by Jill Sanders
She heard him chuckle, then the lights flooded the room again.
“You’re not getting off that easy.” He smiled.
She frowned and flipped the switch off again. She heard him chuckle once more, and then he left her side. Her hands dropped by her side, and she stood in the dark wondering what he was doing. The light beside the bed flipped on and she saw him standing across the room. She started to think of how she could convince him to flip it off as well.
He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head when she started to move towards it. “It stays on.” Something told her that pouting wouldn’t work with him this time.
She’d lost all control of the situation and for the first time in her life, she knew without a doubt that she was going to enjoy every second of the rest of her evening.
Billy couldn’t stop smiling as Savannah stood across the room in nothing but a white cotton bra and her black leggings. She’d removed the sexy boots at the front door and he found her bright pink toenails sexier than hell.
Just being this close to a woman again was sending his body into overdrive. Knowing it was Savannah, the mother of his child, the woman he’d been in love with for as long as he could remember, was like adding nitro to his system, pushing his body to want her faster.
He shook his head and dropped his arms to his side. Her eyes were traveling over him, and he could see the heat in them as she enjoyed what she looked at.
Working on the pipeline had been hard work, but during his off hours, he’d done some lifting with a weight set the guys had in the trailer. Not that he was vain, but he’d gained a few extra pounds since graduating from high school. He’d also started getting a beer gut like the one he’d always hated on his father.
Glancing down at himself, he smiled a little. Gone was the beer gut and in its place was a well-toned six-pack. It wasn’t as impressive as the abs on some of the guys that worked on his crew, but he felt he could hold his own and knew how hard he’d worked for it.
“So?” He looked back up at her.
Her eyes darted to his in question.
“Are you going to come over here and let me enjoy every inch of your body?”
Her face flushed, and then her shoulders went back in a classic Savannah move, and she marched across the room. He would have laughed if seeing her coming toward him hadn’t turned him on more.
When she reached him, she took his head into her hands and leaned up to kiss him, but he pulled back and put his hands on her shoulders. “Let me.” He smiled when he saw her frown. “Savvy. I want to enjoy looking at you.” When her frown increased, he chuckled. “You have a beautiful body.” He ran the back of his fingers down her ribs and her breath caught. “So beautiful.”
Her eyes were closed now and she shook her head from side to side.
“I have stretch marks.” It came out as a whisper.
Reaching up, he put a finger under her chin until she opened her eyes and looked deep into his. “If you do, trust me, I don’t see them or care. All I see is perfection.”
Her frown wavered, so he continued to tell her exactly what he did see. Her breasts were perfect, full and supple. Ripe for his mouth. He reached around and unclasped the bra and slowly drew it down and off her shoulders.
She tried to reach out and cover herself, but he took her hands and held them aside. “Perfection,” he whispered as he looked at her. “They’re perfect for feeding our baby, and perfect for this.” He leaned his head down and started running his mouth over her exposed skin. “They’re soft, yet strong enough to stand up to the daily feedings of a six-month-old.” He looked up at her and noticed that her eyes were unfocused as she looked down at him, so he continued his exploration.
He ran a finger lightly over her flat stomach. He noticed small white stretch marks, but could only see the beauty in them. “It’s amazing how your body grew and held our child in here, nurturing and protecting her. And now you’re so small, so perfect.” He ran his mouth over every soft inch of her skin. Her fingers were in his hair, pulling and pushing as she enjoyed his movements. He enjoyed the sounds she made as he pleased her. His hands went to her hips and he slowly moved the black cotton over her narrow hips. “But I think my favorite part is this.” He took her bare hips in his hands and pulled her closer to him. “The fact that your hips are now smaller than ever.” He smiled and laid his head against her stomach as he ran his hands up and down her hips and thighs. “I’ve always been a butt man.” He chuckled with her as his hands gripped her backside. “I know, I know. Every man in town thinks I’m crazy.” He looked up at her as she shook her head.
“You’re killing me.” Her frown fell away. “Take me to bed.”
He chuckled. “I like torturing you.” He turned his head into her softness again and ran his mouth over her flat hips until he reached the soft white cotton that shielded her from his further exploration. Dipping his finger underneath, he pulled the cotton down her smooth legs and ran his hands up and down the toned muscles in each leg.
His eyes went to her sex and his mouth actually watered. When she was free of all clothing, she tried to move back towards the bed and she reached for the light. He chuckled and took her hands in his, holding her still. She groaned and tried to put up a little fight, and he gripped both of her hands behind her back with one of his.
“No,” he growled. “I’ll have you my way.” He knelt between her legs and with his free hand pushed her legs wider. He heard her curse at him as his mouth took her sex. He used his tongue on her until her curses were replaced with moans and panting.
She pulled at her hands behind her back and so he released them. They moved up and dug deep into his hair and pulled his head closer to her as he pleased her.
She moved one of her legs up to the edge of the bed, exposing herself more for him. His fingers dug into her hips as he enjoyed her, and when he felt like he couldn’t hold back any more, he pushed her back onto the bed and moved above her.
