“I’m here with someone,” I said.
Jason laughed. “What do you mean, like a date?” He sounded incredulous. Why was it so difficult for everyone to believe that I had a date for the wedding? Jason got close to me again. “Baby, I thought you liked to play the field. I thought you’d have a little time to play with me tonight.”
I tore my arm from his grasp. “What part of I’m here with someone didn’t you get?” I almost shouted. A few wedding quests actually turned to gawk at us.
By this time, Brett was on his way over with two sodas in his hand. He handed me one and then noticed Jason standing next to me. “Hey, Jason,” Brett greeted him. He obviously hadn’t seen or heard what had been going on between us but I was surprised he couldn’t feel the tension that still hung in the air.
Jason looked at Brett with utter disgust. “You’re with Clown Hair? He’s your date? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
When I looked at Brett, his expression was neutral but I could see some pain and hurt in his eyes. I decided to do something to drive the point home that I was most definitely with Brett and Jason could stew in it. I gave a quick glace to Jason to make sure he was still watching and he was gawking at both of us, like he couldn’t believe I’d ever consider Brett over him. I gave Brett the most seductive look I could muster considering we had an audience and the anger that was raging inside of me. I caught Brett’s gaze and continued to stare into his beautiful green eyes as I placed my hands on his chest. I ran my hands seductively up his chest, still staring into his eyes, then I placed my hands on his face and pulled him in for a kiss. I kissed Brett like I had never kissed anyone in my life. I kissed him like there was no one else in the room with us and I was ready to eat him whole. He grabbed my ass and pulled me in close. He took over and practically devoured me. I knew we were putting on quite a show but I didn’t care. I wanted to make a point. I wanted all the bullshit questions and cheap shots to stop. I wanted everyone to know that not only was I with Brett, I thought he was sexy as hell and that I wanted him.
When we came up for air, I was ready to take Brett upstairs and rip his clothes off. I was turned on beyond belief and I was sober. That was a first.
There were a few hoots and several people applauded our public display of affection. Brett didn’t take his eyes off of me. When I looked over at Jason, his mouth gaped open and he was speechless.
I grabbed Brett’s hand and said, “Come on. Let’s sit down at our table.”
I led Brett over to the table we were sharing with the other two bridesmaids and their dates. I breathed a sigh of relief that Jason was seated at another table on the other side of the reception hall.
“I remember you,” Paige said when Brett and I sat down. “You were a math tutor, weren’t you?”
Brett nodded.
Molly poked her head into the conversation. “Didn’t everyone call you clown hair?”
I was really starting to hate that moniker. It may have fit Brett when he was 18 but it was obvious it no longer fit 23-year old Brett. I glared at Molly and she just rolled her eyes at me. It seemed to be her default facial expression.
Two good-looking muscular guys joined us at our table, obviously Paige and Molly’s dates. I recognized the guy, who sat with Paige. His name was Vic. I hooked up with him a few times in college. I avoided his gaze hoping he wouldn’t remember me.
“Hey, Anna,” Vic said using a voice that was way to seductive for the situation we were in. “You’re looking hot as ever.”
Paige gave him a well-deserved shot on his shoulder. “Ouch,” he said rubbing the spot she punched. “What was that for?”
“That was for practically throwing yourself at Anna,” Paige hissed. “Can’t you see she’s with someone? And, by the way, you’re supposed to be with me.”
Vic gave Paige a quick peck on the cheek. “I know, Babe. I’m right here with you.”
Then Vic turned his attention to Brett. “Hey, Man.” He gave Brett a lazy half-wave. “I’m Vic.”
“I know,” Brett said. “I tutored you in math.”
Vic gave Brett another more focused glance. “Dude that was you? I didn’t recognize you without the hair.”
Paige put an arm around Vic’s shoulder as she kept her eyes trained on me. She was clearly marking her territory. As if I had any interest in Vic. Been there; done that. He wasn’t all that great, Honey.
The other guy had taken a seat next to Molly. He seemed a bit more reserved that Vic. I noticed he was staring at me, though. After a moment, he pointed a finger at me.
“Do I know you?” he asked. He was still staring at me.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He wasn’t convinced. “I know I know you.”
Molly was now glaring at me. So, I hooked up with a lot of guys. I never lied or cheated on anyone. I was always a single girl out having some fun.
“Anna was very popular,” Molly said emphasizing the word popular like it was a disease. What she really wanted to say was that I got around. She continued, “You probably saw her at parties.”
The guy shook his head. Then, when he said, “Where’d you go to high school,” I knew he wasn’t going to drop it.
“Tempe,” I said matter-of-factly.
He considered this for a minute. “Ever hang out with kids from Mesa?”
“Sure.” I hung out with kids from lots of schools. The Valley was a big place and there were lots of schools with lots of kids.
“I was the quarterback for Mesa Prep,” he said.
Of course, Casey Crawford. He had filled out even more since high school and his hair was a lot longer and a little darker blond than it had been when we were in young. And I had hooked up with him once at a party at his parent’s place. I knew he got around a lot, so I wondered if he remembered being with me.
