A lot could happen in six months.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Samir
THE SILENCE WAS driving me insane. This was not how I’d imagined things going. I didn’t know what else to say. And I had no clue what she meant by I don’t know.
Didn’t know how she felt? Didn’t know what she wanted?
“What do you want?” I repeated, pushing the words out. I just stood there, waiting for her answer, feeling helpless. I wanted her to say she wanted to be with me; I’d thought that’s what she would say. But now she was quiet and I had no fucking clue what was going on in her head.
“I don’t know.”
“I got that part.” I sat down on the edge of the bed. “I’m just trying to figure out why you don’t know.”
“‘Be with me’ is a little vague.”
“How is that vague?”
I wanted her. She wanted me. What was vague about that?
“Well, what does it mean?” For a moment, she was quiet. “Does it mean we’re exclusive?”
“Are you involved with any guys I should know about?” Did she honestly think I would be okay with the idea of her and other guys? Was she insane?
“No, of course not.”
“Then why would you think it wouldn’t be exclusive?” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d thought about another girl, I mean really thought about another girl. Months, maybe? A year? Not to mention I’d broken up with Layla for her. And she was asking about exclusivity?
She turned to face me. “Let’s just say I know you.”
“Well, then maybe you shouldn’t get involved with me at all,” I snapped.
“Samir—”
“If you think I’m just some asshole who fucks a different girl every night, then why are you here?”
“I don’t think that.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t know. I’m just not sure what you want from me. What you want me to be. I haven’t really done this before and I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m trying to figure it out, but I don’t know what the right decision is.”
“We’re the right decision.” Frustration filled me. “Trust me. I know I was your first, so you don’t have a lot to compare to, but I promise you, we are right. I’ve been with other girls—”
She grimaced.
“And it’s never been like it is with you.” I pushed on, ready to show all of my cards, ready to do whatever I had to in order to make her say yes. “It’s not just the sex. There’s something between us. I know you feel it too. So yeah, when I talk about being together, I mean exclusively. No one else. Just us.”
She stared back at me, still too quiet. I struggled to find the right words, to think of what I could tell her to convince her she was different. My past was working against me. I knew she was thinking of all those nights in the clubs, all the girls. And for a moment, I wished I could go back in time and change the decisions I’d made. If I could, I would have been a different person for her. I didn’t know how to explain I was different now. That she made me want to be different. That I didn’t want to lose her. I couldn’t lose her.
Maggie
“I’M SCARED.”
I wasn’t sure who was more surprised to hear those words come out of my mouth—me or Samir.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Aren’t you?”
Samir sighed. “Do you trust me?”
“Sometimes. Mostly.” He wasn’t the problem. I did trust him—for the most part. I just didn’t trust myself. What if I got in too deep and couldn’t pull myself out come May? What if I fell for him and then he left?
“I don’t blame you.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Just give me a chance, let me prove I can be what you need right now. I want to be that guy. I think I can be.”
“What do you think I need?” I whispered, my doubt slipping away with each word that fell from his lips. He looked so lost sitting there on the bed, so unsure of himself. It was strange to see Samir unsure.
“You need someone who is going to push you and challenge you. Someone who isn’t going to give you a pass or let you run when things get tough. You need someone who’s going to tell you you’re beautiful every day. Someone who will make you laugh. Someone who will spend all night making you come over and over again.”
Heat filled me.
“Come on, Maggie. It’s me. You know it’s me. As much as I’m willing to chase you—because you’re worth chasing—there are so many things I’d rather do with you. Especially since time is running out. I want to fuck you up against that window, your naked body pressed up against the glass. I want to wake up next to you tomorrow morning. I want to take you shopping and shower you with gifts. I know you probably won’t let me because you’re you and you can be impossibly difficult, but I want to try. I want to be with you. Just you. I want to hold your hand in public and kiss you in front of everyone. I want everyone to know you’re mine. I want you to be mine.”
For six months.
It hung between us, unspoken. His speech was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me, and with each word my willpower unraveled. And yet, even the words, even the sight of his gorgeous face, of the lips I craved, weren’t enough to erase the doubt that niggled at me.
All along I had figured Samir had commitment issues. It made sense. He was a player—at least he had been. But the reality was, whatever commitment issues Samir may have had paled in comparison to mine.
Six months. I could do six months. We could have fun, have sex. Keep things simple between us. Easy. I could lie to myself and pretend I didn’t want him, that I had the willpower to stay away, but it would be a lie. I wanted him more with each word, with each moment. It wasn’t going away. I’d made my choice a long time ago.
“Okay.”
For a moment, he didn’t speak.
“Okay, you’ll be with me?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Samir’s lips curved. “So I guess we’re done talking.”
A new tension filled the air. It occurred to me that for the first time since I’d known Samir, I was about to have sex with him without any guilt. He was free and his body was mine to explore—to touch, to taste, to tease. It felt like a fresh start for us—a chance to leave our baggage in the past. I wanted to grab on to the chance.
