by Nicole Vidal
“No, the last I knew, Scarlett had no contact with our father like I don’t.”
“Very well. When Scarlett moved out of your apartment, she moved in with Elizabeth Perth and Isabella Danforth. Both have arrest records that include solicitation and prostitution. Additionally, there are concerns with her place of employment. I never ask how Blaine gets his information, but he’s never steered me wrong. The Apple Supper Club appears to be a front for an illegal gambling parlor and strip club that caters to prominent, wealthy men and a few women. Based on Finn’s observations, it appears that Scarlett is at least hosting at the underground club, if not worse.”
Savannah is vibrating with anger and concern. I slide my arm around her waist and tuck her even closer into my body.
“What do you suggest I do?” Savannah’s voice cracks.
I can only imagine how harshly she’s judging herself and quite possibly considering moving back to her apartment for Scarlett. I will not let that happen. I don’t care if I need to rent another apartment in this building for Scarlett. I refuse to let Savannah take all the blame for this. Scarlett’s choices are hers and hers alone.
“When this information came to me, I requested additional coverage for Scarlett. I want someone with her twenty-four seven. There’s less room for her to sneak away. Christoph and Maia will be in New York by tomorrow afternoon. Maia will work with you, Savannah, and Christoph and Finn will trade off shifts with Scarlett. As far as what you should do, I recommend you talk to her and strongly urge her to find another job and do it quickly.”
“Okay, she’s coming over tomorrow for a different reason. I might as well blow up her life completely in one afternoon.”
I lower my lips near the shell of Savannah’s ear. “I will not let you blame yourself for her choices. You did nothing wrong. We’ll figure this out.”
She shivers in my arms, although I’m not sure if it was my words or my proximity to one of her sexy spots I love so much.
“Do either of you have any questions?”
“No,” we both reply, and Jacob hangs up. Gray is whining somewhere.
“I’m going to find him and set up his litter and food. It was a pleasure meeting you, Cruz. Thank you for your help earlier.” Savannah informs us.
“You’re welcome.”
Savannah faces me and tells me without words that she’s worried and needs some time alone. Searching for Gray and unpacking some of her clothes will work fine. I’m in awe of the fact that we understand one another so well so soon. I really need to tell her how I feel, but now certainly isn’t the right time and likely not tomorrow either.
Chapter 34
Savannah
How did I miss all of this? Until now I had no reason to mistrust Scarlett. Now I have a whole host of reasons. My main concern was school, which now appears to be the least of my problems. Quietly, I move through Sam’s home… my home. I hear Gray whining, but I haven’t located him yet. Each time I think I’m close, he stops. Content that I need to let him come to me, and I’m sure he’s in this guest room, I sit in the middle of the plush area rug with the blue swirl pattern and close my eyes.
A few minutes later, Gray curls up in my lap. His sweet purring calms me even further. After a few solidifying breaths, I scoop Gray into my arms and leave the room to locate his box and litter. After setting everything up, I set Gray into his litter box.
“There you are. Good, you found him. Connor and Cruz left. I gave him the night off so they could go out for a beer. You’re stuck here with us tonight.”
“No place I would rather be.”
Sam folds me into his body. At least wrapped in his arms, Jacob’s call isn’t the first thing on my mind, although it’s a close second. The moment I relax against him, he draws back slightly.
He lifts my eyes to meet his before speaking. “There’s nothing that she could do to make me think less of you. You took on more than should have ever been expected of you. So far, other than two questionable choices, Scarlett is doing fine. Let’s wait until you talk with her before you make any rash decisions like refusing to unpack for a quick return trip to your apartment.”
My eyes widen at his words. “How do you do that?”
“Cara mia, I’m crazy about you. I’m not letting you run away from me over this. I want you here with me always.”
