as if we’re making up for lost time. I lose myself in her, and all too soon, we’re coming together, both sent over the edge simultaneously. It’s been twelve long fucking days since I’ve felt her, and I know I’ll never let her go again.
“I’ve missed you,” she murmurs, laying her head on my chest.
I’m still inside her, and I don’t want to move. I want to stay in this moment forever. “I’ve missed you, too, baby.”
Nothing else is said between us as we lie there, trying to catch our breath. I want to know what she’s thinking, yet I’m too scared to ask. Right now, in the darkness, I’m willing to pretend—at least for a little while longer.
Ariana shivers as a cool breeze fills the air, and even though I don’t want to move, I stand up, her legs still straddling my waist, and take us inside.
We make love two more times, all thoughts of discussion curbed for the time being. I’m terrified that she’s avoiding it, that I haven’t proven my love for her.
As I stare up at the ceiling, I know exactly what it is I have to do.
NOW I know how Branson felt the morning he woke up it Atlanta. Except I don’t have a hangover. When I wake up in bed, ready for a bout of morning sex, I’m disappointed to see his side of the bed empty. Knowing I didn’t dream him up, I slip on a T-shirt and walk through the cabin, only I come up empty. I check the deck, wondering if he’s enjoying the view I’ve come to love, but he’s not there either. It isn’t until I look out front and see his car gone that my heart starts to sink.
Confusion washes over me. Last night was perfect. Even though he wanted to talk, it’s the last thing I wanted to do. I didn’t need his words. I needed him. I needed to feel him, and when he let me take control, he gave me what I needed. He showed me, yet again, that he does trust me, and at the moment, nothing else mattered.
So why is he gone?
With a sigh, I go to make a cup of tea to watch my last sunset from this cabin. On the counter, the percolator is already plugged in, the water heated, and I smile, knowing that Branson did this. Next to it is an envelope with my name, and as I pick it up, a sense of trepidation washes over me. I’m unsure of what it could say.
I take my mug and the envelope outside, setting them both down on the small table next to the lounge chair. As the sun comes up, I get lost in my thoughts until I can no longer put it off. With trembling hands, I open the letter, bracing myself for what it says.
Ariana,
This feels a little too full circle, right? You’re probably cursing me out right now, and I don’t blame you, but hear me out. Or, well, read me out.
Last night, it was impossible to sleep. I didn’t want to close my eyes only to wake up and have this be a dream. I didn’t want to miss a single second of being with you if, in the end, I couldn’t make this up to you. After hours of lying there, racking my brain, trying to figure this out, I know what I have to do. And I need to do this on my own terms to prove I mean it.
I didn’t save you that day, baby. We saved each other. You’ve changed my life. You’ve changed me. I was terrified that what we had was too good to be true, and looking back, I think I kept looking for something to come through and wreck it all. So when it did, I allowed it to happen full force instead of taking a step back and looking at it from all sides.
Instead of trusting you and looking deep down, knowing that nothing they said could be true, I allowed my past fears and doubts to cloud my mind and my judgment.
Forgive me, Ariana. Forgive me for hurting you. Forgive me for being a stubborn asshole. You’re the best person I’ve ever known, and I will kick myself for years to come for ever allowing myself to question that.
I never believed in love. I never wanted love. Until you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything and more than I ever will.
I’m going to make this right. I was lying in the office, you know? Dad gave me the ring because he already knew what I didn’t. That you were perfect for me—the man, not the CEO. I’d give it all up for you if you’ll only give me another chance.
All my life, I thought I knew what I wanted, but if I looked deep down, I always knew something was missing. That missing piece? It’s you.
Make me whole again, Ariana. Without you, I’m only a shell of the man you make me want to be. The man I am when I’m with you.
And the ring? I don’t care if it’s a Wellington ring. It’s meant to be on your finger, Ariana. I only pray that if you put it back on. This time, I’ll never give you cause to remove it again. I love you. Permanently.
B
The words become cloudy as tears trickle down my cheeks, and I look down to see the ring inside the envelope. Palming it, I don’t put it back on. No, that’s Branson’s job.
In my haste, I almost miss the second sheet of paper inside the envelope. Wiping my eyes, I pull out the other one and see an invitation to Knox Wellington’s retirement party. My heart starts beating fast as I realize what Branson’s going to do, and now, I understand why he left without discussing it with me. Looking at the date, I see that it’s for tonight, and I run inside to pack my things, knowing I have a party to crash and a fiancé to stop.
