by Ryan Michele
Landon stood in front of my bed. I felt as if he was my shield. I could still see the officers, but they stayed near the door. I nodded.
“Can you tell us what happened?” The woman pulled out a notepad and paper. Was this woman actually going to believe me? I began talking ,explaining my reasons for coming back home and everything in detail about what Rob did.
Feeling the fear ripple off Sadie was tapping into my anger. I wanted to kill that bastard. I wanted to beat him as badly as he did Sadie and then kill him.
“Did he rape you?” This question whipped me out of my internal tirade. I stared down at Sadie. I didn’t want to know this answer.
“Not this time,” she said quietly as if she didn’t want me to hear.
“Not this time. How many times have there been?” I asked, stunned.
Sadie turned and looked at me, her eyes welling up. “Too many to count.” Grief … terrible grief washed through me. Grief for Sadie and what she had been going through for years. Grief … “Oh. Baby.” I squeezed her hand.
I had a burning question that I needed answered. “Is that why you ran from me?” Sadie closed her eyes. I wiped the tear falling from her face with my thumb.
She nodded. “You called me honey,” she whispered.
“Huh?” I asked, surprised.
“He always called me honey,” she said. Then it dawned on me. I did call her honey. I didn’t think anything of it. It was just an endearment, but she saw me as him. Fuck.
“I’m sorry,” I said, looking in her eyes.
“I know,” she said quietly and turned back to the officers.
I sat there and listened to her account of everything that happened. Every blow to her head, back, stomach … everything. I wanted more than anything to take all that pain away from her. I would gladly take it all on me.
I tried my damnedest to keep my temper in check, but every blow she recalled made it more difficult for me to control.
I needed to hit him.
“Ms. McKenny, we want to thank you for your time. We have tried to bring Officer Sage in for questioning, but we haven’t been able to locate him. Do you have any idea where he could have gone?”
Sadie’s grip on my hand became almost painful. I knew she was scared. I drew lazy circles around her hand trying to calm her, not that anything at this point would work. She had a right to be scared this fucker was out there.
“No,” Sadie finally said.
“We’ll be in touch,” the officers said, turned, and walked out the door.
I turned around and sat next to her by the bed. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?” What the hell did she have to be sorry for?
“For not telling you. I never told anyone. Ever. I should have told you.” Sadie closed her eyes as the sadness hit her again. I would give anything to keep her from crying.
“I wish you would have. It explains a lot, but I do understand why you didn’t.” I really did. I needed her to know that.
She looked at me, shocked. “You understand?”
“Sadie, you thought you were protecting your family.”
She closed her eyes again. “Stupid, huh?”
“Sadie, look at me. You are nowhere near stupid. Should you have done things differently, yes. But that’s all over now. You have me.”
She closed her eyes again and sobbed. I climbed on the bed and pulled her into me, holding her as she fell asleep in my arms.
She’d been awake for five days. We’d been stuck in this hospital room for that time, but today was the day Sadie got to go home.
Her mom and I have been arguing over where her home is. I wanted her in Georgia. She wanted her here. I’d been trying to keep these discussions away from Sadie, but she overheard the last one.
I lost.
Well, I didn’t want to look at it as really losing. She wanted to spend time with her mom, and I couldn’t blame her after the hell she went through. We came to a compromise. I’d stay here for a week with her, and then she’d come back down to Georgia with me. Hopefully forever.
I knew I was being selfish, but I couldn’t stay away from her. Over these last two weeks, I came to one huge conclusion … I loved her. She was under my skin, coursing through my veins. I wanted to be with her, protect, and love her. I need her. I’d not relayed that information to her yet, but one day, soon, I would.
One Week Later…
This past week had been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for us. Sadie had gotten stronger and was slowly getting back to herself. I didn’t see any bruises Rob left on her body anymore, but she did have a very tiny scar on her eyebrow.
She complained about it, but I thought it was beautiful. Luckily, her mom didn’t say a word about us sleeping in the same bed together, because I didn’t think I would have been able to handle being away from her. I loved holding her at night and reassuring her that I was there.
