Temporary Home

by Aliyah Burke

  “Does this have something to do with Laila?”

  “A bit. I just…she’s worked there longer than I have.”

  “But not in security. She’s a teller. Her progression up has nothing to do with you.” He watched her weigh his words before nodding.

  “True.” He expected her to say something else, but she didn’t. Never spoke again through the rest of the meal.

  When it was over, she got to her feet and took her dishes to the sink.

  “I have some cookies, or I believe there is a bit of pie left over if you’d like that.”

  His gaze locked on her figure as she stood by the sink. He could stare at her all day every day and never get tired of looking at her.

  “Maybe later,” he replied.

  A nod was her only answer. He got up while she dug for a container and began to put in the extra stew. The table had been wiped off by the time she’d finished and had thrown away the bag which had lined the crockpot. Leaning against the counter, he watched her make a pot of coffee. Roxi was still distracted for she walked out only to return with a packet in her hand. He knew it was for her job when she spread it out before her and sank down with her lower lip in her teeth.

  Although he didn’t want to, he left her alone and went to the living room to remove his boots. The ring of a phone had him sitting up. Roxi answered it and he heard her soft voice but couldn’t make out the words.

  “Sam,” she called out.

  He hurried to the kitchen. “Yes?”

  “Laila.” She handed him the phone and went back to her papers.

  “Hang on a sec, Laila.” Sam reached for Roxi’s face and tipped her head up to him. Before she could say anything one way or the other, he kissed her. A fast, hard kiss. Then he walked out of the room. “Go ahead, Laila.”

  Roxi exhaled sharply as Sam sauntered his fine ass out of the kitchen. Twice now he’d kissed her since he had got home. She didn’t quite know what to make of it. Shaking her head, she got up then poured herself some coffee before retaking her seat. Pushing Sam from her mind, she read over all the papers Jules King had sent home with her.

  When she’d finished, she rubbed her eyes and groaned. It had been a long day and she really just wanted to sleep. Looking up, she found Sam sitting across from her. His long fingers were curled around one of her Marine mugs and the pie was before him, a piece on each of the two plates.

  “How long have you been there?” she asked.

  He slid one piece towards her, shrugging. “Here.”

  She didn’t argue, just accepted the plate and bit into the pie. It went down smoothly and she groaned in pleasure. She watched his eyes darken but he didn’t move, though his fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the cup.

  “Everything okay with Laila?”

  Sam nodded and began to eat. Soon their plates were empty, in the dishwasher, and they were on their way out of the kitchen.

  “Did you make a decision?” he questioned.

  “I did. I’ll take it. I like what I do so why not, right? I mean, like you both said, he picked me. I guess I must be right for the job.”

  “Both of us?”

  “You and Mr King.”

  “Who’s Mr King?”

  Was it her imagination or did she hear jealousy in his question? “My boss.” She paused at his door and looked up at him. “Goodnight, Sam.”

  “Roxi.”

  She trudged to her room, half expecting him to grab her and kiss her again. Her control was so frayed all it would take would be one more touch and she’d be welcoming him into her bed. But the touch never came and neither did he. She closed her door behind her, ignoring the pull he had on her.

  Once ready for bed, she roamed back through the house, double-checking it was all locked up tight. She paused by his door on her way back to her room before carrying on. Yes, casual sex was great but where Sam Hoch was concerned it had moved way past casual in her case. She’d fallen for him and she knew her feelings were only going to increase. Somehow she had to find the strength to not let him in her bed.

  She climbed in and snorted as she drew the bedding up. Like she had any self-control around him. If she had, she wouldn’t have slept with him to begin with.

  Her sleep wasn’t restful at all. When she woke the next morning, she was tired and cranky.

  And horny. The hand which had been between her thighs had been inadequate and ineffective. She didn’t want her touch. She wanted the touch of the man who slept in her house, down the hall from her. For him to caress her.

