Page 69 of Sinful as They Come (Sinful Trilogy #1)

SAWYER

I woke up to a dream: the sun on my skin coming in through the window, soft sheets, the sweetest scent in the air.

And Holly Sutton in my arms.

I hummed, remembering the night before. It had been so intense. So fiery. Only Holly could do that to me.

I pressed my lips to Holly’s forehead. She was still sleeping; her head was on my chest while she had one leg swung over my lower half.

She had fallen asleep like that. With her hand on my chest while I covered it with my own.

It wasn’t a dream, though. Holly was very much there in my arms, sleeping away peacefully.

I almost frowned when I remembered how quickly I was ready to throw everything away. And all over my insecurities too. Holly could have anyone she wanted. But out of anyone, she had chosen me. And I was beyond honored.

I pulled Holly that little bit closer, keeping her tight up against my body. Mornings in the trailer could get a little cold. We couldn’t keep the heating on all night or anything. We didn’t have that luxury, but I’d do my best to keep my girl warm myself.

Holly let out a little yawn, and I looked down to see her eyes slowly fluttering open. She whined, nuzzling her nose into my chest. I wanted the moment to last forever: just me and Holly in my bed, without the outside world getting in .

“Morning, Sawyer,” Holly greeted me, her voice as soft and angelic as ever.

I could so get used to this. Her in my arms, her bare body up against mine, her flowery scent unmissable.

And it could be like that. I imagined it quickly as I stared at her: years from now we’d be in our own place, waking up on a warm Sunday morning.

I’d make love to her. I’d take her right there in our bed and make her cum for me three times before I even let her get up.

We’d have breakfast. A late one. Then we’d venture outside – city or country?

I was fine with either one as long as she was there. We could have that life.

“Mornin’.” I kissed the top of her head. “I hope you’re not planning on getting up anytime soon, ‘cause I want you right here in this bed with me.”

Holly giggled, burying her face in my chest. “And what do you plan on doing with me during that time, hm?”

I lowered a hand, grabbing her waist under the blankets. “I just wanna look at you all morning. I can’t get enough of that pretty face. And maybe if I’m lucky, you’ll sit on mine.”

She gave me a light, painless slap to the shoulder. “How are you this naughty this early in the day?”

“Can’t help it. I’ve got your gorgeous body laying on top of me. You can’t judge me.”

“Hm, I would never.” She smiled at me. Then she got up, shifting so that she was straddling me.

There she was, sitting on my lap, my cock just inches away from her bare pussy. If she moved just an inch or two, I’d be rubbing up against her. I wondered if she could feel me twitching for her. Her hands landed on my shoulders, and she looked down at me with curious eyes.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “I wanna do exactly as you said. I just wanna stay with you right here in this bed. All. Day.”

“That’s what you want, baby?”

“Yup. Are you gonna give me what I want?”

I sighed. “I’d love to. But…”

“But?”

“Your parents,” I said bluntly.

Holly rolled her eyes. “My mom knows I’m with you. Don’t worry about them. If they wanted me home, they would have come down here and got me. Do you see them here though? Nope. So… let’s just enjoy this day that we have to ourselves.”

Holly’s hands lowered. She moved them from my shoulders and down my chest, her soft fingers soon ghosting along my stomach.

In a second or two she’d be touching my cock.

Normally I would have been all for that, but we needed to see her parents whether she liked it or not.

It pained me to do it, but I grabbed her hands in mine and shook my head at her.

“We gotta go see ‘em, sweetheart,” I told her softly.

She shrugged lazily. “Why? So my dad can berate you some more? So he can just put you down and make you feel bad about yourself?”

“I’m used to that kinda stuff,” I explained.

It sucked, but my whole life I had been hearing people call me all kinds of shit ‘cause of where I came from. “I hated hearing it. And I should have stayed last night. I should have stood my ground. That’s why we’re going to your place today.

And me and your dad are gonna sit down and talk this whole thing out.

I’m done fighting. He wants someone who’s gonna take care of his daughter.

Someone who’s gonna be a man and give her a good life.

I can’t give you a perfect life, Holly, but I swear to God I’m gonna spend the rest of my life making you happy. ”

Holly’s lips parted slowly as she blinked at me. And a second later, I saw her pretty brown eyes turn wet. Fuck, first thing in the morning and I was already making her cry.

“These are happy tears,” she said with a little laugh, wiping at her eyes. “That’s just… Sawyer, you’re the sweetest guy. I want my dad to see this side of you. The kind, gentle side. He didn’t want to see it last night. I just want him to accept you.”

My hands landed on Holly’s cheeks, my thumbs reaching up to wipe at her tears. “I’m gonna show him. I’m gonna prove it to him. I can be the man that you deserve. I don’t care how long it takes for him to realize it. I don’t care if it takes me the rest of my life. That doesn’t matter to me.”

