Page 18 of Lily
Maybe Ashley had gotten it right in her matchmaking after all.
* * *
"This is your place?" Ashley gaped out the car window at the two-story modern affair that was at the center of the horseshoe driveway they had just driven up.
"Mmhmm, this is home. I'll unlock the door and take your stuff in. Wait here," he said.
Lily turned to him in surprise, touched by the offer, but it wasn't necessary. "No, that's all right. I can go in with you now." She moved to open the door, but Sam held up a hand, stopping her.
"I insist. It's cold out, and you're in a dress. It'll take me a few to get everything inside; stay here with the heater on."
"But I—"
"No arguing. It's cold. You're my guest, and Ashley's trusting me with you. Stay put, missy." The look he gave her was both stern and pleading, a mix that Lily liked seeing directed at her by Sam. The man had a way of being both stern and warm, open and strong. It had her wanting to lean into his strength and take some of it for her own.
"Fine," she replied, settling back in her seat and trying not to show how pleased she was by the turn of events. If she couldn't keep Sam, then she could at least enjoy the attention he was giving her.
"Thank you, Lily Bell." Sam's bright smile flashed, and then the man was out of the car and hustling toward the trunk. Lily smiled in spite of herself. Sam was a sweet man; she could tell from the way he had treated her so far, and maybe, just maybe, Lily was developing a crush on him. She bit her thumb, still smiling as she watched him carry her things inside his home. When he didn't immediately come back outside, Lily cocked her head to the side wondering what was keeping him, but a second later, she saw the lights in the house start to come on.
One by one, the light to the bottom floor lit up, and a beat later, lights lining the walkway flashed to life and Lily felt a warmth blossom in her chest at the gesture. He was making sure she could see, taking care of little things like welcoming lights when she was in a new place. Sam reappeared in the doorway and started toward her. He was handsome, all broad shoulders and beautiful dark skin, and her fingers longed to trace the line of his jaw. Ashley's excitement echoed in her ears, because what if there was something to it?
What if Sam was interested in her? She knew that wasn't why he was being kind to her, Sam seemed the type of man and Dom to show kindness and softness to any who would need it. The solid, safe energy emanated from him and filled the space around him, wrapping itself around anyone in his vicinity. Lily was thankful that, for tonight, that was her. She shifted in her seat, cheeks blushing, and felt like a pre-teen sneaking glances at the boy she liked as she stared at him, though when he got too close, she made a show of staring at her nails. It was one thing to admire him from afar, but an entirely different matter for him to catch her in the act.
"I've got the house prepared. You ready?" Sam asked, holding his hand out to her.
"Uh, yeah," Lily replied, trying to keep her feet on the ground even though she swore she was floating when Sam took her hand and led her toward the house. He turned, shielding her from the gust of wind that kicked up around them.
"I hope it's not too cold."
"You can't control that," she laughed, and Sam let out a long-suffering sigh.
"Don't remind me," he said, opening the door for her and gesturing her inside. "It's one of my many frustrations with this life."
"You really are a control freak, hmm?"
"Aren't all Doms?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. She blushed and shrugged.
"I guess so, but I don't think I've ever met one quite like you."
"How do you mean?" He shut the door behind them and then kicked off his shoes. "This is a no shoes house, but," he looked down at her feet and clucked his tongue, "you don't have any socks on."
"They don't exactly go with heels," she told him, bending down to take off her heels.
Sam laughed. "I dunno. I think you could make just about anything work."
"That's what I'm talking about, right there," she told him, stepping out of her heels. "That's why I say I haven't met a Dom quite like you. You have a way of just…just—"
"Just what?"
"Just making me feel so relaxed and comfortable. It's easy, talking to you I mean," she explained in a rush. Normally, Lily would have held her tongue longer. She preferred to let things develop slowly before she spoke her mind freely, but with Sam, things just felt so natural and easy that she couldn't stop the words from coming.
"It's easy talking to you too. You're a rare girl, Lily Bell." He dropped his gaze to her feet and shook his head. "But you're a rare girl with cold feet, which won't do." He stepped past her and started for the stairs.
"Where are you going?" she asked, wanting to follow him but knowing she shouldn't without him asking her too.
"To get you socks. I'll be back in a sec!" Sam looked behind him and gave her another one of his thousand watt smiles. The effect was nearly physical as Lily rocked back on her heels and clasped her hands in front of her. Tonight, was nothing like she expected it to be, and that was perfectly all right with her, so long as she got more time with Sam. She turned, looking around, and let out a low whistle when she took in the pristine and luxuriously appointed home. Through the doorway to her left, was a spacious kitchen with marble counter tops and top of the line appliances. She wandered to the right and saw a massive living room lined with floor-to-ceiling windows and a comfy couch; plants were in nearly every nook and cranny, giving the space a cozy feeling. There was a fluffy rug that made her want to dig her toes into it, and Lily started forward, fully intending to do just that.
Sam found her smiling and wiggling her toes in the fluffy rug when he came back with a pair of socks in hand. "Ah, so you like that then?"
