Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
SAVANNA
Making our way down the sand, I lead, pulling Dalton by the hand behind me.
After a moment, he comes to an abrupt stop, jerking me into him.
His hands land on my hips, his breath warms my neck before pressing a gentle kiss to it.
“You wanted me all to yourself, didn’t you?
” Dalton rasps. “I thought you didn’t want anyone to find out about us? ”
My head falls back into his chest, giggling. “Well, that all went out the window when you staked your claim like a neanderthal back there,” I tease.
“Damn right I’m a Neanderthal when it comes to you.” His teeth sink into my neck, causing me to whimper. “I had to do what I fucking had to do.”
Dalton spins me around, my hands landing on his chest. My breath catches, his blue eyes holding me hostage in the trail of moonlight surrounding us. His eyes flicker to my mouth before cupping my face and pressing a kiss to my chilled lips.
I moan, my body sinking into him. Dalton’s tongue swirls with mine as he takes me deeper. I fist his shirt, legs feeling unstable beneath me, savoring the taste I’ve been craving since Dalton left me yesterday afternoon.
He moans into me before pulling apart, his smile widening against my lips. “Fuck, Savanna. I will never get tired of doing that.”
My cheeks warm in a flush, sliding down my neck. Tipping my head toward the pier, I give him a shy smile. “Alright, come on, cowboy. Let's find somewhere to sit and cuddle so my brother doesn’t see me devour you.”
Dalton’s eyes light up. “Cuddle, huh? You want to cuddle me, Savanna Davis?” His tone is playful as he lifts his eyebrows. “And cowboy? Is this one of Savanna’s fantasies?”
My head tips back in a cackle as I whack his chest playfully. The image of Dalton in a cowboy hat, riding me from behind, is now permanently seared into my brain.
“Maybe,” I say with a coy smile. “But I don’t know if you could pull it off. You're a little too California now.”
Dalton scoffs, tugging me to his chest. “Baby, you can take the boy out of Georgia, but you will never take Georgia out of the boy.”
I shrug. “If you say so.”
He groans, dragging a hand down his face. “Well, I guess I’m buying a cowboy hat tomorrow,” he says, before scooping me up into his arms like I’m weightless.
I squeal, lacing my arms around his neck. “Dalton!”
“What's that saying? Save a horse, ride a cowboy?” A sly grin pulls at the corner of his lips.
Sucking in my bottom lip, I nod. My fingers dig into the nape of his neck, gripping him tighter. “Well, hold on then.” He winks.
A rush of breath leaves me when Dalton starts running down the sand in a sprint, cradling me to his chest. I shriek as my head tips back in a breathless laugh, my hair flowing behind us.
Dalton’s feet come to an abrupt halt in the sand. Gently, he lowers me to the ground. “Does this spot look familiar?” he asks, taking a seat next to me in the sand. Stretching out his legs, he motions for me to sit between them.
I look around at our spot under the pier. Our own sliver of privacy. The same spot Dalton brought me six years ago, the same place that’s haunted me every day since. I suck in a sharp breath, my body tensing.
The place where we accidentally conceived Drew.
Dalton’s brows pinch together in worry as he watches me stare into the Atlantic. “Hey,” he says, tugging my hand into him. “What’s wrong?”
Giving him a half-smile, I shake my head before climbing into his lap. He rests his chin on my head as I sink into his chest. “Of course, I remember this spot. It's where you took my virginity.”
Dalton’s chest rumbles beneath me, his arms wrapping around me tightly, clutching me to his chest. “What a coincidence,” he says, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “It’s the same spot I lost mine, too.”
My head whips around, a choked sound escaping me. Dalton’s smirk stares back at me.
Dalton lost his virginity to me?
“Dalton...” I say slowly, my eyes widening. “What do you mean, this is the same spot you lost your virginity?” My body stills, mouth hanging open. “The night we had sex six years ago was your first time, too?”
Dalton chuckles at my shocked expression. “Yes, that’s what losing your virginity means, Savanna.” He pauses, his forehead creasing. “What did you think? I was some sort of man whore in high school?”
I bite my lip, looking away. “Well, not exactly.” I pause, my eyes finding him again. “What about that one girl you dated for a few months senior year?”
He tilts his head like he can’t remember. “Doesn’t ring a bell,” he laughs.
Lifting his hand, he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his thumb grazing my cheek. “It’s like you forgot that I said it has always been you.”
I gasp, my heart fluttering against my ribcage. “I didn’t forget...”
Dalton makes a humming noise as he studies me. “I think maybe you did forget...”
The air leaves my lungs. Dalton thinks I forgot about him, that I slept with someone else. That I didn’t wait for him.
It’s the opposite.
I waited for him for so long that time started to blur. While my heart began to shrink, my stomach started to grow. The only hope I had was holding on to the half of Dalton that was inside of me.
Dalton tips my chin up, and my downward cast eyes find him. “Hey, look at me. It’s in the past.” His fingers stroke my skin, eyes searching mine.
“It’s not,” I mumble.
He frowns, his fingers stilling on my skin. “It is, Savanna. God, I fucking wish I had known sooner that you were all alone here, being a single mom. You are such a good mom, Savanna.” He blows out a breath.
Meanwhile, my stomach churns.