I wanted her to know she was safe. I now believed she trusted me fully. She told me the entire story of Rob. If I didn’t hate him before, I detested him now. He was the ultimate scum of the earth. If I ever found him …
That may be easier said than done. He had yet to surface anywhere. The cops said they put out a warrant for his arrest, but hadn’t been able to locate him.
Apparently his dad is the State’s Attorney for Michigan. The press caught wind of this and now Daddy’s been pissed because his name is getting dragged through the mud. He actually offered a reward for his son to be found.
Great for us … sucked for his son. But nothing. Not a word or trace from him.
I never actually got to meet Macy because she was out of town for work. I did, however, overhear the conversation that Sadie had with her on the phone that made my anger spark. Apparently, she heard that Seth was hurt through some mutual friends of theirs, and she assumed it was true. I heard Sadie tell her over and over again that it was okay; she was fine. I didn’t think it was fine at all. If Macy would’ve gotten her facts straight before talking to Sadie, it could have saved us all.
What I didn’t expect from Sarah was her sharpness and take no prisoners attitude. She was one tough mom. I saw where Sadie got it from. They were both tough as nails. I really liked Sarah.
Her boyfriend Jackson was okay—not much to say there. I didn’t think he’d be around much longer.
Sarah kept making excuses for him to leave the house so the three of us could be alone. I didn’t know what the deal was there, and well, it was none of my business.
Pulling into my driveway, I looked over at Sadie. She was sound asleep. We rented a car from the airport, and it’d been a long drive. I knew she was wiped.
She was so beautiful. Her head lying back on the seat, hair flowing down her back, eyes shut, and so peaceful looking—I didn’t want to wake her. Deciding not to, I walked over to the passenger side and lifted her out of the car. She wiggled a little into me, but didn’t open her eyes.
I loved that she was so comfortable with me. I took her in the house and straight to my bedroom. I pulled back the covers and laid her on my bed. My bed. Her hair spilled over the pillows as she continued her sound sleep. Gorgeous.
I pulled her shoes off and the covers onto her. Climbing in next to her, I pulled her back tightly to my front, inhaling her strawberry vanilla scent and drifted off to sleep.
I jolted out of bed. I felt Sadie thrashing around. Her arms and legs were moving fast. She was having another nightmare of him holding her down.
“Sadie.” I tried to gently touch her arm. “Sadie, its Landon. Wake up. You’re dreaming.” As if my words were her lifeline, her eyes opened up.
“Sorry,” she murmured sleepily.
“You’re fine.” I wrapped her in my arms and held her. I felt her body relax into me. I knew this dream was now over. I pulled Sadie under me, half on top of her and half to the side so she could still move. She told me this comforted her.
Sadie looked up at me. “I thought you were taking me home.”
&
nbsp; “You are home, baby,” I said with a smile. I didn’t ask her. I just did. I wanted her here with me. I didn’t want her at Lauryn’s anymore.
“This is your home. Not mine,” she said, yawning.
“I want you here with me.”
Her eyes grew big. “You want me to live with you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” she asked, disbelieving.
Here goes. I sucked in a deep breath and prepared myself for what I needed to say to her. We’d only been together a few months, and a lot had happened, but I couldn’t live without her. I gazed in her warm eyes.
“Because I love you.”
Her gasp was probably heard from the neighbor’s down the way. I smiled at her.
“You what?” she whispered.
“Sadie, I’m in love with you. These last few months have been the best and the worst of my entire life.” I felt her body shudder. I continued, “I fell in love with you. I can’t live without you. I thought I knew what love was before, but I was wrong. You’re what love is.”
Sadie’s eyes spilled over with tears, and I wiped them away with my thumb. “You are so beautiful,” I whispered.
She smiled at me, trying to control her tears. “I love you, too,” she whispered.
I turned and stared at her. If I could do a fist pump at this moment, I would so do it, but I just smiled at her.
