Wrapped in Hope: A Forbidden Romance (The Hope Series Book 1)

  Wrapped in Hope

  K.B. Andrews

  Copyright © 2017 by K.B. Andrews

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Designer: Tracy Steeg

  Editing: Wild Dreams Publishing

  Formatting: K.B. Andrews

  For everyone that worries about what others think. They judge you regardless, so do what you want and rock it!

  Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.

  Steve Jobs

  Contents

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Excerpt from F*cking Shattered

  Acknowledgments

  Also by K.B. Andrews

  Check out the playlist for Wrapped in Hope

  About the Author

  Foreword

  WARNING

  Wrapped in Hope is a forbidden love story - some may even say taboo. If you’re sensitive to this type of read, turn back now.

  This book is intended for mature adults.

  The subject matter contained in this book may be unsuitable for some readers: death, suicide, explicit sex, possible cheating, and dark themes are all found within. Some scenes may trigger emotional distress.

  If you’re brave, carry on!

  But don’t say I didn’t warn you!

  Chapter 1

  “Are you ready for this weekend?” Dean, my boyfriend of six years, asks as we’re walking out of school for the very last time.

  A warm breeze that indicates summer is fast approaching blows around us — it helps to cool my face that flushes when I think about this weekend. “You know I am,” I say, practically bouncing with excitement.

  He takes my hand in his and pulls me closer to him, landing a kiss directly to my lips that makes the butterflies in my stomach flutter. I tangle my fingers into his jet black hair, wanting to keep him against me, but he pulls away too quickly. He never has been one for a public display of affection.

  Dean and I met when we were six-years-old. His parents died in a car accident, and the only family he has is his aunt and uncle who had been trying to have children without any luck. They were more than happy to take him in as their own, and I was happy to have a friend across the street.

  We became best friends the day he moved in and we haven’t been without the other since.

  We’ve been together practically our whole lives, but we finally took the step into the dating world when we were in seventh grade. It started out innocently enough. We would go to school dances together, sit by each other at lunch, and hold hands. We didn’t even kiss until a year later, and even that wasn’t a big deal. It was a quick, only lips kind of kiss.

  Our relationship moved slow. We never let what anyone else thought, said, or did, affect our speed at getting to know one another. Even now, six years into dating, we haven’t gone any further than making out with a little heavy petting. But I have a feeling all of that is about to change this weekend: he’s taking me away after our graduation ceremony. He won’t tell me where we’re going, but I do know that we are staying two nights in a hotel somewhere. That means sleeping together in the same bed — something we’ve never done before.

  I know most kids our age have already done everything there is to do, but we never wanted to feel rushed. He’s very traditional in that sense — even when I thought that maybe he wasn’t taking the next step because he didn’t like me like that. Little did I know, he wanted to take his time courting me — his words, not mine.

  At first, I thought it was kind of weird, but as time passed, I realized that we had something bigger and deeper than our friends had. They may have had sex, but they also had boyfriends and girlfriends that only lasted a month tops. They didn’t have something that actually meant anything.

  What Dean and I have, it means something. We know everything there is to know about one another. We’ve spent the last six years of our lives getting to know one another on a deeper level and loving each other. Even though we haven’t had sex, I know what we have will last a lifetime.

  Dean leads me through the parking lot and opens the passenger side door. I slide into the seat of his beat up pick-up truck before he walks around to join me.

  He drives me home every day since we practically live at the same place, and since I don’t have a car. Our parents are very traditional as well. They told us that if we wanted our own cars, we had to buy it ourselves. Dean works at the local grocery store and he saved up a thousand dollars and bought this truck. I, however, don’t have a job. I wanted to spend my time concentrating on my school work. And four long years of that has paid off because I’m graduating at the top of my class. Luckily for me, Dean takes me wherever I need to go and we’re going to the same college.

  Neither of us say much on the short drive home. My mind is an endless road of possibilities regarding this weekend. So, instead of allowing myself to focus on the unknown that awaits me, I watch out my window as we drive through our little town. I force myself to look at the pink flowers blooming on the trees, the hot sun as it peeks through a gap in the clouds, and the lush, green grass. My window is down causing the wind to whip my dark hair around me. It fills my nose with the scent of my shampoo and the smell of the wet earth from the late afternoon shower.

  The drive home never takes long, but with questions regarding this weekend looming over us, we pull into the driveway much quicker than wanted. He cuts the engine, but neither of us move as we’re weighed down with the unknown.

