Bridesmaid Undercover: An incredibly steamy, hilarious, friends to lovers, love triangle romantic comedy

HARDY

She tastes so good.

She feels amazing.

She smells unbelievable.

I have never wanted a woman like I want Everly, and with every press of my mouth to hers, my body becomes more and more out of control with need.

Was my intention when I came here to get her naked and sink myself deep inside of her?

No.

But the minute she started trying on dresses, it was hard not to want that.

Not to want her.

And I tried.

Fuck, did I try.

Might not seem like it, but it was a Herculean effort not to strip her down after that first dress. But the second…the second was my undoing.

She was stunning.

Breathtaking.

She short-circuited my thoughts and what I was trying to accomplish.

I couldn’t think of anything past the fact that I wanted to taste her lips again. I wanted to hear her soft moans. I wanted to feel her grip me with such force that my eyes have no other option than to roll in the back of my head as I drive into her.

It’s why I can’t stop myself, why my hand inches over her breast, and why I feel total satisfaction when she moans while I squeeze her, allowing my thumb to slide over her nipple while my mouth devours hers.

“God,” she whispers as her back arches and her chest presses into mine.

I release her lips and kiss up her jaw, to her ear where I quietly say, “You unravel me, Everly.” I roll her nipple between my fingers, causing her to gasp. “You unnerve me.” I pinch her nipple, only to release it, letting her feel pleasure in the pressure. “You make me feel mad, insane, so fucking needy that I can’t think straight.”

I drag my lips down her neck, across her collarbone and to her breasts where I lap at her nipple with my tongue.

Her hand sifts into my hair, tugging, pulling, creating a tingling sensation along my scalp as I continue to play with her breasts, soaking in every second of this bliss.

When I first kissed her, I half expected her to pull back and tell me to stop, and I would have.

When she didn’t, I felt my mind snap, my urges take hold, and now, I want it all.

I keep her pinned against the wall, bring my mouth back up to hers, and then work my hands between us so I can undo my pants. But to my surprise, she moves my hands away and does it herself. It takes a bit of finagling, but when she’s done, she pushes them down just enough for me to take over the rest, leaving my cock stretching between us.

She groans when she feels me at first, and then to my utter surprise, she grinds against me, letting me feel how wet she is through the fabric of her thong.

Fuck.

“Uhhh,” I exhale. “You feel so good, so wet.” I slide my hand between us again and move her thong to the side, letting her slick pussy drag along my length. “Fuck, Everly,” I whisper. “I need to be inside of you.”

She continues to thrust her slick center along my length, every stroke shooting waves of pleasure through me, lighting me up inside to the point that I start to sweat with desire.

Her pace picks up and so does her breath as her arms loop around my neck, grounding her better.

“Uhhhh God,” she says as she curls in closer, her body moving faster.

“That feel good, Everly?” I ask. “You getting close?”

“Yes,” she whispers as she continues to stroke herself, using me for her own pleasure, which only makes this that much better. I want her to use me. I want her to find her pleasure. I want her coming apart in my arms.

“Then ride me, Everly. Fuck me. Get off. Come all over my fucking cock.”

“Fuck,” she yells as she moves even faster, her hips flying, her grunts so fucking pure, so fucking sexy that I can’t do anything, but watch her pleasure play out. I hold still, being the anchor for her so she can use me.

“Fuck…fuck,” she says. “Ohhhhhhh fuck,” she yells just as her warmth spreads over my cock, and she starts coming. Her head flies forward, her mouth landing on my shoulder as she bites me, her orgasm rocking her so hard that she breaks skin.

But I love it.

I fucking live for it.

I stay still, my hard-on throbbing, begging for more, begging to feel her contract around me, but I let her ride out her pleasure until she rests her head against the wall, her body sinking into bliss as it slowly climbs down from the clouds.

That’s when I make my move.

I lower us both to the floor. I kick off my shoes and pants and boxer briefs and then take a seat on the floor, pulling her back on my lap.

She’s dazed, smiling, marred from my coarse beard rubbing all over her silky soft skin.

It only makes me that much harder.

I grab my wallet, pull out a condom, and slip it on quickly before I bring my mouth to hers again by looping my hand to the nape of her neck and pulling her in close.

And she comes in easily, but now, her kisses are more frenzied. Not languid.

Her hands are passing over my heated skin. Not timid.

And she lifts up on her knees, positioning me at her entrance. Not shy in the slightest.

