Magnetic (New Adult Contemporary Romance) (3 page)

Samantha made it 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 resc
ue 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 parkin
g 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 cl
imbed 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.”

Turni
ng, 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 f
urther 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.

H
e 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 t
hen 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 h
e 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.

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 un
til 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 necklace 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.”

“
I love Seattle and the big city, though I am a country boy at heart.”

“
That’s a little contradictory don’t you think?”

“
No, not really,” he explained, “I grew up in an average sized community with all the comforts of country living. I love outdoor activities like camping, mudding in my Jeep, and hiking, but I also love the stylish lifestyle of Seattle. I love sitting in a jazz club listening to a local group. I like to take walks on the pier and feel the salt air on my face. I love the fast paced living of downtown where everything you need is within a short walk from your apartment. I like the endless activity of the big city, but I also love the tranquility of the quiet mountains and ocean.”

“
I see what you mean.” Samantha pondered what he said. “I suppose I am not sure what I am yet. I’ve yet to experience anything exciting, but I can tell you that the big city is what made me choose U-Dub over all the other colleges.”

“
Other colleges? Did you apply to many?”

“
Yeah, quite a few. To be honest I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go, and I still don’t know what I want to major in. What are you majoring in?”

“
Pre-Medicine, I want to be a Cardiologist.”

The Greek God is ambitious,
she thought as she watched him while he drove.

He took
the Union Street exit ramp and headed west towards the water. Turning onto First Avenue he pulled into a parking lot, and took the first parking spot he could get. Looking at her he asked, “Are you ready?”

She nodded her head yes and allowed a
smile to cross her features. She was excited to be walking around the streets of Seattle with her date. None of the warnings that her father had issued when she called him earlier that evening were registering.

The fall air was cooling so Samantha slipped
on her sweater and tied the belt at her waist. The colors complimented her outfit perfectly, and she was convinced that she looked every bit as amazing as he did. Darren was wearing a comfortable pair of jeans, similar to the ones he wore earlier in the day, only she could tell they were newer with a buttoned down collared shirt tucked in at his waist. His leather Doc Martens matched his belt, and his sleeves were casually rolled above his elbows, which further defined his biceps, and showed off his forearms. Opening her door and helping her out, he reached around her to shut it. Their bodies were close, only inches away from one another.

Darren looked at her, and her eyes widened, then she froze, the only
movement her body made was the blinking of her beautiful eyes. Her soft lips parted, and she licked her lips. Suddenly Darren’s entire body screamed to kiss her. He could see that she wanted it as much as he did. Gripping both of her arms, just below her shoulders, he pulled her close and with the softest, most sensual touch that he could muster he captured her lips with his own and kissed her. He kissed her with every ounce of desire that he possessed. He kissed her like he had never kissed another woman. Darren could barely contain the passion he had for Samantha, letting go of her shoulders, he grabbed her around the waist and backed her against the jeep. His lips pressed solidly against her’s, his tongue teasing her’s to play with him. She tasted like peppermint.

Samantha melted into his arms, arching her breasts against his chest. He marveled how well their bodies fit together, and he pressed his hips against her
’s, his erection growing in size with each sound and movement that they made. Blood coursed through him with a savage heat, he desired to ravage her, never let her go until his lusts were fully satiated, but something in him held back. Again he experienced their magnetic kiss. As much as he hated to admit it, it scared him and with that thought he took a step back, forcing his lips to leave her’s, forcing his body back under control.

Something akin to
disappointment flashed across Samantha’s face, it devastated Darren, he couldn’t disappoint her. Taking one step towards her and clasping both of his hands at the nape of her neck he plunged his tongue back into her mouth, drinking in her essence while he tangled his fingers through her dark hair. Samantha wrapped her arms around him and tucked her fingertips into the back pocket of his jeans, pulling him closer. She could feel the strength of his erection, a sensation she had never felt before, but one that she was extremely pleased to discover. Their kiss was passionate but far shorter than either of them would have preferred. Darren pulled away again, leaning his forehead against her’s. Her eyes were half-closed in a daze of desire. “I was born to kiss you,” he whispered, “but if we keep on at this pace, we will not make it to dinner, and God help me, I would take you right here in this parking lot if I thought we could do it without getting taken to jail for indecent exposure.”

