NEXT TO ME (A Love Happens Novel Book 1) (17 page)

“Make no mistake about it, babe. I’m getting what I want out of you tonight. You’re gonna tell me your whole fucking life story before it’s all said and done. From your second grade report card, to who you lost your virginity to, right up to this very moment.” His arm tightened around her waist, his words a frosty command. “And it better be the goddamn truth, too, you understand?” When she didn’t answer, he bit her neck again, harder this time, and her breath caught. “Do you understand, Ali?”

If he meant for that bite to punish her, it missed the mark by a mile. “Yeah, I’ll talk. Just don’t stop touching me.”

Rough fingers slid up the outside of her thigh and underneath the hem of the sweatshirt, gliding over her bare hip. Ali was glad she hadn’t bothered with panties when she heard his low growl of approval, felt his breath against her cheek as he leaned in, placing his much larger hand over top of hers to pin her in place, pressing his hips against her ass.

“It’s gonna be a real enlightening chat for me, too, don’t you think? Just as soon as I get this out of my system.” He released her abruptly and stepped back. “Turn around.”

Ali missed his warmth immediately, but did as he ordered, her breath coming in silent pants as she waited to see what he would do next. His gaze raked over her body, from her red painted toes straight up to the juncture of her thighs, barely covered by his sweatshirt and nothing else. The stretched collar hung off her right shoulder, exposing her tanned skin and the fact that she’d passed on a bra tonight, as well. Not that he wasn’t already aware of it, given the way he was staring at her chest as it rose and fell with her heightened breath, her hardened nipples pressing against the well worn fabric. Ali needed his touch, his mouth right there. This was a Sam she hadn’t seen before. He was edgy. Dominant and demanding, and ready to pounce. The hot emotion in his eyes and callous tone in his voice didn’t scare her, though. Just the opposite. Oh, there was no doubt he was pissed as hell, but he was turned on, too, and that fact probably only fueled his anger.

She let out a tiny squeak when he reached out and abruptly lifted her to the counter. The sweatshirt gathered around her hips, the granite surprisingly cold on her bare ass. Ali reached for him, grumbling her objection when he immediately stepped back.

“Spread your legs.” The directive was harsh and she widened her thighs a bit, her hand going to the zipper of the shirt, but she froze when he sternly repeated himself. “I said. Spread. Your. Legs.”

She blinked, shocked at his audacity, but did it anyway and he stared down at her, his shadowed face unreadable. Sam was as alpha as any man she’d ever known and the sex they shared was wildly satisfying, but this side of him—this arrogant and controlling, devil may care attitude—was intriguing, and she had to admit, sexy as hell. And instead of taking away her power, it only gave her more, along with a boldness, a sense of sexuality and confidence she’d never known.

Smiling at her little secret, she reached down, placing her hands on her widespread knees before slowly sliding them up the inside of her thighs and toward her center, wanting him as worked up as she was. His eyes tracked her hands and he reached for the collar of his t-shirt, pulling it off in one smooth motion and distracting her with the sight of that mouthwatering maze of a tattoo. With a quick flick of his wrist, he popped open the button fly on his jeans but didn’t push them off and Ali followed the enticing line of dark hair that bisected his defined abs and led to her prize. He was hard, his long length outlined in the faded denim, stretching it tightly.

She licked her lips and grinned seductively. “I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder.”

His expression was distinctly skeptical. “Are you talking about mine or yours?” Looking down at his lap, he added meaningfully, “Because it’s not my heart that’s fond of you.”

Ouch. That stung.

Her hands stilled and she searched his face, hoping to see the exact opposite in his eyes, but he was in front of her a heartbeat later, roughly yanking the zipper open to reveal her nakedness underneath. Ali never had a chance to respond, to ask if he really meant what he said.

The sudden, sharp pull of his mouth on her nipple zapped her of all rationale thought, his fingers plucking at her other breast before moving down her flat belly. She ran her hands along the hot skin of his bare back and up through his hair, touching him for the first time in days. It made her unreasonably happy and she dipped her head, wanting him face to face, loving his mouth on her breast but needing his kiss more. Sam wasn’t cooperating though, as he straightened away from her, roughly pulling her hips forward until she was near the edge of the counter.

