by Rebecca Shea
I let that sink in for a second. "You only wanted her because your brother had her?"
He tips his head back, squares his shoulders, and looks at me straight in the eyes. "In the beginning, yes. I did develop feelings for her…but I was never in love with her, Kate."
I drop my eyes and try to steady the rapid beating of my heart before he starts speaking again and I look back at him. "When I kissed her…it didn't feel like it does when I kiss you," he says, lowering his eyes to my lips. "She didn't feel like you feel in my arms. She didn't react to my touch like you do. She's not you, Kate." His voice hinges on desperation when he says 'you', and I waver with his admission.
"You don't even know me." I put my hand up to keep him from coming any closer, fighting his pull.
His eyes are full of hunger and want, and as much as I'm fighting against him, I'm falling for him twice as hard. "I don't know a lot about you, Kate—but I'd like to find out more." He captures my hand in his. "I'd like to know everything about you, Kate," he utters, bringing his lips so close to mine I can almost feel them.
I close my eyes and listen to the sound of my blood rushing through my ears and the pounding of my heart against my chest. Everything about Sam sets my body on fire.
"I'm sorry I didn't answer your questions this morning," he whispers against my face. "I was feeling vulnerable…and I hate feeling that way." I want to lean forward and capture his lips with mine, but instead I rest my forehead against his. Taking in his closeness and the scent of his fading cologne. "And this morning was the first time anyone has touched my scars," he admits quietly. Opening my eyes, pain is stretched across Sam's beautiful face.
"I'm sorry I touched you," I tell him and close my eyes again. I can feel him shake his head. He's now captured both of my hands in his, and we stand quietly in the middle of my kitchen, two people searching for answers that the other holds.
"Come here," he whispers, pulling me behind him. He opens the French doors and steps out onto the patio. I follow closely, and he closes the door behind us. We walk across the patio down to the walkway of his house, my bare feet padding along the stone path. He bursts through the door, pulling me with him, through the living room and into his bedroom. My mind is racing as he says nothing, only pulling me gently behind him.
Flicking on the lights, we walk through the bedroom to the bathroom and confusion sets in. "What are we doing?" I finally ask as we stand in front of the long bathroom vanity. Large light bulbs outline the oversized mirror. I had forgotten how bright this bathroom was with its stark white walls and light gray accents.
Sam's chest rises and falls as he looks at me, and then he closes his eyes for the briefest of moments before he lets go of my hand. In a single fluid motion, he pulls his t-shirt over his head and tosses it to the floor where it gathers in a bunch at our feet.
He stands before me, bare-chested, every single ridged muscle on full display. The curve of his shoulders is met by the swell of his bicep. Over his heart is a tattoo of a crest, an homage to his heritage I assume.
"Touch me," he says softly.
I tense. "Sam—"
"Please." His eyes beg me.
"Why’re you doing this?" I plead, my hands shaking at my sides.
"Because I need you to touch me."
I stand here, lost in thought. His eyes close when he sees my hand rise, still shaking as I contemplate touching him.
"Do it," he begs, his eyes pinched closed.
His upper chest and shoulder are marred with scars, and my fingers tremble as I reach out to touch his golden brown skin. He inhales sharply when the pads of my fingers brush against the wide span of his chest, trailing down to his abdomen. His eyes remain closed as I reach another hesitant hand up and brush my fingers across his collarbone.
Sam's head falls forward slightly as my hands explore him. He startles me when his hand finds mine, stopping me. His strong hand wraps around mine, guiding me to the very place I was so hesitant to go.
"Touch me," he says again, and I do. His hand falls from mine as my fingers trail across the smooth raised scars, circling the soft flesh. I can feel his heart beating wildly in his chest.
Stopping, I lean in, and without thinking, press my lips to the large scar just below his collarbone. I press a gentle kiss to each raised scar, my lips connecting with his soft skin. Both of his arms engulf me, pulling me tightly to him. He has opened himself up to me, showing me the most vulnerable parts of him, and in this exact moment, I know I'm falling in love with Sam Cortez.
