Changing Hearts Read online

  Anger sparked in his gaze. “I want you. Can you trust that?”

  Though it was hard to believe that we were having this conversation, trust wasn’t an issue for Sawyer and me. He had an uncanny ability to be very honest about everything.

  “I trust you.” I reached up and stroked a hand down his face to get him to focus on me. “You care about him. You don’t want to see him hurt.”

  He nodded.

  “I get it. I don’t want him hurt either. I’ll talk to him.”

  I wasn’t sure there was anything I could say to make this right, but he nodded.

  “I want you.”

  For once there wasn’t any sexual innuendo in his words. His expression wasn’t teasing either.

  “I do too. And you’re not my rebound guy.”

  “Rebound?”

  I shook my head. “Mia thinks that’s what this is. But it’s not.”

  That sparked a fire in him.

  “Damn right. David was a pretender, a stand-in.”

  “And you’re the real deal?”

  That got a smile out of him. He took my hand to land on his crotch. “You can feel it, right?”

  I pulled my hand free and lightly slapped his arm. “Stop it.”

  But I was glad he’d shaken the demons from his expression.

  “Seriously, though. I want this to work. I have no idea how to be a boyfriend. So you’re going to have to be patient with me.”

  He was so damn cute. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you. For starters, you can hold my hand.”

  He smiled and took it, lacing our fingers together.

  A girl walked by and waved, reminding me of my days with David. “Hey, Sawyer.”

  When he waved back, I slapped his hand, deciding to take a different approach. “Second, no flirting, especially when you’re with me.”

  He feigned shock. “So I should be rude.”

  “No. Just do that thing you guys do with the tipping of your head.”

  “Show me.”

  I tilted my head up and snapped it down. “What’s up?” I faked a male voice.

  He laughed. “That’s how we look? That’s fucking stupid.”

  I shrugged. “Your turn.”

  When he did it, it was sexy as fuck.

  “Stop.” I frowned. “And don’t smirk at me. Your powers don’t work on me.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  He spun me around, flattening me against the tree. His kiss made the ground shake, or was that just me? When he pulled back, I panted. A corner of his mouth lifted.

  “And what was that about my powers?”

  I licked my lips. “I don’t know. I think you need to give it another shot.”

  He did and let’s just say I lost myself until his hand slid down to cup my ass.

  “Not here,” I said, swatting at him.

  “Time to eat.”

  “What? Didn’t you just eat?”

  “A while ago and I’m hungry. Let’s go to the café.”

  “I had a snack.”

  He gave me an are you serious expression. I really didn’t want to get into my eating habits with him.

  “Fine, let’s go before you try to cook again.”

  “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”

  “Did you…try it?”

  He laughed. “It was all for you, babe.”

  To say I was giddy walking hand in hand with him was an understatement. Everything I’d heard Lenora say about butterflies rang true. I’d felt them with Roy, but there had been excitement in doing something so secretive. My stomach hadn’t flipped for anyone else, including David. It’d been nice, but with Sawyer I felt like a teenager who’d gotten her first kiss.

  Nothing could beat cuteness like when Sawyer asked me to be his girlfriend. It was something that had never happened to me in middle school. I’d been on the pudgy side. Years of pageant competition had gotten to me and I’d taken to stealing sweets in the middle of the night. That’s when Mom finally gave up on those things. Though she later admitted that it was my dad’s mother who bullied her into entering me.

  “What are you getting?”

  I’d been so lost in my thoughts I’d forgotten where I was. Sawyer refused to let me get a tray for myself even though his was piled with things that could add calories to me by just looking at them.

  “I’m going over there to make a salad.”

  He shook his head. “No salads today.” He pointed at the meat section that held burgers, ribs, chicken, and steak.

  “Seriously?” I complained. “If I eat that, I’ll look just like the animal I consume, and then will you want me as a girlfriend?”

  “Looks aren’t good if you’re dead.”