Samantha smiled against him. She may be a virgin, but she fully understood where their desi
res were leading and what he was insinuating when he said he would
take
her. Her stomach performed a few acrobatic flip-flops at the thought. She’d never even had a boyfriend before, and her only experimentation with kissing had been at Kari’s sixteenth birthday party when everyone played spin the bottle. Kissing Jacob Siler in front of a group of twenty wasn’t her idea of a kiss. His breath stunk and his lips were soggy. Nothing like the kiss she had just experienced with Darren. This one made her toes curl.

Reaching for her hand he intertwined his fingers through her
’s, and they set off towards their destination. When they reached the corner of First Avenue and Pike Street Samantha recognized where they were. “Are we going to Pike Place Market?” she inquired.

“
Yes, have you been there?”

“
I’ve been once or twice, but I just walked through quickly since we were on our way to the ferry.”

“
It’s my opinion that you haven’t experienced the market until you have visited at least ten times.”

Tilting her head to on
e side, Samantha asked, “Why do you think that?”

“
Just think about it, the market is enormous; about nine acres. It’s one of the oldest markets in the country and is constantly changing. There are several levels, and even some winding alleys throughout. You can experience sights, sounds, tastes, aromas, and textures all in one place. If a person takes their time and gives the market their due respect, they will find many elements to amaze, delight, and inspire them. The problem is people don’t take the time. They only see it as a
farmer's market
of sorts, and don’t give it its due respect.”

Darren spoke with a passion rarely witnessed by
Samantha; she looked around as they crossed Pike Street and stepped onto the sidewalk in front of the market. Her eyes were open to the possibilities.

“
You’re really passionate about the market aren’t you?”

“
Yes, I suppose I am.” Darren squeezed her hand as he spoke.

“
It looks as if the market is closed,” Samantha said as they stepped into the market hall where most of the shop grates had been lowered and locked.

“
Yeah, sorry about that. The main market closes at six, but
Lowell’s
is still open for dinner, that’s where we are going.”

A
n Asian woman was pulling down the gate on her flower stand nearby. Darren dropped Samantha’s hand and walked towards her, pulling twenty dollars out of his pocket. “If you can spare a minute, I would love to purchase any set of flowers for my girl here.” He nodded over his shoulder towards Samantha who stood off to the side embarrassed.

The woman scrutinized Samantha for a moment, then nodded yes and stepped back into her flower stand. She rummaged through a few flower wraps, apparently looking for somethi
ng specific. When she had found it, she returned holding a beautiful bouquet mix of red flowers wrapped in brown parchment. She raised her hand and held out her fingers, “Five dollars, normally seven, but for you five.”

Darren handed her the twenty, flashe
d a grateful smile, and walked back to Samantha holding the flowers. He placed them in her hands and kissed her cheek, “Here beautiful, these are for you.”

“
Boy, you forgot your change!” she bellowed at his back.

“
Keep it!” he called over his shoulder.

She bowed and called after him, “
Thank you, and come back for more flowers anytime.” Darren waved to the woman and then laced his fingers through Samantha’s, and they walked to
Lowell’
s. Samantha could smell the sweet scent of the flowers as she carried them in her arms.

“
I hope you like this place; it’s been one of my favorite places to eat since coming here with my grandfather when I was growing up.” They reached the door to the restaurant which Darren held open as Samantha walked in. He placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her forward towards the hostess.

“
Dinner for two?” she asked.

“
Yes,” Darren nodded, “overlooking the sound please.”

“
This way please.” They followed the hostess to their seat.

She led them to a table at the back of the restaura
nt. It was positioned in front of a large picture window with a gorgeous view of the Puget Sound. Darren pulled out her chair, and she sat down, gently setting her flowers on the table, right next to her.

“
Oh how lovely. What a sweet man you have, I think he’s a keeper.” The hostess cooed at the flowers as she set the menus in front of them. “Can I start you off with something to drink?”

Darren inquired about Samantha
’s preferences and then ordered, the hostess walked away, leaving the two to look out over Elliott Bay in companionable silence.

“
The view is breathtaking. I can see why you love this place so much,” Samantha said, still looking out over the piers and water below.

“
My grandfather used to bring me here for breakfast, he would tell me about the days when it wasn’t a busy restaurant, but rather a coffee roaster and cafeteria that fed people that came here for their fresh produce. Oh the stories he would tell.”

Samantha smiled as she watched Darren reminisce about the memories of his grandfather. She
adored the dimple on his chin that peeked through when he would give her a half-grin. It was quickly becoming one of her favorite facial features.