Worth the Risk

by Jenna Byrnes

Mandy shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

  Sarah flicked off the set and sat down across from Mandy. “We should talk.”

  Her daughter simply stared at her.

  Sarah stared back and finally said, “Attitude isn’t going to help you, here, so think very carefully before you speak, please.”

  Mandy sighed and crossed her arms. “I was embarrassed last night.”

  “Well then, that makes two of us. Actually, three. Sam was embarrassed too.”

  “I don’t care about Sam!” Mandy exploded. “I wish he’d just leave and go back where he came from!”

  “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. He’s here for at least the two months of Bailey’s maternity leave, maybe longer. You’re going to have to get used to him.”

  “He’s weird. Dee says he’s an aging hippie.”

  Sarah couldn’t hold back her laugh. “He’s thirty-something, Amanda. I guess when you’re fifteen that seems ‘aging’, but really it’s not.”

  “Mother!” Mandy sprang up and paced around the room. “That’s not the point.”

  “What is the point?” Sarah asked softly, thinking she probably knew the answer to that already.

  “I didn’t like seeing him with you.”

  Nodding, Sarah stood up to face her daughter. “I know you didn’t, and I’m sorry. I told you last night you’re my priority, and I meant it.” A thought occurred to Sarah and she spoke it aloud. “I’m not sure that means I can’t get a little enjoyment out of life.”

  “I don’t understand.” Mandy looked at her.

  Sarah ran a hand through her daughter’s silky blonde hair. “I know you don’t, and that’s okay. It’s something I need to work out.”

  “With Sam?”

  “Maybe.” Sarah shrugged. “Time will tell.”

  Mandy picked at her fingernail nervously. “While you’re figuring things out, do you suppose that I could—”

  “Yes,” Sarah said quickly, and smiled.

  Mandy looked up at her. “Go to the youth group conference?”

  “Yes.” Sarah repeated, nodding, and held steady as her daughter dove at her for a hug. “I shouldn’t have said you couldn’t go. I know it’s important to you and it’ll be fun.” It might be good for you too, she thought to herself. Mandy could use the distraction, and Sarah could use the time to think.

  “I love you, Mom!” Mandy hugged her tightly.

  “I love you too, sweetheart, more than anything.” Sarah closed her eyes and hugged back with all her might.

  * * * *

  The library stayed generally quiet, especially during the weekdays when Sam worked. When the local teenagers got out of school the place livened up a bit, but from nine to three it was like a morgue. He heard his co-workers whispering about the unusual traffic his arrival generated and he smiled about it. It didn’t bother him. Not much bothered him in life, he liked to let things roll off his back and take what might come.

  Sarah Stevens bothered him. Her telling him she didn’t care about him really bothered him. He felt sure she didn’t mean it the way she’d said it, she’d been frantic and worried about her daughter. He simply didn’t like her saying it and hadn’t quite gotten over it yet.

  Wednesday dragged by excruciatingly slowly. A few teenagers came in after school but not nearly as many as usual. The group with which he occasionally joined in animated discussions about Star Wars and Star Trek was absent, as were the giggling girls he spent about an hour each day ‘shushing’. He didn’t know how many kids went on the youth group trip and really didn’t care. He was only interested in whether or not one specific person got on that bus.

  Finally at four-thirty Sam could stand it no longer and called Bailey with a contrived computer question. While they chatted, he casually asked about Mandy and discovered she indeed had gotten on the bus. Sam smiled as he ended his call and set about planning his evening.

  He wasn’t sure what type of welcome Sarah would give him. Would he have to woo her all over again? Would the first three of their five days be spent convincing her why they should be together? Sam wouldn’t know until he saw her, but just in case he brought ice cream with him to sweeten the deal when he knocked on her door that evening.

  Sarah looked wary when she saw him. “Hi, Sam.” She sounded tired.

  “Hello.” He smiled at her and extended the ice cream sack. “I bragged about how well I know you, yet when it came time to buy ice cream, I had no clue about your favourite flavour. So I got my favourite flavour, chocolate with peanut butter.”

