Chapter 34
“Wait, what do you mean you’re moving to Charleston?” Sam is making blueberry waffles as I sit at the bar top in his kitchen, sipping on the perfect cup of coffee.
I stare at the muscles on his bare back as he cooks. They ripple as he moves, highlighting the scratches I left on him last night. I wince a little at the red marks; my mind drifts to the way his body molded to mine in such a perfect way. Heat pools in my core at the thought.
“I mean, I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.” His words pull me from my overheated trance. “These guys are making my life increasingly miserable by the day. So, I’m doing it. I’m moving back to Charleston and starting my own architecture firm.”
Standing up, I walk over to Sam and start planting soft kisses on the scratches along his back. A shiver runs down his spine at my touch. “Sam, that’s great! I’m so proud of you! So, when is the big move?”
He turns around and pulls me into him, his strong arms wrapping around me. “My lease is up at the end of March.”
“Wow! That’s so soon. Are you going to stay with your dad while you find a place out there?”
Sam kisses the top of my head, my cheek, and finally, my lips. I lean into him and groan into his mouth when his hands work their way down my back and to my hips. He squeezes gently before stepping back slightly. He glances over his shoulder at the waffle maker.
“My dad’s insisting that I stay with him. He begged me to move home and never leave again,” he chuckles. I love that sound.
Sam turns from me, and I watch as he takes a waffle out of the waffle maker and adds more of the mixture to cook.
I wrap my arms around his waist and lean my head onto his back as he shifts to flipping bacon—I marvel at this man, making me breakfast, taking a moment to listen to his heartbeat and feel his body move slightly as he breathes in and out.
“He’s missed you. Every time I’ve seen your dad since I moved back, you are pretty much all he talks about. ‘Kat, what are you doing to convince my boy to come home?’” My attempt to imitate Dan’s voice has us both laughing.
“He doesn’t sound like that.”
I step away from him and lean against the counter behind us. “That was the best impersonation you’ve ever heard! Don’t try to deny it, Harris.”
“That was the worst impersonation I’ve ever heard. You need to practice more.”
“Whatever, jerk. Anyway. I’m so fucking excited to have you back home!”
“Me too.”
When the next waffle is cooked, Sam pulls two plates from the cupboard, placing a waffle and a couple of strips of bacon onto each one.
He hands me the plates, and I walk back around to the barstools while he grabs the syrup—the pure maple kind.
My mouth waters as I bring my plate up and smell my waffle.
He laughs as he makes his way around the counter to sit next to me. “Does it smell good?”
“It smells delicious,” I sigh as I cut into my waffle and take my first bite, groaning as the flavor assaults my taste buds in the most delectable way.
“So,” he says when he finishes his own bite, “I have a couple of things planned for today. There’s a lot to do and see in Chicago. But with this short trip, I didn’t want it to be overwhelming.” He pauses to eat more.
“Care to share these plans with the class? Or you just gonna keep that to yourself?” I lightly jab his ribs with my elbow.
He exaggerates a groan and rubs where my elbow hit him. “After that, I might just make you suffer and keep it to myself.”
I shrug nonchalantly and hurry to take another bite. Sam laughs and wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me in close to him. He places a kiss on my temple and releases me.
“I bought tickets for one of the river tours. After that, I thought we could grab lunch and then head up to the Observation Deck. We’ll have some time between the river tour and the Observation Deck—we don’t have to get lunch right away—but I know you’ll be hungry, and we can walk around the city, if you want. ”
“That sounds great!” I smile at him and continue eating.
“It’ll be a bit cold on the river tour, so we’ll need to bundle up. But I think you’ll like it.”
I nod absentmindedly. I know he isn’t going to be working at his architecture firm much longer, but I have this weird longing to see his office. I want this part of Sam that I’ve never experienced before. “Would it be possible for you to show me your office?”
“You want to see my office?” He sounds skeptical.
“Yeah. Is that weird?” I scrunch my face at him.
“Not weird. I can make that happen. But first, finish your breakfast; I have some other plans before we leave this apartment.” He winks at me before turning his attention back to his food. I’m torn between scarfing this down and calling it quits now.
Making my decision, I push my plate away from me, stand up, give Sam a sultry look, and walk towards his bedroom.
I don’t make it far when I hear the scraping of a chair and Sam’s bare feet tapping quickly against the wood floors. Sam scoops me up into his arms, taking my breath away, and carries me into his bedroom.