Until I Kissed You

by Nicole Vidal

  “Nah, I didn’t feel like going out tonight. I’m turning in. Good night, Savi.”

  “Night, Scar.” While searching for a vase, I hear my phone chime. While the water is warming, I check my phone.

  Sam: I wish I were still with you.

  Me: I do too.

  Sam: Can I call you?

  Me: I’ll call you in a few.

  I finish setting my flowers in water, hustle upstairs, slip out of my dress, wash off my makeup, and change into my pajamas. Nothing fancy, shorts and a tank top, and I twisted my hair into a messy topknot. I dress comfortably when I’m home. Settling into my bed, I call Sam. He switches it over to a video call.

  “I want to see your gorgeous face.”

  “Sweet talker. Nothing gorgeous about me sans makeup.”

  “You would be wrong, Miss Clemons.”

  “Your sleepy eyes are messing with your vision.”

  “My vision is perfect.”

  I have no reply to his overly kind words other than, “Thank you. Where are you sitting?”

  “In my bedroom, why?”

  “Trying to orient myself. Is that the skyline behind you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wow, it’s gorgeous.” Sam is wealthy beyond my comprehension, but I can’t fathom what a view like that would cost each month.

  He stands, turning the camera toward his window.

  “I would sit and stare mesmerized for hours at a time, if I had that view.”

  “I appreciate this view each morning when I wake and each evening. I’ll show you.” After a quick view of inlaid hardwood floors and bright white linens with a gray frame, I see Sam’s grin before he turns the camera to the skyline. The lights twinkle and dance outside his window. A world of people spread throughout the buildings, going about their lives. It’s stunning. “Were you born and raised in New York?”

  “No, I was born in rural Pennsylvania. Why?”

  “I’m finishing up planning our date for tomorrow while you admire the view.”

  I would prefer to admire it with Sam’s arms wrapped around me. “You planned it already?” I ask as he flips the camera back to his face. Heat shoots straight southward as he removed his shirt before climbing into his bed. As predicated, Sam’s chest ripples with ridges and curves from what I can see, at least six precisely cut abs. Refraining from fanning myself proves difficult. Even more now than before, I would prefer to be there with him.

  “Yes, on the ride here. Can you be ready by eight?”

  “Sure. What are we doing?”

  “I’ll take care of everything. Aim for casual dress with comfy shoes and probably a sweater.”

  “Okay. I’ll be ready.”

  Sam sinks deeper into his bed, rolling onto his side. Even though we should get some sleep, we continue talking, covering all topics from current events to fashion trends to collections. Apparently, Sam collects original vinyl recordings of jazz legends. That knowledge makes me like him so much more. I snuggle deeper into my bed, rolling onto my side. It’s as if he is lying next to me. It’s too bad he isn’t. It’s crazy soon for me to think that way. Honestly, though, I have known Sam for almost a year at this point.

  A few hours later, I groggily notice, we both fell asleep with the video connection still live. I watch him sleep for a few minutes. The rhythmic rise and fall of his hard-sculpted chest, the sheet bunched at his waist. If I’m not mistaken, he even has the V-shape that makes women drool. Me, I’m women. Not only does the man insure priceless works of art, he is one. I sigh softly and let sleep claim me again, knowing in a few short hours, I’ll be with Sam again.

  Chapter 5

  Samson

  Near five I wake to the sound of soft breathing. Savannah and I never ended our call last night. Dressed in a suit and demanding information from clients or other insurance companies, she’s a powerhouse. In comfy clothes with her hair crazy around her head, she’s gorgeous.

  As much as I would like to wait until she wakes, I dress for the gym. After an hour of weights and a long run, I dress for my date. Until last night, I haven’t been on a date in years.

  Losing Meghan was hard. While I never shared with my family, I knew Meghan was ill. I knew we may never make it to the altar. Unfortunately, I was right. Taking another chance on lifetime happiness never seemed right until Savannah. Even then it took me over four months to invite her to the gala, then another three to ask for a date.

