Chapter 7
KANE
Texting Sammie the morning after our date feels a little too soon. I'm certainly not going to pull that three-day crap that some guys insist on. But the least I can do is wait until…lunchtime?
Except that will be when she's eating. I should wait until one-thirty. Maybe one.
Okay, so I'm a weak man. My thumbs fly across the phone at eleven fifty-two am.
Hey, gorgeous. Do you have plans for tonight? If not, may I take you out for a mellow but delicious pizza at Jim's?
Maybe she was waiting by the phone. She answers right away.
Sammie: Sure, I could really go for pizza tonight. Shall I meet you there?
I'd rather pick you up, if that's okay. How’s 5 o'clock?
Sammie: LOL! A bit early for dinner, but fine.
Yeah, it gets busy there around seven. I figure hopefully we can stay incognito if we slip out before then.
If Sammie is shy, she's not going to want the entire town staring at her. Which, since I've never taken a girl on a date to Jim’s before, is bound to happen.
Sammie: Gotcha. Sounds good. See you then.
By the time I pick up Sammie, I'm starting to get worried about this casual pizza date. I've already received texts from two of my brothers and three other friends asking about the new girl I'm seeing.
I would never want to hide her, but I kind of assumed the town didn't need to know who I bought a few groceries with. Silly me.
The only thing about being a Wolfe that I dislike is feeling so observed, and knowing everything we do becomes gossip. Although I guess it's actually pretty wholesome if the talk of the town is something positive like who is dating who. I'm grateful to live in a place without much drama.
Sammie looks gorgeous when I pick her up. She’s super cute in just jeans and a t-shirt, but in a long casual print dress…wow.
Unfortunately, Jim's Pizza is busier than I expected when we arrive. The weather is almost as beautiful as Sammie – sunny and warm with a faint breeze – and I suppose people were excited to get out for the evening.
After we order, she leans in and whispers, "Am I being paranoid, or are people sneaking peeks at us?"
The second my head turns to look, four pairs of eyes suddenly drop to examine their own plates. "I'm sorry. The entire town kind of checks out my family."
"Why? Is it because…" She trails off awkwardly, as I burst into laughter.
"Because I'm loaded? Because I'm a global tech bro?" I squeeze her hand. "You looked me up. I get it. And you don't have to be shy about it. Honestly, feel free to ask me anything."
She breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you."
Another quick glance around the room confirms my theory. "Folks have never seen me on a date before. They're just curious."
Sammie's hand clutches mine. "Which means they're checking me out, trying to decide if I'm good enough for you, and who the heck I am."
Oh no. My poor sweet baby looks so worried. As soon as Bianca, our server, sets down someone's drinks at a nearby table, I give her a wave.
"Hey, Kane. Your pizza should be coming out of the oven in just a minute."
"Could we actually get it to go, please?"
"Of course. Shall I add some bottled iced tea and water too?"
"Perfect. Thank you."
Sammie leans closer. "We don't have to leave on my account. If you want to stay—"
"Baby, I never want you to be uncomfortable. Ever." I smile. "Besides, it's a beautiful night. Let's go someplace scenic."
Forty minutes later, the pizza box is empty and Sammie and I are sprawled out in the back of my pickup. Thankfully, I always keep an air mattress and sleeping bag in the back seat, along with other emergency equipment.
"Are you sure this wasn’t your plan all along?" she murmurs, cuddling up to me.
"Nope. I last used this mobile bed a few years ago, when my brothers and I were driving all over the mountain looking for the best places for bird call stations. We took turns driving, reading the maps, and sitting back here scouting with both our eyes and audio level meters."
"That's amazing." She tucks her head against my shoulder, face tipped up to the colorful streaks of sunset. It's just dark enough that the moon hovering overhead seems to be our own personal spotlight.
"I have to say," she whispers, “this is pretty romantic."
"It would have been even more romantic three days ago when the moon was full, but, you know… I'm trying my best."
Her hand fusses with the top button of my shirt, undoing it. "For the record, you're doing a great job so far."
"Right? You've been well fed, we're in a romantic location, we've been chatting about everything under the sun…
and now this moon." My lips trail across her forehead.
