Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
SAVANNA
After saying my goodnights to Drew, I finally head out the front door to make my way the few blocks to the bonfire.
After the last few days of hardly seeing Drew, I felt like I was craving some quality time with her this evening.
So, we spent the evening making homemade pizza together, while dancing and singing in the kitchen to some of her favorite songs until her babysitter showed up.
I’d say it was a good distraction to my lingering sangria-induced hangover from Wednesday night and the orgasm-induced fatigue that Dalton left with me yesterday.
My brain is clearly still trying to play catch-up to the fact that Dalton is here—on Tybee Island.
That after six years of not hearing from him, he decides to come back home and turn my world upside down.
Because after spending the last two weeks with him, seeing him act like a dad toward Drew, I’m almost positive that my drunken shower confession was true.
I love Dalton Hayes.
I’ve never stopped loving him.
And I want him all the time, not just for the next week.
I dwell on these thoughts as I make my way down the sidewalk toward the beach.
The sun set a while ago, and the bright stars are now lighting my way like streetlamps on a sidewalk.
Rubbing my bare shoulders, a breeze flows through my mini dress, causing gooseflesh to erupt across my skin.
I don’t know what I was thinking, wearing a dress to the bonfire.
I should have known that in August, there’s always a lingering coastal breeze.
I almost turn back to grab a jacket when I run into Hailey parking her car.
“Hey! Aren’t you freezing in that dress?” she asks, making her way out of her Honda. Her eyes fall to my arms wrapped around my body.
“Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking.” I shrug, a chill rolling through me.
Hailey rolls her eyes and snorts. “I’m pretty sure you were thinking you were going to see a hot marine tonight.”
A blush finds its way onto my cold cheeks.
She’s not wrong.
Linking arms with me, Hailey falls into step beside me, continuing our walk to the beach access.
“So?” she says, giving me a playful grin.
“So, what?” I act coy, chewing on my bottom lip.
She gasps, widening her eyes. “Savanna, don’t even try to act like our conversation at the bar yesterday didn’t happen.” She laughs, tipping her head back. “You couldn’t get out of there fast enough!”
A flush climbs its way up my neck. “Okay, okay. Dalton came over, and it was pretty great.” I glance at her in the dark. “Happy?”
She chuckles. “Well, define pretty great.”
I shoot her a look, and she holds up her hands. “Fine. I guess you’re not the kiss-and-tell type.” She gives me a wink. “Who knew?”
I scoff, linking my arms back through her for warmth.
“So, what are you guys now?”
A grumble falls from my mouth. “God, I don't know. He mentioned Drew and me going to California with him.”
Hailey sucks in a breath.
“After he told me that the reason he never came back to Tybee after basic training was because he called Hudson first, and Hudson told him I was pregnant and with someone else.”
Hailey chokes, her honey-brown eyes bulging when I turn to look at her. “Your brother is the reason he vanished?”
“Yes.” I shake my head. “No.” A heavy sigh falls from my chest. “Maybe...but it sounds like it wasn’t intentional,” I say, twisting my hands together, stomach suddenly feeling queasy. “It was my fault to begin with. I should have just told everyone the truth when I told my mom I was pregnant.”
Registering my shaky voice, Hailey bumps my shoulder. “Hey, you didn’t know. You were young. You panicked.”
“Yeah,” I murmured. “I just hope Dalton doesn’t hate me when I tell him.”
She giggles as our feet touch the grainy sand. “I’m pretty sure hate is the opposite of what that boy feels for you.”
Her words cause my breath to hitch, just in time for us to see the bonfire raging in the distance—my eyes lock with Dalton’s from across the flames, just like they did six years ago.
Like he could sense my presence without even seeing me yet.
His eyes flare watching me get closer, his gaze undressing me from top to bottom. I bite my lip, the feeling of butterflies going wild in my stomach as his eyes linger on me.
Breaking his gaze, I glance around the pit at Hudson and Sanders, then my eyes land on Chad before finding Dalton’s again.
But Dalton is no longer staring at me. His eyes are now glaring into Chad—skinning him alive.