  After pulling in front of her building, I step out and knock on the door softly in case Scarlett is still sleeping. If I recall correctly, when I was in college, sleeping in on the weekends was a necessity.

  When Savannah opens the door, I’m taken aback. Until this moment, I’ve never seen her dressed casually. She looks much younger in jeans, a graphic tee, and sneakers. While I notice her sexy heels and her legs at the office, I didn’t realize that she’s tiny without them until I wrap her in my arms.

  “Morning, beautiful.”

  She smiles and hands me a cup of coffee.

  I grin.

  “Morning. What’s with the grin?”

  “I have a coffee for you in the car. Ready?”

  “Yes.” She grabs her purse and a cardigan from the side table near the door and takes my arm.

  Our first stop is a ferry ride along the Hudson. We board the white-sailed schooner and find an offering of breakfast pastries. I may have purchased every ticket to make sure Savannah and I are the only people on this tour.

  “Good morning, Mr. Morgan. Miss Clemons. I’m Walter. I’ll be your captain today. Your guide today is Cassie. She will indicate points of interest once we’re underway. Please make yourselves comfortable. We will depart in the next few minutes.”

  “Sam, did you rent this entire tour?”

  The look on her face is hard to read. I’m not yet comfortable with her facial expressions to say whether or not she’s angry.

  “Maybe. Is that a problem?”

  “Not necessarily. Why?”

  “I’m not ready to expose you to the media yet. I know we have been photographed together, but then you weren’t my….”

  “Your what?”

  I take her hand in mine, guiding her to the bench. We turn to face each other. “I’m not sure yet. I’m attracted to you. I like you. A lot. A whole lot.” Very eloquent, Sam. “I would prefer to protect you from reporters as long as possible. When we need to, we can make a statement like Cash and Noelle’s. For now, I want to shield you as much as I can.”

  “Okay. I’m not fancy, Sam.” That’s one of the main reasons I’m drawn to her. She works for everything she has. Even though she knows I have money, she isn’t interested in five-star restaurants and events. “We don’t always have to go out when we spend time together.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, after today.”

  She smiles, leans forward, and kisses me softly. Pulling back, she adds space between us as she lifts her dark blue eyes to mine. The look says she wants to continue kissing but isn’t sure about me. I’m right there with you, Savannah.

  Instead of moving away, I cup her cheek, drawing her close to me again. A soft sigh surrounds me before I set my lips on hers. Her supple lips pressed against mine is as blissful as last night. We’re so wrapped up in each other, we fail to notice our guide joining us until Cassie clears her throat. We rise and move near the railing.

  “Mr. Morgan. Miss Clemons. The tour is about to begin. If you look out the starboard side of the schooner, you’ll see….” Our guide continues talking as we pass the George Washington Bridge, the Cloisters, and the Little Red Lighthouse along with amazing fall foliage along the banks of the river. I’m more interested in holding Savannah than the scenery. Without heels, I can rest my head atop hers comfortably. It doesn’t matter how tall her shoes are, her curves feel spectacular against me.

  After the tour, we stroll hand in hand around Little Italy. We eat our way up Mulberry Street to Hester and Broome for the afternoon. After sharing spicy sausage, pasta
s, and even some zeppole, we opt to stop for the day and watch a movie at her apartment.

  It’s easy to talk to Savannah outside of the office. Not once has work come into our conversations since we left together last night. It was something that worried me about dating Savannah. Thankfully, that hasn’t been the case.

  After sending the driver home, insisting I would take an Uber, we step into her apartment. A woman who I assume is her sister, dressed in a slinky black dress is hopping around trying to pull on a high-heel shoe.

  “Scar, those are mine,” Savannah says, setting her bag on the small semicircle table by the door. She’s meticulous with her home as well. Everything is neatly in its place. Shoes lined near the door, coats and handbags on hooks. A bowl for keys sits on the small side table.

  “I know, but you weren’t here, and I didn’t want to interrupt your date, which apparently isn’t over. Hi, I’m Scarlett. Her younger, meddling, shoe-stealing sister.”

