Chapter 13
THIRTEEN
DALTON
It’s always been you for me, too.
Those six words strung together from a breathless Savanna engulfs my body in a flame of desire and need.
Savanna’s legs wrapped around me, in the middle of the ocean, as she hungrily devours me, is a dream I don’t want to wake from.
The years I’ve spent longing for her all add up to this moment. Her confession is all the confirmation I need.
I grunt, hiking Savanna higher around my waist, and walk us toward the shore. Luckily, it’s too dark on the beach right now for anyone to see us coming out of the water. Hudson and Sanders are too busy laughing in the distance.
Their slurred words signal they’re too drunk to notice us.
I walk us in the opposite direction of the bonfire, toward the pier in search of some privacy. I walk through the pilings, set her gently on the dry sand under the pier, hoping the vertical posts will hide us from view.
Savanna’s back hits the ground softly as she hangs onto my neck and tugs me into her—letting out a whimper as the weight of my body presses her further into the sand.
In the dark, her lips find my mouth again.
“God, Savanna. You're so fucking beautiful,” I groan between kisses. I take her mouth into mine, sliding my tongue past her lips. Her body arches into mine, desperate for friction, longing for release.
My hand leaves the back of her neck and travels between her thighs. Applying friction, I press into the fabric of her bikini bottoms, gliding my fingers up and down, testing her restraint.
Testing our restraint.
She moans, grinding into my hand frantically. “Please, Dalton.”
I push the fabric aside, feeling the wetness of her skin. I rub her sensitive bud in slow circles, savoring the moment while it lasts. She gasps, gripping my neck tighter, as if she’s holding on for dear life. I slide one finger inside, stretching her.
“Dalton,” she whimpers, fingernails digging into the back of my neck. She bucks against my hand, and I take that as a sign to keep going. My finger slides slowly in and out of her—when she squeezes around my finger, my cock strains in my shorts.
“I want more, Dalton,” Savanna whispers into my ear, her tongue teasing my neck.
My fingers leave her as I pull back, taking in her lust-filled eyes—a fiery orange burning against an emerald green.
Is she asking me what I think she is?
I contemplate whether I should be the one to take her virginity.
Am I worthy of that privilege?
I’m leaving for basic training tomorrow. I can’t give her a relationship, even if I want to.
I search Savanna’s face for the answers.
“Are you sure?” I rasp, my fingertips digging into her hips.
“Yes, I want it to be you, Dalton,” Savanna whimpers, her fingers brushing against the back of my neck.
If I’m honest, I want to be her first time too.
My hands trace the outline of her body, committing it to memory. A soft sigh escapes her, landing against my lips. I cup her breast, thumb circling her nipples over the fabric. I swallow. Seeing Savanna eager and ready for me like this makes my chest tighten.
Fuck, I’m nervous.
With my trembling fingers, I untie her top and toss it aside. Perky, dainty nipples stare back at me in the moonlight. I palm her breasts, marveling at their perfection. Making my hands way down Savanna’s body, I tug on the sides of her bikini bottoms, asking for permission.
Savanna bites her bottom lip and nods.
I undo the strings slowly, letting her lie bare in the sand, my hands running along her thighs—mesmerized by all her curves.
My thoughts run rampant as I study her.
I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.
Savanna’s hands find my pulsing length, pushing my shorts down. “I don’t have a condom, Savanna,” I rasp.
But her hand around my cock makes me lose my train of thought.
“It’s okay, I’m on birth control,” she confesses, gripping my base.
I nod, coming to terms with what she’s just said.
Before I can think better of it, I line myself up at her entrance and push into her slowly. Her whimpers are all I can hear. Savanna’s fingertips dig into my forearms, breath coming out uneven, as our eyes refuse to look away from one another.
Our breaths grow ragged as I thrust into her, lips crashing into one another frantically. The feeling of being bare inside Savanna is intoxicating. Chasing that high, I continue making love to the girl of my dreams, pretending as if I don’t have to leave her in twelve hours…
Drew and I race the two blocks to South Beach, as the last light of sunset bleeds into dusk.
The twilight sky acts as a timer, letting me know we only have a limited time left before the sky turns black.
As my feet sink into the warm, coarse sand, I’m reminded of all the nostalgic memories this place holds—like where I first made love to Savanna.
That spot under the pier, a few yards away, is etched into the very fibers of my being.
I glance down at Drew’s white-blonde hair and piercing blue eyes as she takes in the sight before us. She picks a spot and starts digging through the sand with a shovel.
She’s an island girl just like Savanna.
My eyes land on the little freckles littering her face as she scrunches her nose. A familiar pang shoots through my chest as I watch her digging with concentration.
Shit. She looks exactly like Savanna.
I squat down next to her, helping her search for shells. “Is this a good one?” I ask, holding up a Calico Scallop shell for Drew to examine.
Drew’s eyes light up in approval. “Oh, I like that one!”
I toss it into her bucket and keep digging.
“So, Miss Drew, tell me…ice cream or cake?” I pop a few more unique shells in Drew’s bucket while I wait for her response. Thinking, maybe now’s the time to play the ten-question game. I want to learn as much as I can about her—about the little girl Savanna has raised.
Drew stops digging and sits back on her heels, forehead creasing. “That's too hard, Dalton. I like them both. I really love ice cream, but chocolate cake with sprinkles is the most delicious thing ever,” she says, glancing toward the night sky—as if she’s imagining the taste of cake.
Her eyes meet mine again. “Don’t tell my mom this, but sometimes I eat dessert first without her knowing. That way I get two desserts in one day.” She presses her fingers to her lips, zipping them shut, then twists her hands as if throwing away the key.
I snort.
