Obsession (4 page)

“John, I really need to go.”

“Mom! Uncle John! Are you guys here?”

Sammy’s eyes almost bulged out of her head.
She gasped with obvious shock and disbelief at hearing her
daughter’s voice. John hadn’t heard the door open.

“She can’t find me here, like this!” Sammy
choked.

“Uncle John? Are you back there?”

There was no doubt the closeness of her voice
indicated she was heading toward the bedroom. John moved fast,
dragging the blanket over Sammy’s head. No sooner had he done that
when Cassie poked her head into the room.

“Uncle John, why didn’t you answer me? And
why are you in bed in the middle of the day? Are you sick?”

John barely spared his niece a glance.
“Cassie, get the hell out of here.”

“But I saw Mom…”

The next thing he knew, Cassie was narrowing
her gaze onto the lump lying half on top of him. “Mom?” Her tone
was hesitant, as if she was afraid of finding out the answer. Her
gaze moved back and forth between John and the unmoving bump
beneath the covers. Then John felt Sammy slowly draw back the
blanket.

“Mom!?” This time Cassie’s voice was filled
with disbelief and shock. “You and … and Uncle John?” She accused
in a disbelieving tone. “When … how … how long?”

“Get the hell out of here.” John was pissed
she was still standing there, adding to the awkward moment. And
Sammy’s embarrassment. “This isn’t the time.”

Cassie’s glare focused on him, her face
turning red. It was obvious she didn’t know what to do. And it was
just as obvious she didn’t approve of what she’d walked in on. It
didn’t bother John what she was feeling; in fact, it was none of
her business. But Sammy might react to it negatively, which did bug
him.

“Cassie, I’ll talk to you later. Please just
go for now.”

John glanced down to see Sammy’s flushed face
peering out from beneath the covers. There was a spark in her eyes.
Something bordering on anger and an emotion he couldn’t read.

“What cabin are you staying in?” Sammy
asked.

Cassie turned her gaze to her mom. “Olivia
and I are in seven.”

“I’ll stop in to see you before I leave.”

John didn’t like the sound of that, but he
kept quiet. If he had his way, Sammy would be spending the weekend
with him, and not to partake in any of the activities planned
during the reunion either. The only activity he had planned was
making up for lost time. Sex and plenty of it.

Releasing a harsh breath, Cassie finally
turned and stomped from the room. It wasn’t until they heard the
door slam shut that Sammy sat up, bringing the covers with her.

“Damn.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“I need a shower.”

Was she avoiding his eyes? “You don’t think
we need to talk first?”

“We don’t have anything to talk about.” Her
gaze locked on his. “Do we?”

John’s brows rose with his anger. “Really?
What about what just happened here, Sammy? Do you think after all
these years of running, now that I’ve got you in my bed that I’m
going to let you walk away, just like that?”

“That’s exactly what I think you’ll do, John.
Isn’t that what you’ve done to all the women in your life? Fuck
them and leave them? You forget that I know you.”

“Correction, you
knew
me.” He didn’t
know what he was going to do, but he pulled Sammy back down and
pinned her shoulders to the bed. “I’m not that man anymore. It took
me a lifetime to realize that not just anyone would do. I wanted
you. I waited a long time for you to be free.”

“Well, you’ve just had me.”

She tried to move but he held her easily.
John shook his head. “Not nearly enough, lady.” In spite of the raw
emotions running through him, he kissed her softly, moving his
mouth over hers until she began to respond. And when she did, only
then did his kiss deepen. He applied pressure until she opened her
mouth and allowed his tongue to mate with hers.

Passion erupted instantly between them, and
for a few breathless seconds they moved wildly against one another,
each seeking the fulfillment of something words couldn’t define.
His hands glided over her smooth body, exploring the dips and
valleys that shaped her. Sammy gasped and moaned when his fingers
found hot spots, pleasure points that drove them both a little
crazy. It wasn’t long and she was twisting and arching her body,
silently begging him. His finger entered her body, finding her wet
for him.