She teases me, lets me feel a hint of her warmth, but doesn’t let me enter. She just poses me there, driving me crazy.

“Everly, fuck, take my cock.”

But she doesn’t listen; instead she strokes my length with her hand, not giving me what I want.

I want her heat. Her warmth.

“Babe,” I say, unable to control myself. “I need that cunt.”

But she doesn’t sit down on me.

She removes her hand and circles her hips, just letting me tease her entrance.

“Uhhhhhhh, fuck,” I moan. “Everly, pl⁠—”

I don’t get the words out because within a second, she sits down on my cock, fully inserting me, so deep inside that I see fucking stars.

“Mother-fucker,” I groan as my stomach bottoms out and every muscle inside of me seizes. “Everly, I…” Fuck, I’m going to come fast.

Her hands smooth up my chest, up my neck, and right to my face before her lips descend upon mine. Her tongue runs over my mouth and then inside where she dances it across mine.

It’s an onslaught of sensations, pulsing through me and driving up my desire to the breaking point in seconds.

Her hips drive over my cock.

Her hands keep me locked in.

And she pulses over my length, squeezing me so goddamn tight that I have no other option than for her to take control.

“You’re going to make me come,” I say when she pulls her mouth away and brings those devilish lips to my neck.

Her hands move to my chest, her fingers right to my nipples where she plays with the hard nubs.

“Fuck, yes, that’s it, baby,” I say as I thrust up into her when she pinches my nipples. “Christ, Everly.”

She brings her mouth back to mine where she kisses me again, her tongue desperately playing with mine, the urgency between the two of us climbing to a frantic rate.

I need more.

I need deeper.

I move her off my lap and place her on all fours on the floor of the dressing room and then I get behind her, position my cock at her entrance and then drive into her with one giant force.

“Hardy…fuck,” she yells as her head falls forward, and she presses her hand to the wall, bracing herself so I don’t fuck her right into it.

I’m mad with desire.

Frantic to come.

So goddamn turned on that I can feel every nerve in my body zeroing in on my orgasm that is building on the base of my spine.

I want her coming with me, so I take her breast in my hand and start massaging it, playing with her nipple, pinching just enough to force her to contract around me.

And it’s just what I need.

That warm, wet pussy squeezing me so goddamn tight.

It’s heaven.

So, I keep playing with her nipple and every time I squeeze, I thrust inside of her, seeking out that contraction. It’s a drug, a feeling so fucking desirable, that I’m chasing it every chance I get.

“I fucking love this pussy,” I say as my pace picks up. “You make me come so fucking…hard.” I grunt out the last part as the early signs of my orgasm start to tighten my balls. “Fuck, Everly, I’m there.”

I bring my hand to her clit where I spread her and play with the aroused nub. I still my hips, wanting to bring her to completion, so I can feel the sweet tightening of her walls.

I lean forward, pressing kisses between her shoulder blades, over her back, holding off on my orgasm, waiting for her, driving her forward, wanting to experience this together.

“Fuck,” she whispers, indicating she’s getting close. “Ohhhh yes, right there, Hardy. Right there.” Her back arches, her stomach hollows, and her breath catches in her throat. “Right…there.”

I swirl my fingers over her clit a few more times, her body tensing, tightening, and then, her pussy starts contracting around my cock as she shouts out my name.

I keep circling her clit, prolonging her orgasm as I begin driving into her again, riding out every pulse.

My muscles tense, my back stiffens, and my cock swells as I spill inside of her, my orgasm ripping through me in seconds.

“Yes, baby,” I grunt as she continues to contract around me.

And I revel in it.

In every goddamn second until there is nothing left to take.

That’s when I pull out, but not before placing another kiss on her back.

I stand up and remove the condom, tying it off. I quickly slip on my briefs and then walk through the empty store and straight to the bathroom where I wrap the condom in some toilet paper and toss it in the garbage to go undetected. I take a second to wash my hands and then I walk back to the dressing room where I find Everly already dressed and adjusting her hair.

Well…fuck.

When her eyes meet mine in the mirror, I can feel the distance in that one gaze, as if she just shut the door on her soul, leaving not even the barest glimmer of what lies inside.

I walk up to her, but she moves past me and strides over to the couch, sitting down to put on her shoes.

Yup, she’s shutting down.

Quickly, I get dressed in silence, trying to think of a way to close this gap, to make things right. The desire is there. The attraction is there…I fucking know for certain the connection is there. I’ve never connected with a woman like I’ve connected with Everly.

