Fireworks

by Lindsey Gray

  “Wow.” Sophie let her fingertips wander across the fabric as it flowed from the slight breeze that flittered throughout the room. “I haven’t had much of a chance to dress up recently, so this will be fun getting all dolled up.”

  “What? Sam doesn’t take you out to any of those fancy restaurants in Kansas City?”

  “Um …” Sophie wasn’t sure what to say. Shannon would be her sister in a few days and boyfriends was one thing she thought sisters would talk about. “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Yes!” Shannon put Sophie’s dress on the hook with her own before she pulled her over to sit on the bed. “Hit me with it.”

  “Sam and I really haven’t been going out that long.”

  “Six months isn’t that long. Is that what you mean?”

  “No.” Sophie brought her ponytail in front of her shoulder and began to play with the end. It was a nervous habit she’d developed over the years. “Sisters tell each other stuff like this, right?”

  “Well, you’re the first sister I’ve had, but I guess so.” Shannon grabbed Sophie’s hand. “Please tell me. I swear I won’t tell.”

  “Okay.” Metaphorically, Sophie put on her big girl panties and began to spin their tale. “I was friends with Sam’s sister, Caroline, in high school. I always had a crush on him and found out recently that he felt the same way. When we bumped into each other at the hospital, we just clicked again. He was dating someone else so I didn’t let myself hope anything would happen between us. I was sure I still wasn’t ready for a relationship after what happened with Josh.”

  “Oh, man. The Judge says that guy was such a bastard. His words, not mine.”

  Sophie was surprised that the Judge had told Shannon anything about Josh. “How do you know about him?”

  “I found some pictures in a drawer a while back and the Judge went into a rage about the guy. I’ve never seen him so mad.”

  Sophie nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. “The Judge wanted to send him to jail for what he did, but I couldn’t do it. That was when I went to Africa.”

  “Okay, so Josh was a douchebag and you were scared to get into anything new. But you love Sam, right?”

  “Love?” Sophie released a nervous laugh as she thought about it. She did love him, and she wanted him more than any man she’d ever desired in her life. The decision she had made the night before was proof that she was ready to move on. “I do, but I haven’t said it yet.”

  “Get on it!” Shannon smacked Sophie with her pillow. “What’s stopping you? Sam is seriously hot.”

  “I’m getting to that part.” Sophie grabbed the pillow out of Shannon’s grasp to prevent any further smacks. “So he was dating this girl Lola. Real troll, if you ask me. Anyway, he had made a big deal about bringing her home to introduce to his parents, but hadn’t told them her name. That’s another story. Two days ago they broke up in the middle of the hospital cafeteria, in front of me and everyone else there. Sam acted strange after that and asked me to meet him for a late night dinner after work.”

  “Oh, this is getting good. It’s better than any of those teen drama shows.” Shannon’s excitement encouraged Sophie to hurry her story along.

  “He admitted he had feelings for me and was thinking of breaking up with Lola anyway. Then he told me how he was supposed to bring his mystery girlfriend home this weekend. I agreed to pretend to be her, but when he asked me to actually be his girlfriend I said no.”

  “Are you crazy?” Shannon grabbed onto Sophie’s forearms with both hands. “Sam is gorgeous, rich, sweet, kind, and from the size of his hands, the guy is not lacking in the man package department.”

  “Shannon!” Sophie could feel her blush flush across her face and down her chest. “We’re not talking about his … his … man package.”

  “All right then, wise sister, why in heaven’s name would you say no to him?”

  “I was scared. I am scared, but I decided last night that I can’t stay away from him.”

  “Yeah!” Shannon bounced up and down on the bed, which gave Sophie a thrill of happiness.

  It was such a relief to get it all off her chest to someone other than Lexi.

  “Thanks for your enthusiasm.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll make sure you catch Mom’s bouquet.”

  “I don’t …” The image assaulted her without her permission: her in a white dress, her hair floating in the breeze as it hung in loose curls down her back; Sam in a black tux as he stood with a silver band ready to be slipped on her finger.

  “You do. I can see it in your eyes. You want the husband, the kids, and the dog. I’m sure Sam is more than willing to give it all to you.”

  “Shannon,” Sophie took hers hands in her own, “I’m scared, but I have to go for it. I think I know just what to do.”

  “Then I’ll help you any way I can. That’s what sisters do.”

  “Do you know where my stash of bikini’s ended up?”

  Virginia Crawford never thought her decision about Sophie McKibbin would come back to haunt her. She had never been so wrong in her life. Her hopes for Sam would be crushed if he had taken up with that girl all those years ago. At the time, she thought her actions were for Sam’s best interest. When her husband confronted her the night before, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

  She had heard him park his car in the garage and waited for him to join her in the kitchen for lunch. Her heart sped up when he walked in and took a seat at the kitchen table.

  The turkey and Swiss sandwich she had prepared was soon placed in front of him.

  “Thank you.”

  “Not a problem,” she responded, quietly.

  After Alan had taken a few bites, he set his sandwich down. “I can’t explain how upset I am about what you did to our son. Especially after my conversation with Sam this morning.”

  “I can see that.”

