My Only Exception (7 page)

Man, he wasted no time
.

He brushed my hair away from my neck and put his lips to my ear.
“I’ve wanted to do this all night.”

I could feel little goosebumps popping up on the exposed skin where the warmth of his breath touched as he spoke.

A little shiver ran through me and I looked over to see him fighting back a smile.

Braden was very aware of the effect he had on me.
Damn him
.

This was way too easy for him. But in an attempt to hold onto just a little bit of my resolve, I reminded myself that he had plenty of experience. My eyes fell on Braden
’s bandmate, Ryan, who was sharing a look with Liam and shaking his head. Everyone knew, it seemed, that Braden and I would be hooking up.

The rest of the night was Braden and I engaging in heavy flirtation. Him touching me just enough to drive me insane and us exchanging heated glances that we both knew would end with us in the ultimate heated exchange.  It was a slow build up of anticipation that was quickly spinning out of control.

When he finally grabbed my hand and led me down a hallway to the back of the building where his jeep was parked, I had pretty much trampled any reservations I
’d been harboring about getting involved with Braden.

I had come to the conclusion that it was pointless anyway. This, whatever it was, between Braden and I was inevitable and there was no use denying it.

Neither one of us would be satisfied until we
’d explored our feelings for each other and resisting it any longer would just be prolonging the inevitable.

*  *  *

The drive home was silent and charged with the sexual tension between us. Everytime I was reminded that Braden would be leaving, I
’d push it to the furthest corners of my mind, determined not to let it influence the decision I’d finally made.

I was going to go against every rule I
’d ever set for myself.

I was going to have Braden Worthington, and to hell with the consequences.

*  *  *

Braden walked me up to my apartment door and I opened it, stepping aside to let him in. The small lamp I’d lit before leaving was lighting the room in a soft glow. I walked over to the table sitting next to the entryway and placed my pocket-book down, taking an extra second to reel the nerves back in that were making their appearance again.

I stood motionless when I felt Braden come up behind me sliding his hands over my hips and then gently kissing my neck. I sucked in a breath as he turned me around.

“Presley. I’m tired of fighting this. Tell me you want this as bad as I do.”

I looked into his green eyes lined with those killer dark lashes and what I saw in them was way more than just lust. I saw something that looked suspiciously like love, but of course had to be just affection. It was the same look I’d seen when he sang to me. And, it was enough to convince me that
this
was right.

But that little nagging voice in my head reminded me that he was leaving soon. And that scared me now more than ever because I was more emotionally involved than I’d ever let myself be with anyone. 

“Braden, are you
sure
this is a good idea.” I gestured to the space between us, knowing my indecision was probably written all over my face. Not that I was undecided about him. I mean, give me a break, who
wouldn’t
want Braden? He was drop-dead gorgeous, passionate about everything he cared for, and had a voice that would practically melt a girl’s panties off.

I’d be crazy not to want him.

But now that I had actual feelings for him —it changed everything for me.

Usually
with Braden, when it came to females, his passions ran hot until the next girl came along. And then he dropped her like a bad habit. I’d seen it before with him. A million times over.

And I was pretty sure I wouldn’t survive that. Because as much as I hated, really hated, to admit it: Braden touched something deep inside of me and I knew that I would never be satisfied with just being a short diversion. I wanted him all. And the worst part was —he already had my heart, whether he realized it or not.

*  *  *

Braden was looking at me with that I-want-you-so-damn-bad look and I knew that if I passed this opportunity to have him, if only for a little while, I’d never forgive myself. Damn him for leading me to break the stringent guidelines on relationships that I had set for myself.

He seemed to sense the instant I came to the decision that I was going to give into my need to have him, because he pulled me to him until there wasn’t a bit of space between our bodies and brought his lips down on mine, one of his hands slipping into my hair and the other trailing down my side and coming to rest on my hip. His warm fingers slipped up my thigh and under the hem of my dress causing a little shiver to run through me.

I sucked in a quick gasp of air, breathing in the minty warmth of his breath before his lips met mine, devouring me in a kiss that bordered on painful.

Braden air.

God, I sounded like one of his groupies
. Oh, but his groupies didn’t get to do this.

I ignored the little voice that said, “
Well, most of them don’t.”

As Braden backed us toward the wall, reaching one hand above me to brace himself against it, I fought to gain some control as he consumed me. It was useless. There was no fighting this. It was going to happen; we were going to happen; and I pushed back the thought that, with Braden, it most certainly would never lead to anything but exactly this.

And for once in my life, I didn’t care. Because he was just way too good to pass up. Because I’d never found anyone that I’d wanted this much. Ever. And might never again.

He kissed a trail down my jaw and neck, his hand coming up to cup the back of my head and then grazing the side of my breast before coming to rest on the small of my back.

