“Oh, come on! Dammit! I can’t believe the Braves lost.” Tightening his grip around the remote, Devon had to make sure he didn’t throw the damn thing towards the television.
“I don’t know the first thing about baseball, but when football season starts, you bet your ass I’ll be watching the games,” Gavin said, looking back at the TV.
“Let me guess. You’re a Cowboys fan?” Devon said sarcastically.
Gavin looked over and smiled. “That should be my line, cowboy. No, I’m not partial to the team.”
“Very funny, city boy. So who do you follow if you’re not a Dallas fan?”
“I don’t follow teams. I follow players. Now Adrian Peterson, he’s someone to follow.”
Devon laughed. “Yeah, he’s okay I guess, but what about Cedric Benson? Now he really ripped up the football field, didn’t he? I’ve followed him since he was a sophomore in Midland.”
“Well, at least we agree on sports. As for anything else, that is yet to be determined.”
Devon looked back to the TV, not furthering the conversation. The last thing he wanted was to like this guy. He needed to remember that Gavin was also somewhat competing with him for Sarah, although he wasn’t sure how that was going to work out. Regardless of what either one of them wanted, if he was right, then they’d all be stuck together for a very long time.
Chapter 9
Sarah woke up to the smell of bacon heavily drifting in the air. She sat up confused. Her hair hung in knotted waves around her face. Sleepily, she turned to look at the clock and fell back against her pillow. Seven freaking o’clock, and someone is in my kitchen cooking breakfast. Which one is it? And how in the hell did they get in my house?
Sighing, she threw back the covers and crawled out of bed. The robe she still had on was twisted, exposing the whole right side of her body. She quickly fixed it and looked up to see Devon standing in her doorway.
“I thought I heard you awake. Gavin and I are making breakfast. Coffee?”
Sarah couldn’t ignore the heat blazing in his eyes. Her insides responded immediately. A part of her hated how the bond was pushing her to forgive him faster than she wanted to.
“Yes, lots and lots of coffee.”
Walking forward, she waited for him to move so she could get by. When he didn’t, she looked up.
“I always loved the way you looked first thing in the morning. I can still remember you curled up in my twin size bed at my moms. You know, she still has that bed.”
“Does, she? Well, I guess it was good my parents kicked me out when they…did, or else you would have never seen me in such a mess.” Damn, she was about to say pregnant, but the word just wouldn’t come out.
Devon laughed and kissed her forehead, moving only slightly out of the way. The tips of her breasts brushed against his lower chest while she scooted past. Her nipples tightened in response, and the beginning of a moan past her lips. It took everything for her to continue to the living room. The urge to pull him back to her bed unnerved her. Fuck, her pussy was so wet at the thought of his cock pounding into her.
Evelyn and Nicole might be right, but she wasn’t giving into anything so soon. Devon was right on one thing. She needed to get to know them both better, and she had every intention of doing that as soon as possible.
“Smells good,” Sarah said, walking into the kitchen. Grabbing a coffee cup, she poured and leaned against the counter.
“So whose brilliant idea was it to surprise me with breakfast?”
Gavin turned to look toward Devon, who walked in and sat down at the table. “Mine. I know how breakfast used to be your favorite meal.”
Sarah looked toward her ex. “I haven’t eaten breakfast since you left,” she whispered.
Knots filled her stomach. Facing the past wasn’t going to be easy. The thought downright terrified her. Between the memories of waking up next to Devon and now this, it was too much, too soon. “But you’re back so I guess this is the perfect way to start the day. Excuse me.”
Placing the coffee cup down, Sarah walked toward her room fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. So much anger and hurt filled her. Recalling the days she spent in that same damn twin size bed crying for someone who never came back rubbed her heart raw.
“Sarah. Please.”
She turned around in her room to see Devon standing not a foot away. “What? I’m just getting dressed?”
“No, that’s not why you came in here. I hurt your feelings by bringing up the past. Come here.” Sarah didn’t move even though she wanted to. “Sarah, please. I just want to hold you, nothing more.”
