“I already know what’s best for me.” Cupping her cheek in his hand, he brushed away a tear she hadn’t even known she was shedding. “You are, and will always be what’s best for me, Sammie-girl.”
Maybe it made her a coward, but when he leaned in to kiss her, she didn’t push him away. She surrendered to it, to him, to letting herself be loved in a way nobody else had ever loved her before as he nudged her onto her back.
“My beautiful, perfect babygirl,” he murmured, skimming his lips down the side of her throat, lighting her nerves on fire with a simple touch. “I love you, so fucking much, Samantha. I can’t live without you.”
Shifting over her, he settled between her thighs and she arched up with a gasp as he filled her. “I love you.”Too much to keep you.
They moved together, soft, whispered words and gentle touches driving them both closer and closer to that shimmering peak. And when they went over together, she clung to him, to the love they shared. She held it tight against her chest, knowing it was only a matter of time before she had to let it go for good.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Dylan
Time was running out and he was no closer to a decision than he’d been when Sam had chained him to the bed and forced him to tell her the truth. On the one hand was the opportunity of a lifetime.
On the other, the only woman he wanted to spend that lifetime with.
Fuck.
When Friday morning rolled around and he still hadn’t made up his mind, he did what he’d always done whenever something felt too big to handle on his own.
He called his best friend.
“I swear if you’re calling to ask for advice about your relationship with my mother I’m going to hang up this phone and never speak to you again.”
Ethan’s annoyed growl surprisingly brightened Dylan’s mood considerably. “Now that you mention it, do you know if she prefers watermelon or cherry? I found this flavored lube and?—”
“Fuck off, Cross.”
Laughing, Dylan leaned back in his office chair. “Man, I miss you.”
“I guess I miss you too, asshole. But I’m assuming you didn’t call me at 10 am on a Friday just to tell me you can’t live without my pretty face. So what’s up?”
It was now or never. “I got a job offer. From Pacificum.”
“Holy shit. Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No. It’s not my dream job, but it’s just a couple steps away and they’re offering me a shit-ton of money.”
“Congrats, dude. That’s incredible. I’m so fucking happy for you.”
“I don’t know if I’m going to take it.”
Shocked silence met his declaration, followed by an equally shocked, “Why the fuck not?”
“Because I promised Sam I wouldn’t force her to uproot her entire life just so I could go play scientist. It’s not fair to her.”
“Okay, well, first of all you’re notplayingscientist. Youarea scientist and a goddamn excellent one at that. Second of all, it’s not fair to either of you for you to turn this down.”
“What do you mean it’s not fair to her?”
A derisive snort came through the speaker. “I swear it’s like you don’t even know her. She’ll never forgive herself if she thinks for even one second you gave up your dream job for her, Dyl. And can you honestly tell me that a teeny-tiny part of you wouldn’t resent her for it?”
He didn’t want to admit it. But ever since Sam had planted that seed of doubt in his mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about what their future would look like. Whathisfuturecouldlook like if he stayed versus if he left. “Yeah. Yeah, maybe.”
“Like I said, it’s not fair to either of you. Or me, come to think of it. I already come from a broken home, Dyl. Don’t make me a child of divorce again.”
“Asshole.” Dylan managed to laugh, but the truth of Ethan’s words lodged in his chest. “I don’t know what to do, E. I love her, so fucking much. She’s my endgame. When I try to picture moving to California without her it’s like there’s a giant hole right next to me where she’s supposed to be.”
