Don't Let Go (12 page)

“Sadie, you do know that boy is crazy about you, right? Even Rob told me he has never seen Brady like this over anyone.
Anyone,
Sadie.” Oh, I’ve missed how girlfriends can make you feel so good.

“I’m sure Rob hates that.”

“Who gives a shit what Rob says. I’m not sure what his problem with you is, but I’m going to find out.”

“I worry he won’t wait that long, but it scares me that even if he accepts it, it will only be to sleep with me and then he will be gone. I don’t think I can handle that, Jessa. He came into my life so unexpectedly but honestly, I can’t imagine it without him now.”

“Oh, Sadie. Someone did a number on you, too,” she says. Her eyes are so empathetic it makes me want to cry for myself. “Trust him, Sadie. I know it’s hard to put yourself out there, but it might be just what you need to find happiness.” She remains quiet for a few minutes as I mull over what she is saying. “Just think about it. Brady is one of the good ones, Sadie.” She stands up. “Now let’s go gorge ourselves on the desserts.”

“Jessa?” I get up from the chair, waiting for her to turn around. “Thank you.”

“Sadie, I consider you my best friend. I know it’s unconventional and we appear to be complete opposites and we’ve only known each other for a couple months, but I can already see our similarities. Fate must have brought us both here to help each other heal.” She actually reaches out and hugs me. Surprise doesn’t even explain how stunned I am.

“Jessa, if I didn’t know better…”

“Did you think I was a selfish bitch or something?” She laughs and opens our dorm door. I follow her, happy to have her as a friend. Years ago I would have made fun of her, snickering behind her back. Jessa was probably never a selfish bitch like I was.

Chapter 12

Fall is in full force by the time Halloween comes around. On my way to Brady’s, I pass college kids in droves, dressed up in costumes. The Invisibles are playing at Ace’s tonight, but Brady and I have opted out of wearing costumes. The last few weeks have been amazing. I talk to him at least ten times on any given day. He takes me on dates and we meet at the Student Center for lunch. I have even divulged to him my lack of math skills so he is my new tutor, making the reward system that much better when I get an answer right or score high on a test. Let’s just say, I have extra incentives to study harder.

Hands have roamed while our lips are locked. Brady freely smacks my ass when I walk by and never hesitates to take me into his arms. The awkwardness that a new relationship brings has been replaced by the calm security of knowing that he is mine and vice-versa. But the butterflies still run rapid in my body when Brady even grazes my body.

We haven’t slept together yet, literally or figuratively. Tonight might change all that. I packed an overnight bag, just in case I’m brave enough to face this. Brady has been patient, never rushing or pushing the limits, letting me take the lead. I’m trying to take Jessa’s advice and put my trust in him. God knows he deserves it.

I ring the doorbell since the other three guys live here and I don’t feel comfortable just walking in. I hear the big footsteps before Dex opens the door. “Hey Sadie, come on in.” He moves aside and lets me through the door.

“I like it,” I compliment his green painted body with purple ripped pants and no shirt. He definitely has the body to pull off The Hulk. My eyes rest on his stomach, trying to count the number of grooves. Is there such a thing as an eight pack?

“Thanks, the guys made it easy. Brady’s upstairs.” He sprints down the basement steps, I assume to get the instruments.

The house still amazes me. Do they hire a cleaning lady like the frat houses? Every time I come here, there isn’t one speck of dust anywhere. Not even on all the oak railings going upstairs. Brady’s door is closed when I get up there, so I knock softly.

He opens the door and I bust out laughing before walking in. He is dressed in a pair of khaki’s with a crease down the middle of each leg and a polo shirt with a sweater tied around his neck. His brown hair resembles a pop star, parted to the side while long layers cover his right eye. He could model for Ralph Lauren on a yacht in the Hamptons the way he looks.

“Nice.” I turn my head up to him, confused.

“First off…” He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me into him, shutting the door behind me. His lips find mine in two point two seconds, exploring my mouth. If this is the start of the night, I have no hope of making it back to my dorm later. As sudden as his lips find mine, they disappear. “You trust me right?” He smirks down at me and my stomach turns into knots with the possible intentions of that question. “I got you a costume.” Relief washes over me until I see where he’s pointing.

