He sees them and comes straight to me, pulling me into his embrace. “Don’t cry, baby.”
“It’s all becoming so real. When we walked into the apartment today, I felt it immediately.”
“I know. It was written all over your face.”
“It’s silly. It’s only an apartment, and we have time before we leave. Why the hell am I so emotional?”
“Maybe it is only an apartment, but remember the weekend you and Quinn came to visit and we took you to a UT football game?”
“Yes.”
“Remember that stupid marathon you girls watched on Sunday?”
“Pretty Little Liars is hardly stupid.”
He raises an eyebrow and cups my chin gently. “It was and is fucking ridiculous. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. Every once in a while, I’ll run across that program and watch it, thinking of you. God, I loved you then but was too scared to admit the feelings. At the time, it was more of a she’s such an incredible and beautiful girl. But now, I recognize the signs. All weekend, my heart would race when you walked into a room. My palms grew sweaty, thinking about reaching out to grab your hand. My mouth would salivate each time you licked your lips. I had it bad but was too dumb to recognize it.
“So, yeah, it’s only an apartment, but it holds memories.”
I suck in a shaky breath and stare into his deep blue eyes. They hold me captive with their own emotions swirling. I thought it impossible to love him any deeper, but he proves me wrong with statements like that.
“We’ll get our own apartment, baby. In a few years, when you graduate and we know where I’m stationed, we’ll get a place and build new memories.”
“I know we will. I’m being immature and ridiculous.”
“No, you’re being you. And I love you.”
“Bryce, I’m going to warn you now. I’m going to be a mess, an absolute mess when I leave.”
“Me too, babe,” he tells me and sweeps my hair to the side, laying his face against my neck. “I need to be focused, but you’ll be on my mind constantly.”
I try to hold back but fail. I cry openly, latching on to his shoulders. It’s a worthless effort to talk because sobs wrack my body. I’ve been holding in so much emotion that I can’t stop.
I’m happy but sad.
I’m proud but scared.
I’m nervous but excited.
All these thoughts run through my mind as I hold him tight. The only thing to bring me out of his arms is the sound of my brother coughing softly. I step back and turn to him, pulling him close.
“Dev, what the fuck?”
“I promise, after tonight, no more tears until I leave. But do you know how much I love you?” I say into his shoulder, and he holds me tighter.
“Yeah, I think so.” His own emotions clog his throat.
I allow his hold to calm me and then step back, swiping my eyes and grabbing a napkin to wipe my face. “No more. I’m fine.” I square my shoulders. “Let’s finish this kitchen and then order an early dinner. I think it may even be time to crack open a beer.”
Bryce takes no time in handing Nate and me a beer and opening one for himself. He moves me next to him and kisses my temple.
“For the rest of our lives,” is all he says, and I smile widely.
I know the minute Nate leaves for the night because Bryce barges into the bathroom, strips without a word, and joins me in the shower. He smiles seductively as his eyes rake up and down my soapy body. I turn into the spray to rinse off, yelping when he tugs me into him. The second his fingers touch my hardened nipples, I throw my head back into the crook of his neck. He nibbles on my earlobe as I snake my hand between us and run my thumb lightly over the head of his hardened cock. Bryce growls lowly and moves one hand lower until his finger slides easily into me.
I practically purr when he glides another inside me and slides them in and out. My hand wraps all the way around him, earning a rough hiss.
“Come for me, babe. You’re so fucking wet. My dick is begging to be inside you, but I need you to come first.”