by Amy Brent
I opened my mouth to answer, but he stopped me with a finger over my lips before I could say anything. Not that I had an answer to give him anyway.
“You know what?” Sam said suddenly, and I loved the heat that was in his voice, but I hated the bitter edge that was there too. “I don’t want to know.”
He kissed me, hard and sweet and far too short. “Take what we can while we can, right?” he whispered against my mouth, and there was an edge of anger there but also an edge of something deeper and wilder than I could ever have imagined.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, to take that hard edge away, but his kiss swallowed my words.
He picked me up and carried me to the bed, and by the time he laid me down on top the blanket, the serious, angry Sam was gone and the sexy, joking Sam was back.
“I like this,” he said as he plucked at the lacy lingerie. It showed more than it hid, and the appreciative look in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine. His voice was hoarse and gruff, and a small smile teased the corner of his mouth as he leaned down and placed a kiss at the edge of my lips.
“I like you.” He whispered the words against my mouth, making me tingle under the warmth of his breath. His hand slid up my bared thigh and pressed my legs apart. He didn’t stop until his fingers were sliding across the smooth skin of my wet pussy.
I had gotten waxed before the wedding and was completely bared to him.
“And I really like this.” Sam’s words were even rougher as he leaned down and kissed me again, teasing me with his fingers but not quite giving me what I wanted, what I needed.
“Tell me what you want.” His sudden whisper against the curve of my ear tickled the sensitive skin, and my eyes shot open wide.
“Wh…what?”
“Tell me what you want. Do you want me to kiss you? Here?” He followed his own words, giving me light, teasing kisses on my lips. “Maybe here?” He moved down the sensitive sweep of my neck to my nipples, moving the lace away just enough to tease one with his tongue and teeth.
“Do you want me to touch you?” His fingers parted the dripping lips of my pussy, but he still just teased.
“Y…yes,” I whispered, the shattered word falling from my lips. “All of it. I want all of it. I want all of you.”
He looked up at me at the words, his eyes so dark they were nearly black and unreadable. “Then you’ll get all of me, Faye, everything you can take, everything I have to give.”
He pulled me up until I was kneeling on the bed next to him as he stripped off the tux he’d just gotten married in, but I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. As soon as he pulled off the suit pants and his boxers, I was drawn to his cock.
It was already rock hard, jutting toward me with a bead of milky liquid shining from the tip. I grabbed it, pumping it with my hand and loving the harsh look of pleasure that passed over Sam’s face. But a moment later he stopped me, pulling away from my grasp as he reached for the bedside table.
He pulled out a condom and my body shivered in anticipation, but in his other hand he held something else. It was the blindfold.
“Remember this? I told you we would use it sometime.”
My breath shattered out of my lungs as he put the silk cloth over my eyes. But Sam was there. It didn’t matter if I felt wild and out of control, because I knew Sam was there and he would always keep me safe.
“Just feel me, Faye. Feel every touch. Feel everything I’m doing to you.” His husky voice washed over me, sounding so much more from the darkness behind the blindfold.
Everything felt more intense, every touch, every kiss. Sam traced the line of my spine with one hand, not stopping until he reached my aching center, and only when I was trembling and begging for him did he lay me down on the bed.
I couldn’t see a thing, but I could feel his body, so much bigger and harder than my own, settle between my thighs.
“Please, Sam. Don’t make me wait anymore. I need you, now.”
Before the demand was even all the way out of my mouth, he was there. I could feel every single inch of him as he slid deep inside me, stretching me and stimulating every nerve ending.
I let out a cry at the exquisite feeling of flouting in darkness, surrounding by only Sam and the most intense pleasure I’d ever felt as he moved inside me.
My hips moved to meet his, and soon the sounds of skin meeting skin filled my ears along with Sam’s husky, whispered words, every one pushing me closer to my climax.
I was completely lost in him. He was the only thing I could cling to as he rocked my body with his, pounding deep into my pussy over and over again until I was crying out his name.
Over and over, wave after wave of sensation rolled through me, each one stranger and more exhilarating than the last until it felt like was falling through an endless ocean of ecstasy.
With one final scream that was ripped from throat, the last shockwave hit my body, wrenching through me and making every single muscle tense. It went on and on as I heard Sam whisper my name like a prayer as he shook with his own orgasm.
I collapsed back onto the bed, completely boneless and spent, too tired even to take off the blindfold. By the time Sam slid the soft fabric off my eyes, I was already deep, deep in the arms of peaceful, dreamless sleep.
Chapter 23
Sam
The rays of sunlight peeking through the window was what finally woke me up. The whole bedroom was dappled in early morning sunlight, making everything look like it was made of gold, even Faye, who was still sleeping peacefully in my arms.
I looked down at her, still blinking eyes heavy from sleep and feeling like I was in some sort of dream, like if I blinked too hard she would just disappear.
My arms tightened instinctively around her, and I let out a sigh of relief when she didn’t go anywhere.