On the bed is a neatly folded pile of black clothes. A pair of red Doc Martens boots rest on the floor at the edge of the bed. I can’t imagine what is in that pile. “I thought we weren’t doing costumes?” I ask, picking up a black tank top from the stack.

“It’s Halloween, we have to dress up, Sadie. Funny, right? It’s like we are the opposites of who we are.” He plops his body on the bed and rests his head in his hand, staring over at me.

“I guess so. I think my naughty witch and sexy nurse costumes had more fabric than this.” I hold out the fishnet stockings he has bought me.

“You can’t blame me, can you?” When he turns that right side of his lips up, I know I will be wearing it.

“Well…leave and I will change.” I wave my hand to the door.

“Come on, baby! I will turn my back. I don’t want to miss one second of you in that outfit.”

“Fine, turn around,” I reluctantly agree, twisting my finger in a circle and Brady turns his back to me, facing his headboard. Leaving my eyes locked on his back, I take off my black boots and skinny jeans. I’m thankful I wore a nice black panty and bra set tonight on the off chance Brady would be peeling them off me.

By the time I’m finished dressing, I have to admit Brady did a good job. Short black mini shirt with a black tank top and a red shirt that has a wide neckline exposing a bare shoulder. The black fishnets run down my legs ending in a bright red pair of boots. This might be the sexiest outfit I have ever worn. Definitely the most revealing.

Straightening out the skirt with both hands, I tell Brady he can turn around. I stare down at myself, taking deep breaths with the hope I can pull this outfit off. My eyes look up at him and in the whole time I have been with him, he has never possessed this look. So much heat radiates from his eyes as they roam up and down my body, I think he could ignite me into flames with the fire that fills his eyes. His desire is like nothing I have seen or felt in my life.

“Jesus, Sadie.” I see his Adam’s apple rise up and dip back down. “I’m speechless. You’re gorgeous…you’re sexy…you’re so fucking perfect.” In two steps he is in front of me. Without my heels, he towers at least a foot over me. “You have no idea how hard it is for me not to grab you and throw you down on my bed right now. It’s taking every ounce of self-restraint I have to be this close to you and not be inside of you.” He hasn’t touched me but we are so close, our breaths rise and fall at the same rate. For the first time, I see small green specks in his brown eyes as they bore into mine.

“Would you want me to dress like this all the time?” I can’t help but feel he would prefer me to be more his style.

“No. I would never want you to change, Sadie.” His voice is steady. “I like my little preppy girl,” he says, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“Promise?” I display my own insecurity with our differences.

“I promise.” He rests his hands on either side of my face. “I hope I don’t have to beat too many guys’ asses tonight.” He brings his lips close to mine but I slightly push him away and he looks at me, puzzled.

“Brady, no fights,” I say sternly.

“Alright, no fights,” he jokes.

“I’m serious, Brady. I hate fights.” I start to pull away but he grabs me back.

“Okay, Sadie. I won’t.” His voice is serious now and I trust that he knows how serious I am. “Please let me kiss you now.” He gradually brings my face to his.

After The Invisibles finish playing, they decide to go celebrate with all the other students down Main Street, where all the bars and clubs are. The streets are packed from building to building with drunken students dressed in some of the most absurd costumes. When we left Brady’s, I thought I was dressed slutty but some of these girls take the cake. Trey cat-calls over to a group of four girls dressed as beer cans made out of duct tape, causing them to giggle and wave over to him as they stick their chests out a little more.

One guy passes us only wearing a pizza box around his downtown area. Brady jokingly covers my eyes, bringing me closer to him. I guess he hasn’t figured out yet that he is the only one I want to look at. The image of him wearing just a pizza box makes my body tingle in all the right places.

Dex stops us at a small corner bar. Surprisingly, there aren’t a ton of people in here. I guess everyone would rather party in the streets. Even with Brady keeping my body firming against his, we were pushed and knocked around just walking the three blocks to get here.

Trey walks over to the girl bartender behind the bar and embraces her in a hug. She appears thrilled to see him, as she wraps her arms around his neck and playfully smacks his back when he lifts her off the ground. Then he whispers something in her ear and she smiles and shoos him away.

