Magnolia Summer

by Jaci Burton

  And although she’d learned more about Sam tonight than she had ever known before, it still didn’t change things. In a few weeks she’d be going back to New York, and he would be staying in Magnolia.

  She didn’t want the pull of attraction she felt whenever he was around. Nor did she care for the way her mind conveniently forgot her goals and dreams and focused instead on gorgeous blue eyes and a fine ass.

  Priorities, Jordan. Fucking Sam isn’t on the top ten list.

  So, pleasant as the evening had been, she was relieved their date was over. She had done her part, had gone out to dinner with Sam, and now she could go home.

  Chapter Seven

  “This isn’t the way home.” Jordan cast a suspicious glare in Sam’s direction.

  He didn’t even turn to look at her. “I know.”

  After they’d left the restaurant he took the opposite direction from Jordan’s home. What was he up to now, and how much more of this ordeal could she take?

  “Where are you taking me? I’d like to go home now, if you don’t mind.”

  Glancing over at her, he smiled enigmatically. “I want to show you something. It won’t take long. Promise.”

  She could either start an argument, or go see what he wanted her to see. Sighing, she decided she’d endure a few more minutes in the close confines of the car with Sam. A few more minutes of torture, while she stole glances at his incredible profile, his thick black hair, his piercing blue eyes, and inhaled the heady scent of his cologne. Definitely torture, but she was tough. She could take it for a bit longer.

  Too preoccupied looking at Sam to notice where they were headed, she was shocked when he pulled into Maggie’s Bluff, so named because the area sat on top of a bluff overlooking Magnolia.

  Good lord, this was where all the high school kids used to go to make out. She had never personally experienced the place, but she knew where it was, and had heard enough about it from the other kids at school.

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  Sam parked the car and turned to look at her. “Just thought we’d digest a bit and look at the stars. It’s a nice night, and I wasn’t quite ready to take you home. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Mind? Of course not. Why would I mind?” Right. And why were her palms sweaty? How old was she anyway? Perhaps age was irrelevant at the town make-out point.

  “Let’s get out and look at those stars.” He exited the car and walked around to Jordan’s door, opening it and offering his hand.

  Reluctantly, Jordan placed her sweaty hand in Sam’s and allowed him to pull her out of the car. But instead of releasing her hand, he continued to hold it as they walked side by side to the edge of the bluff. Jordan could feel his warmth and strength as he held her small hand firmly in his large one. Well his palms certainly weren’t sweaty.

  They reached the edge of the bluff and Sam moved Jordan in front of him. “Beautiful,” he murmured against her ear.

  Jordan had to agree. The night was perfectly clear and thousands of stars were visible in the summer sky, so close she had to resist the urge to reach out and touch them. A slight breeze blew away the humid discomfort of the day, and the lights of Magnolia below mirrored the celestial ones above, appearing like twin images.

  “Yes, it is,” she replied, marveling at a sight she never got to experience amongst the towering buildings of New York City. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it before.”

  “I meant you, not the view.” Sam whispered huskily in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her. Close enough to feel his breath ruffle her hair. Close enough to feel his chest pressing against her back, his arms wound around her middle, just under her breasts.

  Her nipples hardened and she was afraid to take another breath.

  “Surely you’ve seen this sight before. The view up here has always been like this.”

  “I’ve never been up here before.” She was mesmerized by the incredible beauty of the lights flickering above and below her and the exquisite sensation of being held in Sam’s arms. There was a sense of peace and tranquility up here. Not a sound other than the trees lightly rustling in the soft summer breeze. It was like being completely alone in the universe. Alone with Sam.

  He turned her to face him. “What do you mean you’ve never seen it before?” The soft moonlight shined over his inquisitive face.

  “I told you. I’ve never been here before tonight.” Great. Another thing to be embarrassed about. Who’d wanted to date the drama nerd in high school anyway?

  “Damn, Jordan, that surprises the hell out of me. All the years you lived here, all through high school, no boy ever brought you up here?”

