by Wendi Wilson
He held it tight as we headed to the truck, but he didn’t speak. As he opened the back door for me, I could’ve sworn he leaned in and smelled my hair, but I wasn’t positive. I climbed in and Beckett was there, giving me the same open-mouthed stare Jett had. I looked up front at Wyatt, who was, of course, grinning.
“Do I have something on my face?” I asked him, jerking my head toward Beckett. “He and Jett are being weird.”
“Naw,” Wyatt said, chuckling. “They’ve just never seen you in those jeans.”
“Shut up, Wyatt,” Jett said as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Sorry, Savanna,” Beckett said, pulling my attention back to him. “You look stunning.”
“Yeah, you literally stunned these two idiots,” Wyatt added with a laugh.
Jett growled at Wyatt to shut up as he backhanded him across the chest. Then he caught my eye in the rearview mirror and smiled. I smiled back before glancing over at Beckett. His face looked a little red in the early morning light and I couldn’t tell if it was a reflection of the sunrise or if he was blushing. Either way, the rosy color only made him look more handsome.
He reached across the seat and pressed the button to release my seatbelt. He motioned for me to scoot into the middle of the seat. I slid over and he leaned across me to click the lap belt into place. I caught a whiff of his scent and barely contained a purr of pleasure. He smelled really good.
He draped an arm over my shoulders and I couldn’t resist. I snuggled into his chest and breathed in his scent to my heart’s content. I felt his nose nuzzle in my hair for a brief moment, then heard his whispered words.
“I have something for you. Do you think we could meet after school for a little bit?”
I tilted my head back and looked into his eyes. I nodded slightly, unable to deny him anything. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against mine before straightening and tightening his arm around me. I cuddled back into the crook of his arm and thought about what he could possibly want to give me. I knew my parents were both working late, so meeting him after school wouldn’t be a problem. Of course, with my new commitment to being as honest as possible, I’d have to tell them something.
We pulled into Lucille’s parking lot and I sat up and looked around. The place was crowded, being a hot spot for truckers and construction workers in the early morning hours. Wyatt pointed out an open spot near the front and Jett headed for it and parked.
I realized that I didn’t feel uncomfortable, being wrapped up in Beckett while those two sat just in front of us. It was a strange feeling, one of contentment and acceptance, of letting good things happen and not wondering when the other shoe would drop. Living in the moment, so to speak.
We hopped out and went inside, finding an empty booth at the back. I slid in and Beckett sat next to me. Without comment or dissent, Wyatt and Jett took the seat across from us. That’s when it hit me. It was Beckett’s turn.
Whether by tacit agreement or much discussion, they’d worked out a way for us all to be together without argument or jealousy. Just like on the schoolyard playground, they’d play nice and take turns.
The dirty connotations of them taking turns flashed across my mind, but I blocked them out. I refused to think of our arrangement as something sullied or immoral. It felt right in that moment of time. That’s all that mattered. Shaking off my deep thoughts, I gave the waitress my order of bacon and French toast. As she walked away to put in our orders, I focused on the boys.
“So, what happened yesterday?”
“Beck and I searched his office,” Jett said. “We didn’t find anything about you or any other patients. He must keep them at his work.”
“Where does he work?” I asked, realizing I had no idea. “Is he still at the hospital in Savannah?”
Beckett shook his head. “No, he runs an independent lab on the outskirts of the city. Very high-end, with wealthy and well-connected clients as far as we can tell.”
“What does he do for them?” I ask. “I don’t get why rich people would need their own lab for bloodwork and stuff.”
“I don’t know,” Jett said, shaking his head. “But he obviously makes good money. He bought that huge house and drives a Range Rover.”
“Yeah,” Wyatt added, “and he bought us the truck and gives us a grip of money every week as an allowance. There’s no way we could spend it all in a week, and we’ve stuffed most of it away for a rainy day.”
“Huh,” I said before changing gears. “How was your dinner with him last night?”
“Strange,” Beckett said. “He insisted on us all eating together, then barely spoke for the first three-quarters of the meal.”
“When he finally decided to talk to us,” Jett said, “he asked us if we’d made any friends.”
“Did you mention me?” I asked, my heart picking up speed.
“That’s the weirdest part,” Wyatt said. “Jett told him we were hanging out with you and he looked bored. We were hoping for some kind of reaction. If his whole agenda revolves around us being with you, we thought we’d at least see a little pleasure.”
“There was nothing,” said Jett. “He just huffed and finished his food in silence, then left.”
“Maybe he’s just good at concealing his emotions,” I offered. “I mean, you said that he ignores you all, doesn’t want to be around you, then demands a family dinner? He wanted something and maybe he got it. Once he found out you are, indeed involved with me, he ended the dinner.”
“You’re probably right,” Jett said. “He did seem more impatient to finish after we mentioned you.”
“We have to get into his office in Savannah,” I said. “It may be the only way to find the answers we need.”
“We?” Jett said, like it was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard.
“Yes, we,” I said, narrowing my eyes and clenching my jaw. “This is my life and you’re not leaving me out again.”
