Saving Sarah (Blissful Bets #2)

by Alaska Angelini

  “I think I should go. I don’t want you to think this is why I opted for us to stay here.”

  For reasons Sarah couldn’t fathom, she gripped to him tightly. “Don’t leave. Stay the night with me. I don’t think this is the only reason you’re here. I just…” She trailed off, shocked by the way she was acting. This wasn’t like her. Where was the independent woman who didn’t need a man?

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. If you want to leave, I understand.” She stepped back. A feeling of being physically torn caused her heart to ache, just like with Devon. A part of her didn’t want him to leave, ever. It was too much, way too soon.

  “It’s not that I want to leave. I just think, for now, it’ll be better. If you want, we can do this tomorrow. That is, if you don’t have other plans.”

  She looked up. “No, no plans. Same time?”

  “Sounds great.” He kissed her lips softly and then walked to the door. She was half tempted to drag his ass back and lock them both in.

  The moment he was gone, Sarah collapsed on the couch. What in the hell was wrong with her? Maybe she was losing it. Sarah clicked on the TV and settled for the preview channel. It wasn’t long before she grew bored and turned it off. Both Devon and Gavin kept popping into her head, and she wasn’t sure what to do about it. Should she call her ex and get that part of her life over with so she could move on with the new part?

  As much as she didn’t want to, she knew what had to be done. It wasn’t a conversation that could happen over the phone. She’d have to find him and confront this problem face to face.

  Sarah stood and walked outside. The truck he drove was parked three spaces down from hers. She walked along the sidewalk until it turned, and she stood in front of his door. He opened it before she knocked.

  “I was hoping you’d come by.”

  “Let’s get this over with.” Sarah walked around him into his apartment. She stumbled to a stop, looking around. Pictures of them, together, covered almost every available space on the walls. The breath completely left her body at the memories so clearly in front of her.

  “Sarah, why don’t you have a seat? You know, I’ve had these pictures with me the whole time I’ve been gone. Even if I couldn’t be with you, having the memories around me helped.”

  Numbly, she sat down on his blue cushions. “Why did you leave? Go ahead and finish.” She tried to control her emotions but knew it wouldn’t be long before she broke. Just seeing their past surrounding her caused an ache like nothing she’d ever experienced. The need to flee kept pushing against her brain. A picture caught her attention, and she immediately stood, walking over to look at it.

  The girl looked so young. She and Devon were kissing on the beach. The pink and orange of the sky, as the sun set, looked faded with time. But she remembered that day as clearly as if it had just been taken. It was shortly after she found out she was pregnant. They were so much in love then. At least she thought they were.

  “That one is my favorite. We were so happy then. Do you remember?”

  “Every day, Devon.” She sighed. “Now go on.”

  “Sarah.” He turned her around to look at him. “What I’m about to say cannot leave this room. You have to promise me that when I tell you, you’re not going to freak out. It’s going to sound outrageous and unbelievable, but I promise you that what I’m saying is the truth.”

  “Just tell me, Devon. I don’t care what it is. I need to know.”

  “Do you remember the summer I went through all those problems? I got in a lot of trouble with my mother for the stupid, reckless things I did.”

  “Yes, of course, but what does that have to do with anything?”

  Devon pulled her to the couch so they could both sit down. “That summer, I found out something that changed my life. My father visited for the first time and told me something so unbelievable, he had to end up showing me for himself. I have a feeling that’s exactly what I’m going to have to do with you.”

  “Devon, just tell me,” Sarah said, losing patience.

  “I know everyone’s heard legends about werewolves.”

  Sarah’s palm connected with his cheek before she knew she’d raised it. “You are not fucking going there, Devon. I think I deserve a better excuse than that.”

  “Just hear me out, please. It’s the reason why I had to leave. When my father died, they expected me to take over. I haven’t found a replacement good enough for me to come back, until now.”

  Sarah’s palm connected with his cheek, again, but she didn’t stop at that. She went wild swinging her fists and attacking him. “What kind of piss poor excuse is that? You expect me to believe that crap, Devon! A freaking werewolf legacy you took over from your father? You son of bitch!”

  Sarah jumped up and headed for the door. A fucking werewolf. Ridiculous! Next he’d be telling her that little green men ate breakfast with him every Sunday, and fairies really did exist.

  Devon leaped from the couch so fast, he beat her to the door before she got two steps away from where’d she had been sitting.

  “I knew you wouldn’t believe me. Don’t make me show you. I don’t want to scare you, but I need you to believe and trust me.”

  “Either you grow fur or else I’m screaming bloody murder until you move your ass out of my way. Fucking werewolf. You must think I’m the most gullible person in the…”

  Horrified, she watched Devon’s features morph. The trembling of his body was quickly followed by his limbs contorting. Clothes fell to the floor and suddenly she was staring at a very large, black wolf. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. It was like she’d just seen a horrible car accident. It was impossible, and yet she couldn’t deny what was standing in front of her. Tears streamed down her face as her reality crashed to the ground. It couldn’t be real.

  Stumbling backward, she fell over her feet and landed hard on the floor. She continued to crawl backwards until her back pressed against the wall and there was nowhere else to go. No words would come for a long time.

