by Layla Hunter
"I have responsibilities, Sam. I told you about my grandmother in those letters…the one person in my life that has been a constant. I'd do anything for her. I have college loans and…" Her voice trailed off and she paused a moment.
"The letters I wrote to you came from my heart…from me—Sarah. I told you more about me than I've ever shared with anyone…except my grandmother. And if you ask me why, I couldn't really tell you, but it wasn't just because you were safe. For me, there was something about you…about us."
He remained quiet, his continued silence driving her crazy.
"If I hadn't been working there, I wouldn't have met you and I'll never be sorry for having the chance to get to know you. I can't say I believe the same for you at this moment. The way you just looked at me and…say something damn it!" Her voice broke, tears stinging her eyes.
"I'm not judging you, Sarah. I never would. It's just the thought of you talking to other men the way you talked to me that night…it's hard. I guess part of me wanted to believe it was just me. An unrealistic fantasy, but it got me through so many damned nights over there."
Standing, she put the beer down and went to sit next to him on the couch. "Same here. You have no idea." Taking his hands in hers, a wave of relief came over her when he didn't pull away, instead threading his fingers through hers.
"I think I do," he challenged.
She chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Having pictures of you made this harder in some ways, you know. I felt guilty not sending you any of me, but you never really asked and I was afraid."
"I didn't want to pressure you and risk losing what we were building, whether real or just a fantasy."
She understood, having felt the same way. "Oh, Sam…this is real. Don't ever doubt that. Each letter you poured your heart and soul into made it all the more so…the sound of your voice when you called the second time just because you wanted to hear my voice and…I still don't know how you convinced me to sing."
He laughed. "I have my ways. I had my suspicions when you were up on stage, but Donovan didn't give me any warning and the moment was surreal, a dream. I was afraid if I blinked, I'd wake up and you'd be gone.
"When you started to walk off the stage I felt a tug in my heart, but I didn't know what to do. Then you came back and sang that song…our song, sort of and I knew." He lifted her hands to his lips, first turning them over before placing a gentle kiss in each palm, sending warm ripples of pleasure through her entire body. She shuddered.
"I wanted you to know the truth before I left that stage…"
The warmth of his smile filled her heart. "God, your voice is beautiful, Sarah…as beautiful as you are…inside and out. I savored every word of every letter you sent me and I didn't even know if it would be possible, but I prayed I'd have one chance to meet you and make a good enough impression to…" He let go of one hand, running his fingers through his hair nervously.
"To what?"
"Good enough that you'd consider turning our pen pal relationship into something more. I hope I didn't screw it up. I didn't come back the way I left so I don't have much to offer." Putting her palms against his cheeks, he closed his eyes for a moment before looking at her. "I didn't want to disappoint you."
When she saw tears glistening in those blue depths, a surge of emotion came over her. Moving her thumbs over his cheeks, she traced the strong outline of his face and felt him shudder beneath her touch, igniting a spark of desire within. "You could never disappoint me."
Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight, holding her to him as if he were afraid to let go. "Sarah…"
The way he said her name stirred the embers of desire and she hugged him back, pressing her cheek against his as a fierce ache settled into her very core.
"I've dreamt about this moment…holding you in my arms…looking into those gorgeous green eyes…kissing you and…"
A deep longing overtook her. "I know." She'd had the same dream and told him as much with her unwavering gaze.
Cupping her face within strong hands, he swooped down, capturing her mouth in a ravenous kiss that took her breath away with its intensity, a kiss immediately passionate and vulnerable.
Her sharp intake of breath stilled him. "I'm sorry…that was out of line and—"
Placing a finger against his lips, she silenced him. "Stop apologizing and kiss me again."
His smoldering gaze held hers for a long moment before he granted her wish, dipping his head and kissing first her top lip, then her bottom lip, drawing against them before seeking entry to the warmth of her mouth. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she melted into his embrace, certain for the first time in a long time she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Breathless, she pulled back a little, drawing against his bottom lip playfully. "You understand WSN has a strict non-fraternization policy," she managed to state between ragged breaths.
"So if you fraternize with me, you'll lose your job?" He leaned in, smiling mischievously before claiming her mouth in another sweet kiss.
"Yes." The answer whispered across his lips. "I can't afford to do that, Sam, unless—"
"Unless what?" He pulled back, a hopeful look upon his face.
"I take Donovan up on his offer the other night to become the part-time assistant manager of Crossroads," she declared coyly, tapping her bottom lip with her finger as if the decision were a difficult one.
"And you call me trouble?" He laughed, wrapping her up in his arms and hugging her tightly.
"With a capital T…"
"Sarah Cole…would you do me the great honor of fraternizing with me?"
Grinning, she snuggled into the welcome warmth of his embrace. "Of course you understand such a request carries a long-term recurring fee, which I cannot guarantee will not increase in the very near future?" Glancing up, she tapped her bottom lip with her index finger, inviting him to kiss her again and promising so much more.
"Not a problem. Definitely worth going into debt for."
*THE END*
About the Author
Layla's Hunter's love of romance began at age eleven when her Nanny (referred to lovingly as 'Nanns') slipped her a couple of True Romance comic books, along with her first romance; and it was love at first sight. Before long, she was writing her own stories and has been doing so for over two decades. Along with erotic romance, she enjoy writing fantasy/paranormal and contemporary as well.
As a full-time associate at a recovery management firm, wife, and mother to a seventeen-year old daughter, finding time to write can sometimes be a challenge, but it is always a priority.
A New Jersey native, she currently resides in an 1890 Folk Victorian that she and her husband are slowly returning to its former beauty. They share this century-old home with their daughter and a bevy of delightfully comical cats. Oh, and let’s not forget the ‘ghost mice’ … unseen to the human eye, her cats dutifully chase these invisible intruders throughout the house at three o’clock in the morning.
Although the siren call of writing commands most of her time, she also enjoys reading, photography, ghost hunting, belly dancing, shooting sports, movies, music, and actively supports several causes near and dear to her heart.
Layla has published several erotic shorts in an online magazine, as well as had one of her short stories included in a recent anthology. Romance and a deep emotional connection between her characters are integral to her writing, as is giving her readers a chance to escape into her character's world for a little while, assuring them of a HEA. She loves hearing from her readers and is happy to answer all e-mails.
She is a member of RWA, NJRW, LSFW, Passionate Ink, FF&P RWA, Elements RWA, IWWG, Erotic Readers & Writers Association, Savvy Authors, Absolute Write, Romance Divas, GoodReads.com and Romance in the Backseat, where she entered and won the 2010 New Year’s Writer’s Rumble with her entry Karma (which she is in the process of completing), and has several WIP's.
Secret Cravings Publishing
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p; www.secretcravingspublishing.com