“Watch out, Jett. Her claws are unsheathing,” Wyatt said with a twinkle in his eye.
Jett held up his palms. “Okay, I surrender,” he said. “I won’t try to leave you out for your own protection.”
“Thank you,” I said primly, just as our food arrived.
“You are something else, Savanna James,” Jett said as I took a bite of bacon.
“Thank you,” I repeated, giving him a grin.
He chuckled, Wyatt laughed out loud and Beckett smiled. Me and my guys. I couldn’t help but smile. Despite the mystery that was Earl, we were happy together. Happier than any of us had ever been.
I never had so much to lose.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Are you sure this is okay?”
I climbed down from the truck without waiting for an answer because, honestly, nothing was going to stop me from going inside. We’d had a free period during P.E., and that’s when Beckett made the suggestion that we hang out at their house after school. His brothers backed him up, assuring me that Earl would be gone until late and we had nothing to worry about.
“It’ll be fine,” Jett said before heading up to the oversized front door and unlocking it with his key. He headed inside without a backward glance.
“You two kids have fun,” Wyatt said, taking a few steps in Jett’s direction before stopping and turning back. “But not too much fun.” He shot Beckett a pointed look before disappearing through the doorway.
“They’re just gonna leave us alone?”
“It’s my turn,” Beckett said, taking both of my hands in his. “Are you disappointed? Do you want to hang out as a group today?”
“No. Of course not,” I said. “I had an amazing time with you on Sunday.”
“Good,” he said, releasing my right hand and keeping the left. We walked up the steps to the front door and he stopped just before the threshold and turned to face me. “I want to show you my room. Is that okay?”
My heart jumped into my throat and my stomach followed suit. Whether from excitement or fear, I didn’t know.
All I knew is that bedrooms were private. They had doors. They had… beds.
I swallowed against the lump in my throat and weighed my options. I trusted Beckett. He wasn’t the type to force himself on any girl, much less one his brothers had a claim on, too. And, if for some reason I had completely misread him, and he did have violent tendencies, well, I had persuasion. I could stop him with a word.
I shook my head to clear it. Beckett would never. I knew it, deep down in my core. He must have thought the head shaking was a negative response because he backpedaled.
“It’s okay. If you don’t feel comfortable, there are a million places to hang out in this big old house.”
“Beckett,” I said, pressing my palm against his chest, right over his heart, “it’s fine. We can hang out in your room.”
“Are you sure? You seemed nervous.”
I smiled. “I’m sure. And I was nervous. I’ve never been in a boy’s room before, that’s all.”
“Well, in that case, I’m glad I’ll be your first,” he said, pulling me through the front door and into their home.
I didn’t get a chance to be embarrassed by his double entendre. My first glance around the interior of the house left me awestruck. Dark wood, cool tile, huge pieces of artwork lining the walls…and that was just the foyer. As Beckett led me further inside, we passed several doorways. A few had wooden doors that were closed, but most were open archways into large sitting rooms, a sun room, and even a library. A huge curved staircase with a wood and pewter railing loomed ahead of us and Beckett led me straight to it.
As we climbed, I looked back and saw Jett and Wyatt standing in one of the open archways. I lifted a palm toward them in a short wave. Wyatt grinned and waved back. Jett nodded and disappeared back through the opening. I watched Wyatt until we reached the top and he never lost his smile. It made me feel better, less worried about what they would think of me, alone with Beckett in his room.
More artwork adorned the walls in the upper floor hallway. I didn’t have time to really look at any of the paintings because Beckett was power walking like those old ladies at the mall. I chuckled at the comparison, and he stopped in his tracks.
“What’s funny?” he asked, looking nervous.
“Nothing,” I said. “You’re just walking really fast.”
“Oh, sorry,” he said, rubbing a palm against the back of his neck. “I guess I just wanted to get to my room before you changed your mind.”
I pressed my hand against his cheek. “I’m not going to change my mind,” I said. “Unless, of course, you try to take advantage of me.” I arched one brow for good measure.
“I can’t make any promises,” he said, mimicking my expression.
“Oh, my God, you’ve been hanging around Wyatt too long,” I said, laughing.
He pulled me down the hall, walking much slower this time, as he responded over his shoulder, “I know. He’s a terrible influence.”
Before I could come up with another quip, he stopped in front of an oversized door. He smiled and released me as he swung the door open. Holding out an arm, he said, “After you.”
I walked into his room, looking around in awe. The room was ginormous. Dark wood furniture, a full-sized bed, double doors that led to a walk-in closet and…
“You have a balcony?” I asked, heading for the glass doors.
I pulled them open and stepped outside, surveying the huge manicured lawn surrounded by dense forest. Beckett’s arms wrapped around my middle from behind and he rested his chin on my shoulder.
“All the bedrooms have balconies,” he said.
We stood like that for a full minute before he pulled me back into the room, closing the doors behind him. I shifted my weight from foot to foot, unsure of what to do. My eyes darted around the room, skimming over the bed several times before Beckett called my name.
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to sit?” he asked. “I told you I had something for you, and I want to give it to you now.”
