Southern Seduction

by Alcorn, N. A.

  Wyatt stiffens against me, and I realize that I just said that last sentence out loud. Before I can defend what I said, he drops his arms from around me and backs up. His eyes are wounded, and the fact that I'm the one that put that emotion there makes my chest hurt.

  "Is that what you think? That I've been with you this week because I was lonely? That I took you to meet my family, who I never take anyone to meet, because I was bored?" His voice is incredulous, and rising with every word. "Goddammit Peyton! I've been chasing you for weeks! This isn't just a way to entertain myself." He runs both hands through his hair, pressing his palms against the side of his head before taking a deep breath, he shouts, "I'm in love with you!"

  I can only stare at him in shock, my jaw practically hitting the floor. He said he loved me the first night we slept together, but I figured it was just a reflex. You know, sleep with a girl, and tell her you love her, even if you don't mean it. I tried to just pretend it didn't happen because I didn't want to know for sure that he didn't mean it. My moment of silence costs me, because I stare at him dumbly, until finally he turns on his heel and walks out of the room without another word, slamming the door behind him. The sound of the door slamming shut snaps me out of my stupor and I take off after Wyatt, terrified of what's going to happen next. I don't have to go far, because Wyatt's standing at the sliding glass door, one hand on either side of frame, with his forehead resting against the glass. He looks defeated, and I have no idea how to make this better.

  Unable to help myself, I rush over to him, squeezing between the glass and his body to wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his chest. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I whisper over and over, wanting nothing more than to redo the last thirty minutes. "I didn't mean it the way it sounded."

  Wyatt steps back, removing my arms and letting them drop to my sides. Raising an eyebrow he crosses his arms over his chest, making his t-shirt stretch across his shoulders and pecs in the most delicious way and drawing my eyes down to them. He clears his throat and my eyes fly back up to meet his. He's smirking at me, but it doesn't last long. "Then how did you mean it Peyton?" he asks, the disbelief in his voice obvious.

  "I wasn't trying to say you were bored," I say with a sigh, knotting my fingers together in front of me. "It's just, you're popular, everybody likes you, and I'm the bitch no one wants to be around. You could have your pick of any girl on campus, so why would you put up with my shit?" The knot in my throat makes it hard to speak, it's taking everything I have not to break down and cry. I've got to make him understand that this is about me, not him. For all my bitchiness, I'm really just a girl who's desperate for love, for someone to give a shit and put me first. Of course I'm fucking everything up and not making anything clear to him.

  Wyatt still looks upset, but he no longer looks like he's trying to decide between throttling me or throwing me out of his apartment. That makes me a little braver, and I tell him, "I just don't want to lose you, and I'm terrified that once everyone comes home you'll realize that you don't want me anymore." Glancing up to see him watching me, his expression softer, more accepting, I blurt out, "I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you, so that would kill me."

  Finally, one side of Wyatt's mouth curls up in a grin and he starts towards me. "You're pretty sure? Or you are sure?"

  I sigh in relief, "I'm sure. Absolutely, positively, 100% certain that I'm in love --" Wyatt's mouth on mine cuts me off as he presses me into the glass door. Wrapping his arms around me, he lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his waist automatically. He kisses me like it's the last time he's ever going to kiss me, his tongue tasting every single part of my mouth.

  "You make me so damn crazy," he says around my lips before wrapping his hands in my hair and pulling my mouth to his again. My hands are gripping his shirt, trying to pull him even closer to me. I don't ever want this to end. I have no idea how long we stay like this, kissing each other almost desperately, but finally Wyatt's hands let go of my hair, traveling down my back to grip my ass. Once he has a good hold on me, he carries me back to his bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him and laying me down on the bed. He slowly undresses me before shedding his own clothes and climbing on top of me. I'm more than ready for him, and after sliding the condom over his erection, his eyes meet mine, silently asking if it's okay before he slams inside of me hard and holds himself still, buried deep inside as he allows me to get used to his size before he really starts to move. As pleasure takes me under my last coherent thought is that I came to college content with the idea that I never wanted more from anyone, until I met him.

  Thank you to my husband and kids, for allowing me short spurts (ha!) of time so that I can get writing done. Even bigger thanks to my mom for letting me take a "vacation" at her house so that I could actually do the writing I needed to get done! And, for putting up with my crazy while I was trying to get Wyatt and Peyton's story out.

  My betas, Bianca, Bianca, Adriana, Mel and Crystal for reading (and for begging/threatening) as I wrote. Your suggestions always make my stories better, and y'all are my biggest cheerleaders!

  My assistant Courtney, I'm the worst "boss" ever, but you're amazing! I have writing ADD and you always keep me on track.

  Aly and Tessa, writing would not be the same without you girls! Without the wine, FB chats and Tweets, I'd never get anything done. Or maybe that's why I don't get anything done, I'm not sure. I love you both and can't wait to hang out with you again.

  I know I'm going to forget someone, but thank you to the amazing bloggers who stalk me for more and pimp me out. You guys are awesome and I know how much time blogging takes, so I appreciate you even more! And, thank you to the amazing readers who message me, tweet me, or friend me on Facebook to ask for more. You guys rock! I'm so glad y'all love my stories and the characters as much as you do!

