CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
I’m waiting naked in bed when Sam arrives. I was going to wear my silk nightie but then decided we might as well cut to the chase. And I’m so glad I did, because I can see how hard he already is through his jeans. There’s doubt in his eyes, though, and maybe fear, too. Maybe he’s wondering about our family meeting and what was said.
“Come in here,” I say, holding out my hands.
He whips off his shirt and unzips his pants and drops them on the floor at the side of the bed. He’s not wearing underwear tonight. His raging hard-on bounces out.
“Condom,” I say, pointing at my nightstand.
He puts one on in record time and climbs into the bed, throwing the covers off onto the floor.
“What if I get cold?” I ask as he lowers himself down to me.
“I’ll keep you warm,” he says, pressing his lips to mine. His hand drags down my ribs to my waist and thigh. His work-roughened palm slides over the top of my thigh and moves to the space between my legs, his fingers delving into the warm, wet folds and stroking. It doesn’t take long for me to be pulsating with need.
“Sam, I’m going to come if you keep doing that.”
“Not without me, you’re not,” he says, falling onto his back. “Come over here, girl.”
He wants me to get on top. We haven’t done that yet, but I’m game. I take a moment to enjoy the view of his amazing body and hard length waiting to please me. “You are so gorgeous,” I say, rolling up onto my side.
He takes my hand and kisses my fingers. “Beautiful girl. You turn me on so much.”
“I do?” I know this is true, but I like to hear him say it anyway.
“Yes, you do. Now get up on here, would you? You’re torturing me lying there like that.”
Grinning from ear to ear, I get up on my knees and then straddle him. Looking down at him, I’m amazed at the fact that he’s here, that we’re here together and that fate saw fit to put him in my life. So many things had to line up just right for that to happen. The tour in Japan . . . our mothers going . . . Amber needing me at her place . . . Madison’s addiction driving Sam to New York early . . . I have a lot of people to thank for this joy I’m about to receive.
“Nickel for your thoughts,” he says as I position myself to take him inside me.
“I was just thinking how glad and lucky I am to have you in my life.” There’s a tinge of sadness to my words as I silently acknowledge that this could all be temporary.
As he lifts his hips and pushes himself into me, I groan. It feels too damn good, transporting me to another place . . . a secret world full of silky, sexy darkness. I won’t think about him leaving . . . not right now anyway. This moment is too good to spoil with thoughts of reality.
“Want to know what I’m thinking right now?” he whispers.
Our bodies are fully joined, the length of him buried inside me. I move my hips, bringing myself extra pleasure. I look down at his beautiful face and see a vulnerability there.
“Yes,” I say, sitting up so I can bring him in and out. I move up and down, setting our pace.
He rests his hands on my hips, closing his eyes as he grits his teeth in concentration.
“Well . . . ?” I ask, losing my breath a little. “Are you going to tell me?”
“Can’t . . . losing my mind . . . ,” he grunts.
I can tell by the way he’s clenching his jaw that he’s about to go. His control is slipping fast. I lean down and push faster. “I’m going to make you come, aren’t I?”
His eyes fly open and he growls, two seconds before he surprises the crud out of me by flipping me over and coming down over me.
“No, babe. I’m going to make you come.” He plunges into me, reaching around and grabbing my thigh, pulling it up. He somehow knows exactly where to touch me and how to move, and in just three strokes, I’m calling out his name.
“Sam! Oh, no!”
“Oh, yes,” he growls, pushing faster and faster. “Come, babe. Come for me.”
I hang on to him for dear life as that sexy darkness swallows me whole and sends me swirling around inside my own head. The pulsing orgasm takes over my whole body, making me buck and cry out, seeking release from its grip.
Sam slams into me, starting the cycle of sensation all over again for me as he finds his release. I cry out as the last spasms shake my entire being to the core. He falls on top of me, exhausted and breathing like he’s about to die from overexertion.
After I’m finally able to breathe properly again, I tap him on the shoulder. “I believe I paid a nickel for someone’s thoughts.”
He lifts himself up onto his elbows and looks at my face, finally stopping his gaze on my eyes. “You sure you want to know what I’m thinking?” He gently moves wet hair from my sweaty forehead.
I nod. “Always.” A special thrill runs through me at the idea that he’s about to share his innermost thoughts with me. I pray it’s something that will make me smile and not cry.
He takes a breath. “I was just thinking . . . when I saw you standing there in the hallway . . . that I love you. That I think you’re amazing. That I hope I get to hang out with you for a lot longer than two weeks.”
My heart nearly stops at the L-word and his declaration of desire for a shared future. “You love me?”
“Yeah. I do. Lame, huh?”
I laugh. “How is that lame?”
He looks down at my chest, maybe embarrassed to meet my gaze. “We just met. I sound desperate.”
I pick his face up by his hairy chin. “Hey. If you’re desperate, what does that make me?”
“What do you mean?” he asks, a small smile moving his beard.
“I pretty much loved you a week ago.” I realize it’s true as I say it. Love? Of course it’s love that makes me want to see him first thing every morning and right before my eyes fall shut at night. It’s love that makes me want to build a future with him in it. It’s love that helped me get over my fear and take charge of my independence. I’m stronger with Sam in my life, but I’m also happier. He gets me, and that’s saying a lot. Most people don’t.
He laughs. “What happened a week ago to cause you to suffer this madness?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Seeing you with Sadie is some pretty potent magic, I think.”
He nods. “I love that kid.”
“I do too. She’s really something special.”
He kisses me, slow and soft this time, making my heart go pitter-patter.
“What do you think is going to happen tomorrow?” he asks, rolling over onto his back. “What do you want to happen?”
“I have no idea. I’m not going to try to guess or force anything. My life has been utterly nuts since I met you, and I don’t expect it to be any different for as long as you’re in it.”
“You do realize you’re the only woman in the entire world who doesn’t want to plan every moment of her future, right?”
I smile and give him a sweet kiss. “As long as you and Sadie are there with me, I’m sure everything will work out just fine.”
“Oh, shit,” he says, his good mood disappearing in an instant as he looks down at his waist.
“What’s wrong?” I frown at his sudden change in demeanor.
He holds up the condom. It’s in two parts. “It ripped.”
My heart literally stops beating.
“What’s the date on these things?” he asks, sitting up to grab the box.
“I don’t know.” Now that I think about it, though, they are pretty old.
He reads something on the packaging. “They expired over a year ago.”
I try to smile through my anxiety. “Oops.”