The Better Man

by Len Webster

  Wrapping his arm around her, he turned them, pressing her back to the sheets. Her chest heaved as Will set his hands next to her head. Savannah widened her legs, letting him sink even deeper.

  Nothing ever felt as perfect as being with Savannah Peters.

  Nothing ever will be, he thought as he leaned over and pressed his face into her neck, kissing her skin as he thrust into her.

  Deeper.

  Harder.

  Causing her to gasp.

  “God, you’re so deep,” she mewled.

  Will lifted his face from her neck and kissed her lips. “Help me. Touch yourself, Savannah.”

  She reached between them while her eyes remained on him. He glanced down to find her rubbing her clit as he thrust inside her. The sight of seeing them so connected was the final pin to his detonation as he looked up and stared into the eyes of the woman he loved.

  “Savannah,” he groaned, stilling as he came inside her.

  His orgasm set off hers as she grasped his biceps, moaning his name as she came. As she shook, Will fell on top of her, his chest squashing her breasts. Savannah ran her fingers through his hair as she panted.

  “Will …”

  He hummed.

  “You came inside me.”

  Will tensed, realizing he had been inside her without a condom. He knew the moment he pulled out, his semen would drip from her. “I’m sorry, Savannah.”

  She shook her head as she brushed his cheeks. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it was irresponsible. I should have asked if I could be inside you without protection. I should have—”

  “Will,” she said with a small smile to her lips. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t have let you if I didn’t trust you. I’m clean, but …”

  He tensed. “But?”

  Savannah’s gentle stroke of his cheek stopped as guilt swept her blue eyes. “I’m not on the pill.”

  “Oh,” he breathed.

  “It’s okay. I just finished my period. But I’ll get the morning-after pill tomorrow to be safe.”

  He nodded. Though he loved the idea of a baby in the future, he didn’t know if Savannah wanted one this soon. That and their relationship was still so new.

  Her laughter brought him back from his thoughts. “The relief on your face is priceless.”

  Will pulled out and rolled off her. Then he laid next to her and pulled her to rest her face on his chest. Wrapping his arm around her, he had never felt more content in his life. “Sorry. I mean, you pregnant wouldn’t be so bad, but …”

  “It’s too soon for kids,” she agreed.

  “Yeah.” When he glanced down, her blue eyes twinkled with their future bright in them. “But someday.”

  Her smile stretched wider. “Someday.” Then she lifted herself up. “I’m gonna clean myself up.”

  Will watched Savannah slip out of bed and walk to the bathroom. “Savannah,” he said once she reached the door.

  She turned and brushed her beautiful blond hair behind her ear. “Yeah?”

  “I …” He paused, realizing that although they were back together, telling her right after sex was not the right time. “I’m happy you’re here with me.”

  Her effortless and graceful smile caused a tremor in his heart. His declaration wanted to leave his lips for her to hear.

  But he had to wait. Savannah Peters deserved to be told right. And that’s what Will would do.

  “I’m happy I’m here with you, too, Will. Let me clean up, and then we’ll talk.”

  And that was what they did.

  Between all their lovemaking, they talked.

  Thirty-three

  Savannah

  “So long distance?” Will offered as Savannah’s chest heaved.

  Morning sex with William Lawrence was the best idea she’d ever had. He woke her up with kisses in the morning after their long shower together last night. Savannah had pushed him on his back and brushed her lips to his hard chest on her way to his erection. She had licked and sucked until he begged her to stop. And when she did, she climbed onto his lap and rode him until they both forgot their names.

  Savannah couldn’t believe how good sex with Will was. To think he had been in her life for so many years, and she was unaware of not only his lovemaking abilities but also how gentle he was. Savannah wasn’t going to lie; she didn’t have the best track records with guys. The guys she had dated before and after Walter were no better than him.

  Then came William Lawrence, and everything in her life found peace.

  Last night, she had expected to see a hint of envy when she told him she got promoted, but she didn’t. Not a single trace. In fact, Will was proud of her. Happy for her. He declared his support for her and her career, and she fell even more in love with him.

  Love.

  She was in love with Will. She’d known it for some time. But last night, she felt it in the very depths of her heart. She had wanted to say it, but it didn’t feel right. The last time she told a man she was in love with him, she was angry and jaded. She wanted her next time to be her last. She wanted it to be memorable. She saw a future with Will. Savannah wasn’t sure how they would make it happen, but she was determined to make it work.

  Last night, when he came inside her without a condom, she thought of him as a father, and her heart burst in her chest. It wouldn’t be a bad future if she had his child. But after that slipup, they had used condoms just to be sure. Savannah would also have to go to the drug store to get the morning-after pill. She was sure they would be fine since she had just finished her period.

  Propping herself up, she set her palm on his jaw as she looked down at him. He was so perfect. Some might think they didn’t make sense, but to Savannah, they did. She was wrong about quiet William Lawrence, and she was so happy he showed her his true self.

  “You want to have a long-distance relationship with me?”

  Will grinned. The hope sparkled in his light brown eyes. “Yes. God, it’s all I want.”

  She bit back a smile. “For me to be your girlfriend?”