A slow smile spread across my face. Sex with us had always felt rushed and illicit. Now I wanted to savor it. If we only had six months together, I was going to make the most of them.
I reached behind my back—my hands shaking slightly—and slowly tugged the zipper down the back of my dress. A little wiggle and the dress pooled in a puddle at my feet.
I tossed Samir my sexiest grin, the pounding in my heart nearly deafening. “So you were saying something about a window...”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Samir
SHE WAS TRYING to give me a heart attack. That was the only explanation.
In over a year I’d seen so many different sides of Maggie—playful, smart, sexy, vulnerable—but this was a completely new side to her. She was dressed—or undressed, rather—to seduce. She stood in front of the window in nothing but heels, a black lacy bra, a matching thong, and a smile. I could only gape at her and try to play catch-up, still reeling from the fact that she was onboard with the idea of us. Somehow in between trying to convince her and realizing I actually had, she’d taken her clothes off.
Would I ever be on my game with this girl?
“Are you okay?” Laughter and nerves filled her voice.
“Maybe. I think my blood pressure just spiked.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes. Really. You’re a health risk.”
She reached behind her back, unhooking the bra. Jesus. She slipped the bra off, letting it drop to the floor next to the dress. I had to remember to breathe.
“You realize you’re killing me right? Killing me.”
&n
bsp; Her eyes widened with mock innocence. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” The words came out in a strangled gasp. I figured I had a minute or two tops before I lost my sanity. “You drive me crazy.”
“Prove it,” she teased.
My eyebrows rose at the challenge. In bed, Maggie was hot. But this? This was unbelievable.
I rose from the bed, my gaze roaming over her body as I stalked toward her. I stopped inches away, close enough that if I wanted to, I could reach out and touch her, far enough away to make her wonder if I would. I shoved my hands in my pockets, even though they were itching to touch. I wanted to take my time, wanted to savor this moment, drag it out until we were both on the verge of breaking. I wanted to go slow even though everything in my body screamed at me to rush.
Her lips parted and the urge to kiss her, to cover her mouth with mine, overwhelmed me. The first time we’d had sex had been intense—insane—and yet I had restrained myself. Even our second time together, I’d tried to not freak her out too much. Tried not to push her past her comfort zone. But the girl standing in front of me, daring me with mischief in her gorgeous brown eyes, didn’t look like she wanted to play it safe anymore.
I was happy to oblige.
“Turn around.”
Maggie raised her chin slightly. “Kiss me first.”
I groaned. “Bossy, aren’t you?”
She laughed and the sound rolled over me. “You like it.”
I did. I liked everything about her.
I hooked my arm around her back, bringing her against my body, her nipples brushing against my shirt. I kissed her, drawing her bottom lip into my mouth, catching it between my teeth, sucking on it, running my tongue along her flesh.
“You have an amazing mouth.”
She grinned, pulling away. “Thanks. I could say the same about you.”
“Turn around.”
She shot me a look. “Are you going to be like this from now on? Domineering?”
I laughed. “Are you going to let me? Somehow I don’t see that happening.” I kissed her again, unable to resist. “But I think I’m going to enjoy trying.” I broke away from her. “Turn around.”
She hesitated and nerves filled her beautiful brown eyes. Then she turned.
For a moment I just stared. I was definitely a butt guy, and her ass was pretty much perfection.
My voice shook slightly. “Put your palms on the glass.”
Maggie
A SHIVER WENT down my spine at the husky sound of Samir’s voice. This was officially the hottest night of my life.
I placed my palms against the glass, the cold a stark contrast to my body’s rising temperature. I’d talked a good game, but I was pretty sure I could last another few minutes, tops. My legs were weak, my nipples tight.
Even though I couldn’t see him, I heard him move, a rustle of clothing and limbs, walking toward me until finally his body was behind mine, just barely touching me.
“Touch me.”
“Where?” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. He might have been playing hard to get, but his voice vibrated with need.
“Anywhere.” Everywhere.
His arm curved around my waist, his fingers skimming across my stomach, his touch feather light. I shuddered, a thrill running down my spine. He pressed against me, his lips grazing my ear, his teeth catching my earlobe. He nipped at it before drawing the sensitive spot into his mouth, his tongue working magic. His hand slipped from my waist, moving down, lower, leaving a trail of fire in its wake. He shifted between my legs, his fingers teasing. For a moment his fingers toyed with the lace on my underwear—petting, stroking, gliding—and then they slipped under the fabric and slid inside me before I even had a chance to catch my breath.
“Don’t stop. Just please, whatever you do, don’t stop.”
Samir laughed, the sound low and throaty. “I couldn’t stop if I wanted to.”
With each touch, my body became boneless. My legs sagged, my skin rubbing against the cold glass. Samir wrapped an arm around my breasts, holding me against his body, supporting my weight. He leaned down, his teeth nipping at my nape. His fingers continued their torment.