  He hadn’t so much as moved since he’d changed. She was almost afraid to speak, but there were so many questions and she didn’t even know where to begin. Sucking in a deep breath, she forced the words out “You really are a wolf, aren’t you? I thought…”

  He turned human just as fast. The powerful, nude body that stood before her was not the same one she’d seen when he left. “You had to know. I didn’t have a choice. Sarah, I couldn’t take you with me. It’s dangerous there, and I couldn’t bear something happening to you too. If I kept contact with you, a rival could have found out. But you had to know I planned on coming back to you. I told you the day I left that I would be back.”

  Oh, hell no. She felt the anger come back until she was sure she’d choke. “I never thought it would be almost sixteen years later, Devon. I thought you were just going to the fucking store or something! You said, “I’ll be back,” and kissed me goodbye. I was so drugged up on pain meds, I didn’t even barely remember you telling me.

  “For the first two years, I hardly left your mother’s house. You never called, never even wrote. What in the hell was I supposed to think?”

  “I’m sorry, Sarah. I am. Please, you have to forgive me. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

  “You left me at the most crucial time in my life. I needed you, and you disappeared. You can’t make that time up.”

  “I was just as heartbroken as you, Sarah. Never think that I didn’t mourn the loss of our child. I still do, every day! You don’t think I wonder what he or she would have looked like? I can’t even come close to children without feeling the pain of our loss. You weren’t the only one alone. If I would have stayed here, they would have found me and forced me to leave. That would have put you and my mother at risk. We’d just lost the baby. I couldn’t lose anyone else!”

  Sarah pushed herself off the floor to stand. “You could have left a note explaining things instead of leaving me to worry about whether or not you
were even alive.”

  “Would you have believed a note?”

  She watched him walk over to her until only inches separated them. “No, probably not, but at least it would be something. All your mother and I knew was that you had left.”

  Fingertips traced down her jaw line, and all remnants of the devastating thoughts vanished. Something strange stirred in her insides until she rested her palms against his hard, wide chest so she wouldn’t mold her body against his. Deep down, she hated not being able to control herself.

  “Sarah, don’t fight the way you feel.” His hands ran up her back, pulling her closer. “I love you. Please tell me a part of you is still open to loving me too.”

  She quickly pulled away. Isn’t this what she spent years trying to avoid? Opening herself up to Gavin was one thing. He’d never hurt her, she could feel it. Devon on the other hand had…

  “I can’t do this right now. It’s too much. I’ll keep your secret, but I have to go.”

  Sarah quickly ran out of the apartment and back toward her own before he could stop her. She was surprised to see Gavin standing at her door with flowers. Once again, he’d come back. She couldn’t help but love his perfect timing. The last thing she wanted to think about was what she just learned. Gavin could help her with that.

  Chapter 7

  “I couldn’t leave. I’m sorry. I thought I’d take you up on your offer to stay over.”

  Sarah nodded, and turned back to see Devon standing at his door. All he was wearing was a pair of shorts. The build of his body combined with the expression on his face caused her to turn away before she was tempted to stare longer. She quickly pulled the irresistible blond inside her apartment. “I’m glad.” She inhaled the roses deeply and tried to smile. “Thank you, they’re beautiful.”

  “Are you all right? You’ve been crying. Did you learn what happened with Devon?” Taking the flowers from him, she made her way to the table, placing them in the vase.

  She nodded at him as she headed over to fill it with water. When she reached the table, she finally looked up.

  “Yes, he told me.”

  “And you’re sure you’re okay?”

  “I will be, I think.” Walking over to the couch, she waited for Gavin to sit down, but he didn’t.

  “And he told you what he is?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him, not sure if he meant what she thought he did, and she wasn’t about to risk Devon’s secret. She might be angry with her ex at the moment, but she’d never betray him no matter what happened in their past.

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  Gavin smiled. “You’re getting defensive. I can feel it. I can tell he told you. You’re taking the news of what we are rather well. But I knew you would.”

  “You’re a…a…” Sarah couldn’t get the word out of her mouth. So, that’s what they were talking in code about earlier.

  “Werewolf, yes. Your…ex is afraid I’ll mark you as my mate, but I wasn’t about to do that until you knew and consented. To be marked by a werewolf has its pleasures and pains. For one, we’d never really be able to be apart. It would cause us physical pain much like now, but worse. As for the pleasures, well,” he laughed, “someday maybe we’ll find out that part.”

  “And…” she recalled the conversation earlier, “Ayden, he’s one too?”

  “Yes, he’s alpha for this area. Every major city has one. Houston, Austin, Dallas… Waco.”

  Trying to process all the information, she placed her head in her palms. How was it that no one knew werewolves existed? By the sound of it, they weren’t anywhere near extinct.

  “Wait.” Sarah brought up her head to look at him. “Oh god, Stephen and Brandon are friends with Ayden. And what about Trevor? I’m assuming he’s one, too.”

  “Trevor is. As for Stephen, the name rings a bell, but it’s a pretty common name. If you’re talking about the Brandon I think you’re talking about, then no, he’s not a wolf.”

