Page 41 of Crossing the Line

But Kelsie’s body went rigid after we both came down from our high, and I knew that the spell was broken. This time, she did push against me, and I stepped back, reluctantly letting her get some distance. For now.

Straightening her dress, she didn’t hold my eyes. “I’m sorry, but I… I can’t do this.”

She took off again, and this time I let her go without stopping her. I was pretty sure that I made my point tonight, and now, she needed time to process it. Because like it or not, our relationship had changed. Forever.

Tucking myself away and zipping up my pants, I watched her rush up the stairs to the next floor, where our rooms were located. Pleasure still hummed through me, the ghost of her warmth lingering on my skin. And inside my chest, my heart seemed to beat in a different rhythm than before, surging with vitality and purpose that I would put to good use to make Kelsie see that we belonged together. We just had to get through Ryan and Leanne’s wedding first.

Chapter Sixteen: Damien

The weather was so perfect that it was as if Cathy had ordered it just for her daughter’s wedding. It was a Saturday afternoon, so the beach was full of people, but the resort had the area where the ceremony would take place sectioned off with braided rope, meaning that the only people there were guests waiting for the wedding to start.

Kelsie and the rest of the bridesmaids spent all morning and afternoon with Leanne. I had no idea why it took them so long to get ready. I didn’t meet up with Ryan and the other guys until about an hour before the wedding was due to begin. There was no stress involved in getting ready on our end. We all wore light-colored linen blazers and trousers, keeping it casual for the beach wedding.

Ryan paced the room while we waited, but not in agitation. He was radiating positive energy, and I was truly happy for the guy. Anyone could look at him and just see that this was the happiest day of his life.

Ford and Jake were the exact opposite. I didn’t know what the hell happened last night, but the two of them seemed fine at the rehearsal dinner and now, something heavy hung in the air between them. Jake was usually an easygoing guy, maybe too easygoing at times. He was the type who didn’t take much seriously, but today, his face was grim, and he was pointedly avoiding Ford’s eyes.

As for Ford, he looked like hell. Bags under his eyes indicated that he didn’t get much sleep last night. His shoulders were slumped where he sat in an armchair, like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

Ryan and I shared a few curious looks, but neither of us interrogated them about what was wrong. I was sure that Ryan didn’t want to deal with whatever drama they were going through when he was thirty minutes away from walking down the aisle.

I was of the same mind. Besides, I had enough on my mind today. The wedding was important, I knew that. It was the whole reason we were here. But I found myself wishing I could speed up time to get it over with. I was desperate to get time alone with Kelsie, and not just because every time we were alone lately, I got to touch her curvy body and taste her sweet lips.

We needed to have a conversation. I wasn’t sure exactly what to say, but I didn’t like the way things were left up in the air between us yesterday. I knew what I wanted now, and if I could go back in time and keep myself from sticking my big, stupid foot into my mouth the morning after we first slept together, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

I hated knowing that I caused her pain. Even worse was the way that my words and actions had killed her trust in me. I knew that was what held her back when I told her that I wanted to be with her. Kelsie might have been trying to act like her feelings for me were nothing more than infatuation, that she was perfectly fine with just staying friends, but I knew better. Now that I recognized the warmth in her eyes for what it was, I couldn’t miss the flashes of it I kept seeing. She still wanted to be with me, still cared. I was sure of that. But it wasn’t much consolation when she was too scared to trust me with her heart anymore.

What the hell was I going to do about that?

Finally, Cathy sent one of Leanne’s cousins to come get us. It was time for the ceremony to start.

Stepping out of the resort, the wedding party gathered behind a large privacy screen the resort had set up not far from the terrace. It was made of strips of bamboo and framed by tall tropical plants, so it didn’t look out of place as it shielded us from view of the guests. The only person not with us was Ryan. He was waiting at the arch so that Leanne’s appearance would be a stunning reveal for him.

At least, that was the way Cathy explained it during the rehearsal. I was sure that Ryan would be pleased when he saw Leanne in her lace dress with the flower crown in her brown hair and excitement lighting up her eyes. But I barely spared her a glance. I was too busy staring at Kelsie.

All three bridesmaids wore the same dresses with a halter top and a slit up one side, but Kelsie was the one I couldn’t take my eyes off of. Her skin was golden after spending days on the island, and it made the peach color of her dress seem brighter. Every step she took allowed for a flash of her toned leg that made my mouth water, and the way her hourglass shape was accentuated was enough to require that I adjust myself when no one was looking.

Then, she moved into position in front of me with Jake at her side, and I saw that the dress had an open back. I shamelessly ran my eyes over the expanse of smooth skin and tightened my hands into fists to keep my fingers from tracing the delicate curve of her spine.

Jess came to stand next to me, all of us lined up the way we were at the rehearsal. Jake leaned in close to Kelsie and said something to her in a voice too low for me to hear. Whatever it was, it made Kelsie laugh, tossing her long blonde hair, which was styled into loose curls today. I gritted my teeth and looked away, knowing that my jealousy was an overreaction. Jake wasn’t Kelsie’s type at all, and he was probably just cracking jokes to pass time until the reception, when he’d attempt to pick up a random woman for the night. But I still wanted to rip him away from her. While I was at it, I’d swoop her up into my arms like I did when she was hurt during the volleyball game and carry her off to my room this time, where I’d show her just how much I wanted her because my words hadn’t had an effect yet.

“Calm down, big boy,” Jess said. When I turned to her, she was looking at Kelsie too. “She’s not into him.”

My jealousy must have shown on my face, but I wasn’t sure I could hide it even if I tried. Jess looked more exasperated than surprised, and I figured that Ryan was right. Everyone could see the potential between me and Kelsie long before I did.

“I know,” I said, the word sharper than I meant for it to be. I made an effort to soften my tone. “It’s just… it seems like men have been all over her this week and it’s driving me crazy.”

Jess nodded, but there was amusement shining in her eyes. “Have you asked yourself the reason for that?”

The progression down the aisle started, and I watched as Ford and Angela walked along the wooden planks in the sand.

“Of course, I have,” I sighed, looking at Kelsie again as she looped her arm through Jake’s. “It’s not really much of a mystery. She’s gorgeous and funny and thoughtful. The real question is, why aren’t men drooling over her all the time?”

Jess rolled her eyes. “Because you’re always there, dummy.”

Kelsie and Jake started walking, and I moved forward with Jess so that we were ready to go next. “You mean that I scare them off?”

“I mean that everyone can see that she only has eyes for you. When you’re around, and you’re always around Kelsie, no other guy would even think they have a chance.”