Chapter 41 #2
“No. When I carry you to my bedroom, I want to be sure we’re ready for that.”
Her fingers grip my shirt, holding onto me.
“ I won’t be a one-time thing, Sarah. And it won’t just be friendly.”
She huffs out a laugh, and her breath whooshes over my lips. “You might change your mind.”
I study her, not moving an inch except for my jaw clenching. “Did he put that thought there?” It’s a bit of a growl.
Her eyes fall from mine. “When your husband spends his days and nights sleeping with other women, you can’t help but think you are totally and completely unsatisfying. ”
I lift her chin. “It won’t be one time, Sarah. It will be every night, and you will be the only one.”
She whimpers, sliding her arms around my neck. “You cannot say stuff like that.”
I smile, leaning closer.
“You big shit.” She smiles. “And that damn dimple. Stoooopppp,” she whines.
I brush her hair away from her face and run my lips over her cheek and jaw down to her neck. “You smell so fucking good.”
She sucks in a breath, her body melting into mine. “Slade, I need to take this slow. I have to be sure Miles doesn’t—”
I pull away to look at her.
She fists my shirt, yanking me back. “I have no idea what he’s going to do or say. What if. . .I have to move to New York? This could be—”
“You’re not moving to New York.” It cannot happen.
Her head lolls to the side in disbelief. “I love that you’re so confident, but history tells me not to put anything past him. I have no idea what he’ll pull if I don’t do what he wants.”
Her using the word love in reference to me has my heart squeezing tight. I run my lips over her cheek, giving her the only thing I know for sure, and it surprises the shit out of me.
“Even if that were a possibility, I’d still kiss you. I’d still want you here. Just like this.”
“I’m scared about what’s coming,” she whispers, and I hear her vulnerability.
I rest my forehead on hers. “It’s going to be ok. We can take this slow and figure it out.”
Her arms tighten around my neck, and she presses up on her toes. “Then you, sir, cannot say sexy things that make me not want to take this slow.”
I suck her bottom lip between mine, and her body melts into me. I angle my head and kiss her like I’ve been wanting to all damn day. Her tongue swipes mine, and I grunt, taking a handful of her perfect ass.
I feel her grin, and I kiss it away, making sure she understands I’m not going anywhere.
I know she’s been hurt, and her trust isn’t earned easily. I want her to feel that she can trust me with everything, and I won’t betray it.
She pulls away, her chest moving in and out with mine. “We need to get back out there, or everyone will think we’re doing things in here.”
I nip at her neck, wanting to kick everyone out.
“We are doing things. Important things.”
She smacks my arm. “It’s a Christmas party, and this is your house.”
“Yep. So I can tell them all to go home.”
“Ok,” she pries herself out of my arms. “How red and puffy are my lips?”
She lifts her chin and runs her hands through her hair.
I loop my arm around her, snatching her back. “Come here. Not puffy enough.”
She laughs, and I hold her tightly. She rests her head against my chest. We stand like that for only a minute.
“Thank you for the cookies,” I say.
“Better not thank me until you taste them.” She peers up at me.
“I have something for you.”
Her eyes droop into a playful glare. “Oh, really?”
Damn her . She’s making it extremely difficult to control myself.
I nod, reluctantly releasing her to lift the wrapped box from the floor and set it on my bed.
She peeks at me, her lips turning up into a beautiful smile as she carefully unwraps it. When the paper is peeled back just enough, she stops.
“Nooooo.” She spins to face me. “Slade Bennett. This is not fair. I cannot . . . ”
I pull her to me again, linking my hands behind her back. “I’m not sure I should be supporting your addiction.”
“Addiction?” she scoffs. “I’m a mom and have been surviving on sludge that might possibly be coating my insides with tar.”
I drop my head to the side a quarter of an inch at her dramatics. “Why are you still drinking that stuff. I bought you a huge bag of grounds.”
Her arms drop from my chest to her sides. “You said it was buy one, get one.”
“I might’ve lied, but it was for a good cause.”
Her shoulders droop. “Is that so?”
I nod. “That stuff makes you so damn happy.”
Her mouth curls up, and she inhales like she can smell a fresh brew. “It really does. I’ve learned to savor the simple joys in life.” Her arms slide around my neck. “So, I’ve been using them sparingly when I have a really shitty day.”
“Well,” I lean down, brushing my lips across her cheek. “This will make your coffee taste like it was brewed in one of those fancy coffee shops.”
Her forehead presses against mine. “Slade, this is the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever been given, but I cannot accept this machine, no matter how badly I want to make a cup right now.”
I press my lips to her. “Yes, you can.”
She shakes her head. “No, I really can’t.” It’s a bit of a whine.
“It’s not just for you.” I layer kisses down her neck. “I’ll walk over and you can fill my travel mug in the mornings.”
“That is not enough.”
My teeth graze her neck. “Oh, don’t worry. I plan on collecting payment in other forms.”
“Is that a promise?”
I pull away to meet her gaze. “I’ve never made a promise I intend to keep more.”
Her head tips back as she groans. “Fiiinnnee. I’ll make you coffee and wait to pay up. ”
I stare into her eyes, imagining.
Her arms tighten around my neck. “Will you come over and sit in front of the tree with me tonight?”
“Can we go now?”
She rolls her eyes, grabbing my hand. “No. You are having a party with your friends first.” She pulls open the door.
“I’m not playing any stupid ass games.”
She twists back, pressing a quick kiss to my lips, and I’m tempted to haul her right back into my room, forgetting all thoughts of taking things slow.
“Fine, if there are games, you and Ollie can build a train track. I told him, you’d be an expert track layer.”
I follow her to the living room, knowing this is the best Christmas I’ve ever had. We can take this as slowly as she wants, but I need to be sure she and the kids don’t go anywhere.
I’m falling for Sarah. Shit. I’ve already fallen, not only for her but for her kids. They are what I want and everything I’ve been waiting for.
Somehow, I have to be sure her ex doesn’t take them from me.