Page 75 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
“I’m telling you now.” He lets out a long, low groan, then his hands are at my waist. And as he gathers me in his arms, I go to him willingly. Together, we stumble backward until he’s pressed against the wall, and I’m pressed against him. Then with an aching slowness, he bends his neck, bringing his mouth within inches of mine.
“I want to kiss you now,” he says. “I’ve never wanted anything more.” His voice is an earthquake. A landslide. A shifting of the ground. I nod at his unspoken question.
“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes.”
ChapterThirty-Two
BRADY
She said yes.
Nataliewantsme to kiss her. This is my chance, and I’m going to take it. No matter the risk if she walks away. Despite the pain when it ends. At least I’ll have this moment. In the darkness, my hands find the nape of her neck, and I slide my fingers up to thread through her hair. Tipping her face, I lower mine, stopping just short of brushing her mouth. When Natalie trembles, I taste her breath, coming now in quick, cinnamon bursts. I’m feeling everything at once. Warmth. Desire. Tenderness. A flood of emotions I’ve only ever imagined.
Until our lips meet.
The touch is soft at first and almost unbearably sweet. Then Natalie leans against me, increasing the pressure, matching my need. My heart is thrashing in my chest now, a wild animal in a cage, but I stay in control. This is all for Natalie.Iam all for her. Surrendering to this woman is a gift.
We pause for air—just a sip—then our mouths meet again. This isn’t like our first kiss months ago when she was saying goodbye. Or three days later when I was desperate for her to stay. This is a moment I’ve dreamed about for years. A closeness I’ve wanted my whole life. This week with Natalie has been the stuff of all the best love stories. She’s shown me a side of her I didn’t know to look for. A connection I’ve never felt before.
And I don’t want to let her go.
Don’t think about being without her.
Dropping one arm, I find her waist, drawing her even closer to me. And that’s when I hear the voices on the other side of the door. Only a thin wall between us. My sister is out there, talking to Beau.
“Nat’s not in the restroom,” she says.
“Brady’s not either.”
Great.They’re looking for us. Natalie freezes, hearing them too. As I tear my lips from hers, it feels like I’m ripping off a limb. Like I may never be whole again. An amputation way sooner than necessary.
“Liv told me she talked to them,” Kasey says. “So I know they’re both around here somewhere, but they’re not in the pub.”
“Mac and Brooke came in from the lobby,” Beau says. “But they didn’t see either of them.”
Wonderful.My cousin finally makes an appearance only to cut off half the search options.Thanks, Mac. Can’t wait to see you once I escape this room.
“Come on,” a third person says, and my jaw snaps shut. Bear-trap tight. “We don’t need them. Let’s just go back to the party.” It’s Molly.Oh, man.I just wish everyone would go away, so Natalie and I can slip out of here unnoticed. To be clear, I’m not ashamed of kissing Natalie. But this week is supposed to be about the wedding. Plus Kasey wants me with Molly. Not to mention Beau has no idea I’m falling for his sister.
That I’vealreadyfallen.
I’m dying to tell Nat what Beau shared with me today—that he and Kasey aren’t expecting to stay in LA. But he asked me not to say anything before he and Kasey have a solid plan. And he’d have no reason to think I’d want to tell Nat anyway. Beau assumes I only think of her as my best friend’s little sister.
And what if I did tell Natalie—against Beau’s wishes—and she decidednotto go to California? She’d be leaving Kasey’s roommate hanging. Not to mention the hospital. Aaron whatever-his-name-is met her already. I respect Natalie to my core, and I can’t risk derailing her good intentions, or mess with the people who are counting on her.
Would she really abandon her plans if living near Beau was only going to be temporary? If I could just have a conversation about it with her, I’d be able to find out. But I don’t want her to think I’m trying to convince her not to go. And I don’t want her to stay here if it’s her second choice.
Natalie should choose where she wants to be on her own. Yes, she deserves all the facts. But I can’t be her consolation prize. And I don’t want her to resent me. To avoid being the cause of any conflict between her, Beau, and Kasey, I need to convince one of them to tell her the truth.
Right after I get out of this room.
Natalie takes a step back, and in the darkness, I hear a rustling. “Don’t move,” I say as quietly as I can. “They’ll go away eventually.”
“I don’t want to wait for eventually,” she whispers. “Just trust me.” As she heads to the door, I see she’s pulled a large white sheet off of the love seat. Without another word, she steps out into the hallway.
“Kasey! Oh no!” she blurts, pulling the door shut behind her. “You weren’t supposed to see this yet!”
“Why can’t I see a sheet?” Kasey asks.
