Chapter Two: The Reason

As the last word fell from Freddie's lips, Sam twisted around in his grasp. She grabbed his shirt with both hands and yanked him towards her, completely ignoring the ripping sound his shirt made.

"What the hell are you talking about Benson?" Sam demanded, her face mere inches from his own. "Why are you the reason guys don't ask me out?" When he didn't immediately reply, she doubled her grasp on his shirt and yanked. He wouldn't meet her eyes at first, but she was insistent.

"The guys at school watch the show and see us fighting all the time. They think we're flirting, not arguing. And you didn't tell them they're crazy? That you and I are not together?"

Freddie broke free from her grasp and stepped away from her. "You don't understand!" yelled Freddie. "Those jerks constantly talk about how hot you are and how long your legs are and…..other things I can't say to your face. I just got so angry!"

"Angry? But why?"

"Because you're mine, damn it!" roared Freddie. "I'm the one who kissed you first. I'm the one who dreams about you and fights with you just to make you smile. I'm the one who buys you smoothies and your favorite kind of ham and I'm the one who offered to be your personal punching bag when you were upset. Me, not one of those jerks!" And with that, he grasped her arms and yanked her to him. His hands came up and framed her face as he leaned in and whispered, "You have no idea what you do to me, Sam."

Struck speechless, Sam opened and closed her mouth several times as she stared at him with huge eyes. Her mind was racing a mile a minute – did Freddie mean what she thought? What she hoped? Feeling suddenly and uncharacteristically shy, she lowered her eyes and whispered in return.

"I really don't, do I?"

As his lips closed over hers, Sam's eyes fluttered closed and her hands flattened against his chest. His hands slid down her back, drawing her even closer to him. This was totally different from their first kiss. While that had been uncomfortable and awkward, this was just….hot. Tingles ran up and down her spine, following the paths his hands were taking. The kiss reached its end, with the two standing close together, breathing heavily.

They stood there for a moment, waiting for their heartbeats to slow down. Suddenly Sam's head popped up, hitting Freddie in the chin.

"Ow," groaned Freddie, rubbing his injury with a wince.

"Oh, suck it up, Fredward," Sam replied absently, her brows furrowed in thought. "Wait, you said you got angry - was that why Jeff Williams was avoiding you in the hallway yesterday?"

"He made a rude comment about you and I made him stop," Freddie shrugged. "No big deal."

Sam's eyebrows shot up. "No big deal?" she repeated. Jeff is the center for the football team! What exactly did you do to get him to stop?"

Sam backed away from Freddie, her eyes running over his lanky frame. He had grown quite a bit this past year and was filling out quite nicely. "Hmmm. When did that happen?" she wondered aloud.

Freddie laughed. "I'm still fencing, remember? I do strength training three days a week and run three to five miles every other day. See?" He reached over and picked Sam straight up into the air until her face was level with his. Sam's feet dangled as she stared at him in disbelief. When did he get so tall? For that matter when did he get so strong?

Sam could feel the muscles in Freddie's arms underneath her fingertips. She stared at him for a moment, and then made her decision. She looped her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. Stunned, he stared at her in shock.

"S-s-s-am?" he stuttered, almost dropping her in shock.

"What did you tell Jeff?" Sam whispered in his ear, delighting in the shivers that racked his body.

"I told him that you were mine," he groaned, his lips now an inch from hers.

Secretly thrilled by his admission, Sam surged forward and claimed his lips with her own. Their lips clashed again and again; his tongue snaked out and traced the seam of her lips, begging entrance. She opened her mouth without hesitation, reveling in the unexpected heat coursing through her body. Their kisses grew deeper and more passionate and frenzied, culminating with Sam grinding her hips against him. He groaned loudly in reaction and Sam pulled away with a grin.

"And now, you're mine."