Evolve Series Box Set (99 page)

“Sawyer,” she touches my cheek, contemplating her next words, “I’m sorry I’ve been weird. I thought…” A soft, frustrated sigh escapes as she tries to sort her words. “God, you just deserve more than any woman could possibly give you.”

“Simple yes or no, Em. Do you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

CHAPTER 17

Twenty-two Candles

***Sawyer***

Three days—that’s how long Emmett froze after we made love.

Another three days since Bennett, Whitley and Laney found out there’s a baby on the way.

Three glorious days booked in a suite at Hillside Manor to hide away with Emmett since the Crew girls now know there’s a baby coming. 

They’ve got baby fever Bad with a capital B. Yesterday, I went to get a movie from Red Box—I was literally gone twenty minutes—I get back to see The Sanderson Sisters hovered over my woman, who’s flat on her back on the floor, and they’re twirling needles on string over her!

After I barked at them to never do voodoo on my baby again, then helped my sweet preggo off the damn floor, I sent them packing with a promise to write them an approved project list ASAP.

Then I got on the web and booked this trip.

Then I made them a list and texted it to them, with a very strict forty-eight hour delay in start time. GO CRAZY, CRAZIES—after I have my Em tucked safely in my arms four hours away.

Emmett falls asleep about twenty minutes into the trip, her head leaning up against the window, which makes me uneasy. “Babe,” I fiddle for her hand still watching the road, “Em, I need you to wake up, honey. Lean my way.”

“Uh,” she frumps in her sleep, shifting toward me, readjusting so her head is on the console between us. “Oh, this is comfortable,” she mumbles. “Why’d you move me?”

“I didn’t want you to fall out the door, grumpy.”

She sits up, giving me a skeptical smirk. “Fall out the door? It’s locked.”

“You never know.”

“I know you’re paranoid.”

“And you’re radiant.”

“And you’re forgiven.” She leans over, kissing my cheek. “How much longer?”

“A while. Why, do you need something?”

“No, no reason.”

“Short stuff?”

“Huh?”

“You need to pee, don’t you?”

She huffs, shoulders dropping. “Yes, sorry.”

***Emmett***

Cancel the dream cottage I wanted to build—I want to live here for the rest of my life.

Tucked away off the main road and surrounded by dense woods, Hillside Manor is absolutely magnificent. Our room is beyond breathtaking, the humongous bed so high off the ground I have to take a running start or get a boost up from Sawyer. In the corner, there’s a mini-kitchenette, ensuring you don’t have to leave the room if you don’t want to, though you can go downstairs for meals in your pajamas if you feel like it.

The best part is the bathroom, hands down. A Nickleback-sized garden tub is sunk low in the floor, candles at the ready. Which is exactly where I’m reclined, lost in serenity, when I hear music.

I thought he wanted a nap?

Sitting up, I train my ears, making sure I’m right. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley is playing. What a great song; my gramma loved The King.

Sawyer appears in the doorway and turns off the lights, letting the lit candle he’s holding be his guide. He sits on the edge of the tub, putting the candle down on the countertop and dipping his right hand under the water to find mine. “I can’t help it, Emmett, I fell. I love you, birthday girl.”

Oh my gosh, that’s right. With everything going crazy in my life, I’d completely forgotten. How’s it even possible to forget your own birthday?

“Thank you,” I whisper, completely enchanted by him.

“You’re welcome.” He winks. “So what do you want for your birthday?”

“You, in this tub with me.”

“Em, we—”

“Nuh uh.” I squeeze his hand, stopping him. “I’m fine, no problems, and Dr. Greer said it was okay.”

“But what—”

I let go of his hand, letting my own disappear under the water. I slump further down in the bubbles, my head falling back against the wall, and blatantly spread my legs as wide as the sides of the tub allow. “Mmm,” I close my eyes and moan, “it’s okay, babe. I got it.”

“Temptress,” he hisses. 

Eyes still closed, I giggle, hearing his clothes rustle off and hit the floor at lightning speed. 

“That water better not be too hot,” he grumbles. “You know that, right? Speaking of which, you know not to get in the hot tub should Laney ask, don’t you?”

“Yes, Sawyer,” I agree ho-humly. He just can’t stand it when I take control of the situation.