Slowly, she walked into his arms. Calmness filled her the moment she felt the heat from his body. She could feel herself relaxing and peace taking over. This was the way she wanted to feel, but she wasn’t so sure it was ever going to be possible.
“Better?”
She nodded as he walked her back into the kitchen. Gavin looked at her concerned but gave her a tender smile. “How do you like your eggs, scrambled or over easy?”
“Scrambled.” Sarah grabbed her coffee cup and sat back down at the table.
“I want mine over easy.” Devon smiled toward him.
Sarah looked back and forth. The tension thickened in the air. Dammit, she prayed they weren’t starting already.
“You can make your own damn eggs. I’m only making these for her.”
“All right, all right, no need to get your panties in a wad, city boy.”
Something passed through Gavin. First he tensed, but almost instantly relaxed. He laughed and winked, surprising the shit out of her. “Did you know ol’ Devon over here is a Braves fan? I told him the Red Sox are better, but he doesn’t want to listen.”
Sarah laughed at the odd subject, but decided to play along. She knew he was just trying to ease their odd situation. “Well, I happen to be a Yankees fan. Derek Jeter is dreamy, isn’t he?”
Devon busted out laughing, and Gavin narrowed his eyes and turned off the stove. “Did you hear that Devon? I think our girl Sarah just said she was a Yankees fan.”
“Oh, I heard all right? The question is what are we going to do about it?”
“What?” Sarah asked, smiling. “If you want to talk sports, then you’ve come to the right place. I can name the hottest guys from every team, in every sport.”
“Is that right?” Gavin said, coming to the table. “Name your favorite college football team.”
Sarah laughed, rolling her eyes. “Devon, help him out. Who’s always been my favorite?”
“UT, of course.” She watched him smile, and she turned back in the direction of the gorgeous guy quizzing her.
“Player,” Gavin said, raising his eyebrow.
“Colt McCoy, of course.”
“NFL?”
“Now this one’s harder. So many hotties.” She laughed.
“Devon,” Gavin said, inching closer to her.
“Oh, I know. She’s getting herself in a load of trouble, but let’s hear what she has to say.”
Sarah bit her lip, pretending to think. “Well, I’ll skip all the others and just name the hottest. I wouldn’t want your breakfasts to get cold. I’d have to say Tom Brady for the Patriots. I swear if he ever needs to buy a house down here, I’ll…”
Sarah squealed as both Devon and Gavin picked her up, tickling her. She felt as the men shuffled back quite a few steps. As they came into the living room, they didn’t stay standing for long. With her twisting and jerking against their hold they lowered her to the carpet.
Gavin was lying between her thighs while Devon was wrapped around her from behind. Their hands seemed to be everywhere. Even though she laughed to the point she couldn’t breathe, their touch was causing more sensations than just tickling. Sarah took a deep breath as Devon’s hands froze on the sides of her breasts. Gavin’s hands stopped completely, just under them.
“Your scent.” Gavin closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. Gavin’s fingers held firm to the sides of
her ribs as he lowered his head to the bottom of her stomach. She moaned, leaning farther back against the hardness of Devon’s body behind her.
“No,” Devon snapped. “Sarah, I think you should get dressed. We all need to clear our heads. Let’s go, city boy.”
Gavin looked up, his eyes a deep green. “Devon, I don’t see why you fight it. I know you want her as much as I do. I can feel it. Plus, Sarah wants both of us whether we like it or not. Now, we just have to figure out what to do about it I sure as hell don’t plan on giving her up, and I know you don’t either.”
“You got that right,” Devon growled. “But I sure as hell am not ready to share her either.”
Sarah sighed, and wiggled her way out from under both of them. “Thanks for breakfast. I’ll grab a plate before I leave. You two better figure out how you’re going to work things out. I’ve got a few busy weeks ahead of me so when you see me I don’t want you two fighting. Gavin’s right. We’re all in this together, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Now, you both go so I can get dressed. I have an appointment I need to go to.”
“An appointment? On a Sunday?”
