Sinful

by Lexi Buchanan

  Looking down, Savannah breaks my heart. Tears are flowing from her eyes and into her hair. I cup her face with both my hands and try to stem the flow. “Baby, please don’t cry over me. I’m okay.”

  “I can’t help it.” Her voice breaks.

  Moving into a sitting position, she straddles my thighs and wraps her arms around my neck.

  I do the only thing I can and hold her against me. She’s the only woman I’ve openly told about the shooting, and having her holding me in her arms feels amazing. It feels as though she’s trying to take away all my past pain, as though she wants to make it better for me.

  In a million years, I never expected to have what Savannah is offering, and I intend to hold on to that and never let her go. There’s only one Savannah and she’s mine.

  Savannah

  Wrapped around Jace, all I can think about is easing his pain. I don’t for one minute believe that it was easy for him to get to where he is today, and I’m guessing a large part of his rehabilitation had to do with the love and support of his family, especially his brother.

  I’d love five minutes with his ex to tell her exactly what I think about her, the bitch. How can someone treat another human being like that, especially someone she’s spent personal time with?

  While I’m holding him tightly against me, it also gives me time to get my emotions in check. He’ll know that lots of tears have fallen because they’ve soaked into his shirt, but now that they’re drying up, I feel brave enough to face him again.

  Pulling slightly back, I grab a Kleenex from my purse. Wiping my face, I move in and kiss his waiting lips. It’s a gentle kiss to let him know I’m here with him. “Thank you,” I whisper against his lips, “for telling me.” I kiss him again, and sigh heavily when he pulls me back against his chest.

  “There’s something about you that makes me want to talk.” He offers an embarrassed laugh. “I’ve never been so open with anyone before…There’s still a lot of shit that goes into my recovery and even now, I sometimes have to fight to stay in the life I have and not go back to the time when my life went to hell.”

  “Oh, Jace,” I cup his face, “your life isn’t hell, at least, not anymore. You’re never going to go back to how you were before because you’re a lot stronger, emotionally now…and I’m not going to let you. I know your brother will be there to support you as well. Don’t ever think that you’re alone.”

  I smile through even more tears, and after a quick kiss, I tell him, “You know, I think we met when I was in pigtails.”

  “What—” he pauses, and then roars with laughter, which disturbs Faith.

  Jace groans as we both turn our heads to see Faith starting to wake up. Both her mama and daddy appear to be asleep, so moving from Jace, I reach for Faith. Ryder’s arms tighten on his child briefly, but as his eyes pop open, he relaxes his grip when he realizes it’s me and that Faith is awake. He mouths, “Thank you,” to me without waking his wife.

  Cuddling Faith to me, I settle down between Jace’s spread thighs, and rest my back against his chest.

  Jace wraps his arms around us, and rests his chin on my shoulder while he gazes at his niece.

  I have a feeling this little baby in my arms is going to be a spoiled little girl if her daddy and uncle have anything to do with it. Dahlia is going to be the reasonable one where Faith is concerned. But then again, that’s what uncles are for, spoiling their nieces and nephews.

  “Are you two enjoying our daughter?” Ryder mumbles the question.

  Looking over, both parents are sitting up and watching our interaction with Faith. Dahlia has a look on her face, which tells me she’s enjoying watching us like this, and perhaps she’s doing the same as what I’m trying not to do—imagining Jace and myself with our own baby.

  I adore children, and wouldn’t mind having my own one day, and that’s as far as I’m going with that dream. I’ve only really started getting to know Jace and need to keep telling myself that, regardless of seeing him for an hour or two every week for the last year or so.

  “Yeah, they are,” Dahlia, responds after we stay silent.

  “She’s beautiful and such a good baby.” I offer my pinkie finger to Faith. The little sprite wraps her fist around my finger and tries to drag it to her open mouth. I smile down at her before looking up at Dahlia. “I think she’s after something from her mama.”

