Falling for Sarah

by Cate Beauman

  His heart ached from the agony echoing in her voice, in each racking sob. “Just a couple more days and we’ll all be together again.”

  “Oh, that sounds so good. I’m counting on it.”

  He held on to her as she soaked his shirt with tears, until her weeping turned to deep shuddering breath. He closed his eyes, wishing he could make it all go away.

  Several minutes later, Sarah moved her head, staring into his gaze. “Kylee will be safe here, right?”

  Sarah’s eyes were red rimmed and swollen, her face blotchy and wet with tears. He couldn’t have loved her more. “You’ll both be as safe as I can possibly make you.” Ethan kissed her lips and wrinkled his nose. “You’re salty.”

  She gave him a watery laugh.

  He smiled before it disappeared. “Where were you going?”

  She glanced down before she met his gaze again. “To the police station. I wanted to see if there was something I could do to help.”

  “Going off alone won’t help anyone. You staying safe and giving them one less person to worry about will. That’s all you can do. Please don’t try anything like that again.” He took her face in his hands. “You scared me.”

  She closed her eyes, nestling into his hold. “I’m sorry.”

  He helped her to her feet. “Are you feeling any better?”

  Her lip wobbled. “Not really. Fourteen women are still dead. Unless they catch him soon, there’s bound to be more.”

  There would be more, Ethan had no doubt. “We’ll keep hoping they get him.” Unless he got him first. Either option worked for him.

  He wrapped his arm around Sarah’s waist, pulling her close. He changed the subject, wanting her to think of happier things, normal, everyday things. “Let’s go back inside and find something to eat. I’m willing to bet Bear and Reece made quick work of the meal I left all over the floor.”

  She chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder.

  “There should be enough chicken if we want to try again,” he said against her hair.

  “Sounds good to me. Then I have a big mess to clean up in your office.”

  “We’ll save that fun for later. Let’s get out of here for awhile. We should probably hit the grocery store. My house is about to be invaded.”

  “Invaded? Kylee and Hailey don’t eat that much.”

  “Morgan and Hunter will be joining us too, and you can bet Austin will wheedle his way into a meal here and there.”

  Sarah’s brow rose. “I guess we do need to get to the store.” She kissed his cheek as they stepped inside and shut the door.

  Zeke followed behind the Rover at a distance. After completing a thorough search of Ethan Cooke’s background, he discovered he had an extremely worthy opponent. His adversary had quite the resume—expert in computer forensics, fifth-degree black belt, close protection training at the best facilities in the world. Blah, blah, blah. Even with all that fancy shit, he wasn’t worried. It just upped the ante. Master Cooke had to have a weakness. He’d find it and use it to his advantage. That’s what he did best.

  He pulled into the fast food parking lot across from the grocery store, watched the bastard look around before he got out of his fancy rich-boy SUV. He walked to Sarah’s side, opened her door. She stepped out and Zeke smiled. It had been days since he’d gotten a glimpse of her. She was amazing—perfect in her snug denim jeans and pink t-shirt.

  Zeke’s smile disappeared when Ethan’s well-muscled arm went around her shoulders and pulled her close. Sarah grinned as she wrapped her arm around his waist, hooking her finger through one of the belt loops in his jeans.

  “No! You little bitch!” He slammed fisted hands against the steering wheel as breath steamed in and out of his mouth. Oh, she was going to pay for that. “Just wait, Sarah. You just wait.” He started the car, crossed over to the grocer’s parking lot, parked right next to the Rover.

  Struggling to find his calm through the rage, he closed his eyes and thought of all the painful ways to pay Ethan back for touching what was his. He checked the mirror to be sure he looked like every other Average Joe, got out, grabbed a cart from the corral.

  Zeke threw items in at random as he kept an eye on Sarah, careful to go down the same aisles only on occasion. He stopped in the cereal aisle, feet from her, pulled a box of oatmeal from the shelf, pointed at the label as if he were reading the nutritional facts. Turning slightly, he watched her out of the corner of his eye.

  Her brow wrinkled. “What’s that?”

  Ethan smiled, holding a bright red box in his hand. “Cereal for Kylee.”

