Chapter 31

By the time the weekend was over, Sam was feeling much better. She told Jake it was from seeing him. Jake colored everytime she said that which only made Sam say it more often.

She knew she probably embarrassed him when he had come over on his way back to GBC. Sam had thrown her arms around his neck with her family in the room and hugged him close to her. Her family had beaten a hasty exit to save Jake any more discomfiture.

"Aww Brat," Jake had hugged her back once they were alone. "You're killin' me here."

"No, you're killing me," Sam whimpered as she nuzzled into his neck. "I don't want you to go."

"I don't want to go, but I have to," Jake told her. "You know I have to go."

"I know," Sam sighed. "I do know. I don't have to like it though."

"I don't like it either," Jake said, hugging her tighter to him.

"When will you be home again?" Sam asked, kissing his jaw. Jake's shoulder came up as he shivered. Sam smiled and Jake felt her smile against his skin causing him to shiver even more.

"A week before Christmas," Jake responded.

"Say it, two and a half weeks," Sam pouted.

"Two and a half weeks," Jake murmured. "Is that better?"

"No actually, it's worse," Sam huffed.

Jake couldn't help the chuckle. "I do love you, Brat."

"I love you too," Sam told him, kissing his chin, then licking it quickly.

She saw the goosebumps break out over his skin and she laughed huskily under her breath.

"You are a brat," Jake told her, the humor evident in his voice.

"Yes I am," Sam laughed that womanly husky laugh again, driving Jake crazy. "I'm your brat though right?"

"Only my brat," Jake declared fiercely. He was feeling very possessive of her right then.

Sam pulled back to look at him, hearing the cadence in his voice. "What?"

"Nothin'," Jake assured her.

"Tell me," Sam insisted.

She could see him struggling whether to tell her or not. He sighed deeply, his dark brown eyes fathomless as he looked at her.

"You're a beautiful woman, Samantha Anne and I worry that someone will make a play for you when I'm so far away," Jake murmured.

"I'm not," Sam shook her head. She held up her hand when he would have said something. "Even if I were, which I'm not, nobody will ever replace you in my affections. I love you Jake. I'll never love anyone the way I love you right this second. I couldn't."

"I adore you, Brat," Jake couldn't help kissing her.

"What about my cooties?" Sam laughed against his mouth.

"The heck with your cooties," Jake kissed her again.

Neither cared about their being in her kitchen where anyone could walk in on them. They only cared about saying goodbye to the other properly.

Jake's hand tangled in her auburn hair as he deepened the kiss. Sam stood on her tiptoes to reach him better, tightening her arms around his neck.

"I need to go," Jake groaned a short time later.

"Well phooey," Sam complained. Jake snorted.

"Phooey?" he choked out.

"Well I don't think my family would like to hear what I really wanted to say," Sam teased.

"No, I don't want you grounded until your twenty one," Jake laughed.

"Hurry back to me Jacob Dylan," Sam kissed him soundly.

"As quickly as I can Samantha Anne," Jake promised.