A/N: My apologies for taking so long with this chapter. I was busy, and had to use the little time I had in the mornings to work on the story.
Your previous reviews honestly blew me away. Thank you! I really am grateful. Sorry if I didn't reply to some of the reviews...I tend to lose track of the ones I responded to, and the ones I didn't.
Sassy...thanks for the motivation, and for checking in on me to make sure I was still alive and kicking, when I took so long to get the chapter out.
Here it is. I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter. And, if by the end it leaves you frustrated and terribly annoyed with me, just trust that I have a plan...
Woosah...
Disclaimer: Twilight and all its recognizable characters belong to the brilliant Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
Songs to listen to: Pink - Beautiful trauma & Halsey - Bad at love
Chapter 8 – War of the mind
Morning coffee at her place had become somewhat of a routine. Every morning for the last month, Sam came over at six, and for the next half hour while Cameron was still asleep, they talked. Simply about inconsequential things, just like friends did. She found his company welcome and easy, and yes…she supposed they were now something closely resembling best friends. How could they not be, when they spent so much time together?
They went to barbecues and dinners together with friends, and have even hosted a few dinners themselves (She always tried to persuade Sam to have it at his house, just so she could have an excuse to cook in his kitchen). They spent more than the two initially agreed upon nights a week having family dinners. And this had seemed to bring about a noticeable contentment within Cameron. He seemed more like a normal sixteen-year-old. He was relaxed and even more easy-going. Did his homework while Sam helped her cook, and when dinner was ready, he eagerly joined in the easy conversation. They were almost like a couple, minus the sexual perks, of course.
But the tension between Sam and her was still there…it was always there, but it seemed like they had a better handle on it these days. It was now only simmering below the surface, just out of their reach. They were constantly aware of it - or at least, she was - but they seemed to find a way to function normally, without it getting the better of them. They kept things innocent and friendly - tried their best to avoid situations that could lead to temptation.
Shopping together was something she had to admit enjoying more than she was supposed to. It felt like such a typical couple-thing to do. Not that it was exactly her intention for them to act as a couple. She guessed it was simply his company that she craved. Spending time with him. Except when women openly flirted with Sam, right in front of her. That's when the green-eyed monster reared its ugly head, and made her feel like she needed to mark her territory, but she never had the guts. She knew she had no right to do so. It was almost comical (not really!) to watch these women zero in on their prey with beady eyes, when the opportunity presented itself. She would literally turn her back for five minutes to hunt down a specific item on her list, only to return to find some woman with her hand on Sam's arm, giggling and batting her eyelashes. And when she'd show her annoyance, these woman would size her up - clearly finding no threat - and continue on as if she didn't exist. Sam never flirted back - she had to give him credit for that - but he never chased these women away either, and it irritated her immensely. To make matters worse, Sam always found her irascibility very entertaining, and for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.
Work was good, she supposed. Not very challenging, much like she had expected, but it kept her busy enough not to frustrate her to the point of insanity. She was proud to say she knew a lot more about car parts now, since one of her responsibilities were to order stock. Jake had been infinitely patient with her the first couple of weeks while she tried to get her bearings, no more Lacey to show her the ropes. She had ordered a lot of incorrect stock in the beginning, and instead of getting frustrated, Jake had merely shown her the difference between what she had ordered, and what she should have ordered, so she'd learn from her mistakes. She had to admit that there were times when these differences were so minute, that she couldn't comprehend how they even managed to differentiate between the parts in the first place. But all in all, Jake was a great boss, with the added bonus of being her friend. Perhaps that had been the difference between friendly, constructive criticism and an all-out meltdown. Although, Jake had never been easy to anger in the past. He was simply a good guy with a world of patience (for everyone), and he gave her the courage to learn and grown, for which she was mighty grateful.
You're probably wondering what happened to Emily, right?
Sam had given Bella the opportunity to appeal on behalf of Emily, in front of the council. At first, most of them had been quite hesitant to change the punishment, maintaining that Emily had brought this upon herself, and that coming between father and son - alpha and future alpha - was unforgivable. The alpha was supposed to subtly groom his firstborn son for the task of becoming leader in the future, as was tradition, and Emily had prevented that with her selfish actions. But when Bella explained to them what she had to endure since Cameron's birth, and what effect it had on a child to have a single parent, she seemed to make them think. Listen. And eventually, they relented.
A little more on the selfish side, Bella didn't want to give Emily ammunition for future revenge. What if she decided to get Bella back for being the reason that her children were taken away from her? She had no idea how unpredictable Emily could be (or any mother, for that matter, when someone tried to come between her and her children). She'd had enough drama in the past, and all she wanted now, was to move forward and be happy.
The punishment had been adjusted to keep Emily on the Reservation, and like Bella had suggested, Emily would be working at the Recreation Center five days a week for the next three years, to help tutor kids after school. Over weekends, she had to provide activities for them, from nine to three, as a way of keeping them busy. Whether it be educational activities, a field trip of sorts, or simply sports. In the end, these activities were meant to benefit the youth of La Push, to keep them out of trouble.
