Bryce

Chapter 16

Bright sunlight made its way through the thin curtains of the bedroom, causing just enough light to wake Samantha. Wearing only her bra and panties, it was Bryce keeping her warm under the blankets. He was still sound asleep, snoring softly. The clock on the nightstand read 9:00, and she stretched realizing she’d slept later than she had in what felt like years.

“Good morning,” Bryce greeted as he gave her a quick squeeze.

“Good morning,” she responded, raising her arms above her head in another stretch.

She felt much better than she had the day before, proving that her issue had been a lack of sleep. Turning her body, she rested her head on his chest and listened to the steady beat of his heart. His heartbeat picked up speed when she used her free hand to trace the contours of his abdominal muscles.

“Careful,” he warned, his voice a sexy rasp.

Ignoring his warning, she moved her hand further south, stopping only when she reached the waistband of his boxer briefs. His breath hitched as she traced the sensitive flesh with her fingertips.

“Careful of what?” she asked coyly.

In a quick move, he grabbed her hand, holding it still. “Careful you don’t start something when I know you’re tired and should be taking it easy.”

Feeling bold, she pulled her hand free and straddled him, taking pleasure in the look of surprise on his face. She was feeling a hundred times better than she had the past few days and saw no use wasting their alone time “taking it easy”. Leaning forward, she captured his mouth in a hungry kiss as she continued to run her hands over his body.

His groan rumbled through her as he met her kiss with a hunger that mirrored hers. He roamed her body, starting at her hips and sliding up until he carefully wrapped his hands around her neck, stroking her jaw with his thumbs. Trembling at his touch, she pulled back to look at him, her brown eyes locking with his hazel gaze.

“I don’t deserve you,” he breathed, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Make love to me,” she requested in a voice so husky she barely recognized it as her own.

His breath hitched, and for a moment she was frozen in place, looking down at him as he stared back at her, his fingers brushing against her cheek when he tucked a braid behind her ear. Without a word, he pulled her down to him, covering her mouth with his. She had gotten used to hard and fast. Ever since their first night together, they had been in a frenzy to get to each other. The rigorous rehearsal schedule left her feeling weary, and her insecurities threatened to overwhelm her when she thought about cooking and sharing a meal with a woman who Bryce used to date. She needed soft and gentle. She needed to know their connection was real.

Placing a hand on the back of her neck, he pulled her down to him, capturing her mouth in languid kisses, his tongue dancing along hers. Relaxing into his kiss, her hands caressed his nearly naked body, taking the time to appreciate every dip and ridge.

Flexing his hips, he pushed his hard length against her, groaning against her neck when she rocked into him. Holding her body tight against his, he flipped them around, so she was on her back and he was on top of her.

“Let me see all of you,” he said as he snaked an arm around her back and unclasped her bra, sliding the straps over her shoulders and waiting for her to slip her arms free.

The air felt cool against her nipples, and they hardened under his gaze. “Touch me,” she breathed.

Without hesitation, he skimmed her naked body with his free hand. Starting at her waist, his hand glided up her body and over her breast circling her nipple and causing her to gasp as she arched into his touch. His touch was fire and ice. Burning her flesh while causing a cold chill to follow.

“I love the way you feel,” he murmured as he continued to run his fingers across her skin.

Her breath hitched when his hand dipped lower and stroked over her panties. Growing frustrated by the barrier, she covered his hand with hers and rolled her hips. The slow sensual touches were driving her wild.

“I need you,” she cried out. “Please.”

“So needy, and so responsive,” he said, slipping a finger beneath her panties and stroking her.

His touch was gentle, both fueling her desire and soothing her need for intimacy. Once again, she rocked against him, craving more contact.

“You are so perfect. I need to see more,” he said before tugging her panties off, leaving her completely naked.

As he slowly looked over her body, his gaze darkened with desire. With warm kisses, he made his way down her body, stopping just above her wet slit. She yelped in surprise when he nipped at the flesh above her hip, the sharp flicker of pain causing desire to rush over her. Before she could think about what she was doing, she gripped his hair and positioned his face directly in front of the apex of her thighs.

“Lick me,” she pleaded, her voice coming out a needy moan.

Without hesitation, he brought his mouth to her and licked her pussy in slow strokes, circling her clit before repeating the motion. Her thighs were already shaking, and he had just gotten started. She used one hand to press him more firmly against her as she gripped the sheets and arched into him.

Bryce chuckled, the sensation of his breath against her most sensitive place nearly causing her to tumble over the edge. “You like that?”

“Yes,” she moaned.

He went back to licking and sucking, slowly slipping a finger inside her. When she cried out a string of curse words, she felt him smile against her.

“Do you want to come?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes. Please.”

He removed his finger and backed away after one final swipe of his tongue. “You can come when I’m deep inside of you. And not until then.”

