Part of me, p.1
Part of Me, page 1
Part of Me
Book 2 Seaside Chronicles Copyright © 2022 by Kelly Elliott
Cover Design by: Hang Le
Interior Design & Formatting by: Elaine York, Allusion Publishing
Developmental Editor: Kelli Collins
Content Editor: Rachel Carter, Yellow Bird Editing
Proofing Editor: Erin Quinn-Kong, Yellow Bird Editing
Proofing Editor: Elaine York, Allusion Publishing
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
For more information on Kelly and her books, please visit her website www.kellyelliottauthor.com.
Chapter One – Sutton
Chapter Two – Sutton
Chapter Three – Brody
Chapter Four – Sutton
Chapter Five – Brody
Chapter Six – Sutton
Chapter Seven – Brody
Chapter Eight – Sutton
Chapter Nine – Brody
Chapter Ten – Sutton
Chapter Eleven – Sutton
Chapter Twelve – Brody
Chapter Thirteen – Sutton
Chapter Fourteen – Brody
Chapter Fifteen – Sutton
Chapter Sixteen – Brody
Chapter Seventeen – Sutton
Chapter Eighteen – Brody
Chapter Nineteen – Sutton
Chapter Twenty – Sutton
Chapter Twenty-One – Brody
Chapter Twenty-Two – Sutton
Epilogue – Palmer
Other Books by Kelly Elliott
Dear Reader,
A note to you before you begin the book. The Seaside Chronicles is NOT a stand-alone series. They are interconnected stories with the siblings’ stories being carried throughout the series. The books are best read in order or you may find yourself confused, and this writer does not want that to happen!
You can find out more about the books at the link below.
https://kellyelliottauthor.com/library/#seaside
Now…let’s begin with Sutton and Brody’s story, shall we?
Sutton
End of Senior Year
I’d always heard that when you meet your soul mate, the one you were meant to spend the rest of your life with, you would feel it in the very depths of your soul. That your two hearts were forged in the same fire. I never felt that with Jack Larson, my now ex-boyfriend. I cared about him, but when his eyes met mine across a room or he smiled at me, something was…missing. Jack had a way of making me feel like I was the lucky one to be with him. It wasn’t a partnership. He was quick to point out my faults, and then fast to explain that he didn’t mean to hurt my feelings. It was clear that he would never change. It would always be his needs above anyone else’s. That wasn’t a soul mate.
My older sister, Adelaide—whom everyone called Addie—and her ex-boyfriend, Gannon Wilson, were soul mates. Everyone could see that. Jack and I…were far from it.
And here I sat, alone on a beach, after Jack had informed me that he wanted to call things off. We were both on our way to college, and he felt like he needed to explore other…options was the word he’d used. I should have been sad, but I wasn’t. Once again, he’d been cruel with his words, like always.
He’d actually wanted to have sex only minutes before, even with everyone gathered around the dune at the bonfire. Everyone. Including my sister, Addie, and Gannon—who was home on leave from the Navy, along with his older brother, Brody. There was no way I was doing that with Jack. Plus, I wasn’t ready. At least, I wasn’t ready to take that step with him.
I heard someone walking toward me, and I quickly wiped my face.
“He’s not worth a single tear, Sutton.”
Looking up, I saw Brody standing there. He smiled, and my stomach flipped while my chest fluttered. When his eyes met mine, my heartbeat picked up. The way he made me feel was like nothing I’d ever experienced with Jack. Not one single time. What did that say about me and Jack?
I was the first to admit that I’d had a crush on Brody for as long as I could remember. But when I saw him show up with Gannon tonight—with his nearly black hair shaved in a military buzz cut, and his body more muscular and hardened—my entire insides felt like they melted on the spot. I knew Jack had seen my reaction, and it was the reason he’d pulled me aside and tried to pull the whole “we need to sleep together before we leave for college” stunt. I also knew in my heart that sleeping with Jack wasn’t what I wanted, and if there was one thing I could control in our relationship, it was if and when I gave him my entire self.
I cleared my throat and looked up at Brody. “I’m not crying over him. Only the words he spit out.”
Jack had said that I wasn’t worth the wait and that we were over. His words weren’t said in anger, really, but from somewhere deep inside of him. It had hurt only because a part of me knew it was a sign that he’d always known, like I did, that we were never really in love.
It was hard to love someone when you’d already given your heart to another man, regardless if that man realized it or not.
Brody sat down and handed me the beer he’d been drinking. I took a sip and handed it back, then rested my head on his shoulder. He was four years older than me and had joined the Navy right after he’d graduated from high school. I remembered sitting in my room and crying for hours because he was gone. I would no longer be able to see that crooked smile of his or the dimple in his cheek. Or those beautiful hazel eyes with the gold flecks sprinkled in as if they were a gift from above.
For as long as I could remember, I’d sworn I was in love with Brody. Then I’d met Jack, and I really had liked him. He’d been so sweet at first, and in a strange way, he’d reminded me of Brody. He’d made me forget that my heart was broken after Brody had left Seaside.
