Page 274 of A Matter of Time

“Sam—”

“I see how you look at me. You want me.”

“Of course I want you, Sam, but that doesn’t mean I should.”

“Love—”

“This scene is so familiar. Me in your car, you promising things will be different this time, me believing you… We’ve done this dance before, and it never works out. We need to call it a day.”

“You’re fighting so hard because you’re scared of getting hurt.”

“Of course I’m afraid of getting⁠—”

“Baby.” His voice was so warm, so soothing and gentle. “It sounds stupid, I know, but this is it. This is the one that’s gonna stick, because I’m different. You’re different. We’re both older, hopefully wiser, and you have to forgive me. There’s no way around it. The sending me away is gutting me. Stop. Please stop. Just…give in. I love you, and nobody else will ever love you as much as I do.”

“No, you’re just trying to⁠—”

“Let me show you. Please lemme show you.”

“No.”

“Say yes.”

“Why would I—you’re making me crazy.”

“Kiss me.”

“No. You––”

“I want a kiss; I could die without one. Gimme permission.”

“It’s the worst idea ever.”

“Sounds like a yes to me,” he said, smiling evilly.

“Sam.”

“Love,” he husked.

I couldn’t have stifled my whimper if I tried.

I felt his warm breath on my face a second before he kissed me. The wave of heat flooded me, and when his tongue pushed between my lips, I instantly, without a moment of hesitation, opened for him. His mouth sealed over mine, and I felt his hand slip around my throat to keep me there, to keep me still.

The noises of pleasure that came out of him made my stomach flutter as he pushed in deeper, his tongue tangling with mine, tasting, taking his time, devouring me. It lasted so long, the heat, the need, just building…and I felt his hands on me, one fisted in my hair, the other sliding up under my shirt, rubbing circles on my back. He would kiss me for hours if I let him. When I tried to pull back, he leaned with me until I put my hands on his chest and shoved hard.

“What?” he asked, his voice full of gravel, his eyes heavy-lidded and so, so dark. No way to miss how turned on he was—a study in lust.

“Drive me home.”

“After that kiss…after the way you just responded… No. No way.”

“Sam, c’mon. I don’t wanna make⁠—”

“Please come home with me. I wanna talk to you.”

“I know exactly what you wanna do,” I assured him.

“No, really. I promise to keep my hands to myself.”