by S. L. Baum
“You sure?”
Krista smiled at Sam. “Yup. Thanks, preppy letterman.”
“You’re welcome, sock-hop gal,” Sam said. “That doesn’t sound right.”
Krista shrugged. “Close enough. You know, you’re pretty cute in those clothes.”
Sam nuzzled his face next to her ear. “I think I prefer you in that sports bra and those little shorts.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing you in your boxers again, either,” Krista breathed.
Sam brushed his lips against hers. “Later?”
“Hey, you two need a room?” Adeline called out. “I got plenty,” she laughed.
Pauline started giggling beside her.
“Don’t let that go too far,” Sheriff Tucker warned. “I’ll have to get you on indecency!”
“Shut it, you two,” Krista called out to them.
The bells on the diner’s door clanged as Opal and Pete came outside. Opal held up her phone. “Say cheese, lovebirds.”
Krista held up the edge of her skirt to fan it out, and rested her head on Sam’s shoulder. “Cheese,” she said with a grin.
The shutter noise on Opal’s phone clicked five times.
“I think you got it,” Sam said.
“I always take a lot and then you can choose the best one,” Opal told Sam as she handed her phone to him. “Take a few of us.” She backed up next to Pete and posed.
Sam clicked a few pictures and then gave the phone back. “Send me those,” he told her.
“Me too,” Krista added.
“Yeah, yeah. Hey, Addy. Daddy said you should go inside and visit with him,” Opal called out to her friend. “I think he’s lonely.”
Adeline got up from her chair. “I think I will.”
Albert and Pauline Tucker chuckled. “We’ll get all this,” Albert told his sister, motioning to the chairs and the fire pit. “I’ll put it in the office before we leave.”
Adeline patted her brother on the shoulder. “Thanks, Albert.”
“If you need a room, you’ve got plenty,” Sam told her as she passed by.
“Don’t you know it,” Adeline said with a wink.
“Thanks, Sam.” Opal hit him on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “I didn’t need that visual.”
Pete looked down the street. There were only a few families left. “Looks like things are dying down.”
“We can start packing it up soon,” Opal remarked.
“You guys want to hang out tonight?” Pete asked.
Sam immediately shook his head. “Nah. Krista’s got a really bad headache, and I promised to get her home so she can get to bed soon.”
“Sorry, hun,” Opal said with a frown. “Well, you two should just go. Pete and I can get this stuff in. Go home. Get some rest.”
Krista gave her friend a hug. “Thanks, Opal. You sure?”
“Go on.” Opal gave her another squeeze. “And bring my outfit back to me tomorrow. Do not wash it. I’ll do it myself. It needs special care.”
“Will do,” Krista said.
“Bye, guys,” Sam called out as they walked to Krista’s truck.
Sam held her hand as she drove. He stroked her face, he massaged the back of her neck, and he traced the line of her collarbone. “You’re going to make me crash,” she told him as his fingers moving across her chest.
“Don’t crash. I’ll keep my hands to myself.” He clasped his hands together and placed them in his lap.
Krista smiled as she turned down the gravel path. “It’s a good thing we’re almost home.”
As they walked up the steps to the guesthouse, Sam couldn’t keep his hands off of her. They slipped under her shirt as she unlocked the door, and they peeled the sweater from her after she locked it behind them. His hands reached for the closures at the back of her shirt as she unzipped the skirt and kicked off her shoes.
Krista let the skirt fall from her hips, and then she pushed it further down, along with the petticoat. The fabric pooled onto the floor at her feet. As she stepped out of the skirts, she pulled the shirt all the way off and dropped it on the floor. Krista stood and faced him then, and Sam took a step back to drink her in.
Sam’s eyes softened as he looked at her standing before him. Her simple white bra and lacy thong were about the sexiest thing he had ever seen. His eyes filled with desire, his body ached for her. Sam placed his hands on Krista’s hips and pulled her to him, kissing her hungrily. He let his hands fall to her thighs and then slowly brought them over the curve of her bottom, resting them on her cheeks.
