Changing Lanes (Highway 17 #1)

by Leaona Luxx

“I love you. I’ve waited all my life to have you as mine. The last ten years have been the hardest, knowing I had found you but that I couldn’t have you. I know you’re scared, I am too. We’ve been given a million reasons to walk away but only one kept us going. Love. I say we allow love to lead us. Will you marry me, forever?” His brow furrows, looking at me as though I may say no.

  “I thought you’d never ask, country boy. Besides, that’s how I got here, I was led to you by love.” I lean in, stopping short of his mouth. “Yes. Forever.” Pressing my mouth against his, he wraps his arms around me.

  “We’re not there yet, you two,” Hardy says loud enough for everyone to hear. Laughter erupts as we part.

  “How did you? When?” He shakes his head as he looks around.

  “Let’s get this taken care of, and I’ll give you all the details later.” I wink at him after nodding to the minister.

  He looks around nervously. “Oh, yeah. Okay.”

  “We are gathered here today to finally,” he says to a round of applause and cheers, “join together in marriage, Brannon and Torrie. Torrie.” He nods to me.

  “Brannon, I gave you my heart ten years ago, and I never got it back. I’m thankful you held it with so much care and seen fit to get us here today. From this moment forward, I promise to trust my love for you, my heart is with you anyway. I love you, Bran. Forever.”

  “Brannon,” the minister directs.

  “You stole my heart all those years ago, Torrie, and you’ve had it since. I’m thankful for our journey, though it may have been long and bumpy, it’s proven our love worthy and strong. Thank you for our son and for loving my daughter. I love you, Torrence.” He knocks a tear away from my cheek with his finger.

  “Do you, Torrie, take Brannon to be your husband?” the minister asks.

  “I do,” I answer.

  “Do you, Brannon, take Torrie to be your wife?”

  “I do, forever.” Brannon grins at me.

  “By the powers vested in me by the State of North Carolina, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride, again.” The minister chuckles as Brannon takes me before he can finish. His lips on mine, soft and commanding, reminding me here is where I belong.

  The chairs are pushed to the side as long, wooden picnic tables are arranged quickly. The food is brought in by a caterer hired by my parents’, a down south pig pickin’. I’m told it’s barbecue. The tables are dressed with Black Eye Susans and mason jars. It’s just about as country as a city girl can get. As the music begins to play, we are assaulted by a gathering of family and loved ones.

  “Thank heavens. I love you all.” Joyce, Brannon’s mom, throws her arms around us, kissing both our cheeks.

  “About damn time. Man, y’all were killing us,” Hardy says as he pulls Brannon into a hug.

  “Tell me about it,” he laughs as One gives him a brotherly pat on the back.

  “I’m proud of you both. Love doesn’t always come easy, and sometimes you have to fight to keep it. I hope you’ve learned that now,” One says.

  “Awe, congratulations.” Thayer kisses me as I continue to cry.

  “Thank you, for all your help. The flowers are perfect.” I hug her.

  “It was perfect,” Lea tells me as we hug. Maisyn and Lachlan congratulate us also.

  Brannon lays his hand on the small of my back when he sees my parents’ approach. His hand on Andi’s shoulder, he’s so protective of us both. My stomach twists in knots.

  “Torrence. Brannon.” My father offers his hand, and Brannon takes it in dismay. “Thank you for allowing us to be here.”

  “Why the sudden change?” Brannon asks, being protective.

  “Don’t you think it’s time for change?” he says. “Sometimes, you just need a good kick to make you open your eyes. That and I don’t think anyone has ever talked to me the way you both did. I deserved it. To think, I lost a grandson and could’ve lost you.” His eyes team with tears,

  e continues. “I must admit my shortcomings regarding my daughter over the years. And then with Brannon, I’ve treated you both reprehensible I’m so sorry, I ask your forgiveness.” We nod as I lean into Brannon. “You both have treated me with respect I didn’t deserve, and I thank you. You’ve taught me great lessons; love comes in many shapes and forms, usually not as you suspect it. Change often comes by surprise, and how you handle those changes, can define you. If you’re lucky, change will find you wrapped in love, where you can handle anything that comes at you.”

