Chapter 16

Dodge

SANDRA FINALLY GOT THE HINT I was not interested in striking up anything from our past. I’d been frantically looking for Sierra for the past twenty minutes. I had tried to keep my eyes on Sierra while Sandra kept her death grip on me while dancing. I’d seen her go out on the deck, and then I lost her.

Em was walking by and I quickly grabbed her by the arm. “Hey, big bro. What in the hell where you doing with Sandra earlier? Where is Sierra?”

Looking around the room, I said, “What do you mean what was I doing with Sandra earlier? Listen, I don’t know where Sierra is and I really need to find her. The last I saw her was before I danced with Sandra and that was almost an hour ago. Where in the hell did she go?”

Em’s mouth dropped open. “Are you for real right now, Aaron?”

My eyes dropped back to Em. “What do you mean?”

Rolling her eyes, Em looked away and let out a sarcastic laugh. Looking back at me she said, “Okay, let me lay this out for you, big brother. You were dancing pretty close with Sierra right before the evil Sandra showed up, right? It looked like you were both in a pretty deep conversation. From where I was standing, things were heating up with y’all. Am I right?”

Pulling my head back, I glared at Em. “I’m not talking to you about that, Em. That’s just fucked up.”

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Em said, “Whatever, Aaron. It was obvious. You were making a move on Sierra and then guess what happened?”

Waiting for her to answer, I motioned for her to continue. Rolling her eyes again, Em said, “Oh my gosh, are all men just stupid? I mean, are all of you so damn blind?”

“Em! What happened? Where is Sierra?”

Placing her hands on her hips, Em slowly shook her head. “You made a move on the one and only girl I’ve ever seen you look at like she was your next breath. Then you walked away from her and spent the next twenty minutes or so talking to an ex-girlfriend who couldn’t seem to keep her hands off of you. You just left her, Aaron. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sierra left.”

My heart dropped to my stomach. “It wasn’t anything; I kept trying to get away from—”

Holding her hand up, Em said, “Stop! The point is Aaron, you should have never have walked away from her in the first place. Asshole.”

Em spun around and stomped off. What the fuck just happened? Did my baby sister really just call me an asshole?

“Women,” my father said from behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, my father stood there holding a scotch. He went to take a drink and then looked at me and handed it to me.

“She left,” my father said, barely above a whisper.

Placing the glass up to my lips, I finished it in one gulp. “What? Who?”

My father smiled at someone and lifted his hand up and gave them a head nod. “Sierra. She was pretty upset. Crying as a matter of fact.”

My knees wobbled as I tried like hell not to let them buckle. “W-what? Why?”

Slowly turning to look at me, my father gave me a look that had me feeling sick to my stomach. “I believe your sister already laid it out for you, son.”

Pushing my hands through my hair, I let out a frustrated moan. “What the hell? I don’t understand, I just danced with Sandra and before that Sierra and I . . . we . . .”

Fucking hell. I had told Sierra I would never leave her. That I wanted to be with her. I told her I loved her and then I walked away with another woman. Placing my hands on my knees, I dragged in one breath after another.

Biggest. Dick. Ever.

Standing back up, I looked at my father. “Dad, I didn’t mean to make her upset.”

Fuck. I was going to ruin everything. This is the whole fucking reason I wanted to wait until after the trial before staring a relationship with Sierra. Motherfucker!

“I’ll get it fixed, Dad. Robert’s not going to win. I’ll have Sierra ready and what is happening between us won’t affect the case.”

My father’s face dropped. Looking away, he closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “Is that why you were pushing her away, Aaron?”

“What?” I asked with an even more confused look on my face. I needed to get to Sierra. Explain to her what happened. I would just tell her we needed to wait until after the case and then we could focus on us one hundred percent. I just prayed like hell she wouldn’t walk away from me for good.

My father inhaled a deep breath and turned to me. “I know things have been . . . strained . . . between us the last few years. I shouldn’t have brought you back in the firm on the conditions I did and I know that. That being said, I’ve never been so happy having you back with the family and the same goes for your mother. I know I’ve never told you this, but I’m proud of you, son. I’m sorry I treated you like a child and forced your hand back into the firm.”

