River of Love

by Melissa Foster

  “Faith,” he said on a jagged breath. “I can only take so much teasing.”

  “I know,” she whispered in his ear. “I can’t help it.”

  He turned on to a side road, barely able to hold it together. Every muscle in his body was rigid, and if her thumb brushed any closer to his cock, he was going to lose his battle for control.

  He rounded a bend and turned onto another side road, drove a mile or two, and pulled off onto the shoulder as Faith’s tongue slid into his ear, obliterating his focus. He slammed the truck into park and in three seconds flat he had their seat belts off and Faith lying beneath him with a sexy smile on her face.

  “You are trouble with a capital ‘T.’” He nipped at her chin. “You taunt and tease.” He traced her lips with his tongue. She tried to lean up and catch his mouth, but he pulled back. “Uh-uh-uh, sweet girl. Two can play at this game.”

  “Sam.” She rocked her hips against his arousal.

  “Tell me what you want, baby. You tell me to behave and then you drive me wild. I’m not sure where we stand.”

  She laughed softly, pulling his face closer. He fought the kiss, hovering a breath away as every inch of her fought to reach him. He ran his hand up her side, over her ribs, and cupped her breast. His thumb played over her nipple the way he knew she loved.

  “Sam,” she pleaded.

  “Do you want me to behave, or do you want me to take you right here, hard and dirty? Slow and sensual? Or both, baby? Is that what you want?” He yanked her shirt up, lifting her bra along with it, freeing one beautiful breast, and licked her taut nipple.

  “Ohmygod. Sam.”

  “I’ve heard my name enough to know what it is,” he teased. “Tell me what you want.” His mouth came down over her breast and he sucked—hard. Her entire body bowed off the seat. Still sucking her breast, his hand slid down her belly and into her jeans. His fingertips grazed her wetness. The pit of his stomach burned as he dipped a finger inside her. “God, baby, you’re so ready for me.”

  She bit her lower lip.

  “Oh no. None of that.” Using his teeth, he tugged that lip free. “Talk to me, baby. I’m not going to give you what you need until you do.”

  She silently rocked her hips again, and he withdrew his hands from her pants and slipped those fingers into his mouth, sucking them clean. Her eyes widened, and their mouths crashed together in a messy, wet kiss. The ache between his legs pumped through his body, as he felt every lush curve, supple and eager. Her nails claimed his back, and when their lips parted, both of them barely breathing, the raw passion he saw in her eyes nearly did him in.

  “You’re the best kind of torture,” he whispered between kisses. “But you’re too important to me to get caught up in desire only to have you regret it later. I need to hear you tell me what you want, Faith.”

  Her eyes clouded over in that middle ground that worried him so much. Fuck.

  “Faith?”

  She shifted her eyes away, breaking his heart in two.

  His foot hit the window of the truck. How had he misread her? He was sure she’d tell him she wanted him as much as he wanted her. And he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath, but not like this. Not when she couldn’t look him in the eyes and tell him. And—how could I have been such an asshole?—not in the truck.

  He closed his eyes for a second, trying to regain control.

  “It’s okay, baby.” He kissed her lightly, tucking away his frustration and letting her know he understood her indecision. He backed out of the truck before he could give in to the heat blazing through him or the need throbbing in his pants—focusing instead on the emotions swelling in his spliced-open heart.

  “Sam?” She sat up, eyes ablaze. “You’re leaving me high and dry?”

  “No, babe. I’m leaving you wet and hungry.” He pulled her to the edge of the seat and pressed her hand to his zipper so she could feel the effect she had on him and that he was aching just as badly as she was. “And leaving myself hard as a rock.”

  She stepped from the truck and he reached for her hand. Her pouty lip cut him to his core. He bent down for a kiss, and she leaned out of his reach.

  “Where’s the guy with the rep for taking what he wants?” she asked, half teasing, half annoyed.

  Frustration from holding back his emotions broke free. “The guy you wanted nothing to do with? That’s the guy you want now? Because I can be any guy you want, as long as you make it clear.”