“I’m crazy about you too.” I’m in love with you, but I scared out of my mind to say it. Partially, because he’s Samson freaking Morgan, New York’s most eligible bachelor. Everything that comes along with his status is a lot to absorb. I wholly understand why he wants to leave the city. I can’t blame him, and I’m closer to saying yes. The bigger part is that I can’t handle the devastation of starting over again with everything from my job, my home, and mending my shattered heart if we don’t work out. I’ve never had to rebuild my heart and don’t want to start now. Cowardly, I know.
Once the litter box and food are set up, we decide on some takeout for dinner. After eating and cleaning up, we bathe Emme and put her to bed. All my clothing and other personal items are in the bedroom; I plan to unpack all tomorrow morning. Sam and I cuddle in bed, staring at the amazing cityscape outside his window. My head is on his bare chest with one arm curved around his waist. One hand is flat against the small of my back, his fingertips grazing my ass. His other hand and forearm are over mine at his waist. I feel content here in his arms, in his bed. I feel him take a deep breath.
“Did I miss something in Jacob’s call?
“No.” His response curtly and more gruff than I’m used to.
Leaning back so I can see his reaction, I ask, “What do you need to tell me that has you worked up?”
Surprise crosses his features. “How do you know I’m worked up?”
“Your heart is racing. Please tell me.”
“It’s not about Jacob’s call or Scarlett. The timing isn’t great though. I want to book a long weekend in Maine for us to look for a home. Unfortunately, I need to travel to California in two weeks as well. Would you be willing—”
“I’m equally as crazy about Emme as I am about you. I’ll take care of her while you meet with the Regents about their new acquisitions. What else?”
“Will you spend the holidays with us?”
“I would be honored. What does that look like for you?”
“This year the plan is for everyone to go to Cash’s for Thanksgiving and Lake Tahoe for Christmas.”
“Wow, you guys go big.”
“It’s been a bit different the last two years. Before Billie and Cash moved, we would have Thanksgiving here or at Cash’s. Christmas has always been away from the city. What did yours look like?”
“When I was very young, they were joyful but there never were many gifts for me. I understood my parents weren’t educated and barely made ends meet. I was lucky to get something I needed like a dress or new shoes. After my mom died….” I inhale slowly. I don’t talk about her often. It’s still difficult even after all these years.
“What was her name?”
“Eleanor. Everyone called her Ellie.”
“That’s a beautiful name. Please continue when you’re ready?”
“Are you sure you want to hear all this?”
“Of course, it’s a large part of who you are. How you became the brilliant, feisty, passionate, and undeniably sexy woman you are.”
“Thank you.”
“Every word is unquestionably accurate.” He leans down, pressing a tender, soft kiss to my forehead before sidling closer to me.
Steeling myself, I continue the story. “After my mom died, we didn’t really celebrate anything. The major holidays marked a day that our father was home and drunk on the couch before lunch instead of by seven in the evening. As an adult, I tried to bring Scarlett around slowly, but she’s against celebrations of every kind.”
“I’m sorry. I must warn you though, holidays are a big deal with my siblings. Birthdays and Christmas call for an overabundance of gifts for ev
eryone. So please prepare yourself in advance.”
“I appreciate the warning.” Turning my head, I savor his skin with my mouth.
“Savannah.” My name sounds decadent falling from his lips.
“Samson. You promised me a celebration tonight as well, if I recall correctly.”
“You’re right, I did.” Within seconds, he’s hovering over me on one forearm while freeing my breasts from my silky pjs. My skin grows hotter the longer his gaze is on me. I push his boxer briefs down his legs and toe them off with my feet.
Sam repositions us to our knees facing the magnificent view of the city. His mouth travels along the curve of my neck while his hand slides down my belly to cup my sex. With precision, he hefts my breast in his hand and twists my nipple. A shot of pleasure launches straight to my heated center. As if he knows, he expertly pushes two fingers inside me. Almost instantly my muscles clench around his hand.
“Wow, what’s different?” This time feels different than the last time. More fullness.
“You mean this?”
