Pas de Deux: Part Two (A Cross and Pointe Novel Book 2) (33 page)

Cillian immediately lowered his face to hers and hungrily captured her mouth, sliding his hands into her hair and parting his lips to find her tongue with his own. Sammi's fingers dug into his back as she responded, the eagerness of her mouth letting him know that he'd been missed, too.

“You taste so good,” he mumbled against her mouth. “I missed you, Sammi.”

“I missed you,” she breathed back. “God, I missed you. You have no idea.”

She squirmed against him, pressing up slightly and trying to move her body over his. Cillian rolled to his back and Sammi didn't miss a beat, maneuvering her body on top of his. He smoothed her hair to one side and she began to suck gently at his lips and his tongue. He felt the inviting warmth of her core as it settled directly on top his rock-hard length, still covered by his boxer briefs. He grunted softly in pleasure when she started moving her hips on him.

His hands slid up the sides of her thighs and rested on her thighs as she slowly rocked back and forth on his lap. His teeth sank into his bottom lip as he reached around to grip her bottom in both hands. Her head tilted back, her eyes shut.

“You feel good.” Her voice was soft and almost innocent, and it sent hot bolts of pleasure lancing through him.

Cillian slipped a hand around to her front and stroked her gently, already feeling her slick with moisture. Sammi shivered again under his touch, but before he could repeat the action, she moved off his lap and took the elastic waistband of his underwear in her hands and tugged down, freeing him.

“Can I try something?”

“Yeah...”

He could hardly believe his eyes when she straddled his legs and hovered over him, her long hair trailing along his stomach. She met his eyes before the tip of her tongue passed between her lips and slid up his shaft toward his tip. His length jerked in response to the sensation, and she licked around his tip again, using the flat of her tongue. He let out a sharp exhale and a soft string of whispered curses when, at once, she sucked the head of him into her mouth and gripped it tightly with her cheeks. Her mouth was warm and wet, as though she'd been salivating for him.

He couldn't look away or utter a sound when her head started moving, side to side and up and down, as she worked his length with her mouth. One of her hands came up from where it rested on his thigh and gripped the base of him, swirling slowly and tightly around his length as she bobbed her head to take him deeper in her mouth.

When he felt warning tingles race down his spine, letting him know the end was near, he ran a hand through her hair and tugged gently. She sat up slowly, swiping the back of one hand over her lips, and Cillian reached out to pull her up to straddle him again.

“Can you...” Her whisper trailed off.

“Anything you want, beautiful.”

“Can you get behind me?”

His eyes popped open, and he reached up to push her hair back so he could stare up at her. “You want it...like that?”

She nodded, trailing her fingers down his chest. “Yes.”

For a moment, he hesitated. She'd had a traumatic experience in that position and he didn't want to trigger any unpleasant memories for her.

She leaned down and her lips brushed his lightly. “It's all right,” she whispered. “Please.”

Cillian sat up, helping position her on her hands and knees. He drew her hips back toward him, drinking in the sight of the deep arch in her back, the inviting spread of her thighs. She looked at him over her shoulder, and he ran his fingertips lightly down her back.

“You okay?”

Sammi nodded. Cillian gripping her hips with a gentle squeeze, before taking himself in hand to line up at her entrance. They locked eyes as he parted her, pulling her hips back to take him deeper.

As he entered her, her head dropped forward, back bowing slightly, her mouth opening to let out a soft moan. The sweet sound of it almost undid him, but he clenched his jaw and slid his hands beneath her tank top up, slipping up her stomach to graze her breasts, her nipples prominent from her arousal and growing harder under his touch.

He slowly began rolling his hips forward, making sure to keep his movements gentle, stroking her skin and running his fingers through her hair in a gentle tug. Sammi began to move with him, her eyes closed as she rolled her hips back to meet him. He could feel every part of her sliding slickly over him, around him, their hips flush against each other as she moved slowly.