“Good, I don’t want you going anywhere.” I smiled at her and lowered my lips to hers. Sadie’s lips were hungry.
Since she’d gotten out of the hospital, I had tried my damnedest to be as careful as shit with her. I’d only lightly kissed her and hadn’t touched her any way sexually.
Part of me was scared as shit. After learning what that asshole did to her, I was afraid she wouldn’t want to ever have sex with me. Hell, I didn’t know how she would. So, I made sure to keep everything light, never pushing, and she didn’t either.
This kiss … was needy.
Sadie opened her mouth and slid her tongue onto my lips. I groaned. I’d missed kissing her this way. Our tongues continued to do a magical dance together and my dick was hard as a brick, but I wouldn’t go any further. I didn’t want to hurt her.
“Landon, please,” Sadie whispered, barely catching her breath.
“Please what, baby?” I said, gazing in her eyes.
“Make love to me?” Sadie’s eyes were glassy with lust and love.
“Are you sure?” I didn’t know if I could do this. How did I know what would hurt her?
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I need you to erase it.”
I stopped and stared at her. She wanted me to erase him? How the hell could I do that? Could I do that? I stared deep in her eyes, and I could see the tears she was fighting back.
“Sadie, I don’t know how to erase it.” But God did I want to take all her pain away.
“Yes, you do. Make love to me. Show me what it’s supposed to be like.” She smiled at me and licked her lips. This I could do, but to erase what he did? Not too sure about that.
Closing my eyes, I tried desperately to gather my thoughts. I wanted to do this for her. I needed to do this for her, but my nerves were getting the better of me.
“Are you sure?” I just had to make one hundred percent sure she was ready for this.
Instead of answering me, Sadie wrapped her hand around the back of my neck and pulled me down to her. Her lips were scorching when they touched mine, and I poured every bit of love I had into that kiss.
Our mouths and lips were dancing again; it was beautiful. She was beautiful. I slowly took my hand and went under the hem of her shirt. Her skin was just as I remembered it, warm and so very soft.
My hands lightly traced her ribs as they glided up her body. Her breath was shallow, and her wiggling under my body told me I was doing something right.
I reached the cup of her breast and pulled my lips away from her. “Sure?”
“Yes, please.” She panted for breath.
I then went for it—no holds barred, went for it. My mouth began to devour her. I just wanted to climb inside her and consume her, and I wanted her to feel it, too. My hand slipped in the cup of her bra and pulled her beautiful breast out. Then the other. The way they were resting on the cup held it in a perfect spot to begin.
My hand wrapped around her breast, and my fingers began to play with her nipple—twisting, pulling, and gently pinching.
I moved my mouth from hers and began kissing down her neck, down her collarbone, and down her chest. My mouth was on fire from what Sadie was giving me.
Her hands never left my hair, and the beautiful sounds coming out of her mouth were bringing me to my knees. I loved them. I loved her. I latched my mouth onto her perfect nipple and began to suck, nip, and bite. Sadie was withering under me, and I loved every second of it.
I needed to make this good for her—special. I needed to erase him, and I was damn well gonna give it my best.
I wanted to think of only me from this moment on. Never him again.
My mouth worked over the other nipple, and it was taking everything I had not to blow my load in my pants. Not only was I turning her on, I was so ready. But not yet.
She was so hot—unbelievable. I pulled off her shirt and unclasped her bra. She took my breath away. Damn. I was one lucky man.
“Take your shirt off,” Sadie said breathlessly.
I whipped my shirt off and heard Sadie suck in deeply. Her eyes were wide and on me … like really on me.
“Like what you see?” I smirked.
“God, yes. You are one handsome man.” She smiled.
Before I could think, Sadie flipped us over so she was straddling my hips. God, I loved this position. I loved seeing her on top of me. Her hands began to glide over my chest and down to my abs. “I love this.” Her eyes were on fire.
I looked down. “What?”
“How built you are. It’s sexy.”
