“Here, step aside, and I’ll finish this.” He presses a kiss to my cheek and shifts me out of the way.
I breathe in and out slowly, just like Piper made me do the other day, to try to calm my heart. And other parts.
He expertly finishes the omelet, flipping it into the air like a chef. He adds some cheese and lets it sit for another minute to melt before folding it and sliding it onto the plate I hand him.
I giggle in amazement. “Next time, I’ll let you do it from start to finish.”
“Nah. We work really well together.” He winks at me. “In more ways than one.”
Warmth flows through me. I’ve never had this good-natured teasing and fun with anyone the morning after.
It makes sense, considering I’d never once allowed a morning after to happen with anyone else. I can imagine, though, that none of the other men I’ve been with would have been cooking breakfast with me the next morning. No way.
“Hadleigh? You okay?”
I jump at my name. “Oh. Yeah. Sorry. I was lost in thought.” I pull a pair of forks out of a drawer and point toward the small table and chairs just off the kitchen. “We can eat here.” I hand him a fork as we sit down, and we each take a bite at the same time. As I finish chewing, I mumble, “Mm. Good job.”
“I just flipped it and finished it for you.”
I shake my head, my expression unbelieving. “Still, it never tastes this good when I make my own. It must be your touch, Sawyer.” I cover my mouth, my eyes widening. “Poor Willow. Is she missing out on a hot breakfast because you’re here?”
He chuckles. “Unless she tries to make toast again.”
“Tries?”
“Yeah. She burned it the last three times she cooked for herself. I keep telling her it’s setting number two that she likes for her toast, but she doesn’t listen and always has it up too high.”
“I guess I owe her, huh?”
He shrugs with a wink. “Maybe. You could probably just introduce her to Space Ghost sometime, and she’d forgive you. She likes animals.”
We eat in silence for a few minutes, which is actually kind of nice because I don’t feel like I have to be “on” when I’m with Sawyer. I feel like I can just be myself, and if that means just sharing a quiet moment, then that’s okay with him.
Sawyer finally sets his fork down with a contented sigh once we’ve polished off the omelet. “Why Space Ghost, by the way? I mean, I figure it’s after the comic book character, but I didn’t really take you for a comic book kind of girl.”
Oh. I don’t know if I was ready to go there yet, but here we are. “Um, so when my father took off, he left behind a stack of comic books.” I pause for a beat, watching his reaction. “I read them front to back when I was finally able to—so many times that they kind of fell apart.”
Sawyer takes hold of my hand, giving me reassurance when it hits him what a tender topic this is for me. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
I sigh and lift one shoulder in a half-shrug. “I always liked the Space Ghost one best.”
I sit there feeling a bit dejected for a moment before Sawyer takes my other hand and gently tugs me out of my seat. I stand between his legs, and he reaches up to caress my cheek. I lean into his touch, closing my eyes in complete surrender.
“I can’t wait to find out every last thing about you, baby.”
“Even the not-so-great stuff?”
“I want to know everything that makes you, you. Because you’re pretty fucking amazing.” His thumb glides over my skin before he captures my head between his hands and drags my lips to his for a sweet kiss. I put my hands on his shoulders to steady myself. Sawyer’s hands slide down my body and find my waist, then slip back over the curve of my ass. Lost in the kiss, our tongues tangle. I’m so swept up in it, I hardly realize that he’s grasped the hem of his shirt, pulling the fabric up as he clenches it in his fingers. He takes my ass in both hands, drawing me closer. A strangled groan escapes his lips into my mouth. He breaks the kiss, drawing back to look at me.
“Um. Hadleigh?” His tongue darts out to wet his lower lip.
“Yeah?” My eyes flicker open to see a storm raging in his eyes.
“Have you been naked under there this whole time?”
“Oh, um. Yeah.” I wrinkle my nose at him. “Sorry.”
