Javier
She’s been smiling ever since she left the truck. Her lips are like a magnet, drawing my eyes every time she passes by.
I suppose compared to the attic she told me about on the way here, this place is a bit bigger. I have no doubt that Sammy is ready to call this place her home.
It all feels so unreal to me. Everything I’ve done in my life shouldn’t lead up to a happy ending, yet that’s exactly what this feels like. Last night cleared up my feelings real quickly. There’s no doubt how badly I want the woman.
Despite her not bringing up what happened between us, I’ve still caught her quick glances and small smiles. I am pretty sure she has no intentions of leaving my side either, even if I really don’t deserve it.
After claiming the shower for herself, we each take turns getting cleaned up. Thanks to the cherry blossom body wash I bought her, the aroma has plagued my senses since, staining my nose.
I think it’s become my favorite smell, especially since it’s been clinging to Sammy’s skin since.
Now we’re in the kitchen and the woman is running about without any sort of leash to contain her excitement. She must’ve needed the taste of freedom like I did when I discovered this place.
“So you hired someone to move stuff here and even get groceries?” she asks as she cracks open each cupboard. All new dishes and appliances are inside. “People really do that?”
I rest against the table, watching her explore to her heart’s desire. “You’d be surprised what money can buy. It just took some planning to get everything settled. This has all been here for at least a week or two I believe.”
Humming, she looks in the fridge and sighs when showing me it’s empty. “We’re going to have to meet the locals and do some grocery shopping.”
I shouldn’t let my imagination get the best of me. Yet, I can’t stop myself from imagining Sammy clinging to my arm as I push a cart around the one grocery store in the town next to us. She’d be the bubbly type to introduce us to everyone, I’m sure. Secrecy be damned.
“They deliver groceries now,” I explain to her, chuckling when she checks out the full pantry. “You wouldn’t want to just stay here?”
Sammy plucks out some boxes of food, already bundling it to her chest. “I go where you go.”
Once more, I’m pleased by her words. Is she being sweet on purpose to get something in return? If so, it’s working. I’m ready to cross oceans to give this woman whatever she wants.
Putting everything in her arms onto the counter, she beams at me. “Ready to break in some of this stuff? I’m starving. Though, I’m a terrible cook so you’re putting a risk at letting me run this operation alone.”
Abandoning the table, I approach her to see what she’s found. Before I can start examining the boxes up close, she steps in my path.
“What is it?” I ask before noticing the way her cheeks start to flush. Maybe my suspicions were correct, maybe she does want something.
“Thank you for all this,” she starts off as her eyes drift to the side.
I’ve lost count of how many times she’s thanked me since we came here. It’s really unnecessary. I don’t deserve to be given so much appreciation. Then again, I don’t exactly deserve to share my home with this sweet angel either.
“And, um, I want to kiss you again,” she continues before her hands start to fidget. “If that’s alright, I mean.”
That explains the flushed cheeks. Wanting nothing more than an excuse to taste her again, I’m pleased by the small gasp that leaves her lips when I lift her up onto the counter. I need her at more eye level if I want to avoid crushing her against the cabinets.
“Sammy, you don’t have to ask for that.” My palms press against her thighs and she’s wearing a pair of shorts that make it very easy to feel her supple legs. I can’t help but give them a squeeze.
Just because I don’t believe I deserve such a sweet woman doesn’t mean I’m not going to give her what she wants. If she wants to kiss me, then I’m all for it.
Stepping between her thighs, I run my fingers along her shorts and soon cradle her hips.
“It’s going to take a lot of practice if I want to get good at it,” she explains as she cups my face. “I hope you’re ready for all that.”
I’m ready alright. Ready to be the man she needs to be.
Her lips meet mine lightly, hardly brushing. I smile at her attempt of kissing me. When was the last time I smiled so easily? Humored by the littlest things.
“Lots of practice,” I tease her before dragging her hips to the edge of the counter. Loving the way she clings to me, I kiss her firmer. Her fingers curl into my shirt as she opens right up. Sammy tastes as sweet as she had the night before.
Now that I’m standing in my kitchen with a woman I’d be willing to make my wife, the kiss feels more enjoyable. More than enough that my body is reacting despite having only shared a kiss.
Pulling away from my mouth, she pants lightly while clinging to me. Her eyes are all wide and look filled with emotion.
