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Chapter 32 - Sexy Cars and Sam's Place

Samuel and Karen took a shower together. After carefully running their fingertips across one another and not dying under the water as the electrical current seemed to run through their bodies, Samuel picked her up and took her roughly against the shower wall. The same intense sensation returned. This time, both of them stopped to make sure they were feeling the same thing. Neither one could explain it.

It was 7:30 by the time they got out of the shower. Karen dressed in a pair of jeans and a lovely, tunic style blouse. The song, "Everything You Want" by Vertical Horizon, played from her computer.

She wrapped her hair up on the back of her head and walked back in the bathroom to see Samuel messing with his hair without his shirt on. He sang along with the song, causing her to smile.

"You sing." She smiled.

He looked up at her as he continued to sing and play with his hair.

She smiled at him. "Let me burn this image into my brain."

"Getting distracted by a boy. I see it all over your face." He smiled back at her.

She giggled. "Well, can you blame me?"

He walked over to her and laid her hands on his shoulders as he began to dance with her and sing.

She laughed. "I never expected this from you."

He kissed her as they danced. "This is one of my favorite songs. Arles and Legate play it."

"And do you sing it?"

He grinned, "Sometimes."

She giggled and kissed his lips. "Sometimes?"

"I actually do a really good 'Supremes'."

She laughed. "Oh, I really want to hear that."

He bopped her on the end of the nose, "You can't hurry love."

She giggled.

He rose his hands up to take off the necklace. "Oh. I need to give this back to you."

She turned around and let him put it on her neck. She turned and looked up at him. "Thank you."

"It's a lovely necklace."

She pulled it up to look at it on her. "It reminds me of home. The lighthouse there on the beach. Is there a lighthouse were you grew up?"

He smiled, "Yeah. There is. Legate, the nutter that was here with me earlier, put a Batman symbol on it."

She laughed. "That's hilarious."

"My Grand didn't think so. It annoyed her so much. But, there it was, all over the sea. Batman!" He laughed. "My Dad loved it."

"And your Papa?"

He thought and shook his head. "I don't know what he thought. He never really said anything about it. I'll have to ask him."

She kissed his lips.

He held her hands and looked in her eyes. "Do you want to stay here? Or go to my place? It's completely up to you. I don't mind either way."

"Well, you've seen my place. I'm rather interested to see this new place of yours."

"Well, it's really new. There are places that we'll probably have to add on even more. It's madness."

She giggled. "Sounds like the school has gotten popular."

"24 students already. Well, that have applied. It might be more."

"The apartment is at the school? Is that what you told me?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"So, I'll get to see the school, too." She smiled.

He agreed. "Yes. It's….impressive."

"Do you get paid more to say that, Teacher-Boy?"

He rose her hands to his lips to kiss. "I'll have to check. Oh, I left my jumper in here."

He walked by her standing in the doorway. She saw the scar on his back as he slipped back on his jumper. "I can bring you back tonight, if you like. But, you're welcome to stay if you want. No expectations."

She smiled. "I packed a small bag. Without Latin."

He sat on the side of the bed and put on his shoes. "Without Latin?"

She pointed at him, "I'm on a break, Samuel. No Latin."

He laughed under his breath at her. "No Latin, right."

She crossed her arms. "The scar on your back."

He sat up and sighed. "Yeah, I was going to explain that."

"I'm just curious. You don't have to explain-"

"No. It's alright. It's from a gunshot."

She looked shocked. "You were shot?"

He stood up, put his hands on his hips, and bit his lip. "Yep. I can't believe it left such a scar. I haven't seen it in a while."

"How old were you?"

"It happened last year. I'm fine."

"Who did it to you?"

He covered his mouth and thought. "I was….umm….someplace I shouldn't have been. My uncle was there, too. He didn't know it had happened. I thought I was protected, more than I actually was. Umm…I really can't tell you much more about it."

"Why not?"

"Umm….I ….."

"Don't like to talk about it?"

He shook his head and groaned, "But, it doesn't hurt. I'm fine. And….wow." He smiled, "We've really talked a lot about things tonight."

She smiled and took his hands in her own, "I feel like I know more about you than I ever have."