Krista reached for his belt buckle.
“You sure?” he whispered, his lips against her mouth.
She kissed him hard, nipping at his bottom lip. “Yes. But… protection?” she asked.
Sam groaned. “Not with me, in the house, in my room. If they are expired, I’m going to die.”
“Let’s hope they’re not.” She pointed him toward the door. “It’s a good thing you’re still dressed. Hurry back.”
Sam kissed her again. “You’re killing me.”
“Hurry,” Krista told him.
Sam rushed to the main house and up to his bedroom, hoping that Abe was still out with Eli. He didn’t want to explain the bulge in his pants or why he desperately needed to get back to the guesthouse. Sam ditched the costume, leaving it on his bed, applied fresh deodorant, and threw on a t-shirt and jeans. He found the box of condoms that had been purchased the year before and hadn’t been touched since. They were still good, or so the date on the package said. He breathed a sigh of relief, before running back downstairs, box in hand. He silently thanked Abe for staying out late that evening as he jogged back to Krista.
When she heard the door open, Krista called out to Sam. “I’m in here.”
Sam followed her voice back to the bedroom.
“Are we good?” Krista asked. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling over the side.
“We are golden.”
Sam stood in front of her and she wrapped her legs around him. “You changed,” Krista frowned. “There were so many things I was going to do with that tie.”
“I can go back and get it,” Sam suggested. Krista popped open the top button of his jeans. “Or not,” he said as she undid the next one.
Krista completed the row of buttons and pushed his jeans down to the ground. Sam stepped out of his pants, threw the box he was still holding onto the bed, and reached over his head to grab the back of his shirt, pulling it forward and off his body. Krista crawled backwards on the bed, until her head reached the pillows and she motioned for Sam to follow. He obliged, positioning himself so that he hovered over her.
Sam slowly lowered himself, onto her, their skin finally touching. Electric currents of pleasure raced over the entire surface of both of their bodies. Sam kissed her mouth, her face, down her neck, and her shoulders, pushing the straps of her bra down. Krista reached between her breasts and popped the front closure of her bra.
Sam rolled to the side of her and gently placed his hand under the fabric, running his fingers over her nipple. Krista bit her lip, closed her eyes, and arched her back as Sam went from one breast to the other, awakening her flesh, increasing the need inside her. He pulled the fabric from her body, and when his mouth came down on her skin, she brought her hands to the back of his head and grabbed his hair. His tongue licked and teased her until she ached for more.
Krista pushed him onto his back and moved so that she hovered over him. It was her turn.
She lightly raked her nails across his body, awakening his senses. Her mouth explored every inch of his chest, kissing and licking, sucking and nipping. Teasing him as he had teased her. Sam pressed his head back into the bed, his eyes closed, his skin on fire. When she placed a finger on the band of his boxers, his body tensed. Krista moved, lying on her side, and Sam followed, facing her.
Krista traced her fingers across his stomach, along the edge of his boxers. Sam did the same to her, tugging lightly at the t
op of the white lace panties. She looked into his eyes. “Please don’t freak out, but I… I think I’m falling in love with you. I know we haven’t known each other that long, and I don’t want you to feel like you have to say anything back to me. It would sound forced, because you might think you have to, because of what we’re about to do, but you don’t.” Krista closed her eyes. “I’m ruining it again, aren’t I?”
Sam kissed her. “You’re not ruining anything. Everything is perfect. You’re so beautiful.” Sam slipped his hand inside the white lace. “And so hot, and… I want you.”
Krista followed his lead. Her fingers pulled down the front of his boxers and her hand closed around him, stroking him. Moments later, they both peeled the remains of their clothing away and touched, caressed, and teased each other to the height of pleasure, stopping just before the crescendo.
“Now,” Krista whispered.
