They made their coffees in silence, both of them lost in thought. He settled across from her at the small table in the room and waited for her to begin.
“Ellis, I want you to know something,” Lacey said. “The few weeks you refused to even respond to Sam were the worst few weeks of her life. She felt responsible for what happened to you, and you just left her to deal with it all alone. What kind of man does that?”
Guilt assaulted him at her words. He knew he had been a coward. “Lacey,” he started. “I have no excuse. I deserve everything you want to dish out and then some. It isn’t anything I haven’t already beaten myself up for, believe me. I was a coward, it’s as simple as that. I couldn’t deal with the feelings I had for her, and I figured she would be better off if I just left.”
“Don’t you see? She wasn’t better off without you. You destroyed her. See how she just told you not to leave before she went in there? You did that to her.”
Ellis knew that every word she was saying was the truth, but it didn’t stop the pain from overtaking him. “Lacey, I’m so sorry. I’m so glad that she had you during that time. There’s a lot that’s happened to me in my life, and I know that’s not an excuse, but it’s why I reacted the way I did. I never really had any idea what being in love meant. I know that sounds like a cop out, but it’s true. I know now that what I did was the worst thing I could’ve done. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her, if she’ll let me.”
Lacey smiled, and he almost sighed with relief. “I believe you, Ellis. If I didn’t see how completely in love Sam was, I might’ve given you a harder time than I did.”
“Harder?” Ellis joked. “Wow, I’m glad I didn’t have to see that. You’ve had me sweating bullets the last five minutes.”
She laughed. “I just wanted to make sure you saw how special Sam is, and that you learned from what happened. I’m sorry for all of the things that happened to you, but one thing you can be sure of about Sam is that she is the most dedicated, honest person you’ll ever meet. She’s always in your corner, and will do anything for anyone.”
He nodded. “I love her, Lacey.”
“I know you do,” she said, covering his hands with hers. “I knew right from the beginning that you were going to be something special to her.”
“Why?”
“Sam and I talk a lot, even with both of our crazy schedules,” she started. “When her dad decided to hire you, he had gotten a picture of you from your boss and showed it to her. She got it off his phone and sent it to me, and we spend a long time talking about you.”
Ellis threw his head back and laughed at the irony. They had both done the same thing. Him with looking her up online and watching videos of her, and her with the picture Andrew had sent Brian. “Are you serious?”
“Of course, at first it was how hot you are,” Lacey said unabashedly. “But, truly, I think she knew from the first time she saw you that she had some sort of connection to you. I know that sounds ridiculous…”
“It doesn’t,” he interrupted. “Because before I came, I looked her up online and watched a video of her singing that song, Wasted Tears. I was so hooked on her I couldn’t look away. I told myself that it was nothing, that she was just a talented singer with a pretty face, but I knew deep inside that wasn’t it.”
Lacey’s eyes widened, and she looked at him without saying anything for a few moments. “Wow.”
“What?”
“That just gave me the chills, Ellis. It’s like there was something out there stronger than both of you pulling you both towards each other. There’s no other way to explain something like that.”
Ellis nodded. “I know. I fought it as long as I could, but Sam’s it for me. Everything I’ve gone through, all of my past, led me here to her, to us. I promise you Lacey, I’ll never do anything to jeopardize that again. I didn’t know if I would ever see her again, and that scared the shit out of me.”
“She said you call her Sammi,” Lacey said, unshed tears shining in her eyes. “She loves it. You’ve changed her life, too, Ellis. Don’t forget that.”
Sam hugged her parents and Lacey goodbye as they left to head home to Nashville. Lacey had to get back to school. Brian was staying to see through what would happen with Sean. Right now he was locked up without any bail until he had a hearing in the morning. She and Ellis were staying tonight in Knoxville, along with Carl. She had spent the last two hours in the same interrogation room she had been in when she had said what Tanner had done, but this time to recount what had happened with Sean step by step, and what he had admitted to her. She thankfully hadn’t had to see him again since they arrested him at the scene.
As happy as she was to see her parents and Lacey, and for them to know that she was safe, she really wanted to grab Ellis and run away from all of it. She had never been so grateful for her parents when they said they were going to head the two hours or so home, and that she could join them whenever she was ready, as long as Ellis was with her at all times. She barely contained her grin when they said that, and Ellis didn’t. He had shaken her dad’s hand and hugged her mom, thanking them for entrusting Sam to him.
Carl was a wonderful man and Sam was so glad that Ellis had him in his life. He had come all the way from Florida to help Ellis track her down, and for that she would be eternally grateful. She was exhausted after a very long and emotionally taxing two days, but all she wanted to do was get to the room with Ellis and be alone.
But now, as everyone said their goodbyes and went their separate ways, they looked at each other out of the corner of their eyes. The tension that had been a palpable fission in the room was now electric, and they both knew what they wanted. He led her wordlessly to the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor. He reached for her hand and held it, a small smile playing on his lips.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she teased, bumping him gently.
His eyes darkened, and it made her laugh die on her lips. “You have no idea how much I’m going to enjoy this,” he said, bringing her hand to his mouth. He began kissing her slowly, his lips pressing on each of her fingers. He turned her palm over and kissed all along it. She felt his warm tongue against her skin, and it made her squirm with desire. No one had ever done what he was doing right now, and it was hot.
