Page 47 of Sutton's Shadow

Wyatt squeezed her hand, bringing her back to the present. “He loved you. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“He just needed more time to grow up. He would have been ready for that family you wanted eventually.”

She didn’t know if she believed that but nodded anyway. She took a deep breath, shaking off the residual doldrums from memories best forgotten. “Let’s get this cleaned up,” she said, standing to take her plate into the kitchen.

Once the dishes were done and the kitchen was spotless, uncertainty crowded in. She wouldn’t mind falling back into bed with him but didn’t want to suggest it if he didn’t feel the same.

“Do you want to watch a movie or something?” she asked.

He moved closer to her, one hand delving into her hair and grasping the back of her neck. He pulled her closer, and a delicious shiver skated down her spine. “Or something. I seem to recall a desire to spread you out on this counter to devour.”

Chapter 14

Wyattfistedherhair,tugging to tilt her head up. She gasped at the slight sting. He took her mouth, kissing her as if he couldn’t get enough. She met his unabashed need with her own. Their tongues dueled until his hand loosened the belt of her robe. Before it could drop to the floor, he lifted her, setting her on the counter. Pushing her shoulders back, he trailed hot kisses down her throat and over the swell of her breasts.

He spread the sides of her robe open as her back met the counter, and he drank her in from head to pussy. She was magnificent, a feast for the senses spread out before him. She watched him through heavy-lidded eyes, her lust evident. He touched her lips with a finger, and her tongue snaked out to lick it before she sucked it into her mouth. Pulling it out, he ran the wetness down her chest until he reached the peak of one breast.

He swirled his finger around the taut bud, watching those beautiful cornflower blue eyes darken with hunger. He repeated the movement, making her suck his finger again, circling the other nipple.

One more time, his finger entered her mouth, but this time he went farther south, to her clit. Her hips bucked against his hand, and a tasty whimper escaped her lips. He pushed his hips between her legs, spreading her open for him. As he teased the tiny nub, he leaned over her, swiping his tongue over one nipple before drawing it into his mouth. He teased her with deep sucking pulls alternated with gentle flicks of his tongue until she was a writhing mass beneath him.

He needed more. The heady scent of her arousal filled his senses, and he needed a taste. Quicker than her next breath, he knelt between her legs, his tongue delving into her folds, starving for a sip of her. He licked up her slit to her clit, flicking it. Closing his mouth around it, he sucked hard before pushing his tongue inside her, drinking up her juices.

Pleasure pooled in his gut as he savored her, the flavor washing over his tongue. Her desperate whimpers drove all the blood in his body south, hardening his dick until it was almost painful. She thrashed and bucked into his mouth as he licked and sucked, driving her higher. He placed his arm across her, holding her down, his hand coming to rest on her breast. He squeezed the mound and nibbled at her pussy until she broke, screaming his name.

He lapped at her, lingering while she settled from her orgasm. Standing, he wanted nothing more than to plunge deep inside her that instant, but the condoms were in the bedroom. Sweeping her up into his arms, he rushed down the hall. In no time, he’d donned the condom and was inside her, finding home.

Bethanysatinthesame spot on her bed. Shivering, she pulled the threadbare blankets closer. She was so cold, and it was still August. The nights were the worst as the temperature dropped during the unusual summer cold snap. She wondered if they had even turned on the heat or if it had stopped working, not the slightest bit surprised if it had. There wasn’t much in this place that worked. The shower was lukewarm at best. A trickle of water with no pressure behind it, like it had given up. Just like she felt like doing as the days passed.

But she couldn’t give up. Wyatt wouldn’t want her to. And it was because of Wyatt that she could summon the strength to go on, to grasp on to hope. He promised he’d see her again, and she believed him.

But right now, that hope felt about as thin as the blankets she huddled under.

Her stomach growled. She tried to remember the last time she’d eaten but couldn’t. Her empty stomach made her think about Allie. After the last party the foster parents had, they announced Allie had moved to another home where she could get the care she needed. While Bethany hoped Allie’s health would improve wherever she was, Mel’s reaction to Allie’s relocation was weird. She’d been angry, and Bethany chalked it up to jealousy. They all wanted out of this home, after all. But as she and Lia were talking about Allie one night, Mel’s words created a niggle of doubt that ate at her.

“Do you think she’s eating now?” Lia asked.

“I hope so.”

“I hope her new foster parents are nice and are taking care of her more than these ones did.”

Mel scoffed. “God, you are so naïve.”

“Mel,” Bethany started, not wanting to have another fight with the girl.

“You guys truly believe she went on to a better place? How stupid can you be? Do you not understand what’s happening here?”

“What are you talking about?” Lia asked, her voice shaky.

“Open your eyes, dumbass.”

Lia looked close to tears, which had Bethany wanting to slap Mel for being so mean to her. “Why don’t you stop name-calling and tell us what you mean?” suggested Bethany.

Mel looked like she was about to do just that until her gaze shifted to the door. She closed her mouth, her lips pressed together, and refused to say any more. They’d begged her to explain, but she wouldn’t.

Later that night, Bethany had overheard her whispering to Amy, and what she’d said had made Bethany more scared than ever being in this place.

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