TIMELESS 18
Chapter 1
Sam slipped into the big stone house at Three Ponies, trying not to make too much noise. It was three o'clock in the morning.
She had caught the red-eye out of New York City, wanting to get home to her husband. She had missed him while she had been gone. She had slept on the plane a bit and had driven two hours in the blackness of the night from Reno.
The Pulitzer she had won forgotten, she hurried through the kitchen, through the family room and down the hallway to the bedroom she shared with Jake. Quietly, slowly she opened the bedroom door and went inside, shutting the door behind her.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, seeing the outline of him in their bed. He was sleeping. She felt her heart flip in her chest at the love she felt for him and started stripping out of her clothes.
Once she was naked, she pulled back the covers, slipping over him, next to him, onto him. Her soft white skin rustled over the rougher, darker skin of him as she wrapped herself around him.
"Sam?" Jake murmured sleepily.
"Who else would be in your bed?" Sam asked as her mouth met his.
Jake's hands tangled in her thick auburn hair as he kept her mouth on his. His tongue came out to meet hers, tasting, teasing. He woke up quickly, his hands stroking her skin, inhaling the lavender scent of her.
It had been so long since the two of them had connected like this. Afterwards, they lay together, trying to collect their breaths.
"My gosh, I've missed you," Jake told her, wrapping his arms around her.
Both knew that he wasn't talking about the trip to New York City.
"I've miss you too," Sam murmured into his neck as she inhaled the musky scent of him. "I'm sorry, Jake."
"Shhh," Jake's hands stroked her hair. "I'm just happy you came back to me."
"You didn't think I'd come back?" Sam yelped, lifting her head.
"I wasn't sure," Jake told her honestly. "I can't compete with New York City, a Pulitzer or the rush you get when you're on a story."
"The rush you give me when we're making love is better than all that," Sam informed him.
They kissed gently, tenderly.
He brushed her damp hair back from her face.
"I'm sorry too, baby," Jake murmured. "I love you so much."
"I adore you Jake Ely," Sam said against his mouth.
He pursed his lips and she obediently pressed her lips against his.
"Welcome home," she felt his smile.
Finally, Sam was tired. She felt herself relax against him. He tucked her next to him, his arm around her shoulder as she lay with her head against his chest.
"Baby," she murmured as she fell asleep.
"I do love you, baby," Jake whispered into the dark.