"Still like me?"

She giggled. "Of course. Do you still like me?"

"Oh yes." He laughed. "Coat. It's cold outside."

She giggled and pulled on her wool coat he had given her.

He noticed a silk scarf hug on it. "This is lovely. Where did you get it?"

She smiled. "When I was shopping with my Mom. I thought it was pretty."

He pulled on his ski jacket and smiled. "Brown."

She stood in front of him and smiled. "Like your eyes. So pretty."

"Pretty?" He asked.

She mocked his British accent. "Yes, pretty!"

He laughed.

She picked up her small overnight bag and he took it from her hand. They left the apartment and went to the parking lot. A small group of people surrounded a car. Samuel stopped and groaned. "Well, shit. I didn't think about that."

She watched as he tapped his bracelet and a display appeared on his arm. He moved a bar as high as it would go and tapped his bracelet again to turn out the light. He looked back at her. "Hold this arm, alright?"

She nodded, a bit confused with what she just saw. "Okay, Samuel."

He took her to the silver, sports car the crowd had gathered around and opened the passenger door.

One of the men standing there asked Samuel, "Is this your car?"

"It's not. It's on loan." Samuel told him as Karen slipped into the car and he closed the door.

The man crossed his arms and looked at it. "That's a beautiful car, man. What the hell is it?"

Samuel grinned. "A fast one." He told the man as got into the car.

Karen had sat her overnight bag in the floor. He pressed the button and the engine roared to life.

"Do you have enough room? I didn't even think about putting that in the boot."

She laughed, "I'm fine. This car is amazing!"

He grinned, "I love this car. It's one my favorites."

Karen laughed, "What is this? I've never seen anything like it."

He put on his seat belt and drove out of the parking lot. "You're kidding."

She laughed, "I'm not! It looks…."

"Posh." Samuel told her. "That's what I told my uncle."

"It's his car?"

"It's a prototype. Well, a copy of one. It's another version of a Bugatti Chiron. They haven't named this yet." He pulled onto the interstate, "Quiet simply, the fastest car in the world."

She giggled as he accelerated. "I've never seen anything like it."

"My uncle let me borrow it. I asked for something….fun, but not too …..ummm…"

"Flashy?" She asked.

He looked back at her. "Is it?"

She shook her head. "Samuel. I need to educate you on some things. This….is a sexy car!"

Samuel laughed, "I love it. The sound it makes. That it is so comfortable. The speed." He glanced back at her, "The co-pilot."

She giggled, "Smooth."

He grinned, "Yes. The original Bugatti Chiron would go from zero to 186 MPG in 60 seconds. My uncle asked me to keep it under that."

"I agree with him." She insisted. "So, you're a car guy."

He pointed at himself and shook his head, "Me? Petrol head? Not really. I just like speed."

"Our relationship is a testament to that." She agreed.

He laughed, "This is….Day 5-"

"Six." She corrected him.

He glanced back at her. "Six? Did I lose a day?"

"I think so." She laughed. "You must have gone to China for your little vacation. Yes, this is Day Six of this…craziness known as you and me."

He smiled and nodded as he watched the road. "You and me. I love how that sounds. Then, tomorrow is our anniversary. We should do something special."

"Phhh….people don't celebrate their one week anniversary."

"They don't?"

"I've never heard of it."

He thought, "Hmmm. I'll have a think."

She smiled as she looked back at the road. "This is just an amazing car. And it makes such a noise."

He smiled, "The other one was much louder. This one still has the noise. You're just used to those, electric cars that are silent."

"Well, yeah." She insisted. "That's all we have at home."

"They don't drive gasoline powered cars in Florida?"

"No way! Do you know how much gas is?"

"I can honestly tell you that I don't. This car, is to make the …..umm….what do you call it? People who monitor that environmental things?"

"Yeah, I know what you are talking about, but don't know what it's called either."

"The original one, if you drove it flat out, would completely drain its petrol tank in nine minutes."

She covered her face and laughed. "How in the world did it pass any inspection?"

"I don't know. This one, is electronic, but also has that petrol engine, too. That's the reason for the noise." He grinned as he accelerated.