Now I just need to figure out how to break through the mistake I made and prove to her that I won’t do it again. I was hoping the sex we just had would have warmed her up, but from the tension in her shoulders and her pursed lips, I could be incredibly wrong about that.

I bring my shoes over to the couch as well, and when I take a seat, she starts to stand, but I take her by the hand and tug her back down.

“Everly, can we talk?”

“There’s nothing to say,” she says.

“Uh, I think there’s a whole lot to say.”

“No, Hardy. There’s nothing to say. Once again, that shouldn’t have happened, we should have⁠—”

“Shouldn’t have happened?” I tuck my finger under her chin and bring her eyes to meet mine. “Everly, there’s a reason why that keeps happening, and I think that’s something we should talk about.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “There’s nothing to talk about, because…because there’s nowhere to go from here. We just need to get through this weekend, through this work event. Then we can go our separate ways, and I would appreciate it if⁠—”

“Go our separate ways?” I feel my stomach sink, and I realize immediately that this approach is not working either.

Sure, she probably feels desired.

Possibly satisfied for a moment.

But it’s not breaking down the wall she’s erected between us—the wall I forced her to build.

Which means, this is going to be my last-ditch effort.

I have to put it all out there and hope for the best.

“Yes, Hardy. Go our separate ways,” she repeats.

“I don’t want to do that,” I say, my nerves clawing at me as I stare into her beautiful eyes. “I don’t want to lose you. My life…” I gulp. “My life has felt empty since that morning. I miss our emails, our texts, our conversations. I miss seeing you and listening to you tell me about your day. I miss our jokes and our dinner dates and the way you smile whenever you see me.” I take her hand in mine, and she stares down at the connection. “I miss you, Everly. You’re…you’re all I think about. Constantly. Night and day, you’re on my mind. And I was a fucking fool that morning. I should have…fuck, I should have handled things differently. I should have⁠—”

“It doesn’t matter,” she says, freeing her hand from my grasp. And when her eyes meet mine, I can distinctively see the dissociation in them, like the words I’m saying aren’t even coming close to clicking in her head.

“Everly,” I say, my voice nearly shaking as panic grips me. “It does matter.” She attempts to look away, but I turn her head, practically begging her to look at me. “This, us, it matters, and I will do anything…and I mean anything to fix things between us.”

“Why?” she asks. “You told me there can’t be anything between us. So what’s the point? I can’t…” Her voice catches in her throat, and it brings me to my goddamn knees. “I can’t sit here and act like we’re just friends. I can’t hang out with you and pretend like I don’t have feelings for you…or…had feelings for you.” The use of past tense guts me. “It’s too hard. And I’m sorry that you miss me, and you miss our friendship, but I’m not in a position where I can just ignore this…this physical connection we have. And honestly, I have no idea why you think it’s okay to just…to fuck me and then ask to be my friend.”

“I’m not asking you to be my friend, Everly,” I say, desperation heavy in my voice. “I’m asking for so much more.”

“But why? You yourself said you can’t be romantically involved with me because of your sister, and yet you’re putting me in situations where you’re feeding into this desire—and for what?” Her voice is rising, becoming shakier as she stands. “So you can just fuck with my head, Hardy?”

“What? No,” I say, realizing that she doesn’t know I had a conversation with Haisley. I’d been waiting for the perfect time to tell her that we have Haisley’s blessing, but now I’ve just tangled things up even more.

Jesus Christ, I’ve fucked this up so badly.

“Just stay away from me,” she says, moving past me and grabbing her dress.

“Everly, wait,” I say as I stand as well. “It’s not like that.”

“I don’t want to hear it.” She picks up the dresses I didn’t put away and brings them over to the rack, where she hangs them up.

I watch her angrily make sure everything is in place and when she’s done, she heads toward the shop’s back door, and I follow closely behind.

“Everly, can I just explain?”

“No,” she snaps. “I never should have let you touch me in the first place. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t. That I wouldn’t give in, and then, God, one look from you, and I’m breaking every rule in my head. I’m such an idiot.”

“You’re not,” I say as she opens the door and steps out with her dress draped over her arm. “Everly, this is all just one big mistake.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” she says as she ushers me out of the store and shuts the door. She presses a few buttons on the keypad, and the lock clicking into place fills the silence between us.

And with that, she heads toward her car, which is parked on the street behind the store.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I say, pushing my hand through my hair. “I meant how I handled all of this.”

“Yeah, well, it was probably best so I didn’t get too attached. Breaking me on morning one was the way to go, Hardy. Now I just need to stick to that broken spirit and stop believing there could be more.”

