Sinful

by Lexi Buchanan

  He wants me. He wants me so badly that I bet he’d be taking me here in the kitchen if we weren’t in my uncle’s house.

  “I need to calm down before heading back outside…talk to me.”

  “About what?” I straighten my clothes and reach for two bottles of water.

  Passing one to Jace, I unscrew the lid of mine and take a long, slow drink. Jace does the same and my mind hits the gutter again as I watch him; his head thrown back as he guzzles the water down.

  He suddenly looks at me from the corner of his eye and a grin starts to spread across his face.

  I’m so busted!

  Clearing my throat, I bring him up to date, “I had my interview the other day with the family court about getting guardianship of Tammy.”

  He stops drinking. “That’s amazing, and quick?”

  “My uncle has contacts and someone had asked for their hearing to be put back so my request was slipped in. I’m really nervous, regardless of everyone telling me it will all work out in my favor.”

  “Hey, I have no doubt that you will make a great mom for Tammy…I also meant everything I said before, that I’m here to help you if you want me to.”

  I smile. “That means a lot, Jace, and I’ll remember that.”

  “I promised to bake some cakes and take them to Golden Circle tomorrow morning… Do you want to come with me?” I ask, knowing the children are going to be thrilled to see Jace with me. Catcher has talked everyone’s ear off about softball. Thank God, there’s another lesson planned in a few days.

  After a few moments of silence, he replies, “I’d love to go with you…on one condition.” He meets my gaze. “You’ll come to have dinner with my family tomorrow night.”

  My heart beats frantically inside my chest at his invitation. “I’d love to.”

  “I’ll pick you up in the morning—what time?”

  I try to ignore the pang of regret that he won’t be staying with me, again, tonight, and answer.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jace

  The noise level in Golden Circle is going to be giving me a headache soon. The children were so excited to see Savannah and me that they haven’t stopped with their enthusiasm. They’re kids so I get it, but geez, they could burst eardrums.

  “Don’t you just love them?” Karen shouts into my ear, having joined me amidst the chaos.

  I chuckle. “It’s fun to be a kid, and they’re certainly having a good time.”

  “This is a small house we have here, which helps to give the children a feeling of home. For the most part, they are happy.” She shrugs. “We do what we can, and the live in staff help get them settled and into a routine, but it’s difficult, especially for the older ones who remember why they’re here or remember more about their upbringing.”

  “From what I’ve seen, they’re lucky to have Golden Circle, which brings me to the softball game I’ve been asked to arrange. It’s taking place two weeks from Sunday at Green Fields, two in the afternoon.” I smile. “Do you want to rally everyone around to come and cheer for us?”

  “Ah,” she leans against the wall beside me, “the one that Ned called about with the money coming into the home. I already have it in my planner so you can count on us all being there. The kids will love it.”

  “Should be a good game,” I comment, and hope that Savannah’s ex doesn’t plan on ruining it for everybody by being a dick.

  “I used to play softball as a girl,” she laughs. “A very young girl.”

  I grin. “I bet you gave the opposite team a run for their money.”

  “Oh, I did that…and then some. Played all through college on an all-girls team. Those were the days...” Her words fade as she becomes lost in thought.

  “Jace.” I feel a tug at the bottom of my T-shirt, and looking down, smile in delight when I see Catcher looking up at me.

  “Hey, buddy.” I tug his baseball cap down over his eyes, and receive a joyful laugh in return.

  “Will you come outside with me and play ball?”

  Karen smiles wryly beside me when I glance at her for approval. When she nods, I turn back to Catcher. “I’d love to. Let me just tell Savannah where I’m going.”

  Karen chuckles. “She has you tied in knots.”

  I shake my head as I walk away with Catcher’s small hand in mine. “Did you have some cake?” I know that he’s had at least two slices of cake, but I’m curious as to what the little devil will say.

  “I had ten slices.”

  “Is that right?” I smile down at him, and see the matching grin on his face.

  “Actually, I might have had two pieces,” he adds truthfully.

  “And what are you two grinning about?” Savannah asks when we find her in the kitchen.

  “We’re going outside for a few minutes.” I bend, and kiss Savannah on her cheek, whispering, “He’s asked me to play ball with him.” The fondness I have for this child and how happy I am that he’s asked me to go outside with him is difficult to hide. He touches my heart in a way that I haven’t experienced before.

  “Don’t worry, just go and enjoy yourself. He’s a great kid.” Savannah quickly squeezes my hand, and letting go, her fingers linger in a caress on my arm. “I’m going to see if there’s any cake left. I still haven’t had a slice today.”

  “Okay, but don’t you dare leave without me.” I smack her on the ass and watch as her eyes darken with desire. I smirk. “Save that thought for later.”

  Letting an impatient Catcher tug me outside, I smile at the thought of what I’m going to do to Savannah when I have her alone.

  Then again, when I find that I have to rearrange my growing erection, I let those thoughts go and find my body calming down. I settle my gaze on Catcher, and the way he tosses the ball up and catches it as it falls.

