One Blazing Night (13 page)

Her hips were held up by a miracle, but she was so tight that every time he drove into her, her throbbing clit got a full dose of bliss. Shivers raced up and down her spine and she was hanging on for dear life. “Kiss me now, damn you.”

He did. He kissed her until they were both crying out in each other's mouths. He hit the magic button and she came. So hard that she almost knocked him over. But he held his position like a trooper. A desperate trooper who looked as if he was in exquisite pain, and then he froze.

But even after the moans quieted and the shuddering stopped, he didn't pull out. He left his still-hard penis in her, and as he helped her back down to the mattress, he pulsed inside her. He looked at her with no wicked grin, no smart-ass response. His forehead was dotted with a sheen of sweat and his arms trembled as he watched her. “I don't want to stop,” he whispered.

She squeezed him, unable to ease off even when she saw him wince. But she couldn't help it.

They hadn't just had sex, or screwed, or whatever. They'd made love.

Incredible. Intimate. Love.

Oh, she was in deep, deep trouble.

13

T
HE
WAY
S
AM
FIT
,
tucked against his side, filled Matt with a peace he hadn't experienced before. He was wiped out. From the party, from his father, his uncles. From the incredible lovemaking with Sam that made everything else fade into the background.

She smelled like sex and jasmine. The walls were dark but for the fireflies and the stars shining above him. It was a moment he'd remember for a very long time.

“I don't want to move,” she said, a little breathless.

“Good. I don't want you to move.”

“But I have to go to the bathroom.”

He kissed her temple. “Why didn't you go when I did?”

“Foolish. Lazy. Take your pick.”

“Okay, well, here's a plus. When you come back, we can spoon.”

No response. So she'd picked up on his hint that she should spend the night. He kept his breathing easy, tried hard not to hold her any tighter.

“That is a plus,” she said so softly that he barely heard her.

He couldn't stop his smile. Didn't want to, now that he thought about it. “Good.” He loosened the arm he had wrapped around her and she rolled to the side before she stood. He stared at her in wonder. That hair of hers. Would he ever stop being fascinated by it? He'd bet most people thought it was from a bottle, but he knew it was the real deal. It felt like silk in his hands. While she was in the bathroom, he did some rearranging—put the pillows back on the bed, picked up the blankets from the floor. He even ate a few grapes before he got under the covers.

Hands clasped behind his head, he waited, watching the walls transform themselves all around him. To be this creative, Sam had to have a romantic streak in her, even if she wouldn't admit it. Then he noticed something odd. A red light high up on the wall to his left. She'd told him about the sensors, but this looked like a camera. No, Sam would never.

When she came back, she dropped her robe by the end of the bed and looked at him. “What's wrong?” she asked.

“Is that a camera?”

She climbed in beside him. “What? Where?”

He pulled her close with one hand and pointed with the other. “There.”

“That's not supposed to be on. Not when there are any heat signatures in the apartment.

“Monitor 4G,” she said. “Admin number 4857828. Camera 3 maintenance, main bedroom, playback.”

A monitor appeared on the wall. Right away he saw thermal images of the two of them. They were kissing. And stripping. He had to admit it was kind of sexy. He looked over at Sam. “You're blushing.”

“Great. So wonderful to know I'm caught on every frequency— Hold on. What's this?”

The thermal image was replaced by a standard view. Of them. Naked. And kissing, and them falling onto the bed, pushing everything down. Sam gasped and covered her mouth. “So how do you turn that off?” Matt asked.

“Why?'

He turned his attention back to her, expecting her to burst into flames at any second. But she'd lowered her hand and the blush was already fading. “Because we've just made a sex tape,” he said.

“I know.”

“Sam.”

It seemed she couldn't tear her gaze away from the wall. “What?” She finally spared him a quick glance. “Aren't you curious? I have no idea what went wrong, although I've had some issues with the programming in the past. It might stop or go back to thermal. Then again, it might not.”

“You want to watch us?” He sat forward, leaning on his elbows. “Really?”

“I don't know.” She gave a small shrug. “Do you?”

“Is that a trick question?”

She laughed, but he sensed the nervousness behind it. “I'm going to destroy it, of course, but before I do— I mean, why not? It's just us.”

