Bryce

Chapter 13

“Tell me I’m being stupid and need to turn around,” Samantha said as soon as Meka picked up the phone.

“Uh oh.”

“Are you closing up? You can call me back,” Samantha said once she noticed the time.

“All I have left to do is close and lock the door. So, tell me what crazy thing you are doing. I refuse to weigh in without the facts.”

Samantha started from the beginning. Meka already knew Bryce was away for work. She was careful to point out that her unexpected trip to Delaware was to cheer Bryce up, not to try to catch him. She hadn’t been lying when she told him he had her trust. It was obvious the distance was wearing on him the same way it was wearing on her.

“So, am I crazy?”

Meka chuckled. “Yes.”

Samantha rubbed the back of her neck. Her hair was pulled up into a bun, and the weight of her braids only added to the tension there. “God. I should turn around.”

Meka laughed again. “Stop freaking out. I was only teasing. I think it’s cute. You are missing him, and he’s obviously missing you. You have an unexpected Saturday off, so you shouldn’t waste it. Go find your man.”

“You make it sound so creepy. I don’t have to search for him. He sent me his accommodations when he found a place that would allow Asher. I’m not stalking him or anything.”

“Exactly. Remember that when you start overthinking again. I’m on my way to pick up Chenille, so I better get going. Let me know how it goes.”

Samantha felt much better after talking to her friend. Rayelle would have had a better idea of Bryce’s reaction, but she didn’t want to be talked out of her trip. The surprise was for the right reasons. She had already been feeling needy before finding out it would be at least another week before she would see him.

The drive was a peaceful one. Leaving in the evening meant she avoided most of the traffic. It was also easier to drive to a beach town during the off-season. The winter season meant daylight was in short supply. She would have liked to enjoy the view as she drove, but the most that could be seen were shadows along the roadway.

After exiting the highway and starting down the local roads, the streetlights spread out and the city lights began to disappear. Stars shined bright in the bluish-purple of the night sky. Even without seeing landmarks, she could feel the nearness of the beach. Following the GPS instructions, she pulled down a narrow road that led to a group of townhouses.

“This is it,” she mumbled to herself as she pulled into the driveway.

The windows were dark, and she once again second-guessed her decision. Who would drive three hours to see someone who wasn’t expecting them? A stalker. That’s who.

A light turned on in the back of the house moments before the front door opened.

“Samantha?”

Bryce stood in the doorway. He wore a pair of dark sweatpants, and his mussed hair made it clear he had been in bed.

“Hi,” she breathed, readjusting her bag on her shoulder.

Bryce looked at her for a moment before he scrubbed a hand down his face and stepped to the side. “Come inside.”

She stepped past him and into the house, dropping her bag by the door. “I missed you. Another week felt too far away.”

He closed the door behind her. While she stared at his back, every doubt she had screamed louder and louder. Of all her quirks and idiosyncrasies, showing up at his place three hours away would be the thing to scare him off. She stepped out of her boots before busying herself with Asher, who was no longer barking but standing at her feet wagging his tail.

“Come here.”

Looking up, she found Bryce looking down at her with his hand outstretched. As soon as she accepted it, he pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. She melted into him, feeling the warmth of his body through her thick sweatshirt.

“You aren’t upset?” she asked.

He stepped back to look at her. “Why would I be upset?”

“Because I showed up here like a crazy person. It’s not what it looks like,” she explained. “I just missed you.”

“Then I guess it’s exactly what it looks like. And I’m glad you’re here because I missed you, too. Let’s go to bed.”

Without another word, he led her to the bedroom, only stopping when they reached the bed.

“Arms up,” he ordered.

Her heart rate picked up speed as she raised her arms and waited. Bryce grabbed the hem of her sweatshirt and pulled it over her head, leaving her standing in a tank top and leggings.

He peeled the blankets back on the side of the bed that hadn’t been slept in. “Sit.”

Without hesitating, she sat on the bed. When he tapped her hip, she shifted her weight so he could pull her leggings off and toss them to the floor. Holding the blanket up, he waited for her to swing her legs around and lie down. He covered her up before going around to the other side of the bed and joining her.

“No rehearsal tomorrow?” he asked, finally breaking the silence after pulling her flush against his body.

She was wrapped securely in his arms, and she absently stroked his warm skin. “No. We made good progress this week, so they gave us tomorrow off.”

“I’m glad you came down.” His voice was gravely and heavy with sleep. “I haven’t slept for shit since I’ve been here.”

“Same. Which makes no sense since I’ve been in my own bed, and we mostly sleep apart anyway. I think it’s knowing you’re so far away.”