  “I don’t think so. There’s nothing but sugar and chemicals in that.”

  “Oh, come on, Sarah. She’ll love it.”

  “Absolutely not. She can have oatmeal or Cheerios.”

  “Absolutely not,” Ethan mimicked in an uncomplimentary voice.

  Sarah snagged his ear, grinned. “Put those back and grab me a box of Cheerios, Cooke.”

  He moved in close, nipped her lip. “I love it when you’re bossy, Johnson.”

  They stared at each other and chuckled before Ethan switched out the cereal.

  Ethan snuck his thumb in the back pocket of Sarah’s jeans as they moved down the aisle, disappearing into the next.

  Zeke crushed the side of the box he held, fighting the urge to clear everything from the shelf. Slut! Fucking slut! Oh, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her. He would show her what happened to ho-bags who couldn’t keep their legs closed.

  It was time to finish this. He had the taser in his trunk. If he took Dick Face out, he could grab Sarah and teach her a lesson she wouldn’t soon forget—but then she’d be dead, so it wouldn’t matter much anyway. Working out his plan, he walked away from his cart, making his way toward the parking lot. He stopped at the automatic doors and bit the inside of his cheek, drawing blood. Sarah and Ethan placed groceries on the belt while they spoke to the fucking tank of a man, Austin Casey, who usually stood guard over her. Zeke had done his homework on that dildo too.

  It’s ruined! It’s all ruined! There was no doubt in his mind he was smarter and stronger than both muscled-freaks put together, but he couldn’t tase them at the same time. They were all going to have to die. He glanced back at Sarah once more and left, dreaming of revenge.

  Zeke slammed his door and drove to the fast food parking lot again. He waited for Sarah, Ethan, and the giant to load up the Rover, cursing them. When the fancy red sports convertible took a left and Ethan turned right, Zeke started his car. A movement in his rearview mirror made him stop.

  A tiny blonde dressed in a black uniform pulled an overflowing trash barrel toward the back of the restaurant into the shadows of dusk. A smile ghosted his mouth as his pecker grew hard. Change of plans.

  He backed into the alley next to the massive dumpster, careful to hide his vehicle from the view of the drive-through. He got out and opened his trunk, grabbing his supplies, before moving through the back fence silently. The stench of rotting trash mixed with the tinge of cigarette smoke curling in the air. As the blonde took another drag, he moved forward, pulling the taser’s trigger. The woman let out a muffled scream and fell to the ground, stiff from the current coursing through her body.

  “This is your lucky day, bitch.”

  He bent forward, pummeled his fist into her face, imagining it was Sarah’s. Adrenaline soared as he whipped down his jeans. He’d never done it like this before. Anyone could walk out here and catch him. He yanked down her black pants, rubbered-up, and slammed himself into her as she began to stir. Her eyes flew open and he smiled down. “You make a noise and you’re dead.”

  He picked up the wire he’d brought along, wrapped it around her neck. “Oh, wait, you’re dead anyway.”

  He pulled while she desperately clawed at her neck. He no longer saw the woman fighting for her life, but Sarah in her pink t-shirt. “This is what happens when you spread your legs, whore. Why did you let him touch you? I’m the only one who’s allowed to
touch you.” Through his blinding rage, he came.

  The blonde no longer moved. Her eyes, blank and open wide, stared into nothing.

  “That wasn’t half bad.” He gave her ass a slap as he removed the bloodied rubber from himself, keeping it in his hand. He wouldn’t be leaving any DNA behind.

  He tugged up his pants, grabbed his taser, and went back to his car. As he pulled from the alley, he thought of Sarah.

  CHAPTER 16

  THE GROCERIES HAD LONG SINCE been put away and the mess in the office cleaned. Ethan sat on the deck in the warm ocean breeze, watching the flicker of candlelight play over Sarah’s face. The smooth, jazzy sounds of John Mayer played through the stereo as she dipped lobster tail in butter and brought the dripping morsel to his lips. He pulled the tips of her fingers in his mouth along with the meat, sucking, staring into her eyes.

  She smiled. “I can’t feed you another bite if you don’t give me my fingers back.”

  “Your turn.” He plucked a bright red strawberry from a bowl, holding it to her lips.