When his eyes turned into seductive slits and he bit his bottom lip, I had an idea he was remembering being with me. “How is it possible that you look even better now than when we were in high school?”
Now Molly was the one who slapped Casey on the upper arm. Casey turned to his date and said, “What? It’s the truth.”
Molly responded with a glare.
Casey turned back to face Brett and I. “So, Dude,” he said to Brett. “How do you know Anna?”
My head snapped toward Brett and I could see he was getting uncomfortable. If we hadn’t met in such an embarrassing way, the question would have been innocuous. I didn’t think he wanted to tell everyone that in an extremely drunken state, I seduced him and slept with him but didn’t remember it. That’s not exactly a story for the romance novels. And definitely not one you want to tell your grandchildren.
“We met at a wedding,” Brett said short, sweet and to the point.
Luckily, that seemed to appease Casey and he followed another train of thought. He turned to Vic and said, “Have you checked out the bar yet?”
When Vick shook his head, the two guys got up together and headed toward the bar. Paige turned to Molly and said, “Do you think they could ask us if we want anything to drink?”
“Rude,” Molly stated.
“I know, right,” Paige replied.
Brett rose and said, “I’d be happy to get both of you something to drink. What would you like?”
Paige and Molly smiled. “I’d like a glass of white wine,” Paige said.
“Make mine red,” Molly said.
Brett leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” I had to smile, though. He was such a sweetheart.
Brett gave me another kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”
When Brett was gone, Molly looked at me and said, “I take back every nasty thing I said about his clown hair.”
I nodded.
“He’s super sweet,” Paige added.
That he is, I thought. I wondered if he had caught onto the fact that I had slept with both of the guys sitting at our ta
ble. He was a brilliant guy. I cringed at the thought that he most likely figured it out.
A few minutes later, Brett returned with the two glasses of wine for the other bridesmaids. They thanked him and he joined me again. I could see both of the girls looking around the reception hall for their dates. We seemed to all have spotted them at the same time. They were both standing over by the Champagne fountain, chatting up a buxom blonde, who I thought was one of the bride’s cousins from Denmark.
The girls both gave each other a disgusted look then they rose at the same time and marched in unison towards their dates. Brett and I watched them as if we were watching a movie unfold in front of us. The girls got on the opposite sides of their dates (the Danish cousin was standing in the middle between Vic and Casey). They both punched their dates in the arms. Their dates grabbed at their punched arms in unison. And then Paige and Molly grabbed them and dragged them away from the cousin from Denmark.
Moments later, all four were back at our table. Vic and Casey both sat there looking completely whipped. I had to grin.
Our table was silent until a waitress came to take our order. We had a choice between chicken and salmon. The four ordered chicken while Brett and I picked salmon.
As we ate dinner, the conversation turned to what we’d been doing since graduation. Paige was in graduate school to become a physical therapist, which I thought was pretty cool. Molly was working at a bank handling loans. Not as cool. Casey had joined two of his friends and started a lawn maintenance company. Didn’t need a college degree for that. Vic was working for a radio station selling ads. Like me, he had majored in communications, not the most marketable of majors. Once Brett said he was a rocket scientist and worked for NASA, everyone wanted to hear all about it and no one ever bothered to ask me what I was doing. Not that I minded. I hadn’t done anything worth mentioning anyway.
I loved listening to Brett talk about his work. He was so enthusiastic about it, his face completely lit up as he talked. He told stories about artificial intelligence and space exploration. Everyone at the table was completely enthralled.
It wasn’t long before it was time for the official toasts and then the first dance. Luckily, the maid of honor, the bride’s sister, was the only girl required to give a speech, so I was off the hook. Once the band starting playing some popular rock songs, everyone flocked to the dance floor.
“Like to dance?’ Brett asked.
I grinned. “What do you think?”
Brett grabbed my hand and pulled me up with him. “Come on. Dance with me.”
The DJ played Mumford & Sons “I Will Wait” and it seemed like the perfect song for our first dance. It could have been a soundtrack for our relationship. We’d both been waiting for each other but in different ways and for different reasons. Brett pulled me close. It wasn’t exactly a slow song but it didn’t matter. It felt like we were the only ones on the dance floor; the only ones in the reception hall for that matter.
We held each other and were lost in each other’s gaze. We danced like that for what seemed like ten songs. Fast or slow, it didn’t matter. Brett held me in his embrace—tight and close.
At some point, we both realized the dance floor had become packed with other wedding guests and they were doing the chicken dance. The silly song seemed to be a staple at weddings.
Brett leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Ready to go upstairs?”
He didn’t have to ask me twice. I had been ready for hours. As soon as I nodded, he pulled me off the dance floor.
Eight
We caught an elevator going up and it seemed like we’d be the only ones on the elevator until a drunk couple staggered in with us. They seemed completely oblivious our presence in the elevator with them. They were all over each other, practically having sex in the elevator next to us. It made my stomach turn. Not because of what they were doing but because I thought about all of the times that had been me, falling all over a guy, allowing him to seduce me in public.