“Oh my God, Sam! Yes, that. What are you doing?”
“I’ll never tell, but I’ll keep doing it.”
“I think you should tell me anyway.”
“Why, so when you get sick of me you know what to ask for?”
“Never going to happen,” I rasp, riding his fingers until the coil in my belly unravels. “You’re everything.”
“Only for you. Ready to move?”
I shake my head and lean forward, putting my hands on the luxurious duvet. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Sam. His expression is serious and contemplative.
My core is aching, spread before him, and yet he’s deep in thought. I’m not sure if I should be honored or offended. I’m leaning more toward honored. Later I will figure out what he means.
He slides his hands over my body from my ankles to my hips before positioning the tip of his shaft at my folds. As he pushes inside, I take him deep in one blissful stroke.
“Damn! That’s….”
Sam withdraws completely before reburying his shaft deep into my core. Sweet mercy! The fullness and depth are so much more in this position. Lowering to my forearms takes it even a bit higher. My belly is tightening again already, and that’s before he curls his arm around my hip and pinches my clit. Alternating between pinching and flicking rapidly brings my second release closer and closer.
“Cara, let go with me.”
Once the words leave his mouth, I tighten my inner muscles and he’s exploding into me in long bursts. Whether purposeful or not, Sam thrusts deeper, sending my orgasm spiraling outward and my inner muscles squeezing around him again.
Withdrawing, Sam flips me over and lowers himself on top of me. Rising on my forearms, I meet his mouth, drawing my tongue around the rim of his lips before plunging it deep.
He’s hardening against my hip the longer we kiss. I scoot back to add enough space between us before hooking my leg around his back.
“Sam, again.”
With a sensual gleam in his eye, Sam pushes inside me again, drawing more pleasure from my body than I’ve ever felt before. Spent, he rolls us onto our sides.
“How does that keep getting better each time?”
A grin is plastered on his face. “I don’t know, but we should keep testing your theory after we get some sleep.”
“Deal.”
Sam reaches for the blanket on the tufted dressing bench at the foot of his bed and settles it over us.
“Good night, Savannah.”
“Good night, Sam.”
Chapter 35
Savannah
Since I started sleeping with Sam, I wake naked and sore. Deliciously sore. Through the monitor I hear him humming to Emme. It’s endearing, as if I needed a reason to love him more. Finding him asleep with Emme on his chest was the clincher for me, at least as it pertains to her.
I pad to the bathroom. As I’m leaving, I catch of glimpse of my face; I’m glowing. I suppose happy looks good on me. A familiar tightening sensation grasps my heart. It happens every so often when I wish my mom were here. Grabbing one of Sam’s dress shirts, I head to the kitchen for coffee while buttoning it.
“My shirts look better on you than they do on me.”
My skin heats up with his words. “I’m not so sure about that. You look pretty hot yourself.”
He slides his arms around my waist before lowering his mouth to mine. I want this. Every. Single. Day.
“What time is Scarlett coming over?”
“One. Should we go over what needs to be said?”
“As far as you moving in here and to Maine with us, you should just tell her. Scarlett needs to see you have your own life. She made choices for hers; you can make choices for yours. Regarding the information from Jacob, I think you need to impress upon her that she needs to find a new job as quickly as possible. I don’t think we need to discuss her roommates. Their issues could very well be in the past. Plus, we don’t know where or how Blaine acquired that information.”
“I agree. Breakfast?”
“Sure.” We prepare a huge breakfast, and then I tackle unboxing my clothes into the hers master closet. I have never had this much space for myself. There is a specific spot for everything rather than a rod, shelf, and the floor. It’s amazing.
Near one, Jimmy announces Scarlett and Finn. Scarlett dressed in tattered jeans, a leather jacket, and boots steps off the elevator with a scowl on her face. Great!
“Hi, Scar. Thank you for coming.” I hug my sister close. She feels thinner.
“Hey, Savi.”
