Spring River Valley: The Spring Collection (Boxed Set) (24 page)

“I couldn’t wait that long. I need to read it right now.”

Brenda broke into a wide grin. “Did he call you?”

Sam nodded. Less than twenty-four hours after her encounter with Aiden at the Clinic, he’d called to ask her out for Friday night. She had one night to read the book and psych herself up for a bona fide, friends-with-benefits relationship.

“Oh, my God. And you’re going to go through with this? You’re going to…” Brenda lowered her voice, “…sleep with him?”

“I don’t know…maybe. Probably. What’s wrong with that?” She hoped the question sounded progressive and defiant and empowered, but it really just came out sounding desperate for approval.

“I say, nothing. Go for it. What guy is going to complain about being your boy toy?”

Sam shrugged. “He said we were just going out to have fun, no pressure. He wants a girl he can be friends with.”

“But who doesn’t expect anything from him.”

“Right.” Sheesh, it had sounded so much better when Aiden explained it. Of course, everything he said with that deep baritone of his sounded good. “Hey look, at least he’s being honest right up front. Better than the guy who puts on the hearts-and-flowers act, and once you’re totally hooked he gives you the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech.”

Brenda contemplated her yogurt. “You’re right… Lord knows we’ve all been there. So you’re starting out with complete honesty. Just be careful…you do have a tendency to fall in love at the drop of a hat.”

“I do not.” The denial slipped out automatically, but even Sam couldn’t keep up the pretense. She was addicted to love, had been since the age of fourteen when Kyle Weatherly asked her to the seventh grade dance. Their children would have been named Anna and Henry, and they would have lived in a lovely colonial four-bedroom in nearby Stanton. The relationship had lasted twelve glorious days. Ten years later, she’d been in love at least that many times, and her heart had been broken so often, she could swear she heard the pieces rattling around in her chest. This time would be different. There would be absolutely no expectations, just fun and hot sex and companionship.

“Do yourself a favor, if you think you’re going to fall hard for this guy, break it off. I’d give a copy of this book to Riley and tell him I was ready, willing, and able, if I thought I could be with him and not want forever.”

“Well, who says Riley doesn’t want to settle down? Just because he’s overworked right now doesn’t mean he isn’t making solid plans for his future. If you told him how you felt about him and told him you’d be there waiting as soon as he took the bar, I bet he’d be thrilled.”

Brenda made a face. She’d been in love with her coworker, Riley Thayer, since the week she started worked at Esterhause, Brady and Danziger, but the law student with aspirations of being one day named a partner in the firm barely had a moment to breathe, much less date. “That may be, but he’s so focused right now, I don’t know if he’d even understand what I was saying. I might have to translate it into legalese to get him to pay attention. Hmm, maybe I could draw up a contract.
That
, he’d notice.”

“So do it. Get a little crazy.”

“You mean do something really out there, like buy a how-to book on casual sex?”

Sam cringed. “I just need to know what the rules are.”

“Rule one, don’t let it get serious. Rule two, run like hell if it gets serious. Rule three, see rule number one.”

“I know. I know. But…I could use a little bit of fun. My problem has always been that I take things too seriously. I go right for the jugular, and it’s made me miserable since high school. It’s about time for a change.”

Brenda eyed the edge of the bag peeking out from under Sam’s purse. “When you’re done with the book, can I borrow it? Maybe I
will
make Riley an offer he can’t refuse.”

* * * *

Aiden had no idea why he was so nervous. First dates didn’t faze him and never had. It was the tenth or twentieth or thirtieth dates—those were the difficult ones, where the expectations started to creep in. When Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve ceased to be holidays and started to be possible “proposal” days, that’s when his palms would sweat and his collar would feel tight. When he didn’t dare bend down on one knee to tie his shoe for fear his date would already be tearing up for the joyful acceptance of the ring she imagined him pulling out of his pocket…that’s when he’d get lightheaded and a little nauseated.

No. First dates were easy, but for some reason, meeting Samantha Wilton at the Triple Plex just didn’t feel like a first date.

He paced back and forth on the corner, checking his phone every two minutes and wondering if she’d come to her feminine senses and changed her mind. He’d assured her over the phone that he had no intention of pressuring her into anything, and if she just wanted to hang out that was fine, but if she wanted anything…more, that was great too.