  Sarah bit in and rolled her eyes. “Mmm, good.”

  “The whole meal’s amazing. You did a great job, Sarah.”

  “It was the least I could do after trashing your office.” She stacked plates and stood.

  “Uh, uh.” He placed a hand over hers, halting her movements. “We’ll get this later.”

  “But I made dessert.”

  “Later,” he repeated, standing. He pulled her with him to the center of the floor. “Right now, I want to dance with you in the moonlight.”

  “A perfect end to a perfect evening.” Her hair and pale green sundress billowed in the wind as her arms came around his neck.

  “We’re just getting started,” he promised. Sarah’s summer scent surrounded him as he held her around the waist, skimming her jaw with his lips. “I like being with you like this.” He rained kisses along her neck. “Just the two of us.” He brushed his mouth against her shoulders. “With our own private view of the ocean and city lights.”

  “Mmm.” Her fingers played over his skin, tensing.

  He met her gaze, a dozen candles reflecting in her eyes; her beauty staggered. Wanting nothing more than to be with her, he covered her mouth with a tender brush of lips.

  She stopped the gentle massage against the back of his neck as her tongue met his.

  He took her face in his hands, deepening the kiss, while they swayed in a lazy circle.

  Their mouths grew hungry as he walked her back to the sturdy rail of the balcony, pressing her against it. He nibbled her bottom lip as he cupped her breasts through fabric.

  Breath staggered, Sarah met his lips once more before moving to his neck, his ear, tracing her tongue along his lobe, sending a shiver of need down his spine.

  Craving to feel her against his hands, he tugged on her strapless top, flicked the clasp on her bra, exposing her breasts. He feathered caresses against her nipples, circling, watching them pebble as she closed her eyes, letting her head fall back.

  “Ethan,” she murmured on a husky whisper.

  His mouth replaced fingers, and she moaned, running her hands through his hair.

  Her hands traveled down to the hem of his shirt and pulled up. He held his arms high as she removed his black t-shirt, letting it fall where they stood. Her palms roamed over his muscled shoulders and back while she left open-mouthed kisses along his skin.

  Ethan’s jaw clenched as need grew. He wanted to taste her, to watch her come undone. He knelt before her, trailing fingers up smooth thighs, snagging her panties. Giving a tug, the swatch of lace landed at her ankles. He hiked her dress high, grabbed her ass, jerking her forward, pressing his mouth against her as she gasped.

  Sarah gripped the railing as his tongue stroked and circled with light flicks until she trembled. Throaty purrs escaped her throat, her hips rocking, as he assaulted her system with steadier pressure before his fingers dove deep. She clutched his hair as he quickened his rhythm. She stiffened, legs buckling as she throbbed, pulsing against him, crying out.

  Ethan locked his arm around her, holding her in place as he continued, relentless with teeth, tongue and fingers, ready to explode as her gasps and moans grew wild and desperate, as he watched her consumed by wave after wave of ecstasy.

  When she gripped his shoulders, breathless, he made his way up her slender body, her breasts brushing his chest, her eyes glazed in passion, driving him mad. He had to be inside her.

  Sarah unsnapped his jeans, pulled at the zipper. Before she could do more, Ethan boosted her up and her legs wrapped around his waist. Their lips met, devouring, as he walked toward his bedroom. He would have her in his bed where she belonged.

  He turned, landing on the mattress with her straddling him. Their tongues danced as he moved his hips, helping her free him of his pants. He pulled her dress over her head, and she stared into his eyes as she sat back, taking him deep. His rush of breath mingled with her gasp as she began to move slowly. Wet and warm, Sarah rocked against him.

  Moonlight washed over her skin from the skylights, casting her in an ethereal glow. Ethan laced his fingers with hers, watching her climb. Her stomach muscles quivered on each ragged breath as she pulled him deeper with each movement. Her hands clutched against his as she arched and closed her eyes, tensing with a stunned cry.

  Lost in her, captivated, Ethan could only stare.

  Sarah smiled, her gaze meeting his as she moved, rocking, sliding, up and down. She bent forward, her breasts brushing against him, her lips capturing his.