“You're so beautiful.” He leaned forward, his chest covering her back. “Sammi...I love you.”

Sammi looked back at him and tilted her head until her lips hovered beneath his. “I love you, too, Cillian.”

He wrapped his arm around her, his hand lightly at her throat to bring her mouth to his. All he registered was the taste of her mouth, the sound of heavy breathing, the heavenly feeling of being buried inside her as she squeezed tightly around him.

Sammi pulled her mouth from his with a gasp as her movements became more insistent. He straightened up behind her and gripped her hips again, thrusting harder and faster, letting her body tell him exactly what she needed. Before long, he felt the delicious squeeze of her velvety walls closing tight around him. Then she cried out, her body shuddering against him, and the rapid pulse of her all around his cock was too much for him to bear. He broke deep inside her, growling low in his chest, his teeth sinking gently into her shoulder as tidal waves of pleasure rolled over him, throbbing through every cell in his body.

They huddled together, catching their breath, until they were still. Cillian swept his fingertips up and down her spine as lightly as he could, smiling at the way her flesh twitched under his touch.

“I missed you like fucking crazy,” he said into her hair. “I'm sorry for everything, Sammi.”

“It wasn't your fault.” Her voice was sleepy in his ear. “There's nothing for you to be sorry for.”

“I should've been there for you at that trial. No matter what I was told, or what I thought—I should've been there and risked your dad throwing me out the window.”

She was quiet for a long time. “I wanted you there. But, I did it for myself. I didn't do it for you, or for my family. I did it for me, and for the others. I wanted to make sure that he could never claim another victim. And that felt so good.”

He kissed her shoulder. “I'm proud of you, Sam.”

Her lips curved against his neck. “Thanks.”

“And tonight, on that stage—you were incredible. I don't think I blinked for three minutes.”

“I'm glad you were there. I'm glad you got to see it.”

“Me, too.”

Cillian bit his lip as he stared into the darkness. He wanted to blurt out the surprise about the studio.
Don't do it. Don't do it...

“Don't do what?” Sammi asked sleepily.

Fuck, man!
“What? Nothing.”

“Not...nothing.” Her voice was almost slurred as she started to drift off. “So...what?”

“Nothing. Go to sleep.” He stroked a hand down her bare back, pulling the covers over them. “You're exhausted.”

“Tell...me...”

“Shh.” He trailed his fingers over her back a little longer as her body got heavier against him as she drifted off. “Tell you later.”

“Better...not forget...I won't...”

Her voice trailed off as repose finally claimed her; she could fall asleep faster than anyone he'd ever met. He allowed himself a little grin before shutting his eyes and relaxing into her embrace.

Early the next morning, Cillian left her sleeping in bed and struggled into his uniform pants and padded into the kitchen. Rocky greeted him with a hungry squeak as he sat next to his bowl.

“Hungry, buddy?” Cillian located the bag of cat food beneath the sink and scooped kibble into the bowl, giving the cat a scratch on his back where tail met rump. Rocky gave him a lazy blink and a purr and commenced his meal.

Cillian washed his hands, then opened the fridge and peered inside, scratching his chin as he studied the contents. The cool air chilled his dog tags, making him shiver when the cold metal brushed his chest. He pulled out what he needed and set about making a quick breakfast.

He whisked a few eggs together and dumped them into a hot pan, then cooked turkey bacon on a plate in the microwave. While bread toasted, he sliced up oranges, strawberries, and grapes, tossing them in a bowl with a drizzle of honey. Two cups of coffee and two short glasses of orange juice joined the plated meals on a wooden breakfast tray, and he toted it all back to the bedroom.

Sammi stirred as he walked in, sitting up slowly with a sleepy smile on her face, her dark hair sticking up as she rubbed her eyes.

“What's all this?”

He set down the tray and winked at her. “I gotta go to work in a little bit, but I didn't want you to think it was just all wham-bam with me.”

She smirked and grabbed his dog tags, yanking him close. “We both know better than that.” She kissed him enthusiastically. “So, what did you bring me?”

