Southern Seduction (124 page)

She’s looking at me with wide eyes, and I realize I just got a lot more in depth than I intended. I know I need to reel myself in. I watch as tears form in her eyes, so I’m quick to lighten the mood.

“I have a feeling Cori could write her own blog post about me, and I’d fall into the creepy category, too. But that’s okay. Two creeps in a pod?” I wince at my lame joke, but apparently it works because she launches herself at me, not settling until she’s straddling my lap. She leans in and presses a sweet kiss to my lips before pulling back from me.

“Now I don’t know whether to thank Cori or strangle her,” she says, laughing. “I’ll be your creep if you’ll be mine. Just promise me you won’t ever let me turn into a crazy cat lady.”

“Cheyenne, I’ll be your creep for life if that’s what you want. And I solemnly vow to never allow you to have more than three cats at one time.”

She wrinkles her nose, giving me a weird look. “Why three?” she asks.

“Umm, well, one of the comments on the blog said something about having more than three cats is a cry for help and your friends should be worried if you go above that number.”

“That’s it. I’m never getting a cat. Ever,” she says, grinning at me.

“Fine with me. I never plan on getting one either,” I tell her as I wrap my arms around her, drawing her in close. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She returns my hug and then climbs out of my lap. I notice that she doesn’t have socks on, and I get the perfect view on her tattoo as she moves across the bed before settling in on the headboard. I twist so that I’m facing her, my eyes unable to leave her foot. Without thinking, I scoot across the bed and sit with my legs crossed. I grab her foot and pull it into my lap so I can study the tattoo up close. It’s a simple design, a small black swallow, wings spread wide. I look up at Cheyenne and see her watching me.

“How long have you had this?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. For some reason, I want to hear it again. I move to the head of the bed, where I turn the lamp off as I wait for her to answer me. When I lie down on my pillow, Cheyenne cuddles up beside me and I wrap my arm around her, drawing her into my chest. She slips her hand under my t-shirt, tracing small circles on my skin.

“I’ve had it for over five and a half years. Like I told you last week, Cori dragged me to a tattoo parlor on my third day at Berkeley and I knew what I wanted the moment I stepped in the door. What about you? Do you have any tattoos?” she asks, slightly changing the subject, but it’s too late. My heart warms at her admission, remembering that her reservations on her eighteenth birthday were because she needed something meaningful.

“Yeah, I have a couple. Remind me to show you sometime,” I tell her, wrapping my arm tighter around her. We both lie in silence, but the sound of our thoughts is echoing throughout the room. I want to know what she’s thinking. I’m wondering if it’s as hard for her to lie in this bed without touching each other intimately like I want to do right now.

“Oh, hey, Sawyer?” she says, breaking the silence.

“Yeah, pretty girl?”

“I’m glad I’m here, too.” With that, she turns onto her side and grabs my arm to pull me in behind her.

I’m spooning her and have to stifle a groan when her ass presses up against my groin. I tell my buddy down south to take a chill pill so he doesn’t freak her out, but I know he’s missed her just as much as the rest of me has. Placing my hand on Cheyenne’s stomach, I settle in behind her as her words replay in my mind. My pretty girl, my little swallow, finally found her wings, and came flying back to me. She’s home, right where she belongs.

The next morning when I wake up, I stretch out, refreshed from the best night of sleep I’ve had in a long time. A smile crosses my face when I turn to the reason for my happiness, but my heart drops when I see that her side of the bed is empty and the sheets are all made up.

Lying back on my pillow, I stare up at the ceiling, replaying the events of last night. She said that she wasn’t going to run again, and I trust that. I have to trust that. Instead of mentally freaking out, I get up out of bed. When I head into the bathroom, I see her jeans still lying on the floor and I know immediately that she’s still here. A huge grin spreads over my face at the thought that finally, after so long, Cheyenne’s here, in my home, in my heart. For the first time in what feels like forever, genuine happiness flows through me. I know we didn’t discuss what was going to happen between us, but after last night, I know I at least have some sort of a chance at getting her back.

After I go through my morning routine, I head down the hall and step into the kitchen, where I can see her rummaging around in my refrigerator. I come up behind her, slipping my hands beneath her t-shirt. She jumps at the contact and then hits me with a towel when I start laughing at her.

“You scared the crap outta me!” she declares. She’s adorable when she’s mad, and seeing her in my kitchen—in my pants—does something to me.

Grabbing ahold of her waist, I push her into the living room and force her to sit on the couch. I sit on the coffee table in front of her and place my hands on her thighs.

“I was going to make you breakfast, but if you’re going to manhandle me and force me out of your kitchen, then we can just go to the diner down the street,” she says, sending me a mock glare.

“You can cook for me any day of the week, pretty girl, but I want to set some things straight first.”

“Okay,” she says slowly, watching me carefully.

“I don’t want to go to work on Monday and find that you’ve retreated into your head again. This past week was torture as you sat across from me. I kept replaying that kiss in your apartment over and over in my head. I could barely look at you without wanting to do it again. I need to know that you want this. That last night wasn’t a fluke, but it was a second beginning for us.”

She takes in my words, and I hold my breath, waiting for her to respond. “When I go to work on Monday morning, Sawyer, I will treat you as my boss and be a complete professional.” I groan, and she holds her hand up to stop me. “But when you take me out to dinner Monday night, I’ll treat you as my man.”