  Savannah’s description of her sister was accurate, except she’s taller even without the stolen heels—black high heels with a strap around the ankle adorned with a small bow that I happen to love when Savannah wears them.

  With a smile and a laugh, I extend my hand to her. “Pleasure to meet you, Scarlett. Your sister has told me a lot about you.”

  “Nice to meet you as well. Savi, I’m going to a club in Hoboken and then staying at Liza and El’s.” Scarlett kisses Savannah on the cheek and rushes to the door.

  “Bye, Scar. Be safe.”

  It’s endearing seeing her act like a mom to Scarlett. It’s one thing to know she’s paying her tuition, it’s something else to see her acting like a parent.

  “You too!” Scarlett replies.

  I have never seen Savannah’s face that shade of red. She tries to turn away from me.

  Instead, I fold her into my arms, whispering near her ear, “Don’t worry about her. You’ve met my siblings. She’ll fit in well with comments like that.”

  She shivers in my arms. I’m not sure if it’s from my proximity, my words, or my breath on her skin. I kiss her head before releasing her. She checks the lock before moving toward her kitchen.

  “Do you want a drink?”

  Her apartment is her. The beige couches are set in an L-shape facing a moderate-size television—not huge like mine, not even close. There’s something to be said for the entire line of scrimmage emblazoned on your screen in ultra-high definition. A large chair is near the window with a small table nearby holding a stack of books.

  “Whatever you have is fine with me. Who’s the bookworm?”

  “Me. I read a lot, mostly art history or suspense. Why don’t you pick a movie? The remotes should be on the ottoman.”

  A small, gray cat prances down the stairs, curls up next to me, and immediately begins purring.

  “What’s the cat’s name?”

  “Mr. Gray Boots.”

  I literally laugh out loud. “Is it yours or Scarlett’s?”

  “He’s mine, but Scarlett named him. I call him Gray. He usually stays upstairs when we have guests. You get the seal of approval if he curls up with you.”

  Ice teas in hand, she sidles next to me to watch the The Avengers. While the movie begins, she settles against me, my arm around her back. As the movie dances across the screen, my fingers draw circles on the exposed skin of her lower back. Hours later, the movie long over, I glance at Savannah. She’s sleeping peacefully against my chest. No one has even made me pine for female attention until her. I never felt like I was missing it until her. I want her in my life as more than my associate. Cautiously, I shut off the television and recline further. Soft, muffled sounds escape her mouth as she snuggles closer.

  Chapter 6

  Savannah

  Warmth surrounds me as a spicy man scent envelops me. Lifting my head slightly, I gaze up at Sam. His face is completely relaxed, his features softer than normal. His hand is flat against the small of my back. My chest is draped against him, one leg between his, and the other set alongside him. My fingers are beneath his shirt, splayed on his impressive abs. I narrowly resist the urge to peek.

  My relationship history isn’t complex. My focus was caring for Scarlett. I never really had a meaningful relationship outside of my best friend from high school. Bradley was always willing to forgo typical high school events to hang out with me and Scar at the park across the street from our tiny house. When he went away to college, we stayed connected, but we never moved past two fumbling teens sharing awkward firsts. Arguably, it wasn’t a pleasant experience, though I gather most firsts aren’t. Almost equally as awkward was teaching Scarlett to take care of herself and owning her choices.

  Unwilling to move, I drift back off to sleep. After what seems like hours, Scarlett bursts through our front door. I push back onto my heels over Sam’s leg. My eyes fly open, expecting a lecture from my little sister. Then I realize I haven’t done anything wrong. Sam opens his eyes, looking over at me in my new position with my knees bent on the cushions.

  “Savi, there are tons of photographers outside. What is going on?”

  Crap! “Scar, why don’t you put your stuff away while I make coffee. We need to have a chat.”

  As the words leave my mouth, Sam is scrolling through his phone. He shakes his head as he settles on an image. Turning his phone to me, he shares a photo of us at the jazz club on Friday, right before our first kiss.