At first, things with Jack had been good. He had a sense of humor, was a charmer, and had a way of making me smile…when he wanted to. Of course, looking back now, I realized it had all been an act to get me to sleep with him. He’d probably had plans to break up with me regardless if I’d slept with him tonight or not. I’d never felt real love for Jack, only Brody. I knew that was why I wasn’t heartbroken, but simply relieved.
Of course, Brody had no idea about my feelings for him. He’d never seen me as anything other than a kid, flashing me an occasional sweet smile, or giving me a pat on the head as he said hello.
Until tonight.
Brody hadn’t come back home in over a year. When he’d walked up to the bonfire and had spotted me standing there, it was clear he no longer saw the little girl he’d remembered. His gaze had traveled down my body slowly, and I had thanked the stars above I’d worn the black shorts and tank top that Adelaide had talked me into. My body had developed a lot since the last time I’d seen Brody, and it was obvious he’d noticed. The way his eyes had taken me in sent a shiver racing through my body and had caused a feeling deep in my stomach I’d never experienced before.
“He’s an asshole, Sutton,” Brody said now. “And if you’re not ready yet, any decent guy who cares enough about you would wait.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It’s not that I’m not ready. It’s just…I don’t want my first time to be with Jack.”
Brody stiffened next to me. “Why not?”
Turning to look at him, I worked up the courage I needed to admit my feelings. This would be the last time I’d see Brody for months. Maybe even longer. He was set to leave again soon, heading out on a ship for his first tour of duty. “Because I want my first time to be with someone I love and care for deeply.”
Under the light of the moon, I saw Brody’s eyes search my face. “You don’t love Jack?”
I slowly shook my head. “I’ve never loved him.”
Then I did something I never thought I’d do. I kissed Brody Wilson.
I fully expected him to push me away or tell me to stop. But he didn’t. Instead, he brought his hand up behind my neck and deepened the kiss.
Jack had never kissed me the way Brody did. It was powerful. Emotional. Amazing. I swore I felt that kiss to the tips of my toes.
I let out a soft moan, and Brody tugged on my hair, pulling my head back so he could take in more of me. Our tongues danced in a beautiful rhythm, and I was positive no man would ever kiss me like this again. I would remember it for the rest of my life. Even when I was an old woman in my bed, drawing in my last breath, Brody’s kiss would be seared into my memory.
When he finally pulled his mouth from mine, we were both panting.
“Sutton,” he whispered.
Before he could say another word, I quickly moved to straddle him. I knew we could be caught at any moment, but I didn’t care. This was my chance, and I was going to take it by the reins and go for everything I wanted.
I’d finally kissed Brody, and Lord above, he’d kissed me back.
“Brody, please,” I whimpered as I lowered myself onto him. I could feel he was hard, and that did all kinds of things to me, but most of all, it gave me the courage to show him…tell him what I wanted. He had always treated me like a kid sister. No
He cupped my face in his hands and brought my mouth down to his. This time, the kiss felt different. Searing and full of want and desire, and my goodness, did my body react to it in the most amazing ways.
“What are you doing to me, Sutton?” he whispered, leaning his forehead against mine after he broke the kiss.
“I want you, Brody. Please.”
He drew back and slowly shook his head. “I’m not doing this on the beach. That’s not how your first time should be. And it should be with someone—”
I pressed my fingers to his lips to stop him from talking. “Don’t. Please don’t, Brody. I don’t think I could stand to hear you say it. Not like this, not right now.”
Shaking his head as if confused, he placed his hand on the side of my face. “You said you wanted your first time to be with someone you loved.”
I bit down on my lip and looked away before I met his eyes again. It didn’t take him long to figure it out. A plethora of emotions crossed his face as his eyes widened, and he softly said my name again.
“Sutton, sweetheart.”
I squeezed my eyes shut because I knew I couldn’t look at him while I uttered my next words. “I know you don’t love me back, and that’s okay. I mean, unless you don’t want me, then…”
I opened my eyes in time to see Brody close his. I could see the pained expression on his face before he opened them and our gazes locked again. Something was different. He looked…conflicted.
“I want you more than you could know, Sutton. I have for a long time.”
Butterflies danced in my stomach as his words sank in. “You…you have?”
He nodded and ran the back of his fingers down my cheek.
Brody wanted me.
Smiling, I slid my shaking fingers through his hair and pressed my mouth to his once more. The kiss was slower, sweeter than before. It filled my body with a feeling I had never experienced. It was like a warm blanket on a cold winter night, and somehow I knew everything would be okay because of this kiss. That what happened next would forever change our lives.
“Then take me, Brody. I want it to be you. Please.”
Before I knew what was happening, Brody stood, lifting me right with him. He gently placed my feet on the sand, then took my hand and started to walk down the beach, away from the bonfire.
“Where are we going?”
“To our fishing hut.”
Shivers ran through my body, and I knew it wasn’t from any chill in the air since it was a hot August night.
