Surrender to Fate (Fate's Path Part One: A New Adult Romance Series)

by Jacelyn Rye

  “I’ve already watched you do it and obviously, I don’t understand. Can’t you show me? You know, with me still holding the pole? I mean, if I’m really going to understand how to do it, I can’t just watch you, I have to feel what you want me to do, right?”

  William looked down and scratched his head and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked up at her, “I suppose so.”

  She smiled triumphantly as he relented to her request and placed his right hand on hers and moved behind her. He put his left arm around her and guided her left hand to hold the line in the crook of her finger. Leaning over her shoulder so that their cheeks were almost touching, William found that the last thing he was actually thinking about was catching a trout. Margaret’s hair was soft against his neck, softer than he had imagined. She smelled delicious, with just the slightest hint of rose water.

  He cleared his throat, and could only muster a whisper, “Like this,” he easily encased her delicate hand with his and began the slight jerk of his wrist. He felt Margaret lean into his body and actually position her head even closer to his. He could feel her soft skin against his cheek, and he literally thought that she would surely feel his heart, that was practically pounding out of his chest. Her petite frame was nestled against the entire length of his torso and feeling her against his body made him light headed. “Just a gentle pull, and then let it settle, gentle…see?”

  “Ohhhh, yes. Now I know what it’s supposed to feel like. I see exactly what you mean now, William. I take it back. You are quite good. I’m sure you could teach me just about anything.” She leaned and turned her head so that now, instead of her cheek being next to him, her lips were merely inches away from his.

  William froze in place. Her breath on his mouth was warm and sweet and her lips seemed like a ripe strawberry just begging to be plucked and devoured. She moved her mouth to his ear and whispered, “I don’t think I’ll ever think of fishing the same way after today, William.”

  Feeling her breath sent a wave through him that made him close his eyes and savor the sensation. It made him want to pull her in closer, and have her tell him more, let her lips move across his ear so he could breathe in her scent. That is what he wanted to do, and it took every bit of willpower to resist the urge to do just that. Another moment and he might’ve lost that battle had it not been Margaret who broke the intoxicating interaction and leaned forward.

  William blinked and swallowed a little too loudly for his liking. But Margaret just turned to him and smiled. “There. Now, was that so difficult?”

  “Um…no. Not at all.” He let go of her hands and took a step back. Stepping away from her, he immediately realized how good it had felt to have her against his body. Not quite knowing what to do, he jammed his hands in his pockets and walked to the edge of the bank and peered over. He turned back and looked at Margaret. She smiled and tilted her head slightly, “What is it, William? The fish aren’t scared off, are they?”

  “No…I think you’ve got the hang of it. I’m sure you’ll be catching one any minute now.”

  “Hmmm…yes, I think you’re right, William. I have a very good feeling that I’ll be leaving here with a very good catch.”

  William and Margaret had eventually given up on catching a fish. Despite William’s expertise, and Margaret’s willingness to learn, the day was ending with nothing for William to bring home to his mother for dinner. The sun had begun to set, and a chill was beginning to settle in the air. William realized how quickly the day went by, and recognized that the majority of his day off had been spent with Margaret Thornton. He marveled at the sheer surprise of that actuality. It also occurred to him that other than that one moment earlier in the day, he hadn’t thought of Sarah. Upon that admission, William felt a slight pain in his chest. The entire afternoon, Margaret had commanded his attention, and he gave it to her. How could he not? Margaret was very clearly a woman who could not, and would not, be ignored. And, furthering his uneasiness, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he would more than gladly give her his attention again.

  Margaret and William had arrived back at the Harstons’ house just as the sun was giving its last light for the day. Walking slower and slower, William finally stopped and turned to Margaret, “Can I…take you home?”

  Margaret smiled broadly, “Thank you, but no, I have Daddy’s truck,” as she pointed to the far end of the driveway. “I’ll be fine.”

  William wasn’t sure why, especially after spending the entire day with Margaret with ease, that he was suddenly feeling very anxious. He couldn’t quite understand what he was feeling. The day with Margaret was ending, and it was dawning on him that he didn’t want it to.

  Margaret sighed deeply and smiled. “Well, fishing today was…very enlightening, William. I have to say that I enjoyed it, very much. And, I will say that while you are a very patient and able teacher, I’m not sure very effective. I don’t think the trout have anything to worry about when I’m around.”

  William blushed and looked at his feet, “No, I guess not. I guess today I wasn’t really concentrating on catching fish.”

  “Well, in case you couldn’t tell, I wasn’t either,” Margaret looked intently into William’s eyes. “But, just so you know, you’re not the only one with something to teach. I might know something that you don’t.”

  William scoffed, “Really? And what might that be?”

  “You’ll have to wait until next Saturday to find out.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Next Saturday, you come to me. Come first thing in the morning, and plan on being gone for the whole day.”

  William squinted and looked at her suspiciously. “Hmm…sounds…interesting.”

  “I won’t take no for an answer, William Harston.”

  “Can I think about it?” William was suddenly quite enjoying teasing Margaret.