My growl was not quiet. Damn, she was making me lose every bit of control I thought I had. Sadie lowered her head and began her assault. She kissed every part of my chest and abs, paying special attention to my nipples.
Sadie then lowered herself and began to unbutton my jeans. “No. If you do that, I will blow before this party gets started.” She smirked at me, but kept going.
I grabbed her hand carefully and flipped her so I was now on top. I didn’t dare hold her arms. I was not reliving what happened before. I continued to lay kisses everywhere.
I needed to get to her feet. I didn’t know what it was about her sweet feet, but I needed them.
I moved to the foot of the bed and watched as Sadie propped up on her elbows. “Where are you going?” she asked.
“Nowhere, baby. Just relax.”
I began by rubbing both of her feet at the same time—one in each hand. Then my sole focus became kissing her from her toes all the way up. Her body shot up off the bed, and she kept moaning my name. Damn, I loved that.
Her fingers were gripping the sheets and twisting them tightly. I knew she wouldn’t last long either. After moving up her legs I reached for her shorts and slowly removed them. I wanted the black satin panties off, too, but I was hesitant. I didn’t want to freak her out at all. “Can I?” I asked her, hoping to God she would say yes.
“Yes. Please Landon. Now.” Her voice was demanding.
I slowly lowered her panties and threw them onto the floor with the rest of her clothes. “I need to taste you, Sadie. Can I?” I sounded like a begging puppy, but I would be damned if I did anything that she didn’t want me to.
“God. Yes,” she moaned.
I smiled. I dipped my head between her spread legs and instantly became drunk on her smell. My mouth was watering to have a taste. I reached under her legs to pull her closer to me, lowered my head, and began to lick.
She tasted sweet, and I couldn’t get enough. Sadie began moving when my tongue reached in deep, and she began fucking my face. I lov
ed every fucking second of it. Her moans and mewls were the biggest fucking turn on. I was so ready for her.
“Landon,” Sadie gasped.
“Yeah baby,” I said between licks and nips of her clit.
“I need you.” Her voice was breathy and becoming desperate—exactly where I wanted her to be.
‘You have me.” I looked up and smiled at her.
“Don’t stop,” she now pleaded.
“I don’t intend to, baby. I want to feel you come on my tongue.”
“Oh God.”
I kept licking between her mouthwatering pink folds and sucking her nub in earnest. I needed to get her off and really feel her come undone. Sadie began yelling my name, and I knew she was close. I slipped two fingers inside her warm flesh and hooked my fingers, gliding them in and out with my tongue on her clit.
That did it.
Sadie detonated like fireworks on the Fourth of July. She screamed, convulsed, and pulsated on my tongue. It was the hottest fucking thing I had ever seen.
As Sadie came down from her explosion, I kissed her legs, bellybutton, breasts, collarbone, and neck. I nuzzled her neck, nipping and sucking, giving my tongue a taste of her jaw. I pulled back and caught her half-mast eyes staring back at me. Fucking beautiful.
Sadie’s hand reached up and caressed the side of my face. I leaned into her touch. I wished in that moment that I could read her mind. But I could see the lust in her eyes—for me. Hot damn, I was one lucky son of a bitch.
“That was sexy as shit, Sadie. I need that again,” I said, smiling down at her.
“Please. I need it too.”
I lowered my head and began to crush her lips with mine. She moaned in my mouth. I pulled away slowly, having my body caress hers on the way up, stood by the bed, and lowered my pants. Since I went commando, my dick sprung free.
Not taking my eyes off Sadie for a minute, I saw her eyes grow wide, and she licked her bottom lip. So damn sexy.
Oh. My. God.
Landon was the sexiest man I’d ever laid my hands on. His chest and abs were so unbelievably well-defined that just the sight of them made my pussy clench.
I wanted to lick every inch of him. Now seeing his fully naked body was making me drunk—seriously drunk to the point where I couldn’t see straight. The V that had been hiding under those pants was so fucking hot. I wanted to trace it.
