Everything I Wish For (Lupine Valley #5)

9. Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Brad

There was no more welcome sight than pulling up to the hotel. I could go for a nap instead of lunch. But I’m here to be the number one boyfriend.

Lauren steps up to the counter to check us in, and Mrs. Bradshaw steps up next to me, with a big smile on her face. She looks like she’s really proud of herself and I’m a little worried as she stares at Lauren.

“Ms. Bradshaw, it’s so nice to have you staying with us for the week. It looks like your hotel room has been upgraded to one of our suites overlooking the ocean.” The hotel worker smiles at Lauren, and hands her the key.

“I’m sorry?” Lauren asks.

Mrs. Bradshaw shoots forward to grab Lauren by the shoulders, “Oh honey, I upgraded your room for your first vacation with Brad! Surprise!”

Oh, shit. Lauren was specifically not worried about the hotel because she reserved a two queen bed room.

“You, what? Why? That’s—” Lauren looks for the right words without giving our lie away.

“You had that room with two small beds overlooking the parking lot. That’s not fit for my girl, especially for your first vacation together! Now you have an oceanview room!”

“And a king size bed!” The hotel receptionist chimes in.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Bradshaw, we really appreciate the thought.” I pull Lauren into my side, smiling at Lauren to remind her to be more excited.

“Right. Thank you, Mom. I’m sorry, that’s just…so expensive. We can’t accept it.” She recovers from her shock.

“Nonsense. How often do I get both my babies together for more than a whole week?”

“It’s actually already done, and we don’t have any other rooms available.” The receptionist looks uncomfortable and worried that she might have a problem on her hands.

“See. It’s a done deal.” Mrs. Bradshaw skips back to where Mr. Bradshaw found some other family members in the lobby.

We finish checking in and Lauren is freaking out about there being no extra bed. She keeps apologizing over and over, despite me telling her that it’s fine.

I lean down to whisper in her ear. “Hey, it’s okay. We’ve shared a bed and a room before.”

“This is the honeymoon suite, Brad!” she whisper-yells.

“Stop worrying, L. It’s fine. I promise. No one has to know what happens in the honeymoon suite. It’s just a name, still the same bed.” I add a kiss to forehead as her parents look over at us with questioning glances.

We walk over to the group surrounding her parents, still holding hands. I rub circles on her palm with my thumb, trying to calm her down before we have to put on this act in front of more people.

We’re introduced to their friends, and they pull Lauren immediately into a conversation about the local real estate market and their housing search to move closer to the Bradshaws.

Maryanne turns to me on the fringes of the group. “Oh Brad, I had the most wonderful talk with your Momma the other night,” she gushes. “She told me all about your dinner together!” She winks at me and walks away with that cheeky grin on her face.

And now I know why she was so insistent on the upgrade to the hotel room. Momma told her that she knows we aren’t really dating. Luckily, these two want us together, a dream of theirs was always that Lauren and I would marry, uniting the two families officially.

Unfortunately I fucked that up for everyone. All because I’ve kept this secret from her and everyone around us. Sure they all know about the accident, but they don’t know the cause. I’ve kept that secret bottled up since the night my truck went careening over the edge of the mountain. I should have just manned up back then and we wouldn’t be here now. Fighting what we both want.

Shaking my head of the negative thoughts, I walk over to Lauren, looping my arm around her waist and facing her captivated group. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, but can I steal my girl here so we can go change into something a little better for this heat?”

I successfully extricate her from the conversation. “So, Ms. Bradshaw, are you ready for our dee-luxe king suite?” I whisper in her ear, walking her over to the elevator.

“Ugh. I’m so sorry, Brad.” She looks down at the ground as we enter the elevator with a few other people.

We exit on the sixth floor and follow the signs to our room number. “Will you please stop apologizing? I’m perfectly happy to share a bed with you.” I wink at her, and swipe the key card to open the door.

“Why are you so calm about this? Shouldn’t you hate me?” She leans against the door, breathing heavily, spiraling out of control.

I place our bags down on the bed and walk back to her, placing my hands on her hips. “Hey, L, breathe.” I take a deep breath, staring at her until she takes one with me too. Then we repeated the exercise twice more.

