Magnetic (New Adult Contemporary Romance)

by Bray, Ayr

He steadied her on her feet and then leaned back to look into her eyes. Samantha’s eyes met his; she couldn’t look away had she wanted to.

  “Are you alright?” he asked, still looking deep into her eyes.

  “Uh, yes … I am fine.” Samantha stood up and ran a hand through her unruly hair. Dropping her eyes to the floor she saw her books all over. Gritting her teeth with frustration she swore under her breath, “Damn.” Squatting down she began to gather her books.

  The campus God introduced himself, apparently not caring about the mess at their feet. “My name’s Darren, nice to meet you.”

  The heat of more than fifty sets of eyes witnessing her act of grace humiliated her. Samantha scanned the crowd warily as she continued to gather her dropped books. “Nice to meet you Darren.” She didn’t give her name in return.

  Darren scanned her body from head to toe, appreciating every sexy curve of her breasts, waist, and legs. He couldn’t help but notice that her flirty skirt barely stayed in place in her current position.

  “It’s customary when a person introduces themself that you return the favor and tell them your name in return,” he said as he squatted next to her, reaching for the last few discarded books. “Do you need some help with your textbooks?” His question was rhetorical since he had already begun to help her, but it kept the conversation flowing, which he was grateful for.

  “Yes thank you. That would be lovely. My name is Samantha.” Darren stopped collecting her books, and instead watched her for a moment. He noticed that she was instinctively stacking the books in order by size and thickness. It was obvious that she was a freshman, and a cute one at that.

  Samantha’s plight was palpable, a crimson blush on her cheeks.

  “Here, try this.” Darren held out a shopping basket, in the trademark U-Dub purple and gray, for her to place her books in.

  She reached out with her free hand and accepted it from him. Their fingers brushed sending an electrifying pulse straight through her body. It settled in that warm spot right between her legs. She could feel her panties damp with desire.

  Samantha arranged all of the books in the basket and then stood. “Thank you for your help, I think I can handle it from here,” she said as she better positioned her messenger bag over her shoulder.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, not convinced that she would be able to carry the weighted basket that was overflowing with required reading.

  “Yes,” then proving her point she bent over to pick it up. As she bent, her pert little ass bumped into him, and her dress hiked up her thighs under the shifting state of her messenger bag.

  Darren’s hands flew to Samantha’s hips. His male instincts screamed that he should make love to her long and hard. He had seen her over the top of the bookshelves, biting her lower lip in concentration as she inspected the spines of each book, comparing them to her course list. He had moved and positioned himself at the end of the aisle so that when she reached it he could create the opportunity to talk to her.

  Catching her fall and coming to the rescue of her books was more than he bargained for. Standing at the bookshelves with her bent over in front of him an aching in his groin pulsed, and he desired to pump against her a few times. It was hard for him to resist the urge, but with their relatively large crowd he instead took a deep breath and willed his hands to let go; although he allowed his eyes to linger. Darren had an excellent view of her white-lace panties that played peek-a-boo with those standing behind her, most importantly, him. He wasn’t disappointed with the view, although it played further turmoil with his ability to restrain his arousal. Something about Samantha was driving him to distraction; more than any girl ever had. He breathed deeply to maintain control of himself in such a public place, glad that he had worn his loose jeans, rather than the tight ones that he usually wore.

  Quickly standing up, Samantha’s eyes were as round as saucers. She whipped around, her hair getting caught in her sticky lip gloss, now drawing his attention to her lips. “I’m … I’m … sorry, I didn’t mean to … um … you know.” She was nervously biting her lower lip with her teeth, the same thing she had been doing when he first noticed her.

  Darren stood with is feet rooted looking down into her blue eyes. She was shorter than him, but it wouldn’t take much to dip his head and kiss her. His desire to kiss a woman had never been as intense as it was now. He took a step closer to her, closing the distance between them.