  “Torrie loves us both, I know this means the world to her. Thank you.” Brannon says to him as he nods.

  “And Greta threatened to leave me.” He kneels in front of us. “And whom might you be?”

  “I’m Andi, this is my dad and my momma Torrie,” Andi says to my father.

  “Your momma Torrie is breathtaking and so are you.” He tweaks her nose.

  “Who are you?” she asks him. He reaches for my mother’s hand.

  “We are Momma Torrie’s parents’, your grandparents’ if you’ll have us?” My father smiles.

  Andi crooks her finger at him and he leans in. “I will have you.” She wraps her arms around my father’s neck, knocking him off balance. Good.

  “You’re beautiful. Brannon, finally,” my mother says as she hugs and kisses us both.

  Brannon stands silent. “Are you okay?” I whisper as we watch Andi in my father’s arms, my parents’ talking to his mom.

  “How did you do all of this?” He shakes his head as he looks at me in awe.

  “All these people love us. It may have just about killed you and me to get them to this point, but here we are,” I tell him as I hold him tight.

  “Excuse me, I need to get Brannon’s signature,” the minister says.

  “Oh, yeah. We had to tweak the marriage license.” I shrug. “I didn’t want you to find out, so One helped at city hall until we could get your signature.” I smile at him as he takes the paper in his hands.

  “I’m glad you did.” He glances up at me, grinning as he signs the paper.

  The party lasts well into the night, slowly breaking up around one in the morning. Leaving Brannon and me slow dancing in the barn. His eyes gleaming in the lights, his smile brighter than the sun. I stroke his beard as he sways us back and forth. Like a dream, we stand here lost in one another.

  “So, does this wedding include a honeymoon?” Brannon cocks his brow in question.

  “It does but it’s a little different than most.” I smile as I take him by the hand, leading him to the loft.

  Fresh straw is laid out with heavy blankets and throw pillows as we crawl over the last rung of the ladder. Brannon’s face alights with happiness. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”

  “Oh, I tried,” I say as his mouth lands on mine. He slowly unzips my dress as our mouths explore one another’s. His hands, pushing the dress down over my breasts as his mouth moves to them. I work his buttons on his shirt loose, finally giving up. We undress quickly, as if we’ve never done this before.

  Laying me back, his body covers mine as he takes over. Crashing into my mouth, his tongue fights with mine in a seductive dance of love and lust.

  Then his lips press into my cheek, trailing down to my shoulder and to the swell of my breast. Sweeping his tongue over my nipple, I buck off the straw.

  He smiles, biting down on my hard tip. Spreading my legs, he settles between them. Kissing down the middle of my body, he squeezes my breast as his mouth finds my pussy. He licks slowly as he builds my orgasm. Sucking my clit into his mouth, he flicks his tongue over it.

  Releasing it, he widens his tongue, dragging it up my center, coming to a point with his tongue on my clit. He raises his head, blowing on it softly. Repeating again, slowly and tantalizingly. He groans with every sweep of his tongue.

  He crawls up between my wanting thighs, laying against me. His lips on mine with sweet desire and he pushes into me. Sliding deep and delicious. My head lulls back as his slow, pe
rfect thrusts quench my heated depths.

  Gliding in and out with nothing but love, he passionately delivers each grind, deep, making my pussy pulse around him. Clenching and releasing him as he drives into me. His chest rubs against my hard nipples, causing a sweet friction of their own.

  Slow and deliberate, our release hits us with a frenzied cry. Spilling onto each other, our love built years apart. Still, at this moment, we lay here sated, knowing this is only the beginning. He comes up on his knees, pulling my legs. “Up, on your knees. I want that beautiful ass in the air.”

  I scramble to my knees, parting my legs as I lower my shoulders slightly. I feel him press into my thighs with his, placing his hand on my ass. He slides it down, over my full ass cheeks. Cock in hand, he rubs it through my wet entrance. I lean back, and he smacks my ass. “Aren’t we greedy?”

  “Yes. Please.” I can’t believe I’m begging. I look over my shoulder, biting his lip as he runs his cock over my pussy. Hell yes, I’m begging. “Please, fuck me.”

  “You don’t have to beg, baby.” He impales me as he answers me.