Grabbing Holly’s hands, I kissed either one of them before I pulled her into my arms. I held her tight. As tight as I could. My arms squeezed at her, wondering if her parents were at home packing her stuff, getting ready to ship her off somewhere after last night.

Even if that was the case, I would still find her. I would always find Holly. Even in the busiest city on Earth…

“Did you mean what you said last night?” I asked lowly. “About me moving with you to New York?”

She shifted so she could look up at me. There was a little twinkle in her eyes.

“Yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Columbia earlier.

I only found out a couple of days ago. My dad’s had that apartment for a long time.

A few of my cousins lived there while they studied at Columbia. I want you there with me.”

My brain was flooded with thoughts of me coming home to Holly in that apartment. Just me and her. Cooking in the kitchen. Waking up together. Holly studying while I painted. Me taking her every day, making her mine over and over again…

“Do you wanna come with me to New York?” she asked quietly.

“You’re kidding, right?” I chuckled. “I’d love that. And I’m so happy that you got in. I knew you could do it. Congrats, by the way. I didn’t get a chance to tell you that last night. My smart girl…”

She smiled at me, batting her eyes. “You can paint all you want. There’s so many awesome opportunities for artists in New York. Even if we don’t get that apartment, I still want you there with me. We can find somewhere else to stay. All I want is you, Sawyer. Just you. All of you.”

I pulled her that little bit closer. “Sounds perfect. I’ve been waiting to get out of here my whole life.”

Holly’s smile faded a little. “Do you know what’s happening with your dad? If he’s coming back?”

I let out a long breath. “He’s in Wichita with Brodie’s dad. I don’t think he’s coming back anytime soon. I don’t care. He can stay there.”

“Sawyer,” Holly sighed. “I’m sorry. He doesn’t get how good you are. How special you are. You’re the sweetest guy, Sawyer. I wish he could see that.”

I gave her a sad smile. “Hey, it’s okay. Don’t be upset about that. I’ve been dealing with that my whole life.”

“But you shouldn’t be dealing with it.”

“I know, doll, I know. But you know what?” I looked right at her.

“I’ve got you. And you make me want to be the best person.

You make me wanna be a better man. The kind of man that takes care of you, the kind of man that makes you happy.

I don’t need anyone else but you. Just you.

Having you here with me is better than anything else. I promise.”

“I love you. I want everyone to see how good you are. What a good person you are.” Her nose nuzzled into my neck, like she wanted to get closer to me.

She was all I wanted. I just wanted Holly every day. To be there when she woke up and be there when she went to sleep. And that was gonna happen. That was our future. No one was going to get in the way.

But I didn’t want to have to rely on Holly’s dad for a place to live.

As if he’d ever let me stay in that apartment in the first place.

Last night he didn’t seem too happy about me stepping a foot through the door.

He wasn’t going to budge on that. I didn’t need him to take care of Holly.

I could be the man that could look after her, that could provide for her.

I’d make sure she always had a roof over her head.

“We don’t need that apartment, though,” I told her.

She looked up at me with a frown. “You don’t wanna move in there?”

“I can look after you all by myself,” I murmured.

“I don’t need anybody’s help. You’re my girl.

And I know you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself, but I can do this.

I told you last night that I’m gonna prove that I can be the man that you need.

The man who’s always gonna look out for you.

That’s not changing. Ever. I don’t need that apartment.

I’ll find us a place. I’ll save up between now and then.

I’m a hard worker, Holly. Maybe not when it comes to school, but when it comes to looking after you?

I’ll do everything I can to make sure I’m giving you the best life I can. ”

“Sawyer.” Holly’s eyes filled up with tears again, her soft lips against my cheek. “I know you’re going to do everything you can. But you’ve been looking out for yourself your whole life. Can’t I look after you?”

“You’re so sweet, baby. But I’m not scared of this. I’m not scared at all. I know things are gonna be okay. I’ve got you. As long as I’ve got you, I’ve got all the motivation I need to be the best man I can be,” I whispered. “I just need you with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Never, ever. This is all I could ever want. No matter what my dad says. No matter what he does. I just want to be yours forever, Sawyer.”

My eyes shut at that last thing she said.

God, that felt good to hear. “I won’t ever leave you like that again.

Like I did last night. I guess I freaked out a little when you told me about Columbia yesterday,” I admitted.

“I mean your dad was saying all that other shit too. It got to me… I should have stayed. That was my fault.”

“No, it wasn’t. Trust me. It wasn’t.”

“I know what the guys are gonna be like there,” I continued. “Spoiled, little rich pricks. And yesterday I felt like maybe it would all end badly. Maybe they’d get in the way. But I love you, Holly. And I’m not letting anyone take you away from me. You’re my girl. You’re fucking mine, baby.”

Holly pressed a kiss to my chest – right where my heart was. “Always.”