He pressed a kiss to my head. “I love it, Addi.” He paused. “I love you.”
I lifted my head, offering him my mouth. “I love you.”
Our kiss started the way it always did. Soft and gentle. Then it changed, becoming deeper, longer. Taking and giving to each other, our tongues sliding and exploring. With a low groan, Brayden gathered me close, and seconds later, I was under him on the blanket. I loved how he felt on top of me. Solid, warm, and present. How his hands felt as they slid under my skirt, pushing up the fabric and teasing my skin. I whimpered as he ran his fingers over my center, the ache between my legs deeper and heavier than ever. All night, I had been watching him. He seemed different. Taller, his shoulders broad in the close-fitting shirt he wore, his muscular arms evident in the tight sleeves. We’d been so busy with school, work, and life, we hadn’t been alone for a few weeks, and I had missed him. The desire I felt for him was overwhelming, and suddenly I knew.
“Make me yours,” I whispered.
He drew back, surprise on his handsome face. “But Addi, you wanted to wait for your wedding night.”
“I changed my mind.” I slid my hand through his hair, cupping the back of his neck. “It’s going to be you either tonight or then, right?”
“Absolutely.”
I already wore a promise ring on my hand, and I knew he planned on changing it to an engagement ring soon.
“I don’t want to wait anymore, Brayden. I want to be yours—in every way.”
His green gaze was intense. I knew he was having an inner argument—wanting to give me what I said I wanted, yet worried I would regret it.
Except I wouldn’t. This was us—and we were forever.
“Make love to me.”
“Here?”
I smiled. “This is our place. We’re alone. I want you. Yes, here.”
He crashed his mouth to mine and kissed me. Lifted me into his arms and carried me to his room. The house was silent as he set me on my feet.
“Are you sure?” he asked one last time.
I answered by tugging on the bows that held up my sundress. I rolled my shoulders, letting it fall to the floor, and I stood in front of him, my breathing hard. “Yes.”
I smiled as I thought about our first time.
It wasn’t perfect by any means. Our hands shook and searched, there were times our mouths were overeager, and our teeth clashed. He fell off the bed reaching into his nightstand for a condom. “Thank God Aiden gave me these as a joke last year,” he mumbled. “I never thought I would need them, but I tossed them in here.”
I giggled too hard when he struggled to rip it open, mumbling how much easier it looked in movies. We rolled and fumbled. Laughed, groaned, and apologized.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he confessed. “I know the first time will.”
“I’ll be fine. I have you,” I assured him. When he was finally seated inside me, he gazed down, his eyes burning in passion.
“Nothing prepared me for this,” he hissed. “Jesus, Addi—” He hung his head. “I’m not gonna last. You feel too good.”
I was reeling from the way he felt. Filled by him and needing something. Something only he could give me. “Move, Brayden. Please move.”
It was fast, intense, messy, and perfect. It was us.
And Brayden, it turned out, was a quick learner. He grew to be an amazing lover and, to this day, could turn me on with a look or a smile.
I expected very little sleep over the next couple of days.
And I was fine with that.
Another round of clapping brought me out of my memory-gathering. Brayden was standing, his hand held out, waiting for another kiss.
I was happy to accommodate. He grinned as he pulled me close. “What were you thinking about?” he asked quietly, gazing down at me. “Your cheeks are flushed again.”
“Our first time,” I whispered. “How amazing you felt inside me.”
With a low growl, he kissed me. “Jesus, wife, you are killing me.” He pulled me in tight, letting me feel his growing erection. “You keep doing this.”
I grinned at the word “wife.” I liked it. “I’ll take care of that later, I promise.”
Those words got me another deep kiss.
“I promise to take really good care of you tonight.” He kissed me quickly. “Tomorrow.” Another longer kiss followed. He bent me low, making me gasp and grip his shoulders. “The rest of our lives.” Then he kissed me so long and hard, I forgot where I was.
It was perfect.We had agreed to keep speeches short. Our parents kept theirs brief, my father far too emotional to say much, letting my mother speak. As the best man, Reed stood, approaching the microphone. Knowing his distaste for anything to do with public speaking, I knew it would be fast.