"Salvation"

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Title: "Salvation"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult language and situations

Summary: He was her salvation.

Date Written: November 11, 2010

(Sam awakens to the sensation of Steve nuzzling her neck and her nerve endings are instantly on full alert. Opening her eyes, she realizes sunlight is flooding his bedroom and a quick glance at the clock tells her it's a little after seven. Shifting slightly, she has absolutely no doubt as to his intentions as she feels the proof pressing against her bottom. Suddenly overcome by a fit of the giggles, Sam can't stop herself and laughs out loud. From behind her, she hears a slightly irritated note in Steve's voice.)

"Something funny?"

"Not funny. This is pure happiness you're hearing." (she turns over to face him.) "I love waking up with you. I could do this everyday for the rest of my life."

"Yeah, Beautiful, you could. You will if I have anything to say about it."

"I love you, Steve."

"I love you, too, Sam."

"I don't deserve you."

"Too bad 'cause you're stuck with me."

"Did you mean what you told Grace yesterday? That you fell in love with me the day we met?"

"Yeah, I did. I took one look at you and knew that no other woman would ever be able to measure up."

"I can't believe that you didn't . . that you haven't . ."

"That I haven't so much as looked at another woman after the first time we made love? Why is that so hard to believe? You didn't sleep with any other men."

"Of course, I didn't . .How the Hell did you know that?"

"Because I know you fell in love with me that day, too."

"I didn't even realize that for a while. How could you have known?"

"There are just some things that are meant to be, Sam, and you and I are one of them. The sooner you figure that out, the happier we'll both be."

"You're something else, know that?"

"Yeah, and don't you forget it, either."

"Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"Yes, Ma'am."

(But before things can go much further than a kiss, Sam's cellular phone rings. The Naval Officer in her will not allow her to ignore it, and, seeing that's it's Caroline, she answers.)

"You do realize that you're interrupting something, right?"

"Yeah, well, with the two of you when would I not be interrupting something? Listen, I thought you might like to come over here today and take a look at your new storage facility."

"Storage facility?"

"Yeah, you know, the place where you will be storing the bare minimum of your clothes, a couple of uniforms, your bedroom furniture, yadda, yadda, yadda, 'cause we both know that you're really going to be living at Steve's."

"Okay, okay, I get it.", (the sound of Sam's laughter makes Steve's heart do a funny little flip-flop), "How about after lunch?"

"After lunch is good. Grace and Danny are taking me out to lunch, but we should be back here around, I don't know, one-thirty?"

"One-thirty it is.", (she drops her phone on the bedside table and turns back toward Steve), "I'm going over to Caroline's to take a look at my new 'storage facility' this afternoon. Danny and Grace are going to be there, but you don't have to come if you don't want to."

"I don't mind. I can keep Danny company while you and Caroline decide where to put furniture or whatever."

"Like it's really going to matter."

(But Steve's mind is working in overdrive and he's got an idea. Giving Sam a look that heats her blood, he pulls her to him and kisses her hard an fast. . . When Sam and Steve get to Caroline's the two women waste no time in looking over the extra bedroom and decide that they need to take some measurements. Danny volunteers to help them and Steve immediately jumps on the opportunity to take Grace out for a shaved ice. Telling Danny where they're going, he and Grace, totally excited because she gets to ride in Sam's Porsche, take off)

"I need your help, Grace."

"Really? With what?"

"Well, let me explain."

(By the time Grace and Steve get back to Caroline's apartment, they both look extremely pleased with themselves. Sam, Caroline, and Danny have finished taking measurements and have worked out a game plan for getting Sam's furniture into the room, and are also fairly pleased with their efforts. Grace wants to watch the movie she fell asleep ten minute into the night before, and the four adults obediently find seats in Caroline's great room to watch it with her. Sam and Caroline make popcorn and iced tea, and Sam finds herself sitting next to Grace on the sofa as Steve is sitting on one end and Grace has parked herself right next to him; the two of them exchanging conspiratorial looks all through the movie. The thought strikes Sam that Steve is really good with children and will make a great father one day, but on the heels of that thought comes a slight sensation of fear. Forcing the fear away, Sam silently tells herself to straighten up and get her act together before she really screws up. . . .)

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