  She laughed at the surprise in his voice. “No, Sam, no one ever brought me up here before. I guess I’ve missed out on an incredible sight all these years. I had no idea it was so lovely.”

  “That’s not all you missed out on, sugar.” As if a cloud passed over, his eyes suddenly darkened. A spark of deviltry twinkled in the turquoise orbs. “You know why the high school kids come up here, don’t you?”

  “I’m not completely naïve, Sam. Of course I know what goes on up here. I just never…”

  “Never got to experience it yourself?”

  She nodded, feeling stupidly inept, vestiges of the timid girl she was in high school returning to haunt her. Jordan never thought she was missing anything before by not coming here. Sure, she’d heard all the stories about who hooked up with whom on Maggie’s Bluff, who got pregnant in who’s Chevy. Typical small-town gossip. But not once had she ever longed to have a guy bring her up here.

  Why did she feel that longing now? With Sam? And why did it irk her that he obviously had fond memories of this place? Of course he had brought other girls to Maggie’s Bluff. Sam was popular in high school, the bad boy every good girl wanted to date. It shouldn’t bother her all these years later, so why did it?

  “I think it’s time someone showed you what you missed.” His voice lowered to barely above a whisper. He caressed her bare shoulders, sweeping away her hair and capturing one of the curls before it fell behind her back, letting it slide through his fingers as his gaze burned into her.

  “No.”

  “Still scared?” He was baiting her.

  She tried to pull away from his grasp but he wouldn’t let her go. “I’m not scared of anything, Sam Tanner, and especially not you. I’m no longer sixteen years old. I know exactly what I’m doing and what I want. And this isn’t it.”

  “I think you’re lying. You and I have been playing a game these past few days, Jordan. A game of cat and mouse. I’m ready to pounce. You ready to be eaten?”

  Oh, God. Oh, dear God. She didn’t want those images in her mind. Primal images, of lying spread-eagled on the ground while Sam ate her pussy until she screamed into the quiet night.

  “No.” Her heart pounded, perspiration pooled between her breasts, and her panties grew wet from her arousal.

  “Prove it.” A glint of humor and challenge sparkled in his eyes. “Kiss me once—one hard, hot kiss. Then tell me you don’t feel anything, and I’ll let it go.”

  If she kissed him, she’d never let go. A hunger gnawed at her. She was starving for this—for sex, for once in her life desperate to be wild and free.

  She’d never survive it. “I don’t have to prove anything.”

  “Coward.”

  “I am not a coward. I just refuse to play this childish game with you.”

  “That’s because you’re afraid of me. One kiss, Jordan. Just one hard, hot kiss. Give me all you’ve got and that’ll be the end of it.”

  Okay, one kiss. She could do this. All she had to do was give him one little kiss, and then she’d be free of him. A quick peck to get Sam off her back forever. Well worth it to save her sanity.

  “You’re on.” Leaning into him and grabbing his head between her hands, she smashed her lips into his, grinding her mouth against his. As fast as she could, she ended it, stepping back with a satisfied smile on
her face. There, she had done it. She had kissed him, felt nothing, and now it was over.

  Except Sam was laughing.

  All right. The kiss hadn’t been that bad, had it?

  Moving forward into the space she had just created, he leaned toward her until their noses were practically touching. His breath brushed her cheek as their eyes met.

  “Baby, that was definitely a hard kiss, but hardly a hot one. The deal was one hard, hot kiss.” Sliding one hand behind her neck and the other around her waist, he pulled her to him, his muscled body pressed intimately against hers. “Since you’re unwilling to do it the right way, I will.”

  His lips descended over hers and turned her world upside down.

  Jordan had been kissed by men before. But not like this. Never like this. Not with this kind of passion and intimacy. Sam gave her what she’d been unwilling to give him, what she’d been afraid to give him. A kiss with feeling behind it, with emotion.

  A kiss that spoke of desire and need, of secrets in the dark. Secrets she was desperate to uncover.