His fingers swiped through her wetness, opening her to a deeper touch and she watched his face while he looked down at her, open and exposed. “You get so wet for me.”

Her eyes closed in embarrassment as he touched her intently, increasing the flood of moisture before moving up to circle her right where she wanted it most. His caress was firm and right on target, with no pretense of teasing. Forget the arousing torment of a slowly building orgasm, he was swinging for the fences on the first pitch.

“Sam...” Gripping his bare shoulders tightly, she tilted her head back and whimpered, more than happy to oblige. When he pushed one finger, then two into her, his thumb rubbing against her in a perfectly timed rhythm, she lost it completely, her body clenching against him in waves as she moaned her pleasure.

It took all of two minutes for him to make her come.

She heard the sound of foil ripping before she caught her breath, opening her eyes to see him sheathing himself, his jeans barely pushed down his hips. He gripped her ass and guided himself fully inside her with one long, quick thrust. She gasped at the sudden intrusion, leaning back to brace herself as he began pounding into her, hard and fast.

“Sam... Sam...” she said again, unable to utter anything beyond his name. Her hand reached out for him, wanting him closer, needing to feel his arms around her. She craved the touch of his lips against hers, fortifying their inescapable connection to each other.

“What?” he replied absently, remaining just out of her reach as he gripped her hips tightly and thrust deeply, their bodies touching only where they were connected.

It was odd how detached he was, how withdrawn. Never making eye contact, his hot gaze stayed on her body, watching as her breasts bounced in time with his driving hips. Ali knew he hadn’t come here for sex. He’d shown up angry and loaded with questions that she was fully prepared to answer, knowing in her heart that the truth would most likely have him walking away for good. And if so, this would be the last time she could touch him, love him.

Savoring the feel of his big body plunging inside her, she tightened her inner muscles, wanting to grip him within her body and never let go. Encouraged by his ragged breathing—the only outward sign of his pleasure—she trailed her hand down the soft hair on his lower abdomen and felt him suck in a breath. Rubbing her fingers over the base of his wet erection and the soft sac underneath, she stroked him boldly then brazenly touched herself, hoping for some kind of reaction from him. Anything that would replace this robotic, unemotional man with the passionate lover she’d come to know.

“Jesus, Ali. You’re gonna make me lose it,” he said, on a choked groan, his molten eyes darting to hers before he looked back down, his thrusts slowing. Unsure, she moved her hand away, but he reached out and put it back. “No. Touch yourself for me. Show me how much you like this.”

His thrusts were measured, deep but steady as he watched her, the intense look on his face closer to the Sam she knew, the Sam she’d tried not to love. Ali did as he asked, wanting nothing more than to please him. Time stood still when he reached down and added his own fingers to hers, and she lost herself in the all consuming pleasure that only this man could give her. Just as the wonderful ripple of pleasure coursed through her center, his body went taut and he thrust hard, his groan nearly silent as he emptied himself into her.

Only then did he lean into her, allowing her touch as she wrapped herself around his still shuddering body. His head was down, his forehead resting on her shoulder, and Ali slowly massaged the line of his spine, grateful to have him back in her arms.

“God, I missed you, Sam. So much. More than you’ll ever know.” Running her hands through his damp hair, she dipped her chin to place a soft kiss on his temple. “I wanted to call you every day. Every minute, really.”

He didn’t move, but the anger in his voice was unmistakable. “Then why didn’t you?”

She hesitated, wondering how much truth he was really ready for. “Because I’m getting too attached to you. This powerful thing happening between us isn’t what I expected. And I don’t want to need you like I do.”

It was a quiet confession. Her first one.

He lifted his head, resting his mouth close to hers as he spoke. “Loose lips, Ali? That’s a rare fucking thing when it comes to you. Guess I should’ve been pouring entire bottles of wine into you this whole time, huh? Or just invited your best friend Grady over sooner.”

Ignoring the insulting jab because she had no defense, Ali took advantage of his closeness and placed a hand against the back of his neck, licking along his bottom lip before kissing him slowly.

He didn’t kiss her back. He hadn’t kissed her at all tonight. He hadn’t kissed her in days.