He reached over and took her hand. He pulled it to his lips and kissed it. He relaxed as the current of electricity seemed to come from her hand and into his fingers. The sensation ran up his arm. "Three days, completely apart, and the first day I come home, I'm taking to you my place. I'm going to apologize in advance. My plan is for us to be alone, but I might not have thought this completely through."

She smiled. "Arles will be there?"

"He is helping Papa with something. If he is, he won't be there long. But, everyone else might be. It's…..madness."

She smiled, "It's your life. Samuel, I want to be part of that."

He nodded, "Even if it's not what you expect?"

"Boy, this other girl you had did a number on you." She insisted.

He sighed. "It wasn't just her. There are things, that are unique about my life. I worry that exposing you to all of it at once, will completely make you run."

She grinned, "I don't run away that easily. And I think I've already figured some of it out."

"You have?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "So what if your Dad is gay?"

"What? Gay?" Samuel asked in shock.

"Well, that's what you're talking about, right?"

Samuel laughed, "No!"

"You have a Papa, and a Dad. That's two Dads-"

"Oh my God. No! I can't believe this."

"Then, how do you have two?"

"I have a Mum. She's….lovely. And Papa is Arles' father. Dad is mine. Arles' mum died when he was very small. So, Papa and Dad agreed that we would grow up as brothers."

"Oh. Like military buddies?"

"Exactly! Yes!" Sam agreed.

"Oh. Well, I get that. I have a Godfather who Dad always told us would take care of us if something happened to him. I get that. Okay. So, Lewis is your Papa. What is your Dad's name?"

He kissed her hand as he thought if he should tell her or not. John was a common name, so maybe it would be alright. "John."

She laughed. "John?"

He immediately became nervous. Had she figured it out? "Yeah, why is that funny?"

"My Dad's name is John. John Bennett. Lieutenant John Bennett of the United States Navy."

He sighed in relief. "Oh. Well, common name. John and not Johnathon?"

She smiled, "I know it's strange. He's just John. Not Johnathon."

He rose his eyebrows in surprise. "Wow. Two Johns."

"Your mother isn't named Anne, is she?"

He shook his head and laughed. "No."

"What is it then?" She smiled.

He glanced back at her. "I'll tell you, when I introduce you one day. Fair?"

"Fair." She giggled.

He pulled off of the interstate, and onto a two lane, country road. It was dark, and the winding country road was fun to drive on.

Samuel squeezed her hand, reveling in the feeling that was slowly creeping up his shoulder. "You don't have class for four days?"

"Yes. Four days. Gosh, I'm so happy about that."

"Well, if all of this doesn't frighten you off, and you decide you actually want to see me again. I was wondering if you would like to go someplace with me?"

"Where?"

"Well, I have to go to New York City for a few days. We'll have a lot of time to do whatever you would like."

She covered her mouth and laughed, "New York City? The price of the hotel-"

"Paid for. It's for work. An…independent thing I do. Would you like to join me? We'll count it as an Anniversary trip."

"Nobody celebrates that." She laughed.

"Well, we should. Maybe it will catch on."

She shook her head in disbelief. "Wow. Samuel, I've always wanted to see New York."

He smiled back at her. "Here's your chance."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you that sure that you're crazy life is going to scare me this bad?"

He glanced back at her seriously, "Yes."

She laughed and squeezed his hand, "Samuel, I'm sure it will be fine. That's how I feel when I touch you. Reassurance, that everything will be alright."

He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it again.

They pulled up into the school's drive. In the darkness, the large mansion and school looked even more massive. Samuel parked next to a small limo that was sitting under a roofed area. After he turned off the car, he got out and opened the door for Karen. Taking the overnight bag from her, she took his arm and they walked up the stone steps and inside to a small room.

The wooden doors held beautiful, ornate, glass inside of them. Samuel took her hand in his and looked in her eyes. "And anytime you want to go home, just tell me."

"Boy, you are really worked up about this." She insisted.

He smiled. "I'm fine. It's just….well…. okay, perhaps I'm not."

She laughed as he opened the other door for her.

As soon as they walked inside of the large room, Samuel shouted. "Hey! Hey! It's me!" He looked back at Karen's face that was smiling in surprise. "That's what everyone says when they come here."

