Page 34 of Sawyer’s Mistake

Chapter 14

Saoirse

Her bladder complained, making her wonder how long she’d been sleeping. For the first time in weeks, she actually felt rested.

She took care of business quickly, sneaking a quick look in the bathroom mirror and only just managing to keep herself from screaming out loud when she saw her hair. It looked like a bird had made a home in her curls. She shook the curls out and smoothed them with her fingers, as she’d often been forced to do in the last fifteen months, then tied the hair back into some semblance of order with her last remaining scrunchie.

Let’s call that a moderate success.

Her clothes were in the bedroom, folded neatly over the single chair. She sniffed the panties, wishing she’d thought of washing them the night before. She raced to put everything on quickly and made her way downstairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, she almost ran into Alix, who was carrying some boxes. The French woman arched an eyebrow at her, a knowing smile playing on her lips. It made Saoirse look at herself, wondering if she’d forgotten to put her pants on or something.

“Did you sleep well, Saoirse?” Alix’s gaze focused on a spot on Saoirse’s neck.

“Why didn’t anybody wake me? They’ve left already, haven’t they?” She rushed to the window. The black van was nowhere to be seen. Her shoulders fell, and she held on to the windowsill for support. He’d left without even saying goodbye.

“No! They’re still outside.” She nodded towards the box she was carrying. “Just helping out with a couple boxes.”

Saoirse almost sobbed in relief.

“Sawyer said we should let you sleep,” Alix confided, smiling.

Saoirse felt her face grow hot again.

“I did sleep very well, thank you, Alix,” Saoirse said defiantly.

Alix laughed and lifted the box again.

“Ignore me. I’m just jealous.”

“Jealous? But you—” Saoirse stopped, a hand over her mouth, but Alix just laughed.

“Prostitutes like sex as well, you know. With the right person.” Saoirse glared at the woman. “And I’m not talking about Sawyer. He’s only got eyes for one woman, anyway, in case you haven’t noticed,” she added nonchalantly.

Saoirse opened the door for Alix and followed her outside. They’d moved the van closer to the door; that was why she hadn’t been able to see it through the window. Meir was tidying up the equipment in the back to make space for the seats again.

“Be careful with that, Noam, please!” she said, rushing forward to help him.

Meir laughed.

Does everybody know Sawyer and I had sex last night?

An instant later, she decided it didn’t matter. Her body felt exquisitely sore. She could still feel Jake, not just between her legs, which was delicious enough, but also every time her ass bumped into something.

“You okay, Saoirse?” Meir asked.

“Ah, sure. I’m okay.”

“I’m almost done here. Why don’t you go tell Eva you’re awake? She’s been looking for you.”

Moving to the front of the smaller vehicle, she realized everybody seemed to have something to do except for her. Eva was arguing about something with Storme. The big man squared his shoulders but took a small step back at her onslaught. His palms came up in defeat.

Looks like Eva won that particular argument.

She coughed and her friend turned around, smiling widely. Saoirse couldn’t remember Eva smiling much in the fourteen months they’d spent at the Residence together, but ever since they’d left, a smile seemed to hover permanently on the blond woman’s lips. Whether that was due to the great sex she was getting with Storme or just the excitement at being outside again, it was hard to tell. Maybe a combination of the two. Eva came over and held her hand.

“Saoirse! You okay? Sawyer said—” She stopped speaking, her gaze on that same spot on Saoirse’s neck.