Chapter Ten
Sam
When Kate presses her lips to my scar, I lose control. My arms instinctively pull her to me. Embracing Kate, I let myself fall deeper for her. She's seen the ugly parts of me. My vulnerability, the urge to run, and my scars, yet here she is standing before me, showing me who she really is. She's honest and loving and not afraid of what I have to offer her. She's someone I don't deserve, yet selfishly, I want her.
"Kate," I say her name, my lips pressed against her soft hair.
"Hold me," she says in return, and my arms tighten around her. Something passes between us…an understanding, an apology.
"Can we start over?" I ask. She squeezes me in return and inhales deeply. Her head nodding against my bare chest gives me the answer I so desperately wanted. My thumbs knead the soft skin of her neck, and I can feel her relax in my arms. The angst that was present before has lifted.
Kate pulls herself from my grip and stands before me, her cheeks still flushed.
"I’m sorry for being so complicated," I tell her, and her eyes begin to mist over. She swallows hard, biting back her emotions. "I'm sorry that I brought my baggage to your doorstep…literally," I chuckle, and she fights back a small smile. "I promise to do better."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she says quietly, and I can see the skepticism in her eyes.
"I promise to try."
"That's all I can ask," she says with a soft sigh.
I brush my knuckles against her delicate cheek, causing her eyes to close. Her pink lips are slightly parted and tempting me. Leaning in, I capture her mouth with mine. I apologize with my lips, and she accepts my apology in return with hers.
"Stay with me tonight, Kate," I mumble against her lips. She pulls back, cupping my face with her hands. "Let me hold you. Let me start over."
She blows a puff of air through her lips and leans in, pressing her forehead to mine. "As sincere as you just sounded, I doubt you'll just hold me." she breaks, letting a small laugh loose.
I love to hear her laugh, and I smile in return. "I mean, I'm not going to argue with you if want me to do more." I imagine her naked, sprawled across my bed, and my dick instantly hardens.
She wraps her arms around me and presses her face to my chest as she giggles. I guide her out of the bathroom to my bedroom where she sits down on the edge of the bed.
"Kate, I want you to stay, but please don't feel pressured to. I'm sure you're —"
She stands up quickly and walks over to me. "Shh," she begins, pressing her forefinger to my lips. I oblige as her intense blue eyes study mine. Her head tilts to the left, and she takes a deep breath, seeming to come to a decision in that moment. "I want to stay. I want to start over, Sam. But there won't be any sex tonight."
"I can accept that," I begin, although disappointed. "Just lay with me then. All I want is you next to me."
She offers me a sincere smile and nods once.
"Come here." I wrap her small hand in mine and pull her toward my bed, throwing the comforter back so she can climb in. Once she's settled in the middle of the bed, I climb in next to her and pull her against me.
She smells like the sweetest hints of coconut, and it takes every ounce of self- restraint to keep from pulling her on top of me. Her pajama bottoms and tank top do little to hide every curve on her perfect body. Her firm breasts press through the thin material of her tank, and I can feel the soft skin of her back peeking out from just above her bottoms.
"Sam?" My name rolls off her lips tenderly, and she pushes herself up slightly to look at me. "I'm going to need you to promise me something."
"Anything," I respond.
"I'm going to do something, and I need you to just go with it." She pulls her lips into her mouth and pushes herself up before she swings a long leg over my waist. She sits on top of me, her pajama shorts doing nothing to hide the heat from between her legs.
No sex, she said. Goddammit, all I want to do is rip her bottoms off and thrust into her. I close my eyes and breathe deeply, trying to not be affected by her warm center pressing against me, inviting me. The thin material of my shorts is doing nothing to hide my growing erection, and I know she can feel it because her lips have turned up into a sly little grin.
Kate shifts slowly, moving from side to side as she rubs herself against me.
"You don't play fair," I groan, gripping the sheets to keep myself from taking her.
She presses her palms to my lower abdomen where she lifts and lowers herself as she continues to move against me, the friction causing my dick to become rock hard.
Fuck her rules. I lift my hand and slide it down between us where I slip it under her pajama bottoms and instantly find her soft, wet flesh.
