Page 23 of Wild Hearts

“Wren,” he whispered so quietly that had I not been so close, I wouldn’t have heard. I found myself licking my lips as I leaned forward.

His lips were soft and warm as they pressed against mine. His hand reached up to grasp the back of my neck as he pulled me closer, running his tongue along the seam of my mouth. I sighed as my lips parted and his tongue met mine. I sank into the kiss, letting Brady take control... until a floorboard creaked down the hall and we shot apart from each other.

“I – I should get back to bed,” I stuttered as I clambered to my feet, my eyes darting to the entrance of the hallway. But Brady’s hand held tight on mine and he squeezed, forcing my eyes back to his.

I rolled my bottom lip between my teeth as he climbed to his feet to stand in front of me.

“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.” Brady’s voice was soft, barely audible.

“Seriously?” I was grateful for the dark that hid the heat rising to my cheeks.

“Seriously.” He cupped my cheek in his hand and looked into my eyes. “I told myself I was going to wait until next year – when you were here in Blue Haven for good, but Rookie... Wren, I really like you.”

My stomach dropped. I put my hand up against his chest to keep some distance between us. “Brady, this isn’t funny.”

“I’m not trying to be funny.”

I shook my head and whispered, “This isn’t happening.”

Someone needed to pinch me, to wake me from this dream.

I saw insecurity flash through his eyes before his head dropped and he took a step back from me. “I’m sorry,” he said, pushing his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have...”

Before I even realised what I was doing I closed the distance between us, wrapped my arms around his neck, and brought his lips back down to meet mine.

When we pulled apart, breathless, he flashed that heart-stopping grin before kissing the tip of my nose. “Does that mean...?” His eyes searched mine and I nodded, butterflies taking flight in my stomach.

“Ivy can’t find out.”

His smile faded. “But–”

I shook my head. If things with Brady didn’t work out, I didn’t want to lose my best friend. “Not yet. Promise me?”

He nodded, albeit hesitantly.

I pressed my lips to his once more before whispering, “’Night, Brady.”

“’Night, Wren.”

I left him in the kitchen, rushing back to the safety of Ivy’s room. She was still snoring softly, and I leaned up against the door, my hand to my chest trying to calm my racing heart. I didn’t sleep the rest of the night.

Brady was gone the next morning, presumably down at the water. He couldn’t go in for a few days because of his concussion, but I knew the ocean was his safe spot. Or at least, it had been.

For the next two weeks, we snuck kisses and stole secret moments whenever Ivy wasn’t paying attention. After five years, I’d finally landed the boy of my dreams.

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