  Sarah gave him a small scowl as she snatched the bag and took it into the kitchen. She got a spoon from the drawer, pulled out the carton and removed the lid. She continued to frown as she tasted the ice cream.

  Sam was confused. “You like the flavour? You don’t like the flavour?”

  She made another face at him. “It’s my favourite kind too. I just need a little taste.” She dipped the spoon in the ice cream one more time and sighed dreamily as she licked it off.

  Sam chuckled and took a step towards her. “I guess I do know you.”

  Snapping the lid back on, Sarah turned and placed the carton in the freezer. “Lucky guess,” she muttered as she closed the door.

  Sam stepped up behind her and pressed her body against the appliance, crushing her between him and the cool metal door. He raised a hand to brush the hair off her neck and began nuzzling. “I know you, Sarah. I know what you like and don’t like. I know what you want and don’t want.” He nipped at the base of her neck.

  She moaned, pressing one cheek against the freezer door and glancing back at him. “You sure about that?”

  “Very sure.” Sam ran his hands down her sides and clasped her hips, whispering in her ear. “Are you sure about this?”

  Sarah hesitated a fraction of a second before answering. “Yeah, very sure.”

  The refrigerator door felt so hard and cool, Sam almost wanted to take her right there. He envisioned shoving his cock into her as her body pressed against the white metal. But this was their first time and it called for romance and finesse. There’d be time for hot, sweaty, kitchen sex later.

  He sucked her neck from behind until she groaned again. There’d be plenty of time, he felt quite sure. This would definitely take awhile.

  Chapter Five

  Sam pulled Sarah’s body back against his and wrapped his arms around her. One hand massaged her breast and the other slipped down the front of her jeans. Holding her firmly, he walked her slowly into the bedroom, squeezing and rubbing the whole way. Stopping at the foot of her bed, he massaged her until she squirmed. “Close your eyes,” he instructed.

  “Why?” She tried to look behind herself at him.

  “I want you to feel, not think. Close your eyes, Sarah.”

  She obliged while Sam turned her body to face him and began undressing her. He tossed her sweater across the room and paused to look at her erect nipples, poking out through her bra. She must be as aroused as he felt. He unfastened and removed the bra, letting his hands travel lightly over her breasts.

  “Sam…” Sarah moaned, shifting her feet, obviously wanting more.

  “Patience,” he murmured, flicking one nipple lightly with his tongue. “We have all night.”

  “I guess we do.” She moaned again as he dragged her jeans off her, kissing her stomach on the way down.

  Sam knelt before her and nuzzled the valley between her legs through her silk panties. He wanted to dive in face first but left her underwear on to force him to proceed slowly. He breathed on her heavily, touched her lightly and, judging by the wetness of the silk, proceeded to drive her crazy.

  “Sam!” Sarah mumbled, squirming, looking down at him.

  “Eyes closed!” he snapped, and she obeyed. He smiled and decided to reward her by removing her panties. Dragging the damp silk down her legs, he let his mouth follow with kisses that trailed gently over her thighs. “You’re so wet already. I think you want me, Sarah.”

 
“I do,” she whispered.

  “Tell me.” Sam blew hot breath between her legs.

  Sarah bit her lip.

  He worked a finger through her slick curls and out again quickly. “I need you to tell me what you want.”

  “Touch me,” she finally said. “Taste me.”

  He grabbed her ass cheeks and pressed his face into her pussy hair. “Taste you, hell. I’m going to eat you, Sarah. I’m going to devour you.”

  She whimpered, and Sam felt her wetness running down her thigh. “Oh yeah, baby.” He stood and pressed her back gently on the bed, climbing on top and pressing his mouth against hers. “Kiss me.”

  Sarah opened her mouth and Sam felt her tongue bat against his. He groaned at the delicious mix of chocolate, peanut butter and Sarah—his new favourite flavour combination. “God, you taste good.”

  His mouth went lower, exploring all the way down. Her nipples puckered under his ministrations. Sarah gasped when he finally got where he was going. Settling himself between her thighs, he dipped his tongue through her folds and found the sensitive nub that made her squirm. He nipped her clit with his teeth and she clutched the comforter beneath her.

