Chapter Twenty
Sam allowed herself to be led away from the canal path and into the dim lights of the Copeland’s lobby. She looked around at the sleek interior, waiting patiently, as Alex checked them in.
The hotel radiated quiet luxury and seemed designed for privacy and discretion.
A small seating area just off the reception area exuded understated elegance and intimacy.
A marble-topped bar stretched modestly along one wall, attended by a sharply dressed bartender who moved with quiet precision.
The shelves behind the bar displayed a selection of rare, expensive spirits and vintage crystal glassware.
Soft music hummed in the background, barely louder than a whisper, allowing hushed conversations to drift gently through the air.
Sam noticed a few couples seated in the cozy alcoves, dimly lit by flickering candles.
She wondered vaguely how Alex had discovered the place.
“Did you want a drink?” Alex asked. She had returned to Sam’s side, a keycard in her hand. She gestured toward the bar that Sam had been studying.
Sam turned fully to face her. She hoped that her eyes conveyed exactly what she wanted, and it wasn’t a drink. Just to be sure there was no doubt, she spoke quietly but firmly. “I want you.”
Alex’s eyes darkened in response, and her breath hitched in her throat. A faint blush spread from her neck to her cheeks. She bit her lip and nodded slightly, interlacing her fingers with Sam’s.
In the elevator, they stood stiffly, both staring ahead.
Sam knew that one touch would push them over the edge, and she didn’t want that to happen in an elevator, no matter how classy that elevator was.
When the doors opened, Alex led them to their room.
Sam noticed the slight trembling of her hands as she slipped the keycard into the lock.
Once inside, the two of them stood nervously, examining their surroundings.
The room was exquisitely elegant, matching the lobby and the hotel bar.
It wasn’t overly decorated. No gilded mirrors, sparkling chandeliers, or bright abstract art.
Walls the color of warm ash displayed minimalist art that seemed to change with the light.
The hardwood floors were covered with handwoven rugs that muffled their footsteps completely.
A velvet chaise lounge was placed by the floor-to-ceiling windows at one end of the room.
The sheer linen curtains were parted, revealing a breathtaking view of the cityscape across the river.
A king-sized bed with a headboard made of rich walnut sat centered on the side.
The linens were so stark and white that they almost glowed in the dimly lit room.
Alex walked across the room and pulled the blinds closed.
She turned to face Sam with her hands clasped in front of her, her figure outlined by the full moon.
Sam took her in—her hair loose around her shoulders, shimmering like a waterfall of gold, her soft curves highlighted by the moonlight and cityscape behind her.
“You’re staring,” Alex said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, but it echoed in the quiet room. She smiled, a soft, gentle curve of her lips that Sam felt all the way to her toes.
“You are so beautiful, Alex,” she murmured. She crossed the room to stand in front of her.
Alex blushed, her eyes darting away from Sam. “No, I’m not.” She shook her head. “I’m older. I’m a mom now…I have scars. I’m not…”
“Shh.” Sam reached out and pressed her finger against Alex’s lips to silence her.
“I mean it,” she whispered. “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.
” Her fingers lingered, tracing the delicate curve of Alex’s jaw, her touch gentle and reverent.
Sam’s gaze never left Alex’s as she leaned in closer, her hand cupping Alex’s cheek.
“It feels like I’ve waited so long for this,” Alex’s voice was soft. “And now you’re right in front of me…” Her voice trailed off as she reached up to grasp Sam’s hand on her cheek.
“I’m right here,” Sam murmured. “I’ve got you.”
Alex closed her eyes. Sam could feel her heart racing.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she was about to do.
Slowly, she leaned in, her eyes fluttering shut as her lips brushed against Alex’s.
It was a soft, tentative kiss, a question more than a statement, a whispered invitation.
Alex responded in kind, her lips parting slightly against Sam’s.
Their breath mingled, warm and sweet, as their lips moved together in a familiar dance they had learned so long ago.
Sam’s hand cupped Alex’s face, her thumb tracing the soft line of her jaw, until her fingers tangled in her hair.
Alex let out a gentle moan, and Sam felt it as a shiver ran down her spine. “I want you, Sam.”
When Alex opened her eyes, Sam nearly gasped at the hunger she saw there. Their lips parted, their kiss deepened, and their tongues explored each other with an intensity that had been building for years.
Sam let her hand drift downward. Her fingers traced over the delicate skin of Alex’s neck, across her collarbone, and finally came to rest on her breast. She cupped it gently and brushed her thumb against Alex’s hardening nipple beneath the fabric of her sweater.
Alex gasped, her back arching slightly, and pressed into Sam’s touch.
Her eyes were heavy-lidded, and her breath came in short, sharp gasps.