“Finn, nice to see you again.”
He simply nods while scanning the room. I suppose it’s a habit of his.
“Mr. Morgan, you have two more guests.” Jimmy’s voice echoes around me.
“Thanks, Jimmy. Please send them up,” Sam answers from the living room where he’s cradling Emme in one of the chairs.
Scarlett looks around while tapping her toe on the inlaid hardwood floors.
“Would you like something to drink?”
Both say no as the door opens again. Christoph steps inside with a pretty, petite, fit woman, presumably Maia. It’ll be interesting having security that blends in better. It’s more conceivable that Maia is a friend of mine based on her appearance. I can get behind that. After introductions all around, we sit in the living room. I settle on the arm of the chair where Sam is sitting with Emme.
“Savi, I have a shift later. What do you need to talk about?”
“I thought you took Sundays off for schoolwork.”
“I do, but I’m picking up El’s shift tonight.”
That response makes me more uneasy. At least El works with Scarlett where Jacob has concerns about the underground activities. “I have two things that need to be discussed.”
Sam sets his free hand on my hip out of sight of everyone in the room. It’s comforting. This conversation is one I don’t want to have with my little sister.
“Jacob has provided us with some information pertaining to your workplace. We’ve learned that there’s an underground gambling parlor and strip club.” I stare directly into her eyes. She can’t hide a lie from me. Cold as ice. That isn’t a good sign. “It’s my understanding that you’re a hostess. If you’re working in the underground portion, I need you to start looking for a new job immediately.”
“I don’t work downstairs, but I’m aware of what goes on down there. It’s hard to miss considering how many girls go down there every night and how they leave out the back entrance with prominent men. I’ll start looking tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” I’m not convinced that she’s telling the truth about where she works, but she is about looking for a new job. “Due to Jacob’s concerns, either Christoph or Finn will be with you twenty-four seven. If you need to move back into my apartment for more space, you’re free to do that.”
As if he senses I need a segue, Gray saunters into the living room and weaves in and out of
Scarlett’s legs.
“You moved out?” Scarlett’s voice is laced with angst.
“Yesterday. I only took my personal items. It’s still furnished. However, this move is only temporary. I’m moving out of the city in the next few months with Sam and Emme.”
Sam’s hold on my hip tightens. It takes me a moment to realize that I haven’t officially told him that I’m going to Maine with him.
“You’re going to leave me here alone?”
“This is the second time I’ve seen you since you moved out. If it’s necessary, someone from Blackthorne will be with you. I need to make some choices for myself now that you’re on your own. I’m choosing to be with Sam and Emme.”
“Just like that, with your boyfriend’s money, you stick me with a hot bodyguard or two and leave. Fine!”
“Scarlett Mae, follow me. Now!”
Reluctantly and begrudgingly, Scarlett follows me into the office.
“Don’t you dare accuse me of using Sam for his money. That’s so far from the truth, and you know it! No offense to anyone from Blackthorne, I only agreed because it’s what Sam asked. After yesterday, I’m glad they were there with us.”
“What happened yesterday?” Scarlett’s voice is low.
I recap the extra reporters from yesterday and the questions they asked that prompted calling Jacob and increasing our security.
Her expression softens a bit.
“Real talk, Scar, which I don’t owe you, even though I act like your mom, I’m not. I’m your sister who happens to take care of you. I need my own life. He’s the one, Scar.”
“Okay.”
“If it will be too much for whoever has the night shift to stay at Liza and El’s, you should consider moving back to my apartment. Let me know what you decide soon. If you move back, you need to pay some of the bills. Whatever you’re paying at Liza and El’s is fine.”
“Okay.”
After her resigned reply, I suggest, “You’re welcome wherever I go, but in your own place. Why don’t you think about it for the next week or so? Do you care if you finish your degree here in NY or would transferring be an option? Plus, it’s beautiful and peaceful. What’s even better, you won’t need security anymore.”