“But there could be,” I say, moving in front of her so I can look her in the eyes. When her watery gaze meets mine, it feels like a gut punch so deep that I can feel the pain all the way through every nerve ending. “I spoke with Haisley, Everly. She said…she said she just wants us to be happy.”

A lone tear rolls down Everly’s cheek and before I can brush it away for her, she wipes it herself.

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she asks. “Is that supposed to make me throw my arms around you and celebrate?”

“I…well…no,” I say with a pinch to my brow. “But, I thought⁠—”

“You thought what, Hardy? That I was going to automatically forget about everything else? And if she wasn’t going to stand in the way of anything happening, then why would you once again fuck around with me? Why not just tell me?”

I drag my hands down my face as frustration engulfs me.

Not frustration with her, but frustration with myself.

“Because I thought that I could warm you up first, show you that I wanted you and then, I don’t know…tell you that we could be together.”

She shakes her head. “Wow, Hardy, and here I thought you were a smart man.” She takes a step back from me. “You realize the kind of torment I’ve been putting myself through, right? I hated myself the day you came into my office because I wanted nothing to do with you, and then there I was, wanting you so badly, giving in to temptation and comfort—the same comfort you gave me that night. But at what expense? You should have told me then that everything was cool with Haisley.”

“I didn’t think you would believe me, that you would accept that answer. I wanted to show you that I wanted you, that you were the person for me, regardless of my family or work or anything else.”

“By continuing to mess with my head? You’re playing games, Hardy, and I don’t want to and won’t be part of it.” She turns on her heel and walks toward her car.

“Everly, wait,” I say as I jog after her. When I touch her shoulder, she spins on me, her finger going right to my chest.

“Don’t,” she says in a stern tone. “Don’t touch me. Don’t come near me. I’m not kidding when I say whatever this was…is…it’s over. After this weekend, I will be asking Maggie to move me off any events with the Hoppers and the Canes. I’ll have Scarlett take them over because I’m done. I don’t want this.” She looks me in the eyes. “And I don’t want you.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Her words slice right through me as she turns away, opens her car door, shoves her dress in and then slams the door shut.

I stand there, stunned, gasping for air as I realize just how badly I fucked this up.

How I lost her because of my own dumb choices.

How I probably won’t recover from this, because the girl I’m supposed to be with, the girl I’ve fallen for…my girl…she’s driving away with no intention of ever seeing me again.

“I know my dad’s speech was a bit boring,” Ken says, coming up to me at the bar. “But I didn’t think it was so boring that it would make the best man seem like a depressed sack of potatoes.”

A sack of potatoes on one of the fanciest rooftop bars in San Francisco—not sure that’s what Ken and Polly’s parents were going for with this rehearsal dinner. And I attempted to tuck myself away from the romantic ambience—with the twinkle lights shining above the soon-to-be-married couple, the soft instrumental music pouring through hidden speakers is setting the mood for friends and family to pair up and peacefully sway together.

But it looks like I’ve been found.

Leaning my forearms against the bar counter, I stare down at my glass of water—far too depressed to even consider alcohol. “Sorry, man. I swear I’ll get it together for tomorrow.”

Though I have no idea how I plan on doing that, since I’ll have a hard-as-fuck time not staring and pining after Everly during the entire wedding ceremony and celebration.

I half expected her to show up tonight to the rehearsal, but Maple said that she had another event she had to tend to, which I don’t fully believe. I think she’s skipping out on tonight to avoid me. Polly was okay with Everly missing the wedding rehearsal because it’s not like Everly needs practice walking down the aisle; she’s the one who tells people how to properly do it.

“Want to talk about it?” Ken asks.

“Not really,” I say as I lean back in my bar chair.

“Well, I don’t think you have a choice.”

“Why do you say that?” I ask.

“Because Polly and Maple are on their way over here, and they don’t look happy.”

“Christ,” I mumble just as they walk up to us, both of them standing on my right-hand side, arms crossed.

“He doesn’t want to talk about it,” Ken says, and I’m grateful he’s taking the lead.

“And I don’t want a moping best man at my rehearsal dinner, so it looks like he doesn’t have an option,” Polly says.

I let out a huff and drag my hand over my mouth. “Can we just…not? I promise I’ll be good for tomorrow, and if you want me to leave early tonight, I can.”

“Leave early? You’re my ride,” Ken says.

Oh…right.

Jesus, I really need to get it together.

