Page 22 of Mark my Words

BOSTON

Sam blinked a few times as he looked down at me, seeming to process my words before something clicked inside him. It was only a fraction of a moment before his lips crashed into mine, this kiss much more demanding than the last one. I let myself go and reveled in the feel of his mouth on me.

“Oh God, upstairs, take me upstairs,” I panted as our lips broke apart, his mouth nipping at the sensitive skin beneath my ear.

He groaned as he leaned away from me, digging in his pocket to pull out a set of keys before he tugged me up the front steps of his building. Two apartments were inside the entryway off to the right, and a long wooden staircase led to a small landing at the top. He grasped my hand as he took the steps two at a time, failing to account for me wearing heels.

“Slow down,” I laughed as I yanked my hand free, pausing to reach down and pull them off before I hurried up after him. It seemed someone was in a hurry. I hoped that wasn’t telling for what would happen when he got me into his bed. Sam may have been frustrating at times, but I never took him as someone who would be a selfish lover. At least, that’s what I was hoping. Not that I thought of Sam as a potential lover all the time...because I didn’t.

He was unlocking the door at the top of the stairs when I joined him, bouncing a little on my bare toes. I hated to admit it, but I was nervous. I never did this. I didn’t go home with men on the first date. But this wasn’t a date. There hadn’t been any romantic lead-up to what was about to happen. I’d hardly call him paying for a mojito I’d taken two sips of as showing me a fun time. But, God, I hoped that was precisely what he was about to do. It’d be disappointing to have to break into my toy arsenal once I got home.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’d had to take care of myself when yet another guy proved disappointing in bed. Another reason I hated dating.

As the door swung open, Sam reached behind him and grasped my wrist, tugging me inside and pressing his palm hard on the door until it slammed closed, quickly backing me against the wood surface.

“Last chance,” he whispered as he boxed me in, one hand on my hip, the other on the side of my neck. “If you stay, I’m going to fuck you, Kristine. I can’t deny I want you anymore.”

I appreciated that he was giving me a chance to back out, but I was seeing this through, no matter how much the saner part of my brain was telling me to cut and run. Run from the way he looked at me. Run from the way I felt when he touched me. Run from the blistering intensity of his kisses. Sam was nothing like I expected, and I wasn’t sure what to do with that information.

“Fuck me,” I whispered, grasping the waistband of his jeans, tugging him toward me, and leaning up to nip at his bottom lip. “I want this. I want you.”

He groaned before flattening himself against me, his fingers tugging lightly at my hair as he slipped his tongue past my lips and stole my breath. Fuck, he was making me lose my mind. That was the only explanation for the feelings that coursed through me at Sam’s touch, at the insistent pressure of his lips and tongue. My heels dropped to the floor with a thud, but the sound didn’t faze him.

My fingers made quick work of the buttons on his shirt, parting it with my hands and yanking his undershirt from his jeans. I needed to see him. I needed to feel skin and for him to take me to his room and do everything he’d promised me in that bar.

“Bed,” I panted, leaning my head back as he scraped his teeth against the sensitive skin of my neck, leaving chills in his wake. “Now.” As much as I would be a fan of him taking me against the front door, we could save that for later. If there ever was a later. I wasn’t thinking that far ahead right now. Now I just needed to get his clothes off...and mine.

“It doesn’t always have to be on a bed,” he breathed into my ear, apparently having the same thoughts I was having. “But whatever the lady wants.”

“We both know I’m not a lady.”

“Could have fooled me.” His fingers crept under my skirt and pressed into my panties, rubbing lightly as I gasped.

“You’re stalling.”

“I’m doing no such thing,” he chuckled, as I pressed my hands against his chest. “I’m just enjoying getting you worked up. The tease is half the fun.”

Expecting him to back off, I squealed as he reached down and grasped my thighs, hoisting me against his chest before he turned and headed further into the apartment. Thankfully, it was empty, with a few beer bottles and books abandoned on the coffee table surrounded by three oversized leather recliners. It appeared Sam had roommates. I hoped they weren’t home because I had a feeling Sam would make good on his promise to make me moan his name.

He set me down just inside the doorway to his room, the interior dimly lit by the moonlight casting in through the open curtains. I don’t know if I expected a nerd den with gaming consoles everywhere, but it was surprisingly neat. He had a queen-sized bed that took up most of the space along the wall by the window, with a small desk in the corner with dual computer monitors and a plush leather desk chair.

As I quickly scanned the space, I heard him close the door and flick the lock, lifting the handle until it clicked. He shrugged as I turned in his direction, “It doesn’t always stay locked. I figured you wouldn’t want any accidental interruptions.”

“Roommates?”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “Two. They’re out at a party.” He held up his phone awkwardly, a text message screen visible. He tossed it toward his small dresser before tentatively taking a few steps toward me. “So...”

I smiled, shaking my head at how he could go from seductive flirt to shy in moments.

“So...” I took two steps forward, grasping the hem of my tank top as I peeled it over my head and dropped it to the floor.

Sam shrugged his button-up shirt from his shoulders, lifting the hem of his white undershirt, winking at me as he pulled it over his head and dropped it next to my tank top on the floor. “Where were we?”

“I’m not sure,” I whispered as I flattened my palms on his abdomen, slowly running them up his chest, reveling in how his defined muscles flexed as I grasped the sides of his neck and pulled lightly.

He took the hint and leaned forward, pausing before our lips touched. “Oh, I remember...I was about to bend you over that bed.”

Before I could react, Sam had spun me around and walked me forward, pinning me to the end of his bed with his hips, his hands coming up to massage my lace-covered breasts. My chest heaved as he toyed with me through the material, pinching and caressing as I ground myself into the distinct hardness I felt pressed into my ass.

---