  “No! Please, William. Are you going to make me beg?” Margaret took a couple of steps until she was right in front of him. She put her hands on his chest and looked up into his eyes. “Because if you want me to beg you, William, I will.” She locked her eyes onto his and lifted her chin so once again her lips could demand his full attention.

  William tried to look at her eyes but he couldn’t help staring at her mouth, and her amazing pink pout. Margaret ever so slightly licked her bottom lip and gently bit down on it.

  William’s pulse quickened and he swore he had never before seen such a slight, minute movement that could actually make every muscle in his body physically respond. He wanted to know what those lips would feel like, what they would taste like, but all he could do was stare, and try to resist the urge that was pulsating through him.

  Margaret gently let go of her lip and whispered, “Please, William. I am begging you. Please say you’ll come to me.”

  William compelled his eyes to move away from her lips and back to her eyes. She stared expectantly until he managed to stutter, “I’ll be there.”

  “Well?” his mother asked expectantly as he walked in the door. “Did you bring me any fish?”

  William walked into the kitchen where Catherine was moving the rested bread dough into a loaf pan. “Oh, no. Not today,” he answered hesitantly. “They weren’t biting.”

  “Really?” his mother asked as she pursed her lips and nodded slowly. “Hmmm,” she said thoughtfully.

  “What?” he asked, eyeing her carefully.

  “Oh, nothing.”

  William nodded in response, but before he could turn and leave the kitchen, she continued.

  “I noticed Margaret’s truck was here all day.”

  “Yes,” again answering slowly, not knowing exactly where this conversation was heading. But knowing his mother the way he did, he could imagine.

  “I assume that she found you at the creek?” She wiped her hands on her apron and stared him squarely in the eye.

  He breathed in slowly and nodded.

  “Well,” she said, in a tone that couldn’t be mistaken
as anything but disapproving, “that must’ve been quite the surprise.”

  William shrugged, “Yea, I guess so.”

  She turned away from him to put the loaf pan in the oven. It didn’t go unnoticed that she slammed the door closed with more force than necessary.

  “What’s on your mind, Mom?” William knew that it would come out sooner or later, and he figured he might as well get it over with.

  His mother brushed the flour from the countertop into her hands, and he could tell that she tried to answer calmly. “Well, I was just thinking how you and Sarah used to go fishing all of the time, and how it must’ve been hard to be at the creek without her.” She looked at him again and raised her eyebrows for extra emphasis.

  He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, she stalked out of the kitchen. He ran his hands through his hair and exhaled loudly. He couldn’t blame her. The day held the promise of a delicious trout dinner. Instead, he had come home with something, or rather someone, that neither one of them could’ve possibly prepared for.

  Chapter 29

  The next week of work went by so incredibly slowly that William was certain a whole month had come and gone by the time it was finally Saturday. While he had tried to concentrate on his job at the lumberyard, he found it increasingly hard to do so. Just when he would seem to have his head focused on the task at hand, he would see her. Margaret was always stopping by the lumberyard for one reason or another, either to bring her father something to eat or if she was needed to help out on the sales floor. But for some reason, Margaret’s visits to the lumberyard this week were not up to the normal frequency and William was forced to recall the details of her from last weekend and the fishing lesson.

  William’s thoughts were not completely monopolized with Margaret. In fact, he equally dwelled upon memories of Sarah. He could not believe that after months and months of her being gone, that he still hadn’t heard a word from her. He didn’t want to, but he was beginning to question everything that they had promised to each other before she left. Even in the face of his extreme disappointment, and Sarah’s lack of contacting him, he knew he could never forget everything that she had made him feel. He still held onto their promise; that they would be together, someday. They had a connection that ran so deep, that no matter how much time passed, and no matter what direction their new lives took them in, he would always hold a place in his heart that solely belonged to Sarah. His frustration began to build as he tried to make sense of everything that was now complicating his life. If he was still clinging to his promise to Sarah, how could Margaret have the affect on him that she did?

  As soon as he asked himself the question, the vision of Margaret from the day of fishing flooded his mind. The way her breasts swelled to the top of her corset was an image that William could not erase from his mind. And when she was near him and her body brushed up against his, that alone was a mouth-watering feeling that couldn’t be ignored. He knew what it was about Margaret that was driving him crazy, and the fact that the rest of her body was left to his imagination was enough to send him over the edge, craving the next time he could indulge his hunger, and curiosity, for Margaret’s breathtaking body.

  Despite it being his day off from another grueling week of work, William was awake before the sun on Saturday. The simple explanation for that was because he was certain that he didn’t catch a wink of sleep the whole night. He had tossed and turned, wrestling between the anticipation for what the day with Margaret would entail, and knowing how badly it would hurt Sarah if she knew what he was doing, but even more so if she knew how he was thinking…about Margaret. His justification to himself seemed rational enough. Sarah had been gone nearly a year. He would always love her; he felt no hesitation in admitting that. In fact, he was certain that he would never quite feel the exact same love for anyone else for as long as he lived. But, he also knew that the chances of being with Sarah again were slim to none. As much as he wished that weren’t the case, he knew it was. There would be no way for him to find himself in California, and there was nothing left here for her family to come back to. All he could really hope for with Sarah was that she would find happiness in her life, knowing that whatever happiness came to her, it wouldn’t be from him. He had always thought that he would spend his life being the one to love her, but since he knew he couldn’t be, it seemed too painful of a hope to hold onto any longer. A gut wrenching realization struck him--it might be time to move on, without Sarah. He shook his head in disappointment at himself. How could he even bring himself to think that? But, he knew the answer. He knew, as hard as it was to accept, that he would most likely not see Sarah again. He wasn’t sure what was in store for him as far as Margaret was concerned, but he knew that she was at least here, for him to find out.