As for breaking the imprint, none of the council, or even Embry had budged. Embry had already made up his mind, and he had an appointment scheduled with Mr. Ateara for later that week to do just that. But like she had said, it was Embry's decision. She couldn't make him change his mind about it.
By now, their imprint was broken, and Embry was a free man, according to him. He tried to pretend that it didn't affect him, but Bella had seen the pain in his eyes, every time he tried to assure her, or anyone else for that matter, that he was doing okay. It seemed that he really did love Emily, even without the imprint. And she could understand this. How could he not love her after being married to her for so long? Love was something that manifested itself over time, and it seemed to be the case for Embry. This love had wormed its way in under the imprint, to secure itself firmly in Embry's heart, leaving him heartbroken still, even after the imprint had been broken.
His kids seemed to be more at ease, despite their mother moving out into her own place, right above the Ateara's general store. At least, now they got to see her regularly, instead of having to wait for weekends or school holidays to visit her, but she had no idea if Embry had told them about what Emily had done. If she had been in his shoes, she would have tried her best to keep it from them, in order to preserve the love, trust and untainted respect they had for their mother.
At lunch, Bella grabbed the tray of chicken burritos she had prepared for Charlie and her (they were having lunch at his office today), and headed for the police station not far from Jake's auto shop.
They had started this routine the first week after she begun working for Jake, and they made turns to have lunch either at her office, or at the police station. And she enjoyed the short time during the day that she got to spend with Charlie. Whenever it was his turn to come over, he paid for lunch (this usually meant ordering food, since he could barely cook for himself), and when it was her turn to have lunch with him, she made sure to prepare something for them the previous night.
Cameron took her car everyday, thus the reason for her walking to and from the police station. He dropped her off at work every morning before he went to school, and brought her car back when he went to work with Sam for a few hours after school.
Sam's business was a block from Jake's auto shop, and the auto shop was two blocks away from the police station in Forks. It was close enough that she didn't mind the walk, although she was never really one for exercise.
The police station was quiet when she opened the door, balancing the tray of burrito's in her other hand, only one officer manning the front desk during lunch. It was cool inside, offering a welcome reprieve from the building humidity outside. Rain was coming tonight, clouds dark in the sky already, but the viscid heat was leaving her sticky and irritated, and she couldn't wait for it to cool down.
"Hey, Ross," She greeted with a wave, careful not to drop the food.
Ross was a friendly guy in his early forties - maybe a bit too friendly for her liking - and at times she got the distinct impression that he was trying to catch her eye. He wasn't unattractive, but he wasn't her type either. No man was...except for Sam.
"My dad busy?" She wanted to know. Her dad rarely had any concern for lunch times, working right on through if she didn't remind him of their lunch dates when it was his turn to come over.
"Nah, go right ahead. He's all yours." He waved her in and winked. Ugh!
"Thanks," She tried not to grimace, and shuffled on past the desk, down the hall with the ugly gray industrial carpets and white walls lined with posters of 'how to identify drugs' and 'steps to take when experiencing domestic abuse', toward her father's office right at the end.
The sight that met her when she turned the handle and pushed her father's office door open with her shoulder, made her wish she had knocked first.
There was a woman firmly in a lip lock with Charlie, pressed up against the wall...
They startled when Bella gasped in surprise (or was it shock at seeing her father like this?), and the woman looked up over Charlie's shoulder to meet her eye, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Didn't they ever hear about locks?
But the strangest thing was...the woman in her father's embrace was none other than Sue Clearwater.
"Oh god, sorry," Bella apologized profusely and placed the burritos on a chair next to the door, turning away hastily and heading out, not quite knowing what the appropriate response was in a situation like this. Leaving was perhaps the best choice for now, giving all three of them time to recover from this awkwardness. A chance for her to bleach her brain, to remove the scarring that had been caused from seeing her father like this...
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment for what she'd just witnessed. It was obviously meant to be a private moment, reserved for no one else's eyes. And she'd just barged in without even knocking.
Stupid Bella!
"Wait, Bella!' Charlie called after her, but she waved over her shoulder and mumbled something about talking to him later.
She hurried down the hall and past the front desk, mentally cursing the officer for not giving her a heads-up. Did he even know Sue was in her father's office? And if so, why did he let her in? Her mind was going a million miles an hour, questions popping up left, right and center. Was her father dating Sue now? Or were they having a casual fling? Was he in love with her? And how long has this been going on? Either way, he failed to mention anything to her. Nobody mentioned anything. She didn't mind her father dating, but a little heads-up would have been nice. Why the secrecy? Charlie never even hinted at anything remotely related to Sue ever since she's been back.
She would ask Sam about it, she decided. He'd know, wouldn't he? And since she had no more plans for lunch, she could drop by (if Sam was at his office, and not on site) and try to get the answers from him.
She caught Sam just in time, before he headed out to beach where he was working on a new lodge. It had started out as a beach house – his own beach house. Until he'd decided to turn it into a something bigger. It was still in the beginning stages, and Cameron was having the time of his life helping his father build the place, even coming up with original ideas of his own.