I’M PACING back and forth in the kitchen, forcing myself not to loosen my tie before Dad’s big announcement. After spending the night with Ariana, I nearly forgot about it. If it hadn’t been for Mom’s text asking for me to come by early, I probably would’ve missed it altogether. Thankful that I had an extra invitation in the car, I wrote out a quick note, trying to explain myself as best as I could, and left the invitation, hoping she’d show up so I can prove that she’s the most important part of my life.
“Honey, why are you pacing? Surely you aren’t nervous?”
I look up to see my mother watching me with curious eyes. Clearing my throat, I shake my head. “I fucked up, Mom.”
She raises an eyebrow then crosses the room until she’s directly across from me, the center island separating us. “I’m assuming you mean with your fiancée? Don’t think I haven’t noticed her absence. You two were inseparable and I’m supposed to believe she left for over a week and a half willingly?”
My fiancée. Swallowing hard, I decide to come clean. “There’s something you need to know, Mom.”
She eyes me but nods for me to continue.
“I love Ariana with my whole heart, and I intend to make her my wife. But…at first, our engagement was fake. No, it wasn’t fake, but it was temporary. Until we decided temporary wasn’t good enough. Then I proposed for real.”
She’s silent as I lay it all out, from Ariana leaving Ben, to the reason why she pretended to be her fiancée, to my falling in love with her and then fucking everything up. I’m worried about disappointing her, but it feels therapeutic to get it all off my chest.
“Oh, Branson,” she murmurs, shaking her head. “First of all, give your parents some credit.”
My forehead wrinkles as I give her a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“Call it mother’s intuition, but I didn’t believe for a second she was your fiancée. Do you really think you could’ve kept her hidden away from all of us?”
“You knew? Then why did you play along? Why did Dad give me the family ring? Why would you let a complete stranger move into my house?”
“At the time, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. There was something between you two, even if you didn’t know it. I saw something in her I’ve only seen in two other women. Charlie and Andi. Your dad and I discussed it, and we decided to let nature take its course. By the second day, we knew we’d made the right decision.”
“So, instead of meddling, you took a step back?”
She laughs. “Well, putting her clothes in your room could be considered meddling, I guess, but for the most part, yes. And I’d do it all over again, Branson. All I’ve ever wanted for my boys is for them to be happy. Whether it was with a woman or your career. Although I’m glad you found Ariana, because no matter how much you’ve dreamed about running the company, one day, you’ll wake up and realize there’s so much more to life than work.”
“I’ve already realized that, Mom. For too long, I’ve focused on my career. Now? I couldn’t care less if it means I’m alone.”
The door opens and Cohen sticks his head inside, his eyebrows drawing together when he sees us. “Everything good in here?” he asks, and Mom and I both nod. “Okay, well, Dad said to round everyone up. He’s about to make his speech.”
The door closes, and I stare at it for a moment.
“Branson,” Mom says, catching my attention. “This is the day you’ve been waiting for. Are you ready?”
She’s right. This is the day I’ve been waiting for. The day that determines my future. The day my dreams come true or the day it all comes crashing down.
TRAFFIC THROUGH Nashville slows me down, and I frantically glance at the clock as every minute ticks by. The closer I get to Belle Meade, the more anxious I become, hoping I’m not too late. Praying that, if I am, he’ll have time to take it back.
The thing is that, like I told Branson before, I couldn’t care less what his job is. If he decides he wants to move to the beach and open up a surf shop, I’m all for it. He’d look sexy with a perpetual tan and board shorts. If he wants to go into politics, I’ll back him. He’s an excellent speaker, and even though the thought of elections gives me hives, I’ll stand by him no matter what he does. So if he wants to fulfill his dream of being CEO of Wellington Enterprises? Then I’m completely comfortable with settling into the role of CEO’s wife. Because, together, we can do this.
The thing I can’t live with is his giving up his dream for me. Even if what he said was horrible and it temporarily broke my heart, our love is permanent and he’s shown me nearly every day that we’ve been together. Like I once told him, life’s messy, but we’re strong enough to get through it together.
I steel my nerves as I pull up to the Wellington residence, jumping out of the car and tossing my keys to the valet without a second glance. As I walk down the hall, I find the house empty. I pause in the kitchen, pressing my palms against the counter. The door opens, and I look up to see Amelia standing there. When she spots me, her eyes widen and she quickly closes the door behind her.
