Temporary Home (16 page)

“Scared?” he purred.

Her belly was in knots. Gulping, she shook her head. He leant forward, brushing her cheek with his. The stubble on it was like an electrical pulse through her system.

“I think you are. I wonder how well you’ll talk on the phone when my scruff is abrading the insides of your silken thighs.” He whispered the words into her ear before standing up and taking both their empty cups to the trash.

Her womb clenched and she felt a shaft of longing spear her. Clit throbbing, she tried to control the racing of her heart. It was to no avail. He reappeared before her and reached out his hand.

“Trees are loaded,” he said, as if he’d not just said what he had to her. “Let’s go. I need to stop and pick up another string of lights for Laila. One of hers is dead.”

Girding herself, she placed her hand in his.
Fuck!
It was as if neither of them wore gloves. She could feel his touch so clear, so intimately, she didn’t know if her legs would hold her up on her way back to his truck. Somehow they did and she sighed in relief as she sank into the leather seat.

She had slightly more control when they stopped at a store for lights. They walked together, not touching, yet that did nothing to calm any of the storm within her. She kept replaying his words in her mind.

Stop it. Cripes, I can’t walk around with a river flowing from me. What is he doing to me?

“What’s between Ritchie and Laila?” Sam looked at icicle lights.

A shrug. “I’m not sure. I know they always try to see one another when he comes but honestly, I thought it was just because she was always at the house so they’d become friends.”

“They’re more than friends.”

“How do you know for sure?”

“He was mad when he learnt I was staying at Laila’s. More so than the idea of me staying at your house.”

She wasn’t quite sure what to make of that so she left it alone for now. “They’re both grown.”

“As are we.”

She clenched the finger she’d been using to trace along a box of lights into her fist. “Yes.”

Sam put three boxes in the basket he held. “What?”

“What what?”

“Your expression says something is wrong. Is this about us?”

Yes.
“Nope. I’m aware of what’s between us, Sam. And I am not going to try to make more of it than there is.”

He became very still. There was a storm in his eyes but he seemed oh so still. Like he’d spotted his target and was waiting for the right moment to make his move. “What’s that?” The words were low and threaded with danger.

“Between us? I’m not a fool, Sam. I can see you don’t do long-term entanglements. You’re going with the moment. That’s fine. I am, too. Like you said, we’re both grown, same as Ritchie and Laila.”

“How do you know what I ‘do’, Roxi?”

Really? He wanted to have this conversation here? Now? “I see glimpses of your heart, Sam. But I also see a lot of distance you keep me at. Like you’re scared of me seeing the true Sam. You share it with Laila, but she’s earned the right to have your trust. And I don’t mean you trust me enough to sleep in my house. I’m talking more permanent. It scares you. That’s fine. We’ve not known each other all that long. I’m not expecting talk of future or a ring from you. Let’s just keep it simple.”

A tic appeared in his jaw. “Kiss.”

She took a deep breath. “Yes. KISS, keep it simple, Sam. I’d never call you stupid.”

“No. Kiss. Kiss me. Right here, right now.” He put the basket at his feet.

His gaze remained on her but she knew he was aware of their surroundings. The numerous people out shopping, all the noise, and he held her stare. She stepped up to him and placed her hands on the smooth, black leather of his jacket. On tiptoes she brushed her lips along his in a gentle, tender kiss.

“Not everyone will hurt you, Sam.” Her words were whispered against his mouth before she stepped back. “Let’s go,” she said with more cheer than she felt. Almost everything she’d just said to him was a lie. She wanted a future with him—she’d already lost her heart to this quiet Marine who’d taken over her life.

She picked up the basket and continued on. Sam fell into step beside her and they crossed to the checkout in silence. Okay, maybe she had overstepped her bounds but to be fair to her, he had been the one asking.

Sam paid and slipped his arm around her as they trod to his truck. He held the door for her and soon he was behind the wheel.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Roxi,” he began.

She bit the inside of her lip. “No, Sam. Don’t. Like I said, I’m not expecting anything. Let’s just keep this light and fun.” It would be hard for her but she’d find a way to pull it off. She wouldn’t ask anything from him he wasn’t ready to give. And it was obvious he was in no way ready to give her what she wanted.

“Let me explain.”

