Chapter Ten
D ex helped Samantha settle. He stayed for dinner to make sure she ate something, but mostly so she wasn’t alone. It also allowed time for him to calm down. If he’d walked out of the apartment in the spiraling state he’d been in, he’d have gone after Jeremy Rollins and that wouldn’t have helped anyone, especially Samantha.
They sat side by side on the couch after agreeing on a Fast & Furious movie. But instead of watching, she lowered the volume. “I’m sorry, Dex. I’ve been nothing but trouble for you since the day we re-met.”
She looked so vulnerable in the pale yellow pajama shorts and matching sweatshirt she wore. The hood wasn’t over her head but the way it curled around her neck seemed to help cuddle her in its warmth. The desire to pull her into his arms and finish the job was strong, but as usual, it wasn’t the time.
She had things on her mind, incorrect assumptions he needed to correct. “Who says you’ve been trouble?” He leaned in closer. “I’ve enjoyed almost hitting you with my car, saving you from the unwanted wedding, joining you in the Bahamas, and playing your knight in shining armor again today. I just wish I’d arrived sooner. Today, I mean.” Reaching out, he wound a strand of her hair around his forefinger and rubbed his thumb over the soft piece.
“I think you were just in time.” Her palm went to her cheek and she sighed. “He’s never raised a hand to me before. Nobody’s ever hit me before.” She tucked her legs against her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
“Nobody should hit you ever .” Dex flexed his fingers and reminded himself she didn’t need his anger. “I think you should call a lawyer. See if you can get a restraining order to keep that bastard away from you.”
“Ian gave me the name of a corporate attorney to discuss breaking up the partnership.”
“Good. And I’m sure he has a partner who does domestic law. Why don’t you give him a call in the morning?”
She nodded. “I will. Now, can we stop talking about Jeremy?”
“Sure. Want to watch the movie?” He gestured to the television. “I can start it over.”
She smiled at the offer. “I’ve seen it, but thanks. Can I ask you some questions, instead?”
He didn’t know what she had in mind but if it soothed her nerves, he was all for it. “Sure. Shoot.”
She slid her feet down until they hit the floor and turned toward him. “If you don’t want to talk about these things, it’s fine. And I know I’m being nosey, but I’m curious.”
Now she had him curious.
“You told me you were adopted. What made you take the Sterling last name instead of keeping your own? What was your last name, anyway?” She waved her hand through the air. “Again, you don’t have to tell me, I just—”
“Initially, I didn’t become a Sterling. I agreed to the adoption and was happy to be part of the family. Nobody treated me like I wasn’t a real sibling. Even our grandparents took me into the fold.”
She clasped her hands over her chest. “I love that for you.”
“I did too. Then I grew up and I started having these recurring dreams. Except they were grounded in reality. My biological parents fought. A lot.”
“About what?” She scooted in closer to him, making it easier for him to answer.
“Anything. Everything. They didn’t need a reason. Which was why I spent so much time next door, with Remy’s family. His parents didn’t argue much and they were normal and loving. Until Mom was killed… but I really don’t want to talk about that tonight.”
There was only so much he could reveal at one time. Especially about a past he rarely talked about and had never told a woman in his life.
“Okay,” she said softly. “We can change the subject.”
“I’ll tell you about my parents. I want to.” He wouldn’t mind getting the words out and maybe cut into the occasional nightmare that still plagued him.
She moved closer and took his hand. “I’m listening.” She held on and didn’t let go.
“The fights were ugly. It never turned physical but it was always bad. The best I could hope for was that they held their anger until they were home but there were many times the other parents on the bleachers got a show.”
She winced. “I’m so sorry. I thought praying my dad would make it to events and having him always be a no-show was bad.”
He clocked that bit of information to discuss with her another time. As much as she wanted to know him, he had the same desire to dig deeper into what and who had created Samantha. The woman who intrigued him on a deeper level than any had before.
“There’s no point in comparing sucky childhoods. We both had our own trauma.”
“Okay, so go on.”
She still held his hand and he didn’t want her to let go. “The night they died, I had a babysitter over. A college girl who often watched me when they went out. It felt late when the police knocked on the door. I’m sure you can imagine the rest.”
“Oh, Dex. I’m so sorry. Is that the dream? About finding out?”
