by A. C. Arthur
But just beyond the house was a creek, looking as if all Sam had to do was open a window and jump in. A waterfront haven, that’s what she’d finally decided this was. Overhead, birds flew by as if welcoming her to their turf. And Sam, who had probably stepped out of his vehicle minutes ago, stood beside her, his hands tucked into his pockets.
“So? Finished with your assessment?” he said, a small smile tilting the edge of his lips.
Karena lifted a hand, pulled her sunglasses from her eyes and turned to him. “It’s beautiful. No wonder you hate the city.”
“I don’t hate the city. I hate driving in the city. Open your trunk so I can get your bag.”
She wasn’t ready to end her survey, so she handed him the keys she’d taken out of the ignition and fairly ignored him as he moved around her to the back of the car.
“Come on,” she heard him say, one hand going around her waist while the other held her duffel bag. “I’ll give you a complete tour after dinner.”
She nodded and followed him up the path to the door.
He’d just put his key in, turned it and pushed the door open, stepping aside so she could walk in ahead of him, when she was accosted.
The air was knocked out of her lungs in a whoosh as her back slammed against the wall. Before she could form her lips to scream or curse someone out, a warm, wet tongue made contact with her bare shoulder then her neck.
“No! Romeo, down!” she heard Sam yelling from somewhere close by.
Trying to gain her focus, all she could see was a huge head and big chocolate-brown eyes. Huge floppy ears that looked almost cartoonish flapped around the eyes, and she found herself smiling even as Sam pulled the dog away.
“Sorry,” he said as he looked up at her, still holding the dog, who was dancing around trying to get close to her again, by the collar. “His manners suck.”
Before she could stop herself, Karena was falling to her knees, dropping her purse to the floor beside her and reaching up to touch those adorable ears.
“Hey, cutie. It’s okay. I surprised you, didn’t I?”
Yelps of delight vibrated through the foyer as she continued to rub behind the dog’s ears. “You’re beautiful, aren’t you? Look at you.” She was rubbing his smooth coat, marveling at the dark gray, almost blue coloring.
“He’s a boy, so I’m going to go with he’s handsome,” Sam told her. “Karena Lakefield, meet Romeo. Romeo, this is Karena. She’s not as big as you, so you’re not allowed to jump on her.”
Karena tossed him a frown then leaned in, snuggling Romeo’s large head against her cheek. “He’s more than handsome, aren’t you, Romeo?”
“I take it you like dogs,” he said, unable to hide the pleasure in his tone.
“Love ’em,” she answered, still focusing on Romeo, her hands moving over his long back and underbelly. “Daddy wouldn’t let us have one in the house, so I had to make do with the ones my friends had.”
A pet was probably only one thing in a long list of what Karena Lakefield had been denied, he thought sadly. “Oh, God, now you’re going to spoil him.”
“Well, he should be spoiled, shouldn’t you, boy?”
From his distance above her and the dog, Sam could do nothing but stare. When she’d stepped out of her car, he’d immediately seen the change in her. It was in the set of her shoulders, the relaxation in her stance as she looked around his property. Then when she’d removed her shades, he’d noted the look of sheer wonder in her eyes, the longing for contentment.
Now, here, in the middle of his foyer with his big oof of a dog, she was on her knees laughing and cooing like a child on a hot summer afternoon.
Something inside him warmed and he smiled. “Come on, we can get started on dinner,” he said, moving toward the kitchen.
Behind him he could hear her still talking to Romeo as they followed him.
“I don’t have much because I wasn’t expecting company, but I’ve got stuff for salad,” he said, taking a head of lettuce and some veggies from the refrigerator then moving to the cabinets. “And makings for spaghetti. Will that work?”
Karena had stood, a hand still patting Romeo’s head as she looked around. “Spaghetti’s fine. If you can cook.”
The kitchen was fabulous. Large and airy with marble-tiled floors and countertops. Dark oak cabinets, stainless-steel appliances and flowers. Yes, flowers. Here she was in the midst of a man’s kitchen, and her gaze had landed on a clear bowl overflowing with wildflowers.
“I can cook, my family’s in the restaurant business, remember. And I like simple things like flowers and big goofy dogs. I see you’re surprised by both.”
Not even shocked that he knew what she was thinking, Karena moved to the sink and switched on the water to wash her hands. “Well, I can cook, too. So we’ll make dinner together. And for the record,” she added with a sigh, “I like the simple things, too. I just don’t get enough time to enjoy them.”
Sam walked to her then touched his lips to hers softly. “Make the time. Life’s too short.”
His words were too similar to her mother’s, and her eyes fluttered closed with the memory. Her lips reacted on their own, seeking his again, sighing as his tongue stroked their plumpness before settling inside.
Life was too short—her mind turned over the words—too short to miss out on kisses like this.
Dinner had been lovely. They’d even cleaned the kitchen together, a feeling that was a little too homey for Karena, but she’d survived.
Now they were sitting on Sam’s back porch, the dark sky and humid air surrounding them. Even though it was October, most of the Northeastern states had been experiencing what they called an Indian summer. Luckily she’d changed into a thin cotton sundress before they ate, so the humidity wasn’t bothering her too much. Sturdy cushioned porch furniture sat across from an outdoor fireplace and end tables holding more potted plants and various dog toys. Sam’s house was large, too large for a single man, but decorated simply with a rustic appeal that touched her.