She giggled at him.

Arles was walking down a long, wooden staircase. "And you are just in time."

Samuel rose his eyebrows. "Why?"

"Logan and Ashena are upstairs." He told him and then smiled at Karen. "Hello again, Karen."

She smiled. "Hi, Arles."

"Sam!" A small boy shouted from the top of the steps.

Sam smiled. "Soli! I didn't know you would be here."

Soli ran down the steps and jumped in Samuel's arms.

Karen laughed, "Who is this little boy?"

Samuel held Soli and smiled. "This is a small body guard named Soli."

Soli held his hand out to Karen. "It's my pleasure to meet you! May I take your coat?"

Arles laughed, "We've been watching telly. He's….insane."

Samuel sat Soli down. Karen smiled at him. "It is rather warm in here. If you would like to take my coat."

He handed the wool coat to the small boy. He energetically turned around and ran up the steps.

"Careful on the steps!" Samuel and Arles both shouted at him.

Samuel took Karen to his flat, following Arles and Soli. Soli was thrilled to be so helpful. As soon as they opened the door, Samuel shook his head at what he saw.

"Why is everyone in my flat?" He complained.

Legate leaned on the island bar with Logan standing next to him, both drinking beer.

Legate waved, "Hey! You brought Karen!"

Karen smiled, "Hi, Legate."

Ashena and Genie sat next to one another, sipping glasses of wine. Ashena's hair was wrapped in a dark cloth and she wore a lovely, simple dress. Genie wore her hair in a long braid and had on a long skirt with a grey sweatshirt.

Soli quickly took Samuel and Karen's coats, along with the overnight bag, to Samuel's bedroom. Sam and Karen joined them in the kitchen. Arles closed the door behind them.

Genie rushed over to embrace Samuel. "And you're back! I haven't seen you today!"

He kissed her cheek. "Hello, Genie. How many have you had?"

"Ugh. Sammy, this is my first one!"

He chuckled, "Right."

She playfully smacked him in the chest and looked at Karen. "And this is…."

Samuel introduced her, "This is Karen."

Genie smiled warmly at her. "Of course I knew that. Legate told us about you."

Karen continued to hold Samuel's hand, "Yes, I met Legate this afternoon. He was with Samuel."

Genie looked back at Samuel, "You took Legate?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "He needs to get out more." He pointed at them. "Do not frighten her."

Karen laughed at his insistence.

Genie grumbled, "Nonsense."

She wrapped her arm around Karen's and pulled her to the bar where Ashena and her sat. "Have a seat. I'm Genie. Sam's sister."

Karen sat down next to Genie, "It's nice to meet you. You have the most beautiful eyes."

Genie smiled, "Thank you. And excuse me, this is Ashena."

Ashena offered her hand, "It is so wonderful to meet you."

Legate pointed to the guy next to him, "And this is my best mate, Logan."

Logan smiled, leaned across the bar, and shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you. We're all harmless. Well, except Samuel. But, you probably shouldn't be told that."

Samuel put his hands in his pockets and laughed under his breath. "Yeah, easy there."

It was clear to Samuel this had been a bad idea. What had he been thinking? He could be back at Karen's, having sex in her empty flat. The thought crossed his mind to just leave and go back there.

Arles opened the refrigerator. "Karen, glass of wine?"

Karen smiled, "Please."

Arles poured her a glass. She smiled at Samuel, making him instantly feel better about the situation. He took a deep breath as Arles handed him a beer. "And….?"

"I don't drink." Sam reminded his brother.

"Then hand it to Legate." Arles groaned. "I'll get you and Soli some milk."

Sam rolled his eyes and looked back at Karen. "This madness. I'm sorry."

Karen sipped her wine. "It's completely fine."

Sam slapped the countertop. "I'm such a clot. I totally forgot to get dinner! Karen, I'm sorry."

Karen giggled as she sipped the wine. "It was the car. Your brain was in a car haze."

Genie laughed. "Oh, he does that. We ordered pizza. Ashena picked."

"Is that alright?" Samuel asked Karen.

"Of course."

Ashena smiled, "I love pizza. I believe it to be the best!"

