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“It’s my mom’s pride and joy.” He parks the car and gets out, starting to walk to the front door, but I refuse to get out of the vehicle. Once Brady realizes I am not following him, he comes back and opens my door, then turns and starts to walk away.
“What happened to the guy that held my hand and my doors all night, QB?”
Brady stops but doesn’t turn around. “He was reminded tonight of all of the reasons that this probably wasn’t a good idea. All of the reasons that you deserve more than me. Aria wasn’t completely wrong tonight. My parents are dysfunctional assholes most of the time. My team means everything to me, and I will probably hurt you.” He stomps off ahead of me into the house.
Following him in, I see Brady go directly to the kitchen and grab a Gatorade. “Do you want anything to drink?”
Shaking my head no, I walk past him toward the French doors leading to the backyard. There are three sets of double glass panel French doors, all opening to a paver patio. The Ryans’ backyard is laid out similarly to mine but on a larger scale.
The covered patio has a high ceiling, set off by tall black columns covered in green ivy. The surrounding terrace is done in warm teak wood, with chaise lounges lining the pavers next to the pool and a lounge area with an expansive outdoor sectional sofa that is easily as big as the furniture for giants that my dad has in our family room.
The pool is surrounded by tall, narrow evergreens. In the distance, the property appears to be surrounded by fatter, wider, more towering evergreens, with what looks like maple trees behind them. It is a secluded paradise.
“Your yard is huge.” Brady flicks a switch, and twinkle lights light up the trees and patio. “Wow. It’s so pretty.”
He walks through the door and out to the patio without ever sparing a glance in my direction. That’s when I know I’ve hit my limit. “Brady Ryan, twelve hours ago, you were making me promise if something was bothering me that I would come to you. Well, you are bothering me right now. So, a nasty piece of trash said some shitty things.”
Brady sits down on the outdoor sofa and hangs his head in his hands.
Sitting across from him on the teak coffee table, I grab his wrists. “Please look at me.”
Lifting his head, his eyes lock on mine and look tortured. “Natalie, I don’t want you to ever see me the way Aria described me tonight, but I can see why she said it. Not that she was right. That’s not how I view women, but I never wanted more than a night before you. Where she was wrong was that I always made sure we were on the same page. I never lied to anyone and acted like it was more than it was. I guess I did use them, though.”
He looks away momentarily, as if to gather his thoughts. Then, Brady pushes forward to the edge of the couch, so our knees are touching. “But I never wanted more. Until you. One night, Nat. You showed up, and in one night, you changed everything.”
He switches the grip I have on his wrists and pulls me until I am straddling his lap. “It may have taken me a minute to accept that I wanted more with you, but once I did, you were all I could see. All I could think about since the night you walked into your kitchen and told Cooper you were home.
“I wanted you the minute I saw you. I think I fell for you when you couldn’t sleep that night. I never knew how strong I was until I had to force myself away from you in that kitchen. It only took me one week to realize I didn’t just like you, didn’t just want you. You’re it for me, Natalie.”
I place my palms on both sides of his face. “Brady, I need you to look at me. I know what Aria said was all bullshit. I didn’t doubt it at all while she was spewing her nasty venom, and I don’t doubt it now. I know you. I don’t know why I feel so sure about you, about us, after only a few weeks, but I do. I don’t doubt you. This is where I am supposed to be.
“I have no idea how this happened, but I’m completely positive that you won’t treat me like that, because I have to believe that you feel the same way that I do. I know it’s too early to be in love, Brady, and just uttering that word probably scares you, but I feel like my soul knows yours. It recognizes you. I could feel you watching me the night we met. I know that you’ve walked into a room before I ever set my eyes on you.”
“Nat, when I saw you at the game last night, saw my jersey on you, I pictured you wearing my jersey years from now. It didn’t scare me. I never thought I would feel like this now. Maybe ten years from now, but not senior year. It doesn’t matter, though, because you’re here. I found you, but as much as I don’t want to let you go, I also don’t want to hurt you.”
I lean in and kiss his lips. With my hands on his face, he wraps his strong arms around my back, so every inch of me is flush against him. He makes me feel safe and delicate and sexy, all wrapped up. “Please don’t break my heart, Brady. I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with you.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m already there, Sweetheart.” His hands go to my sweater. Untying it and pushing it off my shoulders, he licks his lips. “Nattie, I feel like I am unwrapping the best present ever.”
“Oh, yeah? How unwrapped should this present get outside?”
“Our house sits on five acres, Nat. It’s pretty safe to say we can unwrap outside if we want to.”
Leaning in, I kiss him again. “I want it all, Brady. I want everything.”
“I want to give you everything, Nat. Today, tomorrow, next year. I want to give you the world, Sweetheart.”
35
Natalie
“God, Brady. I want you.” Without overthinking it, I move off of his lap and drop to my knees. My sweater is off, and the straps of my dress are falling down my shoulders. My hands go to work on his belt before he even realizes what’s happening.
“Natalie, what are you doing?” His voice sounds strained.
Lifting my eyes to his, I answer, “Exactly what I want to. Now lift up so I can get your shorts off. “
As he helps me slide his boxer briefs down, his dick stands at full attention. Brady reaches one hand behind him and pulls his army green polo over his head. So sexy. My eyes are feasting on this beautiful display of sinewy muscles. Looking at his cock, I can’t help wondering how the hell I am going to fit that in my mouth.