Making an impatient sound, she opened her eyes to find his silver gaze fixed on her, the afterglow gone. His expression was one of a stranger’s and her heart began to crack.

She traced a finger tenderly over the arch of his brow and smiled sadly. “No matter what happens, I want you to know...” Ali fought the emotion she knew he would reject. “I’m glad I met you, Sam. The time we spent together is about the only thing in my life that I don’t regret.”

Something flashed in his eyes, something she’d never seen before and didn’t recognize. It looked a lot like hurt, but before she could question him, he blinked and it was gone.

Wrapping an arm around her waist, he hastily lifted her off the counter and set her on wobbly feet, his voice all business when he took a step back and said, “The floor, the sofa or the bed. You decide. I’m not done with you yet.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“I don’t like it when he touches you.” Sam’s blunt statement penetrated the sexual haze surrounding them and echoed off her bedroom walls. It was the first sentence he’d uttered since ordering her to pick a horizontal surface an hour ago.

Momentarily confused, her hand stilled on the back of his head. “He, who?” Danny?

“Grady.” He grumbled the name impatiently against her inner thigh and Ali had to laugh. He’d just used his mouth on her, slowly building her up and bringing her to an amazingly strong orgasm, and he was thinking about Grady?

“It’s not funny,” he said, trailing hot, wet kisses up her body. “And I don’t like it.”

She stretched, purring her sexual contentment. “He’s harmless.”

Sam snorted, kissing the tip of her breast before looking up. “He’d like you to think that.”

“Mmm, let’s talk about what I like instead.” She hooked her legs around his ass, feeling his hardness against her. “I like it when you kiss me. And I like it when you’re inside me.”

She pulled his hot mouth to her own and, after what seemed like months instead of only days, Sam finally kissed her back. It was a sinful and sexy mating of their mouths, and Ali felt herself catch fire again, loving his taste. Never wanting to go a single day without it again. She pushed on his chest and Sam, surprisingly obedient, rolled to his back, taking her with him as he did so.

Having him exactly where she wanted, she traced his tattoo with her fingernail. “And you know what else I like? I like you, Sam Gleeson.” Leaning down, she kissed him tenderly. “I like you a whole lot.”

“Just like?” he replied against her mouth, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“I said a whole lot.” Ali’s laugh turned to a moan when she felt him shift his hips and reach down, his erection probing her entrance.

“I like you, too, Ali-cat. A whole lot.” Running his fingers along her folds, Sam tested her readiness and Ali barely heard his whispered, “Probably more than that.”

Done waiting, she sat up and slowly lowered herself down, taking him deeply inside.

His eyes narrowed on her breasts, his head dropping back on the pillow. “Fuck, you feel good. Every goddamn time, you feel so good.”

His rough words warmed her heart and stroked her desire, the edge of anger he’d had earlier fading completely as Ali quickly found a rapid, magical rhythm. But the fast, pounding pace she craved was tempered when Sam placed his big hands on her waist, slowing her to a steady, measured tempo that he controlled with the composed lift of his hips. She moaned and he grinned wickedly, knowing it was a pleasurable torture for Ali to be in the power position, yet not be in charge of the speed.

In the end it didn’t matter, because a few hours later, when Sam nuzzled a sleepy Ali from behind and pulled her up to her hands and knees, he took her at a frenzied pace that was exactly what she craved from him.

***

Ali slowly woke to the full, late morning sun shining brightly through her windows, the drapes still drawn open from yesterday. She laid there, barely covered by the thin sheet and freezing her ass off in the cold air conditioning, trying to find the motivation to move her aching muscles. And she quickly realized three things. First, there was a dog sitting on the floor next to her side of the bed, as evidenced by the pungent smell of puppy breath near her face, and he hadn’t been there last night. Second, it was going to be colder than a witch’s tit—as her Daddy would say—in Buffalo today, thanks to the low sound of the flat screen TV, tuned to The Weather Channel and currently listing the forecasts for cities she wouldn’t be within a thousand miles of today. And the third, and most promising observation, was the sound of her shower running, no doubt spraying sheets of hot, soapy water down an even hotter body.