His commanding tone sent a thrill of anticipation through her. Before she had a chance to respond, he was hovering above her, his cock lined up at her entrance. He slowly began to push into her before he stilled, looking down at her with tenderness. She thrust her hips trying to feel more of him, but he gripped her and held her still.

“Not. Yet.”

Goosebumps spread across her body as she looked up into his hungry gaze. His voice had an edge, but he was still looking down at her with tenderness. After several seconds of holding her gaze, he closed his eyes and took an unsteady breath as he filled her with a slow thrust.

When he opened his eyes again, they shined with emotion as he continued the slow sensual thrusts. If this was making love, Samantha was certain she had never done it before. She continued looking into his eyes as she mirrored his thrusts. Each movement caused her emotions to heighten. They heightened until she couldn’t contain them anymore and tears spilled down her cheeks. Once again, her orgasm was building. Every touch, every kiss, and every sigh went straight through her as if her nerves were completely exposed. As her body wound tighter and begged for release, she gripped his shoulders and pulled him close. Her orgasm plowed through her, sending white hot pleasure all the way to her toes.

“Fuck,” he ground out as he held her tight and tumbled to his own release.

Samantha stayed completely still as she came down from her orgasm with Bryce holding her tight, catching his breath. She had no words and refused to label the feelings coursing through her. No way could she be in love, it hadn’t been long enough.

Bryce rolled to his side, causing her to wince when he pulled out. When she turned to look at him, he was looking back at her reverently. His eyes showed the same emotions she was fighting, and she wasn’t sure how to react. Deep down she knew he was it for her.

Cupping her face with his hand, he used his thumb to wipe away the remnants of her tears. “You are so beautiful,” he said quietly, almost as if speaking to himself.

She had gotten so used to being ignored, especially after sex, that she wasn’t sure how to respond to his compliment. Instead of responding verbally, she turned so she was lying with her back to his front and traced lazy designs on his arms when he wrapped them around her.

Bryce finished hanging the last of the Christmas lights as Samantha was finishing up the prep for dinner. It looked and smelled amazing in the house, and he was sure the dinner would be a success. Even as he was feeling better about the situation, anxiety was practically radiating off Samantha.

He went up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and leaned into him, resting her head between his neck and shoulder. “Thank you.”

Confused, he turned her so he could look at her. “For?”

“For that hug. I needed that. I must be crazy inviting Lizzy over for dinner.”

He hated that she felt the need to thank him for something he wanted to do. Something he needed to do. “First of all, you don’t have to thank me for hugging you. When I’m near you I need to touch you. And I tried to talk you out of this, but you’re stubborn. But regardless, it’s going to be fine.”

She giggled, the sound making him feel things that he wasn’t willing to label. Each time he made her smile or made her laugh, he vowed to himself that he would make sure she did those things repeatedly throughout the day. His reasons were selfish, and he was okay with that.

“You really think it’s going to be okay? It seemed like a good idea when I came up with it, but now I feel stupid. She must think I’m a psycho.”

He placed a quick kiss on her lips. “It’s going to be fine. Everything is a hundred times better since I followed your advice and talked to her. It’s going to be great. What can I help you with?”

She turned her attention back to the kitchen and slowly looked around as if surveying the damage. “I finished the prep. If you could load the dishwasher while I start cooking, that would be amazing. But you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“Sam, I offered to help because I want to.”

Without waiting for her response, he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and got started. The dishes she spoke of were the ones she used for the prep: cutting boards, large bowls, and utensils. It didn’t take him long. He wiped down the counter before returning to her side.

“What else?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind and placing a kiss on her neck.

Her breathing faltered and she tried to hide it by clearing her throat. “That’s all I can think of. Thanks for helping.”

Again, he was irritated by the idea of her doing everything without any help or appreciation from his brother. He was still working hard at leaving his anger in the past. He’d managed to forgive Brandon for the things he did when they were teenagers. He’d even forgiven him for skipping out at their mother’s funeral. What he couldn’t seem to get past was the way he’d treated Samantha.

Samantha was in the kitchen getting everything prepared to serve when the doorbell rang. Lizzy was a few minutes early. Bryce answered the door to give Samantha some time.

Lizzy stood on the other side of the door, so bundled up he could barely recognize her. A blast of cold air hit him, and he ushered her inside so he could hurry and close the door.

“It’s freezing out there,” Lizzy said as she handed Bryce the bottle of red wine she’d been carrying. “Why anyone ever leaves the house in the winter is beyond me.”

“Right? Winter is for hibernating,” Samantha said as she made her way from the kitchen. “I’m Samantha. I’m so glad you’re here.”

Bryce watched as Lizzy’s back went rod straight and the smile she flashed didn’t reach her eyes. Curiosity had him wanting to call her out on it, but he didn’t want to do anything to cause drama. Samantha was already nervous. But he would definitely be asking her about it when he saw her at work.

“Thanks. Thanks for inviting me,” Lizzy sputtered. “I hope red wine is okay. I wasn’t sure what you were making.”