Sam retrieved a condom from the box and tore opened the foil package. Krista rolled it down, stroking him as she fit it into place. “Start slow,” she requested, and he was more than happy to oblige. He entered her, pressing down until he could go no further, and then slowly pulling back until he was nearly out again, repeating the process with slow, long strokes until he felt as if he could no longer continue the agonizing pace. When she grabbed his back, urging him to go faster, he increased his speed. Quicker, harder… “Now, Samuel!” she screamed with pleasure.
Sam closed his eyes and felt his body give in, give up, give all to the moment. He grabbed her ass, pulling her tightly to him. Krista wrapped her legs around him and squeezed every muscle she had. They reached their peak together, and then collapsed into each other. Krista worked to steady her breaths, trying to bring back a normal rhythm to her heart. Sam trailed his fingers down her side, over her hips, and down her thigh, as he softly kissed her neck.
“Can I say it now?” he asked.
“Say what?” Krista breathed.
“I love you.”
Krista shook her head. “No. Not yet.”
Chapter Fifteen
“I’m helping her pack up their house. I’ve already explained this to you,” Krista told Sam over the phone.
“I’ve barely seen you in the past three days. After we made love for the first time, you’ve pretty much ignored me. I’m starting to feel like you used me,” Sam sighed into the phone.
“I can hear the sarcasm. You’re going to have to try better than that if you want me to feel sorry for you, or guilty about something.” Krista’s face lit up with a smile. “I’m staying here late, until Ben gets off his shift. So how about tomorrow after work? Come over and I’ll cook dinner for you.”
“Are you sure Marlene isn’t going to need you?”
“Don’t be bitter, Sam. Marlene is supposed to be on the mend, but with her history, I just want to be here while Ben’s at work in the evenings, in case she needs medical help. They’re leaving town soon. You’ll have me all to yourself then.”
“I’m not being bitter. I just miss you.”
Krista’s heart melted. She wanted this whole thing with Marlene to be over as soon as possible, so she could focus her attention on Sam. “I miss you too.”
“Promise that I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, for sure,” Krista promised.
“Can I say it yet?”
“Not yet!”
Krista ended the call, closed her eyes, and imagined Sam’s hands on her back while he held her close and kissed her. When she turned around, Krista found Marlene standing in the doorway. “You should be spending time with him, not me,” Marlene said.
“No. We need to be together, it’s necessary. The link between us is growing stronger. I can feel it.”
“Does that mean I am getting worse? Because I feel worse every day now.”
Krista grabbed a stack of books and put them in the box she’d been filling when Sam called. “Yes. It does. And if you want to get out of here by Thanksgiving, that’s exactly what needs to happen.”
“I keep trying to figure out how to give myself a heart attack, but then I’m terrified you won’t be around when or if it kicks in.”
“Please don’t do anything drastic like that.” Krista turned around and reached for Marlene. “You should sit back down. Just rest.”
“I don’t see the point in taking it easy. Aren’t we just prolonging the inevitable?” Marlene pulled her hands away from Krista and grabbed more books from the shelf. “What if I slit my wrists when you’re around?”
Krista violently shook her head. “No, no, no. That is not the way this works at all. I can’t take away a suicide. Once you make that choice, Death has you firmly in its grasp. There would be nothing I could do.”
“I figured I’d better ask,” she said. She didn’t want to look at Krista, so she stared at the books she held. All those lovely stories that lived in her head, they’d disappear when her time came. “I’ve stopped taking all my medicines,” she said, and then handed the stack over to Krista.
Krista silently nodded her head as she put the books in the box.
“I didn’t tell Ben. Doc knows,” Marlene continued. “That’s probably why I’m feeling worse.”
“And that is probably why the connection between us has felt so strong in the last few days. I’m glad you told Doctor Baker.”
“It felt wrong not to. But it’s killing me not to tell Ben. We share everything, you know?” Marlene handed Krista some more books. “We would have been great parents…”
“You still can be,” Krista told her.
