Chapter 38

Jake found them still embracing each other when he came back out after taking his shower. He could feel the sadness in the room and knew the two of them were thinking of Bryan. He was going to slip out of the room when Sam turned to smile at him. Once she moved her head, Quinn looked at his younger brother.

"I need to shower," Quinn gave Sam one last hug and a kiss before getting up off the couch. "I love you little sis."

"I love you too," Sam smiled softly at him.

Quinn gave her a soft smile and with a look at Jake, left the family room. Jake came around the couch and sat down near Sam.

"You look very handsome," Sam smiled at him.

Jake looked away quickly. Sam's smile grew at his embarrassment. Then she saw him glance at her out of the corner of his eyes and she sighed. Then she scooted closer to him and he automatically put his arm around her as she laid her head on his chest.

"I love you Jake," Sam murmured into his shirt.

Jake didn't answer her. Her warmth against him felt like Heaven to him. She fit so perfectly in his arms that it still surprised him at times. He could feel every breath she took against him. He inhaled the scent of her and felt the contentment ebb throughout his body.

"I love you too," he murmured, finally. "Are you still up to going out tonight?"

She lifted her head and pressed her lips against his. Jake's hand tangled in her thick auburn hair as he kissed her. He put everything he felt for her but wasn't able to say, in that kiss. She answered his kiss, telling him how mere words couldn't ever describe how she felt about him.

His mouth slashed across her face to her ear.

"My gosh, I can't tell you how I feel about you," he whispered. His deep whisper so close to her ear made her shiver.

"You already do, Jake," Sam assured him, her eyes flicking to the dark depths of his. His love for her was written all over his face at that moment. Then it was gone.

"You never answered my question," Jake reminded her.

"Yes, I'd like to for a little while," Sam answered.

Jake nodded. "And then?"

Sam smiled and Jake sucked in a breath. My goodness it was almost shocking to see a pregnant woman smile so seductively. Jake had to lose the image of her as a mother in his mind as he looked at her. She might be becoming a mother in about a month, but she was still his sexy, seductive wife.

"A little while?" he murmured.

"A little while," she nodded, her eyes leaving his to look at his full mouth.

She touched her top lip with her incredible tongue and Jake groaned, already hard for her.

"You're sure you're up for it?" he asked.

"Are you sure you're up for it?" Sam countered.

"Brat," Jake groaned at her voice.

"We have a few minutes," Sam reminded him, leaning in to run her tongue up his neck. She felt him shiver as he gasped.

"It won't take a few minutes," Jake warned her.

"Oh goody," Sam whispered, running her tongue around the inside of his ear.

Jake shot up off the couch as if someone had electrocuted him and pulled her up with him. Sam bit her lip to keep from giggling as he started to drag her down the hallway towards the room they shared.

They passed Quinn on his way out of his room and he looked at them in shock at first at their haste to get to their room. Then he smirked. Then he laughed when Jake kicked the door shut behind him.

Afterwards, Sam scooted up next to him and lifted her shoulders so he could put his arm around her. She nuzzled into him as best she could with her belly as big as it was. Jake's large, calloused hand caressed her belly and Sam sighed.

"I'm sorry you were so sad earlier," Jake said quietly.

"Quinn and I were talking about Bryan," Sam told him, kissing his neck.

Jake simply nodded. "I know how difficult it is for both of you right now."

Sam bit her lip, not sure she could love him any more than she did right this second. Even with everything that had happened to her in the last year, she still felt as if she were one of the luckiest people on the face of the Earth.

She had loved Bryan with everything that was within her. Then when she had lost him, she thought she would never, could never love that way again. Instead, she had found Jake and she knew he completed her totally. She couldn't imagine her life without both of these wonderful, tender men and while she missed Bryan every day and would for the rest of her life, she thanked God for Jake.

"And yet, you still love me," Sam was crying.

"Shhh, baby it's okay," Jake kissed the top of her head.

"Jake, don't you see?" Sam continued. "You found me when I was hurting so bad. You broke through all of my confusion. It's been so up and down for me and yet you stayed with me, loving me more than I thought possible."

"How could I not?" Jake asked. "I love you with my soul."

"Don't wake me from this dream," Sam pleaded.

"It's not a dream, Brat," Jake assured her.

His arms tightened on her as he held her close as she cried.

"Darn hormones," Sam muttered as she tried to wipe her tears.

Jake smiled, as he kissed the top of her head again, loving her no matter what.