“No…”

“Say it with conviction and maybe then I’ll
let you go,” he growled. He teased her clit until he had Sammy good
and hot and practically begging him to fuck her. All the while he
rubbed his cock against her thigh, until it wouldn’t take much and
he’d be spraying her with cum. Only when he sensed she was close to
having her own orgasm did he force himself to stop.

It cost him. His breathing was ragged and his
heart was pounding out of control. It took everything he had not to
roll her onto her belly and take her from behind. How many times
over the years had he fantasized about that?

Her eyes flew open. “Why did you stop?” She
was panting heavily.

He grinned. “To leave you with a reason to
come back.”

“I can’t make any promises, John.”

“I don’t want you to.” He kissed her long and
hard. “Go take your shower and talk to your daughters. Then we’ll
see if you’re woman enough to go after what you want, or if you’re
still a coward.”

John could tell Sammy didn’t like what he
said. Well that was just too damn bad. She was a coward twenty
years ago, opting for the safe guy, the safe life. And all that got
her was a couple of kids and a divorce. He’d waited long enough to
have her. This time if she ran, he was going to go after her. And
God help her when he caught up to her.

Sammy stood at the bottom of the porch steps
to cabin seven and took a deep breath. She supposed she should feel
guilty and embarrassed, but instead she was furious. Cassie had no
right looking at her and John as if they’d just crawled out from
underneath a rock somewhere. How many years had she sacrificed, and
willingly, to raise her girls, putting them first in almost
everything?

Well, now it was her turn to be first. She
wasn’t the one who had wanted the divorce, which had broken up the
family. She hadn’t remarried, as Pat had. Or started a second
family before the ink was dry on the divorce papers. She wondered
how they had acted when their father made all those changes. Had
they welcomed his new wife with open arms? He certainly hadn’t put
his daughters first before pursuing a new personal life.

Other than sex, she wasn’t sure what she and
John had, but she was going to find out. And she couldn’t wait to
see the look on his face when she showed up later that evening,
proving she wasn’t a coward. Her initial plan had been to connect
with some of Pat’s family, visit with Olivia and Cassie for a bit,
and then go home. Now she had reason to linger.

A light flickered on in one of the cabin
rooms, reminding Sammy that it was growing dark. She couldn’t
believe she and John had napped for almost two hours after making
love for the third time. A soft smile fell on her lips. John made
her feel beautiful and desirable again. He made her feel alive.

As she walked up the few steps leading to the
front door, she caught the tail end of Cassie’s comment to
Olivia.

“
…
Uncle
John! Can you believe it? With
Uncle John
!”

“So what? Mom and Dad have been divorced a
long time. It’s about time she gets some nooky.”

“But it’s Uncle John.”

Sammy opened the door and walked in without
announcing herself. Her gaze met Olivia’s first, and then Cassie’s,
as they stood there in wide-eyed shock, speechless for the moment.
Sammy closed the door quietly behind her.

“He’s not
my
uncle.” She wanted to
make that clear.

“But … but he is Dad’s brother. He’s
family.”

Sammy pinned her gaze on Cassie. “Yes, he is.
You two are related to John by blood, but there’s nothing between
us—”

“Except sex.”

Sammy bit her bottom lip to keep from
smiling. So many things went through her mind. She never thought in
a hundred years she’d be at the receiving end of trying to explain
herself to her two daughters. It would have been funny if Cassie
wasn’t standing there with her hands on her hips, looking like an
indignant mother waiting not so patiently for an explanation.

She glanced at Olivia, who had yet to say
anything. But her expression was easy to read and she was clearly
amused at the whole thing. Realizing she had someone in her corner,
Sammy let her smile come through.

“I’m sorry you walked in on us. I would have
liked to talk to you both first.”

“About what, Mom? It’s none of our business
if you and Uncle John have something hot and heavy going on.”
Olivia shot Cassie a look that did nothing to cool the fire in her
eyes.

“But it’s
Uncle John
,” Cassie stressed
to her sister.

Olivia rolled her eyes. “If I hear that one
more time…”

Sammy’s sentiments exactly.

“Well, it just seems kind of, ah, weird.”

“You’re just traumatized because you walked
in on them.” Olivia directed her gaze at Sammy.

Sammy turned because she felt the
conversation was between her daughters at the moment. She went to
the tiny kitchen and removed a glass from the cupboard to get a
drink of water.

