Chapter Nine
They each drove their own car to Dina’s, and she honestly thought that the drive might have calmed down the desire pulsing through her veins, but all it did was make her want to press on the gas pedal.
By the time she parked in front of her rental and jumped out of the car, pure excitement added to the mix of emotions churning through her. This was so unlike anything she’d ever done before. The shot of adrenaline that spiked through her made her mind spin as he pulled into the driveway.
She was really going to go through with this.
A one-night stand.
Or at least as close to one as she was willing to get.
She gave a quick wave to Sam and opened the front door, flipping on the lights and straightening up the mail on the foyer table as he walked in behind her and shut the door.
The moment he came into her home, she felt the familiar electricity zip through her veins again, and any possible hesitation was thrown out the window.
This wasn’t about walking down the aisle with Sam North someday or imagining a family with him as she’d done so many times before with other men she dated. She didn’t need to wait thirty days because she knew there wasn’t going to be a day thirty-one.
No. She knew none of that was possible with a man like him. He had too much fun being single, and Dina hoped some of that would rub off on her.
As she watched him walk into her small foyer, her heart skipped a beat as his eyes canvased along her body. He made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and to be honest, with everything she’d been through over the last year or ten, she needed to feel that way.
A corner of Sam’s mouth turned up as he stood in front of her; the desire only building the longer he didn’t touch her or make a move.
“You’re making this extremely painful,” she murmured, taking a step forward.
“What is it you want, Dina?” His voice lowered to a tenor that even made her toes curl as he brushed away a few strands from her face.
The sensation of his fingers gliding across her skin made her breath catch in the back of her throat. If her body responded to him like this merely by standing in the middle of the entry hall, she couldn’t even imagine what sleeping with him would be like.
“You,” she said so quietly he almost couldn’t hear her.
He moved closer, cupping her chin in both of his palms before sliding his fingers through her hair. She thought he was going to kiss her, but he was taking his time.
It had been a long time since someone had taken their time with her.
Dina sank her teeth into her bottom lip as she felt his hands cascade down her back. He was so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body as his eyes stayed on hers, taking everything in about her.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” he whispered, lowering his head and bringing his mouth down to hers.
Feeling his lips move against hers sent her into another orbit as she pressed her body into him. Feeling every dip and ridge he had to offer made her hands roam freely and explore what she’d been thinking about since she first met him so many months ago.
Their kisses intensified as he circled his arms around her waist, hoisting her into him. Still kissing, she giggled as she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he carried her to her bedroom. She couldn’t believe she was not only going through with this but loving every second.
Dina unwrapped her legs from around him and slid onto the bed as he helped move her up into the pillows, his arms caging her in as he went. It wasn’t until he was hovering over her that she realized how truly big Sam North was. She knew he was well over six feet and extremely muscular, but his body could swallow hers whole, and she wasn’t that small of a woman.
“You’re a really good kisser,” she told him as his eyes darkened a shade.
She ran her fingers under his wool sweater, feeling the heat roll off his bare skin before pulling the sweater over his head and tossing it to the floor.
Seeing the definition of his build made her almost giddy with excitement. She’d certainly picked the right man to have fun with, if she did say so herself.
Bringing his lips back to hers, she let out a moan of delight, which only made a low growl of desire leave his lips before he began tracing his mouth down her jaw to her collarbone. The sound alone nearly undid her as his fingers quickly worked to unbutton her pink plaid shirt.
His lips followed the path of his fingertips as his mouth slid along her bare skin. Desire consumed her every thought as he unhooked her bra and his mouth trailed down to her breasts.
The ache of wanting more pulsed through her as if parts of her were on fire. She slid her fingers along his waistband before unfastening his jeans, which he quickly shook off and she did the same.
His hands floated down her belly and between her thighs to her center where every gentle stroke and circle of his thumb nearly brought her to the edge and back as his mouth found hers once more.
Dina circled her arms around his waist, feeling all of him press against her belly and igniting another wave of longing as his fingers slowly pulled away from her. His lips left hers, and she heard the sound of foil tearing, but before she had a chance to open her eyes, his open mouth slid along her belly, creating a mixture of chilled warmth as he teased her gently before nudging her thighs.
Her hands skated along the dips and curves of his abdomen as she guided him to kiss her. He pressed his forehead to hers, and she opened her eyes to see him watching her as her body begged for more.
“You’re sure about this?” he asked softly, as his fingers moved along her collarbone, and she felt every inch of him against her.
“Dammit to hell, Sam. I don’t need to be protected. I want this,” she said it with a smile, and he let out a low laugh as he brought his mouth back to hers.
There was no doubt about it. She didn’t need to be protected.
Tasting the sweetness of her lips only made Sam’s desire roar to life as he nudged her thighs a little more and moved into her. Hearing her moans as he slid deeper made his world rock a little harder as he felt her clasp around him.
