The Sassy One

“I’m glad,” Francesca said and meant it more than the girl could know. If Sam could adjust to life with Kelly, maybe he wouldn’t freak out at the thought of having a second child. Or was that just wishful thinking?



Sam touched Kelly’s shoulder. “Ready to head home?”



Kelly nodded and rose. “I want to say good-bye to the Grands and Katie.”



As Kelly crossed to be with the rest of the family, Sam moved close to Francesca.



“How’re you doing?” he asked.



“Fine. We’re all in shock.” She looked at him. “I’m sorry about tonight. I know my entire family went crazy with the matchmaking thing.”



“I survived.” He lowered his voice. “At the risk of facing a shotgun wedding, what are your plans for this weekend? I thought we could spend some quality time together.” He leaned close. “Kelly and I are going to the beach Saturday afternoon, then she’s staying at a friend’s house for the night. I thought we could have a sleepover, too.”



Francesca studied his face, the crinkles by his tawny eyes, his easy smile. She was still trying to recover from his “shotgun wedding” remark. He had no idea how close he had skated to the truth.



A few more days, she thought. She would be with him a few more days. Next week she was watching Kelly, and that Friday, just over a week from now, she would tell Sam about the baby. It was past time.



“I’d like to spend the night,” she told him with a smile, even as she knew it might be their last time together. “But only if I get to sleep on top.”



The night was warm and they’d left the balcony doors open. Night creatures serenaded them with soft music, while their rapid breathing provided counterpoint and rhythm.



She stood with Sam in his bedroom. They’d made it that far without ravishing each other, but she had a feeling they couldn’t hold out much longer.



The hand cupping her cheek moved slightly as long fingers stroked her skin. She wrapped her arms around his waist. His hard back muscles rippled at her touch. She moved her hands up and down, feeling his strength, the hard planes of his body.



She returned her attention to the still-chaste kiss. He’d kept the contact light, so it was up to her to entice him. She licked his lower lip. Instantly he groaned. She licked his lip again. He groaned. When he opened for her, she swept inside, eager to explore, to play, to excite. Anticipation swelled. Heat ignited in her belly before spiraling out and settling between her legs. When her tongue touched his, sparks flared. His taste, his warmth, the way he moved with her, the way they moved together. The opening moves of their sensual dance left her trembling and hungry.



He raised his other hand to her face and cupped her jaw. Suddenly he was back in charge. He deepened the kiss before closing his lips around her tongue and sucking gently. Pressure started between her legs, and her breasts began to ache.



She arched against him, wanting to be closer. She could feel the dampness of her swelling, the heat of her rising passion. Sam broke their kiss only to nibble his way along her jaw toward her ear. He licked the outside curve before sucking on the sensitive skin just below her lobe. His hands moved to her breasts.



“We’re both way too dressed,” he breathed.



“I agree. We should do something about that.”



He kissed her collarbone just as his thumbs brushed over her tight nipples. She gasped. He cupped her breasts, squeezing gently. Her head fell back.



“In a second,” he whispered. “I don’t want to stop kissing you just yet.”



His fingers circled her curves, then his thumbs flicked against her nipples again, and fire shot through her.



“Hell,” he muttered.



With one swift, fluid move, he pulled his polo shirt free of his jeans and tugged it over his head. “Touch me,” he said, taking her hands in his and placing them on his skin.



He was warm. The light dusting of hair tickled her palms and made her fingers tingle. While she explored hard, male contours, he went to work on the buttons down the front of her dress. Just as she had discovered the pleasure of stroking him from shoulder to waist, he pulled her dress over her arms. She straightened and the garment fell to the floor.



She stood there in bra and panties, along with her sandals, which she quickly kicked away. Sam skimmed his hands down to her breasts and cupped them. She sought out his erection. He was hard, long, and he flexed into her touch. She explored the length of him, then rubbed her thumb over the tip. He groaned, then kissed her deeply.



“Bed,” Sam mumbled against her mouth.



He started urging her to step backward. As she complied, he moved his hands around to her back and expertly unfastened her bra. The garment fell away.



He broke their kiss and lowered his head to take her nipple in his mouth. Warm, damp heat surrounded her. Rational thought fled. She came to a stop and cupped his head to hold him in place.



Tension flooded her. Heat made the balls of her feet burn and her toes curl. As he licked and sucked on one breast, he used his hands on the other. Dual pleasure swept through her. She whispered his name, then spoke it louder. He shifted mouth and fingers so her other breast now received his kisses. The ache between her legs intensified to actual pain. Heat spiraled. Need grew. Tension flared higher and higher. His fingers moved back and forth in a rhythm that made her head spin.



Sam straightened and kicked off his shoes. Before she knew what was happening, he’d pulled off her panties and shed his jeans. His briefs went with them. They were naked in a heartbeat.



She barely had a second to anticipate how great it was going to be, when she found herself being lowered into a sitting position on the bed. Somehow her legs were apart and his hand was easing between them. He kissed her and slipped inside of her at the same moment.