  Samantha too was drawn to him but embarrassed at her clumsy actions. She began to back away, holding her basket of books in front of her, but she didn’t get far as she backed herself into the bookshelf with nowhere to go. Darren reached out and took the basket from her. “Here, let me help you. At this rate, you will never get these books purchased.”

  “Thanks,” Samantha said. Her fingers brushed his a second time, sending the same burst of energy coursing through her body, and settling in the same area, right between her legs. “I think I am done. I should leave before I create some sort of catastrophe.”

  “I think it’s too late for that,” he teased as he leaned in close to her, his piercing eyes tearing at her soul. Darren breathed in the fresh scent of her heavenly perfume.

  “I’ve been known to be a little klutzy, although it was my intention to leave that behind when I moved here.”

  “Where did you move from?” he asked as he followed her to the check-out counter, the hem of her flirty skirt caught under the edge of her leather messenger bag, exposing the bottom of her adorable butt cheek. His fascination with her strengthened with each word that she spoke, and he walked close behind her trying to block everyone’s view of her ass.

  “Ritzville,” she answered.

  They found the emptiest checkout and stood in line, he leaned forward and whispered against her ear; his breath burning her soul. “Don't panic Samantha, but the hem of your dress is caught on the side of your bag and your ass is showing.”

  He heard her sharp intake of breath as her right hand swung around to check. She wiggled a little and pulled at the fabric. Looking around, Darren could see that a large portion of the male population was watching with rapt attention.

  “Hand me your bag.”

  “What?” Samantha responded.

  “C’mon give it to me. I’ll take it so that you can arrange your …” he cleared his throat and licked his dry lips, “dress thing.”

  “It’s not a dress, it’s a skirt,” she retorted as she threw her bag on top of the basket of books that he held and tugged on the skirt. “I can assure you that it will be banished to the back of my closet, never to see the light of day after this.”

  “Such a shame, for it’s a cute little number.”

  She scolded him with her eyes, and then glanced at the movement in line ahead of her. The line wasn’t moving fast, but they were able to move up the length of one person. Samantha turned back to Darren and continued talking, “Thank you so much, I owe you big time. First you catch me, and then you rescue me multiple times. Where I come from that’s chivalry, and chivalry must be repaid.”

  “I’ll take my payment in the form of a kiss from the fair maiden.” He puckered his lips and raised his eyebrow, daring her to offer his requested payment. She thought the look was charming and barely resisted the urge to kiss him right then and there.

  “Ah, so you’re a player. You rescue women only so that you may partake of the sweet nectar of their sugary kisses. No, I think your chivalry deserves reward, but a kiss would take a truly heroic act.”

  “Let me take you to dinner then.”

  “I’d like that,” Samantha responded. How could she not agree, he was hot as hell, and had saved her several times. In her book that had potential written all over it. She was dying to kiss him, but was afraid that he would have expected his offer of compensation right then and there, and she had no intention of offering, or receiving the first kiss from this Greek God in the middle of a crowded bookstore no matter how tempted she was.

  Samantha made i
t through the checkout effectively draining the account that held her scholarship money for her first term books. Stepping out of the line she squatted, near the door, and loaded her books into her messenger bag. She should have thought of this sooner, but only three fit, which meant the remaining books and supplies would have to be carried in the flimsy plastic shopping bags. All of a sudden she dreaded her walk home. Already she had had enough adversity for a day and could only assume that it would get worse as she progressed homeward. Her greatest fear was that someone who saw her today would recognize her in a class tomorrow as the girl who wore that silly little skirt and bore her ass for the world to see.

  Darren came to her rescue again. Without asking, he reached down and with his muscled arm picked up her messenger bag and extra bag of books. “Here, let me walk you to your car.”

  “I didn’t drive today. I thought it would be nice to walk around campus.”

