They hadn’t even bothered hiding their interest, and she couldn’t help but think that this was like being with Jason all over again. Except this time, she was consciously aware of what was happening instead of deluding herself that her husband was being faithful to her.
“Sorry,” Luke said.
Sam waved him off. “It’s nothing.”
Thank goodness she hadn’t agreed to continue seeing him or this jealousy would’ve been a lot worse. No matter what she’d been feeling for Luke since they’d slept together, it wasn’t as if she had a claim on him.
He’d given her a chance to explore a relationship between them and she’d refused. So, she shouldn’t be jealous if he decided to meet up with the woman who’d bumped into him later tonight. She inwardly groaned at her own foolishness. What was she even thinking? She’d seen the woman. It wasn’t a question of if he would call her, it was when.
“Do you want to see what’s up for auction?” Luke asked.
“You don’t have to babysit me.” She was sure he had better things to do than to stay with her throughout the night, but she appreciated the effort. He probably wanted to protect her from Carla, but she didn’t want to be a pity case—especially not to him. “I’m sure the press got enough pictures of us outside,” she continued. No one would think they were at odds now.
“Reneging already?”
“Reneging on what, exactly?”
“On being my date.”
She laughed at the unexpectedness of the question. He was making it seem as if it was a privilege to be with her when, in reality, it was the other way around. It struck her then what she’d given up when she’d slept with him. She could’ve really used a friend like him. He was kind and thoughtful and yet, he didn’t pull any punches. He always told things as they were, even if you didn’t want to hear it.
Too bad he made her think of sex whenever she looked at him.
“All right,” she said, nodding. “Have it your way. Let’s go look at the auction pieces.”
Hopefully, Madeline was able to get José Patron to donate the private cooking lesson she’d been working on getting. It would be a wonderful birthday present for Cindy. Her sister loved his show.
Determined to stop obsessing about Luke and whether or not he was going to take the woman home tonight, Sam vowed to win the cooking lesson.
* * *
“Samantha.”
Sam tensed at the familiar voice. It was Tom Williams—Carla’s husband. Knowing that she couldn’t ignore the man, she excused herself from Jason’s parents. As soon as she turned around, she was engulfed in a big hug. His strong cologne made her feel like sneezing and she quickly stepped away before she did just that.
“Hi, Tom.”
“It’s good to see you, Sam,” he said as he smiled at her. “Carla and I were worried that you weren’t going to come this year.”
Sam inwardly groaned. With all her worries about coming tonight, she hadn’t even thought about whether or not she should tell Tom about Carla. Considering how nice he was being to her, she doubted he knew about the affair. But at the same time, she didn’t want to make things hard on Carla, either. Though she’d just been one of the many women Jason had been seeing, Carla might truly have felt something for Jason. If Tom didn’t know about the affair already, Sam might just be giving Carla more trouble on top of the heartbreak she was already enduring.
But what if she were a serial cheater like Jason? Or what if Tom and Carla had an open marriage?
She didn’t know why she was giving Carla any consideration when Carla had obviously never spared the same for her and suddenly wished that she’d just stayed at home instead of trying to prove to herself that she wasn’t going to hide. She didn’t even like attending these things, but she hadn’t wanted Jason’s infidelity to take more from her than it already had.
“I already feel bad about not being able to take up Jason’s duties,” she said, and suddenly felt a huge amount of respect for Luke for having the guts to tell her that Jason had been cheating on her. She and Luke hadn’t even really been friends when he’d told her and yet he had, risking his best friend’s ire for her.
If only she’d listened to him.
“Oh. Don’t you worry about that,” Tom said. “After so many years of putting on this event, we’re a well–oiled machine.”
Sympathy shone in Tom’s eyes and Sam knew that he was about to talk about Jason. Hoping to change topics before he could even mention Jason, she asked Tom about his all–time favorite topic—his children.
* * *
He was going to hell.
Luke groaned as he forced himself to look away from Samantha’s deliciously shaped ass as she spoke with one of the directors of the charity. It was bad enough that he’d practically drooled over her when he’d picked her up earlier, but he just couldn’t stop looking at her. Those beautiful almond–shaped eyes, those curves… He wanted nothing more than to grab hold of her ass and slide deep inside of her. Fuck. He wasn’t just going to hell. He was sure they had a special place reserved just for him.
“I’d love to come by to talk more about our project.”
Luke blinked and focused on the young redhead in front of him. Guilt bit into him at the realization that he hadn’t listened to a single word she’d said since she’d approached him. All he knew was that she was part of some charity that was undoubtedly looking for a donation.
“I’m pretty swamped with work right now,” he admitted. “Can you send over your prospectus to my assistant?” Sheila knew what kind of charities he was interested in and was adept at sifting through these things.
“I—Of course. Thank you for your time.”
She stood and left, and almost immediately, Adam Campbell took the vacated seat. “I can’t believe I caught you. Don’t you always have some kind of business ‘emergency’ you have to get to?”