Logan nodded, "You should have grew up in my house. When my Mom went to work for their Dad, he bought us pizza every night."

Sam explained, "Logan's Mum is our Mum and Dad's secretary."

"Oh. That's interesting. He bought you pizza?"

Logan chuckled, "Yes. Still does. My brothers love it."

Soli ran back into the kitchen. "Sam! I need to talk to you."

Sam picked him up and sat him on the bar. "I'm all ears. Go."

"I want to go to school here."

"Well, how much school do you need, Soli? I mean….what is the Second Law of Thermodynamics?"

"I have no idea!" Soli threw his hands up.

Logan grinned, "I have no idea, either. Maybe I should go back to school."

Legate looked surprised, "You don't know that?"

Genie smiled, "Do you?"

Legate shook his head, "That's why I have you. I don't need to know that. How to break an arm? I have that covered."

Logan laughed. "The full 26 Techniques. Yes."

Legate smiled, "Which is your favorite?"

"So far, I prefer the Fourth. But, I've not really had any real world application. Which do you recommend?"

Legate crossed his arms. "I prefer 14 and 19. Arles though…."

Arles smiled. "I'm a solid Technique Seven."

Legate pointed at Arles. "And I would probably ask him for some training on that. He holds the record on breaking more arms in a-"

Genie cleared her throat. "Can we please, not talk about this?"

They all looked back at Karen.

Samuel shook his head. "Guys. I asked you not to frighten her."

"They haven't." Karen laughed. "What do you guys do?"

"Break people's arms." Legate teased.

Samuel grinned, "They are bodyguards. Well, not Arles. He's just….scary."

Arles pointed at himself. "Me? Scary?"

"You can be."

Arles nodded his head. "Good to know."

Legate smiled at Samuel. "And your favorite Technique?"

Genie groaned. "Karen. Don't listen to these guys."

Sam put his hands on either side of Soli, who still sat at the bar in front of where he stood. "What's yours?"

Soli shook his head. "I haven't learned them yet. See! That's why I need to go to school here."

Samuel dropped his head.

Karen laughed at him. "He's determined."

Soli crossed his arms. "Will you talk to Tony about me going to school here? He'll listen to you."

Samuel stood up and tickled Soli's neck. "Yeah. I already talked to him about that. I think we might have worked something out."

Genie smiled. "That was your idea?"

Samuel nodded. "Yep. Soli can come during the day, and he'll be back home at night. There. Everyone is happy."

The little boy embraced Samuel. "Brilliant! Thank you, Sam!"

Ashena smiled. "That sounds like a reasonable solution. I might need to chat with you, Samuel. You seem to be as level headed as John."

Samuel chuckled and shook his head. "I'd prefer if you spoke to him about matters you deal with, Ashena."

Ashena smiled. "As you wish."

Samuel smiled at Soli and tossed his hair. "And Genie, here is your first, official student. Young and skinny Soli."

Genie smiled, "Seems appropriate. Student number one."

Legate pat Samuel's back. "Logan is here. And now you have arrived."

"What?" Sam asked.

"Football! Come on, we have a pitch to break in." Logan laughed. "And with you here! We have six."

Legate sat his beer down and rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Yes! Jack and Jake are coming, too."

Samuel took a deep breath. "Well, I had actually planned on spending time with Karen-"

Genie held onto Karen's arm. "There will be time for that later. She can watch with me and Ashena!"

"Karen, do you want to go back to your place-"

"No." She laughed. "Samuel, it's fine."

Genie smiled back at Karen. "She's fine. We'll watch you guys play football and try to embarrass you, Sammy."

"That's what I'm worried about." Sam insisted.

Karen looked interested back at Genie, "Shall I take notes?"

"Perhaps. I'd recommend you sharpen your pencil."

Sam pointed warningly at his sister. "House rules, Gene."

Genie rose her eyebrows at her brother. "Relax, Sammy."

Legate teased Samuel, "A football match is just what you need. It might help Arles and Sam sleep tonight."

Genie shook her head. "That's why there we so late getting back today. They slept in."

Legate grinned as he sipped his beer, "That wasn't the entire reason."

