Chapter 14 12
Sam woke up and frowned when she looked around. She didn't know where she was, and she was alone. The bedroom she was in was masculine, and suddenly she realized she was in Jason's bedroom. She looked around again and smiled. The room was big, bigger than she had ever seen or had ever slept in before, and she loved it. She sat up and regretted it when her stomach churned, and she lay back down with a moan. She closed her eyes and sighed, and that's when the door opened.
''I've got some crackers for you,'' she heard Jason say, and she smiled, her eyes still closed. ''I figured you'd be nauseas this morning, because I remember Carly telling me about that,'' he added uncomfortable, and she opened her eyes. She looked at him and saw he was already dressed and showered. His hair was still a bit damp and she smiled at him.
''Thank you,'' she said softly, and she sat up slowly and sighed. Her stomach churned again and she took a deep breath, and suddenly she felt a cracker being pushed in her hand. She waited for a while and then took a bite, and another. ''I've never had it like this – when I was pregnant before,'' she said between bites, ''I didn't notice until I was at least three months, and when I did notice the morning sickness was almost over,'' she told him, and he nodded.
''I remember Carly being pregnant was hell for her. She'd tell me about the morning sickness and all – and when Michael was born she told me it was all worth it in the end,'' he told her, and she nodded.
''Ok, I'm ready to get out,'' she said suddenly, and he smiled and helped her out of bed. She stood still for a moment to wait for the nausea, but it didn't come and she smiled up at him, ''is it ok with you if I take a shower?'' she asked, and he widened his eyes.
''Of course – you don't have to ask,'' he said, and she nodded. ''I'll put some towels in the bathroom and bring you your bag,'' he told her, and he went to the closet and grabbed some towels, while Sam walked over to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
''Thanks,'' she said when he came in with the towels, and he smiled at her and pulled her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed in contentment at being in his arms. ''I don't even remember falling asleep last night, and I know I didn't wake up,'' she said, and he laughed softly. She could feel it rumble in his chest and she loved the feeling against her ear, ''so thanks for getting me to bed,'' she said softly, and he nodded against her head.
''It's my pleasure,'' he whispered, and she looked up at him and smiled. He kissed her suddenly, and she responded by kissing him back with passion. Then suddenly he pulled back and she could hear his breathing. It was heavy, just like her own, and she smiled at him again. ''You take a shower before I can't stop, and I'll make breakfast after I take up your bag,'' he said, and she nodded. The shower was hot, and she turned some of the cold with it and stepped in. She didn't take long, and when she got out she saw the clothes on the toilet lid and smiled. She dried off and got dressed, and while she walked downstairs she went through her hair with the towel.
''Jason?'' she called out, and she heard something in the kitchen. Knowing Jason told her he would make breakfast, she made her way there and smiled when she saw him standing in front of the stove. ''You look good in the kitchen,'' she joked, and then she realized he really did look good in the kitchen.
''Thanks – I made you something already – I was just making my own,'' he told her without turning around, and she noticed the plate on the kitchen table. She sat down in one of the chairs and hung the wet towel on the back of it.
''Thank you – scrambled eggs with bacon,'' she said looking at what he made, ''I missed things like this – just the simple things,'' she told him, and he nodded as he put his food on a plate and sat down opposite of her.
''I know, that's why I made it,'' he said, and then he smiled. She started eating and moaned when she tasted what he made.
''This is amazing, Jason,'' she said with wide eyes. ''Maybe you could teach me to cook sometime,'' she said suddenly, and he laughed and nodded.
''I can do that,'' he replied, and she smiled at him. ''I don't know where you're going to go, but Sam, I want you to know you can stay here if you want – or if you don't want that I can get you something for the time being,'' he suddenly said, and Sam looked up. When she saw the look on his face she frowned.
''What is it, Jason? I mean I know I love spending time with you but do you thinks it's a good idea for me to move in right away?'' she asked him, and he shrugged. ''And I can rent something myself, you don't have to do that for me, but I do want to see where this goes. I love you and I'm having your baby, Jason, and at one point we'll have to figure something out about living arrangements, but I just don't…''
''I understand, Sam you don't have to explain. And I'm sorry – I didn't mean – but, I already rented something for you,'' he said looking down, and Sam sighed and then smiled.
''It's ok, Jason. I really appreciate it, and you know we'll see each other a lot, right?'' she said, and he nodded, but he didn't look at her. She lifted his chin with her hand and he closed his eyes for a second before looking at her. ''We'll see a lot of each other, because I know for myself I want to see a lot of you – I want to get to know you,'' she told him, and he nodded again, this time with a smile on his face.
''I want to get to know you too, and even though I don't like you living alone, I'll accept. That's why I rented the place in the first place. I didn't think you'd be comfortable living with me right now – I mean not right away – and I thought of what I could do. I remember you telling me this week you loved Max's cottage, and I rented something like it,'' he told her, and she smiled at him. ''When you get there you'll have a couple of guards on you, and I know you don't like it but I don't want anything to happen to you, and now with…'' his voice trailed off and Sam knew what he was going to say. With Manny out there. She understood, and she was glad he thought of it, because she didn't think she would feel safe alone.
''Thank you, Jason. It really means a lot to me,'' she whispered. ''I'm going to go and look at it later – do you mind bringing me there?'' she asked, and he shook his head.
''No, I'll bring you there – when did you say you had the appointment?'' he asked her, and she thought about it. She didn't really remember, and she looked at him frowning. ''You don't remember?'' he asked, and she shook her head.
''I've written it on the calendar in my room at Max's, but I don't really remember what date,'' she told him softly, and he nodded.
''Ok, we'll just get the calendar, because we do need to know when it is,'' he told her, and she nodded. She felt stupid for forgetting what date her appointment with the doctor was, but she remembered having the same problems when she was pregnant before and she looked up.
