"Yeah, okay," I murmur. I nearly head back inside to afford Sam his privacy since he seems to prefer it to my company right now, but I just need to say this one quick thing... "But... don't just stop calling me 'Ror' because of some stupid comment Dave made, okay?"
Sam turns to me, and instead of retreating, I take another hesitant step toward him. "It pissed me off that he said that about you... That douchebag in the elevator pissed me off too," he mutters.
I nod. "I know. But you do know Dave is just an idiot. That he means no harm, right?" I say gently.
Sam glares at me a moment and then nods slowly, just once. "I almost hit him," he says, so quietly I can only just hear him.
"But you didn't," I remind him.
Sam takes a deep breath. "But I wanted to... I'm no different thanhim."
"Than who?"
Sam glares at me. The truth is it doesn't matter who he means. His father, Robin, they're all the same. Assholes who make themselves feel more powerful by hurting other, more vulnerable people.
"Sam you'renothinglike him. So you got pissed off and wanted to hit someone? That happens to everyone. You didn'tdoit."
"But,I wanted to," he repeats.
I cover the rest of the space that separates us. I reach up and caress his jaw, feeling the soft scratch of his stubble, and after another moment he visibly calms. "Youdidn't," I say again. "Violence is a choice. Like survival, remember? Everyone has those impulses when they get angry, just like we have the impulse to give up when we're, you know, hurting. You made the right choice, Sam. You're a good man. Nothing likehim," I assure him intently. "I know the difference, Sam, trust me," I add more softly. I hate that he's beating himself up over something he stopped himself from doing.
He holds my hand harder against his cheek and turns into my touch, planting a soft kiss on my palm. His other hand skims the line of my jaw, his fingers combing through my beach-messed hair. "I'm sorry I overreacted."
I shake my head. "Don't apologize to me. You didn't do anything to me. You were just being protective, and honestly, I'm grateful. For a long time I needed that, and I didn't have it. But Dave isn't a threat to either of us, you know that."
Sam nods. "I know. You're right. Of course you're right."
"It's my fault. For dumping all my crap on you earlier. It rattled you, and I'm sorry. I'm so used to it that I forget how crazy it all was and-"
"Stop it, Ror. Never be sorry for talking to me. Iwantyou to talk to me," he insists, his hand still running tenderly through my hair as he gazes intently down at me.God, he's beautiful.His midnight blues glow with emotion, his lips slightly parted. It's impossible for me to keep my focus; he's just too gorgeous for his own good. Or mine.
"And I want you... to kiss me," I whisper.
And he does.
My God, he does. It's not a sweet, gentle kiss. It's hungry - all-consuming. It's like he's been holding back all along, and now some hold has been broken. His hands sift through my hair, down my neck and around my back, his thumbs caressing my bare midriff.
His tongue pushes its way into my mouth and I welcome it, brazenly stroking it with my own. Our lips crash together in a desperate union, each trying to steal a piece of the other, trying to leave some of ourselves behind. I tug on his soft, thick hair, loving the feel of my fingers running through the silky locks. Sam groans in response -he loves it too.
He grabs the backs of my thighs and lifts me, perfectly aligning our bodies as he guides my legs around him. I lock my ankles at the small of his back, kissing him back with equal fervor.
I'm somewhat aware we're moving through the suite. Sam swings the bedroom door open so hard it slams against the opposite wall. But I have no fear, I'm equally as impatient right now. I brace myself to be thrown onto the bed, but Sam doesn't do that. Instead, he gently lays me down on my back, completely out of synch with the intensity of the way he kisses me. I grasp blindly for the hem of his tank top to yank it over his head, and he pulls back to assist me.
"You sure about this, Ror?" he asks through panting breaths.
I nod adamantly. I've never been so sure of anything in my life. My body is on fire, the desire that's simmered from the first touch of our lips threatening to combust in an inferno of need for something I'm not sure I fully grasp.
"You know what to say if you change your mind?"
I nod again.
"Say it. Say the word," he demands, his hands smoothing up my sides and over my stomach, my chest rising and falling madly with my frenzied breaths.
"Calculus."
Sam smiles approvingly, his eyes hooded and shrouded in lust. He stares down at me like I'm a delectable feast he's dying to consume, and then, as if he couldn't possibly wait a second longer, he resumes his kiss. I moan into his mouth, completely unabashed. His lips sweep across my jaw and start working their way down the delicate skin of my neck."Oh, God,"I exhale.
I feel his grin against my skin. "Just so you know," he breathes right into my ear, "'stop', 'no', or any other variant will also work. Any time, no matter what. Okay, baby?"
