Authors: Dianne Venetta
“You’re insane!” Sam’s laughter was hollow. “Where do you come up with this stuff?”
“And I know,” Jennifer said with an imperial flair, “that you only get defensive when I score a direct hit.”
Sam’s throat grew rigid.
“Tell me I’m not right.”
“You’re not right.”
Jennifer laughed lightly and shook her head in that infuriatingly maternal, know-it-all way. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Sam.” She looked her in the eye and said softly, “There’s nothing wrong with caring for a man. Actually having feelings, originating from the heart and not the groin. I’m glad to hear it. In fact, I think it’s a refreshing change.”
“I care about every man I date.”
“Yes, but I’m talking about on a deeper, more personal level, as in having an investment past the bedroom door.”
“I have no such thing.”
“No?”
“Not the kind you’re talking about.”
Jennifer held the blue lace against her body. “What do you think about this one?”
Sam had lost her enthusiasm for shopping. She tied her arms in a stiff knot across her chest, the lump in her throat becoming dry and uncomfortable. “You’re skirting the subject.”
“As are you.” Jen tucked the lingerie under her arm and continued looking.
“I’m doing nothing of the sort.”
Jennifer stopped. “Sam Rawlings. You most certainly are and if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re in love.”
“
What
?” Sam’s heart jumped into her throat, crowding the already tight space. She stepped back and said, “You are so far off-base you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I do.” Jen challenged her with a clever smile. “And as to your lingerie selection,” she winked. “I think you should try white.”
Chapter Eighteen
Bathed in moonlight, Sam arched her naked body back within his arms and stretched out like a cat. Curtains pulled to one side, her skin was lit to creamy ivory perfection. Beautiful creamy ivory perfection, Vic thought. From the spread of her breasts to the flat of her stomach, Sam had everything he desired in a woman’s body. A body he wanted to taste, to savor, then exhaust beyond reason. He swiped his tongue around her breast, lingering along the plump curve, swirling around the nipple where he suckled her to a pebbly peak. Sam moaned and stretching further backward, sank her head into the pile of pillows stacked against the headboard.
She squeezed her soft inner thighs around his torso and he could feel her wetness against his skin. His heart kicked up a beat. But what he found more attractive than her body was her free spirit, her confidence, and the things she could do with both.
And that mind of hers
. The thought zipped through, singeing his nerves with excitement.
The two had been tested today. Things were not well with Dr. Pope, but Sam was giving him time. Leeway, to prove he could whip his witness into shape. If he couldn’t, she would discard the man like stale beer. But if he could, she would listen and follow and let Vic take the lead.
One of the things he liked best about her was that Sam heard him out before just shutting him down. She gave him a chance. It was his to win or lose from there. And Scaliano. Sam was growing suspicious of his intentions, he could tell. It wouldn’t be long before his true connection to the man would be exposed—circumstance would necessitate full disclosure.
Her fingers combed through his hair and pulled his face near. Vic nuzzled his face into the crevice of her neck. And when that happened, he’d have to tell all. Which he would. He would confess everything. But at the moment the scent of her faded perfume beckoned. Actually, it was the distinct smell of sex that dug into his arousal and pulled him to her—again. Discarding thoughts of work Vic crawled over top of her and her legs locked him against her. He smiled through the soft light and sought her ear, the wispy curls tickling his cheek. “You want more?”
“I can’t seem to get enough of you,” she said, her reply husky and low.
It was a sentiment he shared. They were a winning combination, he and Sam. Three orgasms and it wasn’t even midnight yet, this woman would have three more before dawn and three more in the morning. It was another thing he liked about her. Sam didn’t stop.
Brushing auburn strands from her eyes, Vic feathered a kiss across her lips. It was a desire that matched his own. He wanted her. As much as he could get, he wanted her—in his bed, at the office, on his arm as they strolled along the beach… Whatever she would allow he would take. He knew this relationship was becoming more to him than sex, that Sam was becoming more to him than just a lover, but God help him, he couldn’t quit. His tongue slipped between her lips, slippery sweet, the inside of her mouth gently heated.
