“You will,” he snapped.
“I won’t.”
“You want me.”
“I don—” She clamped her mouth shut.
“I want you,” he declared, and captured her mouth in a searing kiss that soon had their blood on fire.
He yanked her against him so she would feel the strength of his desire, and groaned into her mouth when she ground her body against his. He quickly lifted her up, her legs locking around his hips and his groin near ready to explode as the heat of her nestled against him.
“I’m going to take you, Sara, here and now, unless you say otherwise,” he said with labored breath.
She rested her forehead to his. “I want you, Cullen. God help me, I want you.”
He smiled and was about to rush them to the bed when they heard: “Sara, it’s me and Alexander. We’ve come to help you.”
Chapter 27
Sara sat crossed-legged on a blanket with her sister, the bright sun shining down upon them while Cullen scooped up a squealing Alexander time and again in a playful game of chase and catch.
Her thoughts were in turmoil and she didn’t know what to do with them. She wanted Cullen, but did she truly love him? How could she want him so badly if she didn’t truly love him? Why then did her heart ache every time she thought about him leaving?
Was she simply a foolish woman desperate to be loved?
Why worry about love? Why not just satisfy both their needs and be done with it? Why be so stubborn? She waited for answers but none came, only more haunting questions. She had almost surrendered to Cullen before her sister appeared. Was it the right thing to do? Would she ever know if it was the right choice?
“You’ll be sorry if you don’t go with them, Sara,” her sister urged.
“Cullen doesn’t want me.” It hurt to know, but hurt much more to admit aloud.
Teresa smiled. “Cullen doesn’t know what he wants. He’s as confused as you are, which makes for too much confusion and disappointing choices.”
“Foolish choices,” Sara corrected.
Teresa shook her head. “It takes a fool to take that leap of faith and know that all will go well.”
“I don’t know,” Sara said with a laugh. “I’ve been leaping like a fool for years now and things haven’t gone well.”
Teresa nodded toward Cullen. “I’d say you leapt and landed exactly where God meant for you to land.”
“What of Alaina? He can never forget her.”
“She will always be a memory, but you are here now with him and that makes all the difference,” Teresa said. “He needs you and his son needs you. The seeds of love have already been planted. Give them time to take root, blossom, and grow strong.”
She stared at Cullen tickling Alexander’s neck with kisses while the little boy giggled and squirmed in his arms. “We don’t have time.”
“He is your husband and Alexander now your son,” Teresa said softly. “You have your whole lives together.”
“Our bargain was made out of desperation. I don’t wish a marriage made from the same.”
“Then make love with him,” Teresa whispered. “And see for yourself if love is there.”
Sara had no time to digest her sister’s remark since Cullen and Alexander joined them, the lad reaching for the crumbled bits of cheese on her lap. She scooped him up and into her lap, while Cullen plopped down beside her. He reached as greedily as his son for food and yawned along with his son.
“You’ll need a nap along with Alexander,” Teresa teased.
“He’s a handful,” Cullen admitted with pride.
“That he is, but a child is no chore to a mother,” Teresa said.
Sara wanted to reach out and pinch her sister, just as she had so often when needed, and this especially was a when-needed time. Teresa had no business pointing out the fact that Alexander needed a mother.
Her remark caused Cullen to glance over at his son sitting so cozily and comfortably in her lap, which made Sara wonder over his thoughts. Did they mirror her own? She favored the moment, feeling much like a mother and a wife, her husband residing not only comfortably beside her, but resting against her.
Her first thought was that he played their game well, but the game wasn’t necessary in front of her sister. Teresa knew the truth so there was no reason for him to appear so familiar and loving with her.
Did that mean he simply wanted to be this close to her?
He had wanted to be much closer just before Teresa arrived, and perhaps wanted to let her know now that he continued to desire her, in hopes of finishing what they had started.
Alexander yawned and rubbed his eyes.
“Nap time,” Teresa said.