Page 95 of Nocere

"I don't. Never really needed it living in Seattle my whole life. Anita is the only reason I leave the city," I said coupled with a shrug.

"I can drive you. It'll be faster and we have dinner plans that night. We can spend the day together," she said, and I hopped up when she lifted me, wrapping my legs around her waist.

"You lift me up so much."

"Because you weigh like ninety pounds or something." She patted my rear and toted me to the sofa. "Do you not like it?"

"I like it very much." I kissed her and her warm return soothed me like a cozy blanket.

"Good, baby. So can I drive you?"

"Um...It's like an hour. You'd have to wait…"

"I'd like to, Rosie. Honestly," she said, stroking my arms when I caressed the heart-shaped space at the base of her neck. "Let me take care of you."

"When do I get to take care of you?" I met her gaze and her gentle smile remained.

"You already have and you don't even know it."

"Are you going to your mom's tomorrow?"

She nodded, her expression falling from light and hopeful to colder. "For a little while."

"I really want to go with you…" I held my hands up when she shook her head. "I know it's hard for you to see her, Sam. I know it hurts you so much. At least I can be there for you."

"Rosie, no. I don't want you there."

"Your mom lives in a regular old retirement community now, doesn't she?" I asked and she nodded. "It's not a faith-based community like last time."

"Yes, but you'd have to wear hijab or she'll be a bitch. She'll be rude to you anyway. And she speaks to me in Arabic only." Sam's entire body hardened under me and her fingers dug into my hips.

"Am I never going to meet your mom?" I tilted my head when I asked and the question seemed to shock her. Her brow furrowed and she seemed lost for words for a second.

"You will. I just...I don't know." She sighed and glanced over my shoulder.

"You know, she can come to Rebecca's with us."

She shook her head at that. "No, baby. My mom isn't the most outwardly accepting of me being gay. It was different when my dad was around, but now she's not as okay with it. She questions everything and it's just…messy."

"I still feel that I want to support you." I cupped her face in my palms and she met my gaze. She slouched on the sofa under me and continued to caress my jean-covered thighs while she appeared to contemplate the notion.

"Not yet," she said, her gaze flickering to mine again. "Not yet, baby."

"All right." I leaned my forehead against hers and kissed the end of her nose. "Eventually, I'm coming with you."

She nodded and pulled me into a hug. I kissed her neck and she rubbed my back as if soothing me when I wasn't the one having intense emotions at the moment. The oven timer dinged and I leaned back to see a smile melting over her lips.

"Is it done?"

I chuckled and kissed her. "It's done. Let me go take it out. It needs to cool for a few minutes or so, then we can eat it."

"Best night ever." She swatted my ass when I stood and I laughed.

"Hey. My rear is still pink from your naughty play." I scurried off to the kitchen to remove the pie, and put in the last one. I set the timer, then grabbed bowls and forks from the cupboards.

Sam joined me, and retrieved the ice cream from the freezer. "You know we're going to eat the whole thing, right?"

A laugh left me and I tossed her a grin over my shoulder. "I was hoping so."

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