Page 76 of Wrecked

I follow him, my gaze eating him up. When he turns, I catch a glimpse of the hickey I gave him two nights ago. It’s still visible, a fading bruise on his pale skin. I should feel bad about it, but I don’t. I want everyone he comes in contact with to know he’s taken.

He gets two mugs down from the overhead cupboard and sets them on the counter near the coffee pot.

I turn him to face me. “I slept in your bed last night,alone. I hated it.”

Sam gives me a sad smile. “I missed you, too.” He cocks his head as if trying to crack his neck. “I slept on the sofa.”

“Don’t ever make me sleep without you again,” I say. I maneuver him against the kitchen wall and step in close, trapping him. I grip his jaw tightly and lean in to kiss the hickey. “I’m glad it’s still there.”

Sam swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Me, too.” He grabs hold of my waistband as if he needs an anchor, something solid to hang on to.

I kiss him then. It’s a rough kiss, hungry, and a bit desperate. Perhaps a bit resentful, too, because he stayed away last night. I know it's not his fault, and it’s not fair for me to blame him. He was just watching out for our girl. I would expect nothing less of him.

His fingers tighten on my waistband, and he moans into my mouth. The sounds he’s making are causing every drop of blood in my body to flow south. I’m so hard, my erection is pressing against my jeans.

Sam opens his mouth to me, and I lick my way inside. He tastes like peppermint, and he smells like soap and fresh laundry. But underneath those manmade scents is what I’m really seeking—Sam himself, the smell of his skin, the heat coming off his body, his natural scent, warm and masculine, and so addicting.

We freeze at the sound of a feminine gasp coming from the open kitchen doorway. I release him instantly and step back. We glance over to see a sweet, oval face gaping at us in shock. Beth’s face is flushed, her eyes are wide, her hands are covering her open mouth.

Oh, fuck.

“Oh, hey, Beth,” Sam says lightly. He’s the first one of us to regain any sense of control. He’s blushing, too, his cheeks tinged with pink.

“Hi, guys,” she finally manages to say. Her voice cracks and the pink in her cheeks deepens.

Shit!Shit!Shit!

After keeping my relationship with Sam under wraps all this time, today I fuck up.

“Good morning, kiddo.” I try to remain calm. Try to act like I’m not on the verge of having a heart attack.Nothing to see here, darlin’.

Beth’s astonished gaze darts back and forth, from me to Sam, as she tries to make sense of what she just witnessed. “Oh, my God.”

I take a step toward her. “Beth—”

“No, it’s okay!” she says, throwing up her hands. She rattles on, talking fast, her voice shaking. “It’s fine. I mean, I’m happy for you guys. Really! It’s just… it’s a bit of a shock, that’s all, because I had no idea.”

“No one does,” Sam says, his tone suddenly bitter. He steps past me. “Jamie’s outside walking the dog. I think I’ll go help him.”

Sam bails, walking right out the front door and closing it quietly behind him.

“I’m sorry, honey,” I say.Damn it!I should have told her sooner. For her to find out about me and Sam this way—I’m sure she sees it as a betrayal.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Sam?” I can hear the pain in her voice. “On those nights when you stayed out late—or didn’t come home until morning—you were withSam?”

I didn’t know she’d noticed. “Yes.”

She looks so hurt. “I don’t understand. Why have you been hiding this from us? Fromme?”

I can’t bear seeing the pain on her face. “Beth, honey, it’s complicated.”

She shakes her head, clearly not believing me.

“I brought you a change of clothes and your toiletries.” I’m hoping a change in subject will help defuse the situation. “Something you can wear to work, if you decide to go in today. I wasn’t sure what your plans are.”

She looks away. “Thank you.”

My gut is churning, my pulse racing. If I ever experienced flight or fight, this is it. “I’d better get to the shooting range. I’ve got an early appointment.”