Rik had his anam cara in his arms. Finally. With her cheek resting against his chest, he clutched her right hand over his heart while his rested at the small of her back. The feel of her full, heavy breasts riding up against his abdomen had him biting back a pleased growl, and he was quite glad her body and flowing skirt hid what was sure to be a rather obvious erection.

Never in his long life had his dick been so engorged, so heavy and aching with the need to bury itself within someone and mark them with his very essence. He could feel the weeping soaking into his boxer briefs, and he was half-afraid he was going to soak through even the thick denim of his jeans. He was rather glad of the low light in here, and for the crowd, since it would mask the scent of his arousal from the heightened senses of the Uncanny.

When Sam had hooked her fingers in the tight waistband of his jeans, at the base of his spine, Rik stiffened, a shiver racing up his body from the contact. Fuck, he thought, I’m about to embarrass myself like a teenager at this rate. Instead, he forced himself to focus on the song, and began crooning to his cara, a love song written not by him, but one more heartfelt than she probably realized.

As the song came to an end, and he felt Sam slowly pull back from him, Rik muffled a growl of disappointment. When she smiled up at him with a shy tilt to her head and a faint blush staining her cheeks, he wanted to lean in and kiss every one of those freckles that dusted her face.

“Thank you…for the dance lesson,” she said in that low, husky voice that went straight to his dick.

Rik kept his hold on Sam’s hand, preventing her from pulling away. Reaching out, he tilted her head up with a finger gently tracing her jaw. “Please,” he whispered, “would you…” he suddenly stammered, feeling unsure. It was definitely too soon to drag her back to his room and have his wicked way with her, right? Right! “Uh, would you sit with me for a while? And talk, just talk. I want to get to know you better, Ms. Kelly.”

His heart was lodged in his throat as Sam stared up at him with a cool, considering expression. Finally, after an eternity, she nodded and gave him a half-smile, “Sure, Mr. Leon. And please, call me Sam.”

Rik grinned. He couldn’t stop himself. He was sure he looked demented, because his cheeks certainly hurt from the ear-to-ear grin on his face. Giving her hand a warm squeeze, he tucked it into the crook of his right arm before he swept a grand bow, “Then, m’lady Sam, shall we?”

Leading her off the dance floor, Rik ignored greetings from familiar faces, ignored the smirks he caught from his youngest sister and her friends, he even ignored the glower that Bertie was sending his way, although he made a mental note of it—and was glad that Bertie was rather firmly gay, and had been for longer than even Rik had been alive, otherwise they’d have to have a little discussion about him hanging around Rik’s anam cara.

Finding a small, semi-private table, Rik held out the chair for Sam and got her settled before he took the seat across from her. Needing to maintain some kind of contact with her, Rik held out his hand, holding his breath as she eyed the proffered limb. When she placed her pale, small hand in his, he curled his fingers around hers as he released his breath on a smile.

“Would you like something to drink?” Rik asked quietly, just loud enough for her to hear over the music, thankful the table he had found was partially screened by a wall that helped cut the music to an acceptable buzz.

Flashing him a grin, Sam shrugged, “I was just having a few pints, but should probably switch over to water.”

With a chuckle, Rik nodded, “Sounds good.” He waved over one of the bar’s serving staff, a cute, perky waitress wearing the saloon’s t-shirt and a pair of jeans. When she left to go grab them a couple of waters, Rik gently rubbed his thumb in small circles along the palm of Sam’s hand.

Attention once more turned back toward Sam, Rik offered a small half-grin. “First, and I know it’s late, I need to apologize for our first meeting. You didn’t catch me at my best, but that’s no excuse. It was unprofessional.”

Smirking, Sam gave him a look over her glasses, once more very much the school teacher scolding a student, as she replied, “You’re only sorry that you got caught.”

Rik shrugged his broad shoulders and tilted his head, “Partially, and partially it’s the fact that you’re a beautiful woman and not the smarmy conman I thought you’d be.” He held up a finger, halting Sam’s retort as the waitress returned with their bottles of water. Opening one for Sam, he offered it to her before he took his own and took a deep gulp.