He looked comfortable in the sweatpants and loose-fitting T-shirt he’d changed into. His feet were bare in thick leather sandals. Now they both sat on a lounge chair that was probably meant for one but held both their bodies snuggly without qualm.
This moment seemed so peaceful, so very right, Karena wanted to fight against it, but was near lost. At the bottom of the two steps which led from the porch, Romeo lay stretched out, resting after the walk they’d taken him for and his own dinner he’d consumed.
From the outside looking in it would appear they were a family, two adults and a dog, living in this fantastic home on this serene piece of land, unwinding from their workweek. Her heart beat a little faster at the thought, and she was about to lift up when Sam’s arm went around her shoulders, the fingers of his free hand cupping her chin so that she now faced him.
“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Karena is the sun.”
With a thud her heart landed, and she feared it was now beating directly at Sam Desdune’s feet. “I don’t think that’s how the quote goes.”
Sam shrugged. “I like it better that way.”
She was already shaking her head. “We aren’t star-crossed lovers.”
“No, but we’re something. I can feel it and I know you can, too.”
“Sam,” she whispered, wanting desperately to untwine this web of romantic bliss that seemed to have cocooned them. He was quoting Shakespeare, for goodness’ sake, and she was loving the way the words rolled off his lips, reaching out to touch her heart.
His lips touched hers again, this time not as gently as they had before. It was a rough taking, a plea, a request, a demand as his tongue thrust past her lips, twirling and twining with hers.
Karena was helpless to his assault and melted beneath his touch. His fingers grazed her neck, moving down to cup her aching breast. She sighed, lifting a hand to his wrist then covering his fingers, showing him exactly how she wanted to be grip
ped.
Sam groaned, loving the feel of her plump breast in his hand. Shifting until he was half on top of her, he deepened the kiss while pushing her short dress upward.
“I need to touch you. Feel you,” he heard his own guttural voice say.
She was lifting her hips, allowing him to tug her underwear down and off. He didn’t wait a moment before thrusting his fingers between her moistened folds the same way his tongue was now thrusting between her lips.
Again the rush of an orgasm was shaking Karena’s body. Yet this time the touch was more intense, more intimate than even before. She lay her head back when his mouth moved from her lips to her neck to take a puckered cotton-covered nipple between his teeth. The second his teeth clamped down, two fingers stroked along the silken walls of her center and a ragged cry fell from her lips. Karena erupted, her release taking her like a fierce, roaring wave.
Sam stood abruptly, pulling his shirt quickly from his chest then stepping out of his shoes and sweatpants. He’d dug into one of the side pockets of his pants before tossing them aside. The sound of the condom package ripping drew her gaze to his groin as he slid the latex on. Watching his fingers glide over his thick arousal had her mouth watering. He groaned and she tore her eyes away from his sex to look at his face. Seeing the intent in his eyes and knowing that this moment was like he said, inevitable, Karena pulled at the hem of her dress, removed it and lay back on the lounge chair.
“I’ve wanted you for so long,” Sam growled, lifting each of her legs and draping them over the arms of the chair.
“We haven’t known each other that long.” She sighed when his tongue stroked a line along her jaw.
“Too long for us not to have done this before,” he replied then settled himself between her legs. “Too long to wait another second.”
She opened her mouth to speak then swallowed the words as his thick, heavy length stretched her core, planting him deeply, firmly inside her.
His hands slipped behind her, cupped her buttocks and lifted her to meet his thrusting hips.
“But I’ve got you now,” he was growling in her ear, biting and suckling on her lobe intermittently. “I’ve got you now.”
“It is too rash,” she began through panted breaths. “Too unadvised, too sudden.”
“Karena,” Sam moaned, his hips rocking against hers, pulling out his length then sinking it deep inside once more.
“Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be.” Her voice grew louder as the crescendo of yet another orgasm began to ripple through her, the words of Shakespeare falling seamlessly from her lips.
“No, baby. It’s not too quick. It’s fate. It’s meant to be.” Sam lifted above her. “Look at me, Karena.”
She did, using most of her strength to open her eyes as her hands gripped the muscled splendor of his skin.
“You and me. Here and now, it’s just you and me. No doubts and no regrets. Understand?”
She nodded in agreement.
He pulled out until only the tip of his erection touched her weeping center.
“Sam, please,” she begged, lifting her hips in an effort to bring him back.
“Say it. Tell me it’s just you and me,” he said, still holding himself away from her.
It was hard, one of the most difficult things he’d ever had to endure, but Sam did it. Because this was too important, this linking of theirs too serious to let her believe it was just about sex. It wasn’t. He’d known it the moment he’d touched her in her apartment. Was it love? He didn’t know that much yet. But if it was, he wasn’t afraid.
Sam was the type of man who knew what he wanted and went after it full speed ahead.
Right now, however, he needed to hear her admittance, her acquiescence that they were together, or so help him God he was going to die a slow torturous death—or at the very least have an erection for longer than humanly advisable.
