Brave Enough(40)

I reach for her hand, bringing it to my lips. I kiss the very spot where a ring should be. That was an asinine oversight on my part. “How about that ride on a four-wheeler?”

Her lips twitch up into a small grin even as her pupils dilate with anticipation of what’s to come. She knows what kind of a ride I mean—the kind that we spoke of last night.

“I think that sounds like a spectacular idea,” she says, standing.

“Gentlemen.” I smile and nod at both William and Michael. “Don’t wait up.”





NINETEEN


Weatherly

I’m shaking. Whether from the conflict at dinner or the idea of what’s to come with Tag, I don’t know, but I feel like I might spontaneously combust.

I hear the unmistakable whine of the four-wheeler engine as Tag races from the farthest building, up the path toward the main house. I descend the steps when he hits the concrete of the driveway. He stops and holds out his hand, which I take as I climb on behind him. His head is turned toward me as I situate my legs on either side of his slim hips, so I meet his eyes when I go to wrap my arms around his waist. I pause when I see him looking at me. His eyes are bright and bottomless in the glow of the moonlight, full of something that makes my insides shiver. He leans forward just enough to kiss me, a soft brush of his lips over mine. I’m not sure what the gesture says, but my heart interprets it as something amazing and trembles with delight.

He turns and hits the accelerator, and we speed off toward the upper field and the mountains beyond. I don’t know where he’s taking me; I just hold on and enjoy the ride. There’s something heady and unpredictable about being with Tag. He’s a different kind of animal and he lights up the sky of my bland, uneventful existence. I think I’m becoming addicted to his particular brand of wild.

The night is hot and sticky around me despite the breeze rolling out from between the trees up ahead. It intensifies the scent of Tag’s skin. It exaggerates the feel of his body between my legs. Everything from the passing landscape to the moon in the sky seems . . . better. New. Exciting. Nothing like what my life has held up to this point.

Tag drives us straight into the forest, darting around trees so quickly it almost makes me dizzy. It’s easy to see that he’s traveled this path a million times before, while I’ve never been in the forest once in my entire life. He has lived free from the moment of his birth. I’ve lived in captivity since the moment of mine.

The path forks and Tag takes the right curve, sending us climbing up a small incline and then dipping sharply down on the other side. Tag continues until the trees suddenly part, revealing a waterfall nestled in among the crags and hollows of the mountainside.

Water spills roughly over the rocks like liquid silver, and when Tag cuts the engine I hear the distant hiss of its flow. I stare out at the view with my chin resting on Tag’s shoulder. Something about the moment is familiar, as though we’ve been here a million times. Together. Although we’ve only really known each other a few days, it’s as though we’ve known each other forever.

“Come around here,” Tag says quietly, his voice as rough and beautiful as the waterfall. I start to ease off the bike, but he stops me. “No, like this.” He holds his arm up and urges me to climb under it and then into his lap. I’m thankful that the skirt I’m wearing is loose.

When I’m settled with my legs wrapped around his waist, Tag clasps his hands at my lower back, his eyes shining down in to mine.

“Marry me,” he says quietly.

“Pardon?”

His lips pull up into a gorgeous smile that shows his perfect white teeth and reminds me why he is so irresistible. “I said, ‘marry me.’ Please.”

I grin. “That’s what I was waiting on. The ‘please.’”

He says nothing at my sarcasm, just continues smiling. But when he does speak again, so softly that I have to strain to hear him, it echoes through me as if he’d shouted the words. They stir something deep within me. “Marry me, my fair Weatherly. I want you to marry me. I want you to be mine.”

I’m stunned and breathless and thrilled. It’s completely insane and totally, inconceivably crazy, yet I want to say yes so much it hurts. I don’t know why. I don’t know if I’m nuts. I don’t know if it’s stupid and impulsive and irresponsible. All I know is that it feels right.

But I have to ask . . .

“Why? Why would you want to marry me? What’s in it for you?”

Tag unfolds his hands and brings them around to my front. Slowly, he unbuttons my sleeveless shirt, revealing my lacy bra underneath. “Well, there are these. These are in it for me.” He leans forward and sucks one nipple through the thin material. Heat pours into my panties.