''I tend to forget things when I'm pregnant – and because it's bad on a normal basis, this only gets worse with me,'' she told him, and he nodded with a smile. ''Well, I'm done. Breakfast was amazing, Jason thank you,'' she added, and he smiled brightly.
''Thank you, it was my pleasure,'' he told her, ''are you ready to go?'' he asked her, and when she nodded he got up, held out his hand for her to grab, and took her out.
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Jason looked around and smiled. The cottage he rented looked like it was something made for Sam, and when he looked at her running around he knew he had done the right thing. He didn't like the idea of Sam living alone, but she had agreed with having a guard on her at all times, and he knew she would spend a lot of time with him – if he had anything to say about it. He made his way to the kitchen and looked around. He could get used to cooking here – he didn't cook much, but when he did he liked it. It calmed him down a lot, and since he had been with Sam he'd wanted to cook for her forever. ''What do you say we break in this kitchen tonight? I'll cook for you,'' he told her, and she looked at him with a smile. It felt good to make her smile.
''I'd love that, Jason. We could make a dinner date out of it,'' she said with a wink, and she made her way toward him. He smiled at her and opened his arms for her, and she stepped in his embrace. With her head on his chest, he could place his chin on top of her head, and he loved the feeling of her in his arms. It was like they were made for each other. ''Hmmm, this feels nice,'' she whispered, and he sighed in agreement. Just holding her felt really good, and even though he wanted more, he could do with this.
''Do you like the cottage?'' he asked, and he felt her nod against his chest. ''I know it's not much, and it's small, but I thought you'd like it,'' he started rambling, and she laughed softly.
''I love it Jason. I don't need a big house to be happy – as long as I have you with me – close, I'm happy,'' she told him, and she stepped back, but not out of his embrace. ''I love you, and even though I didn't – and still don't – think it's the best thing to move in right away, doesn't mean we can't spend a lot of time together,'' she added, and he smiled down at her and leaned in for a kiss. He could feel her respond, and he deepened the kiss within seconds. Their tongues battled, but suddenly Sam pulled back.
''What is it?'' he asked her, and she shook her head with a smile.
''Nothing, I just don't – I feel like we're going too fast, even though I love this,'' she said, gesturing between them. He nodded. He could understand how she felt, and he felt the same way.
''You're right, I'm sorry,'' he said softly, and she shook her head again, cupping his face in her hands.
''No, you don't have anything to be sorry about – I wanted it just as much as you did – and still do, but we just have to take it slow, Jason. I don't want to jump into this without getting to know you more – not just what you've told me and what I've seen in prison,'' she whispered, and he nodded.
''I know, and I want that too. You know what – I'm going to go get some grocery for tonight. And maybe you can settle in some more – I know you still want to personalize this place,'' he said with a wink, and she nodded.
''I do – I love it, I just need some pictures. I think I'm going over to Max to get the rest of my clothes – I know I have that guard with me so he can help me if Max isn't there, right?'' she asked, and he nodded. She could do whatever she wanted. ''Ok, so,'' she continued, ''I'm going over to Max and I'll see you here when you're ready,'' she added, and he smiled. He leaned in for a kiss and she kissed him quickly, and he laughed softly. He made his way to the door when he thought of something.
''I love you too – and be careful,'' he said, and she smiled at him. He turned around and raised his hand in a wave, and he heard her laugh softly as he opened the door and walked out. When he made it to his car he turned around and saw Sam standing in the door opening and he waved again, getting a wave from her in return.
As he stepped in his car and drove away, he saw he move inside, and he smiled. He was glad she liked the place, because he didn't want her staying somewhere she didn't feel home.
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Sam stepped into Max's cottage, which was close by, and looked around. Max wasn't home, and the guard had followed her in. She was glad she wasn't alone, with the thought of Manny Ruiz being out and alive, she didn't feel safe anymore. Even with the guard with her, she didn't feel safe. The only time she felt completely safe, was when she was with Jason, and she didn't mind that at all. She loved being with Jason, and if she felt safe with him she would spend a lot of time with him.
''Jamie, can you get that calendar and throw it in one of the bags – I'm going to raid the closet – I won't be long, because I don't have a lot of stuff,'' she rambled, and Jamie just nodded and did as he was told. He didn't talk much; she had figured that out some time earlier on the day, and he held a nice distance between them if she didn't need him. She didn't even notice he was there when she was walking down the street, and she liked the idea. She knew he was there, but she wouldn't have the feeling the guard was breathing down her neck every second of the day.
It really didn't take her long to pack all her stuff, and she smiled at Jamie as he took the bag from her. ''Thank you. I need to get down to the docks for a second right now – I need some breathing time before I spend the night with the boss,'' she told him, and he just nodded and followed her out. He didn't ride in the car with her, but he had his own car. As she stepped in her car she watched him step in his car and start it before she started hers. She didn't want to leave him behind, even though she didn't really like the idea of having him following her all day for a period of time.
When she arrived at the docks, she got out and walked out to one of the piers. She looked out at the sea and breathed in the salty air, and it made her relax. She knew Jamie had taken some distance because she had told him she needed some breathing time, and she needed to have the feeling of being alone even though she wasn't. Suddenly she heard the stairs croak, but she didn't bother looking back because she thought it was Jamie, who decided to come and see if she was ok. ''I'm ok, Jamie. Can you please give me some more time?'' she asked, and she heard a low chuckle. The hair on the back of her neck rose and she felt a chill when she heard the chuckle. She knew who it was without turning around.
''It's been a long time, Sweetness,'' she heard, and she turned around to see Manny Ruiz, the man of her nightmares approach her.