“Only if this works, and only if we adopt. I don’t even have someone to carry on my stories.” Marlene leaned against the bookshelf.
“It will work, and then you can adopt. That lucky child will know everything about you, and all your stories,” Krista said with a smile. “Just remember to call me, day or night. And if for some reason you aren’t able to call, make sure that Ben does.”
“He’ll call, or I’ll come back and haunt him!” Marlene smiled. “I’ll find a way to make things in the house move, to make him feel my ghostly touch, and maybe to wail in his ear. He won’t have a moment of peace.”
“Marlene, you sassy woman!” Krista hugged her friend. “You should threaten him with that.”
“Believe me, I have! And he’s scared shitless.”
“I would be too.” Krista laughed. “I think this room is about done, except for the linens. How do you want those packed?”
“I don’t. I’ve been wanting new linens for years. Got my eye on a set I found online. So, new town, new house, new life, new linens! We’ll just leave the beds made, I guess.”
“Leave the beds?”
“We decided not to pack any of the major furniture. If it doesn’t fit in a box, we aren’t taking it. We’ll sell the house furnished,” Marlene told her. “You said to get out fast, and we will. I want that new life, Krista.”
“I completely understand.”
Krista put a pan of lasagna in the oven and then thoroughly cleaned all the bowls and pots she’d used to make the gloriously cheesy pasta dish. After the kitchen was clean, she pulled some vegetables out of the fridge for a simple salad. Krista set the cutting board on the counter and had just sliced into a cucumber when she heard a knock. She couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she rushed to the door and flung it open.
“Well, that’s an interesting greeting,” Sam said with a laugh.
Krista looked at her hand and realized she was still holding the knife. “I guess I’m all kinds of psycho-new-girlfriend,” Krista shrugged.
“I’d hug you, but, you know…”
“I promise not to get stabby.”
“That’s a relief.” Sam moved in for a brief, but careful, embrace. “I brought wine,” he said as he held up the bag he was carrying.
“I’m cutting veggies for a salad,” Krista told him. “You can help me.”
“I can do that,” Sam said as they went into the kitchen.
&nb
sp; Sam put one bottle in the fridge and one on the counter, as Krista pulled out another cutting board and knife. “Cherry tomatoes.” She pointed. “Slice those in half and throw them in the bowl.”
“Got it. Cut the tomatoes.”
Krista kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
She went back to slicing the cucumber, while Sam got to work halving the sweet little red globes. She’d just begun to shred a carrot, when he halved the last tomato and then moved to stand behind her. He braced his arms on either side of her, leaning against the counter. Krista leaned back into him as she continued to work on the salad.
“What’s in the oven? It smells delicious.”
“Lasagna, with an obscene amount of cheese.”
“Obscene,” Sam whispered into her ear. “That’s a great word.” Her shirt had slid off one shoulder, he kissed the exposed flesh, and then trailed kisses up the side of her neck, back up to her ear. “I could use it to describe some other things.”
“I’m sure you could.” Krista stopped what she was doing and turned around, clasping her hands behind his neck. “As could I. But I prefer the word sensual.” She placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Or erotic,” she whispered into his mouth.
“Those are excellent words.” Sam slid his hands up the back of her shirt and crushed her against his chest. He pushed the cutting board to the side and lifted Krista up, so she was sitting on the counter. The salad was completely forgotten as the two kissed each other with abandon. “Damn, I’ve missed this,” Sam said when they finally paused for a breath.
Krista rested her forehead against his. “It’s only been a couple of days.”
“Four,” he corrected her. “It has been exactly four days since I’ve done anything close to this. I’ve been going through withdrawal.”
“Am I your drug?” Krista nuzzled his nose with her own.
“I think that’s exactly what you are.”
Krista kissed his mouth, his nose, and then his forehead. “We need to hit the pause button, my junkie. My lasagna is almost done, I can smell it, and I worked very hard on that.”