Roxi shifted on the seat so she could see him better. “It’s not necessary, Sam. Truly it isn’t.” Then she faced forward and glanced out of the passenger window.

The silence remained until they got to the houses. She jumped out immediately and went to the back of the truck. Her brother stepped outside and she breathed a bit easier knowing he could help her.

“I’ll get it for you,” Sam said.

“No, it’s okay, Ritchie is on his way.” She touched his arm in a plea for him to look at her. Eventually he did. “Thank you, Sam. For taking me with you.”

“Not a problem.” His voice was gruff.

“Let me get that one for you, sis.”

“Thanks, Ritchie.” She gave him a smile. “Do you need any help, Sam?”

He shook his head. “Nope. I’ve got it.”

“Okay”—she cleared her throat—“well, thanks again.”

As she followed her brother inside the house, she was still thinking about Sam. “Ritchie,” she said after he leaned the tree against a wall.

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t you help Sam with the lights on Laila’s house?”

“What about here?”

“I have to make some cookies first,” she said, with a grin to Eric. “It would go much quicker if you helped him. Then you both could come over here and have something hot to drink and cookies.”

His sharp gaze found hers. “Mean that much to you, sis?”

She nodded.

“All right then. Come on, Eric. Let’s go put up lights with Sam.”

Soon the door closed on them. Not even a minute later, she sank on wobbly knees to the nearest chair and put her head in her hands. Giving herself a moment, she took several deep breaths before pushing to her feet and heading to the kitchen. The smell of pine followed her every step.

She turned on some music as she washed up and got to work making some cookies. The familiarity of it soothed her wayward nerves and soon she felt better. When her countertops were full of cooling cookies, she began whipping up some frosting for them. Putting amounts in smaller bowls, she then added the food colouring to get the choices she wanted. Then she began to decorate them.

The front door opened and she peered over to see her three men walk in. Eric, Ritchie and Sam bringing up the rear. Her belly did a little flip at the sight of him. It hadn’t been that long since she’d seen him but the reaction occurred nonetheless.

“Coffee’s ready,” she announced.

“What about me?” Eric asked with a grin. “Do I get coffee as well?”

“Take it up with your dad, little man.” She shook her head at his question. He hated coffee, she’d given him some before and he’d almost spat it out.

“No thanks, I like hot chocolate.”

“I’ll have it ready for you in no time, Eric.”

“You’re the best, Aunt Roxi.” He slipped from the kitchen, which left her and Sam alone.

She smiled and stared at the frosting on her finger. Before she could clean it off, she found it in Sam’s mouth. Shit, her legs trembled as he swirled his tongue around her digit. He watched her as he sucked the frosting off her finger, eyes dark with desire. He slowly tugged on her wrist and removed her finger from the warmth of his lips before he licked his own.

“Delicious.” He leant forward and kissed her briefly then moved to wash his hands. “Thanks for sending them over to help.”

Still unsure her heart would ever calm, she joined him at the sink. “How do you know it was me?”

He merely looked at her and she shrugged as she washed her own hands. “Thank you, Roxi.”

“Stop thanking me.”

She left him there and went back to work decorating cookies. Soon her house was full of cheer as the men put up the tree in her living room and lights around, both inside and out. Later in the day, she went to her brother and whispered in his ear that Laila should be home. He slipped out and she stayed with Sam and Eric.

Hovering in the entranceway between the kitchen and the living room, she inhaled and smiled. Her house smelt like Christmas. Cookies, pine and cheer. She loved this time of year. Always had.

Laila joined them for dinner and when Roxi finally went to bed that night, she was exhausted. It seemed that sleep caught her immediately and she went willingly, knowing she had to get up early tomorrow and take Ritchie and Eric to the airport.

* * * *

It was Sunday morning and she’d just returned from the ferry ride back from Seattle. Making a cup of coffee, she curled up on her couch and enjoyed the quiet. Not that she minded having Ritchie or Eric with her, but most of the time she did live alone and so it wasn’t always easy to have the noise.

Ring. Ring.
She reached out with one hand and lifted the phone from its base. “Hello?”

“Hey, Roxi, it’s Laila.”

“Hey.”

“Just thought you would like to know, Dean is getting out of the hospital on Tuesday.”