  When he sat up, her hand dropped from his jaw as he framed her face with his palms. “Sweetheart, it’s all I think about.”

  “I live in Vermont, Will. That’s over three hundred miles.”

  “You say that like it’s in another country.” His thumb brushed her cheek. “It’s not, Savannah. It shares the same state line as New York.”

  Savannah rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t share the same state lines as New York City. That’s farther south, and you know it.”

  “It’s nothing. I can come to Montpelier on the weekends. I have a car.”

  Squinting, she asked, “You do?”

  He nodded as he dropped his hands from her face. “I don’t drive it since I live in the city and take the subway to work. It’s at my parents’ house in Scarsdale. I could drive to you, but I’ll probably fly since it means I’ll get four more hours with you.”

  Her chest filled with warmth, awed by him. “You would really do that?”

  “Unemployment has its perks.”

  “Hey!” she said, slapping his bare chest. “You’re going to get a job, Will. I know it.”

  The sound of his phone ringing filled his hotel room as he leaned over and kissed her. “I know, sweetheart. I love how much you believe in me. I’ll grab that, and then we’ll shower and have breakfast. I’ll call Evan and see if we can stop by and visit with him and Millie.”

  He loves how much I believe in him …

  Savannah felt a pinching in her chest. She hoped maybe he could love her. She shook her head. Maybe with time, he would.

  “It’s Lori,” Will said as he got out of bed, picked up and pulled his boxer briefs on, staring at his phone on the nightstand.

  “Take it,” Savannah encouraged. “Y’all talk while I shower. I’ll change when I get to my room.”

  “You sure?”

  She nodded as she slipped out of bed. “You said Lori’s struggling with taking the news that she’s su
spended hard. Talk to her.”

  As Savannah made her way to the bathroom, she heard him say, “Hey. Lori, you’re my little sister. I would do anything for you.”

  And that was the kind of man Savannah loved.

  A selfless man who loved hard.

  And she couldn’t wait to tell him that she had fallen madly in love with him.

  After wrapping the towel around her naked body, Savannah opened the bathroom door and stepped into the hotel room to find Will packing.

  “Hey,” she said, finding his clothes she had removed last night no longer on the floor.

  Will spun around, the apology bright on his face. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I have to take the next train out of Boston and go back to New York. Lori’s off the team and—”

  “It’s okay,” she interrupted.

  He sighed, exhaustedly. Savannah knew it must be important. “Are you sure?”

  Savannah closed the distance between them, setting her palm on his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her touch. “Of course it is, Will. She’s your sister.”

  Covering her hand with his, Will leaned down and kissed her on the lips. “Normally, she doesn’t need me. Since she’s been in college, we’ve drifted. I think I’ve drifted from both my sisters. I used to be their hero growing up.”

  “You’ll always be their hero because you’re their brother. Go shower. You have a train to catch.”

  “You’re not upset?”

  Savannah shook her head. “Not at all. You need to be in New York.”

  Will didn’t say a word as he stared at her with his soft beautiful brown eyes. Then he exhaled and whispered, “You’re my hero, Savannah Peters.”

  And that would have been the moment.

  The perfect moment to tell William Lawrence she loved him.

  But another call from his phone destroyed that very moment.

  Thirty-four

  Will

  “Lori, I’m going to the platform right now,” Will said as he went down the escalator at South Station for his 8:05 a.m. train back to New York City. He had been surprised that he managed to get a ticket with the train strike, but it had cost him a small fortune.

  But it didn’t matter. His sister needed him, and Will was leaving Savannah to be with his distraught sister. When Lori was six, she whispered that Will was her hero as he stitched up her teddy bear after their younger sister had found a pair of scissors. That had been many years ago, and to this day, Will was determined to always be there for Lori and Reese.

  Will saw his train on the busy platform and rushed toward it, trying hard not to bump into other commuters. When he stepped inside the train, he set his small suitcase by the baggage hold and went into the carriage to find his seat. The early morning trains were always packed, and today’s was no exception. He found his seat next to a mother and a son. He smiled at the little boy who had a fire truck in his lap and then smiled at his pregnant mother.

  “Thank you for coming back to New York, Will,” his sister said with a sniffle. “Mom and Dad are going to kill me. How do I even go back to LSU and show my face? Getting kicked off the cheer team is one thing, but having a sex tape that was filmed without my consent all over the internet …?”

  His sister sobbed.

  Right now, he felt helpless. He wanted to return to New York as quickly as possible to comfort her and then find the bastard who filmed his sister and ruined not only her, but also Will. Her devastation and cries hurt him.

  “Have you called the police?” Will asked.

  “Not yet. I want to do it when you’re home. Do you think they can help?”

  He hoped so. “He filmed you without permission, Lori—”

  Will heard what sounded like shouts and screams behind him, stopping him from finishing his sentence. He glanced over to find people rushing to get out of the carriages. When several people moved out of his way, he saw a bright light heading toward them through the small carriage windows.

  Faster.

  And faster.

  His heart sank as he turned to find the pregnant woman with wide eyes, reaching for her son.