Her responsiveness sent electricity coursing through Sam’s veins.
Sam smiled against Alex’s lips, her hand still cupping her breast. Even after all these years, she knew what Alex liked.
She rolled Alex’s nipple between her fingers, pinching slightly, and elicited a soft moan.
Sam leaned in to taste her, relearn her, and try to make up for the years of lost time that she could have spent kissing her.
Alex’s hands explored Sam’s shoulders, traced up her back, and moved down her arms, touching every inch of her. Her hands slipped under Sam’s shirt, her fingers followed the contours of Sam’s muscles. Sam’s breath hitched as Alex’s touch ignited sparks of desire throughout her body.
Sam felt a warmth spread through her, a sense of pieces falling into place. This was Alex. This was what she had been waiting for. The realization sent a thrill down her spine, a shiver of anticipation and desire that made her heart beat even faster.
Alex’s hands paused on Sam’s stomach. Sam looked into Alex’s eyes and saw her own raw hunger and vulnerability reflected at her.
“I know I shouldn’t say this, especially not right now, but…I love you, Sam. I love you so much that it scares me sometimes.” Alex’s words were barely above a whisper, but they echoed through the quiet of the room.
Sam knew she needed to be cautious and tread lightly, but she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Alex, I…” She hesitated, her heart pounding as if it might burst from her chest. She could feel the weight of Alex’s gaze on her and the heaviness of her expectation.
Taking another deep breath, the words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. “I love you, too, Alex.”
Alex’s breath was shaky as she began unbuttoning Sam’s shirt, her fingers trembling slightly as she slowly revealed skin.
Sam helped by shrugging off the shirt and standing before her, her chest rising and falling.
Alex stared at Sam’s torso, her eyes lingering on the swell of her breasts over her bra.
She reached out, her fingers tracing the exposed dip of Sam’s collarbone, the line of her shoulder, down to the slope of her breast. Sam shivered at Alex’s touch, and a soft moan escaped her lips.
Sam slipped her fingers under the hem of Alex’s sweater, eager to explore the contours of her body.
She slid her palms up Alex’s back, bunched her shirt, and pulled it over her head.
This revealed a simple black bra that left little to the imagination and barely contained Alex’s full breasts.
Sam’s mouth went dry as she took in the sight.
She made quick work of the clasp of Alex’s bra, undoing it with a swift flick of her wrist.
“Alex,” Sam whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I want you so much.” Her lips met Alex’s, and the world around them faded away, leaving only the heat of their bodies and the taste of each other’s lips.
Alex kept her lips pressed to Sam’s and slowly backed them through the room until the backs of Sam’s knees hit the bed.
She fell backward with a soft thump, and Alex followed, covering Sam’s body with her own.
Sam cupped Alex’s bottom and pulled her even more tightly against her, triggering an electric pulse that she felt deep within in her core.
They started to move against each other, their bodies pressed together like magnets chasing friction.
Sam could feel the heat between them, a tangible force that pushed and pulled, and she could sense the steady, strong beat of Alex’s heart echoing her own.
Their connection was electric, and it short-circuited her brain and left only pure, raw sensation, driving her closer to the edge.
Sam felt like her body was on fire, every nerve ending alive and throbbing, her heart pounding.
She held Alex tightly, and their mouths captured each other’s cries.
Moments later, Alex’s fingers trailed lazily up Sam’s thigh, her touch soft and gentle, a stark contrast to the fierce storm they’d just weathered.
Sam wrapped her arms tightly around Alex and pulled her closer.
They both shuddered and their breaths were ragged.
Sam held Alex close and pressed soft kisses to her neck, her cheek, and her temple.
She had no words, but she knew that moment with Alex didn’t need them.
Alex’s eyes fluttered open, her eyes wide and glistening. There was a raw vulnerability in her eyes, a look that Sam had never seen before. She smiled down at Alex and brushed a tear from her cheek.
“Are you okay?” Sam whispered.
“Yes,” Alex breathed back. “I’m more than okay.” She smiled, and it reassured Sam. “I’ve never been better.” Alex’s fingers traced the curve of Sam’s lips, a gentle, tender touch that sent shivers down Sam’s spine.
Sam captured Alex’s hand, softly pressing a kiss to her fingertips.
Her eyes remained fixed on Alex’s face. “I love you, Alex,” she whispered fiercely, her voice brimming with emotion.
Alex leaned into her touch and closed her eyes briefly.
When she opened them again, the love and affection were clear.
“I love you, too, Sam,” she replied. She leaned in and kissed Sam softly and tenderly, speaking volumes without saying a word.
She nestled back into Sam’s arms and sighed contentedly.
Before long, they both drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.