He growls. “You’ve seriously got to stop apologizing for doing things that completely turn me the fuck on.” He moves fast, shoving his pants down, his hands gripping me around the waist. He lifts me onto his lap astride him. My bare skin comes into contact with his growing erection, and I let out a little whimper. A burst of lust, keen and sharp, shoots through me so hard I tremble, my body overcome by it.
I inhale swiftly as his hands slide from my waist to my ass underneath his shirt again. He squeezes gently, then a bit harder, before groaning. “Hadleigh. Are you going to ride my cock, baby?”
The feel of his hard-on between us has my brain fully short-circuiting. I answer with a hot kiss, all tongue and teeth and desire. I lift off of his lap, grasp his dick, and slide right down onto it. We continue to kiss like we can’t get enough of each other and rock together like our lives depend on it. We are frenzied, mad, fevered, our bodies so completely well-matched that I don’t know how I ever thought sex with anyone else was any good. I love the way his hard body feels against me, how amazing he feels inside me. With a tilt of my hips, I take him deeper, and my head drops back as euphoria overtakes me.
I’m hot.
I’m wanton.
I’m his.
He runs his hands over my body until I’m crying out for him. I crave this man’s touch like no other.
He grasps the front of his shirt with both hands and yanks, popping off the few buttons I’d managed to fasten. The shirt hangs open, and I continue to move over him, sliding up and down over his erection. He lowers his head to torment one of my breasts, and then the other. I’ve always been extremely sensitive, and his ministrations have me even wetter. Sawyer groans again. “Hadleigh, you are so fucking perfect. You feel so good like this.” His hands return to my ass, and he takes control, thrusting into me from below. I grip his shoulders and grind on him, every downward motion against him hitting my clit and setting my whole world on fire.
My legs begin to shake, and a brilliant, shimmering pulse starts right at my center. Without warning, the orgasm increases in intensity, lashing through me, wave after wave of it. My whole body spasms over Sawyer, and somewhere in the back of my head, I know I’m moaning really loudly and mumbling incoherently, but I don’t even care. It’s so fucking good I could die happily right now. He drives into me a few more times, then tenses, holding me tightly against him as his own release forces ragged gasps of pleasure from his lips.
Out of breath, I lean forward, and he wraps his arms around me as I rest my forehead against his. “That was something,” I exhale on a small laugh, my eyes wide as I look into his, hoping his world has just been rocked as hard as mine.
He cups my cheek and stares intently at me before pressing a kiss to my lips. “You’re not kidding. I wasn’t prepared for that at all.”
I suck in a breath. “I’m on the pill.”
He shakes his head and his lips seek out the tender skin of my neck, kissing me there. “No, I just meant I didn’t think we were going to go for it at the kitchen table. I thought maybe we’d make it back to the bedroom.” He huffs out a laugh. “Not that I’m complaining. I did get tested after my last girlfriend, though, just in case you were concerned.”
“I’ve never had sex without a condom before. That was sex on a whole different level.” I rake my teeth over my lower lip. “Was it like that for you?” I’m suddenly nervous that it wasn’t.
He catches my chin with his fingers and lowers his mouth to mine again. “I love how frank you are. How uninhibited. And it was amazing. I feel like one lucky son of a bitch right now.”
Oh, thank God. I grin. “What can I say? I like sex, and I’m not
really shy about it.”
“You don’t have to apologize for it at all. I think I approve of how much you like it.”
“Sawyer?”
“Yeah?”
“You make me really happy.”
He leans in and kisses me again. “Well, that’s good. And I hope I’m about to make you a little bit happier. Let’s get cleaned up, and I’ll go grab what I brought for you. It’s out in my truck.”
My brow furrows and my head shifts back to see him better. “For me?”
He nods. “You’ll see.” He lifts me off of him, setting me on my feet. “Shower?”
Chapter 23
Hadleigh
I wince as I hand Sawyer his shirt a little while later. “Sorry. We kind of busted off a bunch of your buttons.”
