Page 49 of Unravel Me

My mom was wrong. She had to be. The last two days replay in my mind like a montage. He never got over me. The way he looks at me is still the same. The only thing that’s new is the uncertainty that I put there. I did that. I hurt him and left him alone when all he ever did was love me and want to be with me.

I grab my phone off the coffee table and pull up his text.

Unknown: You’re so beautiful.

I run my fingers over his words before adding him as a contact.

Me: Can we talk?

Three little dots appear and then disappear. My heart sinks. A fresh wave of tears threatens to burst free until there’s a knock at my door. I jump up off the couch, sloshing my wine from the glass and onto my hand in the process. I set it on the table before jogging to the door, licking the wine off my skin, my heart in my throat. I whip open the door to find Sawyer pacing back and forth on the porch, running his fingers through his hair. He stops and looks me over, taking in my black leggings, tall wool socks, and loose tank top.

“Hi, butterfly.”

“Hi.”

Our eyes dance around each other’s faces, trying to get a read on the other person.

“What are you doing here?”

“You said you couldn’t sleep here. I didn’t want you to be alone. I wanted you to have options.”

“Sawyer . . .”

My eyes drift closed. My chest heaves. This man. I open my eyes to where Sawyer stands in front of me, bracing himself on the door frame. The look on his face is no longer of concern and affection, it’s lust filled, unbridled desire, need, and desperation.

I know it matches my own.

We lunge for each other a moment later, coming together in the entryway, my arms wrapping around his neck as our mouths collide. My hands weave through his hair. His kiss is bruising and demanding and his rough facial hair against my smooth skin feels like heaven. I can’t help the moan that escapes my lips, muffled by the press of his.

He wastes no time scooping me up into his arms. My legs wrap around his waist as one of his hands snakes up my side to cup my face and thread through my hair. He angles my face where he wants me while walking us into the house. The door slams behind us as Sawyer kicks it closed before he spins and pushes me against it. He pulls back and I grip his hair tighter, desperate not to lose contact. He doesn’t leave me long enough to disappoint me. His eyes never leave mine as his tongue peeks out and traces the seam of my lips delicately.

“Let me in, baby,” he pleads.

My eyes meet his and the double meaning of his words aren’t lost on me.

My lips part for him and his tongue delves in. He kisses me as if it’s the last thing he’ll ever do. His hips press hard against mine, pinning me between his body and the door, my legs tightening around his waist to hold myself up. His hands roam everywhere, around my ass and thighs, to the curve of my hips, and up my sides and back down again. It’s all-consuming. He’s everywhere.

His mouth leaves mine to pepper kisses across my jaw and down my neck before sucking gently on the skin where it meets my shoulder. I moan and arch into him.

“Fuck. Ivy. That sound, baby. You feel so good in my arms.”

I rock gently against his waist. He shifts and drops my hips lower, the hardness of his cock pressing right against my core. I rock harder against him and this time it’s him who moans. Thefire that started to build deep and low in my belly rises to a blazing inferno.

This.

This feeling that only Sawyer evokes in me. How could I ever walk away from this? From him. He’s only ever loved me. How could I allow myself to believe the toxic bullshit my mother fed me? The epiphany slams into me and the realization of everything I gave up destroys what’s left of my hesitation.

I frantically pull his face back to kiss him, tears streaming down my cheeks now. I grasp at his shoulders and pull him to me, not able to get close enough. Desperation. That’s what I feel. Fuck, what have I done?

He kisses me hard, grasping my face in both of his hands before pulling back and looking at me.

“Do you know how long I’ve dreamt of kissing you again?”

A sob escapes me, and I drop my forehead to his.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Shhh. I know, baby.”

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