Dex leads us to a long table in the back of the bar. When we take our seats, I’m happily situated between Brady and Trey. Rob is thankfully down by Dex with Jessa across from me. Crossing my legs, I pull my skirt down a little bit but it won’t budge, resting higher than mid-thigh.

“Don’t try to pull that down on the account of me,” Trey jokes while staring at my legs.

“Back off my girl, Trey.” Brady places his arm across my lap and positions his hand on the top of my right thigh.

“Don’t get all paranoid, Carsen. I was just admiring.” Trey grabs the pitcher and pours himself a beer.

“Go admire someone else’s girl.” Brady scoots his chair a little closer and pulls the table over our legs. His tone isn’t the same as it was with Grant, which tells me he isn’t threatened by Trey but he is with Grant. I can’t shake the feeling that Grant and Brady had been close at one time and I’m curious what happened to that relationship.

“So, Gucci, you ready to drink like a real girl?” Rob screams over to me and my body automatically tenses. “Girls that dress like you tonight take down shots.”

“Leave her alone, Rob,” Jessa shouts over to him but he ignores her and walks up to the bar.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Sadie,” Brady whispers in my ear while he massages my thigh, rubbing his thumb back and forth.

“I just want to shut him up, once and for all,” I admit.

“Let me settle this. I will tell him to go to hell.” Brady gets up to leave the table.

“No, I will fight my own battle, Brady. Sit down.” My voice is sterner than I intend it to be.

“Yes, ma’am.” He sits back down and resumes rubbing my thigh. “I like this feisty side of you.” He leans in close.

Rob comes back with a round of Jack Daniels. Placing the tray down on the table, he passes them out, positioning one right in front of me.

“Let’s go, princess.” He knocks his glass against mine and the dark liquid spills over onto the table.

“You can call me Gucci, Chanel, or whatever the hell you want, except that.” I tip the shot glass back, downing it like it’s water. I don’t cough or chase it down.

“You surprise me, Gucci. You want another?” Rob doesn’t wait for my answer, he just walks back over to the bar where Trey is now flirting with the bartender.

“Sadie, what are you doing?” Jessa asks quietly across the table.

“Just wait, I can handle this,” I reassure her.

Rob comes over again with only two more shots, one for me and one for him.

“Cheers, Gucci.” He clinks my drink again and I down it just as fast as the first. This one goes down even easier.

Fifteen minutes later, the shots start to hit my body. My lips are tingling and I’m feeling more relaxed. Trey is with the bartender and Dex found a table of girls who seem to be counting his abs. It’s just the four of us: me, Brady, Jessa and Rob. After the showdown of drinks and name callings, Rob has shut his mouth and is paying more attention to Jessa. They are wrapped tightly around each other, having their own private conversation. I still think Rob is an asshole, but the way he lights Jessa up forces me have the tiniest of soft spots for him.

Brady hasn’t stopped caressing my leg all night and suddenly all I can concentrate on is his thumb making slow, gentle circles on my thigh, burning through me like the smoldering embers of a fire. His fingers inch further up to the hem of my skirt and they skim just under as his palm stays on top of my skirt. My breath hitches in my throat and I stretch my arm out, massaging the back of his neck, letting my fingers play in his soft brown hair.

He inches his chair closer so we are hip to hip and thigh to thigh. He bends down and kisses my neck. “I want you so bad right now,” he whispers, sending chills up my back.

“And…I want you,” I whisper in return. As though I just gave him permission, Brady’s fingers make their way between my legs, inching closer to my panties. I can barely breathe as my heart starts racing with the anticipation of his fingers finding their destination.

My eyes close automatically with the slightest brush of his fingers on the outside of my silk panties. His fingers tease me for a few minutes before he pushes my lace thong to the side, allowing his fingers to slip between me, revealing how wet I already am.

His lips meet mine and absorb my moan as he plunges two fingers into me. I place my hand on his shoulder, begging him to keep his hand in place. Our tongues explore every part of the other’s and Brady’s lips become more aggressive as he forces his fingers in and out of me. Right when I can’t take it anymore, his thumb finds my clit. He rubs it in small circles and I release the buildup that Brady instilled in me. Unfortunately, it does nothing to fully satisfy me. I know I need him in me, NOW.