The sense of ownership she’s claiming gives me relief, and I pick her up and set her on my lap. I begin tickling her stomach as payback for making me sweat. “Your man, huh?” I ask. She nods between her giggles, squirming in my lap, but I just tickle her even harder. “So it’s official? We’re dating?”

“Sawyer, stop it! I’m going to pee my pants,” she begs, and I relent—only just a little bit.

“I want to hear you say it, Cheyenne. Back then I messed up by never officially claiming you, and I’m not making that mistake again. If we’re dating, I want it to be exclusive.”

I stop tickling her, and she adjusts in my lap so she’s facing me. She’s breathless, and the sight of her in the morning is breathtaking. I silently send up a prayer that I’ll have many more of these mornings.

“Yes, Sawyer, I guess I’d say we’re dating. And I don’t share, so you better believe your ass we’re exclusive. If I see any more socialites pawing all over you in the conference room, I might have to kick some ass.” The grin escapes her face the moment she mentions work. “But here’s the deal. This is new for me. It’s been a really long time since I’ve been in a relationship. With our past, is it okay if we take things slow? I don’t want to go announcing anything at work. You know how those people talk. The last thing I need is being the next big thing in the rumor mill.”

“If slow’s what you want, then slow it is. And don’t worry about the office. As long as I don’t show you any preferential treatment, it’s nobody’s business. I don’t like to use my clout, but if anyone has a problem with it, they can take it up with me. My dad does own half of the company, you know?” I say, hoping that will settle her nerves.

“I know. It’s just… I’d normally never, not in a million years, get involved with my boss. I’m sure I could ask to switch departments so there’s no room for anyone to talk, but honestly, I like the work we do and I don’t want to give that up.”

“You don’t have to. When we walk into the building, we’ll leave our relationship at the door,” I assure her.

She grins wickedly and leans in for a kiss before placing her lips on my ear. “Easy for you to say, city boy. I’ve had plenty of naughty thoughts at work and most of them involve you, your desk, and me bent over.”

I groan, and she shifts in my lap again. If she wants to take things slow, she’s not doing a very good job. A lesser man might have her naked and panting on the couch already.

“Hey, Sawyer?” she says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Thank you.”

Furrowing my brow, I pull back to look at her. “You’re welcome, pretty girl, but what exactly are you thanking me for?”

Her eyes are twinkling as she stares into my own. “For letting me back in. I’ve been looking for home for a long time, only to realize that I already knew where it was all along. You could’ve slammed the door in my face, but instead, you greeted me with open arms. Like you were just waiting for me to return. I don’t know if I deserve it, but I’m going to make sure that I earn it from now on.”

I’m reminded of the swallow poem she taught me all those years ago. I grab ahold of her foot and rub where the tattoo is. “I’ve been waiting on spring for a really long time, Cheyenne. I don’t know if it was the swallow that brought you back to me, but it’s what let me be a part of you all this time. My arms will always be open, as will my heart. You came back to me, and I’m never letting you go.”

I know this is the perfect time to show her my own tattoo, but for some reason I just don’t feel ready. For now, I’m just content to finally hold this girl in my arms, knowing that after such a long time, she’s finally mine.

April 2014

Cheyenne

I’m putting the finishing touches on my makeup when Cori walks into my room and whistles.

“Oh, girl, Sawyer’s going to eat his heart out when he sees you in that dress,” she tells me, and I turn to look at her.

She’s absolutely stunning in a long, ruby-red dress that accentuates every single one of her curves. Her dark hair is flowing in loose curls, and her makeup is smoky, drawing attention to her steel-blue eyes. She’s one to talk, because Bryan’s going to have a hard time keeping men from trying to steal his date to the Wellsley-Callahan Charity Gala tonight.

“Whatever you say, Cori. I’ll make sure to be there to pick Bryan’s jaw up off the ground when they show up later,” I tease her.

It’s only been a couple of weeks since that night at Sawyer’s, but we’ve been together almost every waking moment, whether it’s at work or at one of our apartments. Okay, it’s usually his apartment because lately Bryan and Cori have been bickering more than normal.. I’m not sure what their deal is, but it’s much easier going to his place. Plus, we have much more privacy there.

Sawyer’s respected my wishes about taking it slow. Even though he’s tried to sneak in a few kisses when we’re in his office with the door shut, he’s mostly behaved himself. That doesn’t mean that he hasn’t made a few offhand comments about his desk and the idea of one of my skirts wrapped up around my waist. He’s mostly teasing, especially since we haven’t even had sex yet. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to. It’s just that we’ve been spending time together getting to know each other again, and it just hasn’t happened. Maybe Sawyer’s being a little too respectful. Either way, I’ve made plans for tonight that he won’t be able to resist, and I can’t wait to finally see what Sawyer’s like in the bedroom now.

We’ve done a good job concealing our relationship, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer when he asked me to be his date to the gala. At first I wanted to fight him on it, but in the end, I realized that, sooner or later, I’m going to be head over heels for him and people are going to find out anyway. Hell, if I let myself think about it, I’m already halfway there.

The doorbell rings, and Cori grins at me. “That must be the guys,” she says, her eyes twinkling. I have no idea why she agreed to be Bryan’s date, but I’m glad she’s coming.

Bryan and Sawyer have formed some sort of friendship since we started dating, and I couldn’t be happier. They decided that we need to arrive at the event in style, so they rented a limo. It’s Bryan’s place, too, so I’m not sure why he’s ringing the doorbell. I assume it must be for the effect.