He shook his head. “The dream is what I overheard one of the officers tell Alex, my dad now. A witness saw my mother reach for the steering wheel before my father lost control. In other words, they were having one of their arguments.” His voice sounded hoarse as he explained. “I—”
“Dex,” she said, cutting him off. “I didn’t think asking about your last name would lead to you reliving a nightmare. I’m sorry. You don’t have to continue.” She squeezed his hand tighter and he was grateful for her empathy.
“It’s fine. I suddenly feel the need to share this with you.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’m here.” She cuddled in closer and when he breathed in, her warm, familiar scent eased his tension.
He covered her hand with his free one. “The fight, at least in the dream, is about me. I just hear my father yell my name, my mother screams something back and grabs for the wheel. Then the sound of grating, crashing metal… And I wake up.” In a sweat, shaking. The way he felt now, revealing the rawest part of himself.
She rose to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Dex, I’m so sorry. That’s a burden no child should have to live with. I’m not surprised it haunts you as an adult.”
“It doesn’t happen often anymore.” He embraced her, drawing comfort that quickly turned to something more. The heat of her body pressed against his and the warmth of her breath against his cheek was more than he could take after thinking of her nonstop since leaving the Bahamas.
She lifted her head and met his gaze. Her lips parted. And he waited, giving her time to pull back. But Samantha knew her mind. She placed her palms against his cheeks, leaned in, and pressed her lips to his.
Fireworks exploded between them and Dex took control, shifting positions so he could ease her down onto the sofa, his body hovering over hers.
He kissed her thoroughly, his tongue delving into her mouth, then trailing his lips over her jawbone and continuing down her neck, nipping at her lightly before reaching the barrier of her heavy sweatshirt collar. She reached for the hem and pulled the bulky garment over her head, leaving her exposed. And braless. Damn. Good thing he hadn’t known she’d been bare beneath it.
Her dusky nipples had hardened into tight peaks and the desire to taste her was strong. After waiting so long, knowing he had free rein over her body was heady. He slid his hands up her silky skin, along her sides, and pulled a nipple into his mouth, tasting and tormenting it with his tongue and teeth.
Cupping the other breast in his hand, he gave it equal attention and she moaned her approval, wrapping her legs around his. Their bodies ground together, pleasure and pain a mix because holding back wasn’t easy. His cock was hard, the need to feel her pulse around his dick strong so he pushed himself off her and rose to his feet.
He stripped off his clothes in a rush. Once naked, he turned to focus on Samantha, assuming she’d done the same. She still had her bottoms on but her eyes were dark and dilated, her stare focused on him.
“See something you like, sweetheart?” He raked his gaze over her bare breasts. “Because I know I do.”
She ran her tongue over her damp bottom lip and his dick pulsed in response.
“I take it our timing is better now?” she asked.
“You tell me.” Unable to help himself, he gripped his hard length and gave it a firm tug.
“It’s perfect,” she said in a husky voice, as she hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her shorts and maneuvered them down, revealing her pussy with a narrow landing strip.
He swallowed hard. “It sure is.” He needed to taste her glistening sex and he needed to do it now.
He scooped her into his arms and walked straight to her bedroom, depositing her on the bed. He grasped her thighs and pulled her to the edge, then slammed his hands down on either side of her hips. Dipping his head, he slid his tongue through her wet folds. Her hips arched and he held her down, palm on her stomach, and proceeded to devour her, sucking, licking and teasing until she writhed beneath him.
He spent a good five minutes bringing her to the brink of orgasm, feeling the little spasms as she got close and the flutters around his tongue. She’d moan loudly and he’d pull away, only to dive in to tease her again.
She threaded her fingers through his hair and as his tongue moved away from her clit, she clutched his strands and yanked hard. “Dex, please!”
He lifted his head. She’d done the same and he met her frantic gaze. “Please what?” he asked, taking in her flushed cheeks.
“Make me come, Dex. Please, I need to come.”
The words were all he needed. He slid one finger into her warm heat and dipped his head to finish what he’d started. All it took was consecutive pumps of his finger, then curling it against the right spot, joined by one swipe of his tongue, and she came apart.
Her body shook and she cried out his name as her climax crashed over her. He eased her down, drawing out every last shudder, then wiped his mouth on her thigh and met her hazy gaze.
“Tell me you have protection,” he said. He hadn’t been with a woman in a while and he didn’t make it a habit of carrying a condom in his wallet.
