Page 1 of Infatuated as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #2)

Holly

Most people would be afraid to hear someone sneaking into their bedroom window just minutes before midnight, but over the summer, it had quickly become a sound I looked forward to.

The noise had my eyes snapping open, a smile spreading across my face as I turned over in bed.

One hand reaching out, I switched on the lamp on my bedside table, being careful not to bump the pink alstroemerias filled vase that sat right next to it.

It was late and the house was totally silent—besides the commotion coming from my right—so the last thing I needed was the sound of the crystal vase shattering as it dropped to the floor.

The lamp had given me enough light to see a tall figure throwing a long leg over my windowsill, one heavy Converse sneaker hitting the floor.

“Christ, fuck,” Sawyer muttered.

I absolutely loved the tall oak tree right by the side of my house, because it gave my boyfriend perfect access to crash land right into my bedroom.

Jumping out of bed with a smile so big it almost hurt, I quickly made my way over to him.

“Be careful,” I said. I did my best to keep my laugh hushed, watching as he straightened himself up.

“And shush. My parents only just went to bed. I thought you weren’t gonna come tonight so I went to bed too. I know you were really busy today.”

He pushed two big hands through his messy, dark locks, the sleeves of his grey and black flannel shirt rolled up, showing off his pale forearms. “Exactly. I haven’t seen you all goddamn day. That’s a long time to not see you,” he said, green eyes slowly raking over my body. “Fuck, look at you.”

His eyes kept wandering up and down and I felt my skin get all hot as he took me in. All I had on was some pajamas. The cool, silk material of my yellow and pink cami and the matching shorts were perfect for the last remaining days of summer when the heat still wouldn’t go away.

“You’ve got fuckin’ different pajamas on every time I see you. I think these are my favorite ones so far,” he muttered, head tilted that tiny bit. “How many do you own exactly?”

“I just like wearing different colors.” I giggled, toying with the lacey, cropped hem of my top.

“Yeah, I like it when you wear different colors too. Come here,” he said lowly, and then a second later, he was picking me up and bringing me right over to my desk, getting me settled on top of the smooth wood. “Did I wake you?”

“Nope. Just got into bed a few minutes ago. You didn’t have to come, you know? You’ve been working all day. You’re probably so tired.” I kept my arms around his shoulders, the soft fabric of his shirt brushing against my wrists. “You spoil me sometimes.”

“I don’t think you understand how hard it is to go all day without seeing you. And I couldn’t miss tonight, right? It’s pretty special…”

“Is it?”

“Uh-huh. Very special.”

“Are you here to give me my birthday kiss?”

“I might be. I also wanted to be the first person to wish you happy birthday,” he said, voice all gravelly. “Happy birthday, baby.”

My head shook, nodding over to the clock on the wall. There were still a few minutes left until the clock struck twelve. “It’s not midnight yet.”

“Right, right. Gotta do it properly.”

“And speaking of birthdays…” My brows raised, my hands moving down from Sawyer’s broad shoulders to the pockets of his jeans. I was about to dig my hands into them when I felt him softly grab at my wrists.

“Whatcha looking for?” he asked.

“I need to see your license.” I had been trying to get it out of Sawyer all summer, but no matter how many times I asked and begged and pleaded, he wouldn’t give me that special date, and I was left having no clue when my boyfriend’s own birthday was.

“Are you arresting me?” he asked, voice getting lower. “That’s kinda hot.”

“Show me.”

“Why?” he asked, though he knew exactly what my reason was for asking the question. That playful little glint in his eyes told me that.

“Because.”

“Why?”

“Can I see it? Please?”

“Why?”

“I want to see your photo,” I said. “I bet you look really handsome in it.”

“You don’t need my photo. You’ve got me right here.”

“I need to know your blood type.”

“Why?”

“It’s very important information to me.”

“Why?” he asked again.

“Sawyer.” I groaned, trying to keep the sound as low as possible. My eyes flickered up to my closed door, hoping my parents had fallen sound asleep. Looking back down at Sawyer, I turned my lips into a pout, batting my lashes at him as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “Please tell me.”

Shaking his head at me, he sucked in a sharp breath. “Don’t make that face at me.”

“What face?”

“You know I can’t say no to you when you look at me like that.”

“Tell me your birthday. That can be your birthday gift to me.”

His eyes casted downwards for a moment, brows knitting together. “I already got you a gift. It’s at home. I’m gonna give it to you at your party.”