“These past two weeks with you and Drew have given me a glimpse of a life I never imagined. Shit, a life I never thought could be possible.” He pauses, staring out at the waves crashing ashore. “I don’t know how I’m going to get on that plane and leave you guys next weekend.”
His eyes snap to mine. “Tell me to stay.”
I inhale sharply. The knot in my belly pulls tighter. “Dalton...I can’t—”
He presses his lips to mine in a firm kiss, pulling away to rest his forehead against mine. “You can, Savanna. You’re the only one that can make me give it all up.”
His eyes flicker closed before slowly opening. “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do for work, but I’ll figure something out,” he mumbles.
“Dalton...I can’t ask you to do that.” My heart races, knowing he is about to make the decision of a lifetime—and possibly a mistake.
Once he knows the truth, there’s a good chance he will never forgive me. And by then, the last place he will want to be is stuck on the island—with me.
Dalton shakes his head, scratching his jawline. He looks away before looking back at me. A light laugh falls from his lips. “You don’t get it, do you?”
I shake my head, my features pulling tight.
“You know what I told my mom yesterday?” He studies me, like he’s waiting for me to guess. “I told her I was in love with you.”
I go completely still. The only sound I hear is the sound ringing in my ears, panic filling every crevice of my body. “What?”
Dalton chuckles, gripping my body, his fingers tracing my waist. “I love you, Savanna.”
He pulls back from my stiff posture.
“Don’t act so surprised,” he rasps. “I’ve loved you all my life. I’d marry you tomorrow if you’d let me.”
My breath leaves my body, leaving me motionless.
Dalton chuckles. “And look, you don’t have to say it back. I’ll take the drunk version for now,” he teases, placing a kiss on my lips.
My eyes fill with tears, and I kiss him back. My mind is already convincing me that this is the last time Dalton’s lips will find mine. Pulling back, I go to stand, wrapping my hands around my waist. His face pinches with confusion as he watches me leave his body to pace in front of him.
“Savanna?” He stands, his voice edging with worry.
Shaking my head, the first tear streams down my cheek. “You might not mean that...”
He rears his head. “Might not mean that I love you? I’m pretty fucking sure I know what I’m talking about,” he says, reaching for me.
“No—” I shake him off. “You're just going to leave,” I say, my chest heaving. “When you find out...”
“I’m telling you, to tell me to stay!” Dalton trembles, his voice coming out shaky, watching me unravel before him.
“Find out what, Savanna? What the hell are you talking about?”He reaches for me again, and I turn away from him.
I gasp for air, seeing spots in my vision. Preparing myself for Dalton to disappear, and for the last two weeks, to be it.
“When you find out Drew is yours!” I choke out in a sob.
I turn just in time to watch the color drain from his face. The worried expression etched across his features seconds ago, replaced by something dark—his eyes are molten with anger.
“What the fuck did you just say?” he booms, his body rigid straight, like he’s being pulled up by an invisible string.
Dalton tugs his ear, his eyes searing into mine, his usually icy blue—now blazing red. “It almost sounded like you said I have a daughter you kept from me.”
He shakes his head, a manic laugh escaping him. “But you would never do that to me, Savanna, so there’s no fucking way I heard that right.”
I swallow hard, crossing my arms. “You didn’t come back...” My voice trails off slowly. “I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me.”
A crazed sound falls from Dalton’s chest. “Didn’t want anything to do with you?” he shouts, his arms exploding in the air. “I wanted everything to do with you, Savanna!” He pins me with a heated look, chest heaving.
“Dalton—” My voice shakes, taking a step closer to him.
He shakes his head, jaw clenched tight. Taking two steps back, his feet sink in the sand. “Don't, Savanna!” He rakes his fingers through his hair. “Was this your plan all along? Just to fuck me and let me leave?”
My eyes widen in shock. “What, no...Dalton...” I stammer, numbness washing over me.
I grip the sides of my dress, my fingers curling into the cotton—the rising tide lapping at my bare feet.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he yells, his voice echoing off the pier we’re standing under.
“Tell you?” I shout back, the ache in my chest finally exploding. “When Dalton? When you came back from basic like you promised me you would? Or should I have waited for all the times you contacted me after that?”
“I told you the reason I didn’t come back!”
I scoff. “Yeah, you let my drunk brother make the decision for you!”
Dalton’s eyes darken, his tongue pressing into the side of his cheek. “It’s called a goddamn phone, Savanna. Learn to use it.” He turns to leave, then stops to give me a quick glance over his shoulder. “If I didn’t come back, would you have ever told me?”
I stare down at my feet, unable to respond—my hands curling around my body.
“Jesus Christ, Savanna,” he explodes, throwing his hands up. “You’re so selfish! You weren’t going to, were you?”
Meeting his eyes, I raise my shoulders. A swallowed sob leaves my throat. “I don’t know!”
Dalton’s face pulls tight, his eyes turning cold. “Because of you...my daughter was led to believe that sometimes their dads just don’t stick around...” His voice is ice, sending a chill down my spine. “Didn’t really give me a fucking choice, did you?”
My heart stops, the tears in my eyes pouring out as I grip my chest.
Dalton studies me, the haze in his eyes matching mine.
“Well, thanks for making my decision to leave a whole lot easier now,” he says before turning to leave.