“Okay,” I said. “Where should I…”
“The bed is fine,” he said when I trailed off.
Oh, God.
I swallowed against my panic and shuffled toward the bed. I had to use my arms to hoist myself up onto it, it was so high. I watched Beckett cross the room to his closet and disappear through the doors. I scooted back a little to get more comfortable, then stiffened my spine as he strode back out carrying a guitar.
My nerves fled and I clapped. “You’re going to play for me?” I asked, my pleasure evident in my voice.
“Yeah,” he said, sitting in the only chair in the room, a rolling desk chair.
He rolled across the wood floor until the chair was directly in front of me. I watched as he tuned the guitar, his hands trembling. He stopped his movements and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. Anxiety rolled off him in waves and I felt like I should say something encouraging to put him at ease. Before I could open my mouth to speak, he began to play.
Spellbound. Absolutely captivated. His intricate finger work across the strings produced the sweetest, most beautiful melody I’d ever heard. My heart pounded in time with the beat, my body warming every time he looked up from his instrument to gaze into my eyes. The pace slowed and as I readied myself to applaud, thinking the song was ending, he opened his mouth and started to sing.
“Eyes sparking with blue fire,
Hair of lustrous gold,
A smile that lights up my world,
A touch that makes me bold.”
“She doesn’t know she’s beautiful
Or that she shines so bright.
But I could see her many facets
At first sight.”
“Bravery beyond the norm,
A hot temper to match.
Loyalty beyond reproach,
Her heart I want to catch.”
“Oh, she’s the center of my world.
I long to be her knight.
She burrowed straight into my heart,
At first sight.”
“Someday soon she’ll know I’m hers,
Might even be tonight.
It’s too soon to say the word,
But it was at…first…sight.”
Tears poured unchecked down my face as I stared at him in awe. His deep voice resonated inside me, his words pulling at the strings of my heart. His gift wasn’t just playing me a song. He’d created something beautiful for me, and me alone. I didn’t take the actual words too seriously. I mean, we’d only known each other a few days. But the effort he must have put in to write the melody and lyrics and make it all come together so beautifully, to create such a tender, romantic ballad? And just for me? It touched my soul.
“Don’t cry,” he said, laying his guitar on the floor before standing. He took a step forward so that he was directly in front of me. “Didn’t you like it?”
I couldn’t speak. The skill to do so had completely left me. He reached toward my face, his thumb swiping the tears from each of my cheeks. That light touch ignited the fuse, setting off a series of explosions inside me. I lost my head and let my emotions take over.
I fisted my hands in the front of his shirt and yanked as I threw myself back against the bed. Not expecting the movement, he fell forward, his delicious weight pressing me down into the mattress. I wrapped my legs around his waist to hold him there when he tried to lift himself up. I released my grip on his shirt, sliding my palms up over his shoulders and around his neck. My fingers tangled into his hair, where I increased the pressure to bring his mouth to mine, but his head wouldn’t budge.
“Kiss me,” I breathed.
“Savanna, are you sure?” he asked.
I could feel the tension draining out of him little by little. His shock at my surprise maneuver was wearing off and he was warming up to our current position. The heat rolling off of him only kindled the fire inside me, making me squirm beneath him, trying to get even closer.
Deciding we needed a little less talk and a lot mor
e action, I lifted my head from the bed and pressed my lips against his. That must have been answer enough, because he took over, his tongue exploring my mouth and his palm brushing down my side. It stopped on my hip, his fingers grabbing it as he performed a surprise maneuver of his own.
With no warning, he rolled, taking me with him. Our positions were reversed, me on top of him with my knees straddling his hips. The move took me off guard and I pulled away, panting. We stared at each other for a moment before Beckett lifted his head and kissed my cheek. I turned my head into it and he nipped my ear.
“You’re in control,” he whispered, sucking my earlobe into his mouth briefly. “You decide what we do and when we stop.”
His head dropped back to the mattress and he watched me, waiting for me to make a decision. It didn’t take long. Reveling in the feeling of control, I settled my weight on him and rested my elbows on either side of his head. I studied every plane, every line of his face before bringing my lips to his skin.
I kissed his cheek, the light stubble there tickling my lips. Planting small pecks as I went, I moved up to his forehead, over his eyelids, the tip of his nose. I hit his chin once before settling my lips on his. He lay perfectly still, granting my desire for exploration with no agenda of his own. I sucked first his upper lip, then the lower into my mouth and ran my tongue along each.
When it dipped it into the cavern of his mouth, he spurred into action. His mouth took over, guiding mine, giving and taking, like an intricate dance. My fingers slipped under his head and tangled in his hair, holding him still so I could demonstrate what he’d just taught me. His hands squeezed at my waist before sliding up and over the center of my back, applying pressure there, as if he could bring me any closer. Our bodies were already melded.
His hands slid up to my shoulders, gently caressing, before moving back down. They reached the spot on my lower back and I barely noticed them pause as I continued to kiss him feverishly. I did, however, notice when they continued their path, sliding down over my butt and squeezing the flesh there. The shock of it made me freeze and pull my lips away from his. The pressure of his palms vanished instantly.