Shaking my head, I held up my hand. “Dad, no. I really am glad I’m back. I’m hell-bent on proving to you that I can win this case.”

“Aaron, listen to me, son.”

Closing my mouth, I stood there staring at my father. “Sorry, sir.”

Nodding, he said, “You don’t have anything to prove to me, Aaron and I’m so sorry I put the kind of pressure on you that I have. Ever since you’re mother got sick, I’ve longed to get back the family that we used to have. I wanted to be the best father and husband I could be. Don’t use me or this case to push Sierra away. I don’t think Sierra is the kind of girl who is going to take being pushed away too many times.”

Swallowing hard, I shook my head. “Dad, I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. I’m scared shitless I’m going to do something wrong.”

A hand landed on my arm as I turned to see my mother standing there. “Aaron, don’t be scared. Love shouldn’t scare you. It should excite you.”

Taking my mother’s hand in mine, I looked into her blue eyes as she smiled at me. I’d changed my whole life because of the woman standing in front of me. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make my mother happy. I realized I felt the same exact way about Sierra. I pulled her hand up to my lips and kissed it. “Mom.”

“Now, I feel like a part of this is my fault because I brought Sandra over to you both.”

Shaking my head, I went to talk but was stopped by my mother. “Why don’t you head on home, Aaron. Your father and I are going to stay a bit longer. At least until most of the guests have left.”

Glancing over to my father, I asked, “When did she leave?”

Lifting his eyebrows, he nodded. “Almost an hour ago. Headed back to the house. Said she was tired.”

Giving my father a head nod, I kissed my mother on the cheek and then held out my hand for my father. “I’m going to go make it right.”

Giving me a wink, my father said, “I know you will.”

Making my way out of the ballroom, I headed outside and flagged over one of the limos. Glancing at my watch, I silently said a prayer I hadn’t fucked things up with Sierra.

***

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I took in a deep breath as I pushed my hand through my hair. Sierra’s bedroom door was locked. Smiling, I jumped up and made my way over to the door that separated me from the only girl I ever felt this way for. I thought I was falling for Ryn all those months ago, but when she had picked Tristan over me, I hadn’t felt devastated. The idea of never holding Sierra in my arms or kissing her lips every morning had me feeling sick to my stomach and scared to death.

I loved her.

I wanted no one but her.

Reaching into my pocket, I took the key out. Pushing in the key, I slowly turned it as I pushed the door open. Immediately hearing her breathing, my heart slammed against my chest. Reaching up, I loosened my bowtie and pulled it off. Walking quietly into the bedroom, I stopped and stood there, watching her sleep. My heart was pumping so fast and hard it felt like I had just run a race. Everything about this woman drove me crazy. Her beautiful blue eyes. Her feisty temper. The fact that I knew she was scared as hell but refused to let anyone see it.

Closing my eyes, I prayed to God that if he gave me this precious gift of her love, I would spend the rest of my life loving her and protecting her with every ounce of my being.

Sierra let out a soft moan and my dick jumped in my pants. Her hand was tucked up under her chin and I don’t think I had ever seen anyone so beautiful in my entire life. I walked over and dropped to my knees. Smiling, I lifted my hand and pushed a piece of hair away from her face. As much as I wanted to make love to her, I longed to hold her in my arms. She needed to know she had changed me in so many ways.

Sierra moved slightly and whispered, “Aaron.”

Smiling, I took in the sound of my name off her lips. I wanted to hear it every morning when I woke up and every night as I laid next to her. Leaning in closer to her, I lightly touched my lips to hers. Whispering against them, I said her name. “Sierra.”

Opening her eyes, Sierra smiled, and then she frowned. “Why are you waking me up, asshole? Please leave my room.”

It felt as if someone had stuck a knife in my chest. I had to remember she was upset about Sandra and she had every right to be pissed.

“You disappeared on me,” I whispered.

Stretching, Sierra rolled her eyes and rolled over to her back. “Well ya know, it was kind of hard standing there watching you hold your ex-lover in your arms right after you professed your feelings for me, Dodge. It’s a mood killer, if you know what I mean. Why don’t you head on back to the party? I’m sure you and Sandy have a lot to catch up on.”