  She stared up at him with a perplexed look in her eyes that slayed him, but he was unable to stop the frustration from coming out.

  “Tell me, Faith. Do you want the guy who takes what he wants, where he wants, regardless of the ramifications?”

  “No. Yes? I don’t know.” She shifted her eyes away.

  “Baby.” His voice softened as he gathered her in his arms. “You’re just as conflicted as I am. That’s why you’re sending mixed signals. I saw it in your eyes. One second you wanted me, but the next you weren’t sure. That’s why I stopped.”

  She trapped that damn lip again.

  “It’s okay,” he assured her. “I’m right here, and I’m into you. Long-term into you. But, Faith, you’ve changed the way I think. I wanted to make love to you in the truck—with my hands, my mouth, my body. And I know the truck isn’t the right place, but regardless of that, when we do make love, I need to know you’re all in. The other night, you were right there with me. I felt it, saw it, tasted it. When you were teasing me on the drive over, you were knee deep into me, but when I was on top of you in the truck, beneath the passion, there was hesitation in your eyes.”

  The disappointment in her eyes was killing him. He was trying to do the right thing. Isn’t that what she wanted? What she deserved? For a guy who thought he knew women, he suddenly felt like a bumbling idiot.

  “Everything’s different with you, baby. Looks are easy to misinterpret, but words are clear. I need clarity with you, just as you said you needed from me. Complete transparency. Once we get to that point, when I know you’re not doubting me, I promise you, baby, I won’t hold back another second.”

  **

  FAITH STOOD WITH her heart lodged in her throat, watching Sam pace. Some men needed a suit and tie to look like they could take on the world. Not Sam. He exuded a staggering air of confidence regardless of what he wore or what he was doing, and she’d never seen that confidence waver, except when it came to her. He was known for taking what he wanted. Except with me. Everything really was different with her.

  Isn’t that what I wanted? What I demanded?

  She’d unknowingly created this fissure between them, and tonight what he’d seen in her eyes was Faith rifling through the things Vivian had said to her and trying to push them away, because in her heart she knew her friend was wrong. But Sam was that in tune with her. He’d read her emotions before she’d had time to process them. Where most guys would overlook the moment of hesitation she’d felt, Sam had clung to it. He was that worried about doing things right where she was concerned, and that endeared him to her even more and made her feel like a fool for doubting him at all.

  She reached for him. His eyes were so full of regret, guilt seared into her heart.

  “I’m sorry I overreacted,” he said. “I shouldn’t have said those things.”

  “You didn’t. I overreacted. You were right, and I appreciate you caring enough to stop, even if I wasn’t sure I wanted you to.”

  “So I did see hesitation? Thank God, because you were so upset, I thought I’d made it up in my head.”

  “You saw hesitation, Sam, but not because I wanted to stop. I was just working through my emotions. I talked to Vivian before we went to meet Brent, and she made me worry that you didn’t want to be seen with me around town because…” She paused, knowing she didn’t need to bring all that up. He knew why, and so did she.

  “It doesn’t matter why,” she explained. “The truth is, I wanted you to make love to me, but I couldn’t think fast enough, a
nd it was embarrassing to admit that aloud. I want you, Sam. All of you. But sometimes a girl just needs to be taken.”

  “Christ, baby,” he whispered, and touched his forehead to hers. “I know all about ‘taking,’ but when it comes to you, I won’t ignore what I see. With anyone else—before you—maybe. But not with you, Faith. Never with you. It’s taken all of my control not to take you these past few days, and I’ll wait as long as you need, until you’re sure.”

  “I know, and I appreciate that.” She knew this must be torture for him, hearing that she was doubting him and that she’d led him on. She wasn’t a tease—at least she didn’t mean to be—but that’s exactly what she must look like.

  “Tell me what you were thinking or what Vivian brought up. That I want to be with other women? That I can’t control myself if we go out to my usual hangouts?” The hurt in his voice cut her to her core. “And you still wanted to make love with me? No wonder you looked conflicted.”