“Thank God there are some in the nightstand over there.” She gestured behind her.
Neither said it but he could see the relief in her gaze as she probably realized she’d used the right kind of birth control with a cheating asshole ex. Not someone he wanted to think about now or he’d lose his erection.
After grabbing a foil from the drawer, he ripped it open and rolled it over his cock before walking back around the bed. She hadn’t moved from where he’d left her. Her legs were bent, feet against the edge of the mattress. Prime position for what he had in mind.
“Ready, sweetheart?”
“I’ve been waiting, Dex. What took you so long?” A naughty gleam flickered in her eyes.
“Brat,” he said with a grin, lifting first one leg and placing it over his shoulder, then doing the same with the other before lifting her ass so she was level with his dick.
One thrust and he entered her, his eyes nearly rolling back in his head at how perfect she felt, hot and wet around his cock. If he’d known how right they fit way back when, he would never have been able to stay away.
***
Samantha’s nerves tingled with awareness, her body still coming down from her last orgasm as Dex entered her, their bodies joining with a smooth thrust. He was thick and long and she felt him everywhere, in the best possible ways.
Before she could do more than process his size, he pulled back and pushed deep. With her legs over his shoulders and him holding her tight, she had no control over her orgasm, but it didn’t matter because Dex knew what he was doing. How to angle himself to hit just the right spot, when to shift back and press forward again.
She was used to missionary, quick movements, and it was over, at least for Jeremy, leaving her empty. With Dex, she felt full and everything he did brought her higher, her need to climax again building.
“Come for me, sweetheart, because I’m close.”
Another difference. He waited for her. Slowed down, making her body aware of the difference, and it worked, every nerve ending responding to his whims as he lit her up inside. Suddenly she tipped over the cliff, waves of warmth and utter perfection washing over her.
“Oh God, Dex. I’m coming.”
With those words, he let himself go, taking over her body, pushing in, pulling out, each movement faster and with more intensity. He stopped holding back and took her hard.
“Yes,” she said. “More.”
He responded, those gorgeous blue eyes staring into hers until he stilled with a groan, his climax triggering another one of her own.
A few seconds later, he helped her bend her legs and move them onto the floor, dangling off the bed. “Be right back.”
He disappeared into her bathroom and she managed to scoot back on the bed, flopping against the pillows, sated and relaxed.
To her surprise, he returned with a towel and helped her clean up. “You’re the perfect gentleman,” she murmured. No point in thinking of her past when the present was so amazing.
Once he’d settled in bed, she took her turn in the bathroom, glancing in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes dilated, and her hair a mess. Only one thing marred the just- been-fucked-in-the-best-way look. The handprint had faded but a red patch remained.
She still couldn’t believe Jeremy had hit her. Thank God Dex had shown up when he had. Later, when the orgasmic haze wore off, she’d think of all the reasons this had been a bad idea, but right now she pushed all heavy thoughts away. She deserved this one night of bliss with the shambles of a life that was waiting for her tomorrow.
She walked out of the bathroom. Dex sat against the headboard, bare-chested with one arm behind his head, looking sexier than ever.
She sat down on the mattress. He immediately pulled her into his arms and she curled around him, resting her head on his shoulder and inhaling his delicious scent. Something about him calmed her.
“That was spectacular,” he said, his voice a low grumble.
She couldn’t contain the pleased smile that came to her lips. “It really was.”
“Thanks again for showing up when I needed you.” She didn’t think she could say that enough.
“No thanks necessary. I’m relieved I was there. But I’m beginning to think I have a sixth sense when it comes to rescuing you, Ms. Dare.”
His finger twisted around a long strand of her hair and she sighed. “I’m grateful but I definitely need to stand up for myself when needed.”
“I know you can handle yourself but give that lawyer a call and see what your options are.”
She nodded. “Creating a hostile work environment for myself and my employees may not be it.”
She believed Jeremy’s slap had startled him enough to prevent it from happening again. Especially at work, but she intended to make sure she was never alone with him.
“Enough talk about your ex,” he said, rolling her onto her back and coming over her, his erection thick against her sex.
“Again?” she asked, surprised.
“Any objections?”
She stared into his gorgeous face and shook her head. “Not one.”
His lips came down on hers and she forgot everything except Dex.