He nodded “Every one of them.”

She went through each one. First was a small starfish, then several different sea shells, a sailboat. The running shoe and then the bottle of wine made her smile.

“The lady looked at me kind of funny when I asked if she had a charm that was a jug of wine.” he said.

Sarah laughed. “You must not have been at a very classy place then.”

“Yeah, that must’ve been it.”

The heart charm was engraved Sarah. “Turn it around,” he said.

“Forever yours, Angel” it read. She put her hand over her mouth as the warm tears rolled down her cheeks. They gazed into each other’s eyes for a moment, then he kissed her. She inhaled deeply, and then brought her attention back to the bracelet. There was one more that looked like a chicken or a duck. She turned to him confused.

“Quack!”

She burst into laughter “Oh, Angel, it’s perfect.” She threw her arms around his neck.

He kissed her and pulled back a little to look at her face, wiping her tears with thumbs and smiled. “Let me see.”

He took the bracelet from her and placed it around her small wrist, fastening it. She held her hand up in the air. “I love it.”

“I love you.” He gazed into her eyes.

I love you too. The words almost jumped out her mouth but she held them back and smiled. It was torture, but she just couldn’t do it.

He took the cup out of her other hand and placed it on the floor, then pulled her to him. His eyes were on her lips and he lowered his head and kissed her, immediately going after her tongue. She offered it eagerly; wanting him to feel how much she loved him, to make up for not being able to say it. He kept kissing her while he moved further back on the pillow, and then laid down partially over her.

His breathing became stronger and he sucked her tongue a little harder. His mouth moved down, kissing her cheek, then her chin and pushed her head up gently. “I love you so much,” he whispered as he licked and suckled her neck softly, making her body tingle. She caressed his strong biceps as he unbuttoned her blouse.

When he was done undressing her he undressed himself and put on protection. Then he crawled in next to her.

“Sarah,” he whispered. “The first couple of times are gonna be fast. I just can’t control myself with you.”

Sarah gulped. First couple of times?

“I’ll make it up to you though, I promise.”

Sarah gave herself to him willingly. Even through all her nerves, she hoped he could feel how much she loved him. He had to know that. He meant the world to her and there was never a doubt that she wanted her first experience to be here, with him.

CHAPTER 17

Overwhelmed with such staggering emotions, Angel lay there, still in her. He kissed her temple, and then her forehead. He’d felt so many unfamiliar emotions since he’d met Sarah, yet none compared to what he was feeling now.

All those times he’d laughed and thought of guys with girlfriends as fools. How any guy could be satisfied with just one girl had been unimaginable to him. Now here he was looking at Sarah, knowing without a doubt he’d never be satisfied with anyone else but her.

From that very first day when he’d looked into her haunting eyes she’d captured something in him. He’d stupidly thought getting to know her would be enough. He’d been taken in by her wounded eyes, her infectious laugh, her stubborn determination, and without warning he’d been brought to his knees.

He kissed her temple breathlessly. “You’re mine, Sarah.”

She nodded tracing her fingers down his back.

There was no way he could let her out of his life now. The thought smothered him, gripping his every sense. He kissed her softly and tenderly as he rolled over and off her. He sat on the side of the bed for a moment feeling dazed. He stood up and walked toward the door, still naked.

“Where are you going?”

He turned and smiled. “To clean up, I’ll be right back.”

He walked out the room and across the hall to the restroom. When he got back Sarah was sitting up on the bed holding her pants in her hands. He slid back in bed with her. “You won’t need those any time soon.”

He took the pants, bunched them up, and threw them on the sofa across the room. He handed her a towel. “Are you hurting?”

The silly look of concentration on her face made him smile. She shook her head.

“No, but I might be too sore to try again right away.”

Angel got back out of bed and lifted the bedspread up from the top. Sarah moved and crawled under it. He slipped in next to her under the bedspread, and pulled her next to him slipping his arms around her warm naked body. “God, I’m gonna miss being with you everyday.”

She tensed up.

“What’s wrong?”

Sarah shook her head. “Nothing, I just don’t like to think about it.”

Angel didn’t say anything, but couldn’t help wondering why she so determined to go back if she didn’t even want to think about it. Then he remembered Sydney. He kissed her nose. “Maybe once Sydney leaves for school you can consider moving back here.”

The look on her face puzzled him. He’d seen that look before, and it’d made him uncomfortable, but he didn’t know what it meant.

“What’s the matter?”

She looked at him for a second, the disconcerting expression still on her face.

“Sydney,” she said. “Well, it’s not all… how you think.” She hesitated.