If I know Savanna, Drew’s not getting away with this on purpose—she’s a softie at heart, and that thought alone creates a warmth in my chest.
“Your secret is safe with me,” I confirm with a wink. “Alright, next question. Cinderella or Moana?”
Drew shrugs. “Easy. Moana. She loves the ocean, just like me.”
Yeah, that was a no-brainer.
“Okay. What about pizza or pasta?”
She giggles, slapping her forehead. “Pasta, Dalton. I told you that earlier. Remember?”
I scratch my jaw and laugh. “Oh, that’s right. We both agreed that our favorite was pasta.” I continue with my questionnaire. “Sharks or whales?”
“Sharks. They can bite your leg off, and squirt blood all over the ocean.” She pretends to sink her teeth into a massive bite, chewing it thoroughly while her words land with force.
I wince. “Dark thought, but that is true. Okay, moving on to something lighter. How about rain or snow?”
She hums. “Rain. Because my mommy and I like to snuggle on the couch under the blankets and watch movies all day when it rains.”
That sweetest image of them curled up on the couch fills my mind, and now all I want is some Georgia rain.
Our feet step in line together as we pick a new spot closer to the water. “Baseball or soccer?” I ask.
“Baseball, duh. Because of Uncle Hudson, of course.”
I laugh. “Smart girl. Are you more of a pink or purple kind of girl?”
She points at her rain boots. “Always pink.”
“Dogs or cats?”
She thinks about this question. “Dogs. They’ll protect you better than a cat.”
I give her a nod, the overwhelming sensation of wanting to protect her claws at my chest, but I set it aside. “Sweet or sour?”
“Dalton, I already told you my important secret about sweets,” she giggles.
“That’s right,” I chuckle, my hands sinking into the wet sand. “Fishing or snorkeling?”
“Oh! Fishing. I love to fish. Uncle Hudson takes me sometimes when my mommy is at work.”
A girl clearly after my own heart.
“Oh, yeah? Are you telling me you know how to fish?”
I shake off the memory of Savanna baiting her hook and casting it off my dad’s boat. She could always outfish the boys.
I smile, raising an eyebrow at Drew. “I have a fishing boat, you know?” With a shrug, I add, “Maybe I can take you and your mom out fishing sometime.”
Drew shrieks with delight.
I’ll take that as a yes.
“Oh, please, Dalton! Promise?” she begs, jutting her bottom lip out.
I chuckle. She’s good. It’s obvious she has her pleading act down to a refined science. By the looks of it, she must practice in the mirror.
“Okay, okay, Drew,” I give in, feeling like such a sucker. “If your mom says yes, then I’ll promise to take you out on the boat.”
That answer earns me another squeal of approval.
Once we’re satisfied with our shell haul, we head back toward the house. Walking over the wooden bridge, across the dunes connecting to the sidewalk, I ask one more question to finish our game. “Okay, Drew. Last question. Favorite holiday, Thanksgiving or Christmas?”
Her boots clack against the wooden walkway alongside me. “Hmm…I love them both. But neither because my birthday is my favorite holiday!”
I snort. She would declare her birthday a national holiday. Not wanting to burst her bubble, I play along. “Oh, yeah?” I raise an eyebrow. “And what day is that?”
“May ninth,” she says before taking off, running the rest of the way home.
I pick up my pace, following behind. I run calculations between the night of the bonfire and Savanna and Drew’s birthday, but quickly shake that thought away.
Because if Drew were mine, Savanna would have told me, right?
Once we make it to the driveway, Drew runs up the porch steps toward the front door—kicking off her boots along the way.
As I enter the front door behind Drew, I find a freshly showered Savanna coming down the stairs to greet us.
My eyes immediately land on her oversized black Salty Sailor top, which fits more like a dress on her small frame, paired with white tube socks banded in red at her ankles, along with wet hair that frames her flawless makeup-free face.
She looks fucking stunning, and I’m certain my jaw has hit the floor.
“Hey, you guys are back. How was it?” Savanna asks. Her eyes linger on me as she makes her way down the staircase.
“So good, Mommy. Dalton and I found the prettiest shells to add to my collection,” Drew says, walking over toward the coffee table.
She dumps her bucket, spreading the shells out for Savanna to see. Savanna kneels beside Drew and sifts through them, picking up a white shell that’s shaped like a heart.
“Oh, Dalton found that one.”
Savanna’s eyes burn into mine. “Oh, yeah? Good find, Dalton.” She bites the inside of her cheek, glancing back down at the shells.
“Yeah, I thought it would be a nice shell for Drew’s collection,” I say, scratching the back of my head.
Savanna’s eyes meet mine as she stands. “Well, Drew, baby, I think it’s time we got you ready for bed. Thanks to Dalton, you can get a hot bath tonight.”
Drew leaps up from the ground and jumps into my arms. “Thank you so much for taking me to the beach, Dalton,” she says, squeezing her arms around my neck.
Drew finally pulls herself from me, leaps out of my arms, and races up the stairs. “Goodnight,” she yells over her shoulder on her way up.
Savanna and I stare at each other, dumbfounded.
“Um…Well, I have to get Drew to bed...” Savanna starts, hiking a thumb over her shoulder. “But I was thinking about having a glass of wine after, if you're up to stick around for a bit. It’s totally up to you, though. No pressure.”
I step closer, reaching for her hand and pulling her flush against my body. Peering down, my eyes search hers. I lean into her neck, brushing it lightly with my lips. A shiver ripples through her as her green eyes turn molten.
“I thought you were going to punish me for teasing you earlier.”
Savanna’s eyes widen, her hands flat against my chest. “Oh,” she whispers. “So…you’ll stay?”
My hand rests on her hip, giving it a firm squeeze. “Yeah, Savanna, I’ll stay.”