“Sit up,” he commands, to which I gladly comply. Sliding in behind me, his long, large legs come around either side of me, sending water up and over the edge.

Big hands come under my arms and around the front to massage my breasts. “Feels good. No hotter than this, though, Em.”

“I heard you, bossy,” I hum, enjoying the feel of his hands on me.

“We gotta get one of these tubs,” he murmurs against my shoulder.

“Or we could stay in this one forever,” I mumble, purposely squirming, making sure my ass grinds back into him.

His response is to pinch both my nipples, rolling them between his thumb and finger. “Promise me something?”

“What’s that?” I get up on my knees, sending another splash to the floor, and then turn and straddle him.  Very nice, he put in his nipple rings like I asked. Sexy. As. Hell.

He stops my hands from their journey up his chest. “Promise me that you won’t hide. You want my cock again? I want your heart first. Tell me,” his always deep blue eyes, now resembling a starless night sky, stare through mine, “that we’ll be forever.”

It steals my breath, his sweet, sincere plea. I’m done trying to convince him that I’m the wrong one. If he wants me, maybe I should let myself believe I’m the right one. I heard someone once say, “if you know you’re gonna get your ass kicked, walk away from the fight before wasting energy on even one punch.” Honestly, I’ve known from day one this was a fight I’d never win, so here it is—my white flag. I’m done attempting not to notice the days he wears Usher versus Obsession. I’m totally over swapping pillowcases every other day so his scent is always most potent under my cheek. And I refuse, for one more minute, to credit pregnancy hormones for what one smirk from the man does to every part of me.

“Em,” he breaks into my thoughts, “I need you to promise me.”

I nod, smiling from ear to ear. He’s taking a huge chance on me because he thinks I’m worth it. I need to do the same for him. “I promise. No running, no hiding. We belong together.”

“Mine?” He lifts a hand to my cheek, the thumb tracing my jawline. When I nod, he runs that hand down my body to my stomach. “Mine?”

I suck in a breath and tug at my lower lip, trying not to cry. Yeah, right, like that’s possible. Tears stream down my face, but again, I nod.

“I love you, Emmett.” He starts to kiss me, my tears, my eyelids, my forehead, lastly my lips. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Sawyer,” I choke out, chuckling at my pathetic blabbering. “You’ll always be my first miracle.”

Now he tilts my head, kissing me deeply. I kiss him back with all the adoration and lust I feel coursing through me; this sexy, badass, tender man wants me, and he’s always making me feel like the most precious gem in the whole world. I sneak one hand between our chests and give a tug on his nipple ring—scorching hot on him.

“Love these,” I praise into his mouth.

“Love these,” he answers instantly with a pull on my own nipple.

Ever so slowly, absorbing the feel of every muscle, my hand creeps lower until it’s exploring the head of his dick. “Want this,” I run my tongue along the inside of his upper lip, “now.”

“Yeah?” He sucks on my bottom lip and tugs, opening his eyes and finding mine. He leans back, shifting his hips, and wraps his right hand around himself. “You want this?” he taunts me, holding our locked gaze as he leisurely rubs himself.

I silently nod, giving him my best seductive look.

“Then climb on it, babe,” he encourages. “Take it.”

One hand braced on his pec, I raise my bottom half and spread my knees out further. I guide myself over him until I feel the tip of him hinting at my entrance. I try to hold his gaze while I slide down him, but he’s not looking at me right now. His orbs are DEFCON 5, locked on the exact point where we’re about to join, his tongue sliding methodically back and forth along his lower lip.

“That’s my girl,” he croons, fingers curled mercilessly on my hips. “Take me in you, baby, nice and slow.”

Like there’s another option; it’s a tight fit and more than a tad intimidating. I look down when I swear I feel him poking my ribs. What? Jesus Christ, there’s more.

“Relax, babe.” He catches my eyes now. “You’ve had it all before. Relax your muscles and take deep breathes. Take all the time you need.” He winks that sexy smirk, telling me he doesn’t mind the slow burn one bit. “Lemme help.” He releases one hip, the blood rushing back into the spot he’s been squeezing, and presses his thumb to my clit, moving it left then right to really get in there. Oh yeah, that instantly makes my pussy moisten, the natural lubricant sliding me further down on him.

