“My job.” Regretfully, I grab his forearm, pulling his fingers from me.
“You’re really stopping this right now?” The smile that twitches his lips is far from amused as he stands with his cock pressing against the fabric of his pants, desperate for release.
“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t be here, anyway.” Now that I’ve stopped him, reality is starting to seep back in.
“You weren’t saying that a few seconds ago.”
“It was a mistake.” He rears back like I’ve just slapped him. “Hide. I need to deal with this?”
“Hide?” he asks incredulously.
“Just fucking do it.”
He disappears into my adjoining bathroom as I pull my dress down my thighs and smooth my hair the best I can.
“Hey, what’s up?” I go for casual, but I instantly know I haven’t pulled it off.
“Uh, are you okay?” Her eyes run over my face. My cheeks heat as I wonder what kind of mess I must look.
“Yeah, yeah,” I pant, panicking. “I just walked up the stairs?” My voice rises, making it come out like a question.
Her eyes widen. “Something wrong with the lift?”
“No. I…uh, I’m just trying to drop a few pounds so the stairs seemed like a good idea.”
“We’re on the sixth floor.”
“I know. It was hard work. Did you need something?”
“Amber was bringing my something borrowed and she’s not coming, and now you’re my maid of honor…” There’s a noise from inside my room. Tessa hears it and she suddenly looks over my shoulder.
“Can you give me a couple of minutes to get out of this dress and I’ll meet you in your room? We’ll sort everything out, I promise.”
“Um…yeah, okay.”
“I won’t be long.”
I close the door on her before she’s even attempted to move, but I don’t need her asking any more questions. I already know she’s suspicious. Even I wouldn’t have believed my lie.
Freddie
“You need to leave,” Bryony says the second I step out of the bathroom after she shuts the hotel room door.
“You’re not serious.” My cock’s still rock hard, and I’m desperate to bury myself inside her once again, to remind us both just how earth-shattering we can be.
“Sorry, Tessa needs me.” She shrugs. I can’t help feeling it’s the perfect excuse to avoid dealing with whatever is going on with us.
“You need to stop running.”
“Running? Me? I’m sorry, but I wasn’t the one who hopped across the state line and suddenly decided there would no longer be an us. I was prepared to do whatever it took to make us work, Freddie. You were the one who got scared and ran.”
“Yes, okay, ten years ago I was scared. I was terrified, actually. I loved you so much, but I knew Mac would never accept it and I was afraid of you putting your life on hold for me.”
“You were my life. All I wanted was you.”
“You still do. Admit it, Bry. Nothing’s changed.”
“Yes, it has. I’m not a stupid kid who thinks she’s in love anymore.”
I can’t lie, the fact she tries to convince me what we had back then wasn’t love hurts, but I can see the truth in her eyes. It was love back then and it’s still there, she just needs to be strong enough to allow herself to feel it again.
“No? So, the reason you’ve got the flower I gave you earlier in a glass of water by your bedside means nothing, then?” I ask, flitting my eyes to the rose.
“I…uh, it’s just pretty, that’s all. Are we done?”
“Fine. You keep lying to yourself. But this isn’t over, Bryony. Far from it.” Stepping up to her, I take her chin in my hand and force her to look at me. “I’m not leaving this hotel until you’re mine.” I drop a quick kiss to her lips and head for the door.
“I guess you’re moving in, then,” she calls after me.
I chuckle as I pull the door open. “We’ll see. I’ll see you at the altar. Goodnight, Bryony.”
I walk back to my room with a smile on my face. She can continue fighting me all she wants. She should have learned years ago that I don’t give up until I get what I want. It’s about time she remembered that.
I go straight for the bathroom and turn the shower on. I already know I’m not going to be falling asleep anytime soon. The effect Bryony has on my body is still racing through my veins.
Stripping out of my clothes, I step under the hot stream of water and set about releasing the tension she’s caused. Wrapping my hand around my solid length, it takes embarrassingly few strokes before I’m shooting my load into the shower tray. I moan her name, the memories of how she ignites my body at the forefront of my mind.
* * *
My shower last night did little to relieve my desire, because when I wake the next morning it’s with the image of her riding my hand in my head and my cock weeping for her.
Today’s the big day, and I don’t just mean my best friend’s wedding. Today’s the day I’m going to win her back, prove to her she’s all I’ve ever wanted. Besides, I’m best man and she’s now Tessa’s maid of honor. It’s tradition that we end up together. And I’d hate to ruin a tradition.
Bryony
Walking into Tessa’s room the next morning, excitement flutters in my stomach. I might not want one of my own, but that doesn’t mean I don’t live for other people’s wedding days. I love seeing the love in their eyes and the smiles on their faces as everything we’ve meticulously planned for months, sometimes years, comes together perfectly.
The continental breakfast has already been delivered and Tessa, our moms, and her two bridesmaids are sitting at the table eating croissants and sipping on mimosas.
“Good morning,” I sing, walking over to join them. “How are you all feeling?” They might be my family, but my wedding planner persona is firmly in place. I’m pretty sure it’s the only way I’m going to get through today unscathed.
