Page 46 of Needing You

Ellie burst into laughter as I burst into flames of embarrassment. But Brenna didn’t wait for a response. She just went with the third stylist—who’d apparently been fine sitting on her hands until the bride told her she was ready to get started—to the other side of the room.

When she was gone, I turned back to Ellie. “To answer your question,yes,that’s really the end of the story. We were beat from traveling and the rehearsal dinner.”

“Well, I have to say I’m impressed. I guess I didn’t picture Will Walker letting a little thing like needing sleep after a long day get in the way of making a move.”

“I don’t really think it’s like that with us.” I frowned, picking at the hem of the silky floral robe Brenna had gifted us.

It was yet another thing she’d bestowed on us as if we were bridesmaids, and if it hadn’t been so damn pretty, it might have made me feel guilty, like I didn’t deserve to wear it. I wasn’t part of this family, was I? Jackson surely was, but since I was only his mom and not Will’s girlfriend, let alonewife,what right did I have to be treated like this by his sister on her wedding day?

“Isn’t likewhat?” Ellie asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I don’t know. We have great chemistry in that area… though, obviously, we always have. Or maybe not obviously. But he’s not being the same ol’ seductive bad boy I knew him as. And by all accounts, he’s still that seductive bad boy, but just not with me. I don’t know, I’m just rambling now, but do you know what I’m getting at?”

Ellie nodded and twisted the delicate ring on her left finger. “I think I do. And the only thing I can say to that is maybe it’s not like that between you because he cares about you.”

“Oh, well, I mean. I’m the mother of his son, and we loved each other once, so I’m glad he does.”

“But?”

“No but.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “There’s definitely a but.”

Giving in, I lifted my hands before letting them fall into my lap. “Fine. I’m glad he cares about me, and I obviously don’t want him to look at me like some girl he wants to get naked with and then discard the next morning like yesterday’s paper. But… I dowantthings with him. It scares me how much.”

With the same emotional smile she’d given Brenna before, Ellie reached forward and grabbed my hand. “I have a good feeling about this. Don’t be scared. You’re a strong, brave woman, and it doesn’t matter how he is with you compared to how he was before or how he is with other women. If you want things with him, physically or otherwise, I think you should feel free to take the lead and go for it.”

I returned her smile, but the butterflies that suddenly took flight in my belly probably caused it to look a little shaky. Ellie was right. I needed to go for it. So tonight, no matter how long of a day we’d have with this wedding or how tired we were or how considerate this seductive bad boy wanted to be… I was going to take the lead.

22

WILL

God bless Brenna. She’d made sure to get Kate and Jackson seated with the family. I wanted them with us, and so far, they’d been treated like they were as much a part of the Walker family as Ellie.

Well, with the exception of taking part in dancing with Brenna for the father-daughter dance. We’d surprised Brenna with our plan. She’d originally planned to dance with our mom, and that was the way it started. Then each of us, starting with me and ending with Sammy, had taken a turn. She’d shined so bright, it probably looked like a searchlight had shot into the sky.

But now, all the formalities were over. Jackson was busy scarfing down cake, and Kate and I had made meaningful eye contact so many times I could hardly stand it. Little touches and smiles throughout the afternoon and evening had injected me with a restlessness to be alone with her. But not yet.

“Dance with me?” I asked, holding out a hand.

She placed hers in mine, sending a thrill through me. God, what an easy target I was. All she had to do was smile or touch me in any way and I practically vibrated for her.

I stood and guided her to the floor where we joined a handful of couples who were taking their places as a slow song began.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, I can hardly breathe when I look at you,” I said loud enough so only she could hear.

Her breath ghosted along my neck. “I know the feeling.”

My whole body lit on fire, but recognizing the context of my sister’s wedding, I didn’t throw her over my shoulder and race up to our room. Instead, I willed myself to calm the fuck down and enjoy this moment. It was different than anything I’d ever had, anything I’d ever felt, and as much as I wanted to get her alone, I also wantedthis.

We moved together like a dream. Not to be a dick, but I was great dancer. Kate was delicate and tall, those long legs in her fuck-me heels moved deftly right along with me. To be fair, her heels were just black heels but I’m pretty sure anything she wore would befuck-mewhatevers. Fuck-me sneakers. Fuck-me T-shirt.Anyway…We covered some distance, twirling around, until I couldn’t stand not being closer to her.

Our bodies naturally sought each other. I’d accepted this as a central truth to our relationship and relished it. Last night, we hadn’t given into that ravenous hunger I knew we both felt near constantly. There was no way we’d be quiet or quick the first time, and we’d both been so exhausted, I doubted I could’ve done her justice.

Actually, no. Fuck that. I would’ve rallied and done whatever I could to make sure she felt so much pleasure her mind melted. But this? The waiting? The sweet, painful anticipation?

It was better.

---