“Hey, there you guys are!” Chad says, standing up to greet us as we come closer. “Savanna, I saved you a seat.” He motions to the extra beach chair lying in the sand beside him.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hudson and Sanders sitting on the edge of their beach chairs, matching smirks lining their faces. I look back at Dalton, who is clenching his jaw, fisting the neck of his beer bottle.
“Howdy, boys!” Hailey says, oblivious to the rising tension. She heads straight for the ice chest, releasing my arm, trapping me between a clueless Chad and a lethal Dalton.
In one swift move, I feel hands on me—my body landing hard on Dalton’s muscular thighs. “Yeah, no thanks, Chad,” Dalton hisses. “Savanna has a seat.” His fingertips curl around my hip bones. “In my fucking lap.”
My eyes widen, watching shock etch into everyone's face.
“Oh.” Chad rears his back, stunned. “My bad, I didn’t realize you guys were together,” he says, taking his seat again.
“Yup, we’re together.” Dalton smirks, clutching me to his chest.
Did he just claim me?
Dalton’s hands soften into a caress around my waist, pressing his nose into my neck. “I’ve had enough sitting on the sideline watching guys flirt with you.” His lips graze my neck. “Never. Again.” His rough voice causes my body to erupt in a shiver.
My cheeks flame, heart pulsing against his grip as I look around at our friends.
My eyes snag on Hudson, who is trying to swallow his laughter.
He slaps his knee. “Oh, you know what, Chad? My fault, I should have properly introduced you to my brother-in-law.” His voice cackles, shooting us a wink.
“Chad, Dalton…” He motions between them. “Dalton, Chad.”
I gasp, my eyes narrowing in a glare. “Hudson!”
Hudson and Sanders high-five. “Relax. It’s all in good fun. I know Dalton isn’t my brother-in-law.” He pauses, bringing his beer to his lips. “Yet.”
A grumble falls from my chest as Dalton’s arms slide up and down my arms, warming me.
“Ignore him,” he whispers. I glance back over my shoulder, and my gaze flickers to his lips. Dalton’s mouth curves into a grin when he sees me staring.
“Well!” Hailey says, snapping my head forward. “Sorry to disappoint you, Chad, but it looks like I’m sitting next to you tonight!” She makes her way beside him, grabbing the chair lying in the sand. She opens it and plops down.
“No problem. It’s a win in my book.” Chad winks, clinking his beer to hers.
From across the flames, I catch a glimpse of Hudson choking on his beer. He slaps his chest, coughing, trying to regain his composure.
Dalton chuckles behind me. Glancing back, I raise a brow. “California sunshine,” he says in a low voice, tipping his head toward Hudson and Hailey.
I tilt my head, trying to understand the phrase—but come up empty.
Dalton lays my body back to rest against his chest, his body heat instantly warming me. Nipping my ear with his teeth, he rasps, “Are you cold, baby?”
My body stills.
Did Dalton just do that in the open? In front of my brother?
Forgetting how to speak, I nod against his chest. Dalton’s arms squeeze around me tighter. “You wanted to freeze to death wearing this tiny fucking dress, because you wanted to tease me, didn’t you, Savanna?” he whispers.
His calloused fingertips dig into my cotton dress, waiting for my answer. Electricity shoots to my core when his hands find my knotted bikini bottoms tied at the hips—his fingertips lightly grazing the strings.
I nod sheepishly, unable to think with Dalton’s hands caressing me.“Well, it fucking worked,” he coos, his breath tickling my ear. “You have no idea how badly I want you right now.”
I glance behind me, locking my eyes with his. A sly smile spreads across my lips, shifting my body into his hardened length beneath me.
“Savanna...” he warns. “If you keep doing that, we’re going to have a problem.”
“What kind of problem?”
Dalton’s eyes cast to my lips before lifting to pin me with a feral look. “Do it again and find out.”
My cheeks flush, my heart rate working overtime as the heat between us builds. Taking hold of his hand, I thread our fingers, tugging him up. “Come on. Let’s go for a walk.”
His eyes widen, mouth tugging into a grin as I lead him away from the bonfire.
“Hey, where the hell do you two think you’re going?” Hudson yells, watching us walk away.
I hear him groan before clearing his throat. “Fine. Be safe, kids!”
I wave him off, hearing him chuckle in the background.
Being safe with Dalton has never been my strong suit.
I think that ship has sailed.