Lust pulled at him. Sam Rawlings was like no other woman he had ever known and he was going to hold on to her for as long as he could. From the back of his mind, the temporary nature of his association with Baker, Schofield said different, but he didn’t dare listen. To do so would block the emotion coursing through his mind and body and dilute the intensity of feeling that heightened his sense of power and exhilaration.
So he ignored it. Vic wanted to prolong the euphoria of reigning king over her body. Then she pushed her moist crotch into his and blood surged. Vic tried to concentrate on the kiss, the soft pleasure of her skin, her lips, but he couldn’t withstand the intense throbbing he felt as she reached up and around his shoulders and grabbed hold, grounding her hips into him. He was full staff, painfully erect. He needed release.
Surrendering to need, Vic eased back and pulled her up and onto him, lowering her body to his. A wisp of breath escaped her lips in a rush and he groaned as the fragility of the sound ripped through him. Sam was a powerhouse, a woman of drive and aggression yet here she was, quivering beneath him. His chest thumped with exhilaration as her warm insides consumed him, sent shafts of pleasure deep into his abdomen. She may be a powerhouse but right now
he
felt the more powerful of the two.
Steadying herself with hands to his shoulders, her hips swayed and he slowed. She writhed and he plunged. He persisted, intent on sending her to a climax that would drop her to her knees and when she was spent, when her muscles were reduced to shuddering, rubbery limp nothing, he would do it all again.
“Vic, please...faster.
I need it faster
.”
But he ignored her plea. In the veil of moonlight, in a room filled with desire and need he was going to take his time and make this the most memorable experience she ever had.
Because she did the same for him. Each and every time. But when she started bucking her hips faster, harder, urgency overtook him. He tore away from her mouth and plunged himself deeper. Damn if she didn’t pump beneath him, forcing his speed to increase. Perspiration broke out across his body as she dug into his shoulders and cried out.
“Yes! Yes!”
Vic’s mind blurred to everything but the sensation of their bodies. Rocking together as one Sam was right there with him, matching him beat for beat. He felt the heat of her body, swore he could feel the pounding of her heart. Fast and furious the explosion was sharp, causing him to cry aloud before his body shuddered with spasm as he shot himself inside her. Then he collapsed flat into her, slick body to slick body in rapturous exhaustion.
A few hours later dawn rolled in and with it, a satisfaction tantamount to perfection. Head resting on Vic’s outstretched arm, Sam skimmed a light hand across the smooth mountain of his chest, over compact nipples, down the solid wall of his stomach. Vic was big. Very. And she realized she liked it. His size gave him an imposing air of strength, of masculinity. Add his gentle chivalry and fiery spirit and she had one irresistible combination. Lingering over the sole patch of hair that ran down from his belly button to his groin, she snuggled closer and tickled the sparse line of black curly hair.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Exploring.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call that un-charted territory.”
“No, but there’s something new to be found in everything.”
“Philosophizing again, are we?”
Sam chuckled at his lazily spoken suggestion. “Just experiencing.”
“You’re good at that.” Vic groaned as her hand ventured further south.
“So are you.” She kissed the side of his chest and ran her finger along his thigh. “You’re an amazing lover.”
“Because I’ve mastered all your hot buttons?”
“Very funny.”
Vic lifted his head and peered at her through thick black lashes. “And what was that move you pulled last night?”
“Which one?” she asked, amused by his astonished tone.
“The one where you stretched your leg to an unnatural length and then wrapped it around my neck.” He dropped his head back to the pillow. “How the hell do you do that?”
Sam laughed again, pleasure swarming her insides. “I told you.” She encircled his belly with her fingertips. “Yoga is the key. It benefits every facet of your life.”
“Then when are you going to teach me?” The arm beneath her moved to caress the rear of her hip. “You promised.”
“When you’re ready, I’ll be happy to instruct you in the finer points of the practice.”
“We’ll end up having sex, won’t we?”
“With you, everything seems to end up in the same place.”