  Her husband was usually such a happy-go-lucky guy. The stern nature she seemed to display was calmed by his exuberance for life. He was the ying to her yang. That day, he was the most solemn she’d ever seen him throughout their entire relationship.

  “I love you, Virginia. I know you were just looking out for Sam. What you don’t see is that both of their lives were forever damaged by your interference.”

  “But —”

  “No,” he interrupted, keeping his voice low, but firm. “Those two are perfectly suited for each other. Sophie inspires him like no one else has. He loves his art again, something he dedicated years of his life to until you hammered it out of him.”

  “I …” It was very unusual for Virginia to show emotions like fear, sadness, or regret. At that moment, she wasn’t sure how to handle the feeling of all three at once.

  “He wants Sophie. He wants his art. I’m going to tell you this right here and now. I support them whole-heartedly. If you want what is best for our son, you will, too.”

  Virginia nodded. She knew she’d have to take steps to get to know the woman Sophie had become. For herself and for Sam, she prayed she wasn’t too late.

  Chapter Nine

  “I had a great time with Shannon,” Sophie told Sam while they floated in his parents’ pool later that afternoon.

  “It’s nice to have a little sister, isn’t it?”

  “I never knew what I was missing, but, yeah, it’s pretty great.”

  Sam swam closer to Sophie and placed his palms on her waist. “I’m so happy for you.”

  She brought her hands out of the water, running her fingertips through his wet hair. “I’m happy for me, too.”

  He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her wet lips. “I need to tell you something. Can we just stand like this until I’m done?”

  Sophie’s heart rate spiked with worry. She wondered what obstacle they’d be up against next.

  “Okay.”

  Sam took a deep breath and brought his forehead to rest against hers. “When we were younger and my mother noticed our feelings for each other, she made it known that
it wasn’t a possibility.”

  “I know. You told me she’s the reason you stayed away.”

  He brought his hand up to her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “What I didn’t tell you is that she told me she’d cut me off if I didn’t stay away.”

  “Oh, Sam.” Sophie wrapped her arms around him and held him in a tight hug. She knew his mother didn’t care much for her, but hadn’t imagined the woman would make such a threat to her own son.

  “I just found out my father had no idea what she’d done. He told me he supports us and would’ve never let her carry through with her threat.”

  She bit down hard on her bottom lip in an attempt to let him finish without interruption.

  “I’ll admit she had her reasons. Not sure I’d use the word obsessed, but you were all I could think about. You were all I could draw for months. Cutting myself off from you when I moved to Boston was torture. Caroline would mention you over the years and bring it all back.”

  “You know, it was the same for me.” Sophie kissed his cheek before she rested her chin on his shoulder. Her lips were just a breath away from his ear. “I tried to justify it by telling myself it was just a crush. I never felt a tenth of what I feel with you for anyone else. My pulse races and I ache for you to be inside me. The things I want to do to you right now might send me straight to Hell, but I wouldn’t care as long as they’re with you.”

  Sam’s rock hard erection pressed against her belly as he moaned.

  “I’ll be right there beside you. I have ten years of fantasies waiting to be fulfilled.” He pulled back just a bit so he could look her in the eye. “You have to know I’ll never be able to tell you how sorry I am for all the years we spent apart. I promise, I will make it up to you.”

  Sam placed slow kisses up the side of Sophie’s neck and her head dropped back. He nipped lazily at the column of her throat before his lips hovered in front of hers.

  “I want you, Sophie. Always. I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you how much.”

  “Starting now?” she asked in a whisper.

  “God, yes,” he answered.

  Gooseflesh rose over the expanse of her skin not covered by her purple bikini. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as she realized a crossroad had presented itself — the point of no return. Hold back or move forward? As his breath mingled with her own, the answer came to her with brilliant clarity. She pressed forward and kissed him with all the pent up desire she had in her.

  Slightly stunned by the sudden movement, Sam’s feet slipped on the bottom of the pool. He regained his stance and brought his hands underneath the curve of her backside. Sophie followed his direction and wound her legs around his waist. Her center ached as she pressed hard against his prominent erection.

  “I don’t want to wait anymore,” she uttered between kisses.

  “The guest house,” he whispered in a labored breath. It was the closest place he knew that had a bed and knew they wouldn’t be interrupted.

  “I’ll race you. First one there gets to be on top.” Sophie swam toward the steps in hope that she’d claim the prize.

  Blood engorged his already hard cock as Sam watched her climb the steps. The sight of her tight ass in that tiny bikini bottom made him slowly follow her. The image of her above him tempted him to throw their race.

  When he reached the bottom of the steps, Sophie took off in a sprint toward the guest house. Sam knew she already had the lead on him, that didn’t stop his own sprint.

  She threw open the door and ran in the direction of the bedroom. He was quick to follow her in the house and securely locked the door. Her giggles echo down the hallway as he moved toward the bedroom.

  Sam stood stock still once he reached the doorway. The purple bikini he had fantasized about stripping off all afternoon was gone. Her skin held a golden hue — everywhere.

  “I won.” Sophie crooked her finger, beckoning him to her.