“Yeah, Em, good girl, baby,” he groans, rubbing harder on my hot spot. “All of it.” His head falls back as my skin finally rests flush against him.

I give it a second without moving and bask in the overwhelming feeling of fullness. It’s a lot different in this position; a hard, long rod straight up in me, the hint of his coarse hairs tickling my most sensitive spots. Acclimated, I start to rock, up and back, down and forward, and the animalistic groan that rips from Sawyer’s chest spurs me on, encouraging me to pick up speed.

“Fucking hell, Shorty, you have no idea how good you feel. Ride my dick, babe, ah fuck yes, Em,” he grunts, breathing hard in and out, “ride me.” He never stops his ministrations on my clit, and when his left hand guides my hip, showing me how to roll my hips, I get this curve and pop thing going that feels like nirvana.

“Gonna, oh gonna—” I hiss through my teeth, my throat closing up as the sensation grows.

“Yeah you are.” He sits up now, sucking one breast in his mouth and biting my nipple gently. “So damn good, Emmy, let go all over me.”

And I do; grinding my clit into his thumb, wiggling around to find the right spot, and detonating like the space shuttle at lift off. “Uhh,” I moan, never wanting it to end.

It’s a whole new kind of orgasm than the last time and I feel the difference again as he thrusts up into me. Leaning over him, I take his nipple in my mouth, tugging on the silver ring there with my teeth.

“Gonna fill you up, baby.” He grasps both my hips strongly, holding me down and still, forcing me to absorb the impact of his deep, hard thrusts up into me. “Fuck, fuck,” he pants, the last sound a long growl until he’s finished twitching inside me.

I rest my cheek upon his chest; playing with the nipple ring right in front of me. He rubs my back, kissing the top of my head. We stay like that, no words, until the water starts to get a chill to it. Staying inside me, he rolls us to one side, slipping out of me then and kissing my nose. “Stay right there.”

When he climbs out of the tub, I take a moment to appreciate his tight, fine ass. I’m enjoying the view immensely, but I’m also curious—how the hell is it as tan as the rest of his body? “Do you go to tanning beds?” I ask.

“No,” he chuckles, wrapping a towel around his waist then grabbing another off the shelf. “Why?”

“How is your butt as tan as your arms then?” I pull the plug, then stand, taking his hand offered out to me.

He wraps the towel around me, downright snickering at me. “I have no idea. What about you? Your ass isn’t exactly fluorescent. Sexy as fuck, yes. Bright white, no.”

I reach behind me to lift the towel, craning my neck to have a looksee at my own rear end. Huh. I’ll be, he’s right. “Where do you come up with this stuff, anyway?” He chuckles as he asks, smiling at me with warmth and sincerity.

Shrugging, I move around him to brush my teeth and pull back my damp hair. Who I see in the mirror is a stranger, a version of Emmett Young who was only just born.

I look content.

There’s no fear or second guessing in my eyes, no hint of fraud in my smile or burden to the lay of my shoulders. My jaw is slack, unclenched for the first time in as long as I can remember, and the blush to my cheeks is the perfect shade.

Scratch that, I look happy.

“I love you.” His arms come around my waist from behind, our gazes meeting in the mirror. “Never thought it’d happen to me; maybe even thought I was making you up. Turns out you were better than a fantasy and more than I’d ever been foolish enough to hope to want. You see that absolute beauty in the mirror there?” He points and I shrink in embarrassment, but he quickly moves my face once again. “You think that’s gorgeous, you should see this.” He moves his hand over my heart. “Most determined, caring, courageous, resilient, loving person I know. And she’s all mine.”

Behind us on the back of the door are plush robes, so he grabs one, holding it open for me. I loosen the knot on my towel and let it drop to my feet, our eyes still connected in the mirror. Feeling his way, the robe is draped around me, my arms maneuvered through. Then I turn around and do the same for him.

“You ready for bed, lil’ mama?”

“Yes.” I yawn at the reminder.

“Movie?”

“Nah,” I pull him behind me, then stop waiting for his touch on my hips for my hoist into the bed, “too tired.”

He climbs into the bed, pulling me right up against his front, one arm over my waist, loosening the knot on the robe. “I couldn’t sleep those few nights, Shorty.” He nudges my hair off my shoulder then pulls the cloth off my shoulder. “I missed this.”