Sinful Instincts (Woodland Creek) (21 page)

“I wasn’t gone, I was lost. And I was numb, too. You hurt me more than Zander ever did by leaving me, Sin,” I admit, my heart hurting all over again just at the memory.

“I know. But I had to make things right. I couldn’t live a life with the guilt on my conscience if I didn’t. Even if it meant leaving you forever.”

“So, what happened, Sin? Why are you here? Is it to say goodbye?” My lips begin to quiver.

“No, Emma. On the fifteenth day, they released me. I was told that the honor I served in finding her killer and ending his life would be my redemption. I told them I had her blood on my hands, even if I didn’t kill her, but they felt differently. They were drowning in sorrow for the loss of their daughter, but the peace they felt that justice was served and her soul was free was something they could live with.”

All this information is an overload to my brain and heart. “Are you leaving, Sin?” I blurt out. I’m sick of circling around the one question I need to know.

His eyes shift immediately. The desperation I once saw quickly fades as the primal animal settles in. He’s on me so quickly it causes me to stumble back. His arms wrap around me, clasping our bodies together. “No, Emma. That is exactly what I am
not
doing. I’ve returned to claim what’s mine,” he growls. “And since I know there is no way you will be denying me, that means I am here to stay,” he vows, his words thick with confidence. I don’t have a chance to sputter any sort of response before he continues, “And let me warn you, Emma, if you try to deny me, I will only remind you how you are already mine and that decision has already been made. You’re
mine
, Emma. Always have bee—”

Yep, I’m sold.
I’m raising my head and slamming my mouth onto his before he’s able to finish. His lips, the taste of him, they intoxicate me. My heart is racing and I’m clawing at him, matching him in his own desperation to connect physically and emotionally.

It’s then I quickly pull away.

And then I slap him again.

His stunned expression matches my own. “Now what was
that
for?” he growls at me. I want to say I have no freakin idea. Mentally, my brain decided to kick in with the whole ‘
you can’t just come back here and claim me caveman-style’
bullshit. The whole
I think I’m Rocky
act? I have no explanations for that. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the alpha male storyline, whisking the helpless princess off to her destiny and all that fluffy shit, but for Christ’s sake, why don’t they ever fight a bit beforehand? Give the guy a run for their money?

This is why I always hated all that romance bullshit. Because it would be typical for me to eagerly fall into Sin’s arms, thanking him for wanting me. And
ya
know what? Fuck that! I mean, I want to fall into more than his arms
—preferably his pants
—but not without a fight at least!

I stand straighter, chin up. “I’m going to have to think about your offer,” I spit out, praying to God I keep a straight face.

“And why is that?” he seethes, prowling toward me. I can almost feel the rumble of his chest and it’s sending a vibration down into my core, definitely not helping my battle.

“Well…Um… Well, because since you left, I have fallen in love with… Aaron!”
What the…

“The officer,” he states calmly, but still managing to be threatening. I begin to take a few safety steps backwards.

Stay fierce, Emma.

“Yes! You left me, Sin. I hope you don’t think I was just waiting around. You’re going to have to work to get me back. Aaron is very good to me. He... He takes me to see movies, and…we share popcorn!”
What the crap am I doing?

Sin’s eyes blaze as he takes me captive. Threading his fingers into my hair, I start to shake, knowing I’m losing here. He lays his mouth just above mine, his breath warm against my lips. It’s impossible to deny the heat that is building inside me or the hardness resting between my thighs. No matter what I’ve told him, Sin is completely turned on.
And shit, so am I.

“So, you want me to fight for you, is that it, Emma?” His voice rough, he grinds into me.

My body disobeying me, I arch my back into him. “Yes,” I whisper, my voice raspy. I’m trying to play it cool here. I will
not
be played again by him. Or anyone. If only my vagina was on board with this vow. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t care how this ends as long as she is
played with
.

My chin back in the air, I continue. “I need to be with someone who is going to treat me right. Who won’t leave me. Knows exactly what I need.” I’m battling for strength. Sin thrusts once again against my center, allowing our intimate parts to clash. “Yes,” I moan, closing my eyes.

“Yes, what, Emma? I didn’t ask you a question.”
Shit.
I open my eyes to a small grin softening his mouth.

“So, you want a man who knows exactly what your body craves? Like this?” He brings his fingers around my thin shirt, lifting it up my stomach. There is no hiding the wave of goosebumps that wash over my skin. Sliding to his knees, he brings his mouth to my navel and presses his wet tongue to my flesh. Traveling from my lower stomach to the top of my ribs, he murmurs, “Do you feel that, Emma? The way your skin tingles with desire? Is that what you want?” He tortures me. And he’s not done. Rising slowly, and once he is perfectly aligned, he presses himself over my aching center. He hooks my shirt, lifting it over my breast, taking my covered nipple into his mouth.