He held her tighter and placed a kiss on her neck, just below her ear. His warm breath tickled, sending goosebumps across her flesh. Somehow, she managed to move closer to him still.

“You don’t mind if we just get some sleep, do you?”

“Bryce. That sounds absolutely amazing. You already know I’ve been tired, anyway. That long drive took what little energy I had.”

He repositioned his arms around her before speaking softly against her neck. “Close your eyes.”

Bryce turned his alarm off as soon as it sounded. Samantha was sleeping peacefully beside him and the last thing he wanted to do was wake her. Nothing like having to set an alarm for a Saturday morning. Before Samantha showed up on his doorstep, he was planning to do his work from the office where the internet connection was better. Now he decided his best plan would be to go to the office, make an appearance, and then grab whatever he needed in order to work from home.

After dressing in silence, he took one more look at the beautiful woman in his bed. Her thick lashes fanned out above her cheeks. Her lips were parted, and she snored softly as she slept. It took everything in him to keep from crawling back into the bed beside her.

Lizzy was stepping out of her car as he pulled up. He hadn’t expected to see her, but her presence didn’t bother him since the heart-to-heart they’d had the night before. She had apologized for her behavior and assured him that she had no ulterior motives. He would have to thank Samantha once he got back to the house.

“Good morning,” he greeted Lizzy as she joined him near the entrance.

“Long time no see,” she joked.

He held the door open and waited for her to walk through before he followed her inside. It being a Saturday, he wasn’t surprised to see the office empty. Some workers would likely trickle in and out to tie up some loose ends, but that would be it.

“I thought you had to work your other job today.”

Lizzy set her bag on one of the desks in the shared work area. “I do. I’m just here to grab a few things. I don’t have to work until later.”

He wasn’t sure what her second job was, but he didn’t ask. Even though they had turned over a new leaf, he still wouldn’t consider her a friend.

“Same. No need to sit here all day if I can grab what I need and work from my temporary home.”

He went into his office and put a few papers into his bag. He wished there was a way to go completely paperless, but with so many workers preferring different programs, it was nearly impossible. Most of his work for the day would be consolidating everything into the program he preferred to use. Staying organized was easy when everything was in one place.

“Drive safe, Lizzy,” he called out before closing the door behind himself.

The drive was a short one, but he used it to think about his current situation. Samantha had quickly become more important to him than anyone had before. She had been nervous about showing up uninvited, but there was nothing that could have made him happier than seeing her standing at the other side of the door. Warmth spread from his chest and through his body as he recalled opening the door and finding her uncertain gaze meeting his.

Asher wagged his tail without looking up from his spot on the couch when Bryce eased his way into the house. If Samantha was still asleep, he didn’t want to wake her. His concern faded when he was welcomed by the scent of freshly brewed coffee.

“Figured you’d be gone longer. Good thing I brewed a whole pot of coffee,” Samantha said as she held a mug out to him.

“I don’t want to take yours,” Bryce said in hesitation.

“You aren’t. I was just getting ready to sit down with a cup when I heard you pull up. I made this one for you.”

Bryce took the steaming mug from her hands before giving her a quick kiss. The warmth returned to his chest with just that small gesture. Refusing to identify the feeling, he sat down on the opposite side of the couch from Asher, and Samantha sat in the middle.

“Was the owner’s daughter there this morning? You never did tell me how things went last night,” Samantha noted.

“She was, but it wasn’t as awkward as I would have guessed. We cleared the air like you suggested.”

Samantha quietly waited for Bryce to go on. She shifted her position on the couch until she was sitting yoga-style and holding her coffee cup in both hands.

“I told her that I’m not trying to be an asshole, but she makes me uncomfortable because she acts too familiar around me. I’ve never been as forward as she is, and I especially don’t care for it because I’m in a relationship.”

“How did that go over?” she asked, sitting forward.

Bryce took a sip of his coffee and reflected on the night before. Lizzy had seemed contrite when she responded to what he said. Instead of doing her signature hair flip and blowing him off, she immediately sat up straight and pulled her hair up as if she meant business.

“It went over way better than I thought it would. I hope you aren’t upset, but without going into detail I explained that after everything you dealt with in your marriage just the thought of flirting with another woman makes my skin crawl. She apologized and seemed genuine. She even said she would like to meet you. It doesn’t matter though, because soon enough I won’t have to spend all my time on this job site,” he explained.

“I wouldn’t mind meeting her.”

Bryce nearly choked on his coffee. The woman never stopped surprising him. He was well aware of her big heart, but this was beyond just being nice.

“We’ll see.”

“Don’t brush me off, I’m serious. You said she seemed genuine. If you have to work with her and you’re stuck down here for a while, we might as well do everything we can to make the best of it,” Samantha explained.