"Someday I’ll wine you and dine you in Europe, but…
" I gesture to the trees and a mountain peak off to the right.
"To my mind, it just doesn't get better than this. "
Sammie giggles. “I agree completely." She opens another of my buttons, then lowers her hand under the sleeping bag we’re using as a blanket. Her palm makes a slow circle around my abs, then settles on my belt buckle.
“Why do I feel like you're up to something?" I ask.
"Maybe because I am?"
"And what might that be?"
I'm quickly becoming addicted to her laugh. Every single detail about this charming girl feels like lights are turning on in my mind and body.
"Well, I'm not quite sure." Her fingertips drift along my belt.
"I really liked what we did last night, and I'd like to do the same to you.
On the other hand…" Her eyes meet mine as she nibbles on her bottom lip.
"I've been on the pill for a while, but haven't, you know, needed it yet. So… I have to admit I'm curious."
If her hand moves any lower, she'll feel exactly how curious I am as well. "Baby, we don't have to rush anything.” A deep shudder runs through me. Even though Sammie didn’t wait for me exactly, it kind of feels like she did, if that makes sense.
Her hand hovers, then lowers to the firm ridge in my jeans. "Is this okay?"
"You can do anything you want to me, baby. Always."
Her lovely caramel eyes light up. "And you can do anything to me." She laughs at my strangled groan. "What?"
"You can't just say that to a man, Sammie. Do you know how many filthy little ideas just flew through my mind?"
Sammie laughs loudly, then stops. "Sorry. Maybe this is no laughing matter."
"Actually, I think laughter is very sexy…especially yours. But I do get the feeling you're suggesting certain things that I think you've never tried before."
She leans up on her elbow. "Yes, I'm a virgin. And yes, I want you."
"Well damn, if you put it that way…" I roll toward her, cradling her body to mine. "I'm still going to make you think about it for at least three more minutes so that you're extremely sure."
I capture her lips with mine, yet she's already murmuring, "I'm sure."
Ugh, I should be a gentleman and wait at least a week. No, a month. Honestly, I've got no idea what is normal for most couples. Are there any others who know from the very beginning that they're going to be forever?
That's what I hope, at least. Even as I'm hitching up Sammie's skirt, caressing her silky thigh, there’s a tiny whisper of worry in the back of my mind.
What if she gets overwhelmed by me and my brothers when we all get together?
What if she can't handle life up here on the mountain?
It can be rough. What if she's even shyer than she's letting on and can't adjust to the amount of scrutiny we'll be under for a while until people get used to the fact that we’re a couple? Not to mention, she’s not from around here.
All my worries fly out the window when I feel Sammie's breasts pressing against my chest. Hear her breath hitch and feel the way her belly quivers when my fingertips brush her skin before slipping into her panties. When her thighs fall apart, and I feel how wet she is, I groan.
This beautiful, sexy girl is aroused by me.
It sends my heart off at a gallop, my left arm tightening around her back, angling her mouth to mine. My finger gently pulses inside, exploring, finding a rhythm that she likes.
"One more minute," I whisper breathlessly. "One more minute to come to your senses and realize we should wait a while longer."
"No way." Her legs spread wider as she lifts her hips, rocking along with my hand. “Kane, I want you. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Not in the least, baby. Just trying to be a gentleman here."
She reaches around and smacks my ass gently. "For the record, I would really appreciate it if you were the complete opposite of a gentleman for the next little while."
"You're positive?"
"One thousand and twelve percent."
Looking deeply into her eyes, I can see that Sammie is completely serious.
It's like a switch flipping in the back of my mind. She really does want me. This is happening.
Blood pounds through my veins as I kiss her hard, my thumb grinding against her clit until I hear her breath becoming low, raspy sighs.
"Come for me, baby. I need you nice and wet so I can fit my cock right here.” Her inner muscles tighten around my finger. She clearly likes the thought of that. "Is this where you want me, baby? Is this where you've always needed me, even before we met?"
"Yes," she moans. "Right there… "
My thumb grinds harder and I watch her eyes become glazed, her entire body trembling against me as her climax consumes her.
I've never seen anything so sexy in my life.
And we've only just begun.