He turned me in his arms. “You ran away before I got a chance to do this,” he accused just before he took my mouth in a scorching kiss.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as his hands went to the globes of my ass, squeezing firmly. I let out a low moan as his mouth conquered mine.
We explored each other’s mouths with a hunger that spoke of years of deprivation. My hands wandered his body leisurely as I relished in the fact that I could. Then something happened that I’d never dreamed of. Sid washed my hair. Then I washed his. We toweled each other off as I marveled yet again at how natural it felt, being with him like this.
I tracked my gaze over his naked form, my heart rate quickening as I openly admired him. He grabbed my hand, raised it to his mouth, and kissed my knuckles. “Breakfast?”
I shrugged with a sly grin. “I’d much rather eat you, but all right.” I walked out of the bathroom naked, knowing his eyes were on my ass.
He groaned dramatically. “You’re going to kill me, woman.”
I turned to look at him over my shoulder, suddenly serious. There wasn’t much I was certain of, but if he felt for me even a tenth of what I felt for him, then of this I was sure. “No, Sid, with me—with me you live.”
His gaze softened as he watched me disappear into the bedroom to get my clothes.
I wandered out to the kitchen and we made a simple breakfast side by side.
“So about what Travis said last night,” he began. “Sam, I know you have a hard time staying put. Cade can come over, the three of us can jam. We can set up a space for you to write. Whatever you need while staying safe at the same time.”
I knew that was the point of his whole argument. He didn’t want me to be in danger, but he didn’t want me to feel stifled either. He was protecting me on the inside as well as on the outside.
Sid was a wall of muscle; he was highly trained to protect me physically. There were many who could probably perform that particular duty. But no one knew how to protect all of me, all the hard edges and softer curves, the neuroses and quirkiness that made me, well, me.
No, only Sid could do that.
I looked at him, feeling a sudden lump rise in my throat. He was beautiful with his electric-blue eyes watching me intently. “Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll need to look for a new job soon, but I can get by on my savings for a little while. Living rent free right now is really helping.”
Sid looked like he was going to say something, but I soldiered on, needing to hammer my most important point home. “And I’m not missing Piper’s wedding,” I said firmly.
“We’ll talk about it,” he responded, too vaguely for my liking.
My gaze narrowed at his noncommittal response.
He sighed. “We’ll see, okay? I don’t want to miss it either. I’ll talk to Ryker.”
I breathed a small sigh of relief. “I feel weird that you’re going to have to follow me around.” I wrinkled my nose.
He rolled his eyes and bent to pick up Trixie. She looked even smaller when he held her, practically swallowed by his biceps. “Actually, you’re going to have to follow me around too.” He chuckled. “I was going to ask if you minded going in to work with me. Travis called that meeting this morning and I want to check in with the guys. Then I thought we could swing by and see Cade at the shop.”
I stared at his arms before realizing he’d caught me midswoon. I nodded quickly, fighting the blush threatening to spread across my cheeks. “Sounds good.”
He grinned, laying his arm over my shoulder. “You’re cute.”
I groaned. “I’m not cute. I feel like a total dork.”
“No, you’re cute,” he corrected. “I fucking love this. I get the best of both worlds. Being with my best friend and still feeling like we’re just starting out. I love that I make you nervous.” He grinned with a devilish wink.
“I’m not nervous around you,” I lied.
He chuckled. “Oh, babe, see, this is where the knowing you for years thing comes in handy.” He leaned in close. “I happen to know you’re a terrible liar.”
I was about to deliver an amazing comeback, I really was, but then he kissed me and I lost all rational thought. Snarky or otherwise.
CHAPTER 10
When we pulled up to Talon, unexpected butterflies took flight in my belly. I slipped out of the truck before he’d even cut the engine, nearly tripping over the curb in my hurry.
“Babe, slow down.” Sid’s exasperated voice sounded behind me. He sided up to me and grabbed my hand.