He pressed kisses against the curve of my neck as I squirmed against his fingers, wanting more, wanting to be filled, wanting to feel him pressing inside of me. Needing it.
I reached back, fumbling with the button of his jeans. My hand brushed his erection, stroking it, exploring the length with my palm. I was greedy, ready to combust.
“Here, let me,” Samir mumbled.
“Hurry.”
He chuckled, his voice winded. “Going as fast as I can.”
The rasp of his zipper filled the hotel room. It might have been the most erotic noise I’d ever heard. Then his hand slipped out of me. Followed by the sound of a condom wrapper opening.
I felt his warm body behind mine. I bent forward, my body tense, poised, waiting—he slid inside me slowly, inch by inch, filling me, his body stretching mine.
For a moment, he was still, his body buried in mine. He began to move, slowly at first, each leisurely slide of skin against skin making my body tremble. I wanted fast and rough. I wanted the heat and the fire and the passion. Still, he teased me, drawing it out in delicious agony.
I looked down at the glass, mesmerized by the reflection of our bodies, Samir behind me, thrusting into me. For one moment, our gazes met in the reflection. Heat filled his eyes. As close to the edge as I was, I wasn’t alone.
Samir reached out behind me, his palm pressing against mine, his fingers grabbing mine, locking with me. He squeezed. Slowly, his thrusts began to increase, the tempo building.
I could feel my orgasm coming, just barely within my grasp. I craved that feeling, that moment when I felt like I was falling in a delicious spiral of tension and release.
Samir reached down with his free hand, teasing my nipple, taking the bud and tugging on it. Hard. I moaned.
Both of his hands came to rest on my hips, pulling my body even tighter against his, his thrusts becoming faster, deeper. He bent down over me, his teeth scraping my shoulder. Claiming me. Another shiver ripped through my body. Then I felt it, the orgasm building, my body sliding into moments of delicious oblivion. My knees buckled, but Samir held me up, his body pumping furiously into mine until finally he groaned as he came, the force of his thrusts pushing my body up against the glass.
We were silent for a moment, our bodies joined, exhaustion setting in.
He groaned. “You’re going to destroy me.”
I grinned, the waves of my orgasm still rippling through my body. My skin felt sensitive, each brush of his flesh against mine tantalizing.
“Let me know when you’re ready for round two.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Maggie
SUNLIGHT FILLED THE ROOM. I blinked for a moment, confusion filling me. I rolled over onto my side and stared across the pillow—at Samir’s head resting there. His eyes were closed, long black lashes fanning out. For a moment all I could do was watch him sleep. I still couldn’t really believe he was here. That he was mine. For six months, at least.
I leaned forward to drop a soft kiss on his lips. I aligned my body with his, curling into his warmth.
“That feels good,” Samir murmured.
I kissed him again.
“Really good.”
Our legs tangled together. Samir kissed me back, his hands stroking, stoking the fire within me. It was fast this time. There were no words, no joking, no laughter. Just a hurried frenzy of limbs and then the thrust of his body into mine. My orgasm came fast, the release less intense, a slow unraveling that left me sleepy and relaxed. I wasn’t a morning person,
but that could change if all of my mornings were like this.
Samir gathered me into his body.
“Good morning,” he whispered, his lips finding mine.
“Good morning.”
Samir pressed a kiss to the top of my nose. “You’re adorable w
hen you sleep.”
“What do you mean?”
“You make this little face when you dream. Your whole face scrunches up—like you’re thinking really hard.”
I considered this for a moment, not entirely sure I liked his description. “That sounds weird.”
Samir stroked my cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s adorable.” He kissed the other cheek. “And you snore.”
Horror filled me. “I do not.”
He grinned. “You do. Kind of loudly, actually.”
I elbowed him. “I don’t snore.”
“It’s cute.”
I flushed, burying my face in the pillow. “I definitely don’t snore,” I mumbled into it. I lifted my head up. “No one has ever told me that before.” Surely, Mya or Fleur would have mentioned something.
“How many men have you slept with before me?” Samir countered, a knowing smile flashing across his face.
I stuck my tongue out at him. “I don’t snore,” I repeated, as if saying it enough would make it true.
He rolled me onto my back, his body covering mine. “You do. And I think it’s adorable. You’re adorable.”
“I’m fierce.”
He grinned. “Not even a little bit. What do you want to do today?”
I had a pretty good idea. “We could stay in the room.”
“You’ve never been to Spain before; we’re not spending the whole day in the hotel room.” His hand trailed down my side, tickling slightly. “As much as I’d like to.”
I pouted. “Fine. What do you want to do then?”
“I want to show you Marbella.”
Samir
OUR DAY TOGETHER in Paris last year had taught me how fun it was to show Maggie around a city that was new to her. She noticed things I’d never paid attention to before and she was excited by everything. It was impossible not to get caught up in her enthusiasm.
“Where to first?”
I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her body close to mine.
London Falling Page 13
