Return To Sender (The Hart Brothers #2) - J. S. Cooper
Chapter 1
“I’ve fucked up, Henry. I can never let her know the truth. This whole thing was a mistake. A huge mistake. I never should have created that ad. She can destroy everything. Absolutely everything. I never should have let Savannah Carter into our lives. If she learns the truth, our lives will be ruined.”
I trembled as I stood there. I knew I should say something—anything. I needed to let Wade know that I was there and listening, but I was too scared. The lack of emotion in his voice made me shiver. What was he talking about? What did he mean by saying his life would be ruined if I learned the truth? What truth? And then I remembered his mother’s note. What had she said exactly? Something about me not knowing everything and not being good enough for her son. And had she mentioned bodies being buried in the forest or was I remembering that incorrectly? I chewed on my lower lip, wishing now that I hadn’t ripped up the note.
I stepped back into the bathroom and walked back into the shower, allowing the water to warm my shivering body. My fingers went to my breasts and rubbed Wade’s dry cum off of my skin. Just moments ago, being with him had felt so sexy, and I had felt so wanted. Being in his arms had felt magical. Now, as my fingers moved to my thighs and between my legs, I wondered who this man was that I had let touch me so intimately. Already I could feel a hollow ache between my legs wanting to be filled again, but it now the feeling was tainted by unease. What secrets was Wade hiding from me? And how could I ruin everything?
Memories and thoughts rushed through my mind as the water ran down my body. I knew the smart thing to do would be to leave, but I knew that I couldn’t. I was already too far in. I had given myself to him, and I wanted more. Wade was like a drug: dangerous but addictive. I wanted him in my veins.
The very thought of him made me shiver with nervous anticipation.
Wade poked his head through the bathroom door. “Hey, Savannah, are you coming out anytime today? I’m hungry.”
“Feel free to start eating without me,” I shouted over the sound of the water. I stood very still, wondering if he was going to join me in the shower. I hoped he couldn’t tell from my voice that something had changed in the minutes we’d been apart.
“I can’t.” His voice got closer and I trembled again despite the steam.
“Why not? I brought the pizza into the room. You can go ahead and eat without me.”
“That’s not what I want to eat.” He opened the shower door and stared at me, his eyes glittering with an odd intensity. I trembled under his gaze and wanted to roll my eyes at myself. Was I a fair maiden from the 1500s?
“Now, are you nearly done or what?” His eyes ravished my body and the steamy air between us crackled with lust.
Despite everything, I couldn’t help smiling at him. “I’ll be out soon. Is everything okay?” My small attempt to figure out what was going on felt weak, even to myself.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” There’s a smile on his face still, but there was something flinty in his eyes. All I had to do was tell him I’d heard his conversation with Henry, but something held me back. Maybe it was because I didn’t think he would tell me the truth. Maybe it was because I was worried about what he’d say if he knew I’d been eavesdropping. Maybe it was because I was scared to hear something that would turn me off forever. Or maybe, and this was an even scarier thought, what he had to tell me would be awful and I still wouldn’t be able to bring myself to leave.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “Did I scare you off by saying I loved you?”
“You don’t love me.” He shook his head, the smile dropping for a few seconds. “That was post-coital bliss talking, that’s all.”
“That’s it, huh?” I didn’t know whether to be offended that he was dismissing my feelings, though I almost hoped he was correct. I didn’t want to be in love with this man. No matter how good of a love maker he was.
“Yeah, that’s it.” He blinked a couple of times and then he said softly. “I have