Chapter Ten

Hayden

Having Savannah again after all these years is indescribable.

Pent-up anger drives my moves as I fuck her harder, filling her to capacity, wanting to remind her who she belongs to.

Me. It was always supposed to be me.

After Donny contacted me and told me Savannah had lied about seeing someone, part of me was relieved she hadn’t cheated, but the other part was madder than ever. If that wasn’t the reason, then why the fuck did she leave me?

Was I not good enough? Love her enough? Show her how much I cared for her?

I was only a kid at the time. Eighteen. I thought I knew everything.

We’d get through college, she’d move back, I’d propose, and we’d get married.

Then we’d fuck every chance we got and make a dozen babies. Have the perfect house with the perfect wife and everything would be bliss.

I was delusional.

She left and never returned, and it felt like my life was over. I can’t even count how many times Hunter stopped me from flying to New York to win her back. Dozens.

Or the number of times he had to talk me off the ledge while I drank myself stupid.

Hunter was only thirteen and had to witness what true heartbreak looked like. Looking back, I feel awful that he witnessed me in that state. As he matured, he went through chicks faster than he changed his clothes. Part of me always wondered if it was my fault.

Now seeing things in a new light, I think it is.

Now his heart is shattered between loyalty and love.

The Manning brothers couldn’t get their shit together if we tried. Thanks to our lying bastard of a father and his affair, and the way he portrays our family to the media, we don’t trust for shit either. With him being a senator, we had to keep his secrets and cover up his lies. Dealing with that on top of Savannah breaking my heart messed me up for a really long time.

But that changes now. I’m not letting her walk out of my life again.

“And what about now, Savannah?” I ask, feeling her tight pussy clench around my dick. Fuck, she feels incredible. I could pull out and come all over her perfect tits, but I’m not ready. I want, no, need more of her. “What do you feel now?”

She bites her lower lip as I keep our gazes locked. I see the regret in her eyes, the pain and remorse for the way she hurt me. But it’s not enough.

I want to mark her. Claim her forever.

Make sure she never fucking leaves me again.

“I feel you. All of you.”

“That’s right, baby. Me. All me.” I can’t stop driving into her, over and over, needing to connect our bodies in more ways than one.

It’s incredible how ten years have passed, but the chemistry hasn’t faded a bit. If it’s even possible, my feelings for her have only strengthened.

“I’m so close, Hayden.” She’s panting, which gives me the greatest damn pleasure. I want her moans, her pants, her everything. They’re mine.

“Are we gonna do this, Sav?” I ask with a deep ragged voice. “You gonna be mine again?”

Her head falls back, body arching as I find the spot that’s going to push her off the edge. Fuck, she looks beautiful when she comes. Always has. Somehow, impossibly more now.

She comes undone with my name on her lips, and as I watch her–continuing to slowly thrust inside her, feeling her pussy tighten around me like a vise—my emotions bubble over.

I lean over her body, taking a perfect pink nipple into my mouth, and sucking it between my lips as she rides the high. Her fingers weave in my hair, keeping my head planted on her chest. Swiftly, I move to the other breast and give it the same attention, not wanting to neglect that one. My hips move slowly against hers, our bodies taking and giving.

Moving higher, I position myself between her legs and wrap a hand around the back of her neck to pull her mouth to mine. Our lips and tongues are eager to taste each other, more and more.

“Say it, Sav,” I demand, my mouth brushing against hers. “Say we’re doing this.”

“Hayden…” She releases short, rapid breaths.

I slide my fingers down her delicious thigh and hook my hand under her knee, pulling it around my waist, deepening my position inside her sweetness. When Savannah gasps, I take the opportunity to cover her mouth with mine again, letting her taste and feel how good we are together.

“I want you,” I tell her, pulling out slowly then back in again. “I wanted you then, and I want you now.”

“Yes…” she whispers, her eyes fighting to stay open as the sensation builds between us. “Oh God, Hayden.”

“It’s only this good when it’s us, baby. Only us,” I remind her over and over. “Mine.”

She unravels once again, and I can’t take it anymore, releasing inside her tight body. Soon we’re panting, trying to catch our breaths as we lie next to each other. My arm wraps around her, securing her to my chest.

After twenty minutes of silence, I can’t take it anymore. “Savannah.”

She finally looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

I cup her cheek, wiping away the rogue tear that falls. “I know you are.” I roll us over so I’m on top of her and can kiss away her sadness. “Let’s get pass this, Sav. It’s time to move on from it.”