Luke grinned at his friend. He hadn’t seen him in ages. They’d met through Jason and frankly, Adam was the only one of Jason’s friends Luke truly liked. Though he’d been born into one of the country’s richest families, Adam hadn’t used that as an excuse to slack off. He worked hard and over the years had developed a small empire of properties around the South. Luke wouldn’t be surprised if his company’s profits would one day surpass those of the cosmetics company his great–grandfather had founded.
Along with Jason, the three of them would often go out for drinks or dinner, but Luke had just been so swamped these past few months that those get–togethers hadn’t happened. Between Jason’s death, the Cervco trade, Peter quitting, and Sam leaving, it seemed as if Luke were battling fight after fight.
“Not this year.” Luke nodded towards Sam. “I brought Sam along with me.”
He doubted she’d mind leaving early, but he didn’t want to be the reason she missed out on that auction item she wanted for her sister. Besides, for the first time, he didn’t want to leave a gala early. Since he didn’t know when he would see her next, he would make this night last as long as he could.
“You came with someone?” Adam’s eyebrows rose with interest before he turned and spotted Sam. “Oh, man. That’s nice of you. How’s she doing?”
“As well as you can expect,” Luke answered and frowned. Did people think he’d taken her to the gala as some kind of charity case?
“It’s good to see her out and about. She and Jason were so close.” Adam shook his head and gestured to him. “And it’s good thinking on your part. You’ve got a beautiful, fun date who won’t get any ideas of things being permanent. Hell, I should’ve asked her to come with me.”
Luke’s fist clenched at the thought of Adam holding Sam the way Luke had tonight. He didn’t want her to be in anyone’s arms except his. He knew that his feelings were a bit territorial for someone who’d already been rejected by her, but he just couldn’t stop himself. In his head, she belonged with him.
“I don’t think she really likes going to these things,” he said, though he didn
’t know for sure. All he knew was that he didn’t want Adam asking her out. “She just came, because of the tribute,” he continued, not even feeling an ounce of guilt for using Jason as an excuse to ward Adam off.
“Oh. Right. I forgot about that.” Adam sighed. “I guess I just have to find another woman to bring along to these things.”
As if he would have any problem getting a date. With his wealth and looks, Adam didn’t even have to crook a finger to get a date. Hoping to change topics, Luke asked, “So how’s your project in Texas going?”
Though Sam had rejected him, he wasn’t quite sure that she’d reject Adam. Like Jason, Adam was charming and handsome, and Luke wasn’t about to take that risk. He’d already had to put up with seeing her with Jason all these years. Seeing her with Adam might just about kill him.
“Great. We finally got the zoning approved.” As Adam started talking about the apartment complex he was building, Luke inwardly shook his head. He couldn’t believe that he’d gotten jealous over the thought of Adam asking Sam out when he knew that Adam wasn’t looking for anything more than an innocent date.
Though seeing her tonight had been a balm to his soul, Luke knew that he couldn’t afford to do so again. She was wreaking havoc all over him to the point that he couldn’t think properly. What’s worse was that the more time he spent with her, the greater the chance that he’d do something foolish like grabbing her and kissing her the way he’d thought of doing a hundred times tonight. And since he was having such a hard time controlling himself around her, he was going to have to go cold turkey no matter how much it hurt.
Chapter Fourteen
“Thanks for taking me to the gala,” Sam said as she they walked into her apartment later that night. “I had fun.”
But her words fell on deaf ears. All Luke could think about was how beautiful she looked in that dress and how he’d wanted to punch all the men he’d caught looking at her tonight. He wished he had the right to call her his, but she didn’t want him that way. She’d made herself more than clear all those weeks ago.
But even the knowledge that she didn’t want him couldn’t stop him from wanting her with every fiber of his being. Not knowing when he would see her again, he felt desperation bite at him. How long would it be until he saw her next? Months? Years?
The uncertainty of it all drove him to do what he’d been thinking about doing all night. He kissed her. She gasped at the contact, and he took advantage, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her. He didn’t dare loosen his grip and risk her moving away. If this was the last kiss he would have from her, he would make it last as long as he could.
As if he could get her to return his feelings, he put everything he had into the kiss—all the frustration he’d felt these past few weeks without her, how much he’d missed her, all the words he couldn’t say…
Triumph coursed through him when she softened in his arms and kissed him back. He groaned. He’d missed this. So damn much. The taste of her, the feel of her… But the sensations reminded him of just how hard things have been these past few weeks, how he’d known exactly what he was missing every second he was away from her. It had been one thing to fantasize about her for all these years, but now that he knew the taste of her and the sweet sound of her moan when he nibbled her neck, not being with her was torture. Absolute torture. He couldn’t do it again. He couldn’t have heaven for one night just to have it snatched away in the morning again.
Calling himself a hundred times a fool, he broke their kiss and bent his forehead to hers. Already, he missed the taste of her lips.
“I’m sorry, Sam,” he said as he stepped away. “I can’t do this. I don’t think I can handle you turning me away again.” He shouldn’t have even started anything, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself. He’d wanted her for so long that it had become his second nature.
“What if I don’t turn you away?” she murmured after a few seconds as her hands began to roam his chest, sending licks of pleasure coursing through him.
“What do you mean?” Though his head was telling himself not to jump to conclusions, he felt hope spread through him like rapid fire.