"Sam!" she warns and stops moving. I dip a finger inside her before obliging to her rules and pull my hand out. Her face tells me she wants more, but I let her take the lead.
She rocks her hips again before she slides further down my legs and pauses. Her palms move south with her, and in doing so her fingers catch the waistband of my shorts and boxer briefs. I lift for her, and she easily pulls them down my legs, discarding them at the foot of the bed.
My dick stands at attention, throbbing and hard as Kate moves to position herself over my thighs. She looks at me, that same sly smile twisted across her lips. She licks her lips just as she wraps her long fingers around my length. Her palm is warm and soft as she begins to stroke me gently.
I catch my breath, groaning in response. I hold on tightly to her thighs that are bent at my side, my fingertips gripping the silky flesh just above each of her knees. As she leans forward, her eyes fix on mine and she wets her lips. Her velvety pink lips part slowly as she leans in further and pulls me into her mouth.
"Jesus," I mutter as her tongue presses against the head of my dick.
She licks gently and slowly lowers her mouth further down my shaft. I can feel the back of her throat as her tongue rubs the underside of my dick in measured, sweeping strokes. She sucks lightly, tightening her grip on me before she begins dragging her lips up and down. I relish the feel of my cock in her sweet mouth. She's careful and attentive, and I'm so close to blowing that I have to gather my thoughts.
As Kate's lips suck and stroke me, I can see her hard nipples pressed against her silk tank. I reach over and pinch one, causing her to moan and look up at me. Her blue eyes shine with need as she works me, bringing me closer.
My dick hardens and my balls tighten as I’m about to come. I tap her arm to let her know my release is imminent, but she continues, taking me deeper. I can feel my release against the back of her throat as my entire body shakes with an orgasm. Kate slowly finishes, taking in every last drop of me. It's singlehandedly the sexiest fucking thing any woman has ever done.
She sits up, straddling me as she pulls her bottom lip into her mouth. Her hair is messy and falling out of the bun she had piled on top of her head. The straps of her silky tank top hang off of each shoulder, and the look on her face is priceless. She looks like she's just conquered the world, and she did. Mine.
Chapter Eleven
Kate
"You done?" He smirks as he pulls his arms behind his head.
"For now." There’s an edge of snark in my tone. "Time to sleep." I begin to slide off of him, but he stops me.
"Clothes off," he orders with a giant smile. "We sleep naked in my bed."
"No sex, Sam," I remind him.
"No sex, Kate. Just sleeping." He winks at me. He pulls the covers back as I lift the hem of my satin tank and toss it to the floor. My breasts hang heavily, now on full display. A barely audible groan escapes Sam's lips as he reaches out and cups a breast.
I open my mouth to chastise him, but his grin widens. "You didn't say anything about touching." His lips pull my nipple into his mouth, and he sucks hard, causing my core to tingle. I can feel his dick beginning to twitch between us. I love that his body reacts this way to mine.
He moves to the other breast, his tongue circling and lips sucking. His fingers tug at the waistband of my pajama shorts, and I finally slide off of him so he can remove them. I fall back onto the mattress and he falls on top of me, settling between my legs. I can feel every inch of him hardening again, and I shake my head.
"No sex," I scold him, knowing damn well I can't say no to him.
"I heard you the first time," he growls, pressing a kiss to my breast. He's pushing the boundaries, and I'm letting him. No man has ever made me weak until him. "But you have no idea how bad I want to fuck you right now, Kate." He looks up at me, his eyes begging me to let him in. But I like having the control for now and I smile, pushing him off of me.
"I know." It’ll happen again. Just not today.
"You're killing me," he mutters as he lies down on his side next to me. I can't help but let a small laugh loose as I sense his growing sexual frustration. "Fine. No sex," he grumbles, "but there won't be any sleeping anytime soon."
"Oh, yeah?" I question jokingly, just as his palm cups my core. I gasp at the connection and try to squeeze my thighs together, but I'm not quick enough. He has just enough time, and room, to slide a finger deep inside me.
