“Sam?” Chris lifted the table cloth, looking at his date.
“Don’t look at me,” she snapped.
He couldn’t help noticing the damp spot on the cloth chair she’d been sitting on. This was bad. Now what?
“I’ll get the food to go,” was all he could manage.
She’d never be able to look him in the eye again. Her life was over. It was bad enough that she’d lost dinner in front of him previously, but this...this was unlike anything that had ever happened before. She felt like a child, with the table cloth hiding her from the others.
Once the bill was paid and dinner was wrapped up, they headed to the car. Sam made a run for it, knowing all eyes were on her. How could this happen?
She wanted to slink home, or crawl under the car and not have to sit beside him.
“Oh, um, my car seats? I hope you don’t mind.” There was no polite way to handle this. “Would you mind sitting on a plastic bag or something?”
The thirty shades of red that Sam turned weren’t complimentary. There was nothing left to say.
They removed the take-out containers from the plastic bag that the restaurant had placed them in, and put them on the backseat. Chris laid the cheap, plastic bag on the front seat. As she sat on it, the bag crinkled under her. Sam buckled in and stared out the window. She couldn’t speak. It was fun while it lasted, but now... now she’d never be able to leave her house again. She’d have to move, maybe to Egypt or Australia, because there was no way she could ever share an elevator with Christopher again.
When she got home, she thanked him in a whisper, and ran into the building. Chris said nothing.
**
“You what?” Becky screamed into the phone.
“I wanted to die right on the spot.”
“I can imagine.”
“No. No you can’t. Nothing you can imagine would be as traumatic as peeing yourself in front of your date.” Her words were flat.
“What did he say?”
“He asked me to sit on a plastic bag for the drive home. I was so embarrassed.”
“Wow. Yeah, talk about awkward.” The shock in Becky’s voice was apparent.
“Awkward doesn’t even begin to express what I was feeling. Awkward is sneezing on your date’s food. Awkward is using the wrong fork at a fancy restaurant. Awkward is finding out that your blouse is a little bit see-through. This was not awkward. This was hell. This was realizing that as you feel the warm trickle, you’ve just ruined any chance of ever being respected by the man you are falling for. It means having to admit it happened, and actually saying it out loud. It means having to walk out of a restaurant, knowing every single person there was aware you had an accident. It means sitting on plastic bags, and praying you’ll never run into your date in the hallway again. It means considering moving away. It means living in fear of it happening again. It means my life is over.”
“Your life isn’t over.” Becky soothed her friend. “You’re human. Things happen.”
“Things happen?”
“Sorry, Sammy, I’m not really sure what to say. One day you’ll look back on this and laugh.”
“Tell me when, because I can’t see that ever happening.”
The conversation circled around to Fred’s hemorrhoids, the dining room getting in on the conversation, and then back around to Sam’s incident. When they’d exhausted every possible angle, they said their good-byes. Becky gave her one last pep talk before hanging up.
When the knock came at Samantha’s door, she knew who it was. She didn’t want to answer. She didn’t want to look at him, talk to him, see him, or let him see her.
“Sam.” His voice was soft.
“Go away.” She stood with her back pressed to the door, afraid he’d try to pry it open.
“I brought your dinner. You forgot to take yours.”
“I’m not hungry,” Sam said petulantly.
“You have to eat.”
“I’ll survive.”
“Sam, open the door.” He knew she was embarrassed, but they could put this behind them. She was human. They both were.
“I can’t.”
Christopher sat against her door in the hallway. “I’ll just sit out here and eat my dinner, and we can finish our date this way.”
“Please go,” Sam begged.
“Nope, I’m sorry. I’m stubborn like that.”
“Can’t you see I’m embarrassed?”
“We’ll laugh about this one day. Tonight, I’m eating dinner. If you want yours, I’ll slide it in. You don’t even have to look at me, just crack the door open.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I like you, and I refuse to let you hide from me forever. Open the door, just a little bit, and I’ll slide your stuff in.”
After a long pause, the door opened just a crack. “Don’t look at me.”
Chris slid her take out container inside.
Sitting back against the door, she opened the container and picked at the food. “I wanted to die. I’ve never been so mortified in all my life.”
“If it matters, I still want to have dinner with you, even if it’s through a door.”
She realized how silly she was being. When the doorknob turned, Chris saw her standing. “You can come inside. Just don’t expect me to look you in the eye.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “It wasn’t supposed to happen. I don’t do things like that.”
“One day we’ll be telling that story to our grandchildren, and we’ll be laughing...”
“And I’ll be praying it doesn’t happen again.” She paused and turned to look at him warily. “Did you say grandchildren?”
That’s when she knew. He liked her. He really liked her. He saw a future, even as they grew to know one another. He wanted to stick around.
“Yeah. I mean, those are the kinds of stories that make your holidays the best, the ones that you can laugh at. I don’t mean that in a bad way.”
“Yes,” she laughed, “because leaking is great dinner conversation.” Slowly her guard came down.
“Well, apparently hemorrhoids are, too. Who knew? I’ve been doing it all wrong.”
