Page 82 of The Trouble with Runaway Brides

It’s been a topic of discussion between us for the last twelve hours or so. Lance wants to handle it for me, but it’s not his responsibility nor his place.

The doorbell rings and he nudges me off his lap before climbing out of bed and grabbing his sweatpants. “Breakfast?”

“I’m hoping for donuts again.”

He laughs.

I hear the door open and shut, but I have no energy to move. I could stay in this bed for the rest of my life.

“Not donuts, but…” He holds out my cell phone. “All your belongings. A suitcase, a purse, and your phone. I’m guessing they’re telling us it’s time to get back to the real world.”

I fall back onto the mattress and cover my head with a blanket.

He jumps on the bed and peeks under the blanket, sliding under until he nudges my legs open and slides inside me. God, I’m never going to have enough of him.

He pumps inside me, taking his time to kiss my neck, my collarbone and, lastly, my lips. Our tongues tangle and I’ve never felt so fulfilled in all my adult life. The man already knew his way around my body, but over the past three days, he’s mastered it. Strums me with expert fingers in all the right spots. It doesn’t take long before I’m begging and panting.

“I love when you beg,” he says, increasing his tempo. He nibbles up my neck and sucks on my earlobe. “You’re so beautiful when you come apart.”

“God.” I grab at his shoulder blades, my nails digging into the strong muscles.

My orgasm overwhelms me fast and furious, and I grab his face, bringing his lips to mine and kissing him with a fierceness that causes our teeth to knock. He turns his head, plunging his tongue deeper. His arms hold his body weight above me as he plunges inside me. I lift my legs up and over his calves, my heels digging in. He’s relentless until every muscle in my body clenches and I come again with a soft purr.

He comes right after, spilling inside me.

“I’ll be right back,” he says before kissing my nose.

He slides out of me, gets a washcloth from the bathroom, and cleans us. I flinch when he runs the wet washcloth between my legs.

“You look sore, babe.”

“We might have to cool it for a bit,” I say. We chuckle as he takes the washcloth back to the bathroom. When he returns, he sits on the edge of the bed, and we stare at one another, then at my phone. “I have to deal with Will.”

“I know. Do you want some privacy?”

My lips press together. “Probably.”

He kisses my forehead, picks up my cell phone, and places it in my palm. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

“Thanks.”

After Lance shuts the bedroom door, I stare at the phone for a minute, gathering the courage to make the call. It’s not that I think I’ve broken Will’s heart or anything. Looking back, I can see clearly that he probably didn’t really care that deeply for me. But I’m sure he was embarrassed and confused, and I owe him the truth.

I pull up his number from my contacts and hover my finger over the call button. I take a deep breath. Just be honest, apologize, and move on. I press the call button and wait as it rings, my heart racing. I’m sent right to voice mail. Okay, interesting.

“Hey, Will, it’s me. I’m so sorry for the way everything went down and I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you that day. But I’m here now if you want to call me back. I’m flying into New York later today or tomorrow and thought we should meet. Call me.”

I hang up and scroll through my messages.

Nothing from anyone in Lake Starlight because I’m sure they all know I’m holed up with Lance. Even Buzz Wheel reported they saw me running out on the wedding and hoped it meant I was going to Lance.

There are five missed calls from Will but no voice emails. Twenty-five text messages, so I click on them.

Will: Where the hell are you?

Will: How dare you walk out on me?

Will: I’m going to ruin you.

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