  Moving at a pace that has our bodies smacking together. I find my rhythm meeting his push with my own. Our tempo increases with each slap of our bodies. Brannon reaches up, placing his hand on my shoulder, pulling me up just a little.

  He’s now pulling me into his grind as he pounds into my pussy. His arm wraps my waist, and he brings me my ass up onto his lap. I bounce from it as he drives into me like a piston, nothing but grunts and groans fill the room.

  Brannon reaches around, pinching my nipple between his fingers. His grip on my waist tightens as his pace picks up. He moves his fingers down, circling my clit. He applies the sweetest pressure, and I fall over the cliff. I moan his name as he holds me still, riding out his own release.

  We fall over, tangled in a mess of legs and arms, sated. Our breathing slowly returns to normal, helping to regain the will to move. He rolls to his back, and I curl into his side. Laying my hand over his heart, he places his on mine. We’re sticky with straw hanging from us in every direction.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” He holds me closer.

  “I’m so happy I surprised you.” I snuggle him.

  “What made you change your mind?” he asks.

  “I didn’t really.” His breath catches. “I knew I was coming back, I hated leaving the minute I did.”

  “You scared me there. I wish you would’ve told me,” he adds.

  “Where’s the fun in that? I will always cherish the memory of my office fuck.” We laugh. “Sadly, everyone else will, too.”

  “I had no idea you would respond the way you did or I would’ve taken you somewhere else.” He yawns.

  “I know, I was shocked. It was like my senses were heightened.” He yawns again. “Am I boring you?”

  “No. Just wore out, babe.” He turns to me. Kissing my forehead.

  “Let’s go to bed, I’m tired, too.” Sitting up, I look for my clothes I stashed earlier. No way was I going down that ladder in my dress.

  We climb down from the loft, our legs weak as we make our way to bed. It’s late, so Brannon gives me a t-shirt and boxers to wear to bed. He pulls me to his chest, spooning me. I fall asleep fast with him at my back.

  Light shines through the window, right into my eyes. It’s then I realize, I’m melting down. It’s stifling in here. I try to move but can’t turn either way. I’m wedged between something. Prying my eyes open, a spray of chestnut colored hair lays across my face, and there’s a wall behind me.

  A snicker from the doorway draws my attention. I raise my head just enough to see Joyce standing at the door. “I think they missed you.” She smiles. “I know they sure do love you.”

  Brannon has me wrapped in his arms, one for my pillow. Andi is tangled in my arms, her hand in my hair. “I’m lucky, I’ve survived,” I say, giggling as Brannon begins to stretch.

  One eye pops open. “Mornin’, baby.” He rubs my stomach with his hand.

  “Look.” I tilt my head to the right. He raises up, gazing at Andi.

  “When did she come in here?” He scratches his head.

  “Poor Torrie needs her own bed,” Joyce laughs as she turns walking toward the stairs.

  “I don’t think so, we’ll buy a bigger bed,” Brannon says as he kisses me. He stands, walking toward the bathroom. “I know one thing, these two are gonna have to let us get our fill of each other because I can’t deal with all these women like this every morning.” He turns sideways, his cock rising beneath his shorts.

  I mouth, ‘damn’. Then I say it, “Damn. Yeah, I need some of that.” Finally tearing my eyes away from his tenting shorts to whisper, “Do you remember us being this insatiable before?”

  “Yes.” He closes the door. He’s snarky.

  “Torrie?” Andi wakes from the sound of the closing door with a sweet, sleepy voice.

  “Hey, baby.” She scrambles to her knees, throwing her arms around my neck. She nuzzles my neck. “I wanted to tell you yesterday but Gamma said to wait until today. Please don’t leave again, I promise I’ll be good.”

  What? “No, no baby. You think I left because you were bad?” She nods, her face still buried in my neck. Her grip tight on me. “Andi, baby, look at me.” I pull her face from my body, clearing away her stray hairs. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt your feelings or make you think I left because of you.” Shaking my head, I reconsider the truth. “Well, that’s not true either, Andi. I did leave because of you. I’m afraid I’m going to hurt you or forget to do something that will get you hurt. I’m scared. I want to be a good mom when your mom isn’t around, and I’m not,” I try to explain.