  He laughed and then walked away, still holding her books. “I’ll drive you home,” he called over his shoulder. “Why in the world would you not drive on the day you were picking up your course materials?” He paused, and then glanced at her again. “Oh right, I forgot you’re a freshman, you don’t know any better.”

  “I bow to your superior knowledge, if only I had someone older and wiser to guide me through the labyrinth of university do’s and don’ts.”

  Darren shot her a sexy look but didn’t respond to her bating.

  They walked to the parking lot behind the bookstore towards his Jeep Wrangler. He lifted all of the bags into the back with the fluid motions of his strong arms, then walked to the passenger side and opened the door for Samantha. His jeep was lifted and a little awkward for her to climb into in her short skirt, but he’d already seen everything, and she was dying to get home so she climbed in. Never before had she longed for her work boots and jeans as she did right now.

  Darren walked around the front of the jeep to his side and climbed in. He started the engine while Samantha buckled her seatbelt.

  “So, where do you live?”

  “Honestly I am not sure what the address is, but I know how to get there.”

  “Point the way,” he said as he pulled out of the parking lot and followed her directions.

  “So, are you from here or are you a college transplant like me?” she asked.

  “I’m from Bellingham.”

  “No Western for you?” she inquired. Western, Central, and Eastern Washington University were three other State universities in Washington. Honestly, they weren’t much in the form of rivals to U-Dub and Wazzu, but if you didn’t get into one of the two big one’s you still had a place to go.

  “Nah, once I graduated I was itching to get out of town. I considered Wazzu, but Pullman is too small of a community. No wonder it’s considered a party school, there’s nothing else to do there but drink and have sex.”

  Samantha blushed at his admission, everyone knew it was so, but few ever stated it so bluntly.

  “Right here,” Samantha pointed to her driveway. He turned in, and then parked the jeep. She removed her seatbelt and turned towards him in the seat. “I really appreciate all of your help today. I have no idea how I would have made it home without dying of mortification, or my arms falling off from carrying all those books.”

  Darren killed the engine, and then both of them got out of the jeep. He walked around to the back, and reached in, removing her bags. Samantha tried to take them from him, but he shook his head no, “Lead the way; I’ll take them in for you.”

  Turning, she quickly led the way up the stairs into her apartment.

  Darren set the books on the floor inside the door and glanced around, the room had a feminine edge to it though it wasn’t overly girly like some of the other apartments he had been in the first two years of college. He didn’t see any Anne Geddes photos of babies dressed like bumblebees haphazardly perched on oversized flowers, or any life-sized posters of Robert Pattinson as a sparkly vampire. That was a telling sign and spoke highly of her sophistication.

  “Would you like to come in?” Samantha asked after he set her books down. “I can offer you a glass of water.” She chuckled before responding, “I haven’t gone grocery shopping since arriving yesterday, so I don’t have much else.”

  Darren stepped further into her apartment, “That’s alright, water is perfect, and you know how thirsty a man can get carrying all the books for pretty ladies.”

  “Oh, you carry books for all the girls do you?” she questioned over her shoulder as she filled a glass with water.

  He had sat down on her couch and was assessing the room when she handed him the glass. He took it from her, drank a few gulps, and then asked, “What time shall I pick you up for dinner?”

  “Oh, are we going tonight? I wasn’t sure what day you intended.” Samantha sat upon the edge of the couch at the far side from where he was, careful to pull her skirt over her legs. She sat holding her own glass of water.

  “Well by the looks of your sparse kitchen, today is as good as any other.”

  Samantha glanced around her then responded, “I guess you’re right. What time, hmm?” She looked at the clock on the desk and then asked, “How does six o’clock sound?”

  “Six o’clock it is. Any food preferences?”

  “No, I don’t really know what is around here yet so I’ll let you surprise me.”

  “Great, I’ll be back at six then.” Darren stood and began making his way towards the door, Samantha followed him.

  “Do you need me to write down the address or do you think you can remember where it is?”