Karen looked confused. "What was the entire reason?"

Legate rose his eyebrow at Sam. "Ummm. I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have said anything in front of your girlfriend. And your boss-"

"Shut up." Genie insisted. "What did you do?"

Sam looked at Arles, "Help?"

"You're the one that brought it!" He insisted.

Karen smiled, "Tell us, Samuel. Why?"

Sam closed his eyes and sighed. "Me and Arles were smoking with Papa and Grandfather."

Genie covered her mouth and laughed hysterically. "You did what?"

Ashena was confused. "What is this?"

Legate said something to her in another language.

She laughed with the rest of them. "Lewis?"

Samuel nodded his head. "I was shocked! Me and Arles were smoking and Papa found us. The next thing I knew, Grandfather was out there."

Karen laughed, "You got high with your Grandfather?"

Arles nodded. "He called it a 'bonding experience'."

All of the room was laughing, except Soli who had found the knife block. Arles always kept the knives sharpened so they would be ready for anything he might cook. Soli sat on the cabinet and pulled a knife out of the block. Sam and Legate saw him seconds before he managed to cut the palm of his hand with one. They both jumped to try to prevent him from hurting himself, but it was too late. The knife dropped on the cabinet top as Soli screamed.

Legate grabbed a towel and wrapped Soli's hand in it. Samuel quickly grabbed Soli in his arms and rushed him out of the room.

Arles looked back at Logan. "Secured?"

"I have it." Logan told him.

Arles rushed off to where they had taken Soli.

Karen was in shock. Genie rubbed her back. "Soli will be alright."

Ashena uncovered her mouth. "Shall I go see if I can help?"

Logan shook his head. "Shen, you know that in a medical emergency the Doctor is the one that is in charge. If Samuel needs one of us, he'll yell."

Genie shook her head. "Poor Soli. I didn't even see him playing with those."

Logan nodded, "Yeah. He'll be back out here, bouncing off the walls, in about ten minutes. We probably need a game of football after this."

Karen spoke up, "I'm sorry, what?"

Arles walked back in the room. "Sam says he has it. Everything is alright. No need to contact Tony at the moment."

Genie sipped her wine. "That's good because I don't think he can actually get to a phone. He's….doing a thing."

Karen wasn't sure why everyone was so calm.

Arles cleaned the blood off of the cabinet and washed the knife.

Logan quickly jumped in to help. "I'm sorry. I didn't see all of this."

"This is my fault." Arles told him. "I should put these out of his reach. Especially, if he's going to be over here all of the time."

Logan shook his head. "I doubt he'll ever play with them again."

Ashena nodded. "It's a hard lesson for a little one. But, I agree with Logan."

Logan winked at Ashena. "And for that, I'll score a goal. Just for you, Shen."

Ashena smiled and looked back at Karen. "Logan has five brothers. All of them are younger than him."

Arles shook his head as he made room in the cabinet for the knives. "Nah. I'm putting them up."

Karen shook her head. "Are you sure we don't need to go help? Call 911?"

Genie smiled. "Why? Samuel is here."

Arles had finished putting up the knives and returned to bar with the others. He sipped some of Legate's beer and made a face. "Oh, that's terrible! How do you drink that, Logan?"

Logan shook his head.

Legate returned to the kitchen, "Arles. Sam needs you."

Arles followed Legate back out of the room.

Karen was completely confused. "But, Samuel being here. Why would that make a difference?"

Logan refilled all of the ladies' wine glasses, "Samuel is a Doctor. Soli couldn't have cut himself in better company."

Genie nodded. "Yeah. He hadn't told you that?"

"He told me he was a teacher."

Genie smiled, "He is. I've drafted him to come teach here, at this school."

"What school is this?"

Genie smiled proudly, "The Maria Carbonell Institute. He hasn't told you?"

Karen was shocked. "No. He hasn't told me that."

Genie grit her teeth. "I might have said too much. He probably had a reason not to tell you." She covered her mouth. "Ummm…. I'm very sorry-"

"No. It's alright." Karen insisted.

Sam walked back into the kitchen with Arles and washed his bloody hands in the sink. "And everyone's blood pressure can return to normal. Everything is fine."