  My Fellow Indie Romance Author Chicks –

  Your posts, chats and sprints inspire me every single day.

  Charlotte

  I watched Kaylie as she scoured the internet in search of an apartment for her and Jackson’s move to New York and couldn’t help but feel a little irritated at her excitement. I knew it made me a bitch, but I just couldn’t stop myself from feeling this way. Graduation was just around the corner, and she had a plan for what she was going to do, where she was going to do it, and who she was going to be with while she was doing it. At the start of the semester, she’d had no clue, but everything had just fallen into place for her since she met Jackson. He’d worked hard to make sure that it had done so.

  Don’t get me wrong. I was beyond thrilled that Kaylie had found Jackson. That he had managed to break down her walls and get her to see that life was worth living again. I wanted the best that life had to offer for my best friend. I really did. I just wanted it for myself too.

  I couldn’t wrap my head around the decision I needed to make. After four long years, Shane couldn’t wait to get me back home so that we could finally be together without the distance that had separated us for so long. And I wanted to be with him so much. Both of us had put a lot of effort into making sure our relationship survived while I was away at school. And now that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, I just wasn’t sure that I wanted to go back home and live my life in our small Tennessee hometown.

  Moving there the summer before my senior year of high school had been difficult for me, but my parents had to do what was right for our whole family. My parents had inherited the bar from a great-uncle we hardly even knew, my Nanny’s brother. And boy, doesn’t that make us really Southern, calling my grandma Nanny because her name is Annie. As if having six siblings didn’t make us hillbilly enough when I was growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee. When my parents found out he had left them a huge, rambling house along with the bar, it was a no-brainer for them. They moved us all a little farther south to a much smaller town where everyone knew each other because their families had lived there forever. And I got to spend my final year of high school feeling like an o
utsider before I headed out of town for college.

  The one bright spot while I was there was Shane. I met him my first week of school and was instantly smitten. Not that I let him know how into him I was right away. He was the guy that every girl wanted, so I had to play hard to get just a teensy bit. He sure did make the chase worth my while once he caught me. Unfortunately, that just gave the other girls at school a reason not to like me other than my not growing up there with all of them.

  They sure didn’t warm up to me when Shane and I continued to date while I was away at school either. I was the outsider who’d swooped in and stolen their most eligible bachelor away and then had the gall to go to college out of state without letting him go. Which led me to my current problem—did I really want to spend the rest of my life around people who had made it clear that they thought I didn’t belong in their town and that I certainly didn’t deserve to be with Shane?

  Shane

  After four long years, the time had finally come for Charlotte to graduate from college. There had been times over the years that I’d wanted to jump into my pickup truck and drag her ass back home where it belonged—with me. But how could I have done that when I’d known damn well that she wouldn't be happy without earning that piece of paper that meant so much to her parents? She was the oldest and they wanted her to set an example for her younger brothers and sisters. And if it had just been that, I might not have resisted the urge to go get her, but I’d also known that she’d needed the time away from this town to spread her wings so she would be ready to come back to me and settle down.

  People around these parts didn't always take to newcomers very quickly, so things had been tough for Char when she moved here as a senior in high school. I was pretty sure I hadn't made things any easier for her by setting my sights on her right away either. The girls didn't like that I had gone after her like a dog in heat, but shit if I could have helped myself. She had been so different from all the other girls, not giving a damn that I was interested until I made her pay attention. She’d made me work for it, and I’d enjoyed the chase a helluva lot.

  Maybe if any of the other girls around these parts hadn't been so damn easy, I would have wanted one of them instead, but I didn't think so. There was just something about my sassy redheaded girl that made every part of me stand up and take notice. Before I knew it, she had me wrapped around her finger and acting like a pussy-whipped fool. Hell, she had me doing all sorts of things that were out of character—like agreeing to a long-distance relationship so I wouldn't lose her. I'd never been good at waiting. But for Char, I'd wait just about forever.

  Hell, she had even gotten me into a suit for today. I was stuck sitting here in the audience with the sun beaming down on me in a damn monkey suit, waiting for her to walk across the stage to get her diploma. At least I hadn't budged on wearing my boots. I'd even agreed to give her youngest sister a ride in the truck all the way up here when she had turned those bright green eyes at me with a huge pout on her face that made me think of Char. I just hadn’t been able say no, even though it’d meant I had to drive slower and didn't get here in time to see my girl before she had to be here with the rest of her class. So I sent her a quick text before we hit the road to wish her luck today because I wasn't going to get to see her until it was all over. She promised to make it up to me since she knew how happy I had made her sister. And boy, did Char know how to make things up to me. I could almost picture her on her knees in front of me, her hair fisted in my hands as she wrapped her lips around my cock.

  I tried to adjust myself as subtly as I could now that I'd managed to give myself the hard-on from hell. Fuck, I couldn't think about that right now, sitting here surrounded by her family. But it had been almost two months since we had been together. Those damn Skype calls just didn't cut it when we had to go without for so long. Sure, they were fun and sexy and they helped us get over the dry spell, but it just wasn't the same as sinking inside of her. And there I went again, except now I was picturing my dick in her pussy instead of her mouth. I had no fucking idea how the hell I was supposed to make it through the day without getting at least a little taste of her, but I was pretty sure it wasn't going to happen. Not until I could get her alone back home. This was going to be one of the longest days of my life. And that was saying a lot considering how slowly the last four years had crept by.

