Determined (Determined Trilogy Book 1) (4 page)

“You know, this house totally looks like a serial killer’s house.” Carrie said, taking a sip of her drink.

I looked at her. Carrie was obsessed with true-crime television. I shook my head. “Carrie, seriously? I think it’s beautiful.”

“No way. I mean, I like Curtis and all, but if I didn’t know him, I’d think there was a sound proof basement or something.” She pointed to the bookshelves across the room “I bet you pull on one of those books, and it opens a door to a secret room.”

I was rolling my eyes at her when across the room, a familiar profile pulled my attention.

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

“What? Sam, are you okay?” Carrie looked at me quizzically and followed my gaze to the doorway. Standing there was David Keith. He was dressed differently, in a perfectly tailored gray suit and a white shirt that was undone at the collar. His hands were shoved in his pockets nonchalantly. But his body was the same. I knew it from having studied it intently the night before.

“It’s David. I met him last night at the opening.” I breathed. My pulse was racing. I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest.

“Oh, nice! Is he the one Curtis was talking about? He is really good looking, I love that suit,” she said with approval.

But to be honest, the suit was just the icing on the cake. His maleness cut right through it. My skin tingled, and I felt an invisible pull to him. My ears were buzzing and suddenly I realized I was hot all over. And this time, I was sure it wasn’t the cocktail.

“Let’s go talk to him,” Carrie urged “You can introduce me.”

I couldn’t respond. What was she saying?

Before I could muster an answer, it was too late. He was cutting across the room, making his way toward us.
Act cool, Sam.
I took a big swig of my drink.

“Hello, Ms. Sharp. It’s a pleasure to see you again.” He looked at me like we were the only two people in the room. His eyes tunneled into mine. My knees buckled. The rest of the room fell away.

Before I could recover or respond, I was jolted back to reality by a petite bundle of energy dressed in purple. It cut in between us, wrapping its arms around me in an enthusiastic embrace, forcing a mass of strawberry blond hair into my mouth.

“Hi, Sam!”

“Jenna, David, I didn’t know you would be here tonight.” I managed, finally finding my voice. I was truly surprised and confused. I briefly introduced them to Carrie.

“Michael had invited me to come weeks ago, but this guy here,” she gently jabbed David in the ribs, “just decided to come today,” she joked at him, lovingly, and reached up on her tip toes to muss his hair. She really was much shorter without those six-inch heels, probably just barely over five feet tall. Her black flats gave me more than a few inches on her. Carrie and Jenna engaged in mutual compliments regarding their outfits, allowing David plenty of time to stare at me. I found myself having a hard time holding his gaze. It was too powerful. Instead, I sipped it in, moving my eyes between each person in the group in a purposeful and egalitarian manner. But the only one I took note of was David. His masculinity was so distracting. Tall and strong, without being obnoxiously muscular. I could tell there were powerful thighs beneath those trousers. I wanted that mouth on my neck, and I wanted to feel those hands in my hair. His eyes burned over me, and I could tell he was assessing me, examining my body in the same way I was his. The area between my legs became wet, and my chest felt heavy with need.

“David!” A man in a brown sport coat and dark jeans came up behind us and cut into the conversation. “May I borrow you for a moment? There is someone I would like to introduce you to. It will only take a minute.”

A brief scowl passed over David’s lips, but he responded to Sport Coat.

“Certainly. Ladies, please excuse me for a moment. Don’t go anywhere,” he raised his eyebrows, and looked pointedly at me. Was that a command? A threat?

With David out of the room, I tried to compose myself. Carrie and Jenna were really hitting it off. I stood there for a few moments, dizzy with lust, and realized I needed to be by myself for a few minutes. I needed to give myself a pep talk. They wouldn’t miss me if I took a few moments.

“Guys, I am going to run to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back. Carrie, can you hold my drink?”

“Sure thing, Sam. Hurry back.” Carrie smiled and took my glass.

I headed down the dark hallway toward the restroom, candlelit sconces illuminating the way. I rounded the corner and almost ran into someone.

It was David. I froze.

“Samantha.” He didn’t touch me. He just stood there, staring at me in the low light.