“It's one angle, and that's not going to change. It's focused on the whole bed. Are you sure you're ready for that?”

She grinned and nodded.

“Jesus, you're full of surprises, aren't you?”

Her expression fell. “Look, we don't have to watch it. I just thought—”

“I want to.” He caught her arm when she started to get up. “I'm sorry—I just don't want you to become uncomfortable.”

She pulled him down into a quick kiss. “If either one of us says stop, we'll stop it. Okay?”

“Okay,” he said, not sure if this was a mistake or not. He was tempted to skip watching the tape and just watch her.

She perched on her knees, running her hand over Matt's chest as she watched. “This is weird. Do I really look that pale? And awkward?”

“What the hell are you talking about? You have porcelain skin, the softest I've ever touched. As for awkward, oh, honey, you are no such thing.”

“But look,” she said, pointing at where her legs were akimbo and her hair was half in her face.

“All I see is a beautiful woman. Nothing about you taking pleasure from your body is awkward.”

“You're prejudiced.”

“Yep.”

They were quiet for a moment. Watching. It wasn't the kind of sex you'd see in porn. It was slow. No music. But it was raw and exciting. The feeling of being inside her swept over him, making his cock harden, which was quite a feat, and his belly tense. It was a little crazy, considering what he'd just figured out. He touched her cheek, wondering if she was seeing the same thing he was. They weren't just having sex. They were making love.

By all rights the realization should've scared the hell out of him.

“This makes me want you all over again,” he whispered.

“Prove it,” she said, her voice huskier than normal.

She lifted herself up, turned around and straddled his thighs. After studying him for a moment, she smiled. “I think there's a way we can both watch the tape and do a live re-creation. If you're up to it, that is.”

All his blood rushed south, but he was still able to nod.

* * *

A
TICKLE
WOKE
Matt from the best dream he'd had in a long time. When he swiped the offending source of that tickle, he remembered. An even better reality was in his arms, her hair wandering over from what had become their pillow.

He'd imagined waking up to a note, with only the cold dent in the pillow to remind him of the night they'd shared. But he'd finally got his wish: he would get to spend a morning with Sam. They'd have some great coffee, take a shower together, and with any luck—

“What?” Sam turned and nearly beaned him with her head as she sat up. “Oh.”

“Good morning to you, too.”

She blinked at him, last night's makeup giving her adorable raccoon eyes. “Sorry,” she said, trying to hold back a yawn, then giving it up. It was a very big yawn that made him yawn in return. “Did I wake you?”

“I think I woke you, even though I'm not sure how.” He turned on his back and checked the light behind the shades. It looked weirdly bright. “What time is it?”

“Oh, my God.” Sam let out a soft squeak. “It's almost eleven.”

“Seriously? I never sleep this late.” He braced himself, expecting her to shoot out of bed.

But she didn't. “Me neither.” She lay down again, on her side, her gaze meandering down his body as she rested her hand over his.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

“For what?”

“Spending the night. I liked waking up with you.”

Her lashes came down. “I've never done this before. Slept all night with someone.”

“Ever?”

“Nope.”

He turned his hand up and threaded their fingers. “Well, I'm glad to be the first.”

“It's not as if I've been with many guys. So you might be the first and last.”

Matt had no idea what to say to that. Something about how she should make more time in her life for dating? That he wanted to be the one and only?

Did he want that?

“I don't recall sleeping till eleven, either,” she said. “Well, obviously I must have when I was very young.”

“Sleeping late stopped for me my first year of law school,” Matt said. “Since then I've always had work to do. Even when I want to sleep in, my body is on a strict schedule. Makes hopping time zones a pain in the ass.”

Sam squeezed his hand but didn't say anything, although it looked as if she might.

“What is it, Sammy?”

She kept her lashes lowered. “I was just wondering how much longer you planned on being here.”

Matt held back a grimace at the sickening thought that she'd overheard something about London last night. It wasn't as if it were precisely a secret. But the fact remained—he hadn't mentioned the possibility of his moving.