I looked down at where our hands were joined. “You don’t have to hold my hand, Sid. You’ll catch hell from the guys,” I protested.
“Maybe,” he agreed, his grip still firmly in place. “But they’ll be seeing it a lot. Better let them get used to the idea now.”
I bit my lip, part of me still feeling like this was all some sort of dream—minus the whole mafia-threat element. That part I could have forgone.
We walked in, hand in hand and as expected, three pairs of eyes immediately shot to us.
“Look who’s making their red carpet debut!” Theo hollered while Declan let out a low whistle.
Travis looked at us speculatively for a moment before he chuckled at the guys’ antics, shaking his head.
I blushed, wishing a hole in the ground would open up and swallow me. “Aw, and look, they even had a baby,” Theo continued, looking at Trixie with an exaggerated wince. “Ugly little fucker though, sorry to say, guys.”
“You’re hilarious,” I replied dryly.
“Does this mean I don’t get any more hugs?” Theo asked with a playful glint in his eye.
I replied, “No,” at the same time Sid bit out a firm, “Yes.”
Travis and Declan burst out laughing. Sid let go of my hand and pulled Theo into a playful headlock. “You should be thanking me, asshole. I just gave you material for months to come.”
Theo laughed, pushing at Sid. “I am immensely grateful. I was running out of reasons to fuck with you.”
I rolled my eyes at their juvenile behavior, looking over at Sarah, their receptionist. “How do you deal with them all day?”
“Coffee during the day. Wine at night,” she responded without delay.
I grinned. My kind of girl.
“We already have you drinking? You just started,” Theo protested with a grin.
“It’s just you, Theo,” she retorted.
Sarah wasn’t much older than me. With long caramel-colored hair, big brown eyes, and a fit figure, she was gorgeous. She had been shy when she’d first started, but she’d clearly come out of her shell a bit.
She could handle Theo at least, and that was saying a lot.
Sid turned to me, leaning close to murmur in my ear, “You okay out here for a little bit while I go meet with the guys?”
I nodded, setting Trixie on the ground and making myself comfortable in one of the leather chairs near Sarah’s desk.
Sid dipped low, placing a chaste kiss on my mouth before sauntering back toward the conference room.
“Things happen fast around here.” Sarah laughed as I sat blushing profusely.
“You could say that,” I replied. “But really, this has been in the making between us for a while. It’s weird how I see it so clearly now but I couldn’t before.”
She nodded. “Life’s funny that way sometimes. You look good together.”
I smiled. “Thanks. It’s still really new and all feels a bit like a dream,” I admitted, surprised I’d shared that with her.
“Isn’t everything good like that?” She sighed wistfully.
“Maybe,” I allowed cautiously. I was still slightly scared to believe this could really be my something good.
Christ, I sounded like Mary Poppins.
“Do you want a coffee? I’m about to brew a fresh pot.”
“Sure, thanks.” I nodded, scooping Trixie into my lap.
After a cup of coffee and a nice conversation with Sarah, Sid emerged. “Ready?” he ask
ed with a lifted brow.
I nodded, standing up and gathering my things. Sid picked up Trixie, patiently waiting for me to pack my purse up.
“She’s really taken to the two of you,” Sarah commented, watching Trixie thoughtfully.
“Is that surprising?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “Dogs are all different, but a lot of times Chihuahuas are really loyal to their owners and indifferent to other people. She looks like she’s known the two of you her whole life.”
Interesting.
“Are we ready?” I asked, looking around me to make sure I hadn’t left anything behind.
I almost always did.
“I’m ready.” Sid nodded. “See you later, Sarah.” He offered her a chin lift as he took my hand.
“Bye, Sarah,” I chimed in with a wave. “Bye, Trav!” I hollered toward the back.
“Call you later!” he hollered back.
“You still want to go to the shop?” Sid asked me as we walked toward his truck.
“Yeah,” I replied.
I watched him scan our surroundings, always vigilant, before we climbed in.