Sarah looked toward Gavin. “Yes, if you must know. Sylvia comes in on Sundays to do my hair and my nails, and I have a date with my girls. That’s not a problem, is it?”
“No, of course not,” he said quietly. Devon just smiled at her change of mood.
“Good, now off with you two. I’ll see you for dinner. And I’m cooking. Six o’clock and don’t be late or else I lock the door and eat by myself.”
She tried not to laugh at how bossy she sounded, but if she truly wanted to get back to her old self and try not getting hurt in the process, it was the only way.
“See you tonight, sweetheart. Have fun,” Devon said, practically pulling Gavin out of the door.
A cry of frustration bounced off the walls while she walked to her room to get dressed. Damn, that was a close one. Being sandwiched between those two bodies drove her insides crazy. She would have gladly fucked both of them right there on the floor if it wasn’t for Devon. At least he showed restraint. She somehow needed to convince herself to take things slow, but patient was something she’d never been.
* * * *
Devon pushed Gavin inside his apartment and narrowed his eyes angrily. “What in the hell do you think you were doing? Are you fucking serious? You’re not in the city anymore. You treat Sarah with respect, or I’ll make you. Don’t use the bond we all have together as some excuse to fuck her any chance you get.”
Gavin instantly slammed his fist into Devon’s face. “For one, quit calling me city boy, I have a fucking name. It’s Gavin. And for your information, I’m not using the tie we all have as an excuse to get some ass like you think. I have control. If you didn’t notice from her scent, she wanted both of us. I was just trying to please her. That’s what caring for someone is all about. Do you seriously think I’d want to pleasure her in front of you! Hell no. But I will if it makes her happy.
“And another thing, Devon,” Gavin said, spitting out his name. “Just so you know, I feel what Sarah feels. She wants so badly to forgive you and move things along, but you’re going to end up ruining it for all of us. You’re cocky, arrogant, and you think you know what she wants. I’ve known her for a fraction of the time you have, and I can see you know nothing of what makes Sarah the person she is.”
Devon rubbed his jaw and stared at the younger man in stunned silence. The urge to knock this punk on his ass was strong, but the truth Gavin spoke hit him like a brick.
“She wants to forgive me?”
Gavin took a step back and breathed heavily. “She loves you more than you’ll ever know. But you hurt her badly. I felt it the night we met. Sarah’s damaged inside, but I think if we work on it together, we’ll be able to mend what you broke.”
Devon wasn’t sure what to think. The last thing he wanted to do involved sharing Sarah, but was that what she really wanted? And would he be able to actually go through with it?”
Chapter 10
All day, Gavin watched the hours painfully tick away. Sarah expected them over in fifteen minutes, and it felt like there were hours to go. Being separated from her all day quickly became torture after the first ninety minutes. Without the mark in place, he’d continue to feel this way. How much time would go by before they all could agree and he and Devon could tie her to them forever?
The tall cowboy continued to pace, although today he didn’t look much like a cowboy. He wore tight wranglers and boots, but instead of the hat or western shirt he had worn in the past, he now sported a tucked in white T-shirt.
As Devon tried to control his nervousness, Gavin studied his frame. All alphas usually were wide, but the height was new. The tallest alpha he’d seen was Ayden, and he was only an inch shorter than the cowboy. But Devon’s six foot five inch height made Gavin feel small, and he was six feet two inches.
“Hey, Devon, sit down. You’re making me nervous.”
A glare was directed at him, but Devon listened. “Hell, I am nervous. This little plan you came up with better work. I don’t like it, but if it’ll make Sarah happy, then I want to try.”
“It’ll work. Just remember, I’m doing this for all of us. If I find out you’re trying to take Sarah away from me somehow, past alpha or not, I will kick your ass.”
Devon laughed. “Gavin, if Sarah wants you, then nothing I try is going to be able to change the pull or her mind. I’m not sure which one is stronger. When Sarah wants something, she gets it. You’ll see.”
