Page 2 of Wild Hearts

Despite the lights being off, my gaze still darts nervously to the empty street outside. This is the first time I’ve been completely alone with a boy with no one around to interrupt. I trust Brady with every fibre of my being, but I’m not going to be just a one night summer fling.

He takes my hand again and leads me behind the counter, slipping through the swinging doors that lead to the kitchen. Once they close behind us, Brady steps in front of me and I lean back against the counter. He places one hand on my waist while the other brushes my strawberry blonde hair off my face, coming to rest on my cheek. I bite my lip, and he rubs his thumb over it.

“I’ve been wanting to do this all night,” he murmurs, his eyes searching mine as he leans his forehead against mine. There’s hunger in his gaze, as it drops down to my lips which causes me to squeeze my legs together.What the hell is happening to me?!I haven’t thought much about sex, but the way he’s looking at me is causing me to wonder if that’s about to change.

Brady’s fingers tangle in the hair at the nape of my neck as he gently pulls my face closer to his. My pulse quickens as I close my eyes and lean in to meet his lips. He responds willingly, opening his mouth to deepen the kiss. The feel of his tongue, soft and warm, sends vibrations surging through my body and I let out a soft moan as he pulls me closer. I run my hands up his arms, teasing under the sleeves of his green Rip Curl tee and settling on his rippling biceps.

As our tongues thoroughly explore each other, Brady presses up against me and I feel him hard against my thigh. I moan again, his lips travelling down my jaw as he lightly nips and sucks at my skin. My head rolls back against the wall and I tangle my fingers in his hair, careful not to come into contact with the stitches on the left side of his head from his surfing accident.

I miss the pressure of his lips on mine, so I gently tug him back to meet me. The hand that anchors my waist to his slides up my top, heating my skin as it comes to rest just underneath my bra.

Panting as we pull apart, Brady presses his lips to my forehead. “I wish we didn’t have to sneak around.”

My hands slide down to his chest. “You know Ivy would never let us hear the end of it.”

“I don’t care what my sister thinks.”

“I do.”

Brady’s eyes bore into mine. “I want this. You and me.”

I suck in a deep breath. Ever since I started coming to Blue Haven with my parents, I’ve listened to Ivy talk about what a man-whore her older brother is. I’ve seen all the girls that hang around him and Jordan at the surf club. At nineteen, he’s never had a serious relationship with anyone, and now he wants one with me? He says all the right things, but in the end, I know he’ll move on to the next girl just like everyone else.

As if he can sense my hesitation, he brushes his lips over mine. “I mean it, Wren. I want all of it. I want it with you.”

My stomach swirls as his hand traces along the exposed skin of my neck and collarbone. It feels so good to be touched by him, his body firm and strong against mine.

“I’m not going to lose my...” I swallow, blood rushing to my cheeks. “I’m not going to lose my virginity in an ice-cream store kitchen, Brady.”

He chuckles, the sound causing me to duck my head. He reaches out and tilts my chin up so I’m looking into his sparkling eyes again.

“I wasn’t talking about that, Rookie.” He brushes his lips gently over mine. “I wouldn’t take advantage of you like that.”

“I’m leaving tomorrow.” My chest tightens.

However, Brady doesn’t seem concerned. “You’ll be back next year for uni, right?”

“If I get in.”

“You will.” He grins and my stomach flips in response.

“You don’t know that.” I roll my eyes. “Even if I do get in, I won’t be back for at least another year. I’m sure there’ll be other–”

He leans in and kisses me again, shutting me up in the best way possible. Resting his forehead against mine, he murmurs, “Don’t say it. There are no other girls. Have you not noticed that I haven’t even so much looked at another girl this summer? There’s a certain blonde who’s had my attention since she came into town five years ago.”

“Shut up.” I swat him, my cheeks flushing.

“I’m serious, and don’t worry about it. You’re going to get into uni and you’re going to be back here in twelve months. We can FaceTime and text. I can come visit.”

“Brady, what about–”

He shakes his head. “Wren, I’m not going to let you go that easily.”

I close my eyes as I rest my head on his chest. For five years I’ve waited for him to say these things to me, but now I just feel completely overwhelmed.

“Brady, I’m going home to finish high school. My parents... I promised them, no distractions. We don’t need to commit to anything right now.”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t–”

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