"Where is Soli?" Genie asked.

"Legate took him to Tony. He was upset and….I'm not dealing with Tony if he finds out that happened without any of us telling him. They won't be long." He told them as he dried his hands.

Ashena exhaled in relief. "My heart is still racing."

"It was deep. But, he's fine." Sam told her. He looked back at the stunned look on Karen's face. He took her hand in his. "You alright?"

The feeling of that always spread between them, began. She looked at his hand and whispered. "I'm okay."

Sam was still wound up. He ran both of his hands through his hair. "Gosh, I could do with some tea. Anyone else?"

Arles clapped his hands together. "Now, you're talking!"

Sam looked up at Karen. "Want to try a cup of tea?"

She was lost for words. "Ummm…. I'll just have the wine."

He nodded. "Right."

"Actually, could I speak with you?" Karen asked Sam and pointed towards the door.

"Sure, Karen." Sam agreed.

Arles pat him on the back, "I'll make you a cuppa, honey."

"Thanks, dear." Sam said as he took Karen's hand and walked into his bedroom. He closed the door quietly and looked in Karen's face. "Are you alright?"

She closed her eyes and held onto both of his hands. "I'm just….well…."

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. "I'm sorry about that. He's fine."

She held onto him and relaxed. The current of pleasure quietly moved between them.

He kissed the top of her head. "You smell lovely."

She smiled and looked back up at him. "You always know what to say."

He kissed her lips quickly. "I didn't know all of this lot would be here. I had planned for this to just be me and you. Do you want to go back to your place?"

She giggled. "No. I'm enjoying being with everyone."

"Are you sure? I mean, we can-"

She slipped her hands under his jumper and rubbed his chest. The sensation became stronger. Butterflies moved in his stomach, all the way out to his extremities.

He closed his eyes and moaned. "Oh, that feels amazing."

She whispered, "I'm still thinking about how it felt before. In the bed. In the shower."

"I can think of some other places we can try."

She giggled. "I'll stay here tonight. With you. You guys don't all sleep in one room, do you?"

He chuckled, "No."

"Then, we'll just look forward to that. I'm sure you want to play football-"

"I don't have to go play-"

"Your face lit up like Christmas when he mentioned it!" She laughed.

Samuel smiled at her. "You want to play?"

She looked in his eyes and smiled. "Only with you."

He groaned and bumped his forehead into hers. "Oh, this is torture. Being with you, without being able to be with you."

She continued to run her hands across his chest. "Samuel. You and me will have our date, a bit later."

"Are you certain?"

She smiled, "Of course. Your sister is telling me some things about you that I'm going to need to fact check later."

He laughed under his breath. "Oh wow. I hesitate to think."

She played with the hair on his chest. "She wouldn't…lie-"

He thought. What had Genie told Karen? Then he relaxed remembering the house rules he had mentioned. Genie knew what she could say, and what she shouldn't.

"That's one thing about my sister. Anything she ever says, you can trust to be true."

"Really?"

He nodded and laid his forehead back on hers. "Absolutely. Are you sure you don't want to go back to your place? We can drive the car-"

"That's what you want to do. Drive that car again!" She teased.

He grinned. "Yeah. Oh, I love that car."

She giggled, "You are such gear head."

"And that's alright? You still like me?"

"I really like you."

He kissed her forehead. "Can we lock the door and let me show you how much I like you?"

She looked around. "This is your room?"

He laughed, "I wouldn't offer to shag you someplace else."

She giggled. "I've decided. I would love to go to New York with you."

He insisted. "That's completely, just us. None of these…."

She grinned, "Our anniversary trip. It might catch on. Right, Samuel?"

"I love how you say my name." He leaned down and licked her lips, slowly. She held onto him tightly as he found his hands under her blouse, cupping her breasts. The electricity moved from his hands, all throughout his body. He wanted more. He craved it more than he had anything.

She stopped their snogging and smiled back up at him. "We need to stop."

His nodding turned to him shaking his head. "No, we don't-"

She grinned and whispered. "After your football game." She turned around and walked out the door.

Sam groaned in frustration and threw his hands up. "How the hell did Genie and Legate do this for so long?!"