“David, I’m so sorry, hi,” I mumbled back, looking down, staring at my boots. He didn’t say anything, so I ventured to look up at him, and was caught instantly in the fire of his gaze. His dark eyes blazed at me, and everything around us faded away.

“Where are you going?” He demanded gently, smiling, looking around as if trying to suss out his competition. The air crackled between us.

“Nowhere. I mean, I was looking for something, err. Sorry,” I trailed off, feeling flustered. I wasn’t ready for this. I didn’t know what to say to him. I didn’t have my game plan ready. It wasn’t fair, this power he had over me. I mean, I barely knew him. I went mute. Dammit, I wished I could start over. Without saying anything, I turned on my heel and headed back down the hall.

“Wait.” He grabbed my hand and spun me back to him, so quickly I lost my footing. I grabbed his arm for balance, and he steadied me with his other hand. “Where are you going?” He reached up to my chin and pointed it up to his. And then he put his lips on mine. Kissing me softly at first, and then deeply. He dominated my mouth as he pulled me into him. One of his hands trailed up my back to my neck and then cradled my face. He pulled his head back and looked me deeply in the eyes, cupping my ass with his other hand, pulling me into him. I remained speechless. He gazed at me a moment longer, and then released me and grabbed my hand.

“Come,” he commanded, and before I could respond, he pulled me down the hallway and outside onto the backyard veranda. The sound of the party faded away as we moved further from the door. From a distance, I looked back at the windows, the party glowing inside. I knew no one could see us. The fog had rolled in and the air felt cool and moist on my hot skin. I looked over at David. I didn’t know what he was thinking. I didn’t care. I just wanted him to kiss me again. My heart was pounding, and my breath was shallow. He led me to a low stone wall. We sat down next to each other, the energy between us erotic and explosive. David sat forward with his knees parted, fingers laced together. He looked up at me, his eyes dark with desire.

“Samantha.”

God, I loved the way my name came out of his mouth.

“Are you attracted to me?”

Uh, yeah—duh—
my subconscious murmured. I didn’t say anything, but it didn’t matter, he didn’t wait for a response.

“I think you are. And I am clearly attracted to you.”

He was?
I mean, he had kissed me, but my mind still did mental cartwheels, relishing the verbal validation. My stomach flipped.
David Keith was attracted to me.
The thought alone made me blush, the cover of night saving me again.

“But what about your girlfriend?” I managed to eke out.

“Girlfriend? What girlfriend?” He looked over at me, bewildered.

“Jenna,” I whispered, looking at the ground.

He tilted his head back and laughter bellowed out.

“That won’t be a problem.”

“It’s a problem for me,” I said quietly.
This is how it ends, isn’t it?

“Jenna is my sister, Samantha.”

“What?” My face snapped back to face him “But I ... but you don’t look alike.” My body was confused, but somewhere my subconscious was doing a victory dance.

“I’m adopted, Samantha,” he explained.

I looked at him for a moment, my mind registering what he had just said.

“Oh thank God.” I sighed and a huge smile took over my face.

“But what about you, Samantha?”

“Me?”

“I need to know that you aren’t hiding a boyfriend anywhere. Or a fuck-buddy. I am not too keen on STDs, so it’s best you tell me now. I’m a very busy man, and I prefer not to waste both of our time.”

“No ... nothing” The last boyfriend I had was in college, we were each other’s first, and we broke up when he transferred to another college. It was fine, though. The relationship had run its course. But this was strange. Why did it feel like we were negotiating? Was I seeing David Keith, the businessman? Was I his new venture?

“What about birth control?” he asked in a no-nonsense tone.
Geez, who is this guy?
I paused, surveying him for a moment. Normally, I’d be flustered by all the intimate questions. But before I could think, I found myself rattling off an answer.

“Well, if you must know, I am on the pill.”

“What about you?” I asked. It was only fair to flip the table.

“No girlfriend, no wife, and disease-free,” he answered matter-of-factly.

“Is this how you romance all your conquests?” I was getting braver now. Sassy even. I held his gaze. He seemed to like it.

“Yes.” He glared back, challenging me. I was not sure how to respond. I was really not used to this brand of romance. But he answered for me.

“I have a car. Let’s get out of here.”