  “Well, the Brandon I know has dark hair, very pale, with the most gorgeous eyes. He’s one of my friend Evelyn’s boyfriends.”

  “Vampire, not werewolf. And I’ve heard about that couple. It was a first actually, vampire, werewolf, and human. Remarkable, if I say so myself.”

  “Vampire,” Sarah whispered. If she wasn’t shocked before, she sure the hell was now. “If you tell me there are such things as mermaids, I think I’ll go into a shock induced coma. Vampire.”

  Gavin laughed, pulling her into his lap on the couch. “Not that I’m aware of, but I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  “Don’t say that. Just hold me.”

  The warmth felt so inviting Sarah snuggled into his chest. He smelled of the ocean and spring, all wrapped into one. Something about him calmed her and promised she’d never hurt again. She wanted more than anything to believe that, but the fresh pain from tonight told her otherwise.

  “Gavin,” she looked up, “the way I feel with you, is it because of what you are? Because I promise, this is totally out of character for me. I don’t do relationships. At all.”

  He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Yes, but only true mates are supposed to feel like this. It was nearly impossible for me to leave earlier. I didn’t even make it back to the motel before I had to turn around and come back. And the bad thing is I haven’t even marked you yet.”

  “Is it possible for two people to be drawn to one individual?” She tried to think of a different way to word it. “Can two males mark a mate?”

  “I’m sure it’s possible, but rarely heard of. Why?”

  “Just wondering, that’s all.”

  Gavin’s lips found hers, and she kissed him hungrily. The couch pressed against her back the moment he lowered her down, covering her with his weight. She moaned at the hardness that pressed against her pussy.

  Desperate to feel more of him, Sarah pulled off his shirt, running her hands down the smooth expanse of his chest. Breathing heavily, Gavin broke their kiss just as it started heating back up.

  “This isn’t why I came back. You know that, right?”

  “Yes, but I’m glad you did. I didn’t want to be alone.”

  “Sarah, do you think maybe I shouldn’t have come back? I don’t want you to feel like I’m rushing an already rushed situation, but we have so much we need to discuss.”

  “Don’t leave, please. You’re right. We do need to talk, but not right now. Touch me, Gavin. You feel so good.”

  His lips crushed hers again as buttons flew from her flannel shirt. The cool air brushed against her skin, making her shiver. The immediate warmth of his hand on the outside of her lace bra penetrated heat to her core. Her nipples pushed against the lace, almost painfully.

  “Fuck me, Gavin.” She whispered the words into his ear, feeling his groan vibrate all the way to her clit.

  Sarah was lifted so abruptly she didn’t realize she was even off the couch until they entered her room. She reached down, unbuttoning his pants just as they came to the bed. In one swift motion, he pulled her pants off. The sound of the ripped jean material turned her on more than she thought possible. The amount of strength he was capable of amazed her.

  “God, your scent is so strong. I love the way you smell.”

  Gavin kicked off his pants, pressing his completely nude body against hers. The need to take off her undergarments and feel his skin completely on hers drove her crazy. Like a slap in the face, Devon’s face appeared behind her closed lids. Angrily, she blocked it and tried to focus on Gavin.

  He lifted, looking at her. “What was that? I felt… pushed. Did you want me to stop?”

  Startled at how clearly he could feel her emotions, she shook her head. “No, don’t stop. It was nothing.” She quickly used the opportunity to take off her bra. He smiled and slowly pulled down her panties.

  “Geez, this is tough.”

  “What is?” Sarah asked, reaching for him.

  “This pull we have. I know it’ll get better after you’re marked, but I�
��ve never experienced anything like this. It’s like I can’t get enough of the way you smell, feel, taste...” He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. When his eyes opened, Sarah noticed the color once again turned darker.

  “Is the mark painful?”

  “No, not that I’ve heard.”

  Sarah pulled him back on top of her body, basking in the feel of his skin when there was a knock at the door. They both paused and looked at each other.

  “Are you expecting anyone?” Gavin slid his pants on while Sarah threw on her robe. “No. All my friends are probably out. It’s Saturday night.”

  They both entered the living room as a knock sounded so loud Sarah almost screamed.

  Her door literally shook from the amount of force used.

  Gavin held up his hand to make sure she didn’t move and opened the door. She wanted to curse when she saw Devon, but the look on his face quickly made her heart rate escalated. It wasn’t anger, but panic.

  “What happened?” Sarah quickly approached the door.

  “It’s what’s happening that I don’t like.” The warning in his voice washed away the anxiety replacing it with rage.

  A ragged breath came out of her mouth as she wrapped her arms around her waist.

  “Devon, I really don’t think it’s any of your business what’s going on over here. Gavin is staying. If you don’t like it, then I don’t know what to tell you. Geez, I freaking thought something happened, an emergency.”

  “It very well might be. Tell me why you want him to stay. Is it because of what happened between us earlier? You can’t help the way you feel, Sarah. Don’t try to ignore it.”

  “Don’t tell me how I fucking feel, Devon. Gavin’s here because I want him here, and he’s not going anywhere. Ever.” There it was. That possessiveness was creeping back in. Screw it. It was the truth. She suddenly didn’t care if he ever left.