Sam was busy loading the last of his equipment onto the bed of his truck, and merely shrugged as she told him about what happened.
"I thought you knew about it, Bella?" He said as he shut the tailgate, dusted off his hands and leaned against the side of the truck, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"No. Why would I?"
"You've been here for over a month already, right?" He said and adjusted the tool belt that hung low on his hips. Those strong hips. It distracted her for a moment when he lifted his white wife beater, awarding her with just a sliver of bronze skin - that infamous, and very alluring 'v' that seemed to hint at hidden treasures below - and tightened the belt. He looked up at her as he pulled his shirt back into place, tucking the edges into the belt. A smirk kicked up at the side of his mouth when he caught the direction of her gaze, but thankfully, he chose not to make a remark. "Are you telling me he never mentioned that he was dating Sue?"
"Nothing. Not a word." She denied vehemently. "If he had, I would have remembered." It was unsettling to think that her father would hide something as important as this from her.
"Maybe he's afraid that you'd be unhappy about it?"
"Why would I be unhappy?" She gaped at him in confusion. Did her father see her as unapproachable, or possibly unstable? Enough so that he thought she wouldn't be able to handle the news? "He's a grown man, and he has every right to date."
Her phone rang in her purse, interrupting the conversation, and when she pulled it out, Charlie's name flashed across the screen. She sighed and dismissed the call with a swipe of her thumb, stowing it back into her purse. She couldn't deal with it right now. She was still absorbing...
She looked up to find Sam observing her with his head cocked to the side, eyes slightly narrowed. "Dismissing his calls," he pointed to her purse, giving her a knowing look, "Is proving to him that you aren't ready to accept that he's dating someone."
"I just don't want to talk about it with him yet." She defended her actions. "I'm still processing. Still getting over the disturbing image of my father pushed up against Sue, hands all over her. Against his office wall, I might add." She widened her eyes, as if to bring her point across. "What would you have done if you walked in on something like that?"
"I don't know," He shrugged. "It would have been awkward, sure." He admitted, but continued before she could open her mouth. "But I wouldn't have run away, like you did."
"Okay, fine." She rolled her eyes and lifted her hands in defeat. Sam was right. She had acted like a coward, but surprises tended to have a negative effect on her - that's exactly why she hated surprises so much. "Maybe running away wasn't the best way to say, 'Congrats. I'm so happy for you guys.' I was just caught off guard."
"Just give him a call later." Sam suggested, like talking to Charlie about what she'd witnessed was the easiest thing in the world. "Tell him that you're okay with it. I'm sure your approval means more to him than he cares to admit."
"I hate it when you're right." She scowled playfully at him. How did he always know the right thing to do? "I'll give him a call when I get home." She took a step toward Sam, and wrapped her arms around him for a hug. This had become routine for them, and she loved the heat and comfort that it provided. Loved his earthy scent and the way his muscled arms tightened around her, even more. "I'll see you later." She murmured against his chest and pulled back, giving him a final wave before heading back to work for the last stretch.
When Sam arrived shortly after six, he looked freshly showered and very handsome in his navy golf shirt and beige shorts. But then again, he always looked handsome to her.
She waved him into the house to get him out of the rain, and closed the door behind him. It had finally started to drizzle on her way home from work this afternoon, and by now it was pouring, cutting right through the stuffy heat of the day to bring much needed relief.
She followed Sam to the kitchen, where he placed his grocery bags on the table and cocked his head to the side, like he was listening for something. "Where's Cameron?" He frowned.
Bella shuffled uncomfortably. "He asked if he could stay over at Blaine's for the night." She probably should have called Sam to tell him this, instead of having him waste his money on food, when they weren't going to have dinner anymore. They always did family dinners together. Never just the two of them. Cameron knew he had to be present, but it was Friday, and she didn't want to keep him from spending time with his friends. He'd been working so hard lately, what with his after-school job and school work, that he deserved a break. "They're having a LAN, and he wanted to join. So, I said it's fine. But I get it if you'd rather postpone tonight's dinner. I should have called you earlier to tell you."
"Why would I want to postpone dinner?" He seemed confused, keeping his eyes trained on her as he unpacked the grocery bags.
"Because it's not our usual set up. Cam's not here, so..."
"We can still do dinner. Just the two of us." He assured her with an easy smile. "I don't mind. Besides, I've been dying to try this new pasta recipe. And we both need to eat, right?"
"Guess so." She smiled, delighted that he wanted to stay. She enjoyed his company more than she was supposed to. Craved it, in fact. Especially when he had to work late, and their dinners got moved to the next night. They didn't have set days for family dinners. They simply winged it, and so far, it seemed to work for them.
Sam pulled a bottle of wine from the bag and went in search of a glass and a bottle opener, finding it with ease, since he's become quite adept at functioning in her kitchen over the last month. He poured her a glass of red, and pulled a beer from the six pack for himself, twisting off the cap and flinging it easily into the trash can. "Cheers," He clinked his bottle against her glass.
