43. Sam
SAM
She stared out the front window, searching for me in the dark.
After the sheriff had dropped her at the house with nothing more than a wave, I knew it was just a ruse.
But that didn’t stop the intense anger rising inside me. I couldn’t control it. There was no dismissing the feelings swirling in my gut, demanding that I march into her house and claim her as mine.
I was done walking on eggshells, pretending that these feelings growing inside me were nothing more than my testosterone kicking into high gear every time I saw her. I wanted her.
Needed her.
And if I had to wait one more fucking night to tell her that I was never going back to that rental on the other side of town, I might lose my shit. Mav made his point perfectly clear in the bar. Cassidy was up for grabs, and if I didn’t do something about it, I would lose her forever.
And that was never gonna happen.
Skirting around her house in the shadows, I bypassed the sliding door, knowing she had a block in the track, ensuring there was no way for me to enter without her permission.
Instead, I went to the window of the back bedroom and easily removed the screen.
I’d checked out the house earlier, and to my utter disappointment, not all her windows were locked.
It was just as bad as at the shop when she left the back door unlocked. But for tonight, I’d let it slide only because it allowed me to enter unannounced. Hauling myself through the window, I landed with a soft thump, then slid the window closed.
As I crept through the house, I thought for just a moment that perhaps I was taking this need for secrecy just a tad too far.
I broke into her house, which wasn’t a new thing for me, considering all the other times I’d let myself in unannounced.
However, that was usually through a door.
Now, I was resorting to windows, which put things in a whole new light.
But I shoved that all aside when I saw her standing at the window, her fingers braiding a small section of her hair as it hung over her shoulder. She stared out that window, watching the shadows. Was she looking for me? Was she just as desperate for me as I was for her?
My footsteps were light as I crossed the floor. With every step, I felt a buzzing beneath my skin, begging me to touch her. I was only a few feet away when she stiffened, her fingers pausing at the end of her braid. With the smallest crook of her head, her eyes found mine in the dark.
“Waiting for me, Cass?”
Agonizing moments passed as I waited for her answer. She was torturing me, dragging this out to the point of excruciating pain. All I wanted was to pull her into my arms and remind her who she belonged to.
“You haven’t been around,” she finally whispered.
“You told me to go.”
As I took a step forward, I saw the tears swimming in her eyes, and they tore me to shreds.
“You were going to leave me anyway.” She swiped the tears from her cheek, then shoved her hands behind her back, as if she was trying to prevent herself from coming to me.
“So, you pushed me away before I could hurt you.” I took another step forward, then another until I was almost flush against her body. “I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”
“I—I remembered the accident,” she croaked out. “And when I woke up, you weren’t there.”
I knew something had happened. Things were going good between us. Well, as good as they could be when I was unwilling to fully commit to her. But that was all over. I was done running from her.
My fingers were just inches from her soft skin, but I held back. Until I heard that she still wanted me, that she would stick with me through my career, I couldn’t touch her. It would be too hard to walk away.
“I was stupid. For all those months, I could have really had something with you, but I blew it. I’m an idiot, Cass. I thought I couldn’t have it both ways—my career and be with someone.”
“And now?”
“Now, I know I can’t fight if I don’t have you by my side. I don’t want to. I can’t concentrate without you. I can’t wrap my head around ever stepping back in that ring if it means it’ll take me further from you.”
“I would never ask you to leave something you love,” she said breathlessly, her chest heaving as I slid my hand around her waist, tugging her closer.
“But would you stick with me? Would you go on the road with me and stick by my side, good or bad?”
Dipping my head, I trailed my nose along the column of her throat, feeling her heart pounding under her skin. She wasn’t immune to me. She wanted me just as much. My lips skimmed over her soft skin, tasting what was still to come. Just another minute and I’d have her right where I wanted her.
Her breath hitched as I slid my hand up her side, just below her breast, teasing her with my touch. I loved how her body trembled whenever I was close to her, how she unknowingly pressed her breasts against me and begged me for more.
No other woman tried so hard to deny themselves around me. They all wanted whatever I would offer them, but Cassidy was different. Despite wanting me, she fought the need while her body begged for more.
It was a dance we played. One that I always won.
“I’ll always stay by your side. I love you.”
I crushed my lips to hers, no longer able to hold back. Those three little words were something I had needed from the start, but had no clue would mean anything to me.