Caden’s tattoo shop, Sacred Heart, was just across town. When we pulled up in front, I couldn’t help but feel like this was the Sid and Sam relationship roadshow. We left Trixie in the truck with the windows cracked; we didn’t plan on staying long.
The buzz of a tattoo gun and the low murmur of voices met my ears when we walked in.
“Cade!” Sid shouted toward the back of the shop. Caden had hired a shop girl part-time who scheduled appointments and greeted customers, but obviously, she’d left for the day.
“Hey, bro, just wrapping this up. I’ll be out in a sec,” Cade’s voice called back.
I contented myself looking through a binder of Cade’s work. The fact that people came in off the street and picked something random from a book to be put on their body forever always baffled me.
Sid wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing my neck. “You thinking about getting some work done?” His mouth on my skin and warm body enveloping me was making it hard to form a coherent response.
I bit my lip, thinking. “I don’t have anything planned. I’m just not averse to getting something. What about you?”
“I’ll probably get more work done at some point,” he replied, stooping so that his chin was resting on my shoulder, his arms wrapped firmly around my waist.
My phone dinged with a text and he released me. “Piper,” I explained, reading her text as Caden emerged with a perky blonde in tow.
I lost the battle not to roll my eyes while fighting the lurch in my belly.
As if on cue, the blonde set her sights on Sid. “Hey, you,” she purred with far too much familiarity for my liking. “Where have you been hiding?”
Sid’s posture was stiff as he shot a quick glance to me before meeting her attempt at a seductive gaze. “Been busy.”
Her head cocked to the side as she studied me intently. “I know you—how do I know you?” she seemed to ask herself.
“We used to live together. She’s also one of my best friends,” Caden explained with a quick eye roll behind her back for my benefit.
“She’s also my girl.” Sid’s deep authoritative voice cut through the air like a knife.
Caden’s jaw dropped as the blonde’s expression soured.
Her eyes cut to me. “Nice to meet you,” she said stiffly, pulling her purse further up her shoulder. “Gotta run. Thanks, Cade.”
“See ya.” He waved dismissively as she made her way toward the door.
“Pleasant girl,” I commented dryly, watching as she walked down the sidewalk and out of sight.
Caden grinned, his eyes dancing between the two of us. “So you two finally went and made it official, huh?”
Sid slung an arm around me, grinning with a youthful joy I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen in him. “Yep.”
“Just please don’t break up.” Caden groaned dramatically, clasping his hands in prayer. “It’ll be even more awkward than watching you pretend you’re just friends for the past, well, forever.”
I snorted. “Yes, Cade, we’ll make sure we plan for your comfort wherever possible.”
“That’s all I ask,” he answered serenely.
Sid reached over and socked him in the shoulder. “You and Danny want to come up and hang out tomorrow? That place has amazing acoustics. We could play.”
Caden cocked a brow at his brother. “Oh, so you’re staying up there now, huh?”
Suddenly the walls became very interesting to me as I felt myself blush.
“For the time being,” Sid answered.
Caden looked at both of us, nodding thoughtfully. “Well, I don’t know about hauling my drum kit up there, but I wouldn’t turn down a home-cooked meal.”
I laughed. “Is that all you need me for?”
His expression grew uncharacteristically serious, though he threw in a casual shrug. “All right. I miss you and your spaghetti.”
With Caden, that was about as far as his sentiment went, and I’d take it.
“I just made you spaghetti.” I grinned.
He shrugged. “Well, it’s really good spaghetti, what do you want me to say?”
Sid turned to me, humor lighting his eyes. “It is really good.”
I groaned. “Fine. I’ll make spaghetti tomorrow night.”
“We’ll be there. Do I get garlic bread again?” Caden asked.
Sid’s brows lifted as he looked at me. “You made garlic bread?”
I threw up my hands. “Fine, and garlic bread. Again.”
****
“Want to take a swim?” Sid surprised me by asking as we finished dinner.