“Nervous,” Tessa says, turning to look at me. She didn’t really need to say it because her pale face and wide eyes tell me all I need to know.
“Once the hairdresser and make-up artist arrive and things start moving, you’ll feel much better.”
“Really?” she asks, hope shining from her terrified eyes. Almost every bride is the same. No matter how well planned today is, no matter how calm they think they’ll be, more often than not they look exactly like Tessa does right now.
“Yes. Just try to enjoy the morning. It’ll be over before you know it.”
Nodding, she turns back to her drink and downs what’s left in the glass.
“You look beautiful, honey,” Mom says, taking in my dress. I usually try to look anything but one of the wedding party, but seeing as I’d already refused point blank to be one of Tessa’s bridesmaids, I didn’t really feel like I could also refuse when she expressed her interest in me at least color coordinating. I swiped a fabric swatch from her dressmaker and took it shopping. I was going to make sure it was something that was as different as possible from what the bridesmaids were wearing.
I eventually found a gorgeous black fitted dress with a floral print in the exact burgundy color Tessa had selected as her theme. It’s got a high neck, no sleeves, and sits just above my knees. It’s the exact kind of thing I would wear when working. Team it with my black court shoes and I could almost be at anyone’s wedding.
Almost.
“Thank you. Are you excited?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe.” She’s buzzing with excitement and I can’t help my laugh at her. “What?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Shaking my head, I look down at my clipboard to remind myself of the timings for the day, even though I know them like the back of my hand.
“Are you sure you don’t want this?” Mom nods over to where Tessa’s standing and admiring her dress.
“What? A custom, made-to-fit-my-body like a glove, designer dress? Yeah, I’d love one. Would be a bit much to go to the store in, tho
ugh.”
“Bryony,” she warns and my smile falters. “That’s not what I mean and you know it. All you did as a kid was talk about your wedding day. Are you sure you really don’t want your own?”
“Yes. I’m very sure.”
Her eyes soften and the sympathy on her face has my fists clenching. I don’t need anyone’s sympathy because of a decision I’ve willingly made.
“Who was it, Bry? Who broke your heart so badly?”
My chin drops. She’s never once made me think she was aware that my sudden one-eighty on the wedding thing was because of a man—a boy, really.
“It wasn’t—” My words get cut off when there’s a knock at the hotel room door. Looking over Mom’s shoulder, my chest constricts like I’ve just been hit with a baseball bat when I find Freddie standing in the doorway. Glancing around the room, his eyes find mine and widen as he takes me in.
“Oh, wow. I did not see that coming,” Mom mutters, forcing me to rip my eyes from Freddie, who’s already fully dressed in his charcoal morning suit.
“What? No…no…” Her eyebrows rise as she looks between me and Freddie, and I know that nothing I can say right now is going to convince her.
“I’m sorry. Bryony, can I borrow you for a minute?”
“She’s just coming, Freddie.” Mom’s warm fingers wrap around my forearm as she leans into my ear. “You could do a lot worse than Freddie Bison. Whatever it is, whatever happened, let it go. Give him a chance.”
Pulling back in surprise, I look at her, my lips parted to say something, but I’ve got no words.
“Love’s complicated, Bryony. Never say never.”
She removes her hand, but I don’t move. Her words of advice repeat over and over in my head until Freddie says my name again.
Looking up, I suck in a breath at the concern on his face as he stares back at me. He’s attempted to style his hair, but really, it still looks a mess. He’s freshly shaven and the morning suit Tessa chose is the perfect color to compliment his green eyes.
“Hey, Freddie,” Megan, one of Tessa’s bridesmaids, sings when she spots him. The smile that spreads across her face and the way her eyes drop to take him in has a fire burning in my belly.
Forcing my legs to move, I walk towards him. The closer I get, the harder it gets to breathe. It doesn’t help that he’s basically stripping me naked with his eyes. My skin burns, my mouth waters, and it’s only made worse when his scent fills my nose.
“Hey, beautiful,” he breathes when I’m right in front of him.
Fighting the desire coursing through me, I snap, “What do you want? We’re kind of busy.”
“Have you seen Mac?” His voice is barely a whisper and my stomach drops.
“No. Why?” I refuse to panic. There’s no way Mac would do anything stupid. I’m positive. Stepping up to Freddie, I force him out of the room and pull the door closed behind us so we can’t be overheard.
“He said he was going to the bar to grab us both a drink and he never came back.”
“He’s probably at the bar, then.”
“You think I didn’t look there already? I can’t find him, B.” There’s a slight quiver to Freddie’s voice and it doesn’t calm me at all.
Blowing out a breath, I try to make a plan. He won’t be the first groom I’ve had to chase down on his wedding day. “Let me make an excuse with the girls and I’ll be back. We’ll find him.” I’m aware that I sound more confident than I feel.
Freddie
“I’ve already checked everywhere I can think of,” I complain as I follow Bryony in and out of every room in the hotel we can get into.
“He’s here somewhere. You just haven’t looked hard enough. Have you tried ringing him again?”
“Still voicemail.”