  Passing her back to Dahlia, I snuggle into Jace, and sigh with pleasure when both his arms wrap around my waist as he holds me tightly against him.

  Dahlia throws a muslin cover over her shoulder with Faith beneath as she fiddles around to feed her daughter. It’s a good idea and gives her privacy while out in public.

  Enjoying the peace and quiet of the afternoon with Jace and his family has certainly brightened my day up after this morning’s fright. At least I’ll be able to sleep tonight with the new locks in place, thanks to Jace and his friend. On the way to the park, Jace had called Roger and asked him if he’d be able to sort the locks today for me, and he had. Roger was friends with my uncle, so after a few calls, he’d been able to get a current set of keys and was probably changing the locks right now. It was a huge relief and something that I could stop worrying about.

  Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s over yet. Richard will be back because he hates losing, and not having the last word. I’m afraid to tell Jace that I expect to see him again because, even though he’s involved in a way, I don’t want him to confront Richard. That’s the last thing I want. I know Jace is more than capable of taking care of himself, but anything that’s caused because of me, wouldn’t sit well and would play on my mind for a good while afterwards.

  “You sleeping on me?” Jace whispers in my ear, which sends shards of pleasure down my spine.

  “I’m awake, and thinking.” I entwine my fingers with his. “Thank you…for asking your friend to come to my house today. Because of you, I’m going to feel safe going home.”

  His arms squeeze around me briefly before he loosens his grip again. “If you ever feel unsafe, you call me. I mean it, Savannah. Don’t ever feel as though you’re alone. Call me.”

  “I will.”

  He bites down on my earlobe. “I’m serious, Savannah, you don’t hesitate or I’m going to be camping at your place.”

  I like the sound of that.

  Hearing a chuckle, I glance over and see Ryder and Dahlia watching us.

  I’d forgotten we weren’t alone.

  “You, my brother,” Ryder shakes his head, “are going—ouch.” He rubs his stomach. “What was that for?”

  “I’m sure Jace is capable of getting the girl on his own without you adding to it.”

  “Now babe, I was just going to help him out.”

  Jace chuckles. “Considering the girl in question is already in my arms, I’d say I’m doing well on my own.”

  Ryder snickers, and I’m sure he was about to make another comment, but with a narrow-eyed glare from his wife, he shuts up.

  “When are you next visiting at the parents’ house?” Jace asks.

  “Sunday. Mom will be calling you to make sure you’re going to be there.”

  “Okay.” Jace kisses the top of my head as we watch his brother help Dahlia up from the ground now that Faith has been fed.

  Hearing them talk about Sunday at their parents’ house, I can’t help wonder whether I’ll ever get to experience that. Being around a close family for Sunday lunch. I’ve never had that, even when my parents were alive. They loved each other, but had different views on a lot of things. Most Sundays would start great and end in an argument for one reason or another.

  As I grew up, I’d use college as an excuse to not be there, which I’m sure they knew but seemed to accept, especially toward the end.

  Sighing heavily, I try not to shiver with the breeze turning cooler.

  But Jace notices, “You’re cold.” He rubs my arms, and certainly starts to warm me up in places that perhaps shouldn’t be warmed in public.
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  Turning my head, I kiss his chest before moving out of his arms. “I could do with getting back.” I don’t really want to leave, but I don’t see how I have any other choice. If he’s not careful, I’m going to have him taking me back to his place to stay. Because I would if he offered, which makes me wonder what the hell is wrong with me.

  Jace frowns, but doesn’t try to prevent me from standing. When I am, I turn back to him and offer my hand to pull him up.

  He hesitates, but then accepts.

  “I want to keep you with me.”

  Meeting his beautiful eyes, I realize he’s being truthful, but he’s not going to act on that tonight.

  I’m partly relieved and disappointed.

  When we get to the trucks and my car, we quickly say our goodbyes to Ryder and family before he walks me to mine.