“Oh, thank God,” she says, rushing across the room and pulling me into her arms. “We’ve missed you, sweet girl.”
The dam holding back my tears suddenly bursts as I wrap my arms around her. I’ve missed the family, too. This kitchen, this setting, this woman. It’s everything I’ve never had, and I’m more than thankful with how much Branson’s given me. Yes, he has given me himself, his whole heart, but with him, I’ve gained a family. I can’t believe I ever considered walking away.
She pulls back and uses her thumbs to wipe my eyes. “Now, dear, we have plenty to catch up on, but you were almost too late.” She takes my hand and leads me out into the backyard, and my attention is immediately drawn to a makeshift stage at the opposite end of the lawn.
Branson and his dad are hugging, and I’m frozen in place as he clears his throat and taps the microphone. “Wow. There sure are a lot of people here to send the old man off, especially since it was so last minute.” He turns to his dad, giving him an award-winning smile. “Must be all the people you’ve pissed off over the years who are happy to see you go.”
The crowd laughs, and he looks down at the note cards in his hand. As I study him, I watch his expression shift. He sets the cards aside and leans forward, gripping the podium.
“The truth is, Dad’s shoes are going to be extremely hard to fill. I’m almost grateful I wasn’t the son named Knox, because if I fuck things up, his legacy won’t be the one tainted.” He pauses, grinning at the chuckling crowd. “I guess I should probably learn to not say ‘fuck’ at these sorts of things. Not that it really matters,” he mutters before continuing.
“From an early age, I knew I wanted to follow my father’s footsteps. I never wanted to be quarterback in the NFL. The sight of blood makes me queasy, so there’s no way I could be like Cohen and become a doctor. My hands shake like a motherfucker—sorry, I’ll learn—so the idea of defusing bombs the way Knox does? No way in hell could I ever do that. I’m proud of my brothers—for following their dreams and never giving up. And all my life, that’s what I’ve done. I’ve chased a dream, and now that I’m standing here, with it finally coming true, I realize this isn’t my dream.”
The crowd gasps, and his dad looks aghast.
Oh shit.
Before Branson can continue, I slip off my heels and sprint across the lawn, jumping up on the stage to join him, knowing that I’m probably making a spectacle of myself but not caring in the least bit. His eyes widen when he sees me, and I wink, turning to look towards the now silent crowd. Standing up on my tiptoes, I bring the mic down so I can speak.
“What Branson means, is that it’s no longer just his dream. It’s ours, and we couldn’t be more excited to start our lives together as he takes on this new venture.” I can see Amelia in the background, giving me a thumbs-up, and I give her, and everyone else, a beaming smile. “I promise that my first duty as the CEO’S wife will be to try and break him of that cursing habit—even if I have to write his speeches myself.”
Branson looks down at me, his eyes full of hope. Full of love.
I lean up on my tiptoes and give him a kiss on the cheek before bringing my mouth to his ear. “I love you with every beat of my heart and I always will. Now thank your father and accept the position.”
“You’re sure?” he asks, and my heart melts at his willingness to give this all up for me.
“Absolutely.”
His father stands, starting a round of applause, and soon, the whole place joins in. Branson gives a warm smile to everyone then pulls me off the stage and into a dark corner of the backyard.
“You came.”
“I did.”
“You’re here.”
“I am.”
He bends down and captures my lips in a searing kiss, and I return it, pouring every ounce of longing and passion I feel for him into it. Even though I could get lost in his kiss, I pull back.
“Branson,” I start, looking up into his eyes. “I’m sorry for running. I shouldn’t have left things the way they were.”
“Baby, no, you have nothing to be sorry for,” he whispers, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I should’ve listened. I shouldn’t have been so quick to think the worst. When I think of all those things I said to you? I could punch myself.”
“I mean, you did tell me I give a mean blow job,” I tease, and he groans.
“I’m such an asshole.”
“You can be, and that’s okay. The thing is, I’ve had plenty of time to think about it, and I can understand why you jumped to the conclusions you did. You were wrong, and I could’ve kicked you in the balls that day, but hindsight tells me I could’ve avoided this whole thing if I’d just been completely honest with you. I gave you a reason not to trust me when I deliberately didn’t answer your question.”
“That doesn’t make what I did right. I don’t want to be that guy anymore, Ari. No matter what I said, I never have and never will see you as a trophy wife. You’re my equal. My partner. I don’t want any of this if I don’t have you.”