“It’s perfect, thank you.” She took the bottle from Bryce and set it on the table. “You guys should open this and get started while I bring the food out.”

Bryce didn’t want to leave her to do everything on her own, but he also didn’t want to be rude to their guest and leave her sitting at the table by herself. The idea to plan a dinner with just the three of them probably wasn’t the best.

“Lizzy, why don’t you have a seat? I’ll be right there to join you.”

He ignored Samantha’s facial expression and picked up the salad bowl and tongs, ignoring her suggestion to have a glass of wine and wait with Lizzy. Lizzy had just opened the wine and poured three glasses by the time he arrived back at the table. When he sat down, she slid a glass of wine over to him. She opened her mouth to speak but clamped it shut when Samantha joined them at the table.

“I hope chicken parm is okay. If you don’t eat meat, there’s spaghetti to go with it. And garlic bread. Or if you just want something to go along with the salad, I’m sure I can find something,” Samantha rushed to say.

Bryce placed a hand on her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze at the same time Lizzy spoke up. “Chicken parm sounds perfect. Thank you.”

They served themselves salad and started eating to cover the awkward silence. The salad was delicious. It was a simple Caesar salad, but that was his favorite. Samantha appeared to relax a bit even as Lizzy looked more uncomfortable.

“Bryce? Want to help me clear the salad and bring out the main course?”

He was up in an instant, excusing himself from the table. When they reached the kitchen, Samantha shoved a bowl of pasta into his hands and looked over his shoulder.

“What’s her deal?” Samantha whispered.

Bryce figured his best option was to play dumb. He knew Lizzy well enough to know she was acting very strange, but he had hoped Samantha wouldn’t notice. He looked at her, his face a mask of what he hoped would come off as confusion, as he waited for her to elaborate.

“Is she always like that? For someone you described as over-familiar, she sure is super standoffish.”

Bryce took a deep breath before answering. “No. She isn’t always like this. I’m sure she’s just nervous thinking you invited her over to keep an eye on her, or to kick her ass.”

Samantha chuckled at the last part. “Yeah, I’m such a fighter.”

“Seriously, though,” he continued. “I’m sure it’s just nerves. Let’s go eat. Your cooking will put everyone in a better mood.”

Samantha chuckled as she followed him out of the kitchen carrying two large serving dishes. One more trip and everything was out of the kitchen. Lizzy smiled in appreciation when the chicken parmesan was unveiled. Once their plates were served, Samanth made another attempt at small talk to bring Lizzy out of her shell. Bryce never would stop appreciating how genuinely kind Samantha was.

“So do you like working for your dad?” Samantha asked.

“Yeah, but it’s not as nice as you might think,” Lizzy answered with a small laugh. “You can’t go home and talk shit about your boss when he’s related.”

“What about your other job?” Bryce asked. “I never did ask what it is.”

Color drained from her face. He had a feeling whatever was causing her to have little miniature breakdowns was about to become common knowledge. Lizzy looked at him, her eyes pleading, but he had no idea what she was silently begging for.

After a long silence, she finally answered the question. “I work in New York.”

Samantha’s face lit up with excitement. “I live in New York. I assumed you were from here. Where in New York do you work?”

Lizzy swallowed hard. “I actually work for the fire department.”

Bryce broke out into a cold sweat as he feared he may have begun to connect the dots. His theory would explain Lizzy’s reaction when she saw Samantha. It would explain why she was slow to answer the question. But there was no way. The world wasn’t that small.

Samantha grew still as she appeared to connect the same dots he had. “My husband was on the department. Did you know him?”

Lizzy stared at her like a deer caught in the headlights. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it as she shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Whatever she was trying to avoid speaking about clearly made her just as uncomfortable as it was making Samantha.

“I knew him,” she breathed in a voice so soft it could barely be heard above the quiet hum of appliances.

Samantha stared at her in silence while Bryce sat frozen in his seat. He wasn’t sure he was ready to hear whatever it was, but he had to end Samantha’s suspense. Whatever it was needed to be put out there.

“How did you know my brother?”

Lizzy whipped her head to him in surprise. “Your what?”

“My brother.” Bryce stood from his chair and moved to stand directly behind Samantha. “How did you know my brother?”

With her eyes wide, she uttered words that Bryce had a hard time understanding without context. “No one at the firehouse calls me by my nickname. They call me Lissandra.”

Bryce felt Samantha’s shoulders stiffen under his grasp. He wasn’t sure why that name carried importance, but it was obvious that it did. He waited patiently for one of the women to elaborate, but Samantha was taking deep uneven breaths while Lizzy looked down at the table. Without warning, Samantha stood from her chair and backed away.

“How could you come here?” Samantha demanded. “How could you? He died while on his way to spend the evening with you! Was that not enough? You need to have his brother too?”

Samantha didn’t wait for a response. She stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.