Chapter 7 Mattie
SEVEN
Mattie
“That sounds absolutely perfect,” Sam said as we wrapped up our meeting with Delores at the Sugar Pine bakery.
She’d gotten wind of our work to bring in more visitors in the winter and had a laundry list of things she wanted to do at the bakery. Delores had even gotten the coffee shop next door to commit to special winter flavors for their coffees and teas.
Sugar Pine Baked Goods would carry a line of sugar plum items including sugar plum tarts, sugar plum crumble, and sugar plum coffee cake along with an assortment of gingerbread sweets. One Lump or Two would offer a sugar plum coffee and tea, a gingerbread chai latte, and a gingerbread dark roast.
“We’re looking forward to putting Sugar Pine back in competition with the rest of the county,” Delores said. “And you better believe I’ll be entering my very own gingerbread house in the competition.”
We waved and the little jingle bells chimed above us as we walked out into the bright but cold December day.
“Even if we don’t get the grant, I think the whole town is excited to bring Sugar Pine back to its prime,” I said, zipping my coat against the frigid air.
“We’re getting that grant,” Sam said. “Or at least we’re going to have our proposal submitted for it. I’m not losing out on the money; the town needs it too badly.”
I bumped into him. “You were always so competitive.”
He shrugged.
“Last stop,” I said as we neared the edge of the woods. Sugar Pine was covered with deciduous and evergreen forests, but this particular wooded area was where the town had gotten its not-quite-accurate name.
It was a gorgeous location with great hiking trails, perfect spots overlooking the Pine River, and small areas for camping while watching the stars.
It was also where I kissed Sam fourteen years ago.
But I wasn’t thinking about that.
Much.
We followed the easiest trail into the heart of the woods. “I think we focus on the trails, the great view of the river, and how clear and bright the stars are on a crisp winter night,” I said.
“Do we combine this part with the cabins and the lodge? Or keep them separate?” Sam asked.
“Separate. There will be folks who want the comfort of the cabins and the convenience of the lodge, while others will want the more rustic experience. We’re not going to convince the types who want to stay at the White Pine Hotel, so we need to hook the more outdoorsy crew.”
“And get the ones who want the small-town hotel experience to at least come to Sugar Pine to check out the shops, take pictures for social media by the river, and ohhh and ahhh over the gingerbread houses,” Sam said.
He tapped notes on his phone about what we wanted to say about Pine River, the trails, the camping, and the view.
“Oh, almost forgot, I sent the logo and images to Jasper’s dad for the stickers. ”
“Perfect. I dropped the artwork off at the lodge. They were excited to get the pieces hung above the fireplace and in the cabins.” Not gonna lie, a streak of pride coursed through me at knowing my work would be seen by locals and visitors alike.
Sam stopped and I nearly slammed into him. He glanced around the cold, dim woods, dappled December sunlight decorating the ground. Then he turned, his deep brown eyes meeting mine as our breaths mingled in icy puffs.
“Do you remember that day?” His words were low, punctuated by the soft, cold breeze and birds singing their early-winter songs.
I’d known we were at that tree before he even spoke.
As if I could ever forget that day.
We’d gone on a hike and gotten tickled about something. When we’d stopped at the tree, everything played out like our own little telenovela.
Sam, leaning against a tree.
Me, stepping closer.
Our breaths mingling with the scent of pine and fallen leaves as the autumn wind suggested only a short time until she threw in the towel.
And I’d brushed my lips over his.
When I pulled back, there’d been confusion and curiosity in his eyes.
I’d pressed our mouths together again.
Sam hadn’t pushed me away, but he’d whispered, “Mattie, I can’t.”
Embarrassment and hurt warred in my heart, the need to run away mixing with the desire to make him realize how good we’d be together.
In the end, there’d been no convincing.
No explanations.
I’d turned to leave, so sure he’d chase after me and make things right.
Instead, he’d let me go.
“Yeah,” I croaked.
“What do you think would have happened if I’d kissed you back?” he asked, his words soft with courageous fear.
Chuckling, I stared at his lips. “Knowing my horny ass, I would have dropped to my knees and sucked you off.”
“Shit, Mattie,” Sam choked out.
“You asking for a reason?” A woodpecker tapped out a rapid rhythm in the distance, the sound echoing the beat of my heart.
“What if you kissed me again, and I didn’t pull back?” Sam’s words whooshed from him on a whispered breath.
“Knowing my horny ass,” I started with a grin, “I’d drop to my knees and suck you off.”