"Cheers." She copied him, and turned to the iPod dock on the counter to put on some music. It was a gift from Sam, since he enjoyed cooking with music playing in the background. He had loaded a ton of songs onto the device, some she recognized from their days together, others she recognized as his favorites. He'd even added the songs that he knew she liked. Their song was even on there, and when she'd heard it the first time here in her kitchen, the rush of memories that had accompanied the song, had caught her off guard. Lifehouse - Hanging by a moment. There were a lot of 'firsts' connected to that song. It had been the song that had played on the radio the day Sam told her about the imprint, the first time they kissed and the first time he'd told her that he loved her. She wondered if he purposefully wanted to torture himself when he added that song to his playlist?
They each set out to do their own thing, her task being the salad that would accompany the meal, while he did his thing in front of the stove.
"How's the lodge coming along?" She asked Sam as Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley sang about their love, in the background. It was one of her favorites.
"Good, actually." He said over his shoulder where he was busy with a 'secret sauce' simmering on the stove. "Cameron has come up with an idea for the deck, so, now we have to make sure that it'll be steady enough with the support beams. The rocks at the edge of the cliff are jagged and uneven, making it difficult to insert these beams. I'll have to hire a company to drill for us, so we can sink the beams deep into the rocks. We'll need to concrete it, so it can bear enough weight without collapsing."
"Sounds like a lot of drama for a deck."
"It's going to be worth it. You'll see." He smiled, and there was a visible excitement shining in his eyes. Whether it was due to the fact that Cameron was helping him with the project, or because the beach lodge was simply so close to his heart, she couldn't tell.
"So, Cam's doing okay? He's getting the hang of things at work?" She wanted to know. "Because he doesn't go into much detail when I ask him about it."
"Yeah, he's a natural."
"Takes after his father, I guess." Bella quipped. "It's a relief to hear that he's doing so well, because he's never really known what he wanted to do after school. And working for you has opened his eyes to a possible career path."
"I think he'll do well in construction. He really has a lot of original ideas. And that's essentially what people want. Something new and fresh." Sam explained, walking over to her with a wooden spoon. "Try this," He held the spoon out to her, hand cupped underneath to catch any stray drops. "It's the pasta sauce. Made it from scratch." He said proudly.
"Wait! Me first." She stopped him and held up a piece of fig for him to try. "It's sooo good, but I need your opinion." She had spent a lot of money on these figs, simply because she'd gotten an idea for a fantastic salad online this morning while searching for inspiration. And she hoped he liked it. She had no idea what he was planning on making when she bought it, and if the salad would go well with the food. But she couldn't resist the idea.
Sam parted his lips, and when she popped the fig into his mouth, his lips grazed the tips of her fingers, nearly making her gasp. The feeling shot straight from her fingers down to her belly, making her rub her legs together. It wasn't meant to be this sexy, but he just turned a simple tasting into a lustful, panty-dropping experience.
"What do you think?" Her voice sounded husky as she watched him chew thoughtfully.
"I like it." He nodded. "It'll go well with the pasta." He appeared completely oblivious to what she was feeling, and for the life of her, she couldn't understand how he was so unaffected, when a simple touch of his lips left her panting.
She cleared her throat and tried to gather her wits. "Good."
"Now your turn." He spoke in a low, sensual croon that made her shiver. Maybe he wasn't all that oblivious after all?
Bella tilted her head up to him, parted her lips, and swallowed the sauce as he tipped the spoon against her lips.
"Mmm," She moaned in appreciation, closing her eyes as the fragrant sauce assaulted her taste buds. She could taste sweet basil and oregano. A hint of garlic and black pepper, and something else she couldn't quite catch. "So good." She licked her lips, and opened her eyes, finding Sam staring at her with a heavy-lidded obsidian gaze. He swallowed noticeably, and looked away for a moment.
"What?" She asked, curious to know what was going through his mind right now. The moment was charged with sexual tension, but he seemed hesitant and guarded.
"Nothing." He shook his head, but she could tell that he wasn't speaking his mind.
"Tell me," She implored with a deep frown, searching his face for any clues to explain his sudden awkward behavior. "What's going on in that head of yours, Sam Uley?"
Sam sighed heavily and dragged his fingers through his hair. His eyes did a quick circuit of her face, before he answered. "You have no idea how badly I want to kiss those lips of yours right now." His voice sounded rough and grating - he was turned on and she found the notion thrilling.
"Oh..." Her eyes widened in surprise, stomach doing a swift flip-flop, and her pulse instantly picked up speed, thundering in her ears. "Well," She bit her lip. She wanted him to kiss her too. She needed him to kiss her, so desperately. "What's stopping you?" She asked, releasing her bottom lip.
He looked so surprised for a moment, and then the most beautiful answering smile tugged at his lips, and he placed the wooden spoon down next to her.
Slowly, he brought his hands up to her face and cupped her cheeks, penetrating eyes searching hers briefly. He seemed to find whatever he was looking for, and he lowered his lips to touch hers gently. Carefully. Like he was afraid of scaring her away.
And in an instant, it was like an explosive detonated inside of her, tearing a fiery path through her veins on its way down to the apex between her thighs, making her entire body pulse and heat up.
