13. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Brandy

I 'm on my way to Woodland Falls Park with a heavy picnic basket. Sam said she was taking the day off so she could spend some quality time with me. I need it. I need my BFF. Both my head and my heart are one big tangled mess. I haven't heard a peep from Erik after two weeks, and it discourages me. I don't want to have to go through another twelve years for him to figure this shit out.

I find a close parking spot and start unloading everything. The gazebo seems to be the best bet for a picnic because it's a bit cloudy today. I lay everything out and remember that picnic I made for Erik the final time he came home from college. I had been desperate to keep our connection alive. I would have done anything to follow him to school.

He made his choice back then, and I had to live with the consequences. It bothers me a little bit that he's got the say in the way our relationship goes. I should have a say, too. Back then, we were just children. Now, we're grown adults who are supposed to know what they're doing. I laugh out loud at that and catch Mrs. Carter looking at me funny.

Oh well, live and learn. Being in a small town is ‘an experience,' and I should just enjoy it. I keep checking my watch. Sam is late, but I'm in no hurry, so I get my phone out and start reading People magazine. It's part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription, and I just love it. When I hear footsteps coming up the stairs behind me, I frown because they are heavier than Sam's would be. Someone is encroaching on my picnic area, and I'm going to complain.

"Is there room for one more in here?"

I turn around and see my beautiful Erik standing right here in the middle of Woodland Falls.

"You're here…" I whisper.

This is definitely an awesome surprise, but he renders me speechless, and I can't even get the words out to let him know it's okay to join me. So I pat down the space next to me, signaling him to sit down there.

"Looks like rain."

I nod and take a peek at him sitting next to me. He looks good enough to eat. I wish I was sitting on his lap. My thoughts are getting away from me, so I take a deep breath to center myself and maybe speak a few words.

"Has the town changed much since you were gone?" I ask.

"Are we really going to do small talk right now?"

"Answering a question with another question. Great strategy."

"Bran…"

"I'm sorry I lied to you. That's not the way I wanted to restart our friendship. But I missed you so much these past years. You only sent those Christmas cards. I thought I'd lost you."

"When my career took off, I decided to put this town and everyone in it behind me. I was selfish, especially because I hurt my mother and you as well. Anne says I'm a coward, and I'm starting to agree with her."

"Why would she say something like that?"

"Because I'm terrified of putting everything on the line and then having it not work."

"But that's the best part of loving someone—taking that risk that it might be the best thing that ever happened to you or the worst mistake in your life. And you won't find out which one it will be unless you live through it. I'm willing to live through it. Do you think you can try it for me? For us?"

He glances at me with this tortured look on his face, and I keep myself from jumping him right here in front of everyone. And yes, there's a crowd. Mrs. Carter must have called her friends.

"Loving you is the biggest risk I'll ever take in my life."

I smile my brightest smile and grab his hand with mine.

"There's no time like the present, Erik Nelson. But, do you truly forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive. I'm an idiot and have many witnesses willing to testify to that."

"Are you hungry?"

He looks at me with desire in his eyes.

"I'm starving."

"Then help me pack this up so we can go somewhere more private."

We gather the food I had served on top of the blanket and then hear a chorus of voices.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss." Comes the chant.

The old ladies want us to kiss, and for once, I don't mind doing their bidding.

"Wanna give them a show?" I ask.

"You better believe it."

He takes me into his arms like I'm the thing he loves most in the world and kisses me—franticly as if the earth will explode if he doesn't ravish my mouth right now in front of an audience. My body tingles and my core grows moist, and if we didn't have this audience, I would be on his lap. When we finally come up for air, everyone is whistling and catcalling.

Erik is smiling and won't really let me go until I press my body against him and remind him that there's more to come. We're back at my house in minutes, and as soon as we're inside, we yank our clothes off. I lift my dress up and off, and he takes off his t-shirt and jeans. Our underwear goes next, and then we're both gloriously naked in my living room.

"Your bedroom still over there?"

"Un-hah." I can't even speak.

He picks me up in a fireman hold and goes to the bedroom, where he throws me unceremoniously on the bed.

"I didn't know you liked it rough, Mr. Nelson."

"I like it anyway I can have it with you. But tonight, I want to make love to you. Because that's what this is in my chest. That's why I couldn't breathe properly until I came here. I love you."

He climbs on top of me and takes my face between his hands.

"I want to get to know you, Brandy. All of you. The good stuff and the bad stuff. Your quirks, your fears, your dreams. I want to learn it all."

"That sounds like it might take some time. I would only do that if I were in love with a person."

He starts tickling me, and I can't stop giggling.

"Say it. I know you feel it, too."

"Stop! Stop! I yield. I love you. I love you, Erik Nelson."

He kisses me until I'm melting beneath him.

"Condoms?"

"In the drawer there."

I beat him to it and reach for the drawer, taking out a packet. I tear the foil and bring out the condom. I roll it onto his hard cock, and when it's completely on, I tease his balls, a smile on my face.

"Does this mean that this is mine now?" I say, still handling his jewels.

"All of it."

He hovers over me and won't take his eyes off me. It's like he fears I'll disappear if he stops. I reach for his face and cup his jaw.

"I'm here. We're together now. You can let go."

It's as if that was exactly what he needed because he lowers himself and sheathes himself in me with one fluid thrust. I gasp with pleasure at the sweet invasion of my body, and I start matching my movements to his. I want to go fast, but he's torturing me by keeping his thrusts in a slow and steady motion, all the while keeping his eyes on me.

"Erik, more, please."

I'm not really sure what I'm asking of him. All I know is I need more. He responds by kissing me down my neck and biting me lightly on my shoulder. He knows I love those love nibbles and goes ahead and does it again. My pussy is hungry for him, and every time he thrusts inside me, I squeeze my inner muscles, and he groans in response.

He grabs my legs and raises me, changing the angle a little bit. That hits the spot, and my orgasm starts building inside me.

"Erik, I need you to go faster, please."

"I love how you beg me so prettily."

I put my arms around him and caress his back and then grab his ass to pull him toward me as if he didn't already possess me thoroughly.

"That hungry pussy of yours wants to come, doesn't it?"

"Yes!"

My hand goes to my nub so that my orgasm comes closer, but he moves it away.

"Let me take care of that, baby girl."

And boy, does he take care of it. He rubs my clit in a circular motion that starts moving me toward the edge of the abyss. When I look up to see his face, I feel his love flowing with every thrust. That look of love is what pushes me over the edge. I scream his name as my pussy convulses all around his cock, milking him for all he's got.

Not immune to my body's reaction, he thrusts a couple of times and groans as his release takes him. I string kisses all over his face and am delighted when he gives me this bright smile in return. He lies beside me and pulls me into his arms. I'm loose, relaxed, and pretty much useless for the time being.

"Come back with me to Miami." He asks.

"Are you sure?"

"More than anything."

"Then I'm all yours."

The next few hours are filled with some of the most intense sex in my life. In between, we exchange words of love and commitment. We committed to spending time with each other to finally grow the bond we established during those first few weeks I spent in Miami. I don't want to freak him out, but I think we won't last the year without him asking me to marry him. However, I promise no more schemes, and I mean to keep that promise. Forever.