  This kid has an amazing talent, and I bet in years to come, I’m going to be watching him in the playoffs. Not once did he miss the ball when it sailed through the air toward his position on the field. That’s something a lot of kids his age of six-years-old can’t do, at least not every time. He’d impressed me with his skill just like he’s doing now with the tossing and catching.

  He stops suddenly, and asks, “Do you have a little boy?” so seriously. His eyes never leave mine as he awaits my answer.

  “No, I don’t,” I crouch down and smile at him, “and before you ask, I don’t have a little girl, either.”

  He grins. “Do you want one? A boy, I mean?” He fiddles with the ball now that he’s gotten his shy words out.

  I think that I have an idea where he’s going with this line of questioning, which means I need to tread very carefully. The last thing I want to do is hurt his feelings, but the fact is, I’m not sure what the hell I want anymore.

  I’d once given up on wanting a woman to love and having children, but now that I’m crazy for Savannah, all those ideas are coming back. The question is, would I be willing to break the habit of three years and start living with her—creating a family with her?

  I haven’t stayed with anyone since Ryder visited me, and after that, I’m not sure if I’m ever going to be able to.

  “Jace?” Catcher tugs at my cap, obviously realizing that I’m lost in thought.

  “Sorry, bud.” I reach out and pull him down beside me. “I’m not in the position to look after a young boy,” I start gently. “Every day is a struggle for me. Not as much as they used to be, but I’m not sure that I can take care of someone else.” And I have demons buried deeply that I’d hate any child to see…or adult, I add silently.

  “So, you don’t want me?”

  Well those words helped.

  “Catcher, you are an amazingly talented kid, and there is someone out there who’ll want to adopt you and give you a loving home. You’ve no idea how much I wish that was me.”

  He makes my heart ache, which I rub with the palm of my hand through my shirt. Until he asked me the question about wanting him, I hadn’t realized how good that sounded.
<
br />   “You want to do some catching?” I change the subject, and hope he lets me.

  He doesn’t even pause when he jumps to his feet. “Yes. I brought an extra glove for you.” He passes it and my heart breaks all the more.

  He’s an amazing little boy, and I wish things were different than they are. Not just for Catcher, but for Savannah as well.

  Savannah

  Today, I feel truly like a couple with Jace, the way we hung around Golden Circle together with the kids for most of the day and now we’ve just finished dinner with his family. I can’t remember having another day like this one and it’s a nice feeling.

  And little does he know that tonight I have a surprise planned, so if he walks away from me when I’m in the little bit of Victoria’s Secret lace, then I’ll have to question what he’s doing during the nights. Shaking those thoughts from my head right now, I tune back in to the conversation when I hear Jace mention Catcher.

  “He’s a great kid, and I felt so bad letting him down.”

  I must have missed most of this conversation. “How did you let him down?”

  Jace glances at me, and answers, “In his own roundabout way, he asked me if I wanted to have him living with me.”

  “Oh,” I cover my mouth with my hand and try to hold the tears at bay, but one or two trickle down my face.

  “Hey, babe.” Jace wipes my face with his thumbs, which gives me time to pull myself together.

  “I’m sorry.” I look around the table at Jace’s family, and explain about Charlie, “He’s an amazing little boy, and I so hope that a family will come forward to adopt him. He has so much love to give.” I glance at Jace, “Catcher has a bit of a soft spot for Jace.”

  Jace smiles. “The feeling is mutual.” He takes my hand, entwining our fingers together.

  At this gesture, I don’t miss the looks everyone exchanges between themselves. It says, ‘Jace finally has someone he cares about’. At least, that’s what I hope it says. Probably a, ‘so cute’ or ‘damn that’s sweet’ as well, depending on who you’re watching.

  “Savannah,” Jace’s mom, Ellen, starts, “Jace tells us you enjoy baking.”

  “He does, huh?” Everyone chuckles. “I do like to bake. I find it relaxing, and my uncle is always ready for more cake, and I’m discovering that Jace is as well.”

  “Oh, all my men love cake.” She smiles fondly. “I used to make a carrot cake with the cream cheese on the top and it would all be gone within minutes of me finishing icing it.”

  “I’ll have to make one of those. I tend to make red velvet or chocolate, which are always popular at the sheriff’s station.”

  “You bake a lot for them?” Dahlia asks, cuddling a sleepy Faith to her chest.

  “No, only when I want to soften my uncle up for something.” I grin.

  “Well, whenever you piss Jace off, please feel free to bring a cake around to my place, which is probably where he’ll be nursing his wounds.”

  “Ryder,” Dahlia smacks Ryder on the arm, “you’ll be joining him down at the bar if you say anything else.”

  “Now, now. I’ll bake a couple of cakes, Ryder, and bring them down to the bar sometime…without having pissed Jace off first.”

  Ryder grins. “Now you’re talking.”

  “You and your stomach.” Dahlia rolls her eyes, but I can’t miss the love that shines bright in them as she looks at her husband.

  “I’m going to show Savannah the patio,” Jace announces suddenly.

  “Are you sure that’s all you’re going to show her?” Ryder laughs, and earns a disapproving look from both his wife and his mom. He grins, obviously the dig was worth it.

  Ignoring Ryder, Jace yanks me up so quickly that I stumble into him. “Sorry,” he mumbles.

