Page 68 of Sorry, We're Closed

My lips never part as Sawyer tells me everything Gwen had only scratched the surface of. As he talks, I can’t help but notice the welling of tears collecting near his eyelashes, and how does he even make crying beautiful? Even so, I do not react, because he needs to say this, and I need to hear him. His eyes never leave me throughout, even if I looked away to hide my own emotional reaction. Sawyer has never seemed so confident and authentic.

“Avory, I don’t know how to say this, but—” He ponders on his words, and I can see the way he thinks. The way his eyes dance back and forth as if he’s reading a corkboard with red strings and pins, all pointing to his answer.

“I don’t want us to be a ‘what if’. I don’t want to be left here once you guys have moved on, wondering what we could or couldn’t have been.”

In my mind, us not being together has never been an option, but it was something I had to admit defeat with before. Not anymore. Not with Marcus’ offer buzzing in my mind.

Sawyer swallows before he speaks. “Avory, if we won’t work, or if any part of you hesitates about us being together, then please tell me. I’ll leave at least with—”

My actions beat my words, but I believe my mind has been craving him all too much. I know that I need to tell him about Marcus’ offer, but just knowing that he wants this, us, and has hope for us, I can’t stop myself. My lips crash into his and he accepts me with surprise. A low hum from Sawyer tickles against my lips and I feel my joggers already beginning to tighten.

I force myself to pull away as my words escapes between breaths. “Sawyer, there is not an ending where I watch you walk out of that door. I want you; I want to be with you, I want you to want to be with me, and I want us together, as one, if you’ll have me, have us?”

Sawyer’s smile grows with every word which spills past my lips, until my words finish, and his mouth is locked with mine in an instant.

“I want us, Avory.”

His lips return to mine before I can even think alongside his hands crawling their way to resting on my chest, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I only want to be in this moment with Sawyer, back in our world where we are the only people to exist, and I’m okay with that.

“I’ve missed you, Sawyer.” The words fumble out of my mouth between our kisses, my hands slowly sliding across his waist.

“I’ve missed you so much, Avory.”

“I can’t believe everything you’ve done for yourself.”

I’m so proud of him, and I want him to know that, even if it is while we’re breathless between kisses and I’ve got a semi which will shortly be past the point of return.

“I’d do anything if it means being me with you.”

Sawyer’s hands travel from my chest, his fingers grazing along my collarbones until he’s stroking along my neck and up into my hair, his fingers tangling in my untamed waves. I feel my breath catching in my throat as I attempt to calm the fire burning inside, and all Sawyer is doing is fanning the flames.

“Sawyer, I want you.”

My words cause a higher hum than before to escape Sawyer’s lips as he edges himself closer to me, lifting his thigh over my lap as I relax back into the sofa. As Sawyer plants himself on my lap, I’m convinced he can feel how hot and hard he’s now gotten me by the tent that’s pitched in my joggers.

As his hips settle over me, my tongue flicks against his lips and he grants me full entrance, my tongue dancing with his. My hand reaches for the back of his neck, pulling him closer because I need to feel him, as much of him as I possibly can because I refuse to let him go, not like before. I want him to know that I love and desire every single part of him.

Sawyer’s hand travel to the hem of my shirt as he begins to pull up. “This, off, now.”

Sawyer’s demands are far too flustered and cute that I feel myself desperate for more. I want more of him struggling to string sentences together.

Sawyer lifts my shirt over my head as he briefly marvels at my muscular build, just like before. His fingertips begin to trace every dip and curve I have, his eyes fixating on my frame. Everything starts to slow down, Sawyer’s expression resting with a small smile and his eyes shining bright against the stormy grey weather pelting outside.

“My love, are you okay?” My hand reaches for his cheek my thumb running across his soft, dotted skin.

His eyes meet mine as he presses against my palm. “Avory, I want more. I want you. I want to feel you.”

My breath catches in my lungs, my chest growing tight. I’ve been with men before, but not with someone I feel so close and connected to. I never loved any of those men.

“But I’ve never done any of this before. All of this is new to me, but I want you, I want to feel you.”

Those words. Those goddamn words cause my core to burn with want and need. I part my lips, trying to voice the absolute mess that this boy has created in my mind, but Sawyer begins to lower himself, his eyes never leaving mine. My hand moves from his cheek to his curls, tangling my fingers within his silky strands, as his lips float across the thin hairs along my stomach, planting delicate kisses across my abs and sides.

I manage to somehow choke up some words. “Sawyer, baby, are you sure?”

He stops, his lips tickling against my skin as he speaks. “Avory, I want to do this, just guide me if I do something wrong, please.”

He continues, each kiss causing a wave of heat to spread throughout my muscles and down to my groin.

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