“What the fuck does he think he’s playing at?” she mutters to herself, spinning on the spot.
We’ve now got a small search party out looking for him, seeing as Bryony’s dad insisted and grabbed his brother to help as well.
I go back to the bar once again as Bryony goes to talk to the receptionist.
“Did you check the secret garden?”
“The what?” I ask. She walks up to me, grabs my arm, and drags me from the bar.
“The secret garden.”
She’s on a mission, expertly marching across the grass in her heels. I hang back a little and watch her ass sway back and forth. My cock swells as images of her begging for more fill my mind.
“Come on,” she barks, but the moment she looks back and finds me staring, her cheeks heat.
We both breathe large sighs of relief when we enter the secret garden and find my best friend sitting on one of the concrete benches lost in his own thoughts.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Bryony snaps, stepping straight up to him and slapping him across the head.
“Hey, what was that for?”
“What was that for? What the hell are you playing at, Mac?”
“Nothing, why?”
Tension radiates from Bryony, making me grateful I’m not on the wrong end of her temper right now. “Why? Because we’ve been running around the hotel like idiots for the past forty-five minutes looking for you, you dick.”
His brows crease with confusion. “Why?”
“Because this idiot thought you’d done a runner.” She flicks her eyes over to me.
“A runner? I ain’t that fucking brave. Tessa would have my balls. I just came out for some fresh air before the chaos kicks off.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal and Bryony fumes.
She opens her mouth to rip him a new one but she soon closes it again and turns her anger on me when I place my hand on her arm.
“What?” she snaps. Excitement zips through my veins. She’s hot when she’s worked up.
Our eyes lock and hold as we battle the connection between us.
“Okay…well, I’m going to…” Mac trails off, and I’m vaguely aware of him walking back towards the hotel.
“You’re—” My words are cut off when she presses her body against mine, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and smashes her lips to mine.
I immediately open for her and she wastes no time in teasing my tongue with her own. My cock swells and presses against her stomach. She doesn’t miss it and begins grinding against me.
Skimming my hands up from her hips, I squeeze her breasts and a loud moan falls from her lips.
“Fuck, Freddie. I need—” Her phone ringing fills the silence around us and it’s the reality check she needs. Ripping her lips and hands away from me, she backs up. Regret fills her face and I’m desperate to say something to wipe it away but I come up short.
“Yeah. Okay, I’ll be right up,” she says into her phone before tucking it back inside her bag.
“I need to go.”
“Bryony,” I beg, just managing to grab her hand before she disappears.
“I can’t do this, Freddie. I’ve got a wedding to organize. The sooner this weekend is over, the better.”
Her words and the conviction she says them with slice through me. Dropping her hand, I allow her to go.
Bryony
Thankfully, the rest of the morning runs smoothly, and before I know it, Tessa and her dad are ready to head down to the room the ceremony is being held in.
“Are you ready for this?”
“I think so. Thank you, Bryony. I know I haven’t been the easiest person to work with on this, but I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything. Especially you standing in and being my something borrowed.”
“You’re more than welcome, Sis.” I give her a quick hug before we all head towards the elevator.
I can only imagine how Tessa feels because as I stand behind the closed doors, preparing to make my entrance, my entire body trembles. This is one of the reasons I wouldn’t want a big wedding. Just the thought of everyone turning to look at me the second the doors open is enough to make me want to puke.
Taking a deep breath
, I try to put my maid of honor duties aside and just pretend I’m working. It doesn’t really help, but it pushes me forward and I poke my head around the door and give the cue.
The music changes and I push the doors wide open. The moment I step foot in the room, everyone turns to me but I hardly notice. My attention is solely on one man at the front of the room. His eyes find me instantly. They hold mine for a second before dropping down my body. Everything around me vanishes, and as I take a step forward it’s like it’s just the two of us. He draws me to him just like he did when I was a kid, and it’s in that moment I realize I can’t keep running. As much as he might scare me. As much as I don’t want my heart shattered again. I don’t think I have a choice. He’s the only man who’s ever made me feel worthy, loved, and cherished. He’s the only man who’s ever made me feel complete.
Our eyes connect again and my feet move without any instruction from my brain. At the last minute I have to force myself not to walk right up to him. He must see my fight because a smug little smile appears on his face.
Dragging my eyes from him, I look to my brother, who’s anxiously staring at the door the bridesmaids just walked through, waiting for his bride to appear.
When the doors are pulled back and he gets his first look at her, the expression on his face is priceless. Tears burn my throat as I fight to keep myself in check.
While my focus is on the bride and groom, soaking up their love and excitement, Freddie’s eyes burn into me. Tingles follow his journey around my body and it’s enough to have desire licking at my insides.
My head knows the sensible and safest option would be to keep fighting him. But right now, in the middle of the most romantic of settings, my heart is winning the war inside me.
I watch the connection between Tessa and Mac as they stare into each other’s eyes and say their vows. For the first time in years, I start to imagine what it might be like to be the one standing up there with the love of my life staring into my soul.
Something Borrowed (Wedding Season Series) Page 3