Without a destination in mind I drive aimlessly around town and down dark backroads until my body relaxes, the anger passing. Glancing at the clock on the dash, I notice I’ve been driving for an hour. With nowhere left to go, I make a u-turn and head back into town.
It doesn’t take long to turn down the street to the duplex, parking next to Sammie’s car in the shared driveway before making my way inside. It’s been a long day and I have a feeling the next several days will be as well. Readying for a shower, I discard my shoes and peel off my shirt. Just as the button slides through the loop of my jeans there’s a knock at the door.
Knowing who would be at the door at this time of night, I debated putting a shirt on. With a smirk, I step through the living room not bothering to button my pants or dawn a shirt.
Let’s see her get flustered.
I don’t even look through the peephole to make sure Sammie is standing there, I just open it. The look on her face is priceless. Her mouth is poised to speak but freezes the minute she sees my bare chest. Carrying lumber, hammering nails, and sawing through wood have all done their part helping to tone and harden the muscles of my upper body. Sammie’s eyes rake down my chest and over the abs my hard work has won me.
Coming to her senses, she closes her mouth and audibly swallows, making a crooked grin cross my face. “Um,” she stammers, still flustered. “I came to talk to you.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I take in her appearance. She’s no longer wearing that dress that hugged her ass making it hard for me to concentrate during the council meeting. No, she’s wearing a full-on Christmas PJ set, her long-sleeved top featuring a Christmas tree, and matching green flannel pants. Her dark hair is tangled in a bun on the top of her head and her face is clean of any makeup.
She looks even more beautiful than ever. The tightening in the crotch of my jeans agrees.
“I assumed so,” I say as I lean against the doorjamb. I’m rewarded with her gaze once again traveling down to the top of my unbuttoned jeans and—holy Christ—she bites her lip. What I wouldn’t give to know what that feels like. The bite of her teeth against my soft flesh. My spitfire making her mark. It takes every ounce of willpower I have to speak and not groan in frustration. “What did you need to talk about?”
She’s still knocked off balance and call me crazy, but I love seeing her flustered. She’s always so composed and snarky, but this? This I enjoy. “Um, can I come in?” It’s still snowing lightly, and her arms are hugging her body as the cold seeps in.
Stepping back, I motion for her to come inside, closing the door behind her. “Sorry about all the boxes, I haven’t had much time to get settled.” No time, really. The day after I came into town, I started working with her on the Christmas Spectacular. Boxes are still piled and stacked throughout the apartment, some with opened lids as I’ve dug through them looking for specific items.
She stops in the middle of the living room, her head turning as she takes the mess. “Sorry, I was going to come over sooner, but you weren’t home.”
I lean against the island separating the kitchen from the living room, watching her. “What’s up?”
“Can you put on a shirt or something?” Her eyes widen as I gently shake my head. Clearing her throat, resigned she says, “Well, I wanted to thank you.” Sammie looks so fucking beautiful my fists grip the edge of the counter, fighting to not go to her.
My voice comes out deep and straining with longing. “No thanks necessary. They were out of line with how they spoke to you, and I wanted to put them straight.”
“No, not for just that,” she sighs. “Thank you for showing up for me. I had no idea that you were in the audience until you went up and started speaking. You’re just,” she pauses. “You’re just an amazing person, Levi. Just, thank you.” Her shoulders loosen as she exhales, the tension in them dissipating.
I can’t take this space between us any longer. Releasing my fists, I walk straight up to Sammie, hand cupping her jaw to tilt her face towards mine. Her sharp inhale at my touch is making my dick harden in my jeans. Leaning in I whisper, “I’ll always be there for you, Sammie.” No longer fighting the intense connection I feel for her, I lower my lips to hers.
For a moment, she doesn’t kiss me back and doubts enter. Maybe she doesn’t want me as I want her. Just as I’m about to pull away, Sammie’s soft lips press against mine and pure ecstasy washes through me. Her cold hands slide around my hips making me gasp.
“Come on, Levi. Can’t handle my cold hands?” She chuckles against my mouth before biting my lower lip.
Good God. Moaning, I slide my tongue into her open mouth. She tastes like nothing I’ve ever had before. She’s the perfect combination of spicy and sweet that sets my blood pumping. One hand slides down her curves before I grab a handful of that ass I like staring at so much. “God, I want you,” I growl.
My gorgeous, spitfire of a woman once again knocks me off my feet.
“Then take me.”
Chapter Eleven
Sammie
Levi kisses me like he’s a starved man. His tongue slips into my mouth, teasing me while his hand grips my ass. The skin of his stomach is warm under my touch, and I pull myself towards him, lessening the space between us. This is what I wanted so badly in that small bathroom. For his lips to be on mine. His body pressed against mine.
His lips move from my mouth to the side of my neck as my breathing speeds up. “I’ve wanted to kiss this freckle from the moment you stepped out of your car,” he murmurs. He flicks his tongue against my neck and my hands travel up from his waist to grip the back of his head. He grips my bun, pulling my head back, giving him more room to explore.
“Don’t stop,” I manage to breathe. My pulse thrums from his possessive touch, soaking my panties. I can feel his erection through his jeans against my stomach and I grind my body against him, eliciting a deep growl from his throat.
Fuck, that was hot.
Without warning, Levi pulls back before sliding both hands to my ass, picking me up. From this new angle, I wrap my arms around his shoulders, my teeth finding the skin of his neck and gently nibbling at him. The cold of the island jars me as he sets me on the counter, rough hands slipping under my shirt, tickling my sides as he raises it over my head. Free of my shirt, my fingers play with the loose edges of his jeans, running back and forth between the elastic edge of his boxers.
The bra I was wearing is loosened and thrown across the room. Nothing is separating our upper bodies and I press my hard nipples against his chest, the rough sensation making me moan. I want him. So bad. My body is ready for him, needs him. Levi kisses his way down my chest, applying enough pressure to ease my back flat against the counter. Taking a nipple into his mouth, he sucks hard, making my hips grind against him to ease the pounding pulse between my thighs.