"You're wet, Katie," he says huskily into my ear as he kisses the side of my face. It's the first time he's ever called me Katie, and I don't mind it when it rolls off his tongue. "I could feel you earlier…but now, you're even more wet." His lips brush my ear, sending shivers down my body.
"So…" I purse my lips to keep myself from smiling. This little game of push and pull is driving him wild.
"So…I'm going to take advantage of that." He uses his other hand to pull my knees apart, and I easily give in and let him. I succumb to Sam Cortez. I don't know that I'll ever be able to say no to this man. I become weak to his touch, and I'll give him anything he wants. The pad of his finger swirls around my clit, and my body instantly begins to tingle at his touch. His fingers are magic as they circle, slide, and push gently into me.
"You don't play fair, Sam.” I'm barely able to muster as he works his fingers in and out and all around me. He leans forward, pulling one of my nipples between his teeth, and nibbles gently. Between my sensitive breasts and him working me close to an orgasm, my entire body begins to shake.
"You like that, huh, Katie." His voice is deep, raspy, and completely sets me on fire.
I can't speak, so I simply nod as my back arches and he brings me closer to the edge. Just as I'm about to fall, he pulls his hand away and my eyes shoot open. My breathing is rapid, my heart nearly beating out of my damn chest as fast as my impending orgasm begins to fade.
Sam sits up and licks his bottom lip. "What?" he asks, tilting his head.
I narrow my eyes at him. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Did what?" He grins.
"Brought me so close, yet not close enough."
He tips his head back and lets out a boisterous laugh. "Katie," he whispers as he leans in. "You don't get to control everything."
I roll my eyes at him and slide my hand down between my legs. "Who said?" I slowly begin to work myself, my fingers sliding in and out of my wet pussy. Of course, I'd prefer Sam's fingers, but I'm going to prove a point to him. Sam’s eyes are heavy as he watches me, and he slowly strokes himself, matching my rhythm.
That familiar feeling is just beginning to arrive, that slight tingle telling me I'm not terribly far away from the brink of ecstasy. Only this time, my hand is suddenly pulled away and pinned above my head.
His eyes are hungry and possessive as he maneuvers himself back into control. He sets a knee between my legs, and his hard erection bobs just at my core. With one lift of my hips, I could easily slide him inside me.
He shakes his head as his brown eyes take me in. "I love the way you look naked underneath me," he says with a grin. "But I'm going to love the way you look even more when I make you come, Katie." And with both of my hands pinned in his left, he reaches down between us with his right hand and begins touching me again.
My body is lost somewhere between coming down and on high alert from all the back and forth. It takes him less than a minute to bring me back to the brink, only this time my entire body convulses as I'm ready to lose control.
My thighs shake and my back arches when Sam pulls my nipple into his mouth again, this time biting harder. My orgasm is just about to peak when he stops again and lays himself down on top of me.
His face pressed to mine, chest to chest, pelvis to pelvis. He's lined up at my center and ready. My body is in complete chaos, and I finally break down.
"Fuck me," I tell him, totally surrendering to him.
He smiles and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
"Please," I beg.
"No can do, Katie. You said no sex." He kisses my lips again, still holding my hands tightly above my head.
"I lied," I desperately beg. I actually try to angle my hips so that he'll just slide into me, but he shifts. And when he does, he laughs.
"Katie, Katie, Katie…." he mocks me. "I never took you for a liar."
I roll my eyes at him again. "Please, Sam. I need you inside me."
His body stiffens, and he gazes into my eyes. "My rules this time?"
I nod my head frantically. "Touch me," I beg him. "Now."
His eyes are fierce as he pushes himself up, never releasing my hands. His fingers slide back between us where he instantly finds my clit and pinches it, bringing me back to life. "You're insatiable," he says as he slides two fingers inside me, pumping them softly, while his thumb works me. My entire body begins to shake again when he suddenly removes his hand and slides his cock inside me. One quick motion and I come unglued. My body quivers around him as he fucks me—fast, yet gentle. My entire body is numb and on a high as he slides in and out of me. Blood rushes through my ears, and I momentarily lose my vision as my entire world is consumed by Sam and what he's doing to my body.