Desperate for more than just a chaste kiss, Bella fisted Sam's shirt in her hands and pulled him closer into her, capturing his bottom lip between her teeth, tugging roughly on it. When he groaned in response, lips parting, she took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. And this seemed to be all the prompting Sam needed, to take control of the situation.
His tongue met hers roughly, dominating the kiss as he lifted her, and sat her on the kitchen table. His hands grabbed her thighs, stroking with a sensual, heated touch as the milky skin peeked out from under her short, summer dress. She threw her head back blissfully, welcoming his rough, calloused hands as they parted her legs so he could stand between them, close enough that she could feel him pressed up against her. Feel how aroused he was. This almost sent her over the edge, a thrill of delightful anticipation shooting up her spine, making her heart stutter, and forced all coherent thought from her mind as she wrapped one hand around the back of his neck, the other snaking up under his shirt to feel the heat of his russet skin.
Her fingertips ghosted over the silky, well-defined muscles of his back, while his hand trailed from her face over her jaw and down her neck, grazing gently, but briefly over her breast, covered by the plum material of her dress. Her nipple pebbled in response, rising eagerly to meet his fiery touch. At the same time, goosebumps erupted over her skin like a cool wave, and her breath hitched in the back of her throat – another thrill rushing through her at the contact. It was way more than she was used to, but it was exactly what her body was craving. To be touched by him like this. Nothing about it was platonic, and she loved it.
Sam's other hand slid up to the side of her head, slipping into her hair, fisting roughly in her locks, all while his lips continued its delicious assault on her mouth.
The kiss was sensational, hungry and needy as their tounges danced and battled for control, his taste like hit after hit of the finest drug ever. But it wasn't enough. She wanted more…of him. Needed more...
Bella pushed against him gently, and when their lips disconnected with a smack, he frowned, warm breath washing over her face in rapid puffs, making her dizzy. She felt intoxicated by his scent – earthy and fresh, laced with a hint of beer - so undeniably Sam. It turned her on even more, solidifying her intentions. She knew what she wanted, and she hoped to god that he wanted it too.
She smiled lazily up at him from under her lashes, and shook her head to assure him, somehow, that she wasn't close to being done with him.
Her fingers curled around the hem of his shirt and tugged upwards impatiently, showing him what she wanted.
Sam complied easily, lifting his arms when he caught on to her intentions, and she slipped the material slowly up over his strong body, dropping it at his feet.
Bella pressed her hands against his smooth chest, reveling in the heat under her palms, before sliding her hands over his broad shoulders, to bring him closer to her. She lowered her lips to his neck, tongue darting out to lick the rough, stubbly skin just below his jaw, and moaned in appreciation. He tasted even better than he smelled. "Mmm...so good." She breathed.
A deep growl rumbled in Sam's chest, and she could feel it under her hands. It was exactly the reaction she had wanted to elicit, and she couldn't help but grin against his skin as his hands landed on her hips, squeezing tight as he pushed himself against her core. She loved knowing that she could affect him just as much as he affected her. It was thrilling to realize that she had so much power over him.
Sam's hand snaked up the side of her body, so slowly, torturing her with each inch closer to her breast. His fingers traced the curves of her breast, trailing around the nipple, without touching her where she wanted him to. He was teasing her on purpose, and she was just about ready to combust when he finally grazed a thumb over her nipple and cupped her breast roughly, a string of profanities slipping from his lips, making her whimper. Though she never really cursed, the fact that he did, simply because he was touching her, left her wet and panting.
His blazing eyes flicked up to meet hers, just briefly, almost like he was making sure she was okay with the direction things were headed in, before dipping back down to his target.
Sam licked his lips and released her breast, both hands coming up to the five small buttons at the front of her dress, popping them open one at a time with so much ease that she almost felt jealous of his skill. He seemed so sure. So completely in control, like nothing fazed him. If it weren't for his eyes, he could have fooled her into thinking that he was busy with a simple, routine task. Something he did every day. But that gaze of his spoke volumes, and her body clenched in anticipation for his next move.
And then he pushed her body flat against the cool wood of the table.
He pressed his nose into the cleave between her breasts, inhaling deeply once, twice, before his lips started to explore the milky skin peeking out from the flayed-open front of her dress.
Her fingers curled around his biceps and her eyes rolled back when his hot mouth found a nipple, lips locking over the sensitive flesh, teeth biting down gently, before his tongue laved the stinging.
"Sam," She moaned breathily in response, giving in to his ministrations as her body arched up into him, desperate for more of his touch. More friction.
His lips released her breast and his nose grazed over the plum cotton, down to her belly button, hips grinding into her, making them both hiss at the sensation. So close, yet so far...
With two sure hands, he shoved the dress up over her hips to expose her stomach, lips kissing hungry open-mouthed kisses from her belly button, down toward his target between her legs.