I didn’t want to be that girl anymore and with Brett I didn’t have to be. Brett treated me with kindness and respect. I wasn’t just an easy lay or a one-night stand. With Brett I could have more and be more.
When the elevator stopped, Brett pulled me out and I took one last look at the drunk couple. I was glad to see the door close on them. It felt like I was also closing the door on the girl I no longer wanted to be.
Brett made me wait outside his hotel room door for a few seconds while he got something ready. He wouldn’t tell me what but that was a surprise. He told me to close my eyes as he led me into the room.
“Okay, open your eyes.”
I took in a sharp breath when I opened my eyes. The lights in the room were out but it was being illuminated by what seemed like hundreds of candles. They were all white in various shapes and sizes. There were also several beautiful bouquets of different types of flowers placed around the room and the bed was covered with flower petals. It was one of the loveliest things I had ever seen.
“This is unbelievable,” I whispered. I turned to Brett and he was staring at me, gauging my reaction. I could feel my eyes starting to water. “I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“I told you I wanted this to be special.”
I leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Just being with you is special.”
Brett took my hand and led me to the bed. He laid me down and told me to close my eyes again. I did as I was told. I could feel Brett lay down in the bed next to me. Then I felt a tickling sensation under my nose.
“What does it smell like?” he asked.
I inhaled. “Jasmine?”
“You’re good,” Brett affirmed. “Jasmine is for sensuality.”
I could feel him place another flower under my nose. “How about this one?”
I inhaled the flower’s scent. It wasn’t familiar to me. “I don’t know.”
“That’s lilac. It’s for first emotions of love.”
“One more,” Brett said as he placed the flower under my nose.
I inhaled. “That’s easy. That’s a rose.”
“Yes,” Brett said. “And roses are for passion and love, depending on the color. I’ve got several colors. Covering all of the bases.”
That made me laugh. “Can I open my eyes now?”
“Not yet. What does this feel like?” I could feel Brett’s lips on mine. A tender kiss.
I opened my eyes and Brett was staring at me, taking in my features. He ran his index finger softly down my cheek. “I want to make love to you,” he said as he gazed into my eyes. It seemed like such an antiquated expression. Guys wanted to hook up or tap that. But I knew this was something completely different. This wasn’t just about sex. It was about being intimate with someone you cared about. As many times as I had sex, it was never about love. There were too many times when I didn’t even really like the guy all that much. Even though I hadn’t been a virgin since I hit puberty, this was going to be a first for me. This was the first time I had ever been with someone I could truly say I loved.
Brett kissed me again. This time his kissed ignited something inside and my entire body responded. I wasn’t drunk but I was suddenly feeling light headed. And the more I responded, the more forceful and passionate Brett became. It was like he was trying to devour me.
“My, God, Anna,” he whispered breathlessly. “I’ve never felt like this before. I want you so badly it hurts.”
I knew exactly how he felt. There was a longing deep inside me that I knew only he could fill. It excited every inch of me and frightened me to the core.
Brett pulled me close and I could feel his erection. I moaned as he pressed himself against me; he was rock hard.
I knew Brett wasn’t the most experienced lover but his passion and desire for me overcame any awkwardness there was until I was so turned on, I wanted to rip Brett’s clothes off. But I held back and let Brett lead the way.
Brett sat me up and slowly pulled the straps of my bridesmaid dres
s down off my shoulders. He kissed each of my shoulders with light butterfly kisses that sent waves of desire rushing through my body.
Everything Brett did was slow and deliberate and left me wanting more. My desire for him was building so much, I could have had an orgasm with my clothes still on.
Brett unzipped the back of the dress and pulled it down to my waist so that my black lace push-up bra was exposed. I watched him as he savored the moment. Then he pulled the dress down a bit more and I lifted my hips so he could get the dress completely off me.
I was now in my bra and panties and Brett looked at me for a long minute. It was like he was appreciating the sight of me. No one had ever done that before. Guys always seemed to be quick to get to the finish line; quicker to get their dicks inside me and go off.
But Brett was in no hurry. This wasn’t a conquest. There was no finish line. He was enjoying every second of the journey we were on. This was an experience to be savored.
“Lie back down,” Brett instructed.
When I did, he took a rose petal between his thumb and index finger and lightly ran it along my collar bone. Another wave of shivers rushed through my body. Brett slowly ran his finger along the outline of my bra then ran his finger over my nipples, which now stood completely erect against my lace bra. Brett slowly pulled my bra straps down and placed butterfly kisses on my shoulders where the straps had been. I was beginning to love those butterfly kisses. I wondered how they would feel all over the rest of my body. It wouldn’t take long to find out.
Brett pulled my bra off my breasts and admired them for a long moment. Then he took a daisy that was on the bed next to him and teased my nipples with it. They got even harder.
Brett then teased my breasts with his tongue and licked his way from a spot between my breasts down to my belly button. He tickled my belly button with his tongue, which made me squirm with pleasure.
When I looked at Brett, he gave me a sly grin. Then he assaulted my stomach with butterfly kisses, which turned me on so quickly and so completely, I thought I would lose my mind.
Be Good Page 11