Page 1 of Infinite as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #3)

Holly

Strong hands gripped my waist tight, pulling me backwards and right into a dark space that I could only assume was a closet.

I knew exactly who those hands belonged to as they held me close to them, my back up against a broad chest that had become oh so familiar.

I was suddenly being spun around and then there was a soft click in the air, the space all lit up as I came face to face with deep green eyes that I couldn’t ever get enough of.

“Fucking finally I get you alone,” Sawyer said, voice perfectly gravelly.

The sound was enough to make me bite into my bottom lip, my hands pressed to his chest, feeling the smooth material of his blue button-down shirt.

He looked handsome in his clean cut get up, but I liked him so much better when he was casual.

When he was himself . My fingers toyed with the fabric of his shirt, remembering how he looked just hours earlier before the too big celebration for my graduation had started: just a T-shirt and an old flannel and his worn-out jeans. Messy hair too. My favorite.

“So you kidnap me?” I asked, not able to fight back my smile. “What are you planning on doing, hm?”

“Nothing too bad,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Just wanted to see you. Properly. Alone. Just for a minute. Will you give me that, baby?”

I nodded, burying my face in his neck. “Mhm. But I don’t think we’re allowed to be in here.”

“So?”

“You and your rule breaking.” I stared up at him. “So, why’d you drag me in here exactly?”

One of his hands landed on the small of my back, the other reaching up to cup at my cheek, slowly drawing me in closer. “I’ve been dying all day to do this,” he drawled.

His lips brushed against mine. Just barely.

Like he was teasing me, giving me a taste of something he knew I was craving so bad I almost felt an ache.

That gentle caress of his lips to mine had my eyes fluttering shut.

I moved forward, too eager to feel more of him and so ready for him to kiss at me hard and deep and long.

Hand still there on my cheek, he brought me to him, our lips finally pressing together as he hummed against my mouth.

I had been waiting all day for the kiss too.

The sigh of relief that left me was proof of that.

My hands tugged at the collar of his blazer, both of us pushed right up against each other after sharing a day of long stares and smiles.

He turned us around and pushed me back further and further, and I could hear his hand gently smacking into the wall right by my side before he gently rested me against it.

I whined softly, aching to have all of him but knowing full well that all I’d be getting was just a kiss for now.

But it was a perfect kiss, just like every kiss he gave me, so I couldn’t exactly complain.

It was deep, long, slow, skilled, his tongue moving against mine in a way that had me whining.

He pulled away from me just that little bit, my fingers almost yanking at his tie to pull him back in, but instead he pressed his forehead to mine, his hands gentle as they held me.

“God, I really needed that,” he murmured. “And I gotta say, I feel real fuckin’ special kissing you. Never thought I’d be making out with an Ivy League graduate in the fanciest restaurant in Texas. Columbia head cheerleader too. Look how far I’ve come, huh?”

Giggling, I felt his arms circle right around my waist. “ Former head cheerleader now.” With college officially over, cheer would be no more.

No early morning practices, no cramming into a room to help with each other’s makeup, no more slipping into a uniform before stepping onto the field to hear all those screams. I’d miss all of that, but it was all in the rearview mirror now.

Part of moving on to the next chapter of my life was saying goodbye to some things I loved .

“You’re still head cheerleader to me. Congratulations.” He kissed my forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”

He held me tight and my eyes closed, giving me a chance to think about the last couple of weeks.

It had been a slight whirlwind with my graduation ceremony back in New York.

My parents had flown out to witness it all, but with Columbia’s four guest ticket only policy, everyone else back home had missed out, and my parents weren’t going to let me get away without an extravagant celebration.

Sawyer’s mouth lowered to mine, our lips brushing together before he gently slipped his tongue into my mouth. He was back to kissing me, back to making me let out little whines as I got lost in the moment.

Me and Sawyer were back in Texas. Back in Dallas.

It felt good to be home after so much time spent in New York.

So much noise, so much commotion. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to get away from it all until me and Sawyer hopped in his truck and I got to experience the total opposite of the city.

Peace, quiet, Sawyer’s hand on my thigh as we drove.