She gasped sharply in surprise when his nose grazed over her panties, right at the damp center where her desired for him had pooled, and he groaned each time he inhaled her scent.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she wanted to pull away. Wanted to feel embarrassed by this, but she simply couldn't seem to move. Her body had completely given over to Sam's ministrations. She had no say. She could merely react to the pleasure. And it felt sooo good to have him touch and tease her like this.
"Fuuuck," He groaned, and nipped at her over the pink material of her panties, teeth grazing against her oversensitive clit, making her body jolt like she'd been struck by lightning.
"Oh Jesus!" She cried out. "Please, Sam?" She begged for more. "Please?"
He seemed to understand her desperation. Seemed to know exactly what she was asking of him, because his finger pushed her panties aside, and stroked over her slickness, setting her body alight. His one hand splayed over her exposed stomach, keeping her down, and with teasing languor, he slipped his finger into her. Only one at first, pumping slowly in and out, making her moan, and when he was satisfied that she was ready for more, he added a second finger, pushing, pulling and curling them deep inside of her while her hips ground against the heel of his hand for friction.
It felt heavenly. Sinful. Delicious. But she still wanted more. So much more.
Determined to get what she needed so desperately, Bella pushed herself up from the table, hooked her fingers into Sam's belt loops and pulled him closer to her. With trembling fingers, she unbuttoned his shorts and pulled the zipper down, blushing at the bulge pushing against his underwear. She licked her lips at the sight - she was aching to have him inside of her, and he seemed to be on the exact same page.
Sam chuckled at her boldness and pushed her down against the kitchen table again, taking control. She noticed that he wanted to dominate. He wanted to be the one to lead, and she was going to let him...
With ease, he shrugged his pants from his hips, letting it drop at his feet. And with cool confidence, he kicked it to the side, and gripped the backs of her thighs. His wicked, sensual touch burned against her skin, just like it had that night at this very table, after that first day he had taken Cameron fishing. It was a delicious, all-consuming burn that made her ache with lust. She had completely forgotten how it felt to have him inside of her, and she couldn't wait for him to remind her, praying that it would happen sooner rather than later.
He hooked his fingers in under the sides of her panties and pulled them slowly down her legs, like he could read her mind. Like he knew what she wanted, without her telling him.
Bella lifted her hips to help, and felt him slide the pink panties down over her feet, discarding it along with the pile of his own clothes. Now there were no more clothes separating them from taking what they needed from each other...
He lifted her legs and planted her feet upon the table, spreading her wide open for him. "Christ woman," He growled and squeezed his eyes tightly shut, throwing his head back, cursing as he shamelessly dragged her scent in through flared nostrils. When his eyes popped open, they were burning obsidian embers, taking a brazen, hungry look at her bare flesh on open display, like it was a decadent feast. "You'll be the death of me." He vowed, and took a step forward – closer. And then he was there, right at her entrance, the tip of his cock pushing against her slickness. It was dizzying and overwhelming to have him so close, knowing that one shift of his hips would have him sheathed deep inside of her.
"Bella," He breathed her name, leaned over her and rested his forehead against hers, squeezing his eyes shut like he was struggling to hold back. "Please tell me you're on some form of contraception?" He almost begged, and captured her bottom lip between his for just a moment. "Because I don't have a condom on me, and I don't know if I possess the strength to walk away from this right now. I want you so badly."
"Yeah, don't worry. I'm safe." She assured him breathily, chest rising and falling rapidly in anticipation. Despite having had no relationships since Sam, she always wanted to be prepared. And she liked the fact that the pill left little surprise in the ways of knowing when her period was due.
"Good girl," He sighed in relief, tightened his grip on her and slowly pushed himself into her with no more hesitation.
Over the sound of her own cry of pleasure, she could hear the string of profanities that tumbled freely from Sam's lips as he pulled back and thrust into her again, stretching her walls.
She hadn't taken a lover since Sam, and she could feel the evidence of that as her walls protested painfully against his size. It was exquisite torture.
With every push and pull, her body adjusted a little bit more, until he was fully sheathed inside of her. And it felt incredible to be filled by all of him. Nothing could compare. It was the best kind of burn as her body stretched around him, and she couldn't remember it feeling this amazing before.
She bucked her hips in response, meeting him thrust for hungry thrust, every time. Her body was trembling under his artful touch, but...so was his. He was shaking as he held onto her, his bottom lip pulled in between his teeth, biting down hard enough that she was sure he was going to draw blood soon. It had been such a long time since either of them has had sex, and the feeling was overwhelming. The raw desire was all-consuming. But more than anything, it was exactly what she wanted. And it was with him - the star in all of her sexual fantasies.
Bella's fingers curled around the edge of the table, steadying herself with a white-knuckled grip as he pulled slowly out of her, and rammed himself back into her, over and over. Slow and hard...
She wriggled as the hard wood of the table dug into her shoulder blades, but forgot all about it when his fingers found her clit, tweaking it hard. She cried out shamelessly at the sensation. It was too much. Way too much. But not nearly enough.
He released his swollen bottom lip, instead searching for hers, mashing his lips firmly against her mouth to mute her cries. To mute his lustful groans as they moved together. One hand left her hip, gripping a thigh, hooking it over his hip, and the other soon followed, encircling his waist.
