Free Fall (Free Fall Vol. 1): (Loving Summer #6: The Donovan Brothers #3) (2 page)

Chapter
3

Summer

I
walked
to
my old Lexus SUV parked outside the boutique and unlocked the doors, throwing
my purse across the passenger seat as I got into the driver side. As I adjusted
my mirror, I looked up and saw the giant billboard plastered up and down the
entire side of one of the buildings.  It was a new action film, coming out next
weekend, and starring none other than Astor Fairway.

He
was still a heart throb, but his audience had matured a bit. He was bigger,
with biceps the size of an average man’s thighs and a fuller chest. His face
has chiseled out with sharper angles, and his blonde hair was shorter. With his
good looks and hard body, he looked every bit like an action hero. I smiled as
I think about Astor Fairway and his golden boy movie star looks and caring
manner, and that summer I became his girlfriend, the girlfriend to a hot tv and
film heartthrob, and the target of many haters for it. I did love him at one
point, especially when I was at such a dark time of my life, facing Aunt
Sookie’s illness and then her death. I never regret being with him and sharing
part of my life with him that time.  He was one of my beacons of hope that
helped me through that rough patch of my life.  I never regret any of my loves
and the people who came into my life for that matter. 

Especially
Nat. 

Tears
sprang to my eyes when I thought about how much I loved him growing up, and how
much I still did when I had to decide on who I wanted and should be with.  It
was hard, but in many ways, he helped make that choice for me.  If it was
anyone other than Nat, I would be angry at him for making that choice for me,
but it was Nat, and I knew his heart…he wanted me to choose Drew so Drew
wouldn’t be hurt, and I wouldn’t be hurt by my decision.  And then he
disappeared so he wouldn’t get in our way.

I
wanted to punch a wall as all the memories came rushing back at me, flooding me
with the emotions I felt back then.

Always
the self-sacrificing Nat. 

He
didn’t know how much it hurt us both that he left just like that without
telling us. 

And
now, suddenly, he was back in my life just like that…even plopping down a
boatload of cash for my wedding dress for a wedding to his love rival and
brother, Drew.

I
guessed it meant he was over everything that happened, and that he had moved
on?  Part of me was filled with relief if that was true but another part of me
felt a deep sadness for that love that I know I have carried so long for him
for, and will probably always have a place for.  I don’t know if I could ever
get over a love like that, but at the same time, I know I have to.

I
started the car, backed out of my spot and headed into the busy weekend Los
Angeles traffic.  What a relief to get the task of finding a wedding dress out
of the way, I sighed.  I love pretty dresses and fashion like other women, and
when I’m out of my scrubs, I clean up pretty nicely, but for some reason,
shopping for that perfect wedding dress didn’t get me as excited as you would
think. 

What
was wrong with me? Every girl dreamed of having the perfect dress and the
perfect wedding. 

For
me, I’ve been with Drew for so long and we’ve known each other and loved each
other for so long, we were already together as husband and wife, in almost
every sense of the word. 

Since
becoming a couple, Drew and I have been almost inseparable except for my
studies and his running Donovan Dynamics.  We traveled the world together every
chance we got, and made love in each locale. 

Now
having a wedding…

My
phone started ringing.  A normal phone ring tone.  These days, I needed it to
sound normal and loud, having spent long hours at the hospital, helping out in
ER. My specialty was brain surgery, but because we were short-staffed over the
holidays, I stepped in to help with surgery in ER. 

I
looked at the screen on my phone, nestled in one of those phone holders so I
could drive and speak at the same time. 

It
was Drew.

“Hello,”
I said, feeling warm and fuzzy just thinking about him.

“Hi
Summer,” he said in his deep masculine voice that sent warm shivers up and down
my spine. “I wanted to check up on my beautiful bride-to-be. How’s everything
going today, baby?”

I
smiled. “Pretty good, considering I’m able to still keep my eyes open. I
finally found a dress.”

“You
did?” Drew was so ecstatic, you’d think I’d won the Nobel Prize. “I can’t wait
to see it.”

“You
can’t. I’m saving it as a surprise for you on our wedding day.”

I
can hear Drew smiling. “I can’t wait. It’s been like forever since I proposed
to you, but with all of the things we had to deal with, it kept getting
delayed. I’m ready, baby, I really am. I want you to have my last name. I can’t
wait to finally call you my Mrs. Donovan.”

“That
and, how does this sound…Dr. Donovan?” I said.

“Even
better,” Drew laughed. Then his voice grew an octave deeper and huskier. “You
can play doctor with me anytime.”

“What’s
wrong with your throat?” I asked.

“I
think I’m coming down with something, Dr. Donovan,” Drew said, playing along.

“Got
a frog in it?” I asked.

“More
like I can’t help salivating when I think about having you spread your legs
wide open in front of me on our dining table tonight, naked as the day you were
born, and ready for me to dine on your pussy all night long.”

My
God. I nearly swerve into the car next to me as I felt my lower half clenched
with heat. Drew still knew how to get me wet in less than zero seconds.