  I stopped and gave him a pointed look. “What does that mean?”

  He paused and seemed to consider something. “Looks fade. What’s more important is who you are in here.”

  When his finger slid to a stop between my breasts, I glanced up to find his signature smile.

  “You just wanted to cop a feel, didn’t you?”

  He shrugged and I rolled my eyes.

  “Fine, I’ll have the salmon.”

  He got it for me. I made a salad anyway. Lunch turned out to be interesting. It took forever to get through it as every five seconds, someone came to the table to speak to him. What surprised me was how he introduced me.

  I had been about to excuse myself to the bathroom when someone new came over and gave him that half handshake, half hug deal.

  “Cargill.”

  “Westfield,” he said to the guy with ginger dreads. His pale skin made him a true ginger. “This is my girl, Shelly, so stay away.”

  Westfield tipped his head. “I got you, man. Nice meeting you,” he added to me before striding away.

  “You can stop warning people away from me. It’s embarrassing.”

  “Why?”

  “Because they probably aren’t interested anyway.”

  “You’re wrong about that. I’ve seen guys checking you out. Besides, it’s the boyfriend thing to do, right?”

  I kissed him because how could I not. But another question popped in my head.

  “Why do you guys call each other by your last name?”

  His perfect lips did that downturn thing as his shoulders rose. “I don’t know. Maybe because every coach I’ve had does that.”

  He went back to eating, which reminded me I felt stuffed.

  “I’ll be back in a minute. I need to use the restroom.”

  “Wait.”

  He snagged my hand. Was he stalling me? Did he have any idea what I was up to?

  “I have a question to ask you,” he added.

  “What?”

  “When do I get to meet your parents?”

  That had me sitting back down.

  “Why do you want to meet my parents?”

  He appeared baffled by my question. “Isn’t that what people do when they’re together? You’ve met mine.”

  “That was different and we’ve barely started dating each other.”

  “We’ve known each other for years.”

  “Yeah, and we’ve hated each other that whole time.”

  “No, I never hated you.”

  That shut me up. “You didn’t?” I asked hesitantly.

  He silently disagreed with me. “Why did you hate me?”

  I met his gaze head-on. “You didn’t try to talk to me after.”

  “You told me not to. I thought you were embarrassed to be with me.”

  “There was some of that.”

  He nodded, though his pursed lips were indication he hadn’t wanted to hear that.

  “I was embarrassed because I’d given my virginity to the campus manwhore.”

  His eyes bugged out.

  “Sorry, but you were a bit of a slut.”

  He leaned forward. “You were a virgin?”

  I struggled to speak again. “You didn’t know?”

  “Fuck no. I wouldn’t h
ave…Or at least I would have been—”

  “It was fine. More than fine, actually.”

  “I hurt you.”

  “A little bit, but honestly, I was drunk enough not to notice that when you…” I felt my cheeks flame red.

  “I got you off.”

  He said it so casually I blew out the next word.

  “Yeah.”

  “Shit, I have so much to make up for.”

  Abruptly, he stood, reaching a hand for me and snatching up our tray with the other.

  “What?”

  “I’m going to give us a redo.”

  FORTY-ONE

  Sawyer

  In my bedroom, I quieted her questions with a finger to her lips. I felt like a complete asshole for our first time together. Granted, I’d been more than a little wasted and greedy to get between her thighs, but that wasn’t an excuse.

  I peeled the tank top from her skin before kneeling at her feet. Slowly, I tugged her shorts down, leaving her in a pink bra and panties. I gently bit at her clit through the silky fabric and reached up to give her tits a squeeze. She didn’t have the biggest breasts, but I palmed each one just the same.

  Restraining myself, I stood, unhooked the bra at the center of her chest, and let the straps fall from her shoulders until it was free from her body.

  Scooping her up was easy. She was light and easily wrapped her legs around me. I walked to the bed and settled her in the center with her hair fanned out around her. She was so goddamn pretty.