“Did you mean what you said last night?” Her words come out as a soft whisper. “About never letting me go?”
Rather than scaring her, she sounds like she’s got some hope hiding behind her words.
My hold on her hips tightens as her question settles. “Yes. I didn’t say those words lightly either.”
I don’t want to ever let her go. I want to keep her at my side and keep her away from the dangers of the world. Even the thought of going to the grocery store is a bit much.
“But this isn’t going to be like your last home. Our home won’t be some kind of prison where you feel trapped. The moment you get tired of me angel, I’ll buy you a house somewhere nice and let you start somewhere fresh.”
She shakes her head and pulls me back down for another kiss. This time, she’s not gentle. I feel the frustration behind her kiss.
“I’ll never take that offer, so don’t suggest it again,” she huffs out. With her cheeks burning hot, she frowns at me. “I want you, .”
She’s got no idea what words like that can do to a man. Especially to someone who doesn’t know right from wrong.
“Even if I want to keep you all to myself?” I ask as I shift my mouth to her neck. My teeth graze the skin and she’s sucking in a lungful of air before I even consider leaving a mark. “Even if I kill any man who even thinks about trying to get your attention?”
“You’d really do that for someone like me?”
“Without hesitation,” I admit shamelessly. I’d rather not give us a reason to have to start over again at a new place, but I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to be level-headed. “You’d still want me then?”
Pulling away, it’s a hit in the gut to see this woman still smiling as she nods. Not even the promise of death is enough to scare her off. Fuck me. I’m starting to think Sammy was made for me, my perfect match.
I want her more than ever, no, I need her. I tell her that too, not trying to hide my feelings for the woman.
She lets out this cute gasp when I pull her off the counter and carry her out of the kitchen on my shoulder.
“You can’t keep doing this,” she giggles as she thumps her hands on my back. Unlike the first time I held her like this, she’s not trying to break free. If anything, she’s clinging on. “Where are you taking me?”
“We haven’t checked out the bedroom yet,” I tell her as I look around. With only a few rooms inside, it doesn’t take much to find where we’ll be sleeping. “Need to break in the bed too, Sammy.”
She giggles again and I’m feeling like I’m on top of the world. Her reactions are what fuel me to keep going.
The bed doesn’t even have sheets on it yet and I’m already tossing the woman down. Watching her bounce with a laugh, I tug off my shirt. That makes her giggling die down fast.
“Wow,” she murmurs as she looks at my chest. I’ve got a few marks scattered about, just like the rest of my body. From stabbings to shootings, I’ve been injured in more ways than I can count.
One of the reasons I had a good reputation in my profession is the fact that I never go down. I might’ve had a close call or two, but I always finish my job, even if I’m bloodied up.
Sitting up, she leans forward to touch my skin. Wherever her fingertips trail, my body twitches. At the moment, she’s focused on the gash that’s running from my side down to my hip.
“I want stories on each of these,” she mumbles as she gets a bit lost in staring, “I’m sure you have a lot of them.”
“None of them have happy endings,” I warn her before collecting her hand in mine. Pressing her palm against my stomach, I give it a light squeeze. “Still interested in hearing them?”
Her thumb grazes the trail of hair that leads down to my jeans. “Every word. You better not hold back on the details.”
Sammy is a fearless one, I’ll give her that.
“Later,” I promise her, “once we’re done with this.”
Nodding her head, she doesn’t push. While I’d rather keep her away from what I’d done, if she really wants to know, I won’t keep any secrets. She tangles her fingers in my belt loops and tugs me forward.
Sammy might be innocent in all ways possible, but the woman knows what she wants. Her wiggling hips give that away as soon as I’m on top of her.
“You want me to use my mouth again?” My breath brushes her ear as I place another kiss against her neck.
Sammy shakes her head, catching me off guard. Biting her lip, she pulls my face up so we’re looking at each other.
“I want to go the whole way if you’re alright with that.” Her nose scrunches and she purses her lips. She’s nervous, of course, she is. The topic of death is nothing but a little cherry-popping is enough to make her hesitant. She’s a strange one. Either way, I’ll keep my promise of never harming her.
“I’m always alright with that,” I reassure her. “I’d be one lucky bastard to get this kind of opportunity.”
She’s got nothing to worry about. I wouldn’t hurt her, that’s for sure. If anything, I’ve got to make sure I don’t mess up the opportunity I’ve been given.