“I want to, Hayden, but now I’m scared I’m going to hurt you once more,” she tells me softly, her lips swollen from mine, making me eager to take her again. “My life is in New York and yours is—”

“Wherever you are,” I cut her off, not letting her finish because I’m not letting her get away this time.

“Hayden.”

“I mean it, Sav.” I brush her hair back and look into her stunning eyes. “I’m in love with you. I can’t remember ever not being in love with you. Whatever we need to do, we’ll make it work. I’m not going to let work or football get between us this time.”

She sucks in a breath, nodding as she pulls in her bottom lip. “I don’t deserve you, Hayden Manning.”

“You do, baby. I promise.” Without warning, I fall to my back and pull her on top of me.

“You’re sure about this?” she asks, straddling me and pressing her hands to my chest. “I have an insane schedule. Work, performances, friends. I want you in my life, but it’s nothing like it is here.” I see her bottom lip tremble as if that could possibly deter me from wanting a life with her.

“We have forever, Sav. You keep doing what you do, and I’ll always be here waiting.”

“I love you, Hayden. I’ll do anything to have you back in my life.”

My face nearly cracks in half as the wide smile takes over. “Good. Let’s start with getting you in the shower.”

After thoroughly kissing every inch of Savannah, we pass out for hours. By the time I come to, it’s the next morning. Luckily, I have a flex schedule and can work out of the office if needed.

Sliding my arm from under her, I quietly dress, then kiss her on the forehead. I need to check my emails and get us coffee. Once I find her key card on the dresser, I grab my keys and wallet, then step out and slowly shut the door behind me.

Glancing at my phone, I see I have half a dozen texts from Hunter and instinctively roll my eyes. He’s going to give me so much shit, but I don’t care. I meant every word I said to her last night and will do whatever it takes to be with her. If her life is in New York, then mine will be too.

“Hayden,” Hunter answers on the first ring. “About damn time. You get lost?”

I chuckle, hopping into my truck and starting it up. Hotel coffee sucks ass, and I want to bring her the good stuff. “Nope. I was right where I was meant to be.”

The line goes silent, and I know he’s in his head. “I love her,” is all I say.

“I know,” he replies. “I want you to be happy. Finally.”

“Thanks, man. I’m probably going to move there.”

“And leave me here with our shit-tastic father?” He groans.

“You should come with me then,” I tell him honestly. “Plenty of opportunity for a new grad like you.”

He scoffs loudly. “Fuck that. Don’t they get pounded with snow?”

My lips pull into a knowing smirk. His excuse is so full of shit. “Yep, but it’s not the weather that’s the issue.”

“Don’t start with me. We’re talking about you,” he says, his tone deeper.

“Would be a fresh start for you. A way to get over her once and for all,” I tell him.

He inhales deeply as if my words physically affected him. I arrive at the Starbucks drive thru and place my order before driving to the window.

“Starbucks?” Hunter cackles. “You’re already pussy whipped. No way I’m following you there. You’ll only come up to breathe when you need to eat.”

“Can’t deny that.”

Hunter snorts. “Nah. I have my life here. I’m good. But I’ll miss you.”

“I know. I don’t know all the logistics of it yet, but I know it’ll be soon. I can’t let her get away this time.”

“Yeah, I know all about the one who got away, so I’m glad you’re getting your second chance. You guys deserve it.”

“I appreciate that, little bro. You’re gonna find the one. I have no doubt.”

Once I order our coffees, I tell Hunter about what Veronica said to Savannah and the scandal she was trying to get me into. I warn him to stay away from her, and he reminds me he couldn’t be her baby daddy anyway. I hear the sadness in his voice and wish I could just pull him into a big brother hug.

“Call me later, okay? Want to make sure you aren’t on a ledge or anything.” I pull into the hotel parking lot and kill the engine.

“Pff. Don’t worry about me. I have Miller Lite and vodka to keep me company.”

“Hunter,” I say in a warning. “Drinking yourself stupid isn’t going to help your problems or your unrequited feelings for her.”

“Nope, but they’ll numb them, temporarily.”

“You’re still young. You’ll find the right one when you’re meant to,” I tell him, grabbing the tray of coffees in one hand, then shutting the door behind me with the other. “Just don’t be dumb and do something you’ll regret.”

“Promise.” Though I have a feeling he’s just saying that to shut me up.

We end the call shortly after, and soon I’m tiptoeing back into the hotel room, finding Savannah sleeping sounding. She looks like a goddess with her dark hair sprawled out on the pillow, a thin sheet covering her bare body. I stare at her, stunned that she’s here and that we’re really going to make this work again. I want to worship her again and again, proving our love is infinite.