by Liz Crowe
“He’s jealous of the relationship you and I have.”
I knew exactly what she meant. No further clarification was needed. It seemed to be a recurring theme between us and the Welshes. I couldn’t hold back any longer. “I’m in love with you, Samantha,” I confessed aloud for the first time.
Sam turned to face me and then we kissed. A chill ran down my spine that made me shudder.
“I’m in love with you, too,” she whispered back almost inaudibly.
We ate lunch at a quaint café in town, sharing a quiche and fresh fruit. I bought Sam a single pink rose from the flower store. We had a wonderful afternoon together, but all I could think of was getting her back home to my bed. I could tell by the way she looked at me that she wanted the same thing, too.
Once we were inside my house, our hands were all over each other. Sam was walking up the stairs backwards while we kissed. Once we were in the hallway, we started peeling off our clothes. We were clumsy and impatient, which only made us laugh. Stumbling into my bedroom, I threw my crutch on the floor and pushed Sam onto the bed.
We were only dressed in our underwear. Sam was gliding her hands over my back and then she reached for the waistband of my boxers and pulled them down. My erection was pressed against her thigh and I was so close to being inside her, I couldn’t take it. “I don’t think I can stop,” I breathlessly told her.
“I don’t want you to stop,” she reassured.
“I don’t want to either, but are you sure you want this? This time when we make love, I want you to be with me a hundred percent. You just broke up with Rick,” I explained.
“Jake, it’s always been you. I’ve just been too stupid to see it. Then once I did, you were with Jenna and I was with Rick. We’ve moved on from our crushes and first loves. Now we can just be ourselves. We can be together.” Sam stood and removed her bra and panties.
I smiled at the beautiful naked woman standing in front of me. Sam slinked forward and straddled me. I loved her on top of me. I loved being able to watch her body move over mine and her expression change the more she became aroused. Sam’s thighs wrapped around my pelvis and the friction of her hot wet skin against mine made me tremble.
Sam felt my body quiver. “Do you want me to stop?” she whispered, lowering her upper body onto my chest.
“No!” I replied in a passionate gasp. I placed my hands on the small of her back and thrust into her as deeply as I could. My movement sent Sam over the edge and I could feel her muscle tighten around me. I stilled myself to feel the spasms of her orgasm. Sam threw her head back and let out a low moan as her fingers dug into my shoulders. I swear, watching her come was the most amazing experience of my life. I took her face in my hands and pulled her to me to kiss her.
“Jake, I love you. I need to feel you come inside me.”
I gently rolled her over and slipped back inside her yearning body. I moved at a deliberately slow pace, never wanting to leave her. There was a blissful silence between us as I moved in and out. Our bodies melded together as one. This was what it felt like to be in love. It felt exhilarating. My body grew eager for release and I found myself quickening my thrust, excitement spreading from the pit of my stomach down to my groin. “I’m going to come, sweetheart,” I ground out, soaring over the edge. My heart was pounding in my chest, my breath heavy and quick. I lay on top of Sam, exhausted, listening to her heartbeat and feeling her soft breath on my skin. Sam was my everything and I vowed to never let her go.
I held her in my arms, feeling safe and complete. I touched the necklace I had given her in New York. She had the key to my heart and Sam had unlocked a whole new world for me.
“What are you thinking?” she murmured, looking up at me.
“Being with you like this, this is home. Stay with me. Don’t go back to the dorms.”
“I’ve missed living here,” Sam admitted.
“Then why did you go back to the dorms at the start of the term?”
“I don’t have a car to get back and forth to classes like you do,” she reminded me.
“I’ll buy you a car.”
“I’m not going to let you buy me a car, Jake.”
“I didn’t say it would be a Mercedes,” I laughed.
“How would that look if I let you buy me a car, yet I’m dating the NBA pro?”
“You’re not dating the NBA pro now,” I replied, kissing her on the lips. “Move in with me, Sam. I want to fall sleep with you every night and wake up with you in my arms every morning.”