“That was insane. It’s like the entire dining room was getting in on the conversation. That was crazy!”
Christopher watched her face light up. The way she smiled made him happy. He wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms or take her to bed when she’d grin and her eyes danced. “There’s two ways we can look at tonight. We can pretend like it never happened, or we can laugh about it as a silly dating memory. The choice is yours.”
“I need at least a year’s buffer. If we’re still together a year from now, it will be free game. Mock me as much as you want, but until that time, not a peep.”
“If we’re still together a year from now? I have a feeling we’ll be together for a very long time.” Chris picked up her hand and kissed it tenderly.
“Even knowing what you know about me?”
“You’ll keep things interesting.” He didn’t miss a beat.
“You’re something else.”
“And you’re amazing.” He kissed each fingertip, and then turned her hand over. Drawing lazy circles in her palm, he smiled. “Let me read your palm. I see a very happy girl, with a very happy boy, and she’s letting him do very naughty things to her body.”
“You’re bad, but I think I like that about you. What kinds of naughty things?”
He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, his hot breath giving her shivers.
“Oh, yeah? What else?” A low, electric tingle filtered through her.
She wasn’t sure how she’d hold him off much longer, because the way he was talking, she was ready to tear off his clothes and take him to bed now. She was trying to go slower, take her time and grow the relationship before jumping in head first. Only her body was speaking to her with each word Christopher said, and she was getting weaker.
Chris nibbled on her earl
obe, his warm breath teasing her. Moving lower, he was in search of a sweet spot that would set her on fire. It didn’t take him long to find it. His lips inched a little lower down her neck. Wickedly, delicious sensations rushed through her body. If he kept this up, she’d be dry humping his leg pretty soon.
“That feels so good, but if you don’t stop...” she trailed off.
“Yes?” He continued working on her neck.
“I won’t be able to say no.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” he cooed playfully.
“Ooh, yeah, right there,” she purred as she leaned into him. Each kiss he dotted along her skin, each caress, every small lick left her hungry for more.
“Let me make you feel good.” His voice was low and gravely.
Samantha sighed hearing his words. She knew the night was far from over. Nothing had gone as planned, why should the rest of the night be any different?
Christopher’s fingers were taking liberties, stroking her body through the material of her clothing. His hands were nimble and followed her curves, moving over her shoulders, down her back, and around her sides.
Sam’s breathing grew deeper, each breath letting out a sigh of pleasure, a desire for more.
Chris slid his fingers under the edge of Samantha’s shirt and connected with her skin. Slowly, he inched up her back, his touch tender, caressing, until he reached the elastic band of her bra.
Closing her eyes, Sam let her head drop back as Christopher moved his mouth to the front of her neck. His hands slid around the fabric of her bra, and stopped to cup her breasts. Her lace bra was the only barrier left between her skin and his fingers.
Hooking a finger below the elastic, he lifted her bra up and over a breast, letting it fall out gently, ready for his touch.
They both sighed as his hand scooped her breast into his palm, her warm skin begging for attention. He gave a gentle squeeze and another caress before he slid his fingers to her nipple. Tempting her with promised passion, Sam locked lips with Christopher, her hunger obvious. His hands felt so good on her body, and there was no way she was stopping him, not at this moment.
His kisses were wet and moved from her lips, down her jaw, and across her neck. As he lifted Samantha’s shirt, she reached behind herself, unhooking her bra. His mouth connected with her breasts, his lips teasing her nipple, suckling and milking another low moan from her lips.
Oh, she wanted this. She needed this. Her body responded, desperate for him to continue. “Don’t stop,” she whispered, afraid the sensation would end.
A small guttural groan slipped out, listening to her whisper in pleasure. Taking more of her breast into his mouth, his only want and need was to make Sam feel incredible. She’d snuck her way into his heart and mind, and he was ready to show her just how much he’d fallen for her.
It was the way that she laughed, and the way that her cheeks were round and rosy when she flushed, and how her eyes sparkled when she talked excitedly about something, and the way her curves made him want to take her to bed. There was no denying that Christopher was falling hard for his neighbor.
“Take me to bed.” She tried to be a good girl, but being a bad girl was so much more fun. Besides, she was investing in a relationship here. She saw a possible future, a man who had captured her in a way she wasn’t anticipating. Sure, when she first met him, she may have formed opinions, but he’d changed every single one. It was in the sweet gestures that he did for others, the way he looked at her, and the way that she felt when she was around him. Something changed, and it was most definitely for the better.
Christopher pulled back and looked at Sam. His fingers delicately stroked the side of her face. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and then kissed her lips, barely brushing hers with his own. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. She was more than sure. She wanted this, wanted him, wanted more. She wanted to take their budding relationship to the next level. She needed to know they were compatible, and needed to feel his arms wrapped around her. She needed to hear him groan with release, and needed to feel him deep inside her.
Standing up, Chris took her hand and silently led her to the bedroom.
Pulling her into his arms in front of the bed, he held her tightly. “I’m ready, but I want to make sure you’re not having second thoughts.”