And there he was in front of me, eyes a dark green as he gripped my waist, gently pushing me up against the wall as he kissed me deep and hard and fast. Maybe he needed a break from the slight commotion outside too.

My mom and dad had booked a private room at one of the finest restaurants in Dallas, and just down the hallway and to the right was where you could find every person I had ever made eye contact with.

My parents. Aunts, uncles. My best friend and Brodie and some people I was pretty sure I had never met in my life but still somehow managed to get an invite.

But right there in that little closet was where I wanted to stay, so close to Sawyer without anyone getting in the way.

Sawyer pulled away slowly, his eyes managing to grow that little bit darker. “Just had to kiss you. I always need to kiss you…”

Cheeks all hot, my hands toyed with his collar. “My parents are gonna notice I’m gone.”

“So?”

“So…” I said, drawing the word out. “They’re gonna think we’re doing something we shouldn’t be doing in here… ”

His brows rose, hands lowering to my hips. “Like what?”

“Something bad.”

“Like?”

“You know what.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“Tell me.”

“You’re so annoying,” I said with a giggle, but then his lips were back on mine, kissing me so softly and slowly and deeply that it had me sighing right against him and tugging at his blazer.

“I don’t wanna do anything bad to you,” he said against my lips.

“I just wanted to say how proud I am of you, honey. I know this whole night is for you, and you deserve it. You worked so hard the last three years. School and the paper and cheer and everything. Look at you. My hard working girl. I’m so lucky you’re mine… ”

I blushed a little more at his words, getting lost in the feeling of his broad chest pressed right up against me. “Thank you. It feels so strange to be done with school forever. Now I have to enter the real world… Scary, right?”

Sawyer hugged me tight, my face pressed right up against his chest so I couldn’t escape. “Aw, my poor spoiled princess is gonna get her first job,” he cooed, peppering the top of my head with kisses. “What’s she gonna do?”

“Hey.” I laughed, the sound all muffled. “I can handle a job.”

“I’m just joking.” He pulled away from me. “You’re my smart girl. I know you can handle it. And I’m excited for you. You’re gonna do so good no matter what you do. I’m real lucky I get to watch you do it.”

His words made me smile, but they also left me feeling scattered brained for a second or two.

I had starting getting offers for journalist roles towards the end of my final semester.

The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vogue.

Places I had always thought I’d look to when school was finally over and done with, but all I could think about was how unappealing it all sounded.

Stuck in a skyscraper? Five days a week?

Shoulder to shoulder with a too big crowd?

It sounded suffocating, and after three years in New York, there was zero allure to it .

I had turned down those offers. It felt selfish and slightly self-indulgent, but none of those roles made me think yes, I’d like to do this for the rest of my life.

Every part of me was ready to say goodbye to the city and hello to something different and quieter and more peaceful—to the next chapter of my life with Sawyer.

But I set those thoughts aside as he pecked my lips.

“How about we go back out there, huh?” Sawyer asked, fingers interlocking with mine. “Your parents are definitely gonna think I’m doing something to you in here…”

I let him guide me out of the tiny closet and back down the hallway, and soon we were stepping inside the private dining room of the restaurant.

I had been to Vue de la Lumière plenty of times, but tonight was a little different.

It felt like everyone’s heads were turning when me and Sawyer stepped back into the room, our hands still clasped together as we walked back to the table.

“What were you two doing, hm?” my best friend asked, pointing the spoon in her hand my way. “You were gone for a little while…”

“Nothing,” I said as I sat down.

“Your cheeks are super red.”

“They’re not.” My head turned to Sawyer, playfully narrowing my eyes at him. “Look at what you did.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” Annie said, tossing her dark curls over her pale shoulder.

“What did I miss?” I asked, eager to change the subject.

“I stole that last bit of your dessert. My bad,” she said, giving me a little grin. “That soufflé was something else.”

“You deserve a reward after all your hard work. Did I mention that I read that article about you again this morning?”

“Yes.” She licked her spoon. “Like, a hundred times.”

Annie had just finished up a beautiful performance of Manon : playing the starring role and doing such a good job that half the show’s review was dedicated to her. She deserved every last bit of that praise.