“Speaking of making the best of it…”

Samantha’s gaze snapped to his. He was supposed to be working, but there was nothing wrong with taking a break. It could be considered a break since technically his day started when he went to the office.

“What did you have in mind?”

Bryce set his coffee cup down on the coffee table before reaching for hers. The small smile she gave told him she was thinking along the same lines as he was. Last night he had been so tired and so relieved to see her, all he wanted to do was sleep with her wrapped in his arms. But watching her lounge around in an oversized sweatshirt and leggings did something to him.

“Bedroom,” he requested after glancing over at Asher.

As soon as the bedroom door shut behind him, he pushed Samantha against the wall and crashed his mouth to hers. He had been on edge since he arrived in Delaware, and it continued to get worse with each day he spent away from Samantha. If he only had a few days to spend with her, he planned to use them making up for lost time.

She sighed against him and he used the opportunity to explore her mouth with his tongue. Just a taste wasn’t enough. With one hand on her waist holding her against the wall, he gripped her face with his other hand so he could take possession of her mouth. Her sigh turned into a moan, fueling his desperation.

Releasing her long enough to grip the hem of her sweatshirt, he pulled it over her head. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath, and his cock hardened just looking at her full breasts heaving with each heavy breath. Carefully, he placed both hands on her neck before sliding them down her body. When he reached her breasts, he used the pads of his thumbs to graze her nipples, causing her to shiver beneath his touch. His hands continued their journey, slowing enough to grip the waistband of her leggings on the way down.

Kneeling, he helped her step out of her pants. His gaze moved slowly up her body, starting with her toned legs and taking his time to appreciate the contrast of the white lace thong against her brown skin. He held her gaze as he gripped her ass and pulled her close. With a smirk on his face, he closed his eyes, pressed his nose against her warm center, and breathed in her scent.

She gasped in surprise, and he felt her knees begin to buckle. Moving his hands to her thighs, he held her up against the wall. Once she steadied beneath his hands, he moved her panties to the side so he could taste her. She was already wet for him, her arousal coating his tongue.

Humming in appreciation, she buried her hands in his hair. The scrape of her nails stung his scalp as he continued to lick and taste. He replaced his tongue with his fingers so he could watch her reactions. Her eyes were closed, and her lips were slightly parted as she leaned heavily against the wall.

“Look at me,” he commanded.

Her eyes snapped open just before he plunged a finger inside her wet slit. She cried out and leaned her head against the wall, looking away. Bryce immediately withdrew his finger.

“I said look at me,” he repeated.

Once she returned her gaze to his, he continued what he was doing. She was soaked. His own body heat began to rise as he watched her pupils dilate, and a fine sheen of sweat covered her nearly naked body.

“Please,” she begged. “I—I’m so close.”

“Not yet,” he warned. “Wait for me.”

He added a second finger but slowed down his thrusts, drawing out her pleasure. Her legs began to tremble, and he knew she was right on the edge where he wanted her. Withdrawing his fingers, he stood before dragging them down her top and then bottom lip.

“Taste,” he whispered.

When she parted her lips and licked them clean, he covered her mouth with his, tasting her saltiness on his tongue. Moaning into his mouth, she held him closer, her hands fisting his shirt before untucking it from his pants. He unhooked his belt, then in one motion had his jeans undone before he nudged Samantha toward the bed, kicking off his shoes as he went.

He always promised himself next time would be slow, but once he got started, he quickly lost control. She was panting by the time she stepped out of her panties and then helped him out of his clothes. They fell onto the bed, and he climbed over her, placing warm kisses up her body as he made his way back to her mouth.

“Please,” she begged once again. “I need this. Now.”

She raised her hips from the bed, sliding her soaking wet pussy against his cock. Any ounce of control he had been trying to hold on to vanished once he was reminded how wet and ready she was. He lined himself up to her entrance and buried himself inside her with a hard thrust. Her mouth flew open, but no sound came out. He immediately began to move, setting a punishing pace. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him close as she met each thrust.

Restraint be damned, he lost himself in her. Her body, now slick with sweat, writhed beneath his as if filled with the same sense of desperation. He would never get enough of her. Sex with Samantha was like nothing he’d ever experienced. When he touched her, she responded with the same intensity and carnal need that took over every last one of his rational thoughts.

With a loud moan, her body stiffened beneath him and she dragged her nails down his back, rasping out his name. Gripping her hip, and plunged into her harder, even as his movements became erratic. The sharp pain as she sank her teeth into his shoulder pushed him over the edge. He shouted her name, slamming into her as his orgasm tore through him.