Falling for Sarah (33 page)

Her palm covered his and he stepped closer. Enchanted by the moment, she didn’t resist when he pressed his lips to hers. He deepened the kiss and she closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his mouth against hers. He stroked callused fingers over her belly, making her shiver. Her hands rested against his chest, intending to push him away, but they wandered to his shoulders, pulling him to her.

Ethan feathered kisses over her cheeks, her jawbone, down her neck while his fingers journeyed up to move in slow circles over the silk of her bra. His gentle touches left a trail of goose bumps, hardening her nipples. His warm breath heated her sensitized skin and she gasped as she began to simmer from the inside out. He flicked his tongue against fabric as he tugged at the front clasp, catching her heavy breasts in his palms.

“My God, Sarah,” he groaned, suckling, tracing circles until she snagged her lip with her teeth on a moan and ran her hands through his hair. “You’re so beautiful.”

Staring into his gaze, listening to her heart, she met his mouth again in a hungry daze. Her mind protested her mistake, but she didn’t care. Reality was for later. Tugging on his arm, she knelt with him, thigh to thigh, on the plush bath mat.

Sarah pressed herself against his firm chest and he closed his eyes as he hugged her close, stroking the skin of her sides.

“Let me be with you, Sarah. I miss being with you.”

She rested her head on his shoulder, moved her hands over his firm butt, aching to touch him, craving to be touched.

He eased back. “Sarah.”

She couldn’t take the anticipation anymore. “God, Ethan. Put your hands on me.”

Something passed through his eyes, something dark, dangerous, primitive as he stared at her, laying her back against the large rug. A thrill coursed through her and she moaned from the promise alone, knowing he was about to take her exactly where she wanted to go.

Ethan began his journey down, skimming his teeth against her skin, tugging her panties free, leaving her half crazy from the waiting. He rained kisses along her knees, her thighs, and her hips set a rhythm. “Ethan.”

His lips barely made contact as his tongue darted out in just the right spot. Sarah shuddered out a breath, sucked one in, on the edge. He nipped next, bringing her pleasure and pain. “Mmm, Ethan.”

He spread her legs wider, pulling her into his mouth, suckling. Gasping, she tensed, clenching her fists, raising herself up on her elbows, watching his assault,
feeling
the smooth skin of his inner lips, the course tension of his tongue. “God, Ethan, God, Ethan,” she panted. She was there, almost over.

His finger plunged in, sweeping, massaging, while his mouth continued, relentless. Sarah lost her breath on a half cry, half scream, shattering as she never had before. Lost in something indescribable, she shuddered violently on wave after wave of bliss. Bright colors flashed before her eyes and her head fell back.

Before she could recover, he thrust himself into her. She cried out again as he sent her reeling.

Flesh slapped against sweaty flesh as he slid back and forth. She gripped his hips, unable to do more. Ethan puffed gasps in and out and she stared as his glorious body tensed, as he threw his head back on a feral groan.

He collapsed on top of her, his rapid breathing heating her shoulder, before he pulled away and rolled to his side.

They stared at each other, catching their breath. When he smiled at her moments later, she smiled back, not knowing what to say.

He trailed his hand to her lower stomach, resting his palm there. The animal was gone and Ethan was back, touching her tenderly. “I never knew I’d find a pregnant woman so sexy.”

“Just give it a few more weeks; we’ll see if you change your mind.”

His smile vanished. “I won’t. You’re carrying my baby and I love you.”

The truth was in his eyes, but she wasn’t ready to give him everything again. Would she ever be? Losing him would wound as deeply as losing Jake. If he came home one day, deciding he had changed his mind, it wouldn’t be any different than the day the soldiers knocked at her door. She wouldn’t be able to find her way through the grief this time. She couldn’t lose like that again. On muscles still weak, she tried to sit up, needing to break contact.
He held her down with one hand against her shoulder. “I love you, Sarah. I love Kylee and this baby. Why don’t you believe me?”

“Love is just a word without the feelings behind it.”

Hurt flashed in his eyes as he moved back, pulled on his boxers and stood. “I know I screwed up, Sarah. I know I let you down, but what is it going to take to prove to you I mean exactly what I say? You believed me a month ago. How do we get back there?”

Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around her knees. “I don’t know. I really don’t. Everything’s changed. I don’t recognize my life anymore. Right now I need time. Just give me time to figure everything out.”

He crouched in front of her, taking her face in his hands. “I won’t give up on us, Sarah. I love you. I need you. Make sure you think about that while you’re figuring everything out.”

Ethan stood and walked out.

Ethan made his way to the guest room all but vibrating with frustration. He tried to ignore the hurt hovering under the surface but wasn’t succeeding. As he shut the door, he had to stop himself from slamming it, from smashing his fist against the wood. Damn it! Why wouldn’t she believe him?

He’d watched her eyes while they moved together. She’d been with him. They’d been connected, on the same page. Why did everything seem less complicated when they were in bed?

Pacing about, he stopped and stared out the window, focusing on the wild waves of the Pacific, already knowing the answer to his own question. When they were together, lost in the sensations they brought each other, it was all about emotion. Sarah wasn’t willing to let her emotions lead her right now.

He’d hurt her, more than he realized. It was going to be a long road back to where they left off. The only thing he could do was keep telling her, keep showing her that he wasn’t going anywhere. It would be his goal to spend as much time with her and Kylee as possible. His family
would
be together by the time the baby came. There was no other option.