He looked up at her as he continued kissing her hand, then took her finger and sucked it into his mouth. She gasped as his warm mouth made her tingle all over her body.
The elevator doors opened and he dropped her hand, smirking as he left her bereft. She followed him out, hurrying after him as he made his way to the door of their room.
“That wasn’t nice,” she laughed, smacking him on his fine butt as she approached him. He turned and pinned her against the door.
“You have no idea,” he repeated, and everything in her body clenched. His hard muscles pressed into her, and she thought she might combust before he got the door open. He unlocked the door and pulled her inside, flipping on the lights. Their things were already delivered, and Ellis scanned the room quickly before he relaxed.
She couldn’t stop herself from reaching for him, having gone so long without him that she felt lonely after just a few seconds. He gave her that look, the smoldering one that sent electric pulses throughout her body.
“You tell me if you aren’t up for what I’m about to do,” he said so low she had to strain to hear him. “Because I’m going to make love to you all night, but right now, I just can’t. I have to have you.”
Sam’s eyes widened as she took in his rigid stance and the serious look on his face. He wasn’t kidding. She had never had anyone talk to her like that before. It was… hot. She was turned on.
He smirked when she didn’t respond and stepped towards her. “Speechless?”
She nodded, reaching her hands out to grasp his arms. He stepped back, and she frowned. He took another step back and reached down to take off his shoes, never breaking eye contact. She felt completely out of her elem
ent right now.
“Answer me, Samantha.” She wrinkled her forehead at him at the use of her full name, but he didn’t say what she wanted him to. She realized he wasn’t going to say anything else until she answered him.
“I’ve never been so turned on in all my life,” she said, a blush creeping over her cheeks. That was apparently all he needed to hear, as the next thing she knew, he had grabbed her around the waist and turned her around, splaying his hand on her stomach while he pushed her backside into his arousal.
“Still on the pill?”
She nodded, her mouth dry. Her body was going haywire with desire, want, and the thrill of not knowing what in the world he was going to do. He moved her hair to the side and began kissing her neck, his end of the day scruff making her skin extra sensitive.
“You smell so damn good,” he murmured, unbuttoning her pants and pushing them to the floor. His hands roved her backside and traced his fingers down the front of her silk panties, stopping just before she started moaning. Moving his hands up, he pulled her shirt off and threw it on the floor. Coming right back, he unhooked her bra and pushed it off her shoulders, leaving her in only her panties.
He turned her quickly, bending so he could take her breast in his mouth while he used his other hand to reach into her thong. She hissed as he made contact with her sensitive flesh, then made her cry out by entering two fingers into her. He moved to her other breast as his fingers played inside her, sending her into a frenzy. She wanted to do everything, and right now. Sam reached for his button, but he backed up, shaking his head no.
“Go get on the bed,” he commanded, and she quivered. Looking flirtatiously over her shoulder, she walked to the bed and stopped, waiting for him to tell her where he wanted her. “On your back. Spread your legs and close your eyes.”
She couldn’t believe she was doing this, but she had never been more aware of everything in her life. The sound of her breathing, the look in his eyes, the tension in the room. It was all palpable. She watched, entranced, as he stripped his clothes off and threw them on the floor. She had only seen him naked once before, and it seemed like it had been a lifetime ago. Her eyes traveled from his defined shoulders and arms to his cut stomach, slim hips, and the most amazing set of legs she had ever seen. Then, of course, there was the evidence that he was ready for her, and she had to stop herself from licking her lips at the sight of him.
He walked to her, his expression resembling a cat on the prowl. She thought she might detonate just from the look in his eyes alone. He wanted her. He stood next to the bed and looked down at her, reaching one hand out and pulling her leg so she was on the edge of the bed. His eyes were fixed on hers as he touched her again, making her eyes close and a noise come from the back of her throat.
“I can’t wait,” he said, lifting her leg so it was on his shoulder. He entered her, pushing her so she was sliding back on the bed. She moaned as he held her leg. He felt so deep and was setting every nerve ending completely on fire. She moved her head back and forth, trying to take in all of the sensations she was having all at once. He had her right to the edge already.
He withdrew from her and she opened her eyes, crying out in frustration. “Get up on your hands and knees,” he said, a smile playing on his lips. “I wasn’t ready for you to let go yet, baby.” She watched him for a moment before listening. Even though they had been together once before this, this was a different man she was with right now. She loved it.
As soon as she turned over, she felt him kneel behind her on the bed. He hovered over her, pulling her hair to the side as he licked and sucked her all the way from her neck down to the base of her spine.
“Ellis,” she breathed. “Oh my god, please.”
“Patience,” he breathed against her back, his hands exploring her body as he continued to lick and kiss up and down her back. He slid one hand between her legs again, swearing under his breath. Gripping her hips, he slammed into her again, and they both called out. Her legs were quivering, and she could feel the sweat on his chest as he leaned against her. She sat back slightly as he used her hips to help guide his movement.