  He took her face, needing to tell her. “I love you, Sarah. God, do I love you.”

  Before she could speak, he rolled, reversing their positions, unable to handle her achingly slow loving. He set a fevered pace, and she clutched at his hips.

  He stared into blue eyes glowing in the moonlight, fisting his hands in her mass of blonde hair. He struggled for each gasp of air, ready, holding on, waiting for her.

  Her breath came faster, mingling with his as she worked herself to the top. She tensed on her way over, eyes never leaving his.

  Their mouths met, swallowing each other’s moans as he filled her.

  Four days later, chaos reigned at the Cooke house. Kylee screamed with delight as Bear and Reece lay on their backs, tails wagging against the grass while she petted them. Hunter and Ethan spoke as the grill heated for a barbeque. While Hailey and Morgan set the table on the lower deck, Sarah hurried around the kitchen, trying to prepare food for the army of people now living in Ethan’s home.

  Ethan swung through the door. “I’ll be in to grab the chicken and steaks in about ten minutes. Does that work for you?”

  Giving the potato salad a final stir, she glanced up. “Yeah, that’s fine. After I take care of the watermelon, things should be good in here.”

  He winked and grinned before stepping back out.

  She smiled, completely happy. Her baby was home, friends that meant everything surrounded her, and she was desperately in love. After the night on the deck, they’d spent their last two days of quiet wrapped up in each other.

  Ethan had relaxed, becoming more comfortable with his feelings. He hadn’t said he loved her again since their night of candlelight and lobster tail, but she didn’t need the words. She knew how he felt. She snagged her lip between her teeth and smiled again as she thought of his gray eyes staring into hers while he told her, sending jittery waves of pleasure coursing through her belly.

  She got back to work, balling the melon for the fruit salad she’d made.

  Ethan strolled in. “Yum, watermelon.” He grabbed for a piece and she slapped his hand.

  “You’ll have to wait for dinner.”

  He snagged her around the waist, nuzzled her neck. “What if we share?”

  Grinning, she plucked up a pink ball and turned in his arms. She bit the piece in half, popped the other in his mouth. “Don’t tell Kylee. I told her she had to wait.”

  “I’m not sure if I can do that. I do
take bribes though.” He closed his eyes, puckered up.

  She chuckled and met his lips. His tongue darted into her mouth, sweet from the fruit. What started in play soon turned hungry. The melon baller fell to the floor with a clatter as she moved her palms over his back jean pockets.

  His hand snaked up to capture her breast.

  “Hey, what’s the hold… What the fuck?”

  Sarah and Ethan jumped apart as Hunter stood in the doorway.

  “Cooke, what are you fucking doing?”

  Sarah watched Ethan’s smoldering eyes meet Hunter’s. “I’m kissing Sarah.”

  Hunter looked at her next. “Sarah?”

  Guilty for the surprise and hurt she saw on his face, she started toward him. “I’m sorry, Hunter.”

  Ethan whirled her around. “Don’t you say you’re sorry. We have nothing to be sorry for.”

  Morgan and Hailey rushed into the kitchen. Morgan clutched Hunter’s arm. “What’s going on in here?”

  “I came in to ask about the food and found Ethan with his hands all over Sarah and his tongue down her throat.”

  Ethan took a step forward. “That’s enough.”

  “It’s hardly enough, you asshole. How could you do this to Jake? It’s always about the pussy with you.”

  Gasps echoed before Ethan dove forward, punching Hunter on the jaw. They landed on the floor, swearing, rolling, blocking punches as fast as they threw them. Two well-muscled bodies slammed into the counter. Potato salad crashed against marble tiles, and the dogs came running. Hair up and teeth bared, they growled.

  “Hold!” Ethan shouted at them.

  They continued to threaten but didn’t lunge forward.

  Kylee followed Reece and Bear into the room and began to cry. “Ethan! Unke Hunte!”

  Hailey picked her up and left.

  Heart pounding and horrified, Sarah moved into the thick of things, pulling at whoever’s shirt she could grab. “Stop this! Stop right now! You’ve just scared Kylee!”

  Hunter landed a blow to Ethan’s mouth before Ethan rammed Hunter’s head against the floor.