Part 14 (1/2)
”You're a good sport, Shannon Everett. I'm sorry I forced you into this, but, truthfully, I'm not sorry you're here with me. I like being with you.” He lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning his mouth toward hers. ”Even if you put a bunch of silly pillows between us.”
”Brody, please . . .”
He was going to kiss her and that would destroy the tenuous truce they'd established. Still, she was powerless to stop him.
”Please what, Shannon? Please no? Or please yes?”
The only thing she could get through her throat was a sigh.
”That's what I thought,” he said before his fingers cupped the back of her neck, drawing her lips in to meet his.
Brody's kiss stole her breath and all of her rational thought. Even worse, it stole her inhibitions. Without thinking, she urged her body closer, dragging her fingers through his hair. Her nipples ached as they rubbed against his tuxedo jacket, her body becoming flushed with need. He slid his tongue along hers and she felt like she might fall. Fortunately, his hand was roving over her backside, supporting her. She couldn't prevent the keening moan of need coming from deep down her throat.
He broke the kiss with a harsh breath. ”You should have said please no, Shannon, because once I start, I can't seem to stop kissing you.”
His kiss was more savage this time as he hungrily explored her mouth while his long fingers easily found their way into the front of her dress and caressed her breast, his thumb kneading the nipple. Shay's breathing was fractured now, her body trembling with a need for release.
”Brody! Get your hands of her,” Julianne cried. ”You're eating off her makeup!”
Julianne smacked him on the shoulder and Brody reluctantly released her, his blue eyes looking so despondent, Shay's stomach nearly dropped to her knees. He shook his head briefly and licked his lips.
”I mean it. I'm sorry about all of this,” he whispered before stepping away.
”Oh, you crushed your boutonniere,” Julianne moaned as she repinned the flower to his lapel. ”Now go. The groomsmen are gathering at the pavilion. You're gonna be late.”
Brody paused in the doorway as if he wanted to say more, and Shay sucked in a breath as a fresh wave of need washed over her.
”Shoo!” Julianne admonished him with a wave of her hand. ”I'll make sure she gets where she's supposed to be.”
Then he was gone, his athletic tread echoing down the long hardwood staircase.
”Oh, honey,” Julianne said, dragging Shay's thoughts from the man who'd just kissed her senseless back to the present. ”Whatever you do, don't give that man your heart before you know he's capable of giving you his.”
Tears stung the back of her eyes, but Shay refused to let them fall. She nodded in agreement with Julianne because no words could pa.s.s through the lump in her throat.
The wedding seemed to take an eternity. As Brody stood with the other groomsmen, he tried his best to avoid Shannon's stare, but it was no use. The longing he saw within her eyes ate at him. Especially since he felt the same urgent sense of want within his own body. There was no way they could share a bed tonight without something happening. Not after the kiss they'd shared earlier.
He watched as his sister Tricia kissed her groom with both pa.s.sion and the promise of a lifetime of love. The guests cheered and Brody felt lightheaded. He tried to remember when the last time he'd eaten was, but he knew the issue wasn't his blood sugar; the problem stemmed from another part of his body entirely.
As the ceremony ended and the guests wandered to the c.o.c.ktail hour, Brody contemplated his dilemma. He was pretty sure Shannon wasn't the snitch, but she still held a pretty powerful secret over him. The contract she'd signed gave him leverage over her, but could he trust that was even enough?
It all boiled down to that one word: trust.
Glancing around the room, he watched as Rob kissed his fiancee, blissfully unconcerned whether or not Faith would sell his secrets to the media. Tricia stared all moony-eyed at Garrett, her trust in her new husband practically radiating from her pores. His gaze finally landed on Will and Julianne Connelly. Their relations.h.i.+p had begun on a basis of lies and mistrust, yet here they stood today, rock solid, their hands intertwined as they swayed to the pianist's music. If those two could make it work with all the hurdles they'd had to jump over, surely he and Shannon could enjoy one night of s.e.x without his entire world crumbling around him.
