Page 64 of Harmony

“I fucking know that, Bree. Twenty-two. First love. I’m concerned that what you feel for me is a crush, Brianna. And what I feel for you is so much more than that.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jesse

I can’t believe I just said those words to her.

She looks at me with such passion, such desire. And it’s all laced with a touch of anger.

Can I blame her? I basically just told her she’s too immature to have real feelings for me. I’m lucky she hasn’t slapped me.

“Jesse,” she says, taking a step toward me, “that’s all I ever wanted.”

“No. I mean, maybe. How can I say this without being insulting? Because I’d rather die than insult you or make you feel bad in any way. But what you don’t understand, Brianna, is the anguish I’m feeling inside me. You’re inside me. You’re a part of me now, and I want to fight it. I want to fight it so hard, and I’ve been trying to. But it doesn’t work. Nothing works anymore, Bree. Because everything is you and everything is me.”

She comes forward another step. “I can give you what you want, Jesse. I know I can.”

I shake my head. Then I nod. “Maybe you can. I don’t know. But I have to have you through this tour. Because releasing with you, letting my emotions out with you—it keeps me sane for the work I have to do.”

She reaches toward me. “It’s okay. I can give you what you need.”

I know she thinks she can, but I’m done talking now. I grab her hand before she touches me, squeeze her wrist.

All I can think about is her, the need, the ache that I have for her, how part of me would give up this entire tour to be with her. I’ve been fighting it. Tamping it down.

And I can’t tamp it down anymore.

The last forty-eight hours have been harrowing. First Dragon, and then finding a new drummer, and despite everything, it all worked out.

And while I was happy about that, something was missing.

What was missing was the woman standing before me now.

How did I let this happen?

How did I let this beautiful young woman not only into my heart, but into my very soul?

How did she become the essence of all that I am?

It’s crazy, really. So crazy. But I need her, and I need her now.

I pull her to me and kiss her hard. I don’t have to pry her lips open because she opens for me instantly, as if on instinct, as if the two of us are somehow fated to be together.

I slide my tongue over her teeth, her gums, the sides of her mouth, twirl it with her tongue, its velvety texture driving me slowly senseless.

She tastes of the remnants of bourbon.

She tastes of passion and desire and need and ache and want.

Her fingers gravitate to the collar of my shirt, and she begins to unbutton.

I grip the sides of her Dragonlock tank top and pull it up, exposing her breasts clad in a lacy bra. Still kissing her, I cup them, thumb her nipples through the lace.

She gasps into my mouth.

Then I pull back, breaking the suction of our mouths with a loud smack. The first two buttons of my shirt are undone, and I grab the two sides of it, rip them apart, letting the buttons fly and ping throughout the room.

My shirt is off, and I don’t want to wait any longer. I quickly remove my shoes and socks, and then I unclasp the beautiful brass belt buckle. My gift from Brianna—Brianna, the woman I love.