  “I’d say I’m the winner this round,” he spoke and walked to stand before her. His desire permeated his skin and seeped deep into his bones. Never in his thirty-one years had he ever wanted one singular thing so much.

  It was a split second decision on which part of her bare body to touch first, but when his thumb caressed the soft skin above her hip, she moaned and he knew he had made the right choice.

  “Are you absolutely sure about this?” Sam held his breath in anticipation of her answer.

  Sophie placed her hand over his heart and felt the frantic rhythm that matched her own. Her fate had been sealed as the staccato beats reverberated under her fingertips.

  “It’s supposed to be you and me. I knew the second I saw you again. Felt it right here.” Slowly, she brought his hand up her torso and placed it above her own heart. “I’m scared. Probably more scared than I’ve been in my entire life. This is real though, and I pray you won’t hurt me.”

  “Sophie.” His fingertips gently danced up her chest to her neck, and then stroked her jawline. “I can’t let you get away again.”

  She stepped forward to press her breasts against the sun kissed skin of his chest. Raising herself up on her toes, his lips were right there to meet hers.

  Their kisses became frantic when Sam’s swim trunks were lost to the floor and they lay down on the bed. His cock nestled between her legs. The feel of the wetness on her thighs caused a surge of lustful hunger to course through both of them.

  As his tip found her entrance, a thought hit him with a jolt.

  “No condoms,” Sam breathed between kisses.

  Sophie wanted to assure him it was taken care of. The shot she’d received after returning from Africa would take care of any birth control worries. A long explanation would take away from the moment, so she uttered a few words.

  “Shot.”

  Kiss.

  “Clean.”

  Kiss.

  “You?”

  Kiss.

  “Thank God,” Sam muttered as his mouth dropped from her lips to suckle her hardened nipple. “I’m clean. No worries.”

  He’d always used condoms and his last exam had been just a few months beforehand.

  “What …” Sophie arched her back and moaned when he switched from one nipple to the other. “What are you waiting for then?”

  Sam didn’t need any more reassurance and positioned himself at just the right spot.

  “Wait,” she gasped.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked in a panic.

  She kissed him before she pushed him onto his back and situated herself on top. “I won, remember?”

  “Right.”

  Sophie slowly lowered herself on him.

  “Holy fuck,” he sighed, grabbing onto her hips.

  “Ugh, Sam.”

  She rested her hands on his chest to get a bit of leverage. With the help his hands gave her, it made getting a good rhythm going easy for her. She brought herself forward on the down stroke to rub her clit against his pelvis.

  The angle she’d created drove Sam insane with a need to reach the finish line. He began to thrust his hips up to meet hers, one hand staying secure at her hip and the other wandering across her chest, down to her taught stomach to rub at her clit.

  “Yes, right there.” Sophie began to shudder as her orgasm approached.

  “Just like that.” His movement became frantic when she trembled around him.

  “Sam!” she cried, a euphoric frenzy crested with his vicious thrusts. Her arms quivered as he continued his frantic pace.

  “Almost.” Three brilliant stokes later and his own euphoria took hold of him.

  Sophie collapsed on his chest and tried to calm herself.

  “Fuck,” he whispered in a shaky breath.

  “Yes, I agree.” She smiled, propping her chin on his chest to look into his twinkling blue eyes.

  “Never could I believe that —”

  “I know,” she interrupted. Sophie could tell it was the best sex either of them had ever experienced.

  Sam
ran his fingertips up and down her spine as he slipped out of her.

  “We have to make time to do that on a regular basis,” she stated, firmly.

  “Oh, we have many more fantasies to work on. Give me about ten minutes and I’ll take my turn on top.”

  She kissed his chest over his heart. “You have a deal.”

  Chapter Ten

  “You missed dinner.” Virginia caught Sam when he was going through the refrigerator later that night.

  “Sorry. We were swimming, and then fell asleep in the guest house.” He wasn’t about to tell his mother about the fantasies they’d ticked off their list between naps.

  “I misjudged her, didn’t I?”

  Sam withdrew everything he needed to make their sandwiches and placed all of it on the counter before he answered. “Yes, you did.”

  Virginia was nervous, but she knew for the sake of her family, a large apology was in order. “I see that now. Your father and I had a long talk this afternoon. I’m sorry for the pain I caused the both of you. My wants at the time were for your success, not heartbreak.”

  “Can you accept her now?”

  Virginia nodded and took a step closer to him.

  “She’s not going away,” Sam added. “Sophie’s still the beautiful, intelligent, successful woman I knew she’d be all those years ago. The road she’d taken to get there was a hard one, but we’ll be taking that road together from now on.”

  “I understand.” Virginia took the bread and began to prepare two sandwiches.

  “Good.” Sam stood and watched as his mother prepared their dinner.

  “There you go,” she said with a smile and passed the two plates to him.

  “Thanks. We’ll be here for breakfast, but then we’re all going downtown, right?”

  “Yes. The day will be amazing this year. We have more floats in the parade than ever before. The new food pavilion is amazing. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

  There was the mother he knew and loved; the excited and vibrant woman, who planned and created events that’d forever be marked in his memory.

  “Me either, Mom.”

  Virginia took a chance and gave him a hug — one that he returned in kind.