Page 15 of Wanted

“All right, buddy, come on. You’ve had enough. We need to get youhome.”

As soon as I stood, the world spun around me. Normally, I couldhandle my alcohol, but it’d been a long time since I’d consumed so much. Thankfully,I’d called the car service a half-hour before, so my ride was already waitingfor my drunk ass.

After paying our tab, we headed outside. Each step I took wasstaggered, Kael doing his best to hold me upright. The cool evening air helpedmy inebriated state, but only for a minute. My driver held the door for me as Istumbled inside, but before he locked me in, I yelled out to Kael, who wasstanding only a few feet away. “Hey, do you need a ride?” I slurred.

He chuckled and shook his head. I knew the state I was in wasgoing to be enough for him to hold over my head for years to come. Not since wewere in our early twenties had I drank to such an excess.

“No. Unlike you, I haven’t had much to drink, so I’ll be fine toget home on my own.”

“Okay, dress yourself then.”

“Don’t you mean suit yourself? Boy, you’re really gone aren’tyou? Do you need me to hold your hand and put you to bed?” he teased.

“Fuck you.” I laughed, giving him the finger as I situated myselfin the backseat of the town car.

Once I made eye contactwith the driver, I spouted out Sara’s address and settled in for the ride.

I hope I don’t pass out.

~10~

Sara

A loud crash in my living room woke me from a sound sleep. I instantlyshot up in bed, clutching the covers under my chin as if the material was goingto protect me somehow.

I strained to hear something, anything, but it was quiet. A fewseconds into my paranoia, I heard someone walking down the hallway, runningtheir hands along the sides of the walls as they approached my bedroom door.

The handle jiggled before the door crashed open.

There in the hallway stood a tall figure and at first I wasterrified, until I realized it was Alek. Reaching for the bedside lamp, Iflicked it on, illuminating the room enough to see his looming form.

He didn’t move, just stood there staring at me. His hair wasdisheveled, as were the clothes he wore. The black tie around his neck waslopsided, his white dress shirt sloppily hanging over his suit pants. He lookeda mess, yet still completely sexy.

It wasn’t until he was near the bed did I notice he was swaying, barelyexerting enough energy to remain on his feet. When I glanced up into his face,my breath rested in my throat. The look in his eyes was daunting. Hopelessnesshad taken over, and I wasn’t quite sure why.

We were doing so well lately, all things considered, and I didn’twant anything to upset our delicate balance. Sure, he still had his demandingways but I was used to dealing with him, so whatever tiffs arose were quicklyresolved. All I wanted to do was move forward with our lives.

I’d planned to have a conversation with him over the next fewdays about moving back in with him. Officially and for good. He had been askingme more frequently as of late and I’d refuted him each time, not wanting toupset the progress we’d been able to make in our relationship. Many things had happenedduring the short time we’d known each other but thankfully, we’d been able toforge ahead.

My decision to live with him made sense. If I wanted ourrelationship to move forward, it would be the next logical step. Plus, I hatedtraveling back and forth between my place and his. I wanted one location we couldboth call home.

There was something else I’d been holding back, as well. Threewords. I tried to tell him I loved him once before but he’d been sleeping. Iwanted him to hear my words, to see the affection for him shining in my eyes asI spoke those words to him. I wasn’t holding back any longer, especiallyglancing at the look of despair etched into his face. I wanted to rid him ofwhatever was bothering him, and I knew my words would do it. Professing my lovefor him while he was drunk wasn’t ideal, but I didn’t want to shut myself offany longer. Although, if I’d thought about it, the first time he told me heloved me was not perfect, either. The important thing was wedidlove each other and those feelingsshould never be stifled, no matter what was happening around us.

Alek moved closer untilhis knees hit the bed, reaching down so he could touch my face. “I love you,Sara. I always will, no matter what.” The last few words were slurred, but Iheard him clearly enough. He sounded conflicted about something, and it was obviouslybothering him. Anguish and heartache were evident in his beautiful green eyes,even as he professed his love to me.

I reached out and tried to pull him next to me but he remainedstanding, which was a feat considering he looked like he’d drank himself intooblivion.

His next words rang out into the silence of the room, confusingme even more. “I need to protect you, but I can’t…not this close to you.”

My heart skipped a beat.“What are you talking about, Alek? Why are you being so weird rightnow?” He was starting to freak me out but instead of delving into whatever hemeant with his words, I decided to ignore it, against my better judgement, andswitch the subject. “Why don’t you let me help you undress, then we can go tobed,” I offered. Looking into his gorgeous face, I silently pleaded with him tocomply.

Letting out a breathy sigh, he replied, “Okay.”

I moved to the edge of the bed and helped him remove his suitjacket. He kicked off his shoes and socks as I unbuttoned his shirt. Myfingertips grazed his skin as I pushed the expensive fabric off his shoulders. Hestood in front of me and waited for me to remove his pants. Slipping his beltthrough the loops, I yanked it free and tossed it to the floor. The clink ofthe buckle rang out across the room, the only other sounds coming from ouranticipating breaths. My hand grazed over his erection as I slipped the pantsdown his muscular thighs. Before I could free him from his boxer briefs, hewhipped them off so fast I was surprised he didn’t fall over in his haste totoss them aside.

Running my hands all over his chest, I parted my lips and leanedforward. I wanted to kiss and suck his sinewy skin, but before I made contact,he gripped my arms and pulled me into him, crashing his chest against mine.

“I want to make love to you, Sara. I want to cherish and rememberthis.”

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