  I sat back on my knees and admired her for a second before I took off my shirt. I had to admit I enjoyed her appreciative gaze on me. Her eyes followed my hand as I flipped open the top button of my jeans. However, I didn’t take them off.

  Her mouth beckoned me and I made it my next priority. I feasted on her, spending as much time with those lips as I planned to with the others. She rocked her pussy against me, chasing an orgasm I wasn’t ready to give her.

  Still, her breathy cries made me harder than I thought possible. I left her hungry mouth in favor of stiffened nipples that begged to be sucked. I took one into my mouth and she thrashed on the bed. Fuck, I hadn’t even gotten my cock in her yet.

  I eased up, not ready for her to come until I could taste her.

  “Stop teasing me and fuck me.”

  My cock did its best to bust through my pants to grant her wish. I crawled down until her pussy was at eye level. Thankful for the thin straps that connected the fabric from front to back, I broke each side so I didn’t have to waste time pulling the damn things down her legs. I flung the remains somewhere off the side of the bed.

  I grinned at the sight of her pussy all wet and ready for me. She surprised me by taking fistfuls of my hair and smashing my mouth against her sweet spot. The vibrations of my chuckles had her nearly levitating off the bed.

  It took me placing a palm just below her navel so I could use my other hand to part the petals of her pussy to get at her center. It only took one lick to have her whimpering my name. Fuck yeah. I licked down her slit to her core, wanting a taste of her pleasure. Next, I slipped my middle finger inside her, curling it up to rub that spot that had her wanting to the climb the walls considering how she hooked her legs over my shoulders.

  Even after last night, she was still damn tight. I worked another finger inside her, readying her for me. It didn’t take long for my pumping action and sucking on her clit to have her slipping over the edge. Her throaty cries made my dick jerk against my fly like a wrecking ball.

  When I pulled my fingers out, they were slick with her orgasm. Not wasting a drop, I sucked them in my mouth, dying to bury myself inside her.

  I didn’t rush it, though. This time would be different for us. I unzipped my jeans and pushed them down my hips, but didn’t bother to take them off. Patience wasn’t a virtue for me. Though, I was trying my best.

  Then I remembered. “Fuck, I don’t have a condom.”

  “What?” Confusion formed little lines between her eyes. “Why not?”

  “I don’t fuck in here. The condoms are in the other room. Give me a minute.”

  “Wait.”

  I stopped pulling my jeans up. “We didn’t use anything in the shower last night. I’m on the pill and you’re the only guy…”

  I forgot. We’d only had the one condom. I’d given it to Ash. He’d only fucked her once. Again, I’d lost control, something I’d never done with anyone but her.

  “I swear I’m clean. I get tested and always used one until you.”

  She answered by sinking her nails into my ass and tugging me close. Our tongues mingled as my cock found its mark. I plunged into her, feeling like I split her in two she was so fucking tight.

  It took a herculean effort not to move. “Are you sore?”

  I should have asked her before we started.

  “I’m fine.”

  Instinct took over and I began to pump inside her. Her lustrous eyes, her parted lips, her tits bouncing with each thrust, sent me closer to oblivion. I battled the need to come. I wasn’t ready for it to be over, it felt so damn good. I pulled almost all the way out, gripping the base to stave off finishing.

  “What’s wrong?” she whimpered.

  “I’m not going to last,” I admitted.

  “It’s not like this is the last time we’re going to do this.”

  She had a point. I guided my shaft toward her entrance, sliding it over her wetness to coat the head. She rolled her hips and I pressed in at her opening.

  “Fuck,” I cursed as I slid back into her.

  Knowing I wouldn’t last, I used the tip of my thumb to circle her clit until she was begging for release. At the first contraction of her pussy, I came so hard, I felt the strain of my muscle corded in my neck.

