Page 120 of Nineteen Letters

“I’m nervous too, Brax, but I’m so ready for this … we’re ready for this. Aren’t we?”

“I want this more than I’ve wanted anything in my life.” And that was the truth. I wanted to show you how much I loved you, since I was incapable of expressing it with words.

“It’s going to be beautiful,” you said, reaching for my hand and lacing your fingers through mine. I knew it would be, but there was still a part of me that worried I’d let you down.

I brought our linked hands up towards my face, placing a kiss on your fingers.

We arrived on our floor and I let go of your hand, picking up both our suitcases. I’d called the hotel during the week and organised a surprise to be waiting for you inthe room. I also made sure that we had a room with a view of the ocean.

“Oh my god! You can see the ocean from here,” were your first words when we entered our suite. I placed the bags down just inside the door and watched you as you rushed towards the floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the view. “I love it here already.”

As I crossed the room, I smiled when I saw the surprise awaiting you on the bed. You’d been so preoccupied with the view, you hadn’t even noticed.

Opening the glass sliding doors, we both stepped out onto the small balcony. You could smell the sea from where we stood.

When you turned to face me, I could see tears glistening in your eyes. “I love you so much, Braxton Spencer,” you said as you slid your arms around my waist. I wanted to tell you how much I loved you too, but again, the words failed me.

“Let’s check out the room.” I reached for your hand as we walked back inside.

You froze just inside the doorway, and I heard you gasp the moment you saw the bed. “Braxton,” you whispered. “Did you organise this?”

“I wanted it to be special … something you’d always remember.”

You walked towards the king-size bed and picked up one of the blood-red rose petals that were spread over the white linen. The hotel staff had placed lit candles on the bedside tables, and on the rich dark brown ottoman at the foot of the bed sat a rectangular white ceramic plate holding chocolate-dipped strawberries.

Your eyes met mine, and you smiled. “I’m glad we waited now. Thank you for going to so much trouble to make my first time everything a girl could wish for.” I watched in silence as you picked up one of the strawberries. “Mmm,” you moaned as you took a bite.

Walking towards me, you held the other half up to my mouth. I took a bite before drawing your body flush with mine and placing my lips on yours. Our kiss tasted of chocolate and strawberries.

“Do you want to go for a walk along the beach, or maybe get some lunch?” I asked.

“Later,” you replied. “Right now, I want to get naked.”

My aspirations for this trip were huge—it was all I’d thought about in the previous weeks—but now that the big moment had arrived, I was frozen with fear. I didn’t want to disappoint you.

I stood there as you took a step back and unbuttoned your blouse, one agonising button at a time. When you were done, you pushed it over your shoulders and down your arms. It fell to the floor, pooling around your feet. My eyes moved down to the swell of your breasts that were covered by the pink lace of your bra. I swallowed hard when your hands moved around to your back as you unclasped it.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” you said, dropping it to the floor beside your shirt. I had to swallow down my groan as I took in the sight of your naked breasts. They were perfect, just how I imagined they would be.

Reaching up, I undid the buttons on my shirt. I moved a little faster than you. My movements were more desperate because I was now itching to touch you.

When you moved your hands to your waist, popping the button on your jeans, I followed suit. A few seconds later, I was standing there in my boxer shorts, and the only thing you were wearing was your pink lace panties.

We stood there and stared at each other for a few moments before you hooked your thumbs into the sides of your underwear. This time I couldn’t hide the groan as you dragged them down your long, lean legs.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered as my eyes drank you in.

When your gaze moved down to my boxers, and one of your eyebrows raised, I chuckled. You were always impatient when you wanted something.

I bent over slightly as I removed them, and the smile on your pretty face grew when I stood to full height. The gig was up. My lie had been revealed. There wasn’t a pocket in sight, yet here I was with my torch shining brighter that it ever had before.

I wasn’t the always-prepared Boy Scout I claimed to be. I was simply a young man who was utterly besotted by the exquisite beauty that stood before him. My forever girl. The person who completely owned my body, my heart, and soul.

I took a few steps towards you, closing the distance between us. I lightly ran my trembling fingertips down the side of your face, across your collarbone, and down your arm, before lacing my fingers through yours.

You sucked in a sharp breath as your eyes fluttered shut. “Braxton,” you whimpered as my lips softly connected with yours. I slid my other hand around your waist, pulling your body flush with mine. Skin against skin.

Deepening the kiss, I slowly walked you backwards towards the bed, never once taking my lips from yours.