A/N:  Brace yourselves...

Tessa

It was hard to sleep that night with my adrenaline pumping after my last encounter with Levi. He knew all the right words to make me hot and ready. And fuck was I ready.

Everything that happened in the last two weeks between us seems like ancient history after the last couple of days. Last night, in particular, has me floating on cloud nine.

That kiss we shared brought back so many memories. Each one more steamy than the last. I tossed and turned that night until I finally passed out. When I did, I dreamed of Levi.

I woke up the next morning with a massive smile on my face that no one missed.

"What's got you in such a good mood this morning?" Charlotte asked, mirroring my smile with one of her own.

"It's my best friend's big day. Am I not allowed to be happy for her?"

She let out a dreamy sigh. "I can't believe it's finally here. My wedding day."

I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her in for a big hug. "I'm so happy for you, Char. You and Jason are perfect for each other."

Charlotte rested her head on mine as she hugged me back. "We really are, aren't we?"

Mrs. Rose bustled into the room. When her eyes landed on Charlotte, they became misty. "It's time to go, baby girl. They're ready for us to start your hair and makeup."

"Okay, mama. I just need to grab my bag, and I'll be ready. Tessa?"

I nodded. "My bag is ready to go."

Char's mom looked between us, swiping her eyes as she did.

"Oh, mama, don't cry. If you start crying, I'll cry," Charlotte said, grabbing her mother's hand.

"It's just, it seems like only yesterday you two were having sleepovers and braiding each other's hair," Mrs. Rose sniffled, "And now, you're about to be a married woman."

I felt tears prick my eyes as Charlotte embraced her mom. Before the waterworks could start, I turned away, busying myself with gathering our things to keep them at bay.

This was a huge day for my best friend, and I couldn't have been happier for her.

~

Several hours later, the bridal party was polished and ready to go. Char's mom hired a team to come in and do hair and makeup for the big day. They made us all look incredible, especially Charlotte.

She was always beautiful, but today, she had an extra glow about her. Happiness will do that, I suppose. In any case, she was stunning, even more so than usual.

Jason will not know what hit him when she walks through those doors.

I was right, of course. When the bridal march started, and the doors at the back of the building swung open, revealing Charlotte in her wedding dress, my brother was awestruck. His jaw fell open, and his eyes misted over. He was over the moon as Charlotte's dad walked her down the aisle and into J's arms.

I'd like to say I held it together, that I didn't cry, but I did. Not even the view of Levi in a tux was enough to distract me from the beauty of seeing Char and Jason tie the knot. And that's saying something because Levi in a tux...

Fuck me.

He was mouth-watering. The way his eyes seared through me when he first saw me told me he felt the same. I wanted him so bad I couldn't keep my eyes off him until Charlotte emerged from behind those doors. The moment that happened, Levi and all of my earthly desires were temporarily forgotten.

Once we made it to the reception, Levi again stole my attention. Or rather, demanded it when he slid his hand up my dress under the table, teasing my inner thigh. A wave of desire so strong coursed over me that I almost dragged him to one of the restrooms.

Instead, I paid him back in kind, stroking his leg from mid-thigh all the way up to where it meets his groin. I thought seriously about palming his package but thought teasing him would be much more fun.

Boy, was I right.

The hunger in Levi's eyes grew, and we continued our torturous game all through the reception. It's truly a wonder that neither of us caved and whisked the other away for a quickie somewhere.

By the end of the night, I was dying to get Levi alone.

*

*

*

Levi

Tessa was breathtaking in that dress. Throughout the ceremony, I could hardly take my eyes off her. She was a fucking goddess among men. And tonight, she'd be all mine.

Our little hand game under the table was a special kind of torture. I knew we couldn't just disappear in the middle of the reception. It would be wrong. We couldn't do that to Jason and Charlotte.

And as the best man and maid of honor, we were expected to stay through the entire event. So, leaving early was a no-go.

We just had to grin and bear it through the reception, knowing that once we got back to the house, all bets- and clothing- would be off. That thought kept my caveman at bay temporarily. Tessa wouldn't know what hit her, though, once we got safely inside those doors. Then, she was mine until I decided to let her go.

And at this point, I wasn't entirely sure I would let her go this time, not when I finally got her back.

When the newlyweds said their last goodbyes for the night and escaped to their hotel room, Tessa and I were finally in the clear. J and Char were leaving straight from the hotel in the morning to catch a flight and start their honeymoon. So, Tessa and I had as much time as we wanted to be alone.

~

I got us home in record time, a miracle since Tessa was groping me the entire way, winding me up even more than I already was. I almost pulled over and buried my face between her legs to take some of the edge off.

Instead, I hammered down and got us back to the house faster than any patrol officer would deem legal. When we burst through the front door, we were a mess of tangled limbs and bated breath. I couldn't wait to tear her dress off and feel her skin against mine.

I kicked the door shut behind us, picking Tessa up as her legs wrapped around me. My erection was straining against my zipper, begging to be released. I rolled my hips, pressing into Tessa as I pinned her against the nearest wall.

Her resulting moan was my sweet reward. I bucked again, palming her ass closer to me as my lips trailed hot kisses down her neck. It was just like I remembered. She was fucking perfect, just like last summer.

Last summer...

The reminder was begging me to put on the brakes, telling me we still had important things to discuss. But my body was screaming for me to continue, that we could talk about everything afterward.

I strongly wanted to listen to the latter, but my nagging conscience was getting louder, telling me to stop and clear up the elephant in the room before things went any further.

So, I pulled back, resting my head against hers, trying to catch my breath.

"Levi?"

Don't do it!

"Tess, I need to ask you something."

Don't you fucking do it!

"What is it?" Tessa's words were breathy as she tried to decipher what was going on with me.

You're going to ruin this!

I took a breath, hoping the words would come out correctly. "I hate doing this, but I need to know." I took another steadying breath. "Do you still have feelings for him?"

She gave me a confused stare. "Who?"

With her legs still wrapped around me, I didn't want to continue talking. My body begged me not to. "Benji."

Dammit, Levi!

Tessa stiffened at the name, unwrapping her legs from my waist. "Levi, I broke up with Benji at the beginning of last summer. You know that."

The memories of the morning after Tessa and I spent the night together came flooding back, breaking me all over again as I forced myself to keep going.

"I saw you, Tess. I saw him at the house last summer. I saw the two of you that morning. The morning after we-"

I couldn't finish the words; the painful memories cut too deep. I just needed to hear her say they were over for good and everything would be all right.

"I saw you, Tess. I saw you with him."

I forced myself to look into her eyes. When I did, my stomach dropped. Her face fell, and she became white as a ghost. She looked guilty like she'd been caught red-handed.

Her words came out in a pained whisper. "What?"

And my heart sank. 

A/N:

I know, huge cliff hanger. WTF! What the f happened... Can this be real? Find out the rest of the details in the next chapter...

ILY all, hang in there! 

<3