“Drew!”
I said, blushing. “I nearly hit a car.”

“I
have a remedy for that, Doctor,” Drew said. “It seems you got too hot to
concentrate on the road. I think some time spent in bed, enjoying my wet tongue
on your clit, licking you until you come, will help take out all that tension.
What do you say?”

“Drew!”
I said again. “Not helping on getting me to concentrate on the road.”

“I’m
getting you too hot and bothered?” Drew asked.

“Yes,”
I admitted.

“Good,
you’ll be ready when you walk through the door to our suite on the top floor of
The Blue Meridien Hotel.”

“Really?”
I said. “You got us a room?”

“Baby,
the fact that you’ve only gotten a total of 2 hours of sleep this whole week
and are out driving the streets of LA in that condition, I’m doing the public
some service.” Drew added. “In the meantime, I wouldn’t mind servicing you.
Just the thought of putting my mouth on your wet pussy is getting me hard as a
rock. I can’t wait for you to get to my place. And in this traffic, it would
take an hour so, I’m just down the street from The Blue Meridien, and you’re
maybe the next exit off.  Meet me there, let’s have fucking hot sex, and then
eat dinner.”

My
mouth fell opened. That’s why I love Drew. Not only was he still the most
gorgeous man on Earth to me, but he had the most wicked sense of humor and
confidence that set him apart from so many men.

            “So…”
Drew continued. “Get your warm delectable ass over to the Blue Meridien and high-tail
it up to this suite. My hands are getting tired of pumping my dick and keeping
it hard just waiting for you.”

            “Drew,
if I haven’t known better and grew up with you, I’d say you’ve picked up some
new vocabulary.”

            “Just
letting my caveman out,” Drew said. “When it comes to you, Summer, I’m all
alpha male.”

“Are
you there already?”

“I
made reservations, but I’m stuck in traffic. I stopped by a store down the
street to pick up a few things we can have fun with tonight, so if you get
there first, go to the lobby, tell them you’re checking in for Mr. Donovan, and
get the key. We have the top floor suites.”

“Ok,
caveman,” I said. “I don’t know what you have planned, but I’m almost there.”

 “Your
crazy holiday hospital schedule left me with a hard-on for weeks, waiting for a
chance, even an hour of your time to bang into you. I’m like a starving man so
get your butt over to me now so I can fuck you hard until you see stars.”

            I
should scold Drew for sounding like that, for disrespecting me as a woman, but
when he talks dirty and takes charge right when all I want to do is let someone
else take charge of things for a change, I can feel my entire body and all my
senses grow hot with desire. “I’ll be there soon,” I said, exiting off the
highway and gunning it down the street towards the magnificent glass and marble
building down the street in front of me.

            I
arrived in record time, threw my keys to the valet and ran through the doors of
the garage, to the lobby where I checked in under “Mr. Donovan.”

“Oh,
Welcome to the Blue Meridien,” the young man at the front nodded and said,
“He’s already checked in, but here is a key. We gave him the nice view
overlooking Hollywood Hills, and we sent champagne up to the room.”

“Thank
you,” I said, handing him a tip, and headed straight into the elevators,
heading up to the top floors of the hotel, where only the executive suites
would be. So Drew had beaten me to the hotel. I wondered what he had planned.

I
walked briskly through the luxurious hallway of the top floor, toward my suite,
enjoying the mix of creamy satin textured walls, golden plush carpet, and
mahogany woods contrast with shiny silver chrome accents. The Blue line of
hotels were the highest chain of luxury hotels in the world, and it still takes
getting used to how much Drew could afford now as the billionaire CEO of
Donovan Dynamics. He’d come a long ways since we were toddlers spending summers
at Aunt Sookie’s beach house.

He’s
become such an impressive man all around. Before, he was such a pretty boy,
known for his irresistible charm and good looks, but now, he was a man everyone
could be proud of.

I
waved my keycard over the lock, unbuttoning my top buttons to my blouse to
showcase my cleavage and my breasts that looked like it was about to pop out,
and heard the lock click, unlocking the door.  I could not wait to jump his bones
and have him fill me with himself tonight.

The
door opened, and I stepped in, tearing off my jacket, kicking off my high
heels, eager to have them off, letting my hair down from my ponytail, and
stopped.

Standing
in front of me was a sight that made my mouth dropped into an “o”.

A
man, who was not Drew, wearing only a towel wrapped loosely at his waist,
looking like he had just thrown it on after stepping out of the shower, his
hair still wet, and his hard tanned chest and six-packed abs glistening from
the water; was staring hard at me, with an expression that was a mix of anger,
surprise, and confusion.

He
was about my age, maybe even a little older. His hair was a dark brown, almost
black, and his eyes were dark, maybe dark blue or green.  The lighting was a
little dark so I couldn’t tell for sure, but even in this light, I could tell
he was very handsome. His chin and jawline had a little stubble to it, and his
cheekbones were high, chiseled, giving him a rock star look.

My
body went limp, and I felt my legs grow weak.