  Damn it! She slapped the mattress and rolled out of bed. In the shower, she tried to calm herself down but nothing seemed to work. The water on her nipples only further aroused her.

  Finally, she was dressed and in the kitchen, fixing herself a light breakfast consisting of half a bagel with honey-nut cream cheese and a bowl of yogurt with bananas and grapes.

  She tensed at every sound she heard, thinking it was Sam. After she ate, she hurried out to her vehicle and drove off, well aware she was running away. Work wasn’t open this early so she didn’t have to be there, but she needed to get away from the temptation in her house. As sexually aroused as she was right now, all it would take would be her seeing him to jump on him.

  In her office she did a walk-through. The diamonds were gone but they were expecting to get some more. It was unusual to have them so often, but she didn’t think to question it. She was just in charge of protecting what was in the bank.

  Her cell phone rang and she answered it without looking at the number. “Hello?”

  “Why did you sneak out this morning?”

  Sam.

  She licked her lips and leant back in her chair. “Morning, Sam.”

  “Roxi.” His voice was like a warm blanket she wanted to curl up in.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “Answer me.”

  “I didn’t sneak out.”

  “Lying to me now, Roxi?”

  “What do you want from me, Sam?”

  “An answer.”

  “I just left a bit early. No real reason.”

  “Do you want me to get a hotel?”

  She blew out an exasperated breath. “No, Sam. I don’t. But if you want to, I can’t stop you.”

  “You’re angry.”

  No, she wasn’t. Frustrated was more like it. “No, I’m not.”

  “Is this because of the kisses?”

  Heat flushed her skin as her mind gave her an all-too-clear picture of what it had been like in his embrace. Shit! I don’t need to be aroused like this. Not here. Not now.

  “No.”

  A slight hesitation. “Okay. Laila told me to ask you if you’d like to have dinner with us and Dean tonight.”

  “Dinner? Sure. That’s fine.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  “Right. Then.”

  “Bye, Roxi.”

  “Have a good day, Sam.” She ended the call before she could say something like “come to my office so we can fuck on my desk.” Or a similar phrase. Head to desk, she groaned. She really tried to avoid cursing but those words seemed to come easier and easier the more time she spent around Sam.

  Not that she could blame him. It wasn’t his fault she had no control over the words that were flying from her mouth. Or in her thoughts.

  There was only one to blame. And it was her.

  The day dragged by and she was extremely tense on her way home. There’d been a bit of an incident so she was behind, having had to stay back and put in her report. She’d told Mr King she’d be accepting his offer, so it was nice to know there would be more money coming in. Not that she spent a lot, but she was trying to save.

  So she parked in the garage—beside the large, charcoal-grey truck she liked seeing there—and didn’t even go inside, just walked next door, grateful for the brief spell in the rain, and knocked on the door.

  Sam opened it and gave her a slight smile, at the same time moving his gaze up and down her body.
“Hi,” he said, eyes smouldering as he stepped back to let her in.

  “Hey,” she replied.

  Past him, she viewed Dean sitting in a recliner and she brushed by Sam to approach him, doing her best not to pay all that much attention to how delicious Sam smelt.

  “Good to see you out of the hospital, Master Guns.” Her words were full of affection and she smiled bending to kiss his cheek.

  “Good to be out, Roxi. Thanks for all the visits and the card.”

  She crouched by him, hand on his arm. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like an old man with bone cancer.” He touched her cheek. “Better than I was.”

  “That’s because you’re a fighter.”

  His smile couldn’t hide how tired he was and in that moment, Roxi wondered if this would be his last Christmas. Master Guns had fought this for a long time now and it seemed was no longer up for it. She blinked back tears and stood when Laila came in the room.

  “Roxi.”

  “Hi, Laila. Thanks for inviting me.”

  “No problem. We’re ready to eat.”