  Chapter 30

  Sarah went to bed that night, begging herself to dream about Will and Colorado. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Adley’s face, felt his lips, and felt his hands go down her body and press her into his body. She would snap her eyes open, shake her head, and start the process all over again. But it was no use. The only thing she could concentrate on was the ache emanating from deep inside her body, and she knew it was from craving Adley’s touch.

  Tomorrow, I will tell Adley. I will tell him that my only interest in him is that of friendship. Even to herself, she recognized how ridiculous that sounded. Especially after she allowed herself to be so easily overcome by Adley’s advances today. Not only did she allow the advances, she was sure that kissing him back the way she did only spurred on his motivation, and was now the culprit of her budding desires to feel overcome again. But Adley would just have to respect the fact that friendship is what she wanted from him. Nothing more.

  Sarah spent a fitful night of sleep. Despite beseeching herself to dream of Will, she dreamt of Adley. But it wasn’t just any dream. They were on a blanket under the tree overlooking the field. His hands were stroking and discovering her body, and while she would tell him that they couldn’t do this, her hands were on his, guiding them to touch her, to explore her, to please her. As soon as Sarah was about to call out Adley’s name in ecstasy, her dream instantly took her to Coon’s Cove. She was wading in the deep cool water, trying to make it to the shore where William was standing, waiting for her. But each step she took, she sunk deeper and deeper into the soft mud. She held out her hands, crying out for Will, but just as her head was about to go under the water, she was jolted out of her dream and her eyes shot open. She glanced from side to side, and realized where she was. She was in the little house, Matty snoring softly on the other side of the living room. She placed her hand over her chest and felt the rapid pounding of her heart. She wondered if it was from the part of the dream about Adley, or from the fear of drowning. While the part with Adley was undeniably pleasurable, both parts of the dream felt equally dangerous.

  Thankfully, morning finally appeared and Sarah couldn’t have been more relieved. She knew what she had to do. She had to, once and for all, tell Adley about Will and derail the out of control freight train that was heading straight for her. It was the right thing to do. She knew where her heart was. Her heart was with Will, and it seemed that her heart would crack into pieces if she were to wait any longer to stay true to her promise, to stay true to him.

  She found Adley outside underneath one of the farm trucks. She walked up quietly, instantly scolding herself for admiring the way his faded blue jeans hung loosely against his thick legs, and narrowing in at his waist. His shirt had pulled up, and she could see the muscles that rippled in his abdomen as he wrestled with the nuts and bolts of the undercarriage of the truck. Not wanting to waiver in her determination, she cleared her throat and looked away.

  Adley froze under the truck and she sensed his hesitation for a moment before he put his wrench down and slid himself out. He shielded his eyes with his forearm from the sudden brightness and squinted up at Sarah. In one swift motion, he jumped up and wiped his hands on the back of his jeans.
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  Oh my God, Adley. Why? Why do you have to look like you do and make this so hard for me? Sarah couldn’t help but bite her lip as she looked at him. He wore a white, or what used to be white, undershirt tank top that was now streaked with spots of grease. His shoulders billowed out in a divine muscular display. And those arms, that just yesterday were around her. Now Sarah was mesmerized by their obvious strength, the bulging biceps, forearms equally as strong, and his hands--that in her dream--knew every inch of her body.

  He took a rag from his back pocket and began to wipe the grease from his hands as he looked at her, waiting for her to speak first.

  Barely finding her voice, she whispered, “Hey, Adley.”

  “Hey, yourself,” he seemed to know his affect on her and smiled slyly.

  “Sorry to bother you…but, I wanted to talk to you.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Adley took a step closer to her. “Okay. So talk.”

  Knowing what happened every time he had stepped to her in the past, Sarah instinctively took a step backward. Punctuating that this time would be different, she held up her hand. “Look, Adley…I need to tell you something. It’s not fair for me not to be honest with you. And, I do care about you…so I need…”

  Ignoring her gestures, Adley took another step toward her closing the gap quickly. “I care about you, too, Sarah, and I need…” he trailed off, and let his eyes drift down the length of her body, and waited for her imagination to complete his thought.

  “Please Adley, just stop,” she held up her hand again. “Please, let me finish. Please?”

  Adley held open his arms, welcoming her to continue, although Sarah could still detect a glint in his eyes that made her wonder if he was going to take her seriously.

  “You know that there was someone in Colorado, that I had to leave?”

  Adley nodded, but allowed her to continue.