For once, he wanted a relationship that could weather the emotional turmoil of sex. How much easier would life be if the whole human mating ritual could just take place without all the associated drama? Was he an idiot to think he’d finally found the girl who understood his point of view completely and agreed with him?

Probably, but she was so hot, he had to at least give it a chance.

He was checking the time on his phone once again when he saw her at the edge of the crowd outside the ticket booth. Before calling out her name, he paused a moment and just looked at her. She’d pulled her light brown hair up on one side, exposing her graceful neck. In anticipation of the warm June evening, she wore a royal blue sun dress with a white sweater. The combination made her look almost virginal, except the skirt was short and flouncy, and her sandals had those sexy laces that crisscrossed around her lower legs. He wanted to let out a triumphant wolf whistle, but the place was too crowded, so instead he made his way over to her and tapped her on the shoulder.

She smiled brilliantly and kissed him on the cheek, teasing his senses with the warm, clean scent of her perfume. “Hey, sorry I’m a little late. I had to circle the block twice to find a parking spot. Where did you park?”

“I live over there.” He pointed to his building. “So I walked. Parking is a pain around here.”

He caught the flash of uncertainty in her eyes.

“After the movie, we can go to the café down the block for coffee if you want.”
No pressure. No pressure.

“Sure, or we could…go back to your place.”

He slipped his hand into hers and squeezed. “That, we could definitely do. Whatever you decide is great with me.”

She met his gaze, her blue eyes clear and serious for a moment. “I’ve already made my decision.”

The confidence that had carried Sam through the first two hours of her date with Aiden began to weaken as soon as they left the theater. The movie, a comedy, had lightened their moods, and they’d spent most of their time laughing and whispering to each other over salty popcorn and chocolate mints.

She hadn’t had that much fun with a guy in a long time, but she sensed Aiden was concerned about their arrangement. She’d noticed him stealing glances at her during lulls in the action on screen, as if he wanted to make sure she hadn’t bolted from her seat in the dark. She’d slid her hand into his and held on, letting him know she wasn’t going anywhere. It felt good, his warm skin caressing her palm, his strong thigh pressing against hers. Everything about him made her feel feminine, and the way he looked at her caused a shiver to travel up and down her spine.

Now, as they walked the two blocks to his apartment, still holding hands, she tried to recall the words from Dr. Fraser’s book.
A frank discussion should precede any sexual encounter. If you want to make the casual sex arrangement work for both you and your partner, you have to put aside any embarrassment and be willing to talk about what you want, what you expect, and how you plan to deal with the possibility that one or both of your feelings may change once you’ve slept together.

That was the source of her growing anxiety. She thought she could handle going to Aiden’s apartment and sleeping with him, if that’s what they ultimately decided to do, but the idea of talking about it beforehand, in depth, had her quaking in her sandals.

How would she start that conversation? “Let’s talk about sex?”

“Huh?”

Oh, crap. She’d said that out loud.

Aiden stopped walking and turned to her. His upper lip curved in an uncertain smile. “Right now?”

“Um…maybe now is a good time, you know, before we get to your place.”

“Sam, we don’t have to do anything. We can go watch TV or talk and just…play Xbox if you want. I don’t want you to think I asked you out just because of what you said at the Clinic.”

“I don’t.” Her answer came so quickly she was sure he sensed it was a lie. She had spent some time wondering if their date hadn’t been prompted by the fact that she’d more than likely convinced him she was a sure thing. “I…get that you just want someone you can hang out with and have fun. No drama. I think it’s good to establish that in the beginning so we both understand. If we continue to…see each other, we’re not dating in the traditional sense. And I’m fine with that, as long as you are.”

He nodded. “I am. I’m tired of getting to the point in a relationship where, in order to be honest with someone, I have to hurt her feelings. I’m not Mr. Right…for anybody.”

That remark caused a pang in Sam’s heart. Did this gorgeous, sexy, charming guy really believe that about himself? “Oh, come on. I can see why a lot of women would think you were, and want you to be, but they can’t all be wrong.”