  Sam appeared by her and helped Master Guns from the chair. Roxi watched him help his friend and mentor to the dining room table. There were times he seemed so gentle, it nearly broke her heart. She knew how much both Sam and Laila loved Dean. They weren’t the only ones—he was a well-loved and respected man all over.

  After dinner, she helped Laila clean up.

  “Are we okay, Laila?” She snapped a lid on the leftovers.

  “Of course we are. I was worried you were still mad at me.”

  “No. I’m sorry for overstepping.”

  “Don’t, Roxi. You were right. The man is an asshole.” She lowered her voice so she wouldn’t be overheard. “I asked them to dinner tonight as well but they said they were busy.”

  Roxi propped a hip against the counter. “Master Guns knows what kind of man his son is, don’t worry, Laila.”

  “I know, I just wanted…” She shrugged.

  “Family.”

  Laila nodded. “I’m so scared I’m going to lose it when he goes. I’m not stupid, Roxi, I know he’s not doing well. No matter how much he pretends. I don’t know what I’ll do without him.”

  Another container filled, she stacked it with the previous one. “You still have Sam.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean? He won’t avoid you just because Master Guns is gone.”

  Laila’s expression told her she believed otherwise.

  “Really, Laila? You think Sam is only around because of Master Guns?”

  “There’ve been years where I don’t see him. Some days I wonder if he won’t just leave and not come back, ever. Uncle Dean has been his rock for so long, when that’s dislodged…” She shook her head. “I just don’t know. I worry about how he’ll take it.”

  “You two will have to be there for one another.”

  “He wouldn’t come to me, Roxi. Not for himself. He feels the need to protect me. But he’d never let me in on his own emotions. That’s just not—”

  “You two okay in here?” Sam stuck his head in.

  “Fine,” Laila said. “Just finishing up.”

  Those blue eyes swung over to her and heated, making her think he envisioned what lay beneath them. And just like that he’d reduced her to a puddle. But he left without saying a word.

  “Would you like some ice water?” Laila’s question was teasing but it brought her back.

  “What? No.”

  There was a smirk on her friend’s face. “Are you sure, because you look a little bit parched there?”

  “Stuff it, Laila.”

  “Not going to deny it?”

  “Nothing to deny.”

  Laila rolled her eyes and put the food in the fridge. “Whatever. There’s enough heat between the two of you, I could shut it off in the house and we’d still all be just fine.”

  “I’m just a temporary home for him, Laila.”

  Laughter faded from her eyes and she sobered. “I know it’s none of my business, but I just have one thing to say.”

  “What’s that?”

  “He’d be well worth the fight.” She gave her a sympathetic smile and left the kitchen to join the men in the other room.

  Roxi hung back for a moment and stared at the trio gathered there. Another family. Father, brother, and sister. The sound of comfortable laughter reached her and she took a deep breath. He’d be well worth the fight.

  As if he knew she was thinking about him, Sam lifted his head and met her gaze. One corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile but it was the wink that got to her. Melted her wall further.

  “Coming in, Roxi?” Laila asked.

  She didn’t answer, just walked over and paused while deciding where she wanted to sit. She headed towards an upright chair—she never made it. Sam gripped her wrist in his hand and tugged her to sit by him. Her instinct was to struggle but he gave her a look and she remained there. She slid to the end of the loveseat, trying to keep some distance between them. Damned if the man didn’t move with her. His leg pressing up against hers, hips aligned.

  Oh…what else had they done when pressed so close together like this. Slamming the door on that line of thought, she pasted a smile on her face and listened to Dean. It wasn’t easy. Sam had a hand behind her and was drawing small circles on her lower back with his fingers. Nothing suggestive, but it didn’t matter, it was nearly driving her insane.

  “You’re tense,” he whispered in her ear when they had a moment alone, the other two having left the room.

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

  His chuckle was positively decadent. “Another lie?”

  “Can you stop touching me?”