Rik bit back a grin, seeing the growing urge to retort building in Sam, even as she took her own sip of water—a bit more dainty about it than he was. While she was drinking, he continued, “But regardless of the reasons, I am sorry about it. I’d say let’s pretend it never happened and start over, but something tells me that I need to let you make that decision.”

“You’re damn right,” Sam muttered as she twisted the lid back on her water. She glared at him for a few moments before she angrily waved her hand between them. “Stop giving me that look!”

“What look?” Rik asked innocently, his eyes wide, his lower lip pouting.

Pointing, Sam growled, “That look! That’s cheating!”

Unable to hold back the laughter, Rik caught her pointing finger and leaned forward, pressing his lips to the tip of her index finger. “I’ll be honest,” he whispered in a low, purposefully husky tone, “When it comes to you, I cannot promise to play fair.”

Clearing her throat, Sam nodded, “That sounds fair.” Damn, that voice of hers drove him crazy. Naturally low and husky, when she felt a bit flustered or aroused, it gained the slightest hint of vibrato. He wondered what she’d sound like first thing in the morning, after she had screamed his name when he made her come on his tongue. Fuck, there goes my dick again.

Giving the tip of her finger a quick flick with the tip of his tongue, he grinned and lowered her hand back to the table, still keeping it trapped within his grip. “Then you’ll forgive me?”

“Yes.” Sam blinked, then scowled, “Tricksy bastard!”

“I did warn you,” Rik laughed, tilting the brim of his hat back as he ducked his head in a nod of acknowledgement. “But merci, thank you, sweet Samantha, for your kindness.”

Tugging her hand free, Rik reluctantly released his grip, as Sam slumped back in her chair and pouted. He would die before he told her that crossing her arms beneath her breasts was an acceptable alternative to holding her hand, especially when it gave him the chance to ogle those beautiful orbs, presented so lovingly by the cut of her dress.

Catching the faint hint of what looked to be a tattoo beneath the black sweater she wore over her dress, Rik narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips thoughtfully as he tilted his head to try and get a better glimpse. Perhaps a bit too obviously, however, as Sam huffed and jerked her sweater closed as she tossed him a withering glare.

“Obvious much?”

“Cherie, even dead, I would not be able to resist looking at you,” Rik replied with utmost honesty.

“You are such a guy!” she muttered, though Rik caught the twitch of her lips as she glanced away, picking up her water to take another drink.

“Yes, I am,” Rik said smugly, “Would you want me any other way?”

Glancing at him through the corner of her eye, Sam pursed her lips and sighed heavily. “No, probably not. Despite the fact you’re a big prick, you can be rather charming.”

He wouldn’t touch that big prick comment. Really, he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. That would be wrong. “Ah cherie, I hope you’ll be happy with just how big it really is.” Okay, so he did go there.

Sam exploded in laughter. Great, heaving peals that drew a laugh from him as he watched her. Rik could spend the rest of his life making her laugh like that, and he’d consider it a life well lived. He finally understood the bond between his grandparents, and even his parents with their less traditional arrangement, even if he still refused to ever think of any of them having sex. Ever.

Suppressing a shudder, Rik said to his amused cara, “Okay, that was inappropriate.”

Waving her hand, Sam nodded as she giggled, “Especially if you’re going to be my employer.”

Nope, not tonight! Not discussing that tonight, at all! Rik thought as he desperately changed the subject, trying to sound casual as he asked, “So, Sam…ignoring all things business related, since that only seems to ever get me in trouble with you…” If she only knew. “I want to get to know you better. Please, tell me the Story of Sam. I want to hear everything.” He paused, thoughtful for a moment, before he held up a finger, “But I reserve the right to hunt down any men you may or may not have been intimate with.”

With another laugh and shrug, Sam relaxed back in her chair and said, “Sure, why not. But I reserve the right to provide you with addresses and video evidence of any possible hunting that may ensue.”

Rik’s grin was downright feral as he nodded, “Deal.” Signed, sealed, and soon to be delivered, he thought smugly.