“Fuck, I love you, Cassidy.”
“Really?”
I couldn’t tear my lips from hers, not when every kiss felt like it was bringing me home. “I need you.”
Her fingers worked my zipper, struggling to pull it down over my cock straining against it. But finally, her hand slid inside, gripping me as her thumb slid over the slick crown.
There was no way I could let her touch me like that. I would blow in five seconds, and tonight, I wanted something we’d never had before. I wanted all of her, every inch of her body and every beat of her heart. It was all mine.
Lifting her in my arms, I carried her back to the bedroom—to our room—and laid her on the bed, crawling over her body.
My lips sealed over hers and I slowly kissed her, tangling my tongue with hers.
I’d never truly taken the time to make love to her, to show her how much I needed her, but after all this time apart, I’d never let another moment go by without her knowing just how damn much I had fallen for her.
Pulling her upright, I slowly pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it aside as I took a moment to get my fill of her beautiful body. To think that all this time, I hadn’t realized what was in front of me. I could have kicked my own ass.
“So fucking beautiful,” I murmured as I took her mouth once again.
I took my time undressing her, making sure my lips covered every inch of her skin. She twisted and moaned in my arms, tugging at my hair, pleading with me to take her. But even once she was completely naked in front of me, I just couldn’t stop staring.
I shucked my clothes and fisted my hard cock, reminding myself of all I almost lost.
“Never again, Cass. You’re mine.”
She sighed in frustration. “Yes, you’re stupid for running away, and I’m stupid for pushing you away. Would you get over here and fuck me?”
Chuckling, I got on my knees between her thighs and taunted her. “Desperate for something?”
She narrowed her eyes at me dangerously. “Do you have any idea what it’s been like for me?”
“Probably something like I went through.”
“Is this a competition?”
Wisely, I shut my mouth and kissed her, but as she fisted my hair and tugged me down to the bed, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Ever since the accident, that spirited woman I met at the bookshop had disappeared, and tonight, she was back.
“Just don’t go climbing any ladders.”
“What?”
I thrust my cock deep inside her, swallowing her cries as I fucked her. Moans filled the room as I buried my cock deep inside her, over and over, never giving her a break as her pussy clenched around me, strangling me as she came hard.
“Fuck, that’s right. Give me everything,” I growled.
Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes when I twisted my hips and fucked her even harder. Leaning forward, I ran my tongue over her cheek, licking the tears. I loved it when she cried for me, but only good tears.
“Sam!” Her nails dug into my shoulders as I hiked her good leg up, getting a deeper angle.
“That’s it, baby. Strangle my cock. Fuck!”
I slammed into her one last time, but was nowhere close to done. Lifting her in my arms, I spun her around and laid her out on her nightstand, sending her lamp crashing to the floor and little bottles flying around the room.
I loved her spread out for me like this, with her ass on full display and her hands gripping the nightstand for dear life. In one swift move, I shoved my cock deep inside her, bottoming out as the wood met the wall. She cried out, squeezing the sides as I thrust over and over, deeper every time.
Running my hand down her spine, I didn’t stop until my hand slid through the juices flowing from her pussy. As I thumbed her clit, she cried out, begging for me to make her come again.
“Sam! Fuck!”
Her words, her screams, sent me over the edge until I was fucking her like a madman. She held on for dear life, scrambling to find anything to hold onto as I buried my cock in her, leaning forward to grasp the wall to ground myself in what had to be the most intense experience of my life.
My heart hammered out of control as my breathing spilled out in ragged bursts. As I stood upright on shaky legs, I brought her with me, holding her tight to my body, kissing the column of her neck.
I couldn’t tear myself away from her for even one moment, afraid that if I left her, she would run away and never return. “I fucking love you, Cassidy.”
She craned her head to look at me, those beautiful baby blues sparkling at me. “I never thought I would hear you say that. I thought I’d lost you.”
“You did, but only because I was an idiot. I know where my priorities lie now, and that’s firmly with you.”
Doubt crept into her eyes for only a moment, but I kissed her hard, refusing to let it take hold. “You’re mine now, baby. Nothing you could ever say would make me leave.”
A playful smile touched her lips. “You fight like a girl.”
Laughing, I tossed her on the bed and pounced. “That’s hitting below the belt. Now I’m gonna have to teach you a lesson.”