“Good. Now, what is the real problem?” I ask her.

“I…you—” She takes a deep breath. “I dragged you into this whole mess and you’re going to hate me after this is over and we’re back to our real life, and we need to stage a break up and people are going to pick sides!” She cries into her hands.

I tip her face to mine with my finger under her chin. “Listen to me. I will never hate you. I could never hate you. I’ve told you over and over again I’m happy to be here, with you.”

One more deep breath, and she swipes at the tears on her cheeks. “Are you sure?”

“One thousand percent, L.” I kiss her forehead. “Are you alright now?”

“No. Maybe. Can you hug me tight?” She asks pitifully, staring up at me through her eyelashes.

Laughing, I pull her into me tightly. Her face is smashed against my chest and every part of her delicious body is tight against mine. My body betrays me once again and this time she can feel it.

“Maybe you don’t mind sharing a bed,” she whispers to herself, chuckling at her own joke.

I pull back from her, “I told you I didn’t. Doing anything with you isn’t a hardship.”

“What if, this week, we could maybe be friends-with-benefits for real?” She asks the question innocently, wringing her hands in front of her, as if this is the first time she’s suggested such a thing. I hope like hell she doesn’t have any other friends-with-benefits she’s hiding from me.

“I think that could work.”

She looks at me, eyes wide in surprise.

“What, you didn’t think I’d agree? We’ve been joking about it since last night, but I don’t mind making it real.” I muster all the bravado I have in me to agree. I know if I turn her down now, I won’t get the chance again.

“I don’t know what I thought,” she whispers.

I step toward her, blocking her in between the door of the hotel and my body. I run my hands up her ribs, under her shirt.

“I would love to touch you, feel you, kiss you, and anything else you might think of that involves you.” I crash my mouth to hers, our tongues tangling together in a mix of needy passion. Just like the times I’ve let my willpower slip in tight hallways or outside The Bar’s bathrooms.

My hands roam back down her body and I lift her into my arms, carrying her over to the large bed in the middle of the room as she continues kissing along my neck, making it hard to not stop right here and strip her down in the hallway.

When we reach the bed I lay down, covering her glorious body with mine, her hands grasping at my body, needy for the touch of skin. If this is all I’ll ever get of Lauren, I’m going to soak in every moment I can.

She rips my tee over my head in one motion.

At the worst possible time, there is a knock on our door. We both freeze, me shirtless hovering over her body, a body I’m desperate to explore at this moment.

“Lauren! We’re going to the lobby! It’s time for lunch!” Mrs. Bradshaw yells through the door, not waiting for an answer.

Lauren pushes me off her and tries to smooth her clothes and hair, she opens the door, and I dig through my suitcase for clothes.

Maybe this is a sign. That I shouldn’t be letting myself explore things in this way with Lauren. But fuck if I don’t want to ignore the guilt panging around in my head.

Lunch lasted much longer than any of us had anticipated. All of her extended family from all over the country showed up to meet us. They’ve all flown in for Ethan and Vivian’s wedding. Unfortunately that means I won’t be getting Lauren back into the hotel room alone anytime soon.

But walking around the Harborwalk with her, hand in hand, might be just as good. I stroke her hand with my thumb, my rough calloused fingers mixing with her silky soft hands, a perfect match.

“I’m sorry it’s been so busy today. I know you’re tired,” Lauren whispers to me as we stroll behind her parents to dinner.

“If you apologize one more time…” I shake my head at her.

“What? You’ll punish me?” The way her eyes twinkle at the question makes me think she’d like that.

“It’s just so beautiful down here at Christmastime isn’t it?” Mrs. Bradshaw turns to ask us.

Lauren looks away from me, a blush filling her cheeks.

“Sure is, Mom. I love that they put the Christmas lights on the palm trees.” She chuckles.

“Oh I know! They’re just adorable aren’t they?”

Mrs. Bradshaw excitedly points out all the special Christmas decorations on Harborwalk to all of us. We arrive at the restaurant and find Ethan and Vivian waiting for us outside. Cuddling close, obnoxiously in love.

Will I ever let myself have that kind of love?

Ethan is the first to spot us and comes directly to Lauren, pulling her into a bear hug.