I’d always been comfortable in my own skin, but there was something about parading in front of Sid in a bikini that made me feel a little bit shy. “Um, sure,” I agreed, somewhat reluctantly.
He cocked his head to the side. He’d sensed my hesitation, and I could see him debating whether or not to address it.
“I’ll meet you out there,” I said abruptly, before he could say anything. I brought my plate to the sink and headed to my room to change.
“The black one, you think?” I asked Trixie as she sat on my bed watching me. Sid’s stuff was still upstairs, and I appreciated the few minutes to collect myself. We’d spent nearly every moment together and the sexual tension between us had been like a slow burn all day. I felt wound up and yet exhausted at the same time. “Maybe the white one?” I deliberated, holding them both up for inspection.
When I’d packed my suits I hadn’t anticipated having company—especially not the Sid kind of company.
I padded outside with a towel wrapped firmly around me. Sid was already in the pool, watching my approach with blatant interest.
With more confidence than I actually felt, I dropped the towel. The black bikini Trixie hadn’t helped pick out left little to the imagination.
“Fuck.” He groaned, his gaze hooded as he licked his lips. “Come here.”
His guttural command sent a thrill through me as I stepped into the surprisingly warm water. I moved down to the second step, the water lapping at my knees.
In two short strokes, he was below me, clasping my waist and pulling me all the way in.
I shrieked, wrapping my arms around his neck. His face was inches from mine, his look so intent it stopped me short. “I was coming in,” I protested with a small smile.
“Not fast enough.” He shook his head before taking my mouth in a searing kiss. His large hands clasped the backs of my thighs, hoisting me so that I wrapped my legs around his waist. The feel of his erection against my core had me gasping, desperate for more. His tongue licked into my mouth, taking what he wanted without hesitation or apology.
I rolled my hips, shocked that I was so close already. It had always been relatively hard for me to get there, but with Sid, it felt like all he had to do was look at me.
His hand moved between us, slipping inside m
y bikini bottoms.
“Please,” I whimpered when his fingers began a teasing stroke. “I’m so close,” I breathed.
“Love the way you light up for me, babe,” he growled. “Like a living spark.”
“Only with you,” I admitted on a groan. “Oh, God, Sid.” I threw my head back as my orgasm washed over me.
He held me tightly as I shuddered in his arms. I lifted my head to look in his eyes. “I want to taste you. Please, Sid, I have to,” I added, licking my lips. My hands went to his swim trunks, pulling them low as I clasped him firmly in my hand. He was hard and thick and I was starving for him. “Sit on the edge,” I commanded, gesturing to the side of the pool.
Relieved when he did as I asked, I moved in between his legs, taking a long delicious lick before pulling him deep.
His deep groans spurred me on as I took him with a fervor that was new to me. “Sam, baby, I’m gonna come.” He groaned, trying to pull back.
I looked up at him and pulled him deeper in response, taking everything he had with relish.
After one last leisurely lick, I pulled away with a mischievous smile.
“Holy hell,” he panted, his chest heaving and gaze hooded. He slipped back into the water, taking me in his arms. We stood that way for many long moments as I listened to the pounding of his heart begin to slow.
I shivered slightly.
“Let’s get in the hot tub,” he suggested, pulling me in that direction. He sat me in between his legs as the warm bubbles swirled around us. “How did I resist you all this time?” he murmured in my ear as I lay against his chest.
I shrugged, unsure what to say.
“What was the look earlier?” he prodded gently, delivering a soft kiss to my neck that made my skin tingle in response.
“What look?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what he was talking about.
“You looked… I don’t know, shy or something when I asked you to go swimming.”
There was no good reason I was standoffish with people. No childhood trauma or bad relationship. I’d just always been a bit reserved when it came to feelings or sharing any part of myself. I knew Sid would challenge me, and though it wasn’t comfortable for me, I wanted to try.
“I just remember the girls you used to go for. They were so different from me,” I replied, glad he couldn’t see the wince that came along with my statement.
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