Hope Over Fear (Over #1) (11 page)

“Only if you put the pictures away. I’ve seen enough herpagonasyphilaids to last me a lifetime!”

“Herpagonda what?”

“You know what I mean … no more crotch rot!” Adam is laughing hysterically, and I grin back at him. Leave it to my foul mouth to smooth out the awkwardness. Marlo would be so proud of her little protégé.

For the next two hours, we talk about nothing. Absolutely nothing—and it’s the best conversation I’ve had in a very long time. Adam confesses that he didn’t learn to ride a bike until he was twelve years old, and I admit that my walls were covered with N’Sync and 98 Degrees memorabilia in high school. I secretly hope that no one walks in and bursts our little bubble.

“So what’s this?” Adam asks, running his finger along my jawline. I resist the urge to shiver, but only barely.

“Just an old scar.”

“No, it’s not just an old scar. Don’t you know? Scars are tattoos with much better stories. Let’s hear it.” Adam smile is infectious. While he waits for my answer, he reaches for my hand and begins drawing on the inside of my wrist again.

“I was in a pogo stick contest in the fifth grade. We were up to 200 jumps, and my stick got caught on a rock, causing me to take a little trip. I think David Lewis threw that rock somehow. He was always a sneaky bastard, and he hated to lose. I ended up with five stitches.”

“So, while I was wobbling around on training wheels, you were an Olympic pogo stick champion? Figures.”

I giggle, and I sound way too girly for my liking. I’m curious to see what Adam is drawing, but I try to respect his no peeking rule. I sit quietly and revel in his touch. The silence feels intimate, and I’m in no hurry for it to end. All too soon, Adam completes his drawing and looks up at me with a gentle smile.
Drip. Drip. Melting
.

“All done. Tell me what you think.”

I look down at my wrist and see a strange symbol in thick black ink. It doesn’t look familiar, so I give Adam a confused look.

“Okay, you’re gonna have to give me a hint.”

“It’s an Om symbol. You know, like meditation. Om conveys the sound of life. It seemed perfect for a labor and delivery nurse since you help bring new life into the world.” Adam shrugs his shoulders shyly and looks down, and it’s beyond adorable.

“Wow, very thoughtful. I like it.”

“I wouldn’t put it on your wrist, though. I think it belongs up here.” Adam reaches up and brushes my hair out of the way as he caresses the back of my neck. His hand remains there a few moments longer than needed as our eyes lock. It falls away, leaving a tingling of awareness in its place. Like us, time is still. The chemistry pulsating between us is unmistakable.

“Celia invited a few people to come over to her house tonight for dinner. Come.” He doesn’t ask, and I love that. His eyes are coaxing, willing me to say yes. I know, in this moment, that I’m in serious trouble—mesmerized, spellbound. My insides twist, my breath is fast and shallow, my hands tremble nervously … and that’s merely from a look. I may spontaneously combust if he were to reach over and touch me.

“Well, I hate to impose. I mean, she hasn’t said anything to me about it, so I don’t want to just show up at her house …” I feel like a stuttering idiot, but that’s all I can muster.

“Celia will totally be fine with it. You should bring Marlo and Alex; she’d love them,” Adam says, glibly dismissing my excuse.

“I’ll think about it. I just don’t want to put her out. That’s kind of rude just waltzing into someone’s house uninvited with two people she doesn’t know.”

Celia breezes through the common area, grabbing several files as she rushes away. As if Adam has summoned her, she turns her head a casts him a quick glance.

“Adam, you told Sara about tonight, right? Bring whoever you want, Sara. The more, the merrier. I love to dazzle people with my stellar cooking skills!” Before anyone can respond, Celia prances off into one of the offices and closes the door.

When I turn back to Adam, he’s staring at me with a huge grin on his face.

“I told ya! Now, no excuses, Sara. You’ll hurt Celia’s feelings if you don’t show,” Adam reasons, laying it on a bit thick.

“All right! I’ll check with Marlo and Alex,” I relent, throwing my hands up in the air.

“That’s what I like to hear! Can I see your phone?” Adam asks, holding out his hand to me.

“Uh, yeah, I guess.”

Adam fiddles with my phone, and then I hear his jeans start ringing. “Now that I have your number, I’ll text you Celia’s address. That cool?”

“Yeah, that’s cool.” My words come out more breathy than I would like, but whatever.

I’m going to see him tonight.

“Kiss Me Slowly” by Parachute

I SENSE HIS presence behind me a moment before his hands rest lightly on my hips, his breath tickling down the curve of my neck. My entire body ignites at the sensation, rife with need.

“Don’t turn around, baby. Stay right where you are. Put your hands on the wall for me.”

My body instantly obeys his command as he alternately licks and bites my neck and collarbone. He slides his hands from my hips, up to the side of my breasts and continues until his hands are grasping mine above my head. I feel his hard length against my ass, and I instinctively push into him, craving the contact.

He quickly lifts my dress over my head, throws it to the side, and resumes his assault. I’m left in only a black lace bra and matching thong, and that’s still too much clothes. I need to feel all of him; I don’t want anything between us. I try to turn around to remove his clothes, but he stops me before I make the turn.

“Slow down, baby. I want to enjoy you. I promise you, you’ll get every inch of me soon enough. You’ll just have to be patient, because I plan on taking my time with you. I plan on touching and licking every inch of your beautiful body. Do you want that, Sara?” While he’s talking, he’s driving me mad, seductively running his fingers up and down the back of my thong, barely touching me where I need him most. I try arching my body to prolong the contact, but he continues to tease me. I’m going to explode any second, and I’m willing to beg him for release.