“I can’t believe how much I want you.” He rained kisses along her jaw as he slipped inside her slowly and knew without a doubt that he was where he belonged. That they were made for one another.
As he looked down at her soft hair fanned out on his pillowcases, he felt a little overwhelmed. She was more beautiful than he remembered, than he had ever imagined in his memories.
“Savvy,” he groaned as her blue eyes slid open and looked up at him with want. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she pulled him closer.
When her shoulders moved off the mattress, he wrapped his arms around her, holding on until he thought he might cut off her air supply.
“Billy, hurry,” she moaned and he was a slave to her desires. Pulling back, he used his hips and watched as she threw her head back and squeezed her eyes tight.
He’d always enjoyed watching her lose herself, but this time was different. This time he knew it was the first of many. When they’d been together in the past, he'd never thought that he would get to experience it again.
He smiled at her as he felt her settle down underneath him. He was going to make sure that this was just the first in a lifetime of pleasures he would bring for her.
“Billy?” She looked up at him, shaking him from his deep thoughts, and he realized he’d yet to have his physical release. Shaking his head and chuckling lightly, he leaned down and started kissing her.
“Soon.” He deepened the kisses and felt her building up again underneath him. Her legs wrapped around his hips and her hips moved with his. “More,” he growled, feeling himself building higher.
Then she shocked him by pushing on his shoulder until she reversed their positions. She smiled down at him and pushed her hair away from her eyes.
“I think it’s time you let me take the reins.” Her smile grew as her hips started rotating. He tried to keep his eyes glued to her beauty, hovering above him, but the pleasure she was causing was so great and he felt the brightness of it consuming him.
Closing his eyes, he dug h
is fingers into her soft hips and cried out her name as she took everything he’d ever held for her, in one quick moment.
Chapter Nine
She lay there and listened to Billy’s heartbeat slow down. She’d never imaged it would be like this. Her chest actually hurt.
In all her years, she’d never allowed herself to get this close to anyone before. Not even Travis, whom she’d been with the longest. True, she’d been mad at him when he’d proposed to Alexis West, but she’d known it wouldn’t last. After all, the week after he’d gotten engaged to her, he’d crawled through her window.
Now, as she lay here and listened to Billy sleep lightly below her, she doubted Travis would ever cheat on Holly. Nor would Savannah allow him to crawl in her window anymore. He was different. She was different.
Sighing, she snuggled closer to Billy’s warm chest. She didn’t know if she wanted to be with Billy for the rest of her life, but at least he was kind to her and to Maggie, and that was the most important thing to her right now. Not to mention that she had really enjoyed the sex they’d just had.
She smiled into his chest and let her eyes close shut. She drifted off to the sound of his heart and the memory of how much pleasure she’d gotten from him.
She woke around one and heard Maggie crying from the monitor on the nightstand. She could tell from the pressure in her chest that it was feeding time again.
She was halfway across the room when she realized she was still very naked. Grabbing her robe from the hook on the back of the door, she wrapped it around herself and glanced back at the bed.
Billy sat up in the bed, smiling at her.
“I was wondering if you were going to march around the house like that. Not that I was complaining.” His smile grew.
Her eyes narrowed as she watched him get out of bed, gloriously naked. She had to blink a few times for her eyes to finally focus on his face. His smile was huge.
“I’ll go get her.” He started to pull on his boxers.
She shook her head. “No, I need to feed her.”
He frowned a little. “What about a bottle?”
She chuckled. “Trust me. This time, it’s all me.” She turned, only to be stopped by his hand on her shoulder.
“Savvy, I want to help out.” He frowned down at her.
Her eyebrows shot up. “It’s not that.” She sighed, feeling slightly embarrassed. She could feel her body reacting to the crying baby and if he didn’t let her go to her daughter soon, the front of her robe would be soaked. “I need to feed her.” She stretched out the word, hoping he’d get her meaning. When he just looked at her blankly, she sighed and closed her eyes. “Billy, if you don’t let me go, I’ll burst with milk.”
She felt his hands tighten briefly on her shoulders, and then they dropped away. “Sorry,” he mumbled and she quickly turned around and rushed out.
Gathering up Maggie, she settled down as the girl started sucking hungrily.
She was shocked when she heard Billy walk into the baby’s room.
“Does she wake you up every night?”
She looked up at him and nodded. His frown grew.
“What about cutting back a little, you know, with the bottle.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t mind.”
“Don’t you need more sleep?” He walked over to her and watched their daughter as she ate.
Savannah shrugged her shoulder. “She’ll go back down for a few more hours.” She yawned and looked over at the frog clock on the wall. “Then she’ll be up for good around six.” She smiled. “That’s when we usually go for our morning walk. Before it gets too hot.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I’ll go with you.” He knelt down next to her. Maggie’s little hand reached up and took his as he brushed her hair away from her face.
He chuckled. “She’s got a good grip.” Then his eyes softened as he watched her eat. “And an appetite.”
Savannah laughed.
By the time they made it back to their bed, Maggie was asleep again.