  “Will you still be my momma, Torrie?” Her little head tilts to the side, and she smiles just like her daddy.

  “As long as your momma Ava doesn’t mind. Let’s make a deal. If I ever do something wrong or if you do something wrong, we’ll tell each other. Deal?” I hold my pinky out to her.

  “What’s that? That’s not a handshake,” she laughs.

  “It’s a pinky shake, only girls can do it,” I whisper.

  “Deal.” She takes my pinky with hers. “By the way,” she reaches into her nightie, pulling out her necklace. “I love my sea turtle necklace, thank you.” I hold my hand to my heart.

  She jumps up, running down stairs. I find Brannon looking at me with tear-filled eyes, he walks over. “You’re amazing, never forget that.” He leans in and kisses me.

  We get our day started by dropping Andi at school then we swing by the office. Brannon opens the door for me as the squealing begins.

  “Yay.” Thayer comes running over, throwing her arms around my neck.

  “Torrie!” Lea screams from the door as she and One come in.

  “I didn’t think I’d see you today.” She hugs me as close as her stomach will allow.

  “Try keeping either of them home today.” Hardy sits on the couch.

  “I’m glad they’re here, helps welcome her.” Brannon smiles at me and my friends.

  “I thought we helped to arrange her welcome last night, did you screw it up?” One asks Brannon, making Hardy chuckle.

  “Everything went as planned. Thank you.” Brannon punches One’s arm.

  “So, what’s next, folks?” One settles behind a desk.

  “Baby showers.” I smile.

  “I’m going to build my mom a small house opposite the barn. She wants us to have the house, so I need to design her one.” Brannon grabs some designs One has already to look at.

  “So, let’s go have lunch and make some plans,” Thayer exclaims.

  “Brannon?” I ask him, not for permission, simple courtesy. For God sakes, we just got married I don’t want to leave him.

  “Are you coming back to me or is there a plane waiting somewhere?” He frowns, I narrow my eyes at him.

  “You’re not funny.” Shaking my head, I become lightheaded, losing my balance.

  “Hey, baby. Are you alr
ight?” Brannon has me in his arms.

  “I don’t have a clue what just happened. I’m sorry.” Hardy hands me a cup of water. “Maybe it’s all the excitement.”

  After a few minutes, I convince Brannon to let me go with the girls. “I promise. I’ll go straight in and sit down.”

  He nods, still frowning. “Okay, but if you feel ill at all, call me.”

  “I will. I’m good. Promise.” I kiss him, allowing my lips to linger for a moment. Thayer drives us to the restaurant, where we meet Maisyn.

  Thayer, Lea, Maisyn, and I sit at a corner table waiting on our food. I sip on an ice tea, it feels good, it’s so hot out. By my second glass, I make a restroom run. As I walk back to our table, I get lightheaded again.

  “Torrie. Baby, wake up. Can you wake up, baby? Torrie?” Prying my eyes open, I reach for my pounding head. Wow. Who in the hell hit me? “Be careful, you have stitches,” Brannon says.

  “What happened?” I question him as my eyes roll back in my head from pain.

  “You fell at the restaurant. Five stitches.” He wrinkles his nose as he looks at the bandage.

  “How long have I been here?” I ask.

  “About four hours.” His frown deepens. “I pressed the button to let them know you’re awake. They won’t tell me anything because I’m not on your consent forms yet. I’m lucky they let me in here. Well, they’re lucky. Your father offered to help any way he could.”

  “You called my parents’?” I don’t know what hurts more.

  “Yes, that’s what we do.” He nods wildly.

  “I’m still in shock with the change in him toward me, us.” I wince from the pain.

  “He was great, even thanked me for calling. We exchanged numbers and have been texting.” I watch Brannon’s face, he seems pleased.

  I’m about to ask him more when a young male doctor walks in. Brannon sits up straight, pushing his chest out and grasping my hand tighter. He’s cute but he’s not Brannon. “Mrs. O’Hurley. I’m Doctor Luther, how are you feeling?”

  “Pained.” I squeeze Brannon’s hand at the sound of my name, grinning. He glances up at me and then back down.

  “So, you’ve had a few dizzy spells and feeling off lately?” The doctor writes and talks at the same time, that drives me crazy.