Stars burst behind her eyes and she moaned her approval when the new position allowed him to hit all kinds of new places deep inside of her. Each slow, hard thrust was sending her flying higher and higher, orgasm already looming just out of her reach. She could barely hear the sound of her strangled moans tumble from her lips over the slapping of skin and her rapid breathing. Her heartbeat was deafening, and she wondered if he could hear it too? If he knew what he was doing to her?
She could feel the warmth of his breath rush over her body in labored puffs, skin tingling at the sensation, erupting with goosebumps like warm summer rain on her skin. She could feel the graze of his cock against her walls, and the rough, calloused skin of his hands as his grip tightened on her. It was a sensory overload - so overwhelming. So incredible, and she wanted to stay in this moment with him, forever.
He unexpectedly brought his hand down between them, and circled her clit with his thumb, applying just enough pressure to make her lose it. She was done for - couldn't hold back anymore.
His touch against the small bundle of nerves effectively sent her flying over the edge into ecstasy with a cry that caught in the back of her throat. Her legs tightened around him, back arching up off the table, toes curling and heels digging into his ass as her body convulsed around him with rapture.
"Jesus Christ, babe," He groaned in response and pulled her body up towards his, wrapping her up in his warmth. "Feels so good." He murmured into her hair while she trembled in his arms as wave after wave of pleasure washed through her like high tide, eyes rolling listlessly as she tried to focus on her surroundings. For a moment, she had no idea where she was.
His lips grazed against her temple, over her jaw, and to her lax lips, capturing them in a slow, sensual embrace as he held her so tightly wrapped in his arms. She felt safe, sated and content, her body humming with the residual pleasure that was dissipating more and more with each passing second, leaving her boneless. She was blissed-out...high on Sam.
When her body finally relaxed around him, he pulled carefully out of her and lifted her from the table, setting her down to stand on two shaky legs.
"You okay?" He asked, hooking two fingers under her chin to tilt her face up to his. He looked down at her, brows mashed together in concern, overshadowing the burning lust in his eyes for a moment. He was worried, and she couldn't understand why.
Bella nodded, voice hoarse as she assured him she was okay. "Never been better." She promised, cupping a hand against his cheek.
A brief smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, clearly relieved by her answer. He caught her lips in a swift embrace, pulled away and carefully lifted her dress over her head, hands stroking heated trails over her skin on its way up, and discarded her dress next to his forgotten heap of clothes.
His hands closed over the roundings of her shoulders and turned her around, grazing his fingertips over her back where the table had pushed against her shoulder blades. Warm, silky lips followed every gentle touch, kissing away the ache - the tenderness of this small gesture almost overwhelming her.
When she turned around to face him, her gaze dipped down to his hips, where his cock stood at full attention, reminding her that he wasn't done yet - there was more of this deliciousness to come. She tried not to blush - he'd just been inside of her, for god sake - but she couldn't stop it. It had been years since she's seen him so bare in front of her, and she'd forgotten just what a spectacular masterpiece he was. A naked god, every inch of him perfectly sculpted from bronze.
Sam smirked smugly as he caught her gaze, grabbed her by the hips and lifted her up against him, holding her steady against his warm body as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He adjusted his hold on her, shifting her hips slightly to slip himself effortlessly into her waiting core once more.
Bella whimpered at the incredible sensation of being filled again. He was hot and thick inside of her, and this alone was enough to leave her aching for more, just like before. Her trembling fingers gripped his shoulders, and she clung to him like she never wanted to let go.
"What about the food?" She teased, catching a glimpse of the forgotten food lining the table and stove top, as he walked them out of the kitchen, one step at a time toward the stairs. "I thought you were hungry?"
"Fuck the food." He mumbled, and squeezed her ass as he ascended the stairs. "I'm hungry for you." The subtle shift of his hips against her caused a welcome friction with every step he took, restarting the fire inside of her.
"Works for me," She chuckled, licking the stubble over his hammering pulse point, to elicit a feral growl from deep in his chest. She could taste the saltiness of their exertion, and the soap from earlier, when he'd taken a shower before coming over to her house. And she wished she could bottle the taste - the scent - so she'd never have to go without it. Her teeth grazed his ear, and she bit down gently, making his steps falter and stop right at her bedroom door.
"You are trouble, Bella Swan." Sam rumbled, and bucked his hips sharply into her, pushing a lustful moan from over her lips. "You drive me crazy."
He kicked open the bedroom door with so much force that it slammed against the wall and ricocheted back toward them with a vengeance, but he stopped it with his foot, and walked them inside and over to her bed, the room bathed in faint orange as the sun broke through a bank of clouds, daylight fading fast as the sun slowly disappeared behind the trees outside.
"I could say the same for you." She whispered in his ear, and bit his earlobe again. It seemed to be his kryptonite.
"Christ, woman. You're going to make me cum right here." He groaned and lowered them slowly onto the cool sheets, scooting easily to the middle without breaking contact. "Is that what you want, hmm?" He pulled sharply out of her, and thrust himself hard into her.