  With my back to the car, Jace leans in and crowds me with his free hand caressing along my cheekbones, his thumb rubbing along the crease of my lips. “You really are beautiful, Savannah.” He tilts his head and starts moving closer. My heart thuds unsteadily, waiting for his touch. “So beautiful,” he whispers, just as his lips descend.

  It’s a slow kiss of seduction as his lips skim along mine causing my breath to catch at the back of my throat. My hands reach out to him and grip his sides, as my fingers slip into the belt loop of his shorts. With a gentle tug, he’s flush against me.

  There’s no way he’s going to avoid feeling the tight buds of my nipples that are pressing into his chest because I can certainly feel every hard inch of him against me.

  “You need to go,” he whispers in a caress along my neck, “before all my good intentions are thrown out of the window.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Savannah,” he hisses.

  Perhaps rubbing against him isn’t the best idea while he’s trying to do the right thing.

  He has my face cupped gently between his palms, as he rests his forehead against mine. “We are going to go to dinner, very soon. I’m going to treat you like a lady, and ply you with delicious food and lots of fruit juice,” he grins, “before I spend hours making love to you… Do you agree?”

  “Hmm, you’ve made me weak in the knees…but fruit juice?”

  He chuckles. “I want you stone cold sober. I don’t want any alcohol inside you…I intend to be the only thing inside of you.”

  I lift my arms and wrap them loosely around his neck, my finger playing with the short hair at the nape of his neck. “I like the idea of you being inside me.” I grin as I watch his eyes roll at the same time my hips do.

  “Tomorrow,” he starts, “tomorrow, we’ll do the softball in the morning before it becomes too warm, and then tomorrow night you are all mine.”

  He couldn’t have said it any better.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jace

  My heart is pounding as I knock on Savannah’s door. This is the first date I’ve been on in years that actually means something to me, or more like the woman means something to me—a lot of something. A first date of this magnitude would have scared the ever-living shit outta me in the past, now it fills me with hope…a feeling that I want to hold onto and never let go.

  There’s something about Savannah that makes me want to carry on being a better person, which makes me want to forget my past and move forward into a future that I’ve started to crave.

  And then the front door opens, and whatever else I was thinking about goes sailing straight out of my head.

  Standing before me is the most beautiful woman that I’ve ever seen. Her red hair has more curls to it than I’ve seen on her before and it’s so glossy. Her make up is minimal, which I’m glad about because she really doesn’t need it, but her sexy, red lips make me think of things I shouldn’t when we’re going out to dinner. Her luscious curves are covered with the soft fabric of her light green dress, which has a fitted bodice and a loose skirt that ends above her knee. My mouth waters at the sexy siren.

  “Jace?”

  “Hmm.” I meet her flushed gaze. “You look,” I clear my throat, “amazing.”

  One side of her mouth curves up in a smile. “Thank you…and so do you.” Her hand caresses over the front of my button-down. “You really do.” She steps into me, and I have to catch myself before I haul her the rest of the way into my arms.

  Reaching out, I caress up her arms to keep her from coming into contact with my body.

  Inhaling, I suggest, “We better get going…before we don’t go anywhere.”

  Her flush deepens at my words, causing a chuckle to burst forth. With a quick kiss to her cheek, I step back. “Ready?” I offer my arm.

  “I am…Let me just lock up.”

  The locks dealt with, Savannah slides her arm through mine as I accompany her to my truck.

  Earlier, Ryder had helped me to remove the canopy on the truck so that the cargo area was open for us to lie down and watch the stars…and maybe make out.

  On the back seat, I have a warm dinner from her favorite Italian restaurant along with wine, dessert, and sleeping bags.

  Although I’d love to spend the night under the stars with her, I’ve no intention of that happening so soon. One reason is because I don’t want to scare her off with how much I want her, and another, well, let’s forget about that for now. I am planning on getting her in my arms though…and, if she’s game, naked.

