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"I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today." - William Allen White

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Chapter 28

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Sam sighed contentedly as she watched the snow falling outside the large bedroom window. The dark grey sky made it difficult to determine the hour but since she wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere she decided that it didn't really matter because while there was a blizzard outside the temperature inside this room was just perfect.

Her back was pressed against Martin's chest as he planted soft kisses along her neck. His warm body was better than any electric blanket in the world. She breathed in the heady scent of their lovemaking which still lingered in the air and smiled thinking that she couldn't have planned a better fling if she tried. Not only did she and Martin get along really well but they were very compatible sexually. The first time was great, the second even better, and she wasn't sure if she would ever fully recover from the third.

She snuggled closer to Martin and in a low voice said, "That was….wow."

"Yeah, this whole night has been fantastic." He replied between kisses before adding, "It was almost perfect."

"What do you mean by 'almost'?" Sam asked, hoping her voice didn't sound as defensive as she suddenly felt.

Noticing her tensing up he pulled her to him and murmured, "Well, I was kind of hoping that I would have had a chance to see you in that pink bra."

She laughed along with Martin and then relaxed into his embrace. "Well, you're in luck because if this blizzard continues it will most likely be making an appearance."

"Talk about a catch-22." Martin said before releasing a breath, "Because as much as I'd like to see you in it, I really don't want to encourage you to wear clothes."

"I have to get dressed eventually." She replied with a soft laugh. Martin shrugged and she turned her head so she could see his face. "You honestly didn't think I would walk around nude for the next few days did you?"

"A man can hope." He replied, his eyes dancing with humor.

She turned back and rested her head on the pillow. "Believe me: you would get bored seeing me walking around in the buff after awhile."

Wordlessly he reached over her shoulder and lifted the sheet to look at her bare chest for a few beats. With a smile on her face she laid still, waiting and watching to see what he was going to do next. He shook his head and replied, "Nope, I don't think I would ever get tired of seeing that; never going to happen."

Sam laughed and rolled over towards him before propping herself up on her elbow. Martin shifted so they would both be more comfortable and scooted down so they would be face to face. She reached over with her free hand and traced lazy circles on his chest with delicate fingers. "Think of it this way: If I put it on, you can take it off."

Her grinned and replied, "I like the way you think."

He reached over to hold her face in his hands as they kissed. She inched closer to him as her lips moved slowly along his jaw line, his stubble scratching her cheek, when she heard whining behind her. She broke the kiss and looked over to find a pair of big brown eyes watching them, "Good morning, Milo."

The Lab hopped around and whined again. Sam looked back at Martin who gave her an apologetic look and sighed, "Sorry Sam, nature calls. I need to go downstairs and let him out."

"Oh-kay," Sam said, mimicking Martin's whiney tone from the previous night.

He laughed, gave her a quick kiss before getting up and sitting on the edge of the bed. He reached down to pick up his boxers and stood up as he slid them on, giving Sam a chance to admire his ass.

That's when she also noticed the big bruise on his shoulder blade.

"Oh my God, your back's bruised. Is that from slipping on the ice?" Sam asked as she sat up. She wondered how she could have missed it earlier.

Then again, she was mainly preoccupied by the front of his body.

Martin walked to the dresser, picking up his jeans as he went. He smiled at her and said, "It's no big deal, Sam."

"Does it hurt?"

Martin pulled on his jeans and said, "No." She gave him a hard, questioning look and he added, "Not really." She frowned feeling very guilty and he sat down next to her. "Sam, believe me, it was worth it if it helped lead you here."

He gave her a long kiss before Milo started whining again. He pulled back and said, "Sorry, when he's got to go he's got to go."

He walked back over to his dresser and pulled on a t-shirt. Sam watched him for a moment before looking over at Milo who was hopping up and down on his paws and ran around in small circles.

She sat up, resting her back against the headboard. "You know, I hear they have a wonderful invention called doggie doors that allow the dogs to let themselves out."

Martin stuck his arms into a sweater before yanking it over his head. "Yeah, I used to have one but I had to start locking the flap because Milo has been warring with my neighbor's cat who likes to jump the fence and sit on the roof of my porch tormenting him. Milo reacts by barking endlessly and driving my neighbor's nuts who, in turn, drive me nuts." He grabbed a pair of socks from the drawer before sitting down on the edge of the bed to put them and his shoes on. "I can't help it if he hates that cat. To make matters worse, when he does get close to her she scratches him up."

"You know there's a French proverb: En mordant et gratter les chats et les chiens viennent ensemble." Sam commented while watching Martin lace up his boots. The phrase translated to "By biting and scratching cats and dogs come together" but she wickedly decided to not tell him in the hopes that she could trick him into speaking some French.

"Yeah, well, it's also the biting and scratching that keeps cats and dogs apart." He replied as he finished lacing up.

Sam leaned back frustrated and said, "The man understands it but refuses to speak it." Then a little later added, "You know when a woman hears a man speak a foreign language it's pretty hot."

He shook his head. "Not going to do it."

"Come on, I won't judge you." She argued.

He leaned towards her and said, "You know the French have another saying: Do you wish people to think well of you?" He paused for effect and finished, "Don't speak."

He grinned before quickly kissing her and heading towards the door. Sam watched as he walked out of the room with Milo hot on his heels. She snuggled into the covers and muttered, "Merde, he's good."

From the down the hall Martin shouted, "You just noticed?"