She shrugged as her hands continued roaming his chest. “A fling for however long this attraction lasts between us.”
Which meant however long she was willing to see him. Because he couldn’t imagine a scenario where he wouldn’t want to be with her.
Though he didn’t like the thought of never knowing when she would end things, he knew that a fling was the best he could ask for right now. He’d wanted her for years, but everything was still new to her. Hell, she’d been in love with another man up until a few weeks ago.
“A secret fling,” she continued as she looked up at him with those dark eyes of hers. “Though I know what we’re doing isn’t wrong, I don’t want people thinking differently of me, either.”
He couldn’t care less what other people thought about them, but since it was important to her, he nodded. He’d have her anyway he could.
“So, you agree?” she asked, a smile appearing on her lips—lips that he could kiss anytime he wanted if he agreed to the fling.
His head felt dizzy at the thought. He knew he should say no. Sam wasn’t a fling type of a girl, and there was a big chance that he was just setting himself up for a bigger heartbreak. But he’d forever regret it if he said no. Sure, she was agreeing to a fling now, but what if he could get her to fall for him along the way? He’d never know unless he tried.
He nodded as he cupped her face. “I do,” he said before he kissed her, sealing the deal. Her tongue met his as her arms went around him. Groaning, he ran his hands over her curves, memorizing every inch of her with his hands as he made a trail of kisses down her neck. She moaned, and the sound went straight to his cock.
He lifted her into his arms. “Bedroom?”
She pointed behind her and he quickly moved. He turned on the lights before setting her down next to the bed, making a line of hot kisses down her throat as he did so. He unzipped the dress that he’d admired all night and felt his throat go dry when he saw the lace bra cupping her supple breasts and her sheer black panties. No matter how many times he’d thought about her, it just wasn’t the same as seeing her in the flesh.
She took advantage of his momentary lapse and reached for his tux. Eager to undress her as well, he reached for the hooks of her bra. The fabric fell away and the sight of her bare breasts made his head light. He cupped one and brushed a thumb softly over her nipple. Her eyes fluttered, and he brought the hardened point to his mouth. She gasped as he laved her, her hand running through his hair and pulling. Smiling, he continued licking and sucking her before moving to the other breast, loving the way her back arched and her breath hitched.
His hand roamed her belly before he moved lower, peppering kisses down her stomach then down to her panties. She gasped as he kissed her through the fabric. He flashed her a grin before he rolled her panties off and groaned when he found her wet.
He quickly removed his shirt and pants and went back to her open arms. He kissed her, loving the way she ran her hands greedily over his back as if she couldn’t get enough of him. Right then, he knew that he loved her. There was no other way to explain how he felt and why she was always on his mind. Immediately wanting to tell her, he pulled away.
“Samantha, I—”
“I’m on the pill,” she interrupted him, and he cursed himself. They’d agreed to a no strings attached fling—not love. No matter how he felt about her, he had to remind himself that she didn’t want him that way. At least, not yet.
Thank goodness she’d stopped him before his declaration scared her off or made her think that he took the words lightly. He’d never forgive himself if he messed this up.
“I’m clean,” he said instead, awed that she would trust him. He’d never gone without a condom before. He’d never trusted a woman enough to risk it. But deep down, he doubted he’d mind if something happened. The thought of being c
onnected to Sam forever was a heady one. He’d never worry about whether or not he would see her again, because they’d be a family. His chest tightened at the thought of a little girl that looked like Sam or a little boy with her eyes. He wanted everything with Sam, he realized. The house, the family…everything.
She nodded. “Me, too.”
Loving that she trusted him, he groaned as he kissed her. As their tongues tangled, he entered her. Delicious sensations coursed through him at the feel of her around him. Damn. How he’d missed this. How he’d missed her. In awe, he began moving.
Her hands gripped his butt, urging him on. He didn’t have to be told twice. He hooked one of her legs behind him and moved faster. Moaning, she wrapped her other leg around him, pushing him deeper inside of her. He groaned at the sensation. He wouldn’t last long. It had been too long and he wanted her too much.
But he wanted to make this as good for her as it was for him, so he began running the earnings per share of a shale company he’d been looking at earlier, hoping he could last a little longer. But when her inner walls began to spasm around him, he couldn’t control himself any longer. Knowing it wouldn’t be long, he reached for her clit. She moaned as she trembled beneath him, and it was the sexiest sound he’d ever heard. He dug himself into her, groaning as he came. Depleted, he burrowed his face into her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of vanilla. He’d never come so hard in his life. He was completely and utterly spent. Smiling, he collapsed beside her.
“That. Was. Amazing,” Sam said a minute later as she turned towards him.
Male pride burst through him as he looked at her. She looked like a woman well–loved. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips swollen. And the fact that it had been him who’d put that look on her face? Unbelievable.
“Well. I’m glad you thought so, because I’m pretty sure you just about killed me.”
She laughed, and the sound was like a sweet balm to his ears. He gathered her into his arms and felt his chest tighten at how right this all felt. He’d give anything to have her in his arms like this every night. He didn’t know how, but somehow, he was going to make it happen.
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