“Does she eat from the bottle every now and then?” he asked, pulling off his shorts and crawling into the bed. She was so breathless at seeing him naked, she almost forgot what he’d asked her.
“Yes.” It came out as a whisper. “I pump sometimes and sometimes I give her formula.”
He nodded. “Are you going to crawl back in here? Or did you plan on sleeping standing up?” He smiled as he held the blanket open for her to crawl in.
She was standing at the side of the bed, her robe tucked tightly around her. She thought for a quick moment about grabbing a pair of her pajamas, but he shook his head when he saw her eyes dart over to the dresser.
“Savvy, come back to bed.” His voice was low and she felt a wave of heat rush through her body.
She undid the tie to her robe and his eyes traveled up and down her body when she pulled the cotton from her shoulders. She stood for a moment next to the bed, frozen under his gaze. Then he reached for her and she went down to him, knowing that she wouldn’t get the few extra hours of sleep and knowing that she didn’t care.
Billy waved to some people across the street as he pushed Maggie’s stroller down the sidewalk. The sun was already up, since they’d gotten a slower start this morning.
It had been almost a week since he’d gotten back home, and he was already settling into the new schedule. He enjoyed the daily walks that they took as a family, even though the first one was usually before the sun was up. He’d always been a late sleeper. When work demanded that he be up earlier, it usually took a few cups of coffee before he felt alive. But now all it took was hearing the giggles of his daughter first thing in the morning.
He looked down at Maggie, sitting up in her stroller. Her dark eyes, which almost matched his perfectly, traveled all over, taking in everything.
“She’s smart,” he blurted out and winced when he realized how stupid he sounded.
Savannah glanced over at him and nodded. She was wearing a light blue wind jacket with tight, dark blue yoga pants. The white top she wore underneath the jacket clung to her and he’d wished she hadn’t zipped the jacket up all the way.
“Yes, I’ve noticed it as well. She takes in everything.”
He smiled. “Exactly.” He nodded and continued to look down at his daughter. “I was watching the other kids yesterday at the park and none of the other kids looked around like she does.
“Like she’s trying to understand everything.” Savannah smiled. “I was thinking it was just me. You know, everyone says that parents think the best of their kids, but in this case…”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “What would you say to a night out with me?” he blurted out.
Savannah stopped walking and he had to quickly pull the stroller to a stop. He glanced over his shoulder at Savannah in question. Her head was tilted and she was biting her bottom lip.
“Like a date?”
He thought about it. “Well, sure. I thought we’d go into Tyler for dinner. Maybe a show.”
She blinked a few times and he was starting to feel a little strange standing on the sidewalk waiting for an answer.
“I guess my folks can watch Maggie for a few hours.”
His smile was quick. “How about Friday?”
She started walking slowly again. “I’ll call them.”
“Will you be okay? Being away from her like that.” He nodded towards her chest, causing her to frown.
“I’ll have to pump beforehand.” She frowned a little. “As long as we aren’t out too late.” She smiled.
As they walked the rest of the mile and half back to their house, his mind raced with options. He’d never really taken a girl out on a date before. There had been plenty of girls before, but he’d never taken any out on an actual date.
His steps faltered when he realized he didn’t know of a good place in Tyler to take a woman.
He knew of over two dozen bars and hole-in-the-wall dance places, but nothing came to mind that would be
suitable for an evening out with the mother of his child.
When they turned the last corner and the green house came into sight, he realized he knew exactly who to ask. He was happily surprised to see her old truck parked in front of the diner at the end of the block.
“Um…” He stopped and waited for Savannah to turn to him. “I need to stop in at the diner for a moment.” He pushed Maggie’s stroller a little until Savannah took it. “I’ll be right back. Then we can have some breakfast.”
“Why don’t we go with you and have breakfast at Mama’s instead?”
He stopped. “Are you allowed back in there?” He coughed when she glared at him. “I mean, sure. That would be great.” How was he going to get Alex alone to ask her about a good place to go in Tyler?
“Maggie likes Mama’s.” Savannah chatted as they walked the block and a half to the diner.
When they walked in, he was expecting the crowded room to hush as they noticed Savannah walk in, but instead, people waved and said hello to them.
The last time he’d been in town, she’d been banned from Mama’s due to a slight misunderstanding between her and Jamella.
But as they found their way across the large room, which had recently been remodeled, he was surprised to watch the owner of the diner rush across the room and pluck Maggie right out of her stroller.
“Der’s my girl.” Jamella kissed his daughter’s chubby cheeks to Maggie’s delight. His daughter’s high squeal and laughter filled the room. Several people looked over and chuckled. “Well, it’n about time you’d show’d up again.” Jamella smiled down at him, moving Maggie to her hip.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s good to be back.” He set down his menu.
Jamella nodded. “You’re back for a while?”
He nodded. “I start my two week shift in three weeks.”
She nodded and looked down at Maggie. “I’m stealing dis child o’ yours for a while.” She chuckled when Maggie grabbed at her big necklace. “Got to show my godchild off.” She glanced at them and glared a little. “Dat is if’n you two ever get around to making it official…” She let out a humf and then walked away with their daughter.