Vic shifted his weight and pulled his arm from beneath her. He perched himself on his elbow and with his other hand, cupped her chin. “I can’t help it.” His eyes grew unreadable. “You drive me insane.”
“You say the nicest things.”
“I mean it, Sam. You affect me like I’ve never been affected before.”
She sensed he wanted to say something more, but he didn’t. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed her. Sweet and succulent, it was a style of kiss he had begun to use more often. Grazing her mouth, he dipped his tongue inside and then ran it along her lips. Sam felt a tingle in the core between her thighs, the proverbial spark before the flame.
Withdrawing slightly, he rubbed his nose aside hers and whispered into her cheek, “I like you.”
An unfamiliar sensation bubbled inside her.
“From your nipples to your nose.” With a hand to the back of her head, he pulled her close, his grip secure. “You’re a one-of-a-kind purebred stallion. Sure, with an alternating two-headed, fire-breathing dragon...”
She widened her eyes, but giggled despite herself. “Aren’t stallions male?”
He grinned. “They are, but you’re like a man in many ways.”
“Bite your tongue.”
“No thanks, but I’ll take a sample of yours.”
She glared at him.
He smiled. Obviously not sensing any upset, he nuzzled against her neck. “Male or not, I like it. From your mouth to your mind, I like it all.”
For some reason, Sam liked hearing him say those things. Which surprised her. She didn’t usually fall prey to conspicuous flattery, to silly sweet-nothings. She took what others said with a lump and a loose ear, and placed relative insignificance on their comments. But when Vic made foolish rumblings she listened, and reacted with warm wings of emotion fluttering through her chest.
As happened now. When he kissed her and whispered sweet nothings.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re in love
.
Nerves fired and spit as Jen’s words drifted in. In love?
She wasn’t in love.
Was she
?
She honed in on Vic’s lips as they ran along her neck, tickled her ear, his breath hot against her skin as it tingled in response.
“How am I going to keep my hands off you at the office today? How am I going to concentrate on anything but you?”
Would he really have a problem focusing?
Would she
? Sam wondered, easing her head to the side, allowing him full access.
“It’s like an overdose. It’s like my system has been pumped full with thoughts of you and only you.” He kissed her brow. “But I’m not complaining. I’m enjoying the high.”
Sam closed her eyes. The high. Yes, she understood what he was talking about. She felt the scruff of his beard graze her chin. It was an incredible sensation to enjoy someone so thoroughly that your body felt infused with their presence, their aura. Thoughts of them followed you throughout the day, visions of them filled your mind and body with pleasure. There was so much about Vic that she enjoyed, so much about him she looked forward, but did they feel the same? Did their emotions mirror one another?
Was she in love
?
Sam snapped the lid of her mind closed. Jennifer didn’t mean it. She was just giving her friend a hard time. These feelings between she and Vic had to do with the amount of time they were spending together.
Yes, that’s it she mused, a tangle of relief unraveling inside her. It was because he saw every day. Mixing thoughts of their personal time with their professional time was normal. Perfectly normal.
Strands of doubt poked in, but Sam shook the suspicion from her mind.
Wait
. Wait for Maria to work her magic. She closed her eyes.
You may be surprised by what she finds
.
Chapter Nineteen
“Whatcha doing?” Sam walked up behind Jess, drawn by the images flashing across the computer screen. Two hours spent in the study with nary a word, Sam had begun to worry about her. Jess didn’t make a habit of surfing the internet and she wondered what could possibly be so interesting?
Now she knew. And understood.
“Nothing.” Huddled in front of the computer, Jess clicked the mouse, staring at the monitor.
Sam placed both hands on her sister’s shoulders and peered over the top of her head. “Doesn’t look like nothing to me.” She grimaced. “What is that—a baby?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah,
wow
,” she snapped.
As Jessica clicked through a few more screens, Sam found the pictures fascinating.
Where had she been
? She leaned closer and scrutinized the still photographs, amazed at how far technology had come. From the title listed above each photo, Sam gathered the series they were scrolling through was a timeline on development.