“Please, Karena, say it.”
“Just…you,” she whispered then gained some leverage and pushed her hips upward just enough so that another inch of his length slid inside her. “And…me.”
Sam closed his eyes, groaned. “Yeah,” he murmured and let his hips move with hers. She was pumping vigorously against him now, so much so that he could probably remain perfectly still and rush to the finish line well before her.
With that thought he grabbed her hips, kept the deadly weapons still as he pushed himself deep. “You and me.”
Then words were pointless. Humidity draped their heated skin as Sam worked over her, pushing her, pushing them to the brink of satisfaction then pulling back. Sweat covered their bodies as ecstasy overtook their thoughts.
Karena was losing her mind. Needing him was driving her insane. With a quick and efficient motion she’d wonder how she achieved sometime tomorrow, she had Sam sitting on the chair as she straddled him.
“You know what you want, don’t you?” he asked, cupping a breast then taking the tight nipple into his mouth.
“I do,” she said, settling down on his erection and feeling herself being stretched beyond normal lengths. God, he was great, his body so virile and addictive.
“Then take it, baby. Take everything you need.”
With his permission, Karena rode him until her head was hanging back, her screams so loud she was thankful for the solitude of Sam’s house. Close by she heard the splash and ripple of the creek, felt her own desire rushing in heavy waves through her body.
They came together, Sam clenching her to his chest, Karena’s head falling to his shoulder. Their hearts hammered wildly as if trying to break free of their chests to get closer.
“I see you’re a fan of Romeo and Juliet, too,” he said when his breathing was a bit more stable.
Karena smiled, lifting her head to look down into his handsome face. “It’s my favorite of Shakespeare’s plays.”
“Mine, too,” he said, taking her lips for yet another scorching kiss.
Sam was standing now, Karena in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist as he walked toward the house. “Round two,” he whispered as she nodded her agreement and smiled.
Chapter 13
“If I don’t achieve then I’m as worthless as he thinks.”
“Your father can’t possibly think you’re worthless.”
“Not me, per se, but daughters. I was born with the wrong genitalia, and so I must work harder to be accepted, validated.”
“That’s a bunch of bull.”
“Not in the Lakefield household.”
Clenching his teeth, Sam rubbed a hand up and down her arm. They were lying in his bed, sunlight just barely beginning to peak through the blinds. They’d made love all night, intermittently talking and laughing, like long, practiced lovers. If felt so right Sam almost moaned. Instead her words were stoking something inherently protective in him.
“I find it hard to believe that a man as intelligent and successful as Paul Lakefield would take such a Neanderthal approach to his children. He couldn’t control the sex of his kids no more than any other man on earth.”
“That didn’t stop him from wanting sons.”
Her head rested on his chest, her fingers absently moving over the light brush of hair on his chest.
“But he got daughters, intelligent daughters who as far as I can see are doing a kick-ass job running his business.”
She chuckled and a whoosh of warm breath slid over his skin. He hardened instantly, wondering if he’d ever get enough of this woman.
“He’s not a bad man,” she started talking again. “At least from my mother’s viewpoint. I mean, in retrospect, he’s been a good father. He’s always provided for us, raised us to be loyal and dependable. And if you let my mother tell it, he’s the sun, the moon and the stars.”
It was Sam’s turn to smile and laugh just a bit. “She loves him, huh? Go figure.”
Karena swatted playfully at his arm. “I’m not saying it like that. Of course she loves him, we all do. I just think she loves him too much
.” She was settling against him more closely, lifting a leg to twine with his, scooting her hips so that her warm, still-moist juncture was against his hip. It wasn’t a seductive movement, although his body definitely heated in response. No, it was more of a protective stance, a desire to bury herself, her thoughts, in the closeness of him. As if that in some way might make what she had to say go away.
“She’s given him everything,” she said quietly.
Sam remained quiet. Waiting.
“Her whole life has been dedicated to being a wife and a mother. Until she doesn’t know how to do anything else. And she wants to. I know, I saw it in her eyes yesterday. She wants to do something else, be someone else. But she’s afraid. Afraid of what he’ll say, if he’ll approve. It’s such bullshit!”
Now she was fired up, her leg sliding from his as she attempted to roll away. But Sam caught her, letting her fall to her side as he spooned her from behind. “Your mother’s life is exactly what she wanted it to be. You can’t blame her for that,” he whispered against her ear.
“I don’t blame her,” she said, still squirming to get away from him. “Well, yeah, I do. Why didn’t she put her foot down, tell him she wants more? Why does she let him dictate her every move, tell her what kind of woman he wants her to be?”
“Is that what you think he’s doing? I mean, have you actually heard him tell her what to do and how to do it?”
She stilled and grew quiet. “No. I’ve never heard them argue. Not even raise their voices at each other in anger.”
“Respect,” Sam said, his arms folding comfortably around her. “They respect each other and their place in their children’s lives.”
“But still she’s never worked and I know there’d be things she’s good at. She said she wanted to work with the foundation, but then she was afraid. Afraid to try. Afraid of what he would say.”
“Is that what she said?”
Karena sighed. “No.”