  “No. I don’t think you want to be with other women. I trust the things you tell me. But Vivian made me wonder if I was just seeing what I wanted to see.” The confession felt like lead in her stomach. “But when we were with Brent I realized that my interpretation of you is totally different from anyone else’s because I know the real you. Everyone else knows the guy you were or the guy they’ve heard about. So it makes sense that Vivian’s view of you is skewed.”

  “But if you believe that, then what was the hesitation I saw in your eyes?”

  “It’s twofold. I was trying to push Vivian’s words from my head because I know they aren’t true. But also, it’s easy to be confident and sexy when you’re not paying attention.”

  “When I was driving,” he said.

  “Yes. Or texting,” she admitted.

  His eyes warmed. “You do send sexy texts.”

  “I’m better with you than I’ve ever been with anyone else. Sometimes it’s all I can do to keep eye contact with you and not cover my face. You say things that make me blush, but I love hearing it.”

  “Baby, you don’t have to be embarrassed with me. I want to honor your feelings, even when that means waiting to be closer. I want you to believe in me, no matter what anyone says. And people will say things, act certain ways. I haven’t hidden that from you. That’s why I wanted to wait to go out in town. Christ, your own best friend doesn’t trust me.”

  “I don’t care if she does or not,” she said firmly, and even though it felt like a betrayal to her best friend, she meant it. She’d made a mistake letting Vivian’s worries take over, even if Vivian was looking out for her.

  “She’s your best friend. Of course you care,” he said. “Baby, you’ll see that in action at the Rough Riders barbecue, and I’ll handle it appropriately. Other women mean nothing to me. You mean everything to me, and I’m going to continue to do whatever I can to make sure you know I’ll never hurt you, including backing off when I see something in your eyes that worries me.”

  The tenderness in his voice drew her closer, her throat thickening with emotions.

  “But from now on,” he said, “we need a ‘go’ signal. Something that tells me it’s really okay, if it is.”

  “How about if it’s not okay I say ‘no’ or ‘stop’? That’s something I can do.”

  “Yes,” he said with a spark of heat in his eyes. “You’re really good at that.”

  “I told you I’m not easy.”

  “I’ll take real over easy any day. This is good, Faith. Getting all this out in the open is so much better than misinterpreting each other or worrying about things that aren’t going to happen.”

  “Thank you for understanding. I can’t believe we didn’t have a bigger blowup about this. I’m sorry, Sam. I shouldn’t have doubted you, but it’s been a long time since I felt safe enough to put myself out there.”

  “Baby, you’re always safe with me.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  FAITH WAS SO relieved after they talked, but now, as they climbed out of the truck at Tap It, she was a nervous wreck. Sam said the last thing he wanted was for her to worry about what might happen someday, or to think he was avoiding being seen with her because he couldn’t handle whatever might come their way. He’d insisted on taking her out in town. At least she’d talked him out of going to Whispers. That would have been too much.

  “We really don’t have to go here,” she said for the hundredth time in the last fifteen minutes.

  He folded her in his arms and smiled down at her.

  “Hey, we’re just a guy and his girlfriend enjoying a dinner date. I shouldn’t have made a big deal about wanting to wait to go out in town. It was selfish. I wanted you to dig me so much that nothing anyone could do or say would change your mind.” He tucked her hair behind her ear, calm as an afternoon breeze.

  “But I am that into you. I had to move past Vivian putting doubts in my head, but I did move past it. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

  “That’s good, baby. Then we should have a nice dinner together.”

  They headed up the steps, and Faith wondered what she expected to happen when they went inside. It wasn’t like women were going to jump him in a restaurant. Maybe she was making too big of a deal out of his past, too. Maybe Sam was wrong and nobody would act weird once they saw them together.

  Before pulling open the door Sam said, “There’s only you and me in there. Just us. No one else matters.”