“Not that I'm trying to get rid of you.” She was looking at him now, but the little crinkle above her nose told him his answer mattered. “It's just that Clark might have booked someone to come stay here next week. And since the gala is over and your, um, board meeting is tomorrow...” Her hand slipped away and she grabbed the covers that had fallen to her waist and pulled them up to her chin. “You've probably already booked your flight to New York, so I was just...wondering.”

Ah. This wasn't about London.

His relief lasted all of five seconds.

It was still possible she did want to get rid of him. She was behind with work and he'd been a big distraction, so he couldn't blame her if she did. Jesus. It had been her hesitation that made him nervous. She wasn't normally like that. Sam just said whatever was on her mind.

This must be Sam at her most vulnerable. She'd been more relaxed at the damn gala. A few more seconds and the cloud lifted from his sleep-deprived brain. The question wasn't about logistics or the apartment; it was more personal. Sam wanted to know about
them
.

“Don't mind me,” she said. “I'm just rambling. I mean, this is why Clark handles the business side of things. You don't have to leave unless you want to. It doesn't matter, and I should get up because it's eleven and...”

He kissed her, then moved back a little. “I'll probably be in Boston through the week, but if you or Clark has booked the apartment, I can always stay at the hotel.”

“No,” she said, and there was the happy Sam in her voice again. “No, seriously. Stay as long as you like.”

Now he was really worried. There wasn't a way this thing wouldn't end with them apart. He'd probably be in London, and she'd be in her lab, too busy to get away for a day, let alone a couple of weeks. They'd both be up to their ears in work. But he wasn't about to bring that up now. Not until he knew for sure if he had the London job.

“So are we staying in or going out for breakfast? We can get dim sum at Myers & Chang,” he said. “Unless you have to work.”

“Nope. I'm not going anywhere near the lab today.”

A few days ago he would've been sending up fireworks that she was willing to spend all this time with him. Now he was wondering if he'd done her a huge disservice.

Hell, he'd worry later, he thought as she snuggled closer.

For now, he kissed her. Until her stomach grumbled so loudly they both cracked up.

* * *

“T
HERE
'
S
EVERYTHING
WE
need to make waffles,” Sam said. “I specifically made sure of that.”

“I have no objection to waffles,” Matt said, amused by the argument they were having. “I'm just saying eggs and bacon would make a nice addition to the menu.”

“But I like my waffles a lot.”

“And...?”

“Notice I said
waffles
.”

“Ah, so no room at the inn, eh?”

She walked between his legs, which wasn't difficult, because he was sitting on the counter that faced the living room. “Exactly,” she said. “Although what you said about bacon has a certain...”

“Je ne sais quoi?”

“I was going to say
salty flavor
, but
je ne sais quoi
works, too. Dammit.”

He wondered what she was cursing about until he recognized her ringtone coming from the purse she'd put on the couch.

“I should get that.” He watched her go. Damn, she looked good wearing his T-shirt and boxers.

“Yeah, what's up?” she said.

As she listened, he could see her good mood dissolve like Alka-Seltzer in water. It had to be Clark. No one could douse her mood like him. At least, from what Matt had observed. For all he knew, Clark farted rainbows when he had Sam all to himself.

“What, so he can't wait a few extra days? Screw him.” Now she was pacing. Matt deflated. He had the distinct feeling their breakfast was going to be a nonstarter. But what made him really uneasy was thinking about their earlier conversation. While he was jetting off to his job, he'd be leaving her with a shitload of work to do. Well, hell. He might not see a solution to their work conundrum, but at least Sam was going to get a damn waffle.

As he took out the waffle maker and the ingredients, he listened to Sam.

“I know we have a contract, Clark. What I'm saying is that even people with a contract can take a few days off. I told you he wanted it too soon to begin with.”

Matt paused between cracking two eggs. That didn't sound like—

“Ugh, fine. You said that. Who cares? It was true.”

Matt nodded to himself and cracked the second egg.

“No, I don't want to get sued. Come on. Offer something constructive instead of just being a butthead.”

Matt smiled as he measured flour and poured oil into the bowl.

“Oh, nice. So now it's threats? You're not farming out my work to Tina. She's got a project, and she isn't familiar with the job.”

Matt got out the whisk, but before he put it in the bowl, he turned, trying to get Sam's attention. He wasn't very subtle about it, waving the whisk in the air.