Sierra rolled over, facing her back to me. Shaking my head, my eyes caught her bag sitting at the end of the bed. Packed.

“Are you going somewhere?” I asked.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Sierra turned back to me. Her eyes moved across my face. I could see the sadness in them and I hated knowing I was the cause of that.

“Yes. I’m going home after we prep for the trial. I figured it wouldn’t take long for you and your father to go over the possible questions Robert’s attorney might ask.”

“I see,” I said, barely above a whisper. Clearing my throat, I let a smile play across my face.

Sierra’s lips parted as she narrowed her eyes. “Are you happy about that?”

Shaking my head. “No. I just realized something.”

“That you’re a dick?”

Chuckling, I reached over and took Sierra’s hand. “I can’t argue with you on that one, but that’s not what I meant. I realized that I’ll never have to go back to the day before.”

Sierra pinched her brows together. “Day before what?”

Standing, I leaned over and captured Sierra’s lips with mine and kissed her softly. Pulling back slightly, I spoke against her lips. “You.”

Sierra’s eyes lit up as she smiled against my lips. “I’m mad at you, Dodge. You can’t say stuff like that when I’m mad at you.”

Jetting out my lip, I pleaded, “Please don’t be mad at me.”

Sierra’s smile grew. “Well, you are here with me and not with her.”

Nodding my head, I raised my eyebrows. “I am here with you, so that has to give me some brownie points.”

Sierra pressed her lips together. “Dodge, I don’t think my heart can take being broken again. I’m afraid you’re going to break my heart and I’ve never felt like this before about anyone. Not even with Robert. I loved him, but with you . . . with you it feels magical. With you it feels like I’m complete and if you were to ever hurt me I think it would destroy my heart and I would never recover from that.”

Sierra sat up as I dropped back down to my knees. “I was ready to give up, Dodge. To me, my happily ever after was never going to happen.”

My heart dropped as I heard the sadness in Sierra’s voice. There was no waiting for the case to be over. There was no more pushing her away. There was only right now.

Standing up, I pulled Sierra up with me and held her in my arms. “I want to be your happily ever after, Sierra.”

A tear escaped from Sierra’s beautiful eyes as she whispered, “Do you promise?”

Placing my finger on her chin, I lifted her lips to mine and kissed her. Pouring as much love into the kiss as I could.

Pulling my lips back, I whispered softly, “I promise.”

Sierra’s eyes lit up and my heart stopped. “Tomorrow morning when I wake up, I want that promise to be true, Dodge.”

Wrapping her arms around me, Sierra pressed her lips against mine and kissed me like I was the very breath she needed to breathe. “Make love to me, Dodge,” Sierra spoke between kisses.

Letting out a moan, I reached for the bottom of her nightgown and lifted it over her head.

“Jesus,” I whispered as I took in her beautiful body. She wasn’t wearing a bra and all I could see were her perfect breasts. Lifting them in my hands, I dropped my head and took a nipple into my mouth. Sierra’s hands moved to my hair where she grabbed a handful and let out soft low moan.

Dropping to my knees, I began kissing her stomach as Sierra dropped her head back and began touching her breasts. Fuck. I’m not going to last one minute inside of her.

Moving my lips farther down her body, I kissed along the lace edge of her boy short panties. Jesus, this woman had sexy dripping off every inch of her body. Lifting my finger up, I traced along the edge of her panties as Sierra whimpered with need.

“Dodge,” she whispered. Standing up quickly, Sierra snapped her head up and looked at me. “What’s wrong?”

Licking my lips, I thought about making love to the only woman I had ever loved. Placing my hand behind her neck, I pulled her to me. “Aaron. I want you to call me Aaron . . . not Dodge. I want the woman I love to say my name when I make love to her for the first time. I changed my name to Dodge when I felt a part of me was missing. You’ve changed that, Sierra. You’ve made me whole again.”

Tears swam in Sierra’s eyes as she closed her eyes and whispered, “Aaron.” Slamming my lips to hers, our kiss became frantic. Gone was the moment of moving slowly. Sierra’s hands fumbled to get my shirt unbuttoned as our lips never stopped moving. Ripping my shirt open, Sierra pushed the shirt off my shoulders as she ran her hands over my chest and abs.