I pecked his lips softly. “Thank you. I’m sure it’s lovely. But… I still wanna know your birthday. It’ll be the cherry on top of your wonderful gift.”

“It’s coming up soon. How about I tell you then?”

“No, tell me now.”

“Hm, I could tell you. ”

“You should tell me.”

“But—”

“No buts.”

“But tonight’s about you.”

I scoffed. “You say that every night.”

“Well, it’s especially accurate tonight, don’t you think?”

“You’re not supposed to keep secrets from me.”

“Why do you need to know so bad?”

So I can buy you lots of nice stuff for your birthday and spoil you for being such a good boyfriend , I thought, but I knew Sawyer very much preferred it being the other way around.

All summer long he had been taking me on dreamy dates around Dallas, and when he brought me back home, he always made sure to walk me right to the front door like a gentleman, not once ever missing my curfew—eleven o’clock, on the dot.

My father didn’t expect anything less. But right before I went back inside Sawyer would always place his hand on my chin, one thumb stroking at my skin as he held me in place to give me the softest, sweetest goodnight kiss.

Then I’d go back inside feeling like the night had ended way too early.

But I always saw that look in his eyes when we got to sit down at the places he took us.

When we were given the menus and his brows would furrow for a split second before he quickly washed that all away.

I knew what he was thinking, what he was worried about, but he’d always reach over the table and grab my hand, a thumb stroking at my skin softly as he whispered, “Get anything you want.” Me paying wasn’t an option.

I’d try to reach for my purse, ready and more than able to hand over my card, but Sawyer always beat me to it. He’d never let me do it to begin with.

“Because what if we’re not compatible?” I asked with a fake gasp, toying with the strands of hair on the nape of his neck. “What if we have to break up because I’m a Virgo and you’re an Aquarius?”

“I’m not an Aquarius.” Sawyer chuckled, his lips ghosting against mine before he nodded towards the clock. “It’s almost midnight.”

My eyes fell to the clock, watching as it ticked away, getting closer and closer to twelve. In just a few seconds, I’d be nineteen .

“Three, two, one…” Sawyer said softly, smiling at me when it finally hit midnight. “There we go.”

He drew me in closer, our chests pressed together as he kissed at me slowly and deeply.

Long too. Sawyer always liked to drag our kisses out, like he wanted to hold on to me forever and savor every last second of our lips being connected.

My hands stayed wrapped around his shoulders as my eyes closed, quickly getting lost in the feeling of him, in the way he held me so close to him.

Time stood still; in my heart, it stayed midnight, the night surrounding us as the cool, cold air swept in through my window.

It didn’t matter where either of us came from, what either of us had or didn’t have.

None of it mattered and I didn’t want it to matter.

Everything was quiet and still and blissful as he kissed me, his thumbs gently stroking at the skin of my exposed hips, his touch so much gentler and cautious than I could have ever imagined.

When he pulled away from me, my lips feeling all swollen and freshly kissed, he sent me a tiny smile. “Happy birthday, princess,” he said lowly, pecking my lips. “I meant it when I said how hard it is to not see you. So, I plan on making up for all that lost time.”

I held in a giggle as he picked me up, my legs instantly wrapping around him as he moved us over towards my bed.

Soft thuds hit my ears as he kicked his shoes off, and then we were falling right on to the soft fabric of my floral, pink comforter.

Soon, I was lying on his chest, one of his hands rubbing at my arm as I swung a leg over him.

“What did you do today?” I asked.

“Did a painting for some old guy.”

I laughed. “Some old guy?”

“Yeah, it’s for his wife. Their anniversary is coming up and he wanted something of their honeymoon in France. Some old, little French town with lots of mountains. Took me six damn days, but I finally got it done.”

“I bet it looks really beautiful.”

“Thanks.” He kissed the top of my head. “What’d you get up to?”

“I had to take some final measurements for my new cheer uniform. It was an exhausting process.”

“I would have had a lot of fun helping you with that. Why didn’t you ask me?”

“I assure you it was very boring. But then me and Mom went to the tailor to pick up my dress for the party.”

“Can I get a sneak peek?”

“Nuh-uh, you have to wait until the morning.”

“Am I even gonna see you at all tomorrow? I have a feeling I’ll barely catch a glimpse of you.”

I craned my neck so I could look up at him. “It won’t be that crazy. Just… a whole load of my family members stuck in my house all day.”

His brows rose. “Great.”

“They’re not all like my dad. And I can’t wait to introduce you to all of them. They’re gonna love you.”