Sitting up, I shake out my shoulders and then spin on my barstool to face my friends. “Okay, right, I’m sorry.” I slap on the fakest smile I can muster. “So, those oysters, they were…slimy, huh?”

“They were,” Polly says with a skeptical look in her eyes. “But we didn’t come here to chat about my mother’s poor taste in hors d’oeuvres. We came here to see why the hell Everly is avoiding the rehearsal dinner when you had a chance to patch things up yesterday?”

“Those tuna tartare bites though,” I say, ignoring Polly completely. “They were great.”

“I had five,” Ken says, patting his stomach.

“Kenneth,” Polly snaps at him. “We are not engaging in his topic avoidance. We are getting to the bottom of this Everly thing.”

“Right.” Ken clears his throat. “Sorry, dear.” Then he nudges me with his elbow. “I get to marry that spitfire tomorrow.”

That seems to soften Polly, only slightly, but just enough for her to say in a calmer tone, “Okay, what happened?”

I sigh, knowing I’m not going to avoid this conversation. “It’s just…not going to happen between us. I fucked up too many times. Hurt her too many times. She’s done with me. Said it to my face, and honestly, I think I should just let her be. She was…she was really upset yesterday, and I don’t like seeing her upset. I want her to be happy, and if moving on without me makes her happy, then that’s what I want.”

“But how did you mess up?” Maple asks gently. “I thought everything was good with Haisley.”

I slowly nod. “Yes, it is, but I didn’t tell Everly that until yesterday and that was after, well, I won’t go into detail, but let’s just say we did some things in that store.”

“Dear God,” Polly says. “So, you fucked her.”

“For lack of a better term,” I say.

“And you didn’t tell her about Haisley until after that?”

“When she was trying to walk away from me.”

“Oh my God,” Maple says, disgust in her voice. “What is wrong with you?”

“I don’t know.” I toss my hands up in the air. “That’s an amazing question because I honestly have no idea what’s wrong with me. I have never in my life made this many mistakes consecutively. It’s like I’ve lost all ability to act like a normal human and have transformed into the epitome of a dumbass.”

“I’m not going to argue with that,” Polly says. “I thought you were going to make up with her yesterday, so you could spend the wedding together, dancing and having a good time.”

“Yeah, that would have been ideal, but seems like I don’t know how to fix my mistakes when it comes to her.” I shake my head. “It’s best if we just drop it.”

“But do you want to drop it?” Maple asks. “I thought you liked her.”

“More than like her,” I say softly.

“Oh. My. God,” Polly says, gripping my shoulder. “Do you love her, Hardy?”

“I mean…I’ve fallen for her pretty damn hard, and I think…I think that’s why I’ve been such an idiot.” I shoot Maple an apologetic look. “No offense, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way for another person before.”

Maple nods. “None taken. I know that it wasn’t that deep for us. I understand the stakes are higher here, and it makes sense. Our relationship was easy, simple, predictable. But with Everly, it goes so much deeper, and because of that more intense connection, you don’t know how to function without her in your life.”

“Exactly,” I say. “It’s like I’m panicking every time I see her, afraid that I’m going to mess up because I don’t want to lose her. I don’t want to lose what we have. But all that panic just hindered me, and I still ended up losing her.” I pick up my glass of water from the bar and stare down at it for a moment. “She really wants nothing to do with me. Trust me when I say, there’s no chance of rectifying this.”

“Are you sure?” Polly asks. “I feel like there has to be a bridge we can mend.”

I shake my head. “No, she was very clear last night. I hurt her, badly, and she wants to move on. She doesn’t want to give me another chance. So please don’t even try.” I look at both Maple and Polly. “Seriously, don’t try.”

Polly slouches against the bar, blowing out a heavy breath. “Well, this is stupid. Now I’m depressed.”

“Not something a groom wants to hear his bride say the night before their wedding,” Ken chimes in.

“Aren’t you depressed?” Polly asks. “Your best friend has lost his chance at an epic ending of a friends-to-lovers romance.”

Ken glances at me and then back at Polly. “A what?”

Polly groans. “Ugh, you’re irritating.” She then turns toward me, desperation on her face. “Are you sure it’s over? Like, absolutely positive?”

“Yes,” I say, looking her dead in the eyes. “It’s over. There’s nothing left to do other than let her be…”

And admitting that hurts possibly even more than losing her.

I’m never one to give up, but I know when I’m fighting a losing battle.

And this battle with Everly? It’s over.