All my plans about how I intended to handle this washed away in the current of this intense and exactly right connection. This was no slow seduction, and there was no chance to talk. We ripped through the pages of our past into the future. That crazy young love we had was still there, the heart of it beating like a drum, our own metronome of second chances, loss, and renewal.
When Brynn’s hand traveled down my chest and caught the hem of my shirt to shove it up, I managed to tear my lips free from our intoxicating kiss. “Fuck, Brynn,” I groaned. “We’re supposed to take our time.”
Her wide blue eyes met mine. With her cheeks pink and her hair in a messy rumple around her shoulders, she was so much more than the girl I’d left behind. She was sensual and stunning in her raw, honest beauty.
“We are?”
Her husky voice was like a light lash of a whip on my desire for her. I managed to nod, leaning my head back and closing my eyes as I took in a gulping breath of air.
Loosening my hand from the silky strands of her hair, I slid it down the side of her neck, feeling the wild thrum of her pulse as my thumb passed over it. I kept going, my touch moving down to lightly cup a breast. Her camisole was stretchy cotton, and I could feel her nipple pebbling under my touch.
“Let’s not worry about taking it slow,” she gasped, arching against me and pulling me down roughly to her mouth again.
I didn’t need persuading. Our clothes came off in such a rush that Brynn wobbled and almost toppled over at one point. We stumbled our way down the hallway with messy kisses against the wall. We never did make it to the bedroom. I couldn’t wait that long, not when I found her hot, wet, and ready when I reached between her thighs.
“Hold on to me,” I groaned against her throat after I’d gotten a condom on in what had to be a record speed.
Brynn held on just as I asked, and I lifted her in my arms, pressing her back against the wall. In a hot second, my thick crown kissed her slick core. It was a slow slide as I sheathed myself in her.
My forehead fell into the curve of her neck, and I breathed her in, inhaling her musky scent. I’d dreamed of her scent ever since I’d seen her a few months ago. It was still her but earthier and more sensual.
I pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses along her jawline as I stroked into her again and again, growling in satisfaction when she whimpered and moaned my name. When I felt tremors run through her body, I reached between us and circled my thumb over her swollen clit. She cried my name as she flew apart in my arms, her rippling clench tugging me over the edge. My balls tightened, and electricity sizzled up my spine before my release slammed through me.
“That’s a crazy schedule, Caden,” Brynn said.
“It’s my life. Obviously, we had no idea we’d take off.” I was referring to my band and the fact that this year was the first year in three that I hadn’t been traveling for most of it. I’d started the band as a lark, but something gelled. We loved to play together, but it was pure chance that a producer stopped by for a low-key show at a bar in Seattle.
We were sitting on the couch, the same sectional that had been here when I was in high school. In the time since I’d been back in Alaska, I’d discovered my father hadn’t wasted time on redecorating. Brynn held a glass of wine and sat cross-legged beside me. She was wearing one of my T-shirts, which dwarfed her. I loved seeing her in my shirt with her brown hair mussed and her cheeks still flushed from our encounter earlier. We’d ordered pizza from the same place we’d gone to the other night. It was as good as promised.
I was content for the first time in a long time.
“If you knew you guys would take off, would you do it all over again?” she prompted.
I didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. There is a definite downside to fame, but I love playing, and I’m really tight with everyone in the band.”
Brynn lowered her wineglass and set it on the coffee table. She shimmied closer to me, reaching for my hand and tangling her fingers in mine. “I’m glad you tried to find me.”
Her eyes searched mine. Meanwhile, my heart was thumping along in my chest. Obviously, I’d wanted to find Brynn, yet a corner of my heart had wondered how I would feel when I saw her. The years between had changed us both. I’d worried the sully of superficial fame might have changed me too much.
“I’m glad too,” I murmured.
Brynn’s lips twisted to the side, and she let out a shuddery sigh. “I didn’t know what to think. I understood you had to move, but somehow, I thought we’d never break up. Which is silly and such a drama-teen thing to think. I assumed it didn’t mean as much to you as me. Now that I’ve lived away from here, I have enough sense to realize we were too young and trying to seriously do a long-distance relationship then would’ve been nuts.”
She went quiet for a moment, her eyes searching mine. Only Brynn could make me feel as if she could see right into my soul.
“How do you really know you want this?”
“Trust me. I know. I thought of you often, but my life was crazy. When I came across that card, I decided there was only one way I could ever stop wondering.”
Brynn
“So how come you took a break?” I asked.
Caden eyed me, just long enough I sensed he wasn’t comfortable with the answer. His hand rested on my thigh where I sat with my legs crossed beside him on the couch. His thumb caught the edge of his T-shirt, the one I was wearing. He idly rubbed the fabric between his fingers.
“Wes almost died. That’s why we’re on a break.”
His words came out slowly, as if he had to think to form each one. His dark lashes swept up to look at me.
“I’m so sorry. Is he okay?”
Caden kept rubbing the fabric between his fingers and then released it, his palm landing in a warm curve over my thigh. “He’s alive, and he’s getting help.” He paused, studying me. “This isn’t public information, so please keep it private.”
“Of course,” I said hurriedly. “I wouldn’t say anything.” I paused, watching Caden and seeing the lingering traces of worry and sadness in his eyes. “He’s your friend. I’m so sorry. I hope he’ll be okay.”
Caden looked back at me before leaning over and resting his head on my shoulder. Curling my arm around his neck, I lightly ran my fingers through his silky hair. I loved it, but it was really unfair for a man to have such lovely hair. He sighed. “It’s been a long year. It was no big surprise. Wes fell into using opiates. He injured his hand during a fall biking—because he’s a health nut—and they prescribed painkillers during his recovery. He hid it for a while, but he got hooked. Next thing we knew, he was playing too loose with them and almost died.”
Caden’s shoulders shook slightly as he took a ragged breath. I could feel his pain with every breath I took. I kept sliding my fingers through his hair. I couldn’t fix this, but I could hold him close and provide what comfort I could.
“He’s okay. That’s what matters,” I murmured.
“I know, but it was fucking scary,” he mumbled into my neck.
“Will you come to Seattle with me to meet everyone?” He lifted his head, his eyes locking to mine instantly.