  Sam smiled as he watched Sarah’s face—eyes shut tight, her other features contorted in a way that told him her release was close. Not wanting to torment her further, he let his tongue delve into her pussy and tongue-fucked her deeply and rapidly.

  “Oh sweet Jesus!” Sarah cried out, and her body convulsed with her orgasm.

  “Yeah, baby!” He licked and sucked until she stopped quivering, and then rested his head on her thigh. “Damn, you’re beautiful.”

  “I want you, Sam.” Sarah held her arms out to him, eyes still closed. “I’ve waited so long to feel you inside me.”

  He shed his clothes quickly, retrieving a condom from his jeans and kneeling by her head. “Open your eyes.”

  She did. His erection hovered just inches from her face. She groaned and sucked him into her mouth, squeezing his legs as her head bobbed up and down on his cock.

  Sam revelled in the sensation for a moment, then pulled back gently and smiled at her. “I hate to leave that mouth. But I’ve been waiting to fuck you for what seems like forever.” He rolled the rubber over his erection and straddled her.

  She reached up and removed the band that held his hair back. He looked down, and his hair fell around them like a tent. “Oh yeah,” she whispered to him. “I like that.”

  Nudging his cock at her entrance, Sam looked into her eyes. “Are you ready?”

  “I’m so ready,” Sarah moaned. “Do it, do it now!”

  He slipped his tip inside her.

  She bucked against him. “Now, Sam! Fuck me now!”

  Almost growling with desire, Sam plunged into her and filled her to the hilt. Sarah cried out, but he could see it was a cry of pleasure, so he pulled out and thrust solidly into her again. She threw her head back, shuddered, and screamed as her first climax with him inside her racked her body.

  Sam fought against his own release, not wanting it to be over yet. He was so turned on by Sarah’s lack of inhibition, though, he knew the next time she screamed like that he’d be a goner. But what a way to go! Driving into her again, he groaned as she clutched his shoulders and dug her nails into his skin.

  “Jesus, Sarah!” Sam slowed his pace and rested his forehead on hers. He looked into her eyes. “Where has this wildcat been hiding?”

  “Did I hurt you?” she asked, a look of concern on her face.

  He laughed. “Yeah! And please, hurt me again! Damn, baby, you’re hot!”

  “I’ve never felt this way before,” she told him with wide eyes. “I want to keep going! I need to keep going! Fuck me again, Sam, harder…”

  He raised his head and continued to watch her as he did what she asked, pounding into her forcefully.

  “Harder, Sam, please!”

  He leaned back and raised her knees to her chest, allowing himself deeper penetration.

  Sarah’s eyes flew open and she gasped at the new position.

  “Feel that?” He thrust into her. “Like that?”

  “Oh my God!” Sarah’s eyes rolled back in her head and she clung to him as she came.

  Sam felt her fingernails cutting his arms, and the pain sent him over the edge with her. He held tight as he shuddered, emptying into her body, and then lowered her legs before collapsing on top of her.

  “Son-of-a-bitch,” he muttered, feeling better than he could remember in ages.

  “Holy shit,” she replied, panting for breath.

  Sam pulled up and looked at her, feigning shock. “Potty mouth.”

  Sarah laughed before she captured his mouth in a deep kiss. “You know you love it.”

  “Shit yeah,” he mumbled, trying to catch his breath and kiss her at the same time.

  * * * *

  With eight years of catching up to do, Sarah was determined to experience as much as humanly possible in one night. Wiping her mouth, she climbed up from between Sam’s legs and flopped next to him. “I feel like a starving person who’s just been invited to this really fantastic dinner.”

  Sam’s eyes were closed as he replied, “Thanks for letting me be on the buffet table.” He glanced at her sideways and they smiled.

  He tickled her ribs before pulling her into the circle of his arms, and she giggled. “Damn, Sarah. I don’t know when I’ve ever felt this good.”

  “You do feel good,” she teased, running a finger through the light hair on his chest.