“Do you know how hard this is going to be for me? Leaving her alone with you is bad enough, but leaving her period is the hardest. I’ve missed her all day. Now, I finally get to see her at dinner and then I’m gone. I don’t like it, but it’s the only way I know to move things forward. You set us back. Everything was fine until you freaked out this morning.”
“Okay, shit! I’ve heard this all day. Enough, already.”
Gavin looked at the clock and sighed. Ten more minutes and he’d finally be able to see her. Devon started to stand, but the look he gave him had Devon rolling his eyes and leaning forward instead. Damn, the day lingered on forever, and now he’d be alone tonight. Well, he’d make the best of the time with Sarah as he could.
* * * *
Sarah opened the oven and rolled her eyes. Picking up the cookbook, she thrummed through the pages. The instructions did say bake a little over an hour, right? Surely, she hadn’t taken more than two hours to get dressed. Well, she did take her time in the shower, and then fixing her hair. Oh, and the clothes. Quickly, she scanned the words.
“Bake at three hundred fifty degrees for one and a half hours, basting every thirty minutes.” Sarah paused. “Basting every thirty minutes? Dammit! How did I miss that part?” She looked back toward the dry, burnt rosemary chicken she’d worked so hard on preparing. “Well, fuck. What in the hell do I do now?”
A knock made her look up. She quickly laid the book down and wiped her hands on the new white apron she’d bought. Sarah had spent so much time at the grocery store, she completely missed lunch with her girls. Melissa didn’t mind calling and teasing her terribly for trying to make dinner.
Taking a quick peek at herself in the mirror, she took in her reflection—black slacks, red silk blouse with her blonde hair in waves. Damn, she looked like Christmas. Well, it was too late to change now.
As Sarah reached for the knob she hesitated. Fear like nothing she felt before exploded inside of her, leaving her body shaking as she began to back away. Her mind was screaming to run, but already entering the kitchen, there was nowhere to go.
The sound of wood cracking as someone’s fist pounded into the door made her cover her mouth to hold in a scream. Who in the hell would be banging like that? For some reason, she knew it wasn’t Devon or Gavin.
A ring echoed through the living room. “Shit,” she whispered, running to her purse. The moment she hit the ignore button the door crashed to the floor
. Air rushed against Sarah’s face, blowing her hair back at the force of the fall. She couldn’t move as she stood there staring at Tom. Their gazes locked, and time seemed to slow in her fear.
“Sarah!”
Devon’s voice in the background only registered briefly. All she could see were Tom’s eyes glaring at her before he disappeared. The adrenaline hit so hard and so fast Sarah collapsed to the ground breathing heavily. Seconds hadn’t gone by when she noticed Gavin kneeling next to her.
“Are you all right? Was that the guy who’s been calling?”
Shakily, Sarah nodded. “Where’s Devon?” She immediately stood. Her legs shaking almost made it impossible.
“He ran after the guy.”
“Why didn’t you go with him?” she said frantically.
“He told me to stay with you. Do you know how strong he is? He wouldn’t have needed me for one guy. Sarah, he’s an alpha. The guy wouldn’t stand a chance against Devon.”
Walking to the door, she peeked out, not seeing anything. “Gavin, if something happens to him…”
He quickly embraced her in his arms. “He’ll be all right. Shh... It’s okay.”
Sarah couldn’t think. “I just got him back. If I lost him again, I’m not sure what would happen to me.”
Gavin stroked his fingers through her hair while he made soothing sounds and pulled her deeper into the living room. Nausea threatened at the thoughts of any harm befalling the one man she tried endlessly to forget. Suddenly, she didn’t want to have him missing from her anymore. Even if she hadn’t completely forgiven him, she didn’t want him gone either.
The sound of footsteps had Sarah spinning around. Devon walked through the door slowly, and she ran, throwing herself into his arms. “He had a car waiting by. I couldn’t keep up with him, but I did get the license plate number.”
“Why did you do that? You could have gotten hurt.” The sobs wracked her chest as she fought to breathe against the panic flaring inside of her.
Saving Sarah Page 6