She sighed heavily. “Oh, thank goodness. Yes, that’s wonderful. Thanks for telling me.”

“Sure.” A moment of awkward silence before Laila said, “Just wanted to let you know. Bye.”

“Bye, Laila.”

She replaced the phone and shook her head.
I need to make up with her.
She missed her friend. Finishing her coffee, she got to her feet and placed the empty mug in the sink. Then she made her way back to the bedrooms. After stripping the beds, she put the sheets in the laundry and straightened up, although neither room really needed it.

Her Sunday morning was quiet. She didn’t leave the house except for her run and she realised she missed seeing Sam. It bothered her to know how much she looked forward to being in his presence. She had to get a grip. He wasn’t sticking around. Didn’t matter to her heart, though.

Ring. Ring.
She glanced at her phone with a sigh. Did she really want to answer it? She was slow to get up and lift the receiver.

“Hello?” She walked into the kitchen and turned on the kettle for tea.

“Hi, Roxi. It’s Ariel.”

She grinned. She and Ariel Greene had been in the Corps together. She’d got out after four years but the two had remained fast friends.

“Hey, woman. How the heck are you?” She paused, frowning. “Where are you?”

“I’ve just arrived in Texas, actually. Part of a security firm that’s opening up a new office in San Antonio.”

“Wow, congrats. So what’s up? Fill me in.”

Ariel began to talk about what she’d been doing and a whisper of feeling up her spine had Roxi turning from the stovetop to spy Sam standing there. Her heart beat thunderously and she covered the mouthpiece and said, “You scared me.”

He didn’t apologise. In fact, he didn’t say anything, just stood there staring at her with those damn blue eyes that she couldn’t escape from, not even in her dreams. She licked her lips and muttered a response to Ariel.

Sam stood there, clad in rinsed indigo-dye jeans, ones worn from age and use, not ones you purchased that way. These had to be a favourite pair. They hugged his strong legs and showed off the part of his anatomy which always made her weak in the knees. His shirt was long-sleeved, the hue of wrought-iron. It boasted a spread collar, wood-style buttons and a crosshatched pattern that looked good on him. It emphasised the power in his upper body. The shirt was untucked and hung over his lean hips. Lord help her, all she wanted to do was unbutton it and touch the man beneath.

“How long are you in Texas for then, Ariel? Are you staying permanently or do you move with the job?” Roxi didn’t have a clue how she’d got the words out straight.

“I’ll be here for a while. Then I’ll go when we start up something else. I think we’re heading to California next.”

“You sound happy,” she said.

Her breath caught when Sam moved towards her. Predatory steps. Determined steps. A fire burned in his gaze and she swallowed and dug her nails into her palm to keep from reaching for him.

“I am.”

“How are your parents?”

Ariel began telling her and the second Sam touched her, her attention wavered. Nothing more than him reaching out and stroking a finger down her cheek. She arched a brow and gave him a questioning look. His smirk sent her spiralling down flashback road to the tree farm.

He wouldn’t. Even as she shook her head no, he gave a wicked grin and dropped to his knees before her.
Shit.
He wasted no time, just drew down her sweats until they pooled around her socked feet.

His warm breath fanned her through the thin material of her panties and she grew wetter. He lapped at her, pressing the flat of his tongue against her. The friction through her panty material made her tremble.

“You okay, Roxi? You made a sound.”

“I…I’m fine, Ariel. Just hit myself on the stove. I was making tea when you called.”

“Okay.” She got back to her story.

Sam pulled down her underwear with his teeth then went back and shoved his face between her legs. She trembled and almost dropped the phone. The feel of his stubble was like electrical shocks spearing her.

He sank his tongue in before withdrawing and doing it all over again. In seconds he had her on the edge of coming. Her legs shook and he didn’t stop or slow. No, he put his hands on her thighs and spread them further, allowing himself to get deeper.

She barely contained the moan which threatened to escape. Her breaths were coming faster and faster and she struggled to follow along with Ariel’s conversation. He took her to the edge only to back off and begin the build up all over again. With her free hand, she cupped the back of his head and tried to push him closer. He resisted. He hummed against her and she shuddered again. She very nearly screamed the roof off when he shoved two of his thick fingers inside her as he rolled her clit in his mouth. As it was, her breath left her in ragged puffs.