  He let one hand cup her ass and squeezed. “You feel pretty good yourself, gorgeous.”

  “Yeah, I do.” She sighed and put her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “I should be thanking you. It’s been a wonderful night.”

  She glanced up at him. “You don’t have to go, do you?” She didn’t want him to leave and admitted as much. “Stay with me. It’s only one a.m.”

  Sam glanced at the clock. “It may only be one a.m., but we both have to work tomorrow. You need your rest.”

  “I need you,” Sarah insisted. “We won’t have this opportunity very often. Stay with me.”

  He kissed her head again. “You don’t have to convince me, I’ll stay. But I need sugar for energy. Want some ice cream?”

  She grinned. “If you can bring it to me in bed.”

  “I think that can be arranged.” He kissed the tip of her nose and padded out to the kitchen naked as a jaybird.

  Sarah chuckled as she watched him go. When he returned he carried two bowls of ice cream.

  Sam winked at her as he handed one over. “So you need me, huh?” he mused as he settled in by her side to eat.

  “Maybe.”

  “But you definitely want me.”

  “Oh yeah, definitely.”

  He smiled at her, setting his bowl aside. “Let me see if your ice cream tastes better than mine.”

  Sarah offered up her bowl.

  Sam took it, placing it on the nightstand. He reached for Sarah and pulled her into his arms, kissing her gently. “Mmmm, yeah, yours does taste better.”

  She snuggled into him and they kissed passionately for a few minutes. Finally Sarah pulled back and said softly. “Our ice cream is melting.”

  “Melting is good.” He reached for his bowl. The chocolate had begun to form a thick liquid, and he dipped his finger into it. He touched her lip and dabbed some on it. “See how good?” He kissed her again, removing the ice cream.

  “Mmmm. That is good. Let me try.” She dipped her finger into the bowl and spread ice cream on Sam’s lips, then kissed it off.

  He laughed and returned his finger to the bowl, this time spreading chocolate across one of her nipples. “Uh oh, look what I’ve done.” Leaning down to lick it off, he groaned as she squirmed.

  “You should be more careful,” she whispered teasingly.

  He grinned. “Just for that…” He poured the contents of his bowl on her body, dripp
ing sticky liquid over both breasts, down her stomach and ending in the valley between her legs.

  “That’s freezing!” Sarah hollered, but stopped complaining as Sam began cleaning her body with his tongue. She didn’t think she could be aroused again tonight, but she was wrong, very wrong. His tongue drove her wild, and by the time he settled between her legs she came again in waves of ecstasy. “Please,” she whimpered when she thought she could take no more.

  Sam pressed off her and wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Please what?” He grinned as he climbed up her body.

  “Give me a minute.” She tried to collect herself.

  “You’ve got all night.” He dropped stomach first on the bed next to her.

  “Excellent,” she sighed, watching him. She reached for the last bit of ice cream soup in her bowl and dribbled it over his back.

  He jerked as the first drops landed and looked at her accusingly. “You’re asking for trouble.”

  “Oh yeah?” Sarah straddled his ass and leaned over, licking the sticky drops from his back. “Who’s gonna give it to me?”

  “Me,” Sam murmured, relaxing as she moved slowly over his body. “I’m gonna give it to you good. But later…much later.”

  She smiled and dipped her tongue into the hollow of his back. Later sounded good to her.

  * * * *

  When her alarm went off, Sarah woke in a tangle of sheets, arms and hair.

  “Ouch!” Sam grumbled as she jerked up to slap at the alarm, pulling his hair in the process. He gathered it gently and smoothed it behind his back.

  “Sorry.” She smiled at him sheepishly.

  “No problem. That’s why I usually sleep in a ponytail.”

  She faced him and ran her hands through his hair carefully. “I can see why. It’s so long and silky. Will you let me brush it?”

  He leaned forward and nuzzled between her naked breasts. “Maybe sometime. Right now I’ve got other ideas.”

  “I have an hour to get dressed and to work,” she reminded him.

  “Plenty of time.” He pressed her back into the bed and smiled.