He snorts. “That’s fucking awesome. I’ll sew them back on, no problem.”
I raise my brows and try to hold back a giggle at the thought of him sewing with those big hands.
“Seventh grade Home Ec. What?”
“You took a Home Ec class?”
“Well, duh. That’s where the food was. And the girls.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Young Sawyer, the hungry player. Who knew?”
He shrugs, drawing my eyes to his broad shoulders. “I think they actually all flocked around me for help. I could handle the needle and thread better than any of them could. The pots and pans, too.”
I tilt my head to the side, loving knowing this new little tidbit about him. “So, you’d help them?”
“Sure. I like doing things for people.” He shrugs again like it’s no big deal. “Speaking of, I do have something for you. You almost made me forget.”
I grin. “Hot shower sex is a bit distracting, I’ll agree.”
“You can distract me anytime you want. Just let me go get your gift first. It’s for your birthday—just a little early.”
I give him a confused look. “How do you even know when my birthday is?”
“Easy. I pay attention to details and facts.” He pauses, his dimple appearing as he smiles. “I may have overheard Piper mention you and your friends would be celebrating your birthday next weekend.” My mouth opens in surprise, and he reaches out to tap my nose with his finger. “I’ll be right back.”
“What? Where are you going?”
“Just down to my truck. I left it on the back seat.” He winks at me and hurries out the door.
What on earth? It doesn’t really surprise me that he pays attention to every little last thing he hears, but … He brought me a gift? I’m still contemplating what it all means when he walks back in the door with a brightly wrapped box, complete with a bow on top.
“Sawyer … you didn’t have to do this.”
He chuckles. “I kind of did. You’ll see why in a second.” He hands it to me. “Go on. Open it.”
I chew on my lip for a second before I carefully slide my finger under the tape and pull off the paper. My eyes get really big. “You got me an e-book reader?” Quickly, I start to shake my head and try to hand it back to him. “No. That’s too much.”
“Had, relax. It’s just one of my old ones. I figured it was probably good enough for now. I think it’s been sitting in a drawer for a year. After I dealt with Willow’s spider, I dug it out, reset it, and got it all charged up for you. It’s all yours now. Happy early birthday.” He steals a sweet kiss from me as he takes it from me, then powers it on. He pokes at the screen a few times, then turns it around so I can see it. “We can even add your smutty book club book to it.” He gets a really proud look on his face as he says, “Now you don’t have to panic when someone looks in your bag.” He hesitates at the shell-shocked expression that I know must be on my face. “Really. It’s no big deal.” He shoves his hands into his pockets.
Oh, jeez. I’m being dumb.
“I guess I’m not used to being with someone who is so thoughtful. You’re very sweet.” I lift up onto my tiptoes and urge him down to me so I can plant a kiss right on his smiling lips. As I do, my eyes close and emotion rises within me. The evidence of it leaks down one cheek. When I pull away, he frowns, and swipes his thumb over my skin. “And, Sawyer, it is a big deal. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He leans down to kiss me again. “I’m glad you like it.”
We stare at each other for a beat, and then he sighs deeply. “I wish I didn’t have to go, but I have a meeting with my advisor at noon today, and …”
“You probably could use a change of clothes.”
“Yeah,” he chuckles. “And a shirt with all of its buttons.”
“Right.” The fresh memory of him tearing his shirt off of me makes me grin like a lunatic. “You’ll let me know how it goes?”
“Of course. I’ll text you.” He touches his lips to mine again, and shakes his head with a smile.
I tilt my head to the side. “What?”
“I’m just feeling like a really lucky guy right now.” He winks and backs up to the door, pausing at the threshold for one last look at me. I don’t deny it, my skin heats with his eyes on me, and I watch him until the very second the door closes behind him, drinking in as much Sawyer as I can.