  The sound of Char's name being announced ripped me out of my fog. I leaned forward a bit, determined not to miss a moment of her walk across stage. She looked fantastic, even in that ridiculous robe and cap. Her red hair flowed down her back, a huge smile was spread across her face, and her legs looked incredible in the black fuck-me heels she was wearing. I glanced over at her mom and saw tears streaming down her cheeks. Her dad stood next to her, hooting and hollering wildly for his baby girl. I jumped to my feet to join in and realized we were probably embarrassing the shit out of her, but it didn't matter. I wasn't the only one excited to have her come back home.

  I waited with everyone once graduation was over, and Char launched herself into my arms first thing.

  “Hey, sugar," I whispered into her ear, holding her tight against my body. I didn't want to let her go, but I knew she needed to say hi to everyone else too. I slowly released her to set her back on the ground.

  She shook her head when she realized her mom was still crying and headed over to her dad next.

  "Aren't you happy to see your daddy?" he teased as she gave him a big hug.

  He winked at me over her shoulder, already used to how his daughter and I were around each other. At least enough that I didn’t have to worry about him coming after me with his shotgun anymore. Somewhere around the two-year mark, he’d realized I was sticking around and started to cut me some slack.

  "Of course I am, Daddy," she sighed.

  "I know where I rank on your list, sweetie," he joked.

  "Right where you belong," her mom chimed in, bumping him out of the way to wrap her arms around Char. "I'm so proud of you, honey. I can hardly believe it. My little girl graduated from college today."

  "Oh, Mama. Stop! No more tears today," Char chided before her brothers and sisters offered with their congratulations too.

  “Now you know your mama is gonna cry as much as she wants. There’s no stopping her once the water works start,” her dad reminded.

  “Very true,” Char agreed. “But today should be about celebrating the fact that I survived college. No tears allowed.”

  “They’re happy tears, sweetie,” her mom murmured as she pulled her back in for another hug. “Very happy ones. I finally get my baby girl to come back home. I know I agreed it was best for you to go away to school, but I’ve just missed you so much. I can hardly wait to have my baby girl living under my roof again.”

  An odd look crossed Char’s face at her mom’s words—a flash of concern that made me wonder if she knew about the ring in my pocket. If I had my way, her mom wouldn’t have her home for very long. She’d get to see her a lot more than when Char was up here for school, but I wanted us to start our life together so that I could wake up to her in my bed each and every morning.

  I glanced over at her dad and caught him watching me with a knowing look on his face. I didn’t think he was going to be surprised by my plans. His next words gave me hope that he’d be in my corner.

  “Now why don’t we help our girl get her stuff packed up into the back of Shane’s truck before we head out to celebrate at supper?” he asked.

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” I answered just before I heard someone shrieking Char’s name and turned to find her roommate Kaylie coming towards us, dragging her boyfriend Jackson behind her.

  “Hi, everyone!” she said as she stopped to give each person in Char’s family a quick hug before wrapping her arms around Char and bursting into tears. “I can’t believe we aren’t going to be roomies anymore!”

  “Hey!” Jackson protested. “What am I? Chopped liver?”

  “Yeah, Kaylie. You’re trading me i
n for the new and improved model. He comes with all sorts of upgrades that I don’t,” Char teased her.

  “Damn straight I do,” Jackson muttered under his breath, quiet enough so the kids didn’t hear him, but I couldn’t help myself from busting up laughing.

  “I sure as hell hope so, man,” I joked with him. I’d only met Jackson once over the last few months, but he was easy to get along with since he treated Kaylie so well, which made Char happy.

  “I didn’t mean it that way,” Char pointed out as she nudged me in the ribs, blushing once she’d caught on to the direction our thoughts had gone.

  “Okay, boys. Enough teasing Charlotte. We’ve got lots of things to get done today,” her mom said, urging us to focus. “Kaylie, do you need help packing anything up, too?”

  “Nope. Jackson has us covered, but we aren’t going anywhere until tomorrow so we can help y’all for a little bit if you’d like,” she offered.

  “No helping for you, sweetie. We can’t risk you getting hurt before you head to the Big Apple. I can hardly believe we’ll be able to say we knew you when once your name is up there in lights,” Char’s mom said.

  “Yeah, no helping for you,” Jackson agreed. “You sit there looking pretty and I’ll help Shane load up the truck. It will probably save us loads of time later too so you won’t have to repair any damage you manage to do before we meet back up with my parents again. Are you sure you can’t all stay for the open house at their place?”

  “I really wish we could, but I’ve got to be up to work the horses in the morning,” I declined.

  “I wish we could, but we’ve got to make sure the kids are all back and ready to go for their last week of school, too,” Char’s mom added. “C’mon. You two can chat while we put the men to work. And you can always talk on Skype whenever you want, just like you did with Shane, so you can stay in touch with each other.”