  “What has that smile on your lips?” Savannah interrupts, fingering my button-down. Something tells me she really likes the shirt.

  “I’m imagining you in my arms under the stars.” I quickly kiss her on the tip of her nose before helping her into the truck.

  Her legs swing into the truck and she crosses them right in front of my face. I pause and fight the longing I have to reach out and touch the silky skin.

  Not yet!

  Groaning, I shut the door, and slowly walk around to my side. She’s going to have all my good intentions flying out the window with how delicious she looks. She always looks amazing, but knowing that I’m allowed to touch, and to do the things that I’ve been dreaming about with her has given me a permanent erection.

  I’m a cop and should have better damn control of my body, but fuck, she looks and smells sexy as hell.

  Opening my door, I rearrange my dick and pull myself into the truck.

  “You okay?” she asks, her brows drawn together with worry.

  I seriously need to chill out.

  “I’m good… Nervous,” I admit.

  “If it helps…I’m nervous as well. Our first date—we should do a selfie or something,” she suggests, and that takes the nerves away.

  Fiddling with her cell, she passes it to me, “Your arms are longer.”

  Grinning, I wrap my arm around her and pull her close. I snap a couple of pictures and then for the last one, I kiss her cheek. They come out nice.

  “C’mon, before our dinner gets cold.”

  “Is that dinner I smell?”

  “It is.” I pull out of the drive and head toward my favorite spot to think. It’s my secret and it’s about to become Savannah’s. “I thought we’d have dinner under the stars. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I’m touched, and would love that…so what do I smell? Lasagna?”

  I smile. “Yes, along with cheese bread, and tiramisu for dessert.”

  “Those are all my favorites, Jace Stone. What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Your uncle is full of information.”

  After Savannah had told her uncle about breaking things off with Richard, he’d called me last night to make sure she was okay. I let it slide as to why he was asking me, but, eventually, I’d admitted to taking Savannah out, which he seemed happy with.

  “I should have known. When did you ask him?”

  “He called last night to check on you. He asked me what my intentions were now that you are free, so I mentioned tonight’s date,” I admit.

  She throws her head back and laughs. “I bet he was delighted with that bit of informa
tion.”

  I grin. “As soon as I told him, I could imagine him trying to keep the grin from his face.” She smiles fondly as I continue, “Once he seemed to have his emotions under control, he filled me in on all your likes and dislikes. It was hard to end the conversation with him.” Sighing, I add, “Ned is a great guy, and an amazing friend, so it means a lot to me that he’d trust me with you.”

  Her hand lands on my thigh, causing all kinds of reactions in my body—delight, arousal, longing.

  “He speaks highly of you, Jace. He always has, and it’s only since we met that I’ve taken more notice.”

  I lift her hand to my lips and kiss her palm.

  Savannah

  Knowing Uncle Ned has been trying to get Jace and me together causes my stomach to flip in delight. He was never too keen on Richard, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to admit that I’d made a mistake and had to deal with life by myself. I used Richard, and that doesn’t make me feel too good. There is nothing standing in the way of me being with Jace, but I’m just not sure I’m ready for my new relationship to become public knowledge.

  If they didn’t work out of the same station some of the time, then it wouldn’t really matter, but when there’s a risk of Richard and Jace running into each other, I’m not sure how wise it will be.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  I glance at Jace, and he continues, “You had a pensive look on your face…serious thoughts.”

  “Hmm, I guess.”

  “You going to share,” he persists.

  The smile that he has plastered on his face slips slightly at my hesitancy. “I was kind of getting maudlin with my thoughts about Richard. I can’t help but wonder how he’ll react when he finds out that I finally worked up the courage to end whatever we had to be with you… You work out of the same station as well. I don’t think it would bother me as much otherwise.”

  Silence follows my statement and I’m hoping it’s because he’s concentrating on the road. He has left it now and is following the edge of a field before he parks the truck between some trees.