  Slowly, he looks over at me. “Are you nervous?”

  I look at my hands that are balled up on my lap. “A little,” I answer.

  He removes his seatbelt and slides closer to me. He places his hand under my chin and tilts my head back until I have no choice but to look at him. “We don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. I promise. You know I won’t push you on this.”

  I feel a smile tugging at my lips. “I want to do it, I really do. It’s our first time. I think everyone is nervous when it comes to that.”

  His blue eyes light up, causing the specks of green to show through even more. “Is there anything I can do to calm your nerves about it?” His hand slides from under my chin to cup my cheek.

  I place my hand over his, wanting to keep it there forever. His touch always soothes away any negative feelings. “This. This is all I need.”

  Slowly, he moves in for a soft, slow kiss.

  His lips are hot an
d wet as they glide against my own. He tastes of mint with a hint of a woodsy flavor — a taste I’ve come to realize is all his own. Even with the softness of the kiss, it stirs my body into a frenzy.

  Lately, I’ve noticed that the more we touch, the more I want him — all of him.

  I move my hands into his jet black hair, threading my fingers between the silky strands as I pull myself closer. His lips pick up speed and intensity, and before I know it, I’m straddling him on the bench seat of his truck.

  My hips roll forward on their own. I don’t even know what they are doing, but it feels amazing grinding against him. His hands fall to my hips with a light squeeze as he eggs me on. I can feel him growing hard against me, and it only makes me want him more. Just knowing that I’m doing this to him, that he wants me as much as I want him, gives me this sense of pleasure and excitement that I can’t ignore.

  This is how this weekend should go: not forced, but completely natural. This is just us needing one another.

  Suddenly, someone is pounding on the driver’s side window and we pull apart quickly as we look over to see who is on the other side of the glass.

  “I’m going to get the hose after you two kids,” his uncle says with a smile before he turns and walks back into the house.

  We both let out a nervous laugh as we look at one another.

  “We almost didn’t make it to the weekend.” He rubs his smooth, angular jaw, nerves breaking through his usually cool exterior.

  I think about how we’ve been caught in such a compromising position and my face burns with embarrassment. “I should probably get home. I have a speech to work on.” I push my auburn hair behind my ears.

  Dean takes a deep, calming breath. “I have to get to work.” He reaches over and runs his thumb across my flushed cheek tenderly. “I’ll see you tomorrow before the ceremony?” His blue eyes are filled with questions, but also burning with excitement and nerves.

  I give him a shy smile as I nod in agreement. “Do I need to bring my bags or are we coming back here first?”

  “Bring them with you. We’re leaving as soon as it’s over.” He offers up a big smile of his bright, white teeth.

  His boyish grin makes my heart beat faster. “Okay. See you tomorrow.” I reach for the handle and step from the truck.

  “Good luck writing your speech,” he says just as the door slams shut.

  I wave at him through the glass as a silent thank you, and start across the street to my house.

  I rush out of the house, bag in tow, towards his truck. When I reach the bed of the truck, I toss my duffel in the back. He’s not outside yet, so I take a seat on the rusty, dented bumper. My parents weren’t exactly happy that I was riding with Dean to graduation rather than them, but they understand our need for independence.

  Within minutes, he comes out wearing his royal blue gown, carrying his cap under his arm. I stand and turn toward him. “You look handsome,” I say with a smile.

  His face turns red as he laughs. He reaches out and pulls me against his chest. “You’re beautiful.” His lips brush against mine quickly. “Did you finish your speech?”

  I nod. “I did. I just hope it doesn’t suck.”

  He backs away and leads me to the passenger side. “Want to read it to me on the way?”

  I offer a wide smile. “You know I do. You can be my test subject.” I jump up into my seat and start pulling my notecards from my purse as he walks around to get behind the wheel.

  As I’m standing on the stage in front of what feels like thousands of people, my nerves skyrocket. Sweat beads up on my skin as my heart pounds so hard I’m sure everyone can hear it through the microphone in front of me.

  My eyes search the crowd until they find Dean sitting in the second row of chairs. He offers a kind smile and motions with his head for me to start up my speech. I take a deep breath and swallow the excess saliva pooling in my mouth before beginning.

  “Class of 2013, I’m here to say that we made it. Despite all the homework, the tests, the good times and the bad, we made it!” Everyone cheers.