“You’re so hot,” he grunted, pulling her tighter to him. He reached around and used two fingers on her most sensitive spot and she came undone, calling his name and convulsing as he came apart with her. Sweat covered her body as they continued for longer than she thought could even be possible, him sending her over the edge for a second time.
By the time he rolled over and pulled her with him, she didn’t think she could move again.
“Ellis,” she whispered, breaking the silence. “That was single handedly the hottest thing that has ever happened to me. Have you done that before?”
He traced her hip with his fingers, a smirk turning her to jello again. “Baby, you bring out things in me that I never knew existed. I told you that I wanted it and now.”
“But, you were more than just Caveman,” she teased. “You were bossy! You wouldn’t even let me touch you!”
Ellis rolled her onto her back and pinned her underneath him. He kissed her softly, his tongue playing with hers gently. “Sammi,” he breathed into her mouth. “I’m going to do everything with you, from now until the end of time. I’ve been so terrified for days. I just couldn’t be without you one more second.”
Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to allow them to come. “I wasn’t complaining, not at all. I’m game for that any time. Can I take a turn once?”
His eyes widened. “You want to be the boss?”
She shrugged. “There are some things I haven’t gotten to do with you yet,” she said shyly.
She’s was amazingly beautiful. Lying there next to her, laughing and coming down from the singlehanded best sex he’d ever had was the most wonderful feeling.
She rested her chin on his chest, both of them content. “Can we talk?”
Ellis smoothed her hair back, running his fingers through the silky threads. “That sounds serious.”
She laughed, and the feeling of her bare skin pressed up against him made him want to stop all talking. “No, it isn’t. Well okay, it kind of is. There are some things I need to tell you.”
Ellis knew that no matter what she had to tell him, it wasn’t anything compared to what she had learned about him. “Okay, baby, go ahead. But before you start, you know there’s absolutely nothing that will stop me from loving you, right?”
Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. “I’m so glad to hear you say that,” she said. “Every time you say that, it makes me feel like I’m floating in the clouds.”
“I’m going to keep you in the clouds,” he joked.
“So you met Gage, right?”
Ellis nodded, not liking where this was going already. “Yeah, he was your high school boyfriend, right?”
“Yes. We’ve known each other most of our lives, but we started dating when we were sixteen. We were inseparable. Our families were friends, so it was just kind of natural. We dated for over two years, until we graduated. Gage was leaving to go to college, and I was going to take a few classes at the community college and pursue my singing career. Except, two weeks before Gage went to college, I found out I was pregnant.” She paused, looking into his eyes. He smiled reassuringly at her and squeezed her hand, urging her to continue.
“Of course, my parents were horrified. My dad had all these plans for me, none of which included becoming a teenage mom. Gage was supportive, and there for me no matter what I chose, but he was terrified. I refused to get rid of the baby, even though my father drove me to an appointment and tried to force me to do it.”
Ellis sucked in a breath. How dare her father do that to her? “So what did you do?”
“I walked out of the appointment and went to stay with Lacey for a few weeks, trying to decide what in the world I was going to do. While I was gone, my dad and Gage’s dad had arranged for me to give my baby away for adoption.”
“They what?” Ellis clenched his fists. Why
was it that all of these people thought they had to run Sam’s life all the time?
She nodded. “When my mom finally convinced me to come home from Lacey’s, they all sat Gage and I down and told us that they had gotten the paperwork from the adoption agency. They laid it all out there like it was something to be so proud of. I remember looking at Gage and feeling so scared, so alone. I never wanted to give up my baby, but what choice did I have? I was an eighteen year old girl that still lived at home and had dreams of being a country singer. My parents convinced me that I had too many goals to be a mom at that point in my life, and that I’d never get to do what I wanted if I kept the baby.”
“They manipulated you,” Ellis said. “You having a child might’ve made your dreams a little more challenging, but it wouldn’t have been impossible. So you did it? You gave your baby away?”
She nodded, a tear slipping out of her eye and falling onto his bare chest. He stroked her back, knowing this had to be the hardest thing she had ever told anyone. “I never even saw her, Ellis. I gave birth to her and they took her away from me. I have no idea if she looked like me, or Gage, what color hair she had, or eyes. I never got to hold her body against mine and tell her that I loved her, but I couldn’t keep her. The couple that adopted my baby didn’t know my name, and it’s a closed adoption. My parents handled everything, and that was the end of it.”
Anger coursed through his veins for the young woman she had been, and what she had lost. “You don’t even know her name?”
“No. I know absolutely nothing about her, other than she was a girl.”
“Sammi, I’m so sorry. That’s terrible. How did the press not get a hold of this?”
“The agency doesn’t want to say anything. They have legal documentation that binds them from ever leaking that out. And the press tried hard to get Gage to give them some dirt on me, but he’s not that way. No matter what they might promise him, he’d never go there with them. It destroyed him as much as it did me. He was there with me the day she was born, and after I left the hospital, I hadn’t talked to or seen him until before the concert in Baton Rouge when he emailed me out of the blue. But it was good to talk to him, to see him. It made things kind of final between us, put things to rest.”
Guarding Hearts (Living Again #3) Page 20