  “I can find it again,” he said confidently as he opened the door and stepped onto the staircase landing outside.

  “Bye,” Samantha said softly as she leaned against the door-frame watching him toy with the keys he pulled out of his pocket.

  He didn’t respond, and he didn’t leave; instead he just stood there watching her. Taking a step towards her he reached out his hand and took her fingers in his. He glanced down at the place where their hands met. He could feel an invisible pull. His eyes sought her’s and magnetically they were drawn to each other, neither could resist the invisible connection that they shared. Samantha reached out and pulled him into a kiss. A kiss that he equally reciprocated.

  A shiver raced down her spine when he parted her lips with his tongue. His hands slipped around her waist, and he pulled her close to his chest as her arms wrapped around his neck, and her hands dug into his shaggy hair. Samantha leaned in and pressed her body hard against him. He slowly circled his tongue around hers and then sensuously plunged it into her mouth. She was a novice in the art of kissing, but with Darren it came naturally. He withdrew his tongue, and she felt the sudden loss. Samantha pulled him back, and sucked on his tongue taking him inside of her, she encased his neck with her arms, pressing her whole body into him. Darren groaned and then renewed his tantalizing kisses. One hand slid down her ass and then squeezed her thigh. Samantha leaned her weight on her right leg and then wrapped the left around him, the situation giving him greater access. His hand continued to caress her, following her slender leg all the way to her knee. He squeezed, and she giggled in his arms.

  Pulling away he looked deep into her eyes and said, “I have to go, but I’ll be back.” He let go of her and briskly turned and fled down the stairs to his jeep. He fired it up and drove off, the whole time Samantha watched him from her doorway, every molecule of her body filled with excitement.

  CHAPTER 3

  Samantha was showered, shaved, plucked, dried, curled, perfumed, and made up with make-up by a quarter to six. All that was left was her outfit. She had decided that her first day of school outfit would be perfect for her first date with Darren.

  Stepping into the skinny jeans she pulled, tucked, and wiggled until they were buttoned at her waist. Lifting her arms high she scrunched the Jade blouse and dropped it over her head without messing up her hair. She accessorized the flimsy fabric with a chunky necklac
e and bracelet and then added a bling belt. Samantha looked hot, and she knew it.

  There was a knock at her door, and she placed the back on her earring as she swung the door open. Darren stood on the other side, sexy as hell.

  “Come in, I just have to grab my boots,” Samantha said as she walked to her tiny closet and pulled out her soft leather boots that came just below her knee.

  Darren watched as she sat upon the edge of her bed and pulled them over the top of her jeans. They hugged her calves, adding to the definition of her legs. Darren couldn’t help but stare, she was gorgeous.

  Picking up her favorite oversized chocolate brown sweater, purse and keys she turned to Darren and said, “Ready.”

  “Great, let’s go.”

  Darren opened her door for her and then watched as she jiggled the key in the door, locking her apartment. He grabbed her hand as they walked down the stairs to his jeep. He had the hard-top on, which she was grateful for. Her hair would already be a problem to brush out with all the hair spray she had used; she didn’t want to add wind-blown. Opening the door for her, she climbed in. Before he shut it, he leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her unsuspecting lips. He pulled away, closed her door, and ran around to the other side to get in while she ran her tongue over her lips that he had just abandoned. Oh how he sent shivers through her.

  He pulled out of the driveway and they had gone a block before either one of them spoke. She enjoyed the companionable silence, but thought it a little awkward on their first date. “So, where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” was all he said. He then looked at her, flashed a smile, and then turned his attention back to the road.

  Merging onto I-5 South Darren relaxed a little in his seat, frequently glancing at her as she watched everything with interest.

  “Did you come to Seattle often while you were growing up?” he asked.

  “No, I lived so close to Spokane that there wasn’t much need to come to Seattle. We have all the convenient shopping as well as an international airport. I mean, I’ve been here before, just not often.”