  He explored the textures of her mouth with his tongue, sliding his lips back and forth over hers as their tongues played in a sensual rhythm. Jordan’s trembling body clung to his for support as his strong arms held her in his embrace.

  There wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t scream out for his touch. As his hands roamed over her, she couldn’t stifle the moans that escaped her lips, encouraging his exploration of her throat, her arms, her back. Everywhere he touched ignited flames along her nerve endings until she could barely stand. If he hadn’t been holding her in his arms she’d have surely fallen to the ground.

  But she wanted to touch him, too. For too many years she’d wondered what would have happened if she’d taken that step with him, if she’d allowed herself to realize her feelings.

  Just one damn time she didn’t want to be afraid.

  She slid her hands over his arms. His biceps tensed as she grasped them in an attempt to pull herself closer to him. Tearing her mouth from his, she trailed kisses down his chin and throat, feeling his pulse beat erratically in his neck as she touched that point where his blood pounded in a frantic rhythm.

  Knowing Sam was as affected by their kissing as she was excited her beyond belief. She nipped his shoulder lightly with her teeth. He groaned and slid his hands through her hair, pulling her closer, wrapping the strands around his fists and dragging her lips once again over his own.

  Her knees weakened. She was leaning over Sam’s arm, practically prone. Then suddenly he lifted her into his arms, never once breaking the contact of his mouth on hers. He walked over to a nearby picnic table and laid her down.

  Jordan opened her eyes to see his luminous eyes poring over her. The full moon clearly illuminated every feature of his face and body. His eyes raked boldly over her, searching her own for a response. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him as he held her pinned with the dark passion of his heavy-lidded gaze.

  Tentatively he ran a hand along her bare arm, lightly trailing his fingertips from her shoulder to her wrist. He twined his fingers with hers and pulled her hand to his mouth, pressing light kisses against her knuckles.

  “This game has gone on way too long. It’s time to end it. I want you, Jordan, and unless you get up from this table right now and walk away, I intend to have you.”

  Her breath caught on a gasp at the passionate promise in his husky voice. The way his gaze fixed on her in such an intimate way should have caused her to turn away, but she didn’t. They were locked together and she was helpless to break the bond. Waves of passion and need coursed through her blood until she wanted to cry out in frustration.

  Say it. Say the words. Nothing bad will happen. You’re not your mother, Jordan.

  “I want you, Sam. Now.”

  The cool metal of the table pressed against her bare legs as he leaned over her. He placed his hands on either side of her hips to brace himself against the table, then dipped his head and met her eager mouth again. In the process of kissing her senseless, he slid his hands along her hips to the place where her skimpy dress met her thighs. Sliding the dress up with his hands, he leaned against her, pressing his erection against her sex.

  The contact was electric. His cock was blazing hot, searing her weeping cunt. Jordan moaned and felt more moisture seep from her.

  “God, Jordan,” Sam groaned between clenched teeth. He moved his body against hers, slowly. “I want you. I’ve wanted you for so long.” Then he took her mouth again, his slow, sensual assault on her lips eliciting moans of pleasure.

  His hands roamed everywhere, sliding along every exposed area of her skin, evoking shivers throughout her nerve endings. An aching need pulsed between her legs, her thin silk panties moistening with her desire. He continued to kiss her deeply as he ran his hands over her belly, sliding his pinkie into the ring attached to her navel.

  “This is fucking sexy as hell,” he said, leaning over to lick around the jeweled ring attached to her belly. “I would never have thought you’d have a piercing.”

  It had been a whim, something silly on a boring weekend. A couple colleagues had wanted to stop in the piercing parlor, and not wanting to be the stick-in-the-mud, she’d gone in with them.

  At that moment, she’d wanted to be daring. She didn’t want to be afraid, and hell, she had no one in her life to tell her what to do, so she’d gone ahead and had her navel pierced. It made her feel decadent, a little wild, all those things that weren’t really her.

