Relieved when he did as I asked, I moved in between his legs, taking a long delicious lick before pulling him deep.
His deep groans spurred me on as I took him with a fervor that was new to me. “Sam, baby, I’m gonna come.” He groaned, trying to pull back.
I looked up at him and pulled him deeper in response, taking everything he had with relish.
After one last leisurely lick, I pulled away with a mischievous smile.
“Holy hell,” he panted, his chest heaving and gaze hooded. He slipped back into the water, taking me in his arms. We stood that way for many long moments as I listened to the pounding of his heart begin to slow.
I shivered slightly.
“Let’s get in the hot tub,” he suggested, pulling me in that direction. He sat me in between his legs as the warm bubbles swirled around us. “How did I resist you all this time?” he murmured in my ear as I lay against his chest.
I shrugged, unsure what to say.
“What was the look earlier?” he prodded gently, delivering a soft kiss to my neck that made my skin tingle in response.
“What look?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what he was talking about.
“You looked… I don’t know, shy or something when I asked you to go swimming.”
There was no good reason I was standoffish with people. No childhood trauma or bad relationship. I’d just always been a bit reserved when it came to feelings or sharing any part of myself. I knew Sid would challenge me, and though it wasn’t comfortable for me, I wanted to try.
“I just remember the girls you used to go for. They were so different from me,” I replied, glad he couldn’t see the wince that came along with my statement.
“Ah,” he murmured thoughtfully, his fingers tracing absently over my collarbone. “How do you mean?”
“Ugh, I don’t know. Can we not talk about this?” I pleaded.
“I didn’t like that look on your face, so I think we should.”
Well, shit.
“I don’t know!” I threw up my hands in exasperation. “They were tall, skinny, brunette. I’m short, blonde, and I know I’m not fat or anything, but skinny isn’t necessarily the right adjective,” I explained dryly.
His fingers stopped moving and I didn’t imagine his posture stiffening. “Christ, Sam, do you not see how fucking gorgeous you are? Of course I picked girls who were different than you. I didn’t want to be reminded of what I couldn’t have.”
My heart swelled at his words.
He sat me up, guiding me to turn so I was looking at him. “Sweetheart, you’re a walking wet dream. Every time we went out, I had to stop myself from physically fending every dick off within a mile radius. There were the times when I wasn’t able to stop myself.”
I remembered those times well.
His hands moved to my ass, squeezing as his eyes heated. “I can’t tell you how many nights I lay awake fantasizing about you, about this body. And you bet your ass now that you’re mine I won’t be restraining myself from fending off any asshole who attempts to breathe the same air as you.”
I stared at him in wide-eyed shock, my breath hitching in response to his intensity.
“Okay?” he demanded.
“Okay,” I replied breathlessly as he moved me to straddle his lap, taking my mouth in a scorching kiss.
He broke away, his mouth a breath from my ear. “I’m all in, Sam,” his deep voice said with a certainty that settled something deep inside me.
I swallowed back the fear, feeling as though I was on the edge of a beautiful precipice, and managed a small nod.
He squeezed me tighter, drawing me closer into the body so new to me and yet so familiar. I realized that if I was going out on an edge, he was the only person I’d want to cling to.
CHAPTER 11
After a quick breakfast the next morning, we headed to the store. We were nearly to town when his eyes shot to the rearview mirror for the third time in a matter of seconds.
My heart rate spiked at his clenched jaw and alert posture. “What is it?”
“We have a tail,” he replied without preamble. “Change of plans, we’ll head to the freeway.” He grabbed his phone and hit the gas, weaving through traffic with complete control.
I’d never seen this side of Sid. I knew he was highly trained but I’d never seen him in action. He was clearly in his element with the clench in his jaw the only indicator that we were in a stressful situation.
“Masters—what’s good?” Declan’s voice came over the line.
“We’ve got a tail,” Sid reported, his tone authoritative and calm.
“Roger that.” Declan replied, all trace of levity gone and replaced with curt focus. “Theo’s a klick out. Looks like he’s reporting in now. Boss man is on with him.”