Braydon(5)

Not that he didn’t bring his own blend of heat and passion to their relationship. His goal was to pleasure Jessie, any way he saw fit.

In all the months that the three of them had been together, it seemed as though the intensity of their lust never managed to abate. And it didn’t matter if they f*cked twice a week or twice a day.

Despite the warning bells clanging loudly in his head, Braydon wasn’t able to resist her. He didn’t want to.

“Fuck.”

Braydon opened his eyes when Jessie drew back, both of them turning their attention to Brendon, who had just walked into the room shirtless, his tuxedo pants unbuttoned.

“Don’t let me interrupt,” Brendon added gruffly. “I’m right behind you.”

Braydon could sense the tension in his twin. Whatever had transpired between Brendon and Cheyenne had left him as it always did, pissed off and frustrated.

There seemed to be a potent concoction of emotion building between Brendon and Cheyenne lately, yet for whatever reason, they were all pretending it didn’t exist.

Just as Braydon was doing now.

Braydon ignored his brother, turning back to Jessie. Reaching up, Braydon cupped her face firmly yet gently, holding her right where he wanted her. He allowed his fingers to slide through her glossy caramel hair, pulling her against him until he was overwhelmed by her. The heat of her skin, the exquisite grip of her knees against his hips, the lushness of her breasts resting against his chest . . .

“Braydon,” she whispered, her breath warm against his lips.

“Hmm?” he asked, sliding his mouth down her jawline, inhaling her sweet scent, not wanting to let her go.

“Get naked.”

Another round of bells tolled loudly in his head, but once again, he ignored them. That was getting harder and harder to do though. He knew he shouldn’t, knew he was supposed to be addressing the two of them because for so many reasons this situation was no longer working for him. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not when Jessie was looking at him, talking to him, kissing him.

She was the only thing Braydon had ever wanted just for himself, but he knew good and damn well that Jessie wasn’t on the same page. She expected Brendon to join them. He wouldn’t put it past the two of them to have discussed their plan on their way home from Ethan’s reception. That’s the way it worked.

But for a brief moment, Braydon wanted to pretend otherwise. He wanted to pretend that this woman belonged only to him and that Brendon wasn’t standing just a few feet away, ready to indulge in the one woman Braydon wanted for himself.

“Stand up,” Brendon instructed, taking charge just like he usually did.

And that was the cold, hard slap in the face that Braydon needed.

He couldn’t do this anymore. He couldn’t share Jessie. Not with Brendon. Not with anyone. He wanted her for himself, and if she couldn’t accept that, then he didn’t want her at all.

As Jessie got to her feet, Braydon moved with her, his hands sliding down to her hips, his eyes locked with hers. “I’m not doing this,” he growled roughly.

Jessie’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open slightly.

“What?” Brendon questioned, looking genuinely perplexed.

“You heard me. I’m f*cking done.”

With that, Braydon released Jessie, wishing like hell she’d stop him, insist that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

When that didn’t happen, Braydon slipped into his room, slamming his bedroom door as a punctuation mark on what had turned into the shittiest night of his life.





chapter ONE

One month later

Zane and Vanessa’s wedding

“You look beautiful, V,” Kylie exclaimed as she and Jessie made their way into the bridal room at the small church. Clearly, Kylie, Jessie’s sister, was excited for the woman, as was Jessie.

From the moment they stepped into the room, Jessie felt the soon-to-be bride’s exhilaration mingling with her anticipation. It was almost palpable, making the room seem even brighter, if that were possible.

Jessie and Kylie joined Zoey, the three of them admiring V, who looked simply stunning.

There was an eruption of excitement, giggles, and more compliments while V stared back at the three of them now circling her as they offered their praises. It was amazing how much of a ruckus four women could make all on their own. V’s cheeks turned pink, probably from all the attention, but as the joyous moment settled down, Vanessa Carmichael—soon to be Mrs. Zane Walker—replied easily, “Thank you.”

She did look stunning. Like a modern-day fairy-tale princess in her jewel-encrusted white gown. But V didn’t need an expensive dress to make her look beautiful. The woman just was.

Today was V’s wedding day, and in roughly half an hour she would be marrying the man who had dedicated himself to working his way into her heart. As far as Jessie was concerned, Zane and V were meant for one another, a true example of how opposites attract.

It was the second Walker wedding Jessie had attended in a month. First, she had watched Ethan and Beau tie the knot, so to speak, in a ceremony that had made her weep like a baby. Today she would have the honor of watching V and Zane, the youngest Walker brother, do the same. There was a tiny part of her that was jealous that she wasn’t the one who’d found her happily ever after with the man of her dreams.