He sat on the edge of the bed. “What do you want first, coffee or OJ?”

“Juice, please.” She gulped it noisily when he passed it over. “I was thirsty.”

Cillian smirked and handed her a mug of coffee then hefted a plate of eggs. He forked up a bite and held it out.

Sammi grinned. “He cooks,
and
he feeds?”

“Just this once.”

Sammi let him feed her another bite before she set down her coffee and took the plate from him. “It's okay. You eat—you've gotta leave soon.”

They finished their breakfasts, and Cillian stood and stretched, pulling on his T-shirt and reaching for his socks. “Long days, workin' on base and then goin' to the gym. If I'd know I wasn't gonna get fucked in the end, I wouldn't have asked to go on orders for three weeks.”

Sammi leaned back against the headboard with her mug in her hand. “How did you get Carl to sign over the gym? That doesn't seem like something he'd do willingly.”

Cillian smiled and gave her his best Don Corleone impression. “I made him an offer he couldn't refuse.”

Sammi groaned and clapped a hand to her face, laughing. She peeked through her fingers at him. “Tell me you didn't do the Don Corleone voice with him.”

Cillian laughed out loud. “Not exactly. But we did get into a fight.”

“
What
?”

“He ran his mouth, and I shut him up.” Cillian shrugged. “Gave his lawyer the paperwork, that was that. Gym's mine, fair and square, and when these orders are up, I'll be the full-time owner of Ronan's.”

“That's gotta make your dad so happy, too.”

Cillian nodded. “He is.”

“So, what are you gonna do with the place, Mr. Owner?”

“First order of business is holding that women's self-defense course in a couple weeks. And I'd really like it if you could help me.”

Sammi lifted a shoulder. “I dunno. I don't think I have anything to teach.”

“You serious? I think you've got a lot to teach women. You don't have to decide right now, but will you at least think about it?”

“Well...okay. I'll think about it.”

“Thanks.” He reached for her hand, toying with her fingers. “Anything else been goin' on?”

Sammi was quiet for moment then shrugged. “Not to be a Debbie Downer on the end of your awesome news, but—I saw yesterday that, uh—”

She broke off, and Cillian glanced over at her. She stared out her window, shaking her head.

“Saw what?”

Sammi sighed. “The studio—you know the little place I wanted? It's been sold.”

“Oh...really?”

“I went by before the performance for a little motivation and saw the sign in the window.” She shrugged and glanced away. “It said 'sold'. Big red letters.”

A wave of guilt went through him. He was so excited to surprise her that he hadn't appreciated how hard she'd take it.
Maybe a surprise is a bad idea...

“I'm sorry, Sammi.”

“It wasn't gonna stay vacant forever. It's honestly a great spot for like, a little bakery or a coffee shop or something. Which is probably what it'll turn into.”

“Would've been a great spot for a dance studio, too,” Cillian said, wheels turning.
Maybe I can extract a little intel...
“What would you call it, your studio? What would it've looked like?”

“I always wanted to call it 'Inspire Dance Academy'. I wanted it to have lots of warm lights, fresh flowers. Be a place where my dancers would love to come to class and learn. Pointless, now. But, that's my vision.” She sighed. “That
was
my vision.”

“Not pointless. Don't stop looking at places. Okay? I know you had your heart set on this one, but it's not the end of the dream. You can still have Inspire.”

“I know. Thanks.” She glanced at the clock. “You better get going. Me, too. Thanks for breakfast.”

“You're welcome. We'll talk later.” Cillian laced up his boots and got to his feet. He leaned down to kiss her goodbye. “Hey. I love you.”

The progression of a smile on Sammi's face was something he would never get tired of seeing, waiting for the sigh of her dimples digging their trenches in her cheeks.

“I love you, too.”

Cillian's first phone call when he got into his truck was the contractor. He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the rearview mirror, and he was grinning like a little kid.