Weaving his way through the crowd of guests, he found Shannon laughing over something with grandpa Gus. Just hearing the sound made his body harden. He wanted to make her laugh. h.e.l.l, he wanted to make her scream.
Her eyes were a little skittish when they met his. Brody wanted to reach for one of her hands, but she was white-knuckling a champagne gla.s.s in one and a small purse in the other. Instead, he slid his palm down her back to rea.s.sure her. She trembled slightly at his touch and his hand slid to cup her a.s.s. The wild-eyed look she flung at him made his body even harder.
”Gramps, can I borrow Shannon for a sec?”
Grandpa Gus gave Brody a knowing smile. ”She's all yours, sonny.” He headed off toward the bar area.
Shannon spun on her heel, brus.h.i.+ng his hand away. ”Brody, you have to stop this,” she hissed. ”I can't take all the touching. Please-no!”
Her eyes s.h.i.+mmered with unshed tears as Brody backed her into the now familiar butler's pantry.
Depositing her gla.s.s on the counter, she held a hand up to push him away. ”I'm serious, Brody. I-”
”I trust you.” He practically shouted, thankful that the noise from the party behind them drowned him out.
Confusion swept over her face. ”What?”
”I said I trust you.” He took it as a good sign that the hand she'd held up to stop him now lay over his heart.
Her eyelids fluttered shut and she took a deep breath.
”I trust you not to sell me out, Shannon,” he said, not liking the desperation that was creeping into his voice. But frankly, he thought she'd be a little more excited.
”Are you just saying that because you want to sleep with me, Brody?” A tear leaked from beneath her closed lid.
Brody gently wiped it away. ”Technically, Shannon, we've already slept together. I just want to eliminate the chast.i.ty belt of pillows tonight.”
Her whiskey eyes were damp as she finally looked at him. ”Why?”
His gut clenched. ”What do you mean why?”
”Why do you suddenly trust me?” she insisted. ”And why do you want to sleep with me?”
That d.a.m.n insecurity was really starting to annoy Brody. If he ever got hold of her sister, he'd strangle her. He traced his fingers along the side of her breast, wrapped so neatly in the pretty dress. Shannon s.h.i.+vered beneath his touch.
”I've told you before, Shannon. You're a conundrum. And I like conundrums.”
Fifteen.
Shay had only been to a few weddings in her life-none as elegant as Tricia Janik's. But still, she couldn't help but feel the afternoon and evening went on too long. Brody rarely left her side, the proximity of his body taking a toll on her, making it difficult to enjoy the event. Common sense told her to flee with the daylight; Brody only wanted her because she was a novelty, the one woman who had refused him. But she couldn't deny her own body's attraction to him and she knew she'd never get another chance like tonight.
Anxiety kept her on edge and she barely made it through dinner and dancing. She was surprised she could keep her nerves from showing as she danced with Brody's father and his grandfather Gus, as well as his brother-in-law Skip, who spent the entire time apologizing profusely for his behavior the night before. Shay didn't care if he meant it or not, she just wanted to get the evening over with.
At long last, the newlyweds were headed to the honeymoon suite in a hotel in Burlington. The rest of the guests found their way to the various parlors while others meandered toward their guestrooms. The excuses he made to his family were greeted with knowing grins and winks, as Brody practically tugged her up the stairs. A fire was glowing in the grate, its light illuminating the otherwise dark room. Shrugging out of his tuxedo jacket, he closed and locked the door. Suddenly, Shay's knees were wobbly. Her breathing sounded loud in the small s.p.a.ce. His hands spanned her waist as he pulled her closer.
”Do you need a minute, or do I rip those granny panties off you right here?”
Her fingers shook as they tugged on his bow tie. ”Um, I'm not wearing granny panties. In fact, I'm not wearing panties at all. Just a thong. This dress is too clingy.”