  I collapsed on top of her, but quickly rolled to my back. She curled around me with her head on my chest as we both caught our breaths.

  Nothing I’d ever done with another female had felt so good in my entire life. Sober and bare was definitely the way to go.

  “Damn, firecracker, you’re going to have to forgive me, but you wore me out.”

  I closed my eyes and thought I heard her laugh.

  FORTY-TWO

  Shelly

  Sawyer wasn’t a half bad boyfriend for a guy who didn’t have any practice at it. The only problem was the sleepless nights and him being gone when I woke every morning because he had practice.

  But it was the cute things he did like send a picture of us snuggling together in bed to whatever random chick hit him up on Snapchat or text message. His caption was always It’s just my girl for me.

  I stepped out of his room and ran straight into Brie.

  “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

  I bristled. “I haven’t fallen.”

  “I’m not talking about you.” She laughed. “I can’t wait to tease Sawyer tonight. This time it was you guys who made all the noises keeping Chance and I up.”

  I had to be as red as a ripe tomato. “You heard us?”

  She nodded. “It’s cool, though. I’m happy for you two.”

  I glanced at Ashton’s door even though he’d already left with Chance and Sawyer.

  “You think he’s okay?”

  Brie was the resident expert in these things.

  “I take it he and Sawyer talked things out?”

  “Yeah. Do you think they’ll be okay? I’d feel awful if I came between them.”

  “He seems a little lost, but I just think he’s trying to figure out what he wants to do next.”

  I glanced at my fingers, which I’d begun to pick at out of nervousness. She covered my hands with hers and I looked up.

  “Not being with Sawyer won’t get the two of them together. That was always Sawyer’s choice to make. And you and I both know he’d made that decision a while back. Why do you think Ashton moved out? It could be Ashton hadn’t accepted his answer and now he has.”

  “I worry about him.”

  “Me too. But he’l
l pull through. Sawyer’s still there for him. I suspect there are now clear boundaries between them and Ashton can move on.”

  “God, you sound like a psychologist.”

  “I hope so. Otherwise my parents would think these years in college were wasted.”

  “Have you decided if you are going to medical school?”

  She shrugged. “I like the idea of not going. But there’s that part of me that wants to be like the rest of my family.”

  “Didn’t you have to apply by now?”

  She nodded. “I did. Like Dad said, I don’t have to go just because I get an acceptance. But it gives me the option if I decide to.”

  When the doorbell rang, Brie and I glanced at each other.

  “Are you expecting anyone?”

  I shook my head and followed her downstairs. When she opened the door, high-pitched squeals emitted as Brie was tackled in a hug.

  “Lenora,” I said, accepting her hug.

  “Shelly, it’s so good to see you.”

  She meant it too. We’d overcome our differences. For a time I resented her for coming between Kelley and me.

  “So why are you here? Where’s Mason? Where’s Kelley?” Brie asked in rapid succession.

  “We missed you guys. Kelley has a bye week, so we came to see the guys play tomorrow.”

  “Mason?” Brie nudged.

  “Mason is with my parents.”

  “Damn, Ashton is going to be sad,” I said.

  “He will be. But I’m hoping you guys come down for Thanksgiving. We have more than enough room.”

  “And that leaves Kelley?” Brie asked.

  “Kelley went to surprise the guys at practice.”

  I nodded.

  “So what’s new?” Lenora practically glowed. Almost married life suited her. Her infectious smile made it hard not to answer.

  “I’ve taken over your old room,” I began.

  “Don’t listen to her,” Brie said. “She sleeps most nights with Sawyer now.”

  Lenora’s jaw dropped. “No way.”

  Brie nodded.

  “How’s Ash?”

  “Dealing,” Brie answered.

  “Don’t frown.” Lenora lifted my chin. “This was bound to happen. I’m just glad he moved back in.”

  Of course she heard that news. Apparently Brie hadn’t yet had a chance to tell her about Sawyer and me being together.