“It’s not that big of a deal, Cass. Mom
deserves a life. Not once since she and Dad got divorced has she
had a date or anything else.”

“They’ve only been divorced three years.”
Cassie pointed out.

“And Mom’s not getting any younger,” Olivia
responded.

Silence followed that statement. Sammy took a
long time drinking her water. The fact that Cassie seemed at a loss
for words was a miracle in itself. She and Olivia were total
opposites. Cassie was older, more opinionated, and didn’t know when
silence was appreciated, a trait Sammy had contributed to her
daughter, along with the red hair she’d inherited from her great
grandmother. She’d always been so stubborn. And many times her
beautiful blue eyes were alight with passionate fire, which spilled
over onto her tongue.

Olivia, on the other hand, with her soft
brown hair and matching eyes, was the calm one. Only two years
younger, she weighed her words carefully before speaking. She was
softer and quick to defend the underdog. She reacted with common
sense and understanding, while Cassie reacted with bluntness and
usually without thinking first.

“I’m not saying Mom doesn’t deserve a life,”
Cassie said after awhile. “I just wasn’t expecting to walk in on
her and Uncle John in bed. I guess I’m in shock. He’s not exactly a
model family member.”

Sammy remained quiet and refilled her
glass.

Olivia laughed. “So? He’s not a serial killer
either. The bottom line is that we have nothing to say over what
Mom does. Just like when Dad went out and married less than a year
after their divorce.”

Bless Olivia for reminding Cassie of that
hard, little fact.

“But it’s Un—”

“Don’t say it!” Olivia exploded.

“But—”

“We should be supporting Mom, not making her
feel guilty. So what, you caught her in bed with Uncle John? So
what, they had sex? I say way to go, Mom, that you can still have
sex at your age.”

At my age?
Sammy would have felt
insulted if she didn’t know what Olivia was trying to do. She set
her glass in the sink and slowly turned around. Her daughters were
facing each other like two gunslingers getting ready to draw. Their
expressions showed frustration with each other. After a few tense
moments of silence, they gradually became aware of her presence and
turned their gazes on her.

Sammy grinned. “Well, I’m so glad we had this
talk. Now you both know how I feel.”

After a few seconds both girls burst out
laughing.

“Oh God, Mom. I’m such an ass!” Cassie gave
Sammy a brief hug. “I never meant … I was just caught by surprise …
I didn’t even know Uncle John was back until I saw him ride in on
his hog earlier.”

“Okay, that’s all behind us now. I forgive
you for overreacting. Now, why were you looking for me?”

“We wanted to know if you were staying this
weekend,” Cassie answered.

“I hadn’t planned on it.” Sammy thought about
John. “I didn’t bring anything with me.”

“But you’ll at least stay for the barbeque
and bonfire tonight, won’t you?” Olivia asked. “Everyone is
expecting you to.”

“Oh, sure.” Sammy hadn’t known anything about
a barbeque and bonfire, and staying would give her the opportunity
to see John again.

Do I want to see him again? God, just
thinking about him gets me hot. I can’t help it. After being with
John, I’ll never be able to go back to a dildo.
Realizing she
had the full attention of her daughters, Sammy swallowed hard,
praying the expression on her face didn’t give her thoughts
away.

“Do either of you have something I can change
into?”

“I have an extra pair of shorts that might
fit, and a tank top.”

Sammy followed Cassie to the back bedroom.
Shorts and a tank top would be more suitable to wear to a bonfire
barbeque than the sundress she had on. Besides, they could also
double for a swimsuit if she decided to take a dip in the lake.

* * * *

Sitting in one of the Adirondack chairs on
his porch and nursing his third beer, John’s gaze was drawn across
the lake to the bonfire. The sounds of music and laughter indicated
everyone was having a good time. His nose picked up the scent of
cooked food, reminding him he hadn’t eaten yet. He supposed he
should make an appearance, but he was far from eager to be drawn
into the chaotic mess of adults and children. He’d already said hi
to his siblings earlier that evening after Sammy had run off. The
countless cousins, nephews, and nieces were strangers to him.