He Has Me

Chapter 12

The next morning Audrey turned on the news, expecting the pictures to be everywhere. There were a few pictures of Brandon's boat, and the island. There was even a mention that he had been with an unknown lover. But there were no picture of her, or Brandon, on the beach. She felt such a sense of relief that she could have cried. When her cell phone rang she answered it quickly.

“How is this possible?” she asked with confusion.

“Marcus has his ways,” Brandon replied hesitantly. “He knew we were out there, and I called him on the way back. He met the reporter at the airport where the helicopter landed, and let's just say, those pictures are never going to see the light of day.”

“Oh Brandon thank you,” Audrey said with relief. “I can't believe it, I was sure my career would be over.”

“I'm not going to let that happen,” Brandon promised her. “I know my fame puts you at risk, but I will do anything I can to protect you.”

“Even if it means not seeing me again?” Audrey asked with concern growing in her voice.

“What?” Brandon asked with obvious frustration. “Why would you say that?”

“Because that's the only way for all of this to stop,” Audrey pointed out with defeat. “To make sure that this doesn't happen again.”

“Is that what you really want?” he asked, his voice cracking around the words.

“It's what has to happen,” Audrey said firmly. The shock of what had happened the day before had left her in a more logical state. She never wanted to feel that vulnerable again.

“I can't believe this,” Brandon uttered and she could hear the anger in his voice.

 “Fine, Audrey. If that's what you want, that's what I'll give you,” he hung up the phone. Audrey stared at the blank screen on her phone for a few seconds. She instantly thought of calling him back and apologizing, but she knew that it was pointless. What they had could only lead to disaster. She spent the rest of the day convinced she was right. Amber called her a few times to ask if she was the on the island, to ask if she was going to see Brandon again, if they had plans for a future together. Each time Audrey told her it was over. Each time Amber pushed her to change her mind.

“You only get this chance once in a lifetime Audrey,” Amber insisted sternly.

“Do you mean my career, or Brandon?” Audrey had countered.

“Which one can't you live without?” Amber had posed in return before hanging up the phone. Most the afternoon Audrey had herself convinced that it was the career she wanted so desperately. But by the time night fell, she ached for Brandon. Not just for his touches, for his body gliding against hers, but for his presence, his soulful gaze, the thing she hadn't even had a chance to learn about him yet. It seemed impossible to go on with her life without him being part of it. After the way she had spoken to him earlier that day, she wondered if it was even still an option.

                                                                                            ∞

She found herself at the harbor without even realizing she was heading there. She didn't expect him to be there, she just wanted to be somewhere that he had been. When she curled her hands around the cool metal of the railing on the dock and looked over at the expanse of dark water, she felt a sensation of peace, just knowing that she was close to him. That peace turned into surprise when she felt his hand slide along the slope of her stomach, and his lips press against the back of her head.

“I knew you'd come,” he murmured.

“I don't think I should have,” Audrey replied in a whisper and turned reluctantly in his grasp to face him. 

“Audrey, I'm in love with you, and I don't care who knows it,” he murmured as he met her eyes. “Can you say the same?”

Audrey stared back at him, her heart aching to agree, her mind racing with reasons to deny him.

“Brandon I-” she started to say.

“That's enough,” he looked sharply away. “That's all you need to say,” he growled as he curled his hands around the metal railing. “I came here tonight because I'm an idiot. I thought someone like you would respect honesty, would want to live authentically, would admit the truth-”

Her arms slid around his waist and she pressed her cheek firmly against the strength of his chest.

“This is all new to me Brandon,” she reminded him as she looked up at him. He looked deeply into her eyes.

“And it's not to me?” he asked as the wind from the harbor whipped blonde tendrils in his eyes.

“You think just because I've had a little luck with acting, that my entire life has been simple?” he narrowed his eyes slightly. “My mother married a cruel man because she stopped believing in love Audrey. I promised myself from the time I was a boy that I would never let anyone hurt me that way. If someone didn't love me, as deeply as I did them, then they didn't deserve my heart. So, I gave them my body, but you-” he paused a moment as he leaned closer to her, the mixture of lust and frustration in his voice causing his words to be roughened. “I gave you my heart Audrey; I had no choice but to. Can you honestly tell me that the same thing didn't happen to you?”

“It did,” she whispered in return as she gazed at him with fascination. “I still don't understand it.”

“So don't,” Brandon murmured as he studied her. “Don't try to figure it out. Don't investigate it.”

Audrey smiled a little at his words. “But the rest of the world will,” she reminded him.

“So let them,” he growled and drew her close to him. “Let them stare, let them envy, let them write lies or plaster unflattering pictures. None of that matters, this,” he paused a moment and brushed his lips lightly against hers. “This is what matters to me. What matters to you?” he asked.

Audrey threw aside her hesitation, her lips collided with his and all of the passion she had been attempting to restrain traveled through her body, was set free with the rhythm of her kiss and the wild caress of her tongue. As he led her across the dock, and to the one place that was just theirs, Audrey was certain that she finally had the one thing she couldn't live without.

*** Hi there!!! Sorry for the silence. My laptop was attacked by a Trojan (virus). Pretty stressout for the past few weeks. So, this is the final chapter and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sticking around till the end. Do vote or leave your comments please. Your thoughts mean a lot to me! Thank you so much :)