“My sister is finally here. I missed you, Sis.” He says letting go of her. “I see you decided to bring your own date instead of letting Mom find one for you.” He winks at me.

“I wouldn’t let her come with anyone else.” I wrap my arm around her and pull her to my side, protectively.

“She certainly didn’t want to see what Mom could scrounge up for her.” He laughs, and Vivian swats his arm.

“Don’t listen to him, Brad. It’s so nice to meet you! I’ve heard so much about the prodigal boy next door.” She leans in for a quick hug.

“Hopefully only good things.” I laugh, but the Bradshaws knew me through my awkward teenage years so there’s no telling.

“Don’t worry I only heard about that one thing in senior year.” She chuckles and walks back to her parents.

I freeze. There’s no way she’s referencing the accident. They can’t know the truth about that night.

Lauren comes up behind me laughing, “Don’t worry, Mom is blissfully happy we’re together so she wouldn’t dare tell her any embarrassing stories. But Ethan on the other hand, well, who knows what he would say.”

I take a deep breath, getting myself under control.

I pinch her ass, making her jump and play the loving boyfriend once again. “Don’t tease me, ma’am. You might not like the payback.” I throw a wink in her direction.

We enter the patio that Vivian’s parents rented for a private welcome dinner for all the family. Tables decorated with red and green tablecloths fill the patio along the marina, while waves crash gently on the seawall. Each table has an array of small Christmas trees in the center. Gold rimmed plates and gold silverware round out the theme.

A table off to the side is being filled with food as the family arrives. My mouth waters at the smells and I’m trying not to run over to the appetizer table to pile a plate high with seafood.

“I don’t know where you put it all.” Lauren says, running her hand under my shirt along my abs.

“A growing boy has to eat.” I joke. “Besides, you should probably join me since I plan to expend a lot of calories later doing some...cardio.”

She blushes, but leaves me to fill my plate.

At dinner we’re seated with the Bradshaws, Ethan and Vivian, and the Marshalls, Vivian’s parents.

Lauren sits to my right with Ethan to my left. The Marshalls are wonderful and fit right in with the family. I’m happy for Ethan, I’m happy he found someone to love. I just hope this week I’ll be able to convince myself that it’s okay to be happy. Abigail is. She’s married to a wonderful man. One who takes care of her and the results of my mistake every single day.

My hand rests on Lauren’s thigh, a split in her dress creeps higher with each movement and exposes more skin. My mouth is watering every time I look at her. I move my hand up farther and she stills, looking over at me.

I continue on my exploration until I’m dangerously close to being inappropriate at dinner. I angle my body towards Lauren, blocking Ethan’s view. The last thing I need is him seeing what I’m doing to his sister.

Lauren goes back to her conversation with Mrs. Marshall about the bridesmaid dresses. No one is any wiser so I take a chance and go a little higher, discovering that she has no underwear on. Again. Seems my girl has an aversion to panties. An interesting find after years of friendship.

I bite my cheek to keep from moaning at the simple thought that this beauty is sitting here completely bare with my hand close enough to just reach out and touch her. If that isn’t a metaphor for my life the last decade, I don’t know what is.

If I have to suffer through this with a hard on, she’s going to suffer too. I reach my thumb out to stroke her clit and rub in circles. She sits straighter at my touch and looks at me, furrowing her brows to tell me to stop.

I don’t. I slip two fingers further down, but I can’t quite reach her so I gently rub her clit again to get her to relax and open up to me. It only takes a few seconds for her to drop her legs to the sides of the chair and lean back a little to give me access. The fact that she’s able to keep a straight face discussing wedding details with the mothers and Vivian is a turn on I didn’t know I liked. I slip my fingers inside her, and move in and out all while rubbing her clit. I can tell she’s getting close. She’s fidgeting a bit more, and I can feel her pulsing against my fingers slowly.

“Sis, you okay?” Ethan asks. “You look flush, you’re not getting sick are you?”

I pull back with a satisfied smile on my face knowing she’s suffering as much as I am right now.

“No,” she chokes out. “No, I’m fine. Just feeling a little hot is all.” She shoots daggers in my direction before her hand finds me under the table, and I know now that I started a war when she rubs the bulge in my pants.

We might not make it back to the hotel.