Bone tired and weary, Ethan rubbed at his eyes, turning toward the bed. He glanced at the clock, winced. It was going to be hell on earth getting up in four hours. As he pulled the covers back, the flashing red blip on his phone caught his attention.

Whoever had left the message could wait. Lying back against the pillow, he closed his eyes.

What if it was Wren? What if she was in trouble?

“Goddamn it.”

He grabbed the phone, coming to attention when he read Tucker Campbell’s number in his missed call box. Pushing a button, he retrieved the message.

“Ethan, it’s Tucker. We’ve made an arrest in the stalker case. It looks like we’ve got him cold. I’ll keep you up to date as things unfold.”

He dialed Tucker’s number, unable to wait for an update.

“Detective Myers.”

“Tucker, it’s Ethan. I know you’re busy, but do you have a second?”

“I have about two. Hold on.” The racket of the police station quieted when a door closed. “Okay.”

“So, you’ve got him?”

“Yeah, it looks like. An anonymous tip came in at one a.m. yesterday morning. We’ve been keeping the break under wraps until we can be positive, but it looks pretty tight.”

“How can you be sure?”

“For one, this is the first night in weeks we haven’t been called out to find a woman dead with piano wire wrapped around her neck, and two, his trunk was loaded with all kinds of evidence. CSI found numerous blonde hairs, the taser, wire and condoms. The lab is rushing results on the hairs, but at this point we’re pretty damn sure.”

“How long until they get back to you?”

“About four or five days. I really have to go. I have a date with our man-of-the-hour in interrogation room one.”

“Keep me posted.”

Ethan hung up, put his phone back on the side table, stared at the ceiling. A cautious weight lifted from his shoulders. It was over. They caught the bastard. Sarah was no longer in danger. Life could go back to normal. They would wait for the lab results, of course, but by next week, Sarah and Kylee more than likely wouldn’t be living with him.

The house felt empty already. It would be too quiet without Kylee’s chatter and noise, without Sarah’s laughter.

Ethan scrubbed his hands over his face, reminding himself they would only be two miles down the road—but they might as well be two hundred. Nothing between Sarah and him would ever be the same. He doubted his open-ended invitation would still exist.

He should be happy. Sarah was safe. He could get back to work at the office, have his bed back. His life would be his own again.

God, that sounded awful. Ethan sat up in a panic. What if he couldn’t get her back? What if he couldn’t fix this?

No, he would. He had to. She loved him. She’d told him so, albeit reluctantly, but she did. They’d all but destroyed each other on the bathroom floor. There was still something between them to salvage. His heart rate settled and he rested his head against the pillow again, waiting for sleep to take him under.

Ethan followed the noisy sounds of a Monday morning breakfast to the kitchen. Kylee sat in her booster seat, chewing a mouthful of blueberry pancake. She grinned up at him as syrup dribbled down her chin.

“Morning, kiddo. You’re making a mess.”

“I eating pancakes.”

“I see.”

She held up her fork, offering him a bite.

Bending forward, he took it. A warm blueberry burst in his mouth as he chewed. “Thank you. It’s delicious.”

“I made plenty. Help yourself,” Sarah said as she walked to the table with a plate of her own.

He stared at her, gauging her mood. Where were they at after last night?

Sarah smiled at Kylee and cut into her pancakes. Apparently they were status quo despite the after-sex tension.

“So, I see you found something that fits.”

She looked at him before glancing down at the green strapless sundress he’d taken off her the night they’d eaten lobster tail on his upstairs deck. “It’s a little tight, but it’ll have to do. We have to stop by my house this afternoon. I need to pick up different clothing.”

“Okay.” Ethan made his way to the platter of pancakes, serving himself half a dozen. He sat next to Sarah at the table, pouring syrup lavishly.

“My God, Ethan. It’s a wonder you’re as cut as you are. How can you stand to eat all that?”

He grinned as she wrinkled her nose in disgust. “This is just my first helping.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Chuckling, he cut into his breakfast. “Of course I am. This should hold me until lunch.”

A smile split her lips. “I certainly hope so.”

He took her chin between his thumb and finger, examining her face. Her pale cheeks and dull eyes of late were replaced with a healthy glow and a bright blue sparkle. “You look good this morning.”

“I feel good this morning. I’m hoping the sickness has passed.” She pulled free from his hold and turned to her pancakes.

Ethan chewed a bite and swallowed. “I have some news.”

Sarah set her fork down. “What is it?”

“I got a call from Detective Campbell last night. They think they’ve caught him.”

“What?” she whispered.

“They’re pretty sure they have him.”

“I-I can’t believe this.” She clutched at her napkin. “It’s all over.”

Ethan scooted his chair closer, skimmed a finger against her cheek. “Hey, I thought you would be happy about this.”

“I am. It’s just hard to take it all in, hard to believe. I’ve been afraid of my own shadow for weeks, now I don’t have to be.” She shrugged. “I imagine that sounds silly.”

“Not at all. You’ve been through hell, Sarah.”

She closed her eyes, pressing her cheek against his palm. He wanted to lean forward, to feel his lips touching hers, but he stayed where he was. This morning was a step in the right direction; he’d be damned if they would take another step back. He brushed a hand over her hair and she opened her eyes, smiling, bringing her hand up to rest over his.