My traitorous thoughts wanting him to take me in so many ways distract me from my plan, and my damn hands sell me out as they tangle in his hair, pulling his head closer to my breast. Sadly, he doesn’t stay and releases my nipple to bring his body upward, our eyes connecting.

“You’re mine, Emma. Your body knows it. Aaron fucking Bellaire knows it, and because of this little game you tried to play with me, I am going to make you scream, so the entire town will soon know it, as well.”

Okay, no one says no after that.

No one.

I never did say I’d give up, though. I make one last-ditch effort to poke the bear, or should I say cat. “But... but what about poor Aaron?” My words are spoken too thick with lust to even sound convincing.

“Emma, I lured Aaron before I left you that day. I knew I would be back for you. And I wouldn’t take any chances of him getting anywhere near what is mine. He not only will stay clear of you, but he also believes now he is into
older
women.”

My eyes go wide at his confession. He lured poor Aaron? That
totally
explains his strange reaction toward me at the bar when he saw me! And why he was with old Mrs. Finkle.
Ew!

Sin’s eyes glow that passionate amber I’ve missed so much. He knows he’s won, not that it was ever a fair battle. He doesn’t ask for permission when he begins to remove my clothing piece by piece. I watch as his biceps flex and he lowers his head to take my mouth. And I simply melt.

Leaving me breathless, he pulls away. “So, you’re a mermaid?” he questions with a smirk, his thick lashes shimmering in the sunlight.

I return his smile, remembering the breathtaking formation I experienced. “I guess I am,” I reply.

“Well, I find that really fucking sexy.” His smile broadens. “And now I am going to enjoy showing this mermaid exactly how sexy I find it.” He descends on me, but I stop him.

“I don’t really know what it entails to date a shifter,” I blurt out.

“I don’t know what it entails to date a mermaid,” he counters, his lips twitching.

Touché.

“Fair enough. Now kiss me; I don’t have all day.”

With that, he takes my mouth and my body, showing me exactly how sexy he finds mermaids and how he plans to never,
ever
let me go.

I’m treading in the ocean, the warmth of the water surrounding me, but this time I’m not dreaming. The echo of laughter fills my eardrums and my heart. The wizard was right; she
is
beautiful.

“That’s it, baby girl. Kick your little legs. You can do it,” I coach the little toddler in my arms, teaching her to embrace the ocean’s waves. I twist to my right as I connect with my husband, his bare chest glimmering in the sun’s rays. I stare into his beautiful amber eyes as he watches our daughter laugh and kick through the water. I turn her in my arms and I see her eyes begin to glow, the excitement of being at home in her new world.

“That’s my girl. Kick, kick!” I cheer her on, hoping she understands her destiny, coaxing her fin to emerge and embracing that piece of her. That piece I gave her.

Sin swims closer to me, grabbing for our daughter, cooing her to his chest.

“I do it, Daddy! I do it!” She shines, wrapping her tiny little arms around his neck.

“Yeah, you are, baby.” He stares at her, just as he always does. With admiration and love. He breaks his eye contact to look over his shoulder. Our eyes connect as they always do, that pull binding us. He mouths
mine
, the one word he’s been repeating since the day he vowed it to me, and I silently reply the same, feeling the fullness deep in my soul. And in the end I
did
give him my heart, because in return he gave me everything.

Meanwhile…

“Oh, you rotten… who told you to shoot that!?” the wizard grumbles as he gets up from his Lazy-Boy. He walks over to his crystal ball, igniting it with the palm of his hand. He begins to mumble a foreign language until the ball blasts with color. Just then, the sportscaster on the television goes berserk.

“Oh. I can’t believe it. Cody Zeller just took a shot from beyond half court and HE MADE IT! Holy cow! I can’t believe it! They just won the game!”….

The end

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my novella from
Woodland Creek
!

All reviews are appreciated
.

If you would like to read more from the
Woodland Creek
series, please click on the link below:

Woodland Creek Website

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.D. Hollyfield is a creative designer and author of the
Love not Included
Series. When she’s not cooking, event planning, or playing around with her husband, son and three doxies, she’s relaxing with her nose in a book. With her love for romance and her head full of book boyfriends, she has been inspired to test her creative abilities and bring her own stories to life. J.D Hollyfield lives in the Midwest and is currently at work on her fourth novel.

You can learn more about J.D. Hollyfield on her website,
authorjdhollyfield.com
.

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Other Books by
J.D. Hollyfield

Love Not Included Series

Life in a Rut, Love Not Included
, Book 1

Life Next Door
, Book 2

My So Called Life
, Book 3