I let my eyes sweep shut, let my mind drift and my body relax, just drinking in the feel of her. With a jolt, I realized I hadn’t had the nightmare, the one about the fire that had haunted me almost every night since I was a kid.
I glanced down at Faye again, still slumbering next to me, and I knew she was the one who had chased it away. She was the one who had scared away my nightmare.
I didn’t really remember what it felt like to have a real family. Alice was the closest thing I’d had since I was just a kid, but I imagined that this must have been it, this feeling of absolute peace as Faye snuggled trustingly in my arms. This must have been what family really felt like.
I looked down at her face and couldn’t help but marvel that we had even made it this far. I knew we still had a long way to go to make it something real, but before, Faye never would have even given me a chance to prove myself to her. Now she was entwined in my embrace, her leg wrapped over mine as she pulled herself closer to me in her sleep.
A part of me couldn’t help but actually feel a bit of gratitude toward Faye’s stalker. I hated the threats to her and I hated the way they made her afraid, but it was because of Archer’s crazy ex Penny that Faye was back in my arms. I knew now that was where she belonged, even if Faye didn’t realize it yet.
And it was where I belonged too. We belonged together. We were two imperfect halves that fit together perfectly. Now I just needed to prove it to her, to show her that it was worth it, that I was worth it.
I nearly shook my head at the irony of it all. I had begged Faye for nearly two years to just go out on a date with me, and now, well, we were well past the first date stage. But we had done things completely backward.
We had gotten married first, and now I was going to have to put all my effort into wooing her. I nearly sniggered at the old-fashioned thought, but it was true. The only place she seemed to have no problem with me was in bed. Then there was no resistance. The desire that burned out of control between us incinerated all the doubts and fears.
So, yeah, we were doing things backward, but I knew I still had to prove to her that I wasn’t anything like her ex. I wasn’t like any of t
he other musicians she’d dated in the past that had given her such a cynical opinion of anyone in the music industry.
Someone had done a number on her, maybe more than one, but I was different. I just had to make her see that.
I thought of our relationship so far and nearly cringed. I hadn’t exactly been Mr. Romantic.
From the rushed proposal to the even more rushed engagement, I realized I hadn’t even taken Faye out on a date. We’d been so caught up in protecting her from the threats that the one time we actually had gone out together, Lori had tagged along to take photos of us for Vibe magazine. No, not exactly romantic. The rest of the time had been dedicated to working on the album or preparing for the wedding.
I wanted to do something special for Faye to finally tell her how I really feel, to tell her that I want to try to make a real go of it between us. But what would be the best way to break through her walls?
I was still trying to think through ideas when I felt her wake up in my arms. For one glorious minute she was completely relaxed, languid and boneless as she stretched her body out next to mine. And then I felt the exact moment she freaked out.
Well, I wasn’t about to let her regret anything that had happened between us, not a bit of it.
I grinned down at her, giving her my most charming, lopsided smile. “Hello, wife.”
Faye scowled at me for a second, her brow furrowing, her long dark curls in a wild halo around her head on the pillow.
“Shut up,” she growled, her voice still husky with sleep. My body responded instantly, but I didn’t move.
“Come on, Faye. Is that any way to talk to your husband?” I teased, making her scowl even more ferociously.
I had to bite back a grin at her fierce expression. Something told me she wouldn’t quite appreciate it.
“I need coffee,” she said, avoiding my gaze. “And I need to get to work.”
“It’s Sunday,” I said, but I could see that she was serious as she threw back the sheet and blanket, already moving away from me, trying to put more distance between us. I wasn’t about to let that happen. “And besides, it’s the day after your wedding. I think everyone will forgive you for taking one day off.”
“It’s the day after my fake wedding, Sam.”
“It didn’t feel fake.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, but it was the truth, plain and simple. Something had changed between us between yesterday and today.
Faye blanched at my words, shaking her head as she jumped to her feet.
“I, uh, I need to take a shower,” she said hastily, stumbling over her words as she pointed toward the door. “Shower, this way. Yep. Okay.”
I watched her sprint to the bathroom and barely bit back the curse that sat on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t think I’d ever seen her that freaked out before, not even at the actual wedding. Sure as hell not faced with threats from some psycho.
Ten minutes, I promised myself silently. Ten minutes and then I was going in there after her.
*
Faye
I let my eyes slide shut and tried to focus only on the feeling of the hot water from the shower washing over me. The water soothed away some of the knots that had tensed in my shoulders, but I wished it was that easy to wash away the panic lodged tightly in my chest.
I couldn’t get past it. Every time I tried to focus on something else, to think of anything else, it just kept coming back again and again like a dog gnawing on a bone. It was done. It was really done. I was married. Oh, god. I was married to Sam!
I couldn’t breathe. I tried to force myself to relax, to squeeze my eyes shut and let the feeling roll off me along with the water, but nothing I did seemed to help. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I had made a terrible mistake and there was no going back.
Why, oh why, did it have to be Sam of all people? Why did it have to be the one man who made my heart race and my body ache and drove me absolutely insane? Why did it have to be him?