“Yes, Adam, please. I need you to touch me.” My voice is a sigh, and my breaths are quick and ragged.

“I know. I plan on making you come over and over. I’m just getting you ready for me.” Adam pushes a finger inside of me as he squeezes my taut nipple. The sensation is almost too much, and I cry out his name.

“God, you’re so tight, baby. So fucking wet.” As Adam’s thumb brushes lightly over my clit, my body shatters with the most mind-blowing orgasm I’ve ever felt. I don’t think it’s ever going to end, and that’s perfectly fine with me.

I hear a faint ringing in the background. The more I try to tune out the sound, the louder it gets.

“What!”

I fly up out of bed and look around the room, trying to locate the noise. I find my phone on the bedside table, and see the display flashing: MOM CALLING. That’s when I realize I’m the only person in the room.

And the most erotic sexual experience I’ve ever had was only a dream.

So what do you wear to eat dinner with your friends and the man you have sex dreams about? Standing in front of my closet, I scan my wardrobe and find that everything comes up short. My skills leave much to be desired when it comes to fashion, so I tend to rely on Marlo to keep me from making a fool out of myself. If I don’t take her shopping with me, I have to shop off the mannequins. With that in mind, I decide the best thing to do is keep it simple. I opt for dark skinny jeans, cowboy boots, a thick, cream-colored cable knit sweater, and turquoise jewelry.

The girls are meeting me later at Celia’s house, because Marlo is at work until seven, and Alex is working late at the gallery. Although I could use the wardrobe advice, I’m a little relieved I won’t be speaking to either of them before dinner. I can’t ever hide anything from those two, and I would most certainly confess Adam’s relationship status and my not-so-subtle sex dream. I’m anxious enough about tonight without Marlo and Alex giving me eyebrow raises and thumbs-up gestures. While they mean well, they are also very Laverne and Shirley.

Celia’s house is a cinch to find, and I find myself surveying the houses on either side, wondering which is Adam’s house. Cozy would be the appropriate word to describe Celia’s place. It’s surrounded by a wooden picket fence and two rustic rocking chairs sitting on her porch. Wind chimes dangle from the porch ceiling, and the front door is adorned in beautiful stained glass panes. The large pecan tree in the front yard shades the porch area, and I imagine Celia spends many sunrises and sunsets sitting on her rocking chair, drinking coffee and enjoying the scenery. The house is painted a pale yellow, and the address numbers on the house are done in a funky mosaic tile, reminiscent of the clinic’s artwork.

I hesitantly shuffle up to the house, and I hear Parachute playing on the stereo and deep laughter filtering through the front door. Before I knock, the door swings open, and I see a gentle giant smiling down on me.

“Hey there! You must be Sara. I’m Cain. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Cain? The Tweety Bird tattoo, Cain?”

“That fucker is still telling that lie? Adam, your stupid ass needs some new material,” Cain hollers over his shoulder, and I hear Adam chuckling from inside the house.

Cain turns sideways to allow me entrance, and I feel slightly intimidated by the sheer size of this guy. He’s easily almost six and a half feet tall with broad shoulders and tree trunks for arms. It only takes one glance at his features to see the teddy bear underneath, though. His curly blond locks are a bit out of control, and his emerald eyes light up his whole face when he smiles.

“Sara! I’m so glad you made it. I have chicken and sausage gumbo, potato salad, and garlic bread. I hope you’re hungry. Wait, where are your friends? I’ve got enough food to feed an army!” Celia loops her arm around mine and slowly walks me into the kitchen area. Her living room, dining room, and kitchen are situated in an open floor plan, ideal for entertaining.

“They had to work today, but they were both psyched about coming tonight. I expect they’ll be here in about thirty minutes. Thanks again for inviting me, Celia. And thanks for inviting my friends.”

“Oh, please, don’t thank me. The more, the merrier. You can’t leave Audrey and me with these two asshats!”

“Oh really? Is that how you’re playing it, Celia?” Cain sneaks up behind us, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and whispering … very loudly. “Thank God you’re here, Sara. These two cougars have been ready to pounce on Adam and me all night long. I keep catching Audrey undressing me with her eyes.”

“Cougars? Cougars? You little shit!” Celia’s friend, who I assume is Audrey, beats Cain over the head with the frozen garlic bread as Cain howls in laughter.

I look over and lock eyes with Adam, who is sporting a sly and sexy smile. I dodge the melee and make my way over to the sink where Adam is washing dishes. Celia’s kitchen has an island with bar stools so I sit across from him and inconspicuously check him out while he’s occupied with the task at hand. The faux hawk is back tonight, and the blue button-down oxford with rolled up sleeves makes the blue of his eyes intoxicating. The bridge of Adam’s nose is lightly dusted with freckles, and his lips are full and kissable.

Adam appears to be sizing me up, also, and I pray that I measure up. I know that I’m attractive, but I’m not someone who stands out in a crowd. Ordinary is how I’ve always felt—with my wavy brown hair, brown eyes, and average height. I’m the epitome of “Plain Jane.” I’m muscular, but I still manage to excel in the tits and ass categories, two things that work in my favor.

“Good call getting out of the line of fire. Audrey can get pretty feisty.” Adam smiles with laughter in his eyes.
Drip. Drip.

“I’m sorry you had to see that, Sara. Cain needs to be beaten into submission on a regular basis. He hasn’t completely evolved yet. Please forgive him.” Audrey still holds the frozen garlic bread in her hand, albeit broken in half, as she apologizes.

Celia giggles as she takes the battered bread from the girl’s clutches. “Sara, this is my best friend, Audrey. We’ve been friends since we were little. As you can probably tell, I’m the sweet, and she’s the spice.”