"Oh god, Sam!" She mewled, digging her fingers into his back and squeezing her legs tighter around him, afraid that she'd drift away if she didn't hold on tightly enough.
"Can't get enough of you." He whispered in a deep, sensual bass that made her shiver, setting a faster pace than before. Rougher and more demanding, like his self-control was fraying little by little, like a rope bearing too much tension than it was meant to.
Her body hummed and sang in response, while he caged her so deliciously in his arms, his lips trailing heated paths up her neck, over her jaw and onto her mouth, mashing with hers to capture her bottom lip between his.
She was lost...drifting out to sea - a relentless current stringing her along helplessly. She tried to anchor herself to him, but she was dangerously out of control - completely at Sam's mercy - as he took her body for himself, and coaxed unfathomable pleasure from it. Every buck of his hips into her, was leaving her breathless and trembling. She was so close to the edge again, and she didn't know how long she could hold back.
"Bella," He pleaded in a whisper, lips disconnecting from hers. She opened her eyes too meet his searing gaze, a finger coming up to trace the deep frown between his brows. His jaw was set and his grip on her tightened as he moved inside of her, hips thrusting unevenly. And she understood. He wanted her to follow as he let go.
She nodded once, letting him know she was ready, and gave in, jumping off the edge into an abyss of ecstasy.
Her body contracted as pleasure gripped her insides, hips arching up into him, eyes rolling back as her mouth popped open to cry out his name, over and over, like a prayer to the gods of lust as she fell apart in his arms.
She could feel Sam's fingers dig into her back, and his hips thrusting hard, emptying himself deep inside of her with a groan against her jaw. They clung to each other, like they would scatter apart into a million pieces if they ever let go, breath mingling as they panted in rapture. And for a minute, she couldn't fathom why they waited so long to do this.
They stayed wrapped up in each other for a few more minutes, both trying desperately to catch their breath as they slowly came down from their high.
But eventually, Sam pulled away, slipping out of her, and placed a tender kiss on her lips. He shifted them effortlessly, so she lay next to him, head resting on his chest, his arm wrapped around her back.
Neither of them said anything as Sam stroked his fingers languorously up and down her back, her hand resting over his ribs. She honestly had no idea what was going on in Sam's head while his heart slowed to an even rhythm. And as she listened to the soothing, steady beat against his chest, she found herself drifting off slowly...one thought surfacing to the forefront of her mind... they've just crossed so many lines...
"So where does this leave us now?" Sam murmured against her temple, hand coming up to twirl her hair around his finger.
She lazily tilted her head back to look at him, stomach dropping at the sight of his easy, carefree smile. It instantly pushed all thoughts of sleep from her brain. She swallowed thickly, trying to think of a way to answer his question. Where did this leave them now?
"I don't know, Sam." She admitted with a whisper, shaking her head briefly.
His beautiful smile disappeared, to be replaced by wide, almost frightened eyes. "What do you mean you don't know?" His eyes searched hers furiously, as he tried to comprehend what she was telling him.
She opened her mouth, struggling to find the right words to express her feelings. It wasn't an easy task. "We had sex." She shrugged. "I don't think we have to label it as anything more. It was just sex. And it was so good. But..." She stopped talking when his eyes hardened, and forced her eyes away from his. It hurt to see him like this.
"Like...casual sex, you mean?" He asked. "No strings attached?"
"Yeah, exactly." She looked back up at him, relieved that he understood. But she realized in that moment, as she saw his lips curl into a mirthless smile, that she was way off base. He didn't understand. Didn't share the sentiment. He seemed angry with her, instead.
He pushed up, letting her slip from his arms, and chuckled darkly. "You should know by now that I don't do casual sex." He ground out. "Not at all. Sex isn't just something I do because I have an itch that needs to be scratched. It's means something to me, Bella."
"Sam," She sighed, and sat up too, reaching for his hands. "You know I told you that my heart isn't ready."
He pulled his hands away, got out of bed and fixed her with a cold stare as he towered over her. "Well, then I'm out, Bella." He shook his head. " I can't do this back and forth bullshit." He lifted his hands in defeat. "I'm done. So fucking done."
"Don't say that." She pleaded. "You're overreacting now."
"What did you expect, Bella?" He ground out, jaws clenched. His hands trembled almost imperceptibly, where they now hung at his sides. "For us to continue sleeping together with no consequence or meaning?"
"I don't know, Sam." She groaned into her hands, and shook her head. "I don't know."
He barked a laugh. "Do you know what I think?"
She looked up to find him sneering at her. "It's not your heart that's the problem. It's that head of yours." He tapped his finger against his temple. "You overthink EVERYTHING. And it keeps you from doing what your heart tells you to do." He scoffed. "I've waited long enough. And I'm not gonna have my heart broken again, just when it was finally starting to heal."
And then he turned and walked out, without looking back, leaving her feeling like a complete asshole.
She fell roughly back against the bed and groaned out loud in frustration, digging her hands into her hair. What in god's name did she just do...?
A/N: As I said in the beginning...TRUST ME!