I had made a mistake. That was all. It wasn’t too late to back out, right? I would just tell Sam that I had changed my mind. No big deal. People changed their mind all the time. Granted, people normally got cold feet before the wedding instead of after, but that didn’t matter with us because we weren’t exactly normal. Hell, we weren’t even a little bit normal. The “normal” rules didn’t apply to us. In fact, I didn’t know if there even were any rules that applied to our situation.
Suddenly, the shower curtain was thrown back and Sam, a very naked Sam, stepped in behind me.
“Do you ever take your own shower?” I tossed at him over my shoulder. I was still blushing a bright crimson beneath the water, but at least I didn’t jump like I’d just seen a mouse like I had the last time.
“Why would I?” he said with a casual shrug that I envied. The last thing I felt at the moment was casual. “The company is so much better when you’re taking a shower. Besides, we’re saving the planet. You know, not wasting as much water.”
“Yeah. Uh-huh. You’re a regular conservationist, I’m sure.” I snorted, but suddenly, I did feel better about him being there with me, as much as I wish I didn’t. My chest wasn’t so tight and I could inhale easier than before. I was coming to rely on him for too much.
“I’m an independent woman, Sam.”
“I know that.”
“I don’t need any man to make me happy or to live a fulfilling life.”
He snorted behind me. “I know that, too.”
“As long as you remember that, Sam.”
“Strong, independent woman. Got it,” he said, his voice suddenly sounding distracted as he turned me around and pulled me back under the water.
“What are you doing?” I asked, staring up at him suspiciously as he reached past me to grab a bottle of shampoo.
“What do you think I’m doing? Washing your hair.”
“Why? Why are you really here, Sam?”
He let out a frustrated sigh, filling his hand with the nice-smelling liquid. “Because I couldn’t just stay out there knowing that you were in here worrying your little brain off.”
“I was not.”
He didn’t say anything to that, just gave me a look with one eyebrow raised that said more than words ever could have.
“Okay. Maybe…I was having a few doubts,” I admitted reluctantly. He surprised me by shrugging.
“It’s okay, Faye.” Sam swiped a thumb across my cheek. “I know how strong you are. You don’t have to prove it to me. Just…let me take care of you. Just this once, okay?”
Slowly, I nodded, giving in to him as he washed my hair. I tipped my head back, reveling in the amazing feeling as his hands worked through my heavy strands, massaging away my tension.
It was such a simple thing, but there was something so intimate about it that made my whole body tingle. As much as I hated to admit it, it really did feel nice to just let him take care of me for a little while, to surrender for a moment and lean against him. Hell, just to have someone at all to lean against.
Damn it, I was really starting to trust him. I knew just how dangerous that was.
“You’re starting to think again,” he said, then answered my unspoken question. “You’re tensing. I can feel it. Just relax, Faye. You do know the meaning of the word, right?”
“Of course I do.”
“Come on then. What do you do for fun?”
“I work.”
“I’m serious, Faye.”
“So am I!”
He didn’t say anything, just gave me another one of those looks of his and finally shrugged as he started rinsing the suds from my hair.
“Fine. I do have fun you know.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.”
“I do! I like good food. Good wine. Dancing. The beach.”
“What’s with you and the beach anyway?” he asked, and I just shrugged before answering him.
“Before my grandma moved to Michigan, she and my grandfath
er used to live in Hawaii and I would go visit them every summer. After my grandpa died, she couldn’t stay there by herself, so she moved to be closer to my mom and dad. Those are some of the best memories of my life, on the beaches outside my grandparents’ house, playing in the sand, swimming in the ocean.”
Sam turned me around slowly until I was facing him, and his expression was serious.
“Faye, I want you to promise me something.”
I was instantly suspicious but curious enough to find out more.
“And what is that?”
“The next time you get freaked out and stressed and worry like a maniac, I want you to just tell me. I want you to let me help you.”
“I don’t freak out.”
He was silent, just staring at me, waiting patiently. Finally, I gave in, throwing my hands in the air.
“Oh, all right. Fine.”
“Promise?”
I crossed my arms under my chest, unintentionally pressing my breasts closer together. I saw the sudden heat in his eyes. No, the heat that was always there. It was just flaring even hotter now. I wasn’t going to let that distract me.
“I can handle my life just fine on my own,” I said stubbornly.
“I know you can, Faye, but it’s easier when you have someone to share it with,” Sam said as he leaned closer. His hands slid over the slick skin of my shoulders as he tugged me toward him and kissed me.
When he pulled back, I was panting and breathless.
“Do you promise, Faye?”
I was still stuck on his kiss and the unsatisfied ache inside me. It took me a moment to remember what we were even talking about.
“Fine. I promise,” I said, my voice husky with desire as I stared up at him. “You don’t fight fair.”
He just grinned as he pulled me close again.
“You have no idea.”
Chapter 24
Sam
I nearly walked into the door as I headed for the entrance to the recording studio. My mind was still tangled up in Faye. Of course it was. She’d been all I’d been able to think about lately.