He laughed and tugged her hand to get her to walk with him again. “When it comes down to it, I’m not into marriage, houses with picket fences, and one point two kids. It’s great for some people, and it’s not like my family doesn’t remind me all the time that those are the things that make the world go around, but…it’s not me. I’ve had to apologize for that to the last four women I’ve dated. A couple of them wanted me to go into counseling to find the deep dark secret to my aversion to commitment. They insisted I must have had a terrible childhood or come from a broken home or something not to want to get married and have kids. I couldn’t convince them that my parents have a great marriage; they’ve been happy together for thirty-three years. My sister is great, she’s happy, she loves the idea of getting married someday, and she’ll be thrilled to give them grandchildren—and she felt that way even after the guy she thought she was going to marry cheated on her and broke her heart. Whatever is in you, is in you. That’s what I believe. So there’s no dire psychological damage that makes me prefer to have a good friend I can fool around with now and then as opposed to a soul mate.”

Sam had soaked in his words and now had a very clear picture of what her relationship with Aiden would be like. As much as she identified more with his sister’s point of view, she harbored no delusions about changing him. If she continued on with Aiden, she would have no excuse to believe they’d end up marching down the aisle. He was strictly a diversion for a while, someone she’d have to give up when she figured out what she really wanted from a man, or the moment she started having deep feelings for him—whichever came first.

He pointed to one of the two-story apartment buildings
down the street from the movie theater, and she realized she only had a few more minutes to make her decision. Was she going to thank Aiden for a nice evening and leave now, knowing she could never remain objective if they made love, or was she going to take Dr. Fraser’s advice and learn how to separate sex and love so she could enjoy this amazing man and have fun without losing her heart and soul?

A smart woman would have run for the hills.

Sam squeezed Aiden’s hand and picked up the pace. “Maybe we can play some Xbox afterward?”

*

The bout of nerves Aiden had fought off before the movie returned with a vengeance when he and Samantha reached his apartment. He attributed her shallow breathing to climbing two flights of stairs in her sexy sandals, but the moment he closed the door and flipped on the lights, she slipped into his arms, wrapped her warm hands around the back of his neck and kissed him.

Instinctively, his hands went to her waist, and he maneuvered her hips into line with his, then concentrated on the delicious pressure of her lips. He angled his head and dove in, running his tongue along her lower lip until she opened for him. He tasted mint and chocolate and willing woman, and his body responded instantly. This couldn’t be happening. Had he really found a woman who wanted nothing from him except mutual enjoyment?

How often had his sister told him it would never happen, that his adolescent view of relationships would only leave an endless string of broken hearts in his wake?

And what was he doing thinking about Bailey at a time like this?

He pushed the intrusive thoughts aside and concentrated on Samantha. She fit him perfectly, probably because her sandals brought her close to his height. They’d need to sit or lie down to be more comfortable once she took them off. Reluctantly, he broke their breathless kiss and met her gaze. Her pupils had become wide black pools surrounded by thin rings of sky blue. Her lips were plump from the kiss, and her chest rose and fell quickly with her anxious breaths. “Let’s go sit on the couch…”

She obeyed wordlessly, leading him to the living room where he thanked God he’d straightened up a little before he’d left. He’d tamed the usual mess by shoving a lot of stuff into the cabinets beneath the TV. That meant the video game idea would be a problem since getting to the Xbox meant liberating the pile of junk he’d stuffed into…wait, why was he thinking about that now?

He sat on the couch and pulled her down into his lap. “I have to ask one more time. You’re sure about this? Nothing is set in stone. We can wait until next time…or…”

She curled herself down and kissed him, demanding but not desperate. She wanted him…but the pressure of her lips, the angle of her body across his, even the leisurely way her fingers explored beneath the collar of his shirt told him she wasn’t trying to prove anything. “You want honesty, Aiden? Here’s honesty.” Sam hiked the skirt of her dress up around her thighs and straddled him, though she held herself above his belt buckle, not settling down on his growing erection just yet. She stared into his eyes, her lips glistening from his kiss, her cheeks flushed. “You’ve been coming to the Clinic for two years with Barkley…hey, where is Barkley anyway?”

“Huh?”
Barkley? Oh. My dog
. “He’s out with my sister and her boyfriend. I asked them to dog sit tonight because…I didn’t know if we’d end up here or somewhere else or…”

“Oh. Okay…where was I?” She rose up, arching her back a bit, her hands on his shoulders. The move gave him a perfect view of her cleavage. When she settled back down, she was inches away from discovering just how turned on he was, but she still held herself slightly above his lap. “You’ve been bringing Barkley to the clinic for years, and the moment I first saw you, I wanted you. I’ve daydreamed about you…a lot. I’m used to dating guys who say everything a woman wants to hear and then take it all back when they realize I actually believed they meant it. I’ve been one of those girls whose feelings are hurt by the truth. So, I’m done with that. You’re hot. I want to spend time with you. Going to the movies, taking walks, playing tennis, playing Xbox, I don’t care. Having sex? Sure. You told me right up front not to expect more. So I won’t. I’m here, I’m horny. If you are too…what’s the holdup?”