Standing
in front of me was the man I thought about for years, worried about for years,
and cried over. 

Standing
in front of me was the other Mr. Donovan.            Nat Donovan.

And
he had a gun in his hand, pointed straight at me.

Chapter
4

H
e looked almost the same as when we were 18
and 19, except he was larger. Filled out with rock hard muscles. And he had a
tattoo covering his chest, which made him look both sexy and dangerous at the
same time. His face was firmer, whatever baby fat he ever had, was gone, making
his face more refined, even regal.

If
there was any man who could rival Drew on good looks and raw sex appeal, Nat
Donovan was that man.

We
stared at each other for what seemed like hours, drinking each other up from
head to toe. Never once did either of us turn our eyes away, devouring each
other without shame or embarrassment. It was as if I could not turn away.

Apparently,
he could not too, frozen in place as though time stood still just for this
moment.

He
finally broke his eye contact and looked down where his gun still stood firmly
in his hand. He brought it up, placing it into the holster wrapped around the
back of his shoulders. The brown leather strapped to his bare shoulders gave
him an animal sexiness like a gladiator that sent desire through me like a
lightning bolt. He smelled like fresh soap and muskiness, making my throat
constrict, and my heart beat faster.

Damn
he smelled so good, too.

Why
did my body have to react this way to Nat? Why couldn’t it just ignore how sexy
he was, standing almost naked in front of me, dripping wet and wearing nothing
but a towel and a leather holster?

He
cleared his throat, and said, “Summer?”

His
voice was Nat’s voice. But deeper, more steady, more assured.

I
nearly melted into a puddle.

He
took a step towards me. “I thought you were someone else. Sorry if I scared
you.” He pointed to his holster where not one but two guns were strapped down.

I
finally found my voice. “Nat, oh, um, you didn’t scare me. I was just
surprised. I’m sorry. I must have the wrong room.  I thought this was my room.”

Nat
looked surprised. “You’re staying here? Why? I thought you lived in Los
Angeles. Why would you be staying at a hotel?”

I
blushed and stammered. “I’m here to meet up with…”

“Drew,”
Nat finished for me. He laughed. “Typical Drew. Wanting a change of scenery
perhaps?” He looked me up and down, his eyes focused on my breasts, lingering
there for a while, as though he was deep in thought, and then he smiled wide,
showing perfectly white teeth, now whiter against his tanned face.

I
blushed. “Well, there was too much traffic going home from where I was so…”

“I
get it,” Nat said, chuckling. “In a way, I’m glad things like that about Drew,
never change.”

“Um,
speaking of Drew,” I said, buttoning up my blouse and fixing my hair, “I better
go see where he is. And which room he got us.” I went looking for my
stiletto-like shoes.  Red satin…what can I say, I liked shoes, and had worn the
ones I wanted to wear under my wedding dress to try on the dresses.  It was my
homage to Aunt Sookie…that bit of rebel, devil-may-care with tradition, to wear
something surprising in an event that was so traditional.  Hot red satin
stilettos under my wedding gown.

“Looking
for these?” Nat asked, holding both of my stilettos in his large hands.  He
looked at one of them, bringing it up to his mouth. “These are, uh, so fucking
sexy, excuse my French.” He looked at me, his eyes darker and burning into
mine. Was that desire I saw in his eyes?  “You’ve really grown up, Summer,” he
said.

“You
have too,” I said, swallowing hard.

He
closed his eyes for a second before opening them. “You’re so much prettier than
I remember you,” he said.

“Nat,
it’s been a long while,” I said.

“I
know,” he said, looking a little sad. “I know so much had happened when we last
saw each other.”

“I
know,” I said. 

“I’m
sorry for disappearing like that, Summer,” he said. “But…”

“You’ve
had your reasons,” I said.

“I
did have my reasons,” Nat acknowledged. “Thank you for realizing that.”  He
came towards me, handed me my shoes, and lightly patted my shoulders. “Drew’s
waiting for you. And I’ll see you at the reception.”

I
reached out to touch his chest briefly before pulling back my hand. We both
flinched from the touch, and I nearly jumped from the electric shock that went
through both of us. “Thank you for coming out to the wedding. You being here,
seeing us. It means so much to me.”

“I
know,” Nat said. “I’m glad I could make it. Now if you don’t mind, I have to
finish my shower.”

He
opened the door of his suite, and gently pushed me out, closing the door
swiftly behind me.

I
couldn’t move, too stunned to speak.

I
finally saw Nat after all these years, and instead of feeling nothing but
brotherly love for him, I felt so turned on, I couldn’t move. He was so much
more manly, more sexy, more of everything than he was before…and those guns he
kept with him even close to him in the shower, it sent a thrill through me.

This
was Nat Donovan as bad boy as he could be, all grown up, with tats and bulging
biceps.

I
hung my head down low, gritting my teeth. What was I going to do?  I would be
getting married to the man I’ve been loving and living with for the last ten
years as a couple, yet I still have these feelings for his brother?