I stopped. “I, uh ... I can’t,” I stammered, feeling confused and stuck. “I promised Carrie that we’d go to this party together. I can’t just ditch her.” I died a little bit inside.
I must be the greatest friend in the world.
Surely very few women would be able to resist David Keith.

He looked at me with laser focus, like he was trying to solve a puzzle. He paused like this for several moments and then finally stood.

“Come with me.” And with that, he pulled me up by the hand, and I trailed behind him as we re-entered the house. My whole body pulsed with electricity at his touch. We slipped down a hallway in silence, and he opened a door on the right. There were no lights on. He pulled me inside the small room and then leaned in and kissed me deeply ... deeper than before. He shut the door behind us, causing the darkness to envelop us.

In the small black room, he pushed me up against the wall, bracing me with his hips as he continued to devour my mouth. I heard something fall and roll away. I didn’t care. My breasts heaved with anticipation, and my nipples grew hard. I could feel the length of his manhood throbbing against my thigh. He shoved the bottom of my dress up and tore off my panties like they were made of tissue paper. I inhaled sharply.

Pushing me against the wall, he ran his hands over my breasts, testing them with rugged determination. He slipped his hands down to my hips, cupping my ass and pulling me into him with such strength I was lifted off the ground for a moment. Once he put me down, he returned his hands to my hips and then slowly moved to my sex. He ran a finger over the length of it.

“Samantha, you are so wet. Are you wet for me?” he whispered.

He knew the answer, but I indulged him anyway.

“Yes,” I murmured into his ear, inhaling deeply as I took in the heady scent of soap and aftershave. My answer surprised even myself, but I was too turned-on to care.

“That’s right, baby. I want you, too. I want to be inside you.”

I angled my hips so his fingers slid along my sex.

“Fuck, Samantha,” he groaned softly into my ear. My knees went weak. “Do you know how sexy you are?” He slipped his hands back over my hips to my bare ass, caressing it, pulling me into him. Hot, sexual energy ripped through me, and suddenly I had to have him inside me.

I pulled on his belt and released the clasp on his trousers. Panting, I tugged down the zipper, and his full length was freed. I reached out to grab his thickness and gently stroked it back and forth, adding a little bit of spit to make it slick.

“Samantha.”

Hearing him say my name was unbelievably arousing. He started to rub my clit, gently at first, and then as I pushed against him for more friction, he responded, giving me exactly what I needed. I tried to be quiet, but let out a little groan of pleasure. Just as I reached the edge of orgasm, he pushed up one of my legs and slid two of his fingers into me, as if to prepare me out for what was to come. With his fingers inside, his palm massaging my clit, I was again brought to the brink of orgasm. And then in one quick movement he removed his fingers and slid me onto him. The fullness surprised me; it’d been a long time. It felt good, no ... more than good—it felt amazing. I wrapped my leg around him for balance and leaned against the wall for support. He started slowly, building, circling his hips. It was pitch black, but I could feel him staring at me.

He leaned into me and inhaled. “God you smell so good.” He panted.

“Oh God,” I moaned. I was so turned on. How did he know exactly to touch me?

We were both on the edge of orgasm and moving in a perfect rhythm, our hips crashing in time with each other. And then we were there. My nails carved into his back, and he gripped my ass, pulling it closer and shoving himself even deeper into me. We both exploded into each other. Everything else faded away, even the darkness. I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t, knowing there were probably party guests just ten feet away. I splintered into a million directions and fell back against the wall. David was there, lingering over me. We stayed there for a moment, paralyzed by pleasure.

“Damn Samantha,” he whispered while catching his breath.

I was, of course, thrilled with the feedback, but a simple, “Uh huh,” was all I could manage.

I heard his zipper and figured he was all cleaned up. “Oh shit,” I whispered. “My panties.”

“Sorry about that, I got carried away.”

I could tell that he was smirking through the darkness.

“I have them, but I’m afraid they won’t be of much use to you.” His words were apologetic, but his tone wasn’t—it was almost as though he was egging me on. I pushed the hem of my dress back down, hoping that would do the job.

All of a sudden the door was thrown open.
Shit!
It was a member of the wait staff. He stood there, frozen.