Aiden’s pulse hammered in places he didn’t know his pulse could hammer. He wrapped his hands around Samantha’s waist and brought her hips down so she was sitting on him rather than hovering above. Her eyes widened, then so did her grin. Message received. “There’s no holdup…except…let’s go to the bedroom. If we’re doing this for fun…let’s do it right.”

She bit her lower lip, then kissed him quickly before climbing off his lap. “Lead the way.”

As they entered Aiden’s bedroom, Sam fought to calm the tremor in her belly. She made the decision to put her swirling thoughts aside and concentrate on the physical. This was no time to analyze her own confusing motives for doing this, no time to question if she really could take Dr. Fraser’s advice to heart and have a relationship that was about nothing more than friendship and mutual pleasure. It sounded like such a sane idea when she’d read about it, something women of this century were certainly entitled to do.

Aiden’s fingers trailed along her bare arm, reminding her that once again, she was thinking instead of feeling. She concentrated on shutting her mind down once and for all and turned to face him. She melted into his arms and kissed him, not urgently, not as any kind of sexual command, but just because kissing was fun and he was damn good at it.

The pressure of his arms around her lulled her, and before long, she stopped thinking. Instinctively, she led him to his bed, and they settled on the dark blue comforter,
her on her back and him resting on his side propped up on one elbow.

“Whatever happens is up to you…” he said, trailing one finger along the top of her dress.

She shivered as goose bumps rose along her chest and her arms. “I know. We can take it slow or fast…”

He flicked one of the straps of her dress off her shoulder. “I’d like to start out slow, but…” He paused for an appreciative sigh as he eyed her smooth skin. “I have a feeling things might speed up.”

She brushed the hair from his eyes and brought his face down to hers for another kiss. “That’s fine with me. We have plenty of time to try whatever we want to try.”

His lips blazed a path from her mouth to her collarbone, and she arched for him and reveled in the play of his muscles beneath his T-shirt. In a bold move, she reached for the hem of his shirt and helped him drag it over his head. His well-defined pectorals filled her hands, and a thrill ran through her body. He was perfect, taut and smooth. His dark pink nipples were oval-shaped, not thin or pointy like some guys’. She traced the lines of his abs down to his belt buckle, which she pulled open slowly. If the rest of him was as gorgeous as his chest, she’d just die.

With a little help from him, she got his jeans off, but he stopped her from removing his briefs. “Now you,” he said, flicking the other dress strap down.

Sam giggled and let him help her shimmy out of her dress. She kicked off her sandals and guided his warm hands behind her to the clasp of her strapless bra.

He drew in a breath as he tossed the satin garment aside. “Hmmmm…I need to taste…”

Sam threw her head back and let out a groan when he took one nipple into his mouth. This was better than she’d imagined, sweeter. The ache in her core intensified as Aiden helped her lie back on the pillows and explored her willing body. Dr. Fraser had the right idea. This was heaven…pure heaven.

“You’re very…good at this…” She gasped between words as he slid his hands into her panties. In a second she was completely naked, and so was he, and yes, he was perfect all over. Sam’s whole body tingled when he knelt above her.

“I’ve been told I do good work. My motto is ‘Satisfaction guaranteed.’”

“Or?”

He raised a dark brow. “Or what?”

“If I’m not satisfied?”

“I’ve never had that happen, but I suppose I could offer to do it over and over again until I get the job done right.”

“Then the job’s yours.” She bit her lower lip in anticipation. Somehow she’d pictured this differently—she’d imagined no conversation, just wild tearing of clothes, breathless whispers of sensual commands, and finally a desperate, sweaty climax. This was…easy and natural and… She held out her arms to him, but he hesitated, then reached for the nightstand from which he produced a condom packet.

“The right tools for the job,” he said as he opened the familiar foil.

“I’m on the pill too, just so you know,” she offered before reaching out again. This time, he lowered himself into her arms and settled between her thighs. The pressure of his body on hers set her thoughts on fire. That breathless daydream took over, and as she took him in, she lost herself in the fantasy she’d entertained since the first time she ever saw him.