Chapter Seven
Casey
T his whole date is ridiculously romantic. Who knew Brayden Foss had it in him? My heart keeps stuttering inside my chest each time he does something sweet or thoughtful.
Plus, he’s an amazing kisser.
Now that we’ve demolished the cake in the sexiest way ever, I’m dying to taste him again.
“There’s a place through those trees where you can lie down and look straight up to see an unobstructed view of the stars. It’s like you’re in another world.” He grins at me. “Want to check it out?”
He makes the simple things seem fun. I absolutely want to do this with him.
“Show me the way.”
We finish putting the containers away in his bag and blow out the candles. Then, he takes my hand, leading me through a thicket of trees. Something scurries nearby, startling me. Brayden gives my hand a reassuring squeeze that works wonders in making me feel protected.
The small clearing comes into view, and he’s prepared the spot with a blanket spread out on the grass there. He thought of every detail and prepared ahead of time. I’m not sure anyone has gone to such great lengths for a date with me before.
Way to make a girl feel cherished.
“I’ve never brought anyone here before,” he says as we sit on the blanket. “It’s just been my place until now.”
I lie back and look up at the sky. The dark canopy of trees around us only highlights the glittering stars that can be seen from this vantage point. It’s beautiful and serene.
“I love it,” I tell him, unable to tear my gaze from the majestic sight.
“Me too.”
We’re both quiet for several moments as we enjoy the view, hands still conjoined.
“I want to know everything about you, Casey. The good and the bad and even the sad.”
Normally I would clam up because I don’t like talking about the things that hurt, but Brayden relaxes and comforts me. I know I can trust him.
“I’ve had a great life,” I admit with a small smile. “My parents are good, loving people, I have amazing friends like Clara, and I’m doing the career I love.”
The pause after those words is heavy. He knows there’s more and waits patiently for me to confide in him.
“All I needed was my Prince Charming, you now?” I chew on my bottom lip and then sigh. “Trust me, I dated a few frogs at first, so when I met Derek, he felt like a solid choice.”
Of course, I thought he was attractive, but if I’m telling myself the truth, it felt like he was with me as if I were a solid choice too.
The fluttery feeling Brayden gives me is so different than with Derek. With Derek, it just felt like we were checking off the next important thing in life: a committed relationship.
“Sounds boring,” Brayden teases, squeezing my hand. “A solid choice is what you call the package of filets you grabbed at the grocery store. Not too expensive but looks like a good cut for the price.”
I let loose a small chuckle. “We’re comparing my ex to a piece of meat. I’m sure he’d love that.”
“I’ve seen the guy,” Brayden says, a smile in his voice, “and he was a beefcake.”
“Who even says beefcake? Are you sure you’re not eighty instead of eighteen?”
He rolls toward me on his side, propping himself up on his elbow. “You like my quirkiness.”
He’s right about that.
“Go on. Tell me more, babe.”
I’m no longer transfixed by the stars but now stare at his youthful but incredibly handsome face. When I’m with him, I feel like I’m that young woman fresh out of high school, eager to conquer the world.
Where did she go?
I really lost her in the past couple of years.
“We were compatible,” I explain, recalling fondly how responsible Derek was and how refreshing that was for me.
“I knew we should move in together right away. After a few months of dating, I got my unit at Moonlit Gables, and when his lease was up a couple months after that, he moved in. It was really…nice.”
Brayden listens with rapt attention, not getting jealous or angry or annoyed by my talking about Derek. It makes me want to hug and thank him for being so kind.
“We got along well for the first year, but then…” I frown, knowing this was my fault. “I was ready for the next step in life. Marriage.”
I should have known right then it was the beginning of the end.
When I mentioned it to Derek, he kind of shut down as if I’d taken some part of his future from him.
I thought maybe it was my insecurities creeping in, but Derek was also good at putting on a front for me.
So, since he didn’t tell me no, I started planning our eventual wedding.
“I became obsessed with planning a wedding for us,” I tell Brayden, shame coating my voice.
“When he’d come back from work, I’d launch right into the plans, how much it would cost, and who all we’d invite.
” I close my eyes and sigh. “He started smoking. I should have noticed I was stressing him out.”
Brayden cups my cheek, thumb stroking over my flesh. “He had a mouth, babe. He could have spoken up at any time. Don’t carry the burden of it all on your shoulders alone.”
How is this eighteen-year-old guy so wise beyond his years?
“You’re right,” I admit. “The more he withdrew, the more I obsessively clung to him. It was growing more and more toxic, but neither one of us could stop it. One week, I was just sure he was going to break up with me. But then…”
My throat tightens with emotion. This part hurts too much. I hate thinking about it, much less talking about it. A tear leaks from the corner of my eye and races down my temple and into my hair.
His arm slides under my head, letting me use it as a pillow, and his face lowers to mine. “It’s okay,” he murmurs, pressing a sweet kiss to my lips. “You can tell me everything. I just want to know you, Casey. All parts of you, not just the ones everyone gets to see at first glance.”