  They walked inside, the din of the crowded bar to their right mixing with the enchanting hum of the restaurant to their left. The tantalizing aroma of spices and grilled foods hung in the air.

  The petite hostess smiled up at Sam. “Hey, Sam.” She followed his arm around Faith’s waist, offering Faith the same welcoming smile. “Hi. Two for dinner?”

  “Yes, please. Natasha, this is my girlfriend, Faith.” Sam’s eyes honed in on Faith again. “Natasha went to school with Shannon.”

  “I sure did,” Natasha said, giving Faith her attention rather than Sam. “Shannon’s a hoot. Follow me. Let’s find you a table.”

  Faith was acutely aware of the eyes of at least five woman trailing Sam as they walked through the restaurant to a private table near the back. Her mind traveled to dark places she wished it wouldn’t, but some of the women were blatantly staring. It made her self-conscious, and worse, she wondered if Sam had been with any of them.

  After helping Faith with her chair, Sam sat across the table and reached for her hand. She noticed a couple nearby stealing a glance, probably because they knew Sam in some other context than a sexual conquest, but she couldn’t help analyzing every glance.

  “You look beautiful tonight.” His voice brought her eyes to him. “Hey. There’s only you and me here. Don’t let anything ruin it. Are you in the mood for a drink?”

  “Or three?” she answered, hating herself for being so insecure. This was silly. She shouldn’t be this nervous. We’re just two people enjoying dinner.

  Their waitress sidled up to the table. She was a dead ringer for Scarlett Johansson. She gave Faith a cursory once-over. Then her overly made-up eyes shot to Sam, where they remained. “Sam, how are you? I haven’t heard from you since the beach party.”

  He glanced up with a distant expression Faith had never seen. “Hi. Doing well, thanks.” He turned a warm gaze back to Faith as he said, “Can we get a bottle of Arietta Cabernet Sauvignon please?”

  The blonde narrowed her eyes. “Sure,” she said curtly, then stalked away.

  “Did you…?” She held her breath, sure she didn’t want to hear the answer.

  “Sleep with her? No.”

  “Then why was she acting like that?”

  A slow smile lifted his cheeks. “Because I didn’t sleep with her.”

  She leaned forward and whispered, “But I thought you never told anyone no.”

  Sam rose to his feet, and Faith worried she’d offended him so badly they were going to leave. He moved his chair beside her, sat down, and took her hand in his agai
n. His eyes bored into her. “I have turned women down. Women have turned me down. Not often, but it has happened. What else would you like to know?”

  Embarrassment flushed her chest and spread straight up her neck. She wondered if skin could catch flames. How could she have asked him that? And he’d answered. Honestly! What was wrong with her? But, okay, now that they’d come this far, why not go for it? How much worse could it get?

  She drew in a deep breath, prayed he wouldn’t walk out, leaving her sitting there like the loser she must be for wanting to ask this, and said, “Can you just look around and tell me if you see anyone you have slept with so I can stop trying to figure it out?”

  He turned and scanned the restaurant, then met her gaze as calmly as he had before. “You sure you want to know? Or is this a chick trick, where you want to know, but when you find out, you lose your shit?”

  She laughed, but inside she was dying. That had to mean he’d recognized at least one woman he’d slept with. “Don’t tell me. Because it’s probably a case of the latter.”

  He slid his hand to the nape of her neck and pressed his cheek to hers. How could one touch dissolve her tension so easily?

  “There’s only one woman in here I want to sleep with, and she’s so busy trying to figure out who her competition is she doesn’t realize she has none.”

  He brushed his lips over hers as the waitress brought the wine.

  She set the bottle on the table, eyes locked on the back of Sam’s head, and with a hand on her hip she said, “Looks like your appetite is as insatiable as ever. Are you ready to order?”

  Without moving away from his near-kiss position, Sam said, “We need a few minutes, please.”

  Faith felt bad for her, regardless of the barb she’d tossed. Being turned down by Sam probably felt a hundred times worse than the jealousy the girl had stirred in her.