  The headline reads: Insurance Titan Sam Morgan off the Market too? Who is this Mysterious Raven-haired Beauty?”

  His expression is hard to read.

  “Sam, talk to me.”

  Before he speaks, he fully sits up, caressing my face before kissing me softly. Every kiss makes me gooey inside. Very respectable, Savi.

  “I’m trying to collect my thoughts, which are opposed to each other. Cara mia, I care about you. We need a plan to handle the photographers. Is there a back way out of here? Also, what do you plan on telling your sister?”

  “I plan on telling her the truth. I can’t believe I have been able to work for you for almost a year without her figuring it out. There isn’t another way out of here. If I leave, will they bother Scar?”

  He pulls me into his lap, his arms engulfing me. His lips press against my temple. “I don’t know if they will leave her alone. Let’s make that coffee.”

  I inhale as he sets me on the floor. It takes a lot for me to ignore the rush southward that his manhandling me causes.

  As the coffee starts to brew, Scarlett returns downstairs. Sam leans against the counter near the stove within arm’s length of me.

  “I assume they’re here for you?” she pointedly asks Sam.

  “Yes.”

  “Who are you?”

  He looks over at me, I nod tightly. “As you know, I’m your sister’s boss. I own Morgan Insurance. We specialize in insurance for priceless art. They’re here because my family is well-known, and since my brother’s marriage, I’m now New York’s most eligible bachelor.”

  I set a cup of coffee near Sam. As he takes it, his fingers glide along mine. I look up but say nothing. Content that he feels it too, I start work on mine.

  “Okay. What have you done when your past girlfriend’s homes were surrounded?” Scarlett asks.

  “I haven’t had a girlfriend in years,” Sam replies, and his expression doesn’t flinch at calling me his girlfriend.

  A look of surprise crosses Scarlett’s face. “How is that possible considering you’re successful and good-looking?”

  I wonder that myself, but never felt it was my place to ask until recently. I suppose now is an appropriate time.

  “I need to share those details with Savannah first. If she chooses to share with you, that’s her choice.”

  “Fair enough.” Scarlett doesn’t press. Honestly, I’m surprised she isn’t digging for more information.

  “Did the reporters recognize you?” Sam asks Scarlett while I take the first sip of the day. I would much rather still be lying wi
th Sam on the couch than having this conversation.

  “No, they didn’t. How long will they stay outside?”

  “Until I leave. If they didn’t connect you and Savannah, that’s good for you. Until they do, you should be able to move freely. When they do, you can simply say ‘no comment.’ Savannah, they won’t believe me if I make up an excuse since there’s a photo from Friday. What do you want me to do?”

  “Scar, are you good with all of that?”

  “I’ll be fine, Savi. I have some work to do. I’ll be down later.” Scarlett turns to Sam. “Thank you for your honesty. As long as you’re good to Savi, we won’t have any issues.”

  “You’re welcome. I will be.”

  Scarlett takes a cup of coffee and climbs the stairs. Once she’s out of sight, Sam tucks me into his body, his head resting on mine. His large hands slide up and down my back in opposite directions.

  “I’m sorry. I should have left last night, but falling asleep with you was downright perfection.”

  “There’s nothing to be sorry for. It was amazing. I could get used to it.”

  “Me too.” Adding some space between us, he exhales sharply. “Meghan was my childhood sweetheart. We hated one another even though our teachers paired us together for project after project; we were even lab partners. Despite our initial dislike, we became inseparable. One night during freshman year at boarding school, some classmates were mean to her because she was a scholarship student. Regardless of curfew, she stayed in my room. We shared our first kiss that night. Fast forward through boarding school, we selected our colleges so we could be near one another. I proposed the summer before our junior year.” Sam pauses to regain a grip on his emotions.

  “What happened to her?”

  “Meghan had a congenital heart defect. She went in for surgery over Christmas break but didn’t survive. My family doesn’t know I was aware of her heart condition. I presume they would’ve had me refrain from proposing knowing she might never make it down the aisle. I wouldn’t have changed anything.”