My breathing had picked up and in the back of my mind I was shocked at myself. He was the closest thing to a drug I’d ever consumed and I could see that I’d easily become addicted. With him, I’d never get enough; I was sure of that.

I kissed his lips, letting my fingers run through his wavy hair, and then gasped as he playfully bit my lower lip and then soothed it with a gentle kiss. The guy had had way too much practice; that much was clear. Before I knew it, he had my dress slipped off and discarded carelessly on the back of a nearby chair. I was secretly thankful for the lacy white bra and panty ensemble that I’d put on under my dress and for the golden tan that my hours of reading on the beach had provided. 

He pulled back, his eyes taking me in shamelessly.

“Good God, you’re gorgeous.” His voice was husky and his eyes were devouring every inch of me.

I pushed back the thought that he probably said that to all the girls. One of his seduce-a-girl-right-out-of-her-panties tactics.
But, damn if it wasn’t working.

And then there was the ever-softening voice of my subconscious, which was attempting to make a last-ditch effort to reason with me. I ignored it fervently and slid my hand under his shirt and over the smooth skin of his well-defined abs.

No regrets —I was doing this.

*  *  *

I will not regret it. I will not regret it
. I chanted it over and over in my head, trying my best to convince myself. Because he would for sure be on to the next girl by the time he left for L.A.

It had been an incredible night, as I knew it would be. But it was also just one night… with no strings attached.

I comforted myself with the fact that his last day of work had been last week, and I wouldn’t have to face him unless I wanted to. I had no idea where we really stood and that was something I was usually sure of before I progressed to that level in a relationship. I tried to remind myself that he’d soon be leaving to finish recording the album and then touring, and I wouldn’t have to watch him move on with other girls. And while that thought should have comforted me, it nearly destroyed me.

I didn’t want him to leave, to forget about me, to move on with some gorgeous Hollywood type.

And I knew this was exactly what I’d been scared of. This feeling, this horrible feeling of wanting someone that I couldn’t have. And now I was living it. Not that he’d ever know it.

I was pretty sure Braden was probably worried that I would think things were more serious than they were between us. He and I both knew he was leaving soon and I wasn’t going to let myself be the clingy girl who just didn’t get it. Not on the outside, anyway.

I let myself breathe in and out slowly, channeling as much brush-it-off attitude as I could. I slipped on my gold flip-flops and pulled on a lightweight jacket over my blue sundress. Even though it was the middle of May, it was still chilly at times and the way the sun kept going in and out made me think that, with the wind off of the ocean, I’d need the jacket. I had my nautical striped bikini on underneath, just in case it was warm enough.

The ocean had always been soothing to me and I needed that today more than ever.

Grabbing the gold-trimmed straw tote I’d packed with water, trail mix
,
and my latest read, I headed out the door and down the steps of my apartment building, throwing my hand up in greeting to the neighbor guy who lived below me as we passed on the steps. He was a cutie. Very quiet, though. Jason, I think his name was.

I forced my eyes not to glance at the building across the parking lot where Braden and Liam lived. It was hard. I wanted so badly to see if Braden’s car was parked there. I used every bit of my willpower not to look and was just congratulating myself on my success when the heat of a warm hand clasped down on my shoulder as I was climbing into my car. I jumped, letting out a little squeal and turned to see a tanned, muscular, and tattooed arm —tattoos that I recognized —intimately. I followed it up to the equally tanned, chiseled face of Braden. He smiled down at me using his megawatt smile, practically blinding me with his gorgeousness. I stared for a moment, feeling all at once dazed, nervous, and slightly star-struck. It was easy to see the future Braden: a rich and famous musician with a trail of paparazzi following his every move. He definitely had that certain something.

And as much as it excited me to see him, I was nervous about where we stood. Would he go back to acting like we were flirtatious friends? Would he treat me distantly? Or worse, would he take it that we were friends with benefits?

He’d be sorely disappointed if that was the way he wanted it, because I was not going to let that happen. I had allowed myself my one indiscretion and without some type of commitment between us, it wasn’t going to happen again.  

I shielded my eyes from the sun as I looked up at him. “Uh, hi.” I wasn’t really sure what to say.

“Hi, yourself.” He was leaning against my car with one muscular arm still holding the top of my car door. I guess there was going to be no escaping this awkward first meeting after the other night. I’d kinda hoped to just see him back at work where I could busy myself taking care of customers and acting totally unaffected. Yeah, I was trying to take the easy way out, but you know what they say about the best-laid plans... 

“Going somewhere?” he asked.

“The beach. I thought I might lie out or read —or both.” I was chattering on nervously and had to bite my lip to stop myself.