Brody and Gannon’s parents owned two houses in Seaside. Their main house was on Captain’s Row, which wasn’t that far from my parents’ house. They also had a smaller place on the beach that included a fishing hut on a private pier over the water. I had been to it a few times. It was really nice, unlike some local fishing huts. The last time I’d been in it with Addie, it had a card table, a bar, and a sofa inside. I knew, from what Addie had told me, that Brody and Gannon hung out there a lot.
“Why don’t we go to the beach house?” I asked as we started down the pier toward the hut.
Brody looked at me and winked. “Gannon and Addie are there.”
That caused me to swing my head around and glance back over my shoulder. “Oh,” I said softly, seeing a faint light coming from the house. Addie and Gannon’s relationship was…complicated, to say the least. They had mutually agreed to break up after high school since Gannon was going into the Navy and Addie was heading off to college. But when they were in town at the same time, they were on again. And that meant sneaking off to do whatever it was they did when they were alone.
Brody pulled out his keys and unlocked the door to the hut, then motioned for me to go in. I wondered how many girls he’d brought here to have sex. I knew he wasn’t a sweet, innocent boy, but the thought of other women having him first made me jealous, and I hated that feeling. I worked at pushing the emotion away. This wasn’t the time or place for that.
Brody turned on a light and smiled. When he spoke his next words, my eyes went wide. It was as if he’d read my mind.
“I have to tell you, Sutton, I’ve never brought a girl here. And if Gannon knew what we were about to do, he’d be pissed. This place is like a sanctuary for him. No girls allowed. Well, not unless they’re fishing.”
I knew I had a wide grin on my face. Of course, Brody probably thought I was smiling because of what Gannon would say if he knew what we were about to do.
Taking a few steps closer to me, he pushed a lock of my brown hair behind my ear. “Are you sure about this, sweetheart?”
I blinked rapidly in an attempt to keep my tears at bay. It wasn’t because I was scared or worried; I was on the verge of crying because Brody had called me sweetheart, and not in a casual, friendly way.
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life. I want my first time to be with you, Brody.”
A brilliant smile appeared on his face, and he reached for my tank top and pulled it over my head. He placed it on the table, then stared hotly at my white lace bra for a few seconds before he started to slide my shorts off.
“What all have you done?” he asked as I stepped out of the shorts. He ran his hands up my bare legs, causing me to tremble with anticipation.
“Wh-what do you mean?” I asked, watching him place a kiss above my belly button. I sucked in a breath and nearly let out a moan. Jack had never touched my body like this. It was almost like Brody was worshiping me.
“Sex-wise. What have you done?”
I licked my dry lips and fought to keep my voice even and casual. “Not much. I’ve only ever dated Jack, and he…well, he likes to kiss.”
“Has he made you come with his fingers or mouth?”
I felt my eyes widen. Brody was so blunt with his questions, but that was probably a good thing. Better to get straight to the point. “Um, his fingers a few times, but…”
He looked up at me. “But what?”
Shrugging, I replied, “He gets mad when I don’t want to go further. He usually wants me to play with him, then he occasionally makes me come with his fingers. We’ve never had oral sex.”
A look of anger washed over Brody’s handsome face, but it quickly disappeared. “He’s an idiot.”
Laughing, I nodded. Honestly, I didn’t know what else to do.
Something changed in his eyes, and I swore they got darker. Or the lights in the cabin dimmed, I wasn’t sure which.
He ran his hands back up my legs, then hooked his fingers into my panties and slowly pulled them down. Both of our breathing picked up, and I was positive he could hear my heart pound. It was so loud in my ears, I almost missed the low growl that came from the back of Brody’s throat as he stared at me.
Licking his lips, he stood and looked directly into my eyes while he unclasped my bra, letting it fall down my arms to rest next to the panties I’d stepped out of moments ago.
“I’m going to be the first man to make you come with my mouth—and you have no idea how that makes me feel.”
I chewed on my lip, feeling the pulse between my legs grow stronger. The urge to press my thighs together was nearly unbearable.
“Oh,” I whispered. My cheeks heated, knowing I was so inexperienced when it came to things like sex and foreplay. Brody was probably used to being with women who knew what to do, how to touch him to make him feel good. I had no idea what to do, and even if I did, I was so nervous I probably wouldn’t remember any of it right now.
“Sit down, sweetheart.”
His voice was barely a whisper. I sat down on the sofa, and Brody dropped to his knees. I watched his face as he took in my naked body. I wasn’t the least bit embarrassed, and that struck me as odd. With Jack, I was always so conscious of my nakedness, and found that I often wanted to keep something on. A shirt, my bra…some kind of a barrier.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful, Sutton.”
His words made my heart slam against my rib cage. He leaned in and cupped one of my breasts with his hand and feasted on my nipple. I gasped in pleasure and found myself arching into him. Needing more. God, I needed more.
“Brody,” I whimpered while his other hand moved down my body and between my legs. I spread them wider, giving him access. When his finger slipped inside of me, he moaned and drew back to look at me.