He’d never felt a woman respond to him like this and could barely hold on as their bodies swayed in a unique rhythm all their own.
When she wrapped her legs around his waist, he nearly shuddered a release but was determined to give her more, sliding his fingers between her legs as her breathing became more ragged with each movement.
Being with Dina Romano was pure ecstasy.
He knew he was ruined for life as her cries of release echoed into her small bedroom. He felt her body shudder into his as he pushed into her one last time, feeling every nerve in his body explode into a heaven he didn’t know existed until he met her.
Their breathing melded into one another’s after several minutes of quiet. He rolled over and brought Dina into him, the curves of her naked body fusing perfectly with his.
“That was some ski lesson,” she whispered, curling her body deeper into his, which only made him harden once more.
“I’ve never had one quite like it.” He pulled her in closer and she giggled.
“Now, that I find hard to believe.”
“Swear to God.” He laughed and felt her body tremble as she tried to hold in her laughter. “It’s true.”
“Whatever you say, Mr. North.” She curled her one hand around his and grabbed the edge of the comforter with the other and tugged it over both of them. “But I have to tell you that you made my first one-night stand absolutely incredible.”
His eyes blinked open, and he turned her over and moved on top so he could look into her eyes. “I’d hardly call this a one-night stand.”
She shrugged underneath him, and he brought his lips down to her ear, brushing away her hair with his fingers.
“This isn’t just a one-night stand, Dina,” he murmured before his mouth found hers and they started again as if he had to prove he wasn’t ever going to be finished with her.
Before the sun had a chance to rise, Sam was in the kitchen making them pancakes, omelets, and sausage while he let Dina sleep.
He’d never experienced what he did last night, and he certainly never hung around to cook breakfast.
Any expectation he’d had about sleeping with Dina had been shattered to smithereens last night. Everything about her fit into him perfectly. They were so in synch in every possible way. Hearing a woman giggle during sex was such a turn-on, only he never knew it because it had never happened before, but it was so freeing and natural.
Everything about Dina was that way.
He mindlessly stirred the egg and milk mixture a couple more times before pouring the first omelet into the skillet of butter. He honestly didn’t know what to do with her next. He wanted to explore the possibility of more with her, but he certainly didn’t want to hurt her. He knew it was a long shot for him to be able to step away from work long enough to make any relationship work, but for once, he was willing to try.
But the one thing that kept churning through his head all night was Dina’s comments about this being a one-night stand.
Was that really how she saw this? It would make sense considering his reputation, but they weren’t two complete strangers never destined to see each other again.
There had to have been something more driving her to want to sleep with him.
Right?
He took a sip of orange juice and flipped the first omelet just as Dina padded into the kitchen. Her dark hair was in a tangled mess, and she wore nothing more than an oversized t-shirt, and he immediately wanted to scrap breakfast and get her back into bed.
“Breakfast? For me?” She smiled and came over to the stove as he scooped the omelet mixture from the pan.
He expected her to maybe kiss him or touch him, but she stood a few inches back, admiring the food he was making.
“I thought since we never quite got to dinner last night, it was the least I could do.” He grinned and handed her the first omelet after putting the sausage and pancakes on the plate.
“I’m starving.” She took the plate and sat down at the kitchen table as he dished his own and made his way over. “I don’t think I’ve ever burned that many calories in a twelve-hour period before.”
Sam laughed and took a bite of pancake.
“That makes two of us.”
Dina narrowed her eyes on him. “Again, I find that hard to believe.”
“Be that as it may.” He shrugged his shoulders and grinned, taking her in.
She was beautiful, charming, and certainly had no plans for letting him off the hook.
“Well, this town must be my good luck charm. Overnight, somehow every single consultation time got booked out for the next four weeks. I woke up this morning and all the slots were filled online.” She took a bite of the omelet and moaned. “Incredible.”
“Hey, how do you know I’m not the good luck charm?”
Dina giggled and took another bite of omelet.
“I suppose it could be you.” She sat back in the chair and closed her eyes.
She looked so refreshed and happy.
“Do you have any plans on Saturday?” he asked and her eyes blinked open.
She shifted in her seat and took another bite of breakfast. “I’ve never had a schedule this booked, so I’m not actually sure I am free. If these consults turn into something…”
Sam cocked his head slightly and nodded in silence.
“I kind of feel like I better take advantage of this since it’s all coming my way at once.”
“Totally get it.” Sam’s chest tightened, and the truth of it was, he totally did get it. He’d made his career a priority since he got out of college. Now was her chance to shine and he had no plans to get in the way. “I’m only a phone call away.”
“I bet you are.” She wiggled her brows and took another bite of pancake, and he knew she had no intention of making that call.