Jesus Christ. I was going to come the moment she touched me. Moving her hands to my pants, they were pushed down before I could even get my thoughts together. I looked down at Sierra on her knees as she licked her lips and pulled my boxer briefs down painfully slowly. When my dick sprang free, Sierra let out a moan and took me in her hands.

“Fucking hell, Sierra.”

Looking down at her, I watched as she admired me. Before I knew it she had me in her mouth and I began to see stars. Hissing through my teeth, I said, “Hell yeah, baby.”

Jesus . . . don’t come. Be a man. Oh fuck, that feels amazing. I can’t even imagine what Sierra was going to feel like. Taste like. Heaven. It would be fucking heaven.

Reaching down, I pulled her up quickly as Sierra licked her lips and smiled at me. Bringing her lips to mine, I kissed her as she pushed her hands through my hair again. Pulling back, I pushed her down onto the bed and dropped to my knees. Sierra gave me the sexiest smile I’d ever seen as she touched her body.

“It’s my turn to taste you, baby.”

Moaning, Sierra fell back onto the bed. Pulling her toward me, I took in the sight of her beautiful pussy. It was going to be mine soon. No one would ever touch her again.

She. Was. Mine.

Licking along her lips, Sierra slammed her hands over her mouth and moaned. My eyes felt like they were about to roll into the back of my head, she tasted so damn good. I needed more.

Pulling her closer, I dipped my tongue into her as Sierra began moving her hips. Needing to hear her call out my name, I began sucking and licking faster.

Sierra began thrashing her head back and forth as her body began to tremble. “Aaron . . . oh lord almighty, I’m going to die!”

Smiling, I kept up my pace as I slipped my fingers inside of her. Sierra fell apart as she clamped down around my fingers and moaned my name from her sweet lips.

When her body finally relaxed, I picked her up and moved her into my bedroom. I wanted her in my bed, not the guestroom bed. If I was going to make love to her, I wanted her wrapped up in my arms all night.

Wrapping her arms around me, Sierra whispered, “Please tell me I’m not dreaming.”

“You’re not dreaming, baby.”

Coming to a stop, I looked at Sierra and smiled. “Every time I make love to you, I want you to use my real name, Sierra. It’s important to me.”

Chewing on her lower lip, Sierra nodded her head and said, “Okay.”

Laying her down on the bed, I hovered over her body as I began kissing her neck. “I’ve never made love to anyone, Sierra.”

Giggling, Sierra said, “I’m pretty sure you’re not a virgin, Dodge.”

Looking at her, I narrowed my eyes. “I’ve fucked women. I’ve never made love to someone who had my heart forever and always. You’re different, Sierra. I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve never had the desire to be one with anyone like I do with you. I want to bury myself so deep inside you that a part of me stays with you forever. Don’t call me Dodge when I’m with you like this. Please.”

Sierra’s eyes lit up as her lips parted open. “I promise I won’t call you Dodge. No one has ever said anything like that before to me,” Sierra whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek. Leaning over, I kissed her tear away. My lips moved down to her neck and around to her ear.

“I’m falling in love with you, Sierra,” I whispered into her ear as she let out a small sob and wrapped her arms around me.

“You scare me, Aaron.”

Spreading her legs open with my knee, I pushed my tip against her pussy. “No, baby, let me love you.”

“Yes,” Sierra said as she lifted her hips to me. “Take me, Aaron. Please take me.”

My lips moved across her chin to her mouth. “Condom,” I whispered.

Wrapping her legs around me, Sierra shook her head. “I’m on the pill.”

Pulling my head back, my eyes grew wider. “Sierra, I’ve never had sex without a condom.”

“Never?” she asked.

Shaking my head, I said, “No never.”

“Tested?” she asked as she moved her fingers up and down my arm, sending a fiery storm of tingles up and down my arm.

“Yes. Right after I started back at the law firm.”

Sierra’s eyes burned with desire. I knew I was about to do the one thing I swore to my parents I would never do.