“Is she okay?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Yeah. Do you mind if I have a shower?”
“Poppy, do whatever you want. Make yourself at home.” I lean down, kiss her forehead, and then go in search of my sister.
I find Imogen sitting on the bed in the guestroom.
“I have the doc coming to check on you.”
Her eyes widen. “No, he can’t,” she says, shaking her head.
“Why not?” I drop down next to her.
“Because if he finds out, he’s going to tell Mom and Dad. I don’t want them to know yet. I need more time.”
“Know what, Imogen?”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m dying,” she whispers.
Chapter Twenty
I’m no stranger to waking up in a bed that’s not mine. I am a stranger to the disappointment that hits me when I roll over and realize I’m alone. Not only am I alone, but Sammie never came to bed.
After I had a shower, I helped myself to his closet and borrowed a t-shirt I have no plans of ever giving back. It’s so soft,and it smells like him. I fell asleep really fast, wrapped up in his scent.
It’s weird. I don’t know what to do. I roll onto my back and stare up at the ceiling. Why didn’t he come to bed? Did he not think this wholeinviting me to his homething through? See me asleep in his bed and thought:Nope, not ready for this shit!
I’m not an insecure person. Well, not usually. I know that I’m not enough for people to love. My father taught me that lesson years ago, but I thought what Sammie and I were doing was still in the fun stage. Okay, maybe crossing over to serious. I never expected anything from him, though.
Shoving the blankets off me, I force myself to get up. After using the bathroom and finger-combing my hair because I can’t be fucked to dig through my bag for a brush, I head out of the bedroom. As I’m making my way down the hall, I start to hear the yelling. That’s not Sammie’s voice.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” a male shouts.
“What’s wrong? Can’t handle it, Alfie? Get the fuck out if you’re too weak for it!” Sammie shouts back.
I follow the sounds, pausing at a door that’s slightly ajar. Before I can enter, I’m stopped by a man, who steps out into the hallway. He closes the door behind him. “You lost?” he asks.
“Ah, no, I’m looking for Sammie. Is he in there?” I already know he is.
“He’s not in the right state of mind to see you,” the guy tells me.
What the hell does that mean? Right state of mind? What happened?
“Either you open the door and let me in, or I’m going to shove my knee right up into your balls so hard that they’ll retreat and never drop down. Your chance of fathering kids or enjoying an orgasm again will be pretty slim too.”
His hands cover his crotch but his lips tilt up into a half smile as he grabs for the knob, opens the door a crack, and sticks his head in. “Sammie, did you bring home fucking Mrs. Lucifer? Because she’s out here threatening to harm the family jewels. We all know the only chance my father has of getting decent grandkids is going to come from me. I can’t risk my nuts, man.”
I smile. I probably wouldn’t have followed through on the threat. I have no idea who this guy is. I’m not an idiot. I know Sammie obviously has some dangerous people in his life.
Suddenly, the guy is shoved out of the way and Sammie is in front of me. I get two seconds to take in his shirtless chest, covered in blood splatters, before he’s picking me up. My legs, which always seem to have a mind of their own when Sammie’s involved, wrap around his waist.
He’s walking back down the hallway, towards his bedroom, but all thoughts and insecurities vanish from my mind when his lips crash onto mine. The bedroom door gets slammed and then I’m spun around and pressed up against it. Sammie kisses me like a man starved.
His hands massage the globes of my ass as he holds me up. My core grinds against his hard cock. Probably leaving wet marks on his trousers because I didn’t put panties on last night. Then again, I’m so drenched right now no amount of fabric between us would help with that.
“Fuck, I need you,” Sammie grunts out, breaking away from my mouth.