  “I’d rather touch you more. Remove your clothing a piece at a time. Lick your soft skin as it’s revealed.” The circles never stopped on her back and she felt on fire. “Lay you back on the bed and crawl between your bare legs. Spread them further and lower my mouth to—”

  “Okay! I get it.” Her voice was higher than normal.

  “Let’s go home.”

  She shook with the depth of her desire for him. A nod she could barely manage but Sam didn’t need more than that.

  He got to his feet and said, “I’m taking her home. She’s barely keeping her eyes open.”

  Farewells passed in a blur and before she knew it, he’d put her coat around her shoulders and was leading her outside. They took a bit more time, keeping on the sidewalk given she still wore her work shoes but it didn’t take long and he’d opened the door to the house, urging her inside.

  The moment the door shut behind them, closing out the cold, blustery night, she was in his arms. Nose-to-nose, he shoved her coat off her shoulders then plastered his hands to her back, holding her close.

  “Yes or no?” His question sounded gravelly and she felt an answering tug on her sex.

  Like I could say no. “Yes, Sam.”

  He pressed his lips to hers and backed her into the wall in the hall. Ending the all-too-brief kiss, he went to work on her three-button, dark-blue blazer. After opening it, he slid it off then put her back against the wall. He moved to her white shirt next. One by one, he undid the pearl buttons, trailing his lips with tantalising slowness across her newly exposed skin.

  “Beautiful,” he mumbled as his mouth skimmed over her breasts.

  Her nipples were visible through her lace bra and she shivered from the reactions his touch gave her. He sank to his knees and dragged his fingers along her waistband of her skirt. When he found the clasp he opened it with deftness before lowering the zipper. The pencil skirt slid down her legs and she fought for a breath at the feel of his callused fingertips on her thighs.

  “No stockings?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “I can see why. You don’t need them.” Up and down her legs he touched, catapulting her into an overload of sensations. “Your legs are like silk.”

  Each wor
d he spoke blew a puff of warm air along her pussy and she rolled her lower lip in her teeth as she tried to contain her moans. She struggled to control her desire to flex her hips and initiate contact. Contact she desperately craved.

  He lifted her left foot and caressed it before placing it back down. Looking up at her, he pressed a kiss to her bellybutton. Then another lower. And another. And another.

  His tongue dragged up her panties, already damp, and he held her gaze. Slowly, he removed them, readjusting her feet one at a time to get them free. Then he leant forward and licked again.

  She couldn’t contain her moan anymore. “Sam.”

  He didn’t say anything, just nudged her legs further apart and put his mouth on her slit again. Up and down he lapped at her, his tongue driving her crazy. He circled her clit prior to drawing it into his mouth, then he licked some more. She tossed her head back and forth against the wall and jerked when he slid one finger deep inside her.

  “Sam!” The cry was louder this time.

  His questioning “hmm” vibrated her sensitive nub and she shuddered at the feel of her impending orgasm. It raced upon her, fast and furious. She tried to stave it off but it would not be denied. One finger became two and he pumped them inside her as he continued to stimulate her. With his free hand, he draped her leg over his shoulder.

  “I want to taste you, Roxi. I want your cream on my tongue. Come for me.”

  That did it. She couldn’t hold it at bay anymore. She dug her nails into his head as she bowed her back and came with a scream of passion.

  The tremors had barely stopped and he was on his feet, hauling her to him, slanting his mouth over hers. She tasted herself in his kiss and it only heightened her desire for the man. He removed her bra and she moaned as his chest hair rasped her taut nipples.

  “Sam,” she said, dropping her hands to reach for the button of his jeans.

  He took the hint and freed himself then covered his stiff length. Their breathing was coming sharp and shallow. He lifted her then lowered her upon his shaft.

  “Yes,” she groaned as he slid into her in a fluid motion. This was what she needed. His thickness in her. His hands on her. Him.

  “Legs around me, sweetheart. Tight.”

  She did.

  “Yes, that’s perfect.”