“I want the same thing. Yes, I’ll move in with you.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nearly a month had passed before I received an email from Rick. During that time, Sam and I settled into our domestic bliss. Our relationship was so different from the one she’d had with Rick. It was easy and comfortable, everything clicking into place. I was teaching Sam how to cook and she was teaching me things in the bedroom. I had never been happier. Yet one thing ate at my conscience: I hadn’t spoken to Rick. I followed his career and watched the televised games, but I felt awkward contacting him. Sam said to stay clear and I followed her advice. I was glad Rick was reaching out to me. The email was brief, saying he missed our friendship and he wanted to meet the following Saturday.
Sam came home from class to find me sitting at the kitchen table writing a paper on my laptop. “Rick emailed me, ” I told her.
“I wondered how long it would be before he contacted you,” Sam said, sitting down next to me. “What did he say?”
“Only that he wanted to meet me here.”
“I want to tell him about us,” Sam added.
“Then we’ll tell him together. If there is any way we can save our friendship, we have to try.”
Rick knocked on my front door. It was odd that he didn’t just let himself in. It was just another sign that things really were changing between us. I opened the door to greet him. “Hey, it’s good to see you. Come inside.”
Rick entered the hallway and took off his winter coat. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed Sam standing on the landing of the stairs.
“Sam.”
“Hi, Rick.”
“Why don’t we go sit in the kitchen? There’s fresh coffee,” I suggested, leading the way. Sam fell in line behind me and Rick joined us.
I poured the coffee into mugs and passed them around the table. Rick was tapping his foot on the floor, clearly anxious. I don’t think anyone wanted to speak first. Rick took a deep breath and then finally said, “I know I really fucked things up, but the three of us are best friends. I want you back in my life.”
“I want that too,” I admitted.
“Rick, I know things didn’t end that well for you and me, but I miss our friendship. We can’t be a couple, but we can still be friends,” Sam interjected.
“I’m glad you both feel that way.” Rick took a sip of his coffee. “Well, this isn’t awkward at all,” he said with a hint of sarcasm.
Sam looked Rick in the eye and began: “It’s going to take some time to figure this out. We spent almost every day for the past six years together. Now you're traveling and Jake and I are still in school. You can’t expect things to stay the same forever.”
Rick gave a wary look at Sam and then he focused his attention on me. “Come on, you two. Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Rick, since you and I broke up, Jake and I...”
Rick put up his hand to stop her from completing the sentence. “I get it. You don’t have to say it.”
“Nothing happened between us while you two were together,” I jumped in, trying to smooth things over.
Rick gave me a pathetic glance.
“Well, okay, after the night the three of us shared in the cabin, nothing happened.”
“Stop it, Jake. I’m okay. I’m not going to dissolve in a puddle of tears or beat you up.” Rick took another sip of his coffee. “Truth is, I always knew there was a special connection between the two of you. I often wondered how I got so
lucky to have you as long as I did, Sam.”
Sam leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Rick.”
We spent the next few hours telling each other what was happening in our lives. Rick imparted tales of traveling from town to town and seeing the Untied States. He loved his basketball career and having a home base in Miami. When Rick wasn’t playing he found a youth group in Miami where he mentored kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. The kids looked up to Rick, who was so young and already playing pro ball. He and Jenna got to hang out from time to time. Jenna loved college and had recently found a boyfriend.
Sam talked about her classes and GPA I told Rick that I was following his career and stats, never missing a game. I had even gotten Sam hooked. Mostly I told him how happy I was that the three of us were together again.
We walked Rick to the front door when it was time for him to leave. Rick gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, “Take care of her, man. She’s a keeper.”
I patted Rick’s back. “I will. I promise.”
We watched Rick walk next door to visit his parents.
“That went well,” Sam said, placing her arm around my waist. “I think we can really make this work. Do you think he’ll be okay, out there on his own?”
“Yeah, he’ll be great,” I replied.
“How do you think we’re doing?”
I reached out and touched the key on her necklace. “You and I; we’re golden.” I dropped my crutch to the floor and cupped her face with my hands. “I love you, Samantha,” I confessed, pouring all my love and emotion into the kiss.
About The Author
Theresa Troutman lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their crazy dog, Niko. She loves reading, theatre and traveling. Her books include: My Secret Summer, A Special Connection and the Love's Great Adventure Series: Life's What You Make It and Love This Life and London Loves. She is currently working on contemporary romance called, By My Side, which will be released in early 2015.
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