Sam chuckled, but fire blazed in the brown depths of his eyes.
“Do you want me to kiss you?” Fourteen years of worrying I’d fucked things up between us tumbled away, replaced by all the heavy want and wishful longing I’d kept buried away.
He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me close. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me since the day you came home.” And then our lips connected, heat exploding between us.
The disappointment of all those years ago melted away as Sam’s tongue met mine, his mouth hot and demanding.
Hands roamed, delving beyond coat zippers to seek the warm, solid planes of chests and shoulders.
Fingers trailing over soft curves, our hips pressed together in a desperate quest for friction.
Sam’s hungry mouth devoured mine while his fingers fought a frantic battle with the button and zipper on my jeans. When I unzipped my coat and yanked up my shirt, Sam smirked and pressed another kiss to my lips before dropping to his knees.
“Wanna do this and more when we have more time,” he mumbled, brushing his nose against my belly button.
“And a heater,” I added before biting my lip.
This was happening.
He hadn’t pulled away.
Sam Benton kissed me back.
And he didn’t let me go.
He nuzzled my cock and brought his big, brown eyes up to meet mine.
I nodded.
“Tell me,” he demanded.
“Suck me.”
Sam pushed my boxers down and tucked them under my balls. The cold air teased, but his hot, wet mouth took me in, saving me from the frigid breeze.
“Holy shit,” I mumbled, reaching over him to hold myself up with hands pressed into the tree trunk. “Fuck, Sam. So good.”
The kiss had been magical.
The blowjob was a dream come true.
Clearly, Sam had a way with his mouth.
He fisted my length and sucked me until my knees nearly buckled. The soft cup of my balls while he gazed up at me with something so much deeper than friendship sent me over the edge.
“Fuck,” I cried out. “Gonna come.”
Sam swallowed every drop I pumped into his greedy mouth, and when I yanked him up to kiss me, he groaned against my lips, sharing the flavor of my load with me.
Shoving him against the tree, I nodded toward his jacket.
“Unzip it.”
Eyes on mine, he followed directions.
“Now your jeans.”
Done.
“Pull out your cock.”
Sam lazily shoved his underwear down and took himself in hand as he smirked, his eyes never leaving mine. “Your turn,” he challenged.
Dropping to my knees, I pressed a kiss to his naval, swirling my tongue around the protruding belly button. Working my way lower, I buried my nose in his pubes and breathed him in deeply, his scent burned into me for eternity.
Sam lifted his arms and sought purchase in the bark, but the moment I took him between my lips, his hands flew to my head, fingers twisting in the jaw-length locks. “Fuck, Mattie.”
He tasted every bit as delicious as I’d always known he would.
Yet, I wasn’t sad we’d missed out on this all those years ago.
Having Sam here and now was meant to be.
We were the men we’d been born to be.
No secrets.
No wondering if there was something better out there for us.
Just two men whose friendship had withstood the long years and eventually traveled full circle.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, Mattie,” Sam chanted. “Oh shit, gonna come.”
His hot load exploded on my tongue, and I breathed hard and fast through my nose as I swallowed what he gave me. With a final thrust of his hips, Sam gave a gentle tug on my hair and pulled me to stand.
We kissed for several long, slow moments until an icy gust of wind reminded us to get our asses back home.
“Toby is staying at Jasper’s tonight,” Sam said.
“My place?”
He nodded.
We all but ran home.
By the time we reached the duplex, our synapses were firing normally again. I still had every intention of getting him into my bed, but we’d emerged from the post-nut haze enough to act mostly like adults.
“I’m going to check in on Toby and order some food for later,” Sam said as he hefted off his backpack. “What time you want me to come over?”
“Um.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Thought I’d jump in the shower first.”
“Yeah, same.”
“An hour or so?” I moved closer and leaned in to nuzzle his jawline. “Make the food something that can keep or schedule the delivery for later.” I nibbled his neck. “Much later.”
Sam gripped the back of my neck and devoured my mouth. “Sounds like a plan.”
Just over an hour later, I’d prepped, showered, and put some wine in the fridge. Glancing around my bedroom, I did a quick mental checklist. Changed the sheets. Waters on the bedside table. Lube. Condoms available. Lights dimmed, candles burning, and curtains drawn.
Perfect.
A knock sounded at the door, and I went to let Sam in.
The way his eyes traveled up my flannel pants to my bare chest sent a thrill coursing through me. He walked through the door, brushed a kiss to my cheek, and slipped off his slides before holding up a deli bag. “Figured subs would wait for us.”