  What the heck’s gotten into him?

  We only just step outside when Jace has me crushed against his chest and his mouth on mine—the delicious taste of man mixed with coffee on his breath.

  No other man has ever made me go from zero to a hundred in seconds. It’s the feel of his body against mine—my softness to his hardness. The way he holds me as though he never wants to let me go. The way his eyes follow me everywhere, and the way they dance back to me after he’s been distracted by something else.

  It’s the whole potent package of Jace Stone that has my heart and head heavily involved with him, and I have a feeling I always will be.

  Feeling his hands slipping up the back of my shirt, I suddenly remember where we are and stop daydreaming.

  “Jace…” I try to wiggle out of his hold, but he’s having none of it, and then his wandering hand covers a breast. “Mmm.” Sighing, I push into his hand and feel my desire pool in my panties when he pinches my tight nipple, he doesn’t stop as his mouth trails wet kisses along the curve of my jaw before sucking my earlobe between his teeth.

  I’m so lost in the pleasure he’s wringing out of me that I only realize he’s under my shirt when he shoves the cup of my bra down and clamps his mouth on my nipple, sucking, hard.

  I’m so close to coming…but…no… “Jace…please stop.”

  He raises his head and he’s just as lost in arousal as I am.

  “We can’t. Not here.” I give a nervous laugh. “We’re right by the doors.”

  “Shit.”

  Breathing heavily, Jace steps back and quickly rearranges my clothing and his arousal but it’s as though he can’t keep his hands to himself. He caresses my shoulders, and cups the back of my neck before he slides his fingers along the necklace he gave me.

  “I love the look of you wearing this.” He places a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’d love to see you wearing this…and only this.”

  I smile and admit, “I’d like that—a lot.”

  He looks cute with the slight blush coating his cheekbones while his eyes cloud with lust.

  “The pendant would rest in the valley of your breasts.”

  “It would get lost, you mean.”

  He frowns at my comment. I’ve always been conscious of having large breasts, and sometimes I wish that they were smaller so I could fit into all the sexy lingerie that I see in the stores.

  “I love these.” He palms my breasts and uses his thumb to tantalize my nipples, which are aching for more of what he started a few minutes ago. “They overflow my palms, and make me so fucking hard that I can’t see straight.”

  He rocks against my hip and my head spins when I feel his solid length pulsing against me.

  “Jace, we have to leave. I want you naked at my place.”

  Something flashes in his eyes and it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.

  “I think that would work,” he agrees with a cocky smirk on his face. “Anything that involves you being naked works, if I’m honest.”

  “Hey,” Ryder opens the door, which shoves Jace forward, “stop blocking the exit.”

  Jace turns to his brother with his hands on his hips. “Don’t you have anything better to do than keep harassing me and my girl?”

  Ryder grins from here to Alaska. “Nope.”

  Chuckling, I glance at Jace, who eventually lets the humor out in a full bodied laugh.

  “You’re still annoying, all these years later.” Jace wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me against his warm body. “I wanted to show Savannah the yard.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  Jace shakes his head. “Whatever.”

  “You two are worse than the kids in my class,” I comment, amusement lacing my voice.

  “He started it,” Ryder points, but doesn’t quite pull it off with the laughter coming from him.

  “Oh dear, Savannah, what are they doing to you?” Ellen makes a tsk noise toward her sons. “You two need to grow up and stop embarrassing me in front of this lovely, young woman.”

  “How are we embarrassing you?” Ryder frowns.

  “She’s going to think we raised you in a barn.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m a teacher, so I’m used to it
.”

  “You wouldn’t think they were grown men with the way they regress to their childhood when they’re together.”

  “It’s all fun, which she knows.” Jace kisses me atop my head as his hand tangles into my curly hair.

  Ellen sighs with her eyes on Jace. But within seconds, she appears to have tears in her eyes. She turns away and heads back inside.

  Ryder and Jace pass a look back and forth before Jace squeezes my shoulders. “Don’t worry. She’s just not used to seeing me like this with a woman.”

  “She’s not used to seeing you with a woman is what he means,” Ryder contradicts.

  “Whatever…We’re going to leave.”

  “That’s why I came out here, to tell you that we’re going. It’s time to get Faith to bed.”

  Following Ryder inside with my arm around Jace, I feel so much love in this family for each other. They may rib the other, or not agree on certain things, but at the end of the day, they’re a loving family, and it’s nice seeing Jace with them.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jace

  With Savannah in my arms, the whole evening has been perfect. In fact the whole day has been.

  My sexy, little siren sure knew how to make her guy beg when she disappeared into her bathroom, only to emerge in bits of purple chiffon. My mouth had watered, and still is, remembering her nervous appearance in her bedroom.

  Her voluptuous breasts had swayed beneath the fabric as she’d walked towards me, causing my erection to become uncomfortable to say the least.

  “What are you thinking about?” Savannah interrupts my wayward thoughts. She certainly isn’t helping with her finger running up and down my chest, dipping closer and closer to where I’d love her hand to be.

  “The show you put on when we arrived is still at the front of my mind and probably will be for a long time to come.”