  “I never knew you were a wild child,” he said, leaning up and pressing his erection against her throbbing sex.

  “I’m not.” She wasn’t. He didn’t know her at all.

  “Oh, I think that wild creature lurks within you, Jordan. You just don’t let her out very often.”

  She didn’t know what he was talking about. She wasn’t wild at all. She never took chances. She never—

  Look at her. She wasn’t wild? Yeah, right. She was spread-eagled on a picnic table in a public place, writhing underneath a hot, sexy man with a hard-on. This was as wild as she’d ever been.

  She should be appalled at her behavior, but dammit, she was tired of always being safe. She wanted Sam touching her, kissing her. She wanted his cock in her pussy and his mouth on her clit.

  Now would be good. She lifted her hips, hoping he’d fuck her, lick her, anything to assuage the incessant throbbing ache inside her.

  But instead he stood and moved his hands toward her breasts, resting his palms just underneath them. Her nipples hardened and she moved without thinking, begging him without speaking to touch her.

  “You want me to touch you?”

  “Yes. Dammit, yes! Please, Sam.”

  She heard her own voice but didn’t recognize it. Husky, aroused and demanding, it was like a part of her she’d never seen before had just surfaced. The part that was wild and wanton, the part she’d hidden for so long. The part Sam said lurked inside her.

  Maybe she didn’t know herself as well as she thought.

  When his palms grazed lightly over her breasts, she instinctively arched her back, filling his hands. He rubbed his fingertips against her nipples, and electric jolts of desire arced from her breasts to that throbbing spot between her legs.

  Her response to Sam shocked her. There was so much more to what they were doing, to what she was feeling, than she had ever experienced before. She wasn’t inexperienced. But with other men it had been different. Just sex. Sex without intimacy was easy, required nothing but a physical response and no emotional attachment. But like it or not, her bond with Sam had always been emotional.

  And now, as her lips sought his, hungrily responding to every stroke of his tongue, Jordan realized the difference. What they were doing implied much more than just two people who craved an intimacy driven by physical lust. This involved the heart. Caring, wanting, desiring something beyond the physical.

  She tensed as the old fears came back to haunt her. Like a cold wind, she
chilled, reaching for Sam’s hands and pushing him away.

  “I can’t do this.”

  He stilled for a moment and made eye contact with her. “Why not?”

  “Because.”

  “Because I make you feel something?” He demonstrated by skimming her rib cage, with each movement of his hand raising her dress higher and higher until it rode her hips, baring her wet panties to his probing gaze.

  “No. I don’t—”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t feel, Jordan.” He swept one hand down over her belly and lower, slipping his fingers inside the tiny scrap of silk, gently caressing her erect clit.

  She gasped, sucked in a breath as if she hadn’t had oxygen in too long, and whimpered her need for him.

  The hell with fear. She wanted this!

  “You have needs, baby. Needs I can take care of for you. I think it’s been too long for you, Jordan, and you need to come.”

  “Yes,” she said, finally giving up her internal war. “Make me come, Sam.”

  He reached for the strings at her hips, untying them and pulling the fabric away from her hot, wet flesh.

  The throbbing reached painful levels, making her want to reach between her legs and massage the sensation until she came. She lifted her head and saw Sam staring between her legs.

  “Such a pretty little pussy, baby. You know I can smell you when you’re aroused and near me?”

  No, she didn’t know that, but she understood it. His scent was so familiar to her that whenever he was near all she wanted to do was breathe.

  “Your scent is so sweet, like summer musk and wildflowers. God, you make me hard. I can barely stand to be near you sometimes. It makes my cock strain and all I want to do is strip you down and bury myself inside you.”

  She’d never been wanted like that before. Such a heady, powerful feeling, to know that she could make Sam need like that.

  “I’m here now. Take me.”

  He tore his gaze away from her pussy and looked at her, his lips curling in a feral, dangerous smile. “Oh I’m going to take it. Any way I want to. You ready for that, sugar?”