I want to curl into him and cry my eyes out. He’d probably let me get away with it too. But I need to get this out. I can do this.
My bottom lip trembles. “I accidentally got pregnant. We weren’t even trying. It just happened. I knew it was a miracle from God.”
He kisses my lips and then my cheek and then my jawbone. It’s comforting in ways I’ll never be able to express my appreciation for.
“He changed for the better,” I explain, the tears freely falling now. “I thought we’d fixed us.”
I can’t say the next part.
“And then you lost it,” Brayden says for me. “I’m so sorry, Casey.”
The sob in my throat is pitiful and pained sounding. There’s no stifling it. It needs release, and in this wild moment under the stars, I let it go without fear of judgment. Brayden kisses me over and over as I let go of some of the pain clawing at my heart.
“I shut down after that,” I admit in a whisper. “I just wanted Derek to fix me—us—and he couldn’t. We drifted further and further apart. The only time we spoke was to argue. When he finally left, I felt like a failure on so many levels.”
He gently turns my face toward his, eyes boring into me. “You are not a failure. All that stuff happened, and it sucked, but you’re going to be stronger on the other side of it.”
This time when his lips press to mine, I want more than a sweet peck. I thread my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer to me. He groans against my mouth, letting his tongue swipe over mine.
“You taste so good,” he murmurs. “I can’t get enough of you.”
I’m aching for his touch. It’s so nice to be desired. I’ve missed this feeling. With Brayden, it’s so much more intense than anything before. He’s in every moment with me, not locked away inside his head.
I pull him to me, needing more. Something. Anything.
He’s hesitant at first but then follows my lead, settling between my legs. I hook them around his waist, encouraging him to relieve some of the pressure building inside me. His kisses become more ravenous and feral, but still, he doesn’t move despite the raging erection pressed against me.
“I’m hanging on by a thread,” he admits, voice hoarse with desire. “The things I want to do to you.”
I press my heels against his firm ass, hopefully giving him the hint of what I want.
“Tell me what you need.” He nips at my bottom lip. “I love hearing your voice.”
He never fails to make me melt at his words. “Grind against me. You’re so hard and I need to feel it.”
His next kiss is fiery, and his hips begin to move. With my dress bunched up at my hips and nothing but his jeans and my panties as a barrier, my nerve endings come alive at the friction.
“Oh God,” I moan, stars of pleasure dancing around me. “Feels good.”
He groans, moving roughly against me, working my clit in a delicious way. With each buck of his hips, I grow wetter and wetter. I’m pretty sure my panties are soaked.
“Fuck me, Brayden,” I beg. “Please.”
“Not out here,” he says gruffly. “When I finally have sex with you, it’s going to be in your bed where I can take my time.”
That’s not what I wanted to hear.
“I just need…” I whimper. “I need more.”
“Want me to touch you inside your panties?” He nips at my bottom lip. “Do you want my fingers inside you?”
“Yesss.”
He lifts up to get his hand between us. Then, his fingers move my panties aside and tentatively touch my pussy.
“You’re so slick, babe. I turn you on that much?”
I give him a clipped nod. “You tease me. It’s mean.”
His chuckle warms me to my soul. “I’m drawing out your pleasure. The teasing is fun. You’ll be fine, beautiful.”
He starts a firm, circular pattern on my clit and it nearly sends me into a state of shocked bliss. Each sound I make it’s as if he’s cataloguing it so he can fine tune how he plays the sensitive parts of me. His touch is expert, sexy, and loving.
I’m in some other world when I’m with him.
I make an erotic sound that no doubt signals I’m on the edge of the cliff.
This emboldens him and he intensifies his efforts.
My orgasm, an old friend I haven’t seen in months, revisits with an explosive scream and obliterating pleasure.
I shudder from the sheer pleasure, unable to stop the embarrassing sounds I’m making.
Then, his long finger slips between the lips of my pussy, sinking deep into my body.
This somehow makes the orgasm linger as he lazily fucks me with his finger.
When I finally come down from my high, he gently eases his finger out of me and then brings it to his mouth. With my lip captured between my teeth, I watch as he sucks his slippery finger into his mouth.
“Mmm,” he rumbles as he fucks his finger between his lips, sucking off all my juices. “Soon I’m going to taste you straight from the source.”
His hooded eyes drink me in as if I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. It feels good to be adored by him. I hope he can see how much I’m losing my mind over him.
“You’re hard,” I say breathlessly. “Need me to take care of that?”
“I want it so fucking bad,” he says with a groan, “but I need to stop.”
“Why?”
“Because if we don’t, I’m going to do something I regret, like fuck you right here under the stars. I’m not here for sex, babe. Yes, I eventually want that, but I’m here for you .” He presses a sweet kiss to my lips. “Come on. Let’s go for a walk before I take you home for the night.”
He’s here for me .
Brayden Foss is stealing my heart one conversation at a time.
Soon, it’ll completely belong to him, and that scares the crap out of me.