  When the round of applause dies down, I continue on. “When I was a little girl, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. Most kids would say something like a doctor, a princess, a rockstar, or astronaut, but I never had a real answer. I would give those same responses, but never truly meant any of it. And that was because I didn’t know. Still to this day, I don’t know. But I do know one thing. I know that this is the time to live, to take chances: to do what we’ve all been told we can’t. When I look back at my life fifty years from now, I’m not going to remember every test I’ve passed or every little achievement I may have accomplished. I’m going to remember taking that chance. I’m going to remember life lessons that can only be learned, not taught. I’m going to remember the important things, the things that make me, me. So wherever we go to after this day, remember to take a chance, to live for the important things. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the class of 2013!” My voice echoes around me as the audience stands and cheers.

  My class stands and tosses their caps into the air, me included. I rush from the stage, down into Dean’s arms. He pulls me against his chest and kisses me while the rest of our classmates cheer and rage on around us. Confetti is falling over our heads, along with blue and white balloons. It’s like the whole world is moving quickly around us while we’re standing completely still, lost in one another.

  When he pulls away, his eyes meet mine, a fire burning behind them. “I love you, Hope.”

  I feel my heart flutter with excitement as it swells with love. “I love you too, Dean.”

  With his hands on either side of my face, he pulls me back in.

  After posing for at least four hundred pictures, the death hold our parents have on us seems to slip away. We’re allowed to walk to his truck with all four of them following behind.

  “Don’t forget to call and let us know you made it safely,” my mom says as she opens the door of the truck for me.

  “I will, Mom.” I slide in and she closes it behind me, but her fingers are still curled around the door through the open window.

  “You two better behave tonight,” Dean’s aunt says loud enough that we can both hear her, even with Dean standing at the tailgate with my dad and his uncle.

  I turn to look at them, and I can see the seriousness written on every one of their faces. Automatically I know they are having some kind of sex talk. My face flushes and I turn around.

  Before today, this is something my parents never would have allowed: going on an overnight trip with my boyfriend. But now that we are officially done with high school, legal adults, and about to leave for college, I think they are practicing on releasing us slowly, giving us some trust and hoping we don’t let them down, just to ease their minds about starting our adult lives.

  It’s a big step for all of us, to say the least.

  Dean finally manages to take his seat behind the wheel and we both pull our seatbelts on with everyone grouped around each of our windows. My mom and his aunt are both telling us to behave, secretly we know what that means: don’t have sex. And my dad and his uncle are going over rules for us to remember: wear your seatbelt, call if we need anything, and then his uncle goes through a check list of what to do if we find ourselves stranded on the side of the road. That’s something I actually listen to. I have no idea how to change a tire.

  Dean gives me a look and I can read it automatically. It says: are you ready?

  I smile with my eyes wide while softly nodding my head so the adults don’t notice. He turns his attention to the windshield as he turns the key. The truck roaring to life drowns out the sounds of our guardians still chattering nervously at our windows.

  He shifts into drive and they slowly start backing away, however they are still talking a mile a minute. I don’t even know how they expect us to hear them with the truck as loud as it is, or with them trying to talk over each other.

  When they have taken a few s
teps back, Dean gives the truck gas and we begin moving forward, leaving our concerned parents behind us. This is the start of our first adult weekend — the start of our future.

  Chapter 2

  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

  He glances over at me with a big smile. “Do you really want to know?”

  “Yes!” I yell while bouncing up and down in my seat as excitement takes over.

  “I got us a cabin at Giant City. Just you and me all alone out in the wilderness.”

  I feel my eyes grow wide. “Really? That had to cost you a fortune.” It’s always been something I wanted to do. Our sophomore year, I told him I wanted to go there — just the two of us. I wanted to know what it would feel like to be the only two people left on the planet.

  I remove my seatbelt and lean over to kiss his cheek. “This is amazing. Thank you so much.”

  He blushes from my praise, but tries playing it off like it’s no big deal. “Put your seatbelt back on before our parents call freaking out,” he jokes, like they will somehow have a sixth sense about this sort of thing.

  I let out a chuckle as I pull my seatbelt back across me.

  Many hours later, we’re pulling up to our home for the weekend. The place is surrounded by big pine trees and rolling hills. He turns off the truck and I practically bounce out, staring up at the small cabin that is just for us.