“I’m sure,” she whispered.
His fingers raked through her hair, and then slid down her back. Undressing one another, hands roamed and kisses were dotted across warm skin.
Climbing onto the bed, they wrapped in each other’s arms and tangled their legs. Their mouths and hands sought out to pleasure the other, and when the moment drew near for him to enter, they stopped only long enough to retrieve a condom. Barely missing a beat, they found themselves tangled up once again, this time with Christopher inside of her. Sam wrapped her legs around him, needing to experience all of him.
Each movement, every thrust brought them closer to release, and as they reached their peak, the sounds of pleasure filled the room.
Drawing Samantha closer to him, Christopher held his lover tightly as the afterglow was upon them. Drifting on the high of an orgasm, he knew he’d found the one he’d been looking for. Everything felt right when he held Sam, something he’d never experienced before.
Sex was sex, and making love was making love, but this was somehow more. It was perfect, the way she fit into his arms, her soft body pressed to his. He knew it would take everything inside of him to let go. He could happily remain like this forever. Or until his arm fell asleep, whichever came first, because the nerve she was laying on, her head pressed into his arm, the pins and needles were starting and he was pretty sure it would be going numb shortly.
Chapter 13
When the first bouquet of flowers showed up, she knew who it was from. What she wasn’t expecting was the second bouquet. The third bouquet really threw her for a loop. Only on opening the cards did she learn that Christopher had only sent two of them. Brady had sent the third. He’d been thinking about her, and was hoping they could work things out.
Brady was her ex-boyfriend, the one that she’d split up with and put behind her, the one that ran the other mobile dog grooming van in town, Pristine Pooches. If they’d come a few weeks earlier, she might have been happy to see them, but things had changed.
When her doorbell rang, Christopher was smiling. “Did you get the flowers?”
“I did,” she said, opening the door.
“That’s weird. I only sent two. They must have delivered an extra.”
Sam looked down. “Two are from you.”
“Oh. Is there a reason there’s a third?” He wanted to pretend he wasn’t hurt, but he didn’t hide it well. “Is there somebody else you’re seeing?”
“No, they’re from the past. I didn’t have a chance to do anything with them yet.”
“The past?”
“The past. You’re my present, and future.” She put her finger on his lips. “Not a word, because you absolutely have nothing to worry about, and last night was amazing.”
His guard came down. “Nothing to worry about?”
“Nothing.” She wrapped into his arms, nuzzling into his chest. “In fact, why don’t we bring them down to Mrs. Chagas?”
“Great idea.”
“You can do it. I don’t want to be stuck talking to her for a long time.” She laughed. “I’ll donate the flowers, you donate the conversation.”
“That was very sneaky, getting out of the conversation.”
“Christopher,” her voice softened. “I mean it, there’s nothing to worry about. You’re the one I want.”
“I’m glad to hear it. You’re the only thing on my mind these days. I’m glad the feeling is mutual. I’ll go run them down, but if I’m not back within the hour, send help.”
She sent him on his way with the flowers. As the door closed behind him, she read the card one more time before ripping it in half and tossing it in the trashcan. What
was the etiquette on something like this? Should she call him and thank him? Act like she never got them? What would she say?
Sam frowned, and as the knock came at the door, she skipped over. “Back already?”
Only it wasn’t Chris, it was Brady. “Hey Sam, did you get the flowers I sent? I’ve been thinking about you.”
“Brady, stop.” She lowered her head. “I did, thank you, but you should know that I’m seeing someone. This, you and me, it can’t happen. It was fun while it lasted, but it’s over.”
“Right.” He stood in the doorway, not sure what else to say. “I should probably go.”
“I think it would be best.”
“If things don’t work out with him, give me a call.”
She nodded. She had no intention of calling him.
**
When Chris got home from work the following day, something was different. His face was slack, and as he rode the elevator to his floor, he was lost in thought. This wasn’t what he planned. For the first time in a long time he was truly happy. Samantha had come into his life, and like a whirlwind, spun him around like a top until he realized she was the one he needed.
This could change his entire world. And how could he make the decision knowing that her ex-boyfriend was beckoning, sending flowers, and showing up at her doorstep? It was almost too good of an offer to turn down, but there would be consequences and they would impact him greatly.
When he put in for the position, he had no way of knowing Sam would come into his life. It was so far off in the future, and he had nothing holding him here. And yet how could he turn down a promotion this large, even if it meant moving hundreds of miles away? Atlanta might very well be his new home. There was just one problem...Sam didn’t live there.
His stomach knotted, realizing what it would mean. If he took the position, he’d be leaving Sam behind. They weren’t far enough into their relationship to expect her to up and move. Besides, she had a business here. And yet if he stayed, his career might stall. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, a raise, and there were no guarantees that he and Sam would last forever. Maybe it would be a short lived fling, and he couldn’t turn down a new position, title, and raise over a fling. It was a gamble, and right now choosing between a new relationship and work, he knew he had to be safe, logical, smart... it’s who he was. He’d be moving to Atlanta.
Crazy About Curves: 10 Luscious Reads Page 32
