Surrender & Salvation

Ten years ago Skye Monroe left St. Francisville and David Kincaid just as his career was taking off. Now she’s back to take photographs of the bad boy Country superstar on sabbatical as he tries to rehab his image and career. She could have turned down the assignment, but she didn’t. Was it curiosity, the need for closure or something more that brought her home? Whatever the reason, she can’t deny the fire he still ignites within her with just a look, but is she willing to give him another chance?

David Kincaid’s life started to unravel the day he got his record deal, which also happened to be the day Skye Monroe walked out on him. Since then no amount of fame, fortune or women can fill the void she left behind. When she suddenly appears on his door step for a magazine shoot, looking and sexy as ever, he realizes he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win her back. But is it too late to salvage their relationship and what’s left of his career?

Read Part One - Homecoming - here
Read Part Two - Revelations - here

Surrender & Salvation

by

Fiona Summerville

Memories

Skye shuddered as she watched David take a swig from the almost empty bottle of Jack Daniels before she averted her gaze. She busied herself by unloading her camera and lenses from the case and setting them up, keeping her eyes focused on the equipment in front of her, she resisted the urge to look back at him. Whoever the man was standing before her, he wasn’t her David. She’d seen the taunting flash of defiance in his eyes as he took that drink. Despite the casualness with which he slung back the bottle, his clenched jaw and ready to pounce stance betrayed the attitude he was trying hard to convey. He was spoiling for a fight, but she wouldn’t give it to him. She was here on business. It wouldn’t reflect well on her if she were to let personal feelings interfere with her job. Besides, she refused to fuel whatever demons he was wrestling. She took a deep breath and held it for a moment before slowly exhaling. Her shoulders softened, and the chaotic knot in the pit of her stomach slowly unraveled. Only then did she raise her eyes to meet his.

“I’d love some sweet tea if you have it.”

“Still a teetotaler, huh Skye?” He snorted caustically.

Skye’s eyes narrowed. Why was he being such an ass? She bit back the sharp retort that danced on the tip of her tongue, took another deep breath and smiled as she tapped her camera. “Not while I’m working,” adding with a soft chuckle. “It might give a whole new meaning to the term “double exposure” or make me think I’m more creative than I actually am.”

He snorted again and shook his head, but this time she saw the hard lines fall away from his face as he shot her a playful smirk. “Baby Girl, as I recall, your creativity never needed any help.” His eyes burned into hers for a moment before he winked. “Now, why don’t we see about getting you some tea? I think Callie made some up before she left this morning.”

A pang of longing pierced Skye’s heart as they walked down the hall towards the kitchen. The David with the lopsided grin and the wicked sense of humor she had fallen in love with when she was fifteen years old was back, and he was flirting with her.  What’s more, as much as she hated to admit it, she liked it.  What she didn’t like was the twinge of jealousy she felt at the mention of another woman’s name.

She wondered if it was the same Callie from high school. She was a pretty girl with a sweet personality who had been a year behind her in school. Her stomach clenched at the thought of someone she had considered a friend making cozy with David, but then caught herself and snorted softly. There was no room for jealousy. She had voluntarily relinquished any claim to him the day she walked out, so he had the right to spend time with anyone of his choosing.

Almost as if reading her mind, David looked over at her as they entered the kitchen. “You remember Callie McCormick from high school, don’t you, Skye?”

“Yeah, sure I do. She was awesome!” Her response was too fast and overly enthusiastic. David shot her a sharp look as he opened the refrigerator. Great, apparently her response had sounded as forced to him as it had to her.

He shook his head slightly and then turned to rummage through the refrigerator for the pitcher of iced tea, “Well, actually her name isn’t McCormick anymore, it’s Johnson. She married a real nice guy. He’s Army. They were stationed in Fort Hood, but he deployed on his third tour to Afghanistan, and she decided to move home to be closer to family. They got two cute little girls. When her Momma mentioned to Dad that Callie was looking for work, I decided to help her out.”

David handed her a glass of sweet tea and poured himself one. Skye smiled as she brought the glass to her lips. Not only was she relieved that, for now, the bottle of Jack Daniels sat forgotten on the counter behind them, but she was also relieved that there was nothing romantic going on between him and Callie. Not that it should matter to her, but for some reason, it did. “Wow, that’s really nice of you, David.”

He moved to stand closer to her and casually leaned back against the counter. Her heart fluttered as he grinned at her. “Oh, I’m totally being selfish. Do you remember that chocolate cake she used to bake for birthdays? I hired her on the condition that she bake that cake for me once a week.” David chuckled softly before downing his glass of tea in two long swallows. Her eyes dropped to watch his Adam’s apple move, and she suddenly found herself fighting the urge to lick and nip a path from the hollow base of his throat to his dark, stubbled chin. She blinked hard and looked back up at his face just in time to catch him watching her over the rim of his glass with a devilish gleam dancing in his velvet brown eyes. “Do you remember how we used to eat that cake, Skye?”

She felt heat rush to her cheeks. How could she not? Their birthday celebrations were some of the most decadent encounters she had ever experienced back then, or to this day for that matter. Her blood ran fast and hot at the memory of David lying naked beside her, nibbling and licking at the dark chocolate layers he had placed on her stomach. She always returned the favor, and they inevitably ended up sticky and sweaty, covered in chocolate, their sweet tooth and passion sated.

“I have a couple of pieces left if you’re hungry.” His voice was little more than a whisper, but it reverberated in the electrified silence of the kitchen. She had no idea what wicked game he was playing, or why, but she was finding it hard not to get caught up in it.

He leaned in closer, a hot, predatory glow replacing the mischievous look from moments earlier. She tried to move but found herself frozen in place and mute, once again. He reached for her face with both hands, his thumbs pressing hard into her cheeks as his lips parted and took her bottom lip between them. Her eyes closed, and a deep tremor tore through her body when she heard a soft moan escape from David’s throat. His lips pulled away for an instant only to dive in to capture hers once again. This time she kissed back. His kiss, which had been tentative at first, became bolder, deeper. Skye sighed softly. She had missed his taste, the feel of his lips. She wanted more. Forgetting her promise of professionalism, her hands made their way up the hard muscles of his chest to snake around his neck and pull him closer. Encouraged by her actions, David dropped one hand down to the small of her back and pulled her body tight against his.

She could feel his desire straining against his jeans, hard against her stomach, and she melted even further into his embrace. He groaned and tore his lips from hers, bringing them up to her temple, his breath a warm caress against her skin. “God, baby, I’ve missed you so much.”

Just then an old memory crept into Skye’s mind, dowsing her passion and pulling her back to reality. NAKED. GROUPIE. She pushed him away. “Don’t, David.”

“Don’t what?” He asked, trying to pull her back.

“Just. Don’t.” This time she stepped away from him. She licked her lips, still tingling and tender from his assault.

“Skye, I just thought –“

She cut him off with a wave of her hand and a pointed stare. “Whatever it was David. You thought wrong. I’m just here to take pictures. If you’re so eager to eat chocolate cake, I suggest you call your groupie-du-jour. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to act as your cake plate.”