I nod anyway, grateful that the rinsing cup hides my lip biting - my insuppressible tell. I am a terrible liar, always have been.
Sam laughs and shakes his head and I'm relieved he finds my fib endearing and not offensive. "Everyone's down at the pool. They're waiting for us."
"Um, okay. I just need to shower and change. I guess I'll meet you down there," I offer.
"Why do you need to shower to go to the beach?" he asks, bemused.
I pass him as I walk to the dresser and start sifting through my clothing for my beach wear. "In case you forgot, I threw up a little last night. I think I could use a shower."
Sam smiles. "I didn't forget anything about last night," he says intently. His gaze has magical powers over me and my blood heats in its wake.
I shake my head. "You need to go. You're too distracting." I push at his chest to urge him back toward his suite. I'm not strong enough to actually move him if he didn't want to let me, but he grudgingly does, walking slowly backward with a half-smirk.
Sam's arm suddenly slings around my waist and pulls me to him. I gasp in surprise as he reaches up and brushes his thumb just under my bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth.
Damn, that's hot.Why is that so hot?
"Toothpaste," he mouths.
I stare up at him, swallowing anxiously. He can see how he's affecting me, and I can see that it pleases him. He does that self-satisfied smirky thing he's been doing lately any time I act like a foolish lovesick puppy, and then plants a simple, chaste kiss on my lips.
"I'll wait for you," he says simply, and then turns me around and gives me a small nudge toward the bathroom for my shower.
TWENTY-ONE
P R E S E N T D A Y
ITAKE MYtime in the shower and process the events of the morning. I can't believe Sam and I are happening. Of course, I don't yet know what that even means. I can't know if he just wants to be friends who hook up, or if he wants a go at a relationship, and truly, I'm not sure if I'm even capable of one. And of course there's his wholeno girlfriends in high schoolrule to contend with.
All I know is we're no longer "just friends". We'resomething more. And for the first time in the longest time, I allow myself to indulge in something I never thought I'd have again – something I’ve only had vague little inklings of in recent days.
Hope.
I smile as I dress in the one bikini I own, thanks to Carl. I pull on my cutoff shorts and a black tank top and knock on the door that connects my room to Sam's before I can back out and change into a one piece. I open the door on my side and find that Sam never even closed his.
Sam is in gray board shorts and a black tank top, almost matching me, except he looks utterly stunning. His slightly overlong, messy hair is pushed back by wire framed sunglasses, and I sigh when I realize how much attention he's going to get with those defined arms out there on display like that.
His are heated, and I'm not expecting it. "Those are some short shorts," he murmurs, almost disapprovingly.
I frown. He's right. I should go change.God, what was I thinking? And I'm wearing a freaking bikini!
Sam approaches me and bends so our gazes are level. "You don't look like you're asking for anything, Ror, so stop freaking out. You just look hot. You always do. Covering up more isn't going to change that. So relax and let's go have a good time with our friends, okay?" he says cautiously.
I'm not sure I agree, but I nod anyway and sling my beach bag over my shoulder, letting him take my hand and lead me out the door.
"Hey, do you mind?" he asks, reaching into his pocket to produce his cell phone and room key. "Since you have a bag? I know I'll forget and jump in the pool with it."
I laugh and open the bag for him to throw his things in. Sam drops my hand and slips his arm casually around my waist and I suppress my sigh. I wonder if this is how it will be now - if I get to be in his arms whenever I want.
Which is all the damn time.
****
Sam and I are alone in the elevator when backs me into the corner. "You know what to say if you're ever uncomfortable, right?" he asks softly.
I nod. I know our safe word. But my discomfort has nothing to do with fear and everything to do with my unquenched desire. Sam brushes my hair over my shoulder, bends, and starts kissing my neck.
Oh, my.