  “Will?” he heard his sister say before he dropped his phone and grabbed the boy next to him.

  He didn’t have time as he heard a siren and then a voice through the carriage shouted, “Brace! Brace! Brace for collision!”

  Will stood, glanced over to find the light still speeding toward the train.

  He didn’t have a chance to escape.

  To think.

  All he could do was protect.

  Protect them.

  His heart felt one good beat in him as he remembered Savannah’s smile as he tucked the boy in front of him and then covered him and his mother with his body.

  Will clenched his eyes shut as he thought of her safe at the hotel, waiting for his call.

  But as he felt the pregnant woman clutch his hand and sob, he too sobbed.

  I’m sorry I never told you, sweetheart …

  Thirty-five

  Savannah

  “Urgh!” Monty said loudly as she plopped onto the seat opposite Savannah. With the morning rush, Savannah wasn’t sure if they were able to get a table at the hotel’s restaurant, but she was relieved when a table for two was available.

  Savannah laughed as her boss covered her eyes. It had been almost an hour since Savannah watched Will leave her hotel room. After he had showered and booked his last-minute ticket, he walked her to her hotel room three floors down. Then he kissed her goodbye and promised to call once he was in New York. During their walk to her room, he filled her in on what was happening to Lori. Someone had secretly filmed her having sex at LSU and shared it all over the internet. There had been a rumor of a sex tape, which caused her to be suspended from the cheer team, but when it leaked, Lori not only was kicked off the team but she was also shamed and labeled a slut through social media.

  She didn’t know how to help him or Lori. All she could do was offer them her support. Savannah couldn’t imagine what Lori was going through, but she knew that Will would be there for her. He did say the first step was to get the police and the university involved to get the video taken down. But for now, Savannah would sit and wait. She would offer him her support and an ear to listen.

  “You’re hungover,” she said, focusing on her boss to ease her worries.

  Monty groaned. “Please tell me something happened between you and … you said Will last night?”

  “Yes, Will.”

  “Tell me. Please. It’ll cure my hangover.” Savannah’s cheeks heated as she laughed at Monty peeking at her through her fingers. Then Monty pulled her hands from her face. “You so had sex!”

  “Shh! There are families around us. You make it sound as if I had a one-night stand.”

  “Did you?” Monty asked with her brow arched.

  Savannah shook her head with confidence. Though they agreed on wanting a long-distance relationship, they still had a lot to discuss, but she knew Will was committed to their future together. “No. We’re together.”

  A large grin consumed her boss’s face. “Where is he? I want to meet him.”

  “He’s catching the train back to New York. A family emergency.”

  “That’s too bad.” Monty picked up the glass and drank the cold water. Savannah watched as her boss’s eyebrows furrowed. “Savannah …”

  “Yeah, Monty?”

  Monty shakily set her glass on the table. “Your boyfriend …?”

  My boyfriend.

  They had yet to confirm it, but Savannah loved the sound of Will being her boyfriend.

  “What about Will?”

  Monty’s face paled. “What station did he take the train from?”

  “South Station,” she replied. “Why?”

  Her boss pointed behind Savannah, and she turned in her seat to find the large muted TV screen displaying a reporter in front of South Station with a caption that numbed her.

  “SOUTH STATION TRAIN COLLISION: DEATH TOLL EXPE
CTED TO RISE.”

  No.

  Tears formed, making it hard for her to read the subtitles on the screen.

  REPORTER: THE AUTHORITIES HAVE CONFIRMED DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES. AT THIS MOMENT, WE DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS.

  “Savannah,” Monty said, worry echoed in her voice.

  She shook her head. “No, I just spoke to him. He’s not on that train.” Her tears ran down her cheeks as her chest succumbed to the stabs of a thousand knives. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t comprehend what was displayed on the TV screen.

  Images of bloody survivors.

  Survivors she hoped was Will.

  Then her heart plummeted into a black hole, a dying star replaced it in her chest as she read the next report.

  REPORTER: AUTHORITIES SAY THE TRAIN WAS ABOUT TO DEPART THE STATION FOR NEW YORK WHEN ANOTHER RUNAWAY TRAIN COLLIDED WITH IT. THEY HAVE NOT RULED OUT THE INDUSTRIAL TRAIN STRIKE OR THE CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION AS MOTIVES FOR THIS TRAGEDY.

  New York.

  “Will’s on that train,” she finally admitted. “Monty, he’s on that train.”

  Her boss grasped her hand. “Let’s go.”

  Savannah couldn’t move; her eyes glued on the TV screen.

  “Savannah! Get up!” Monty yelled, startling Savannah from her shock. She glanced up to find Monty with tears in her eyes. “Get your ass out of that chair. We have to go to South Station. NOW!”

  A nod.

  That was all she could do.

  She let her boss coerce her body to make the movements required to get her to the station.

  She had to help him.

  She hoped that maybe his cab was late.

  That he hadn’t boarded the train.

  Please, Will.

  Please be okay.

  Thirty-six

  Savannah

  “It’s Will. Unfortunately, I can’t answer your call. Please leave a message, and I’ll return your call shortly.”