Tongue and finger in perfect synchronization. He withdrew once, twice, then a contraction began deep inside of her. As always with him, her orgasm exploded with little warning and incredible intensity. She couldn’t control it or herself. She clung to him. He shifted slightly and brushed his thumb deep into her wetness until he found that one swollen point of need. He circled it once and she was lost.



Her entire body shook as her release overwhelmed her. Her legs opened wider, her breath stopped, her head fell back. Every muscle in her body tightened, then relaxed in rhythmic surrender. Hot pleasure rolled through her until her mind went blank and she could do nothing but accept and feel.



She opened her eyes to find Sam watching her. He smiled.



“God, you’re so amazing,” he said before kissing her mouth, her cheeks, her nose, her eyelids. “I’m shaking. I want you so damn much and I want it to be good, but how the hell am I supposed to hold back after watching that?”



“No one said you had to.”



“I have a reputation to uphold,” he reminded her as he reached for his jeans and pulled out a condom. “I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”



She shifted back on the bed and held open her arms. “Sam, that’s not physically possible. You just have to show up and I’m ready. Flash that at me”—she stroked his erection—“and I’m three quarters of the way there.”



“You’re pretty easy,” he said, slipping on the condom. “It’s one of your best qualities.”



She was still chuckling as he knelt between her thighs and slipped inside her.



Her body stretched to accommodate the familiar length and breadth of him. He stroked her breasts, then gently squeezed her nipples with his thumbs and forefingers.



“I want you to come for me again,” he said, his voice low and husky.



She opened her eyes and found him watching her. “If you insist.”



“I do.”



He dropped one hand to her stomach, them moved lower. Once again he moved his thumb deeper, slipped it between their bodies.



“Don’t close your eyes,” he whispered. “Watch what we’re doing for as long as you can.”



Watch?



She lowered her head slightly. They were both naked, he was inside of her and touching her, and she could see it all. He found the one place designed for pleasure and began to slowly circle it. At the same time, he withdrew, then entered her again.



She could see and feel all at the same time. In and out. Slowly, except for his thumb which moved faster and faster. Her breathing increased. The combined sensations were irresistible. Her muscles began to tense.



“Yes,” he breathed. “Come for me, Francesca.”



She raised her gaze to his face and saw he was watching as well—what they were doing and her. He leaned forward and kissed her. At the same moment his thumb brushed over her most sensitive place and he plunged inside of her.



It was too much. No, it wasn’t enough and then it was and then the contractions began again. She clung to him all through the whirlwind of sensation. At some point his hands settled on her hips as he drove himself into her again and again. She felt him stiffen and knew he was close. The realization was just erotic enough to make her climax one last time, surrounding him with a pulsing massage that sent him over the edge.



They held on to each other until they were both still and their breathing had slowed.



“I screamed,” she said when she finally gathered the strength to open her eyes.



Sam smiled. “I know.”



They slept, they awoke sometime in the night, made love, and slept again. Francesca got up sometime before dawn.



She pulled on her clothes and crossed to the balcony doors that still stood open. From there she could see to the ocean, and to the horizon. It was still dark, although there were hints of gray at the edges of the sky.



Behind her Sam lay sprawled across the bed. She’d had to slide out from under the arm he’d rested across her belly. He’d been warm and relaxed. The powerful man relaxed in sleep.



Awake he was many things. Strong, gentle, caring, seductive. When he smiled at her…



Brenna’s words came back to haunt her. That the reason she hadn’t told Sam about the baby was that she was afraid of what he would say. And the reason she was afraid was because he mattered.



While she’d been busy enjoying her first ever adult sex-only affair, and helping him with his daughter and enjoying his company, had she really allowed herself to fall for him? Was love a possibility?



No, she thought firmly. There was no way she would ever allow the rules to change like that. She hadn’t wanted the complication. She’d wanted something easy. Fun. A diversion, nothing more.



Only this was a lot more, and now there was a baby to think about.



She turned and watched Sam sleep. She’d promised herself she would tell Sam and she would. Friday. Six more days. Just six. And then… then she didn’t know what was going to happen.



“You wanted to see me, boss?” Jason asked as he entered Sam’s office.



Sam nodded at the leather club chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat. I’ve been on the phone with a couple of clients finalizing holiday party plans.”



Jason sighed. “It’s July. Even the department stores don’t have their Christmas decorations up yet.”



“You know we book up early.”



Jason nodded. “What seems to be popular this year?”



“The usual. Aspen, London, Paris.”



Sam’s company provided protection to some of the world’s wealthiest families. When those families decided to entertain, the workload increased as the firm was expected to protect guests, as well.



“We also have three corporations requesting increased security for their senior executives and one former Mafia informant looking to live into his senior years.”



Jason drew his eyebrows together. “Aren’t we having a planning meeting on Friday?”



“Sure.”



“So why are you telling me this now?”



Sam kept his expression neutral. “The Johnsons just phoned about their holiday plans. They plan to travel.”