After Sawyer leaves, I plop down onto my couch to watch some TV. Space Ghost is snuggled up at my side, napping half the day away as kittens do. I binge-watch Friends and mindlessly scroll through social media, all while getting more and more excited about the possibility of an actual adult relationship. Sawyer makes me feel like the best version of myself. He shows me kindness and cares more than I’d have thought possible considering how little time we’ve spent together in the grand scheme of things. It’s weird because I feel like I’ve known him forever. Like maybe he was made for me.
At that thought, I snort a little at myself. Who knew I’d go all soft the minute someone actually treated me right? But dammit, he makes me feel good about myself, and that’s something I haven’t felt in a really long time. I try to put up a good front, but on the inside, I’ve been quietly drowning in self-loathing, wondering if I’d ever get things right.
My phone vibrates with a notification, and I’m excited, thinking it’s Sawyer about to tell me about his meeting, but then my heart sinks right down into my stomach.
It’s Ed.
Ed: Noticed you left your car at the bar last night and you took off with your student teacher.
Ed: Doesn’t seem appropriate for you to be hanging out after hours with him.
I’m stunned into stillness. Less than a minute later, more messages come through.
Ed: Okay, just keep right on ignoring me.
Ed: Between your new fuck buddy and those pics I have, I could make things really difficult for you.
I bolt off the couch, startling Space Ghost, but my vision tunnels, so I sit back down, shaking. All the blood has rushed right out of my head. He wouldn’t say something at school … would he? Horrifying visions of all the different ways Ed could hurt me flash through my mind. Not only does Ed have photos of me that could do real damage if made public, but now he knows about my new relationship with Sawyer. We could be exposed and vilified at any moment. On a whim, he could just decide to make my life a living hell and I’m sick to my stomach knowing he’s dragging Sawyer into it, too.
Those damn photos—what do I even do about that? How will I ever be assured that those won’t resurface? Bile rises in my throat, and I swallow the bitterness back down. Nothing is ever simple for me.
Chapter 24
Sawyer
I can’t stop fucking thinking about Hadleigh. Back at home, I race up the stairs to the apartment I share with Willow. I’ve got thirty minutes before I need to be back out the door to this meeting. I guess it makes sense that my advisor meets on Saturdays since all of the student teachers he works with are at schools during the week, but fuck. I want nothing more than to go right back to Hadleigh’s place and bury my face in her sweet-smelling hair and my cock in her pussy. She is so perfect for me, and now that we’ve crossed that line
, I don’t want to go back. I can hardly believe how fast it had happened once we admitted what we were feeling to each other, but the honest truth is I’ve been waiting. Biding my time. Wanting her bad.
And the kicker? It’s not just physical, though the sex is fucking phenomenal. We’d also had fun together cooking, eating, and talking over breakfast. Apparently, I’m the only one she’s ever let stay the night. The only one she’s ever woken up with. I have to say, that has me puffing up my chest and feeling really good about everything.
I run through the last twelve hours in my head as I pull on fresh clothing, hurriedly tucking in my shirt. We’d gone from coworkers to kisses, then straight to the bedroom in what felt like the blink of an eye.
For the first time in a very long time, I’m really happy. I’m excited for whatever comes next with me and Hadleigh, even though I know we need to keep things quiet for a while. Thoughts of my train wreck relationship with Tara have drifted away and no longer seem all that important. With a quick glance into the mirror, I run my hand through my hair. Good enough. I walk out of the bathroom to find Willow sitting on the edge of my bed with a massive grin on her face.
I chuckle. “What?”
She wrinkles her nose and points at me. “Well, I won’t state the obvious … only maybe I will. You didn’t come home last night.”
“No. No, I didn’t.” I clamp my lips together and settle my hands on my hips. She’s going to have to work harder than that to get anything out of me, and she knows it.
“Aw, come on